Emily Fairweather, a creative photographer and film maker from Somerset sent us some of her beautiful imagery using pieces from our Special Occasion collection and we just had to share her story.
Emily “I was a documentary film-maker for years and was part of a team who won a BAFTA for a documentary called Kelly and Her Sisters, a film for ITV about children living in a condemned house in Birmingham. I still do editorial work, mostly abroad but my main passion is children’s portraiture.
I specialise in family lifestyle photo-shoots at people’s houses or in lovely rural settings like this one of Jess and her spaniel Beanie in elephant grass near where I live at the foothills of the Quantocks in Somerset. This was part of an exhibition on children and their pets which I had last November.
I also love doing natural-light studio photography. Our neighbouring farmers own an old lime kiln that has the most extraordinary light. It has a corrugated iron roof and dirt floor. In the past I’ve done photo-shoots in it with Vintage Circus theme and Degas-inpsired ballet dancers.
This time I wanted to create the feel of an old fashioned ancestral portrait, Grand Master style, but with a modern twist. I looked at lots of Vermeer paintings, took my children to Angels Fancy Dress shop to choose some original costumes accessories and borrowed a Victorian grey silk dress from a friend. I also added three dresses to my already extensive collection of Wild & Gorgeous dresses that form a mainstay of my photo-shoots. I like the palette of colours of their dresses and their classic styles.
Featured: Wood Nymph Dress – Peach
I also commissioned a hand painted backdrop from Hera in grey, textured with multi layers of paint to look like a grand master paintings’ back ground.
With the help of stylist Nikki Sheriff from Knots & Kisses and with the amazing hair and make up designs of Gemma Louise Williams of White Rabbit Make up (and additional make up by Becky Flynn) we created eleven quite unique looks that I am really happy with.
Featured: Pure Cloud Dress – Cream
I am now going to have these printed on textured paper at my laboratory and framed in antique gold guilt frames to complete the mood.”
Featured: Marie Antoinette Dress
If anyone would like a similar portrait of their family please contact Emily on emilyfairweather@btinternet.com or mobile 07958 763 029.
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