Tag Archives: Derelict

A Zombie Apocalypse Engagement Shoot: Nicola & Simon

June 21, 2012 in British Brides, Engagement | Written by

Hold on one second… Now I know I always say that I have the coolest readers but OMG I SERIOUSLY HAVE THE COOLEST READERS! I have four words that will prove it to you too… Zombie. Apocalypse. Engagement. Shoot.

God, yes…

So back in January, wedding photographer Rebecca Litchfield of Catwalk Wedding used this little wedding blog of mine to host an amazing photography contest. She wanted to give away 10 free engagement shoots, with the most epic of them all winning their wedding photography as well! While I couldn’t share all 10 engagement shoots I knew I had to post this one… and in case you were in any doubt, yes these guys won the grand prize. Hello, ZOMBIES. Zombies trump everything.

“The idea of a zombie engagement shoot was exciting enough, but I cant even tell you how much effort Nicola and Simon put into pulling it off”, Rebecca told me. “Because zombie engagement shoots have been done before they wanted to stage a full zombie apocalypse. We hired a zombie army of 13, an abandoned building on Syon Lane and the wonderfullly talented hair and make up artist Elbie van Eeden who transformed everyone into epically amazingly looking zombies.”

“We also had a huge array of props to play with. Three pints of fake blood, an axe, a hedge trimmer, replica guns, a Zombie Survival Guide, a real lamb heart, a ‘the end is nigh’ sign. I also had the help of amazingly talented Odin Raven who is the master of photographing abandoned buildings and processing HDR photos.”

“The day was great”, Nicola took over. “Lovely Elbie helped us with the make up and Rebecca mobilized a few of her friends to be our undead army. I can’t believe how many people took the day of work just to help us. We had the best fun ever running around the huge factory, jumping over dead pigeons and swinging axes about. We couldn’t wait to see the pictures and when we did we were stunned. Rebecca had done an awesome job! I love the fact that in years to come we can show our kids pictures of us being kick-ass.”

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Gothic Butterfly Inspiration

June 8, 2012 in Styled Photo Shoots | Written by

“Bridal shoots don’t have to be boring!” We’ve heard this all before but it’s even better to see shoots illustrating that point don’t you think?!

“I just loved this shoot”, wedding photographer Kathryn Edwards told me of her shoot with Beth. ”I wanted to give it a lonely isolated and fragile feel, with a dark edge.”

“Beth is a fellow photographer in Nottingham and was keen to do a rock the frock shoot with a difference. When she sent me a picture of her dress, I immediately wanted to give the shoot a gothic feel in a crumbling run down derelict location. However to describe the disused old RAF buildings in Syerston as ugly would be misleading. Although there are boarded up and broken windows, graffitti everywhere and rubbish dumped in the grounds, there was a haunting beauty about the place. Especially the caved in roof; it made for a beautiful backdrop to the shoot.”

“It was Beth’s pale skin and the beautiful fragile dress that made want to show a real contrast in the location of this shoot. I also had the idea of placing butterflies around the rubble and on Beth’s skin, to really show up the juxtaposition of the fragile and beautiful amidst the ugly and neglected, and to give the shoot a feeling of vulnerability and isolation.”

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Regula & Bruno’s Abandoned Fairground Wedding Portraits (Part Three)

August 10, 2011 in Bridal Shoot/Trash The Dress, Wedding | Written by

So part one was spooky, part two was cute and part three is just…well…a whole other level! Could an abandoned fairground in Belgium possibly be the coolest photo shoot location ever?

“The day after our tea party reception we went on a adventure to an abandoned fairground that I used to visit as a child when it was still open,” Regula told me. “I suddenly thought about it a few months ago and wondered what had become of it. I have some vivid childhood memories of it. Bruno and I wanted to go there as we love the creepy and romantic forgotten world feeling about it. We have a thing for the strangeness of old fairgrounds and fairs, hence the rock candy and candy apples at our reception. When I told our photographer Sassy of it she was so excited we decided to make a trip together.”

“We drove up to the old parking area, the sign and everything was still there, yet in decay.The rusty gate was closed but not locked. As we walked in I tried to reconstruct the fairground like it used to look. Everything was still there, the attractions, the ticket booths, even the tickets were still scattered around. A lot of it was vandalized and destroyed. We past the ghost house, the dolls used to be still here but were now all stolen. Nature was taking back it’s territory as all the big squares with souvenir stalls were now becoming woodland. Strange feeling knowing that you came here to have fun for the day and that now, it’s still there but fading away in time.”

“It’s been closed for over 10 years but I’m surprised how quick nature is taking over the grounds. There was something peaceful and beautiful about it, we felt like we could wonder here for days. I’ve never had this strange feeling before, decaying beauty yet frozen in time.”

“You could almost still hear children playing … not being creepy now, there were actually kids running around as the children from the villages around were still playing here. In a different way, the fairground was still ‘a children’s paradise’ which was it’s tagline, like it used to be in the 1950′s.”

“It closed never to open again after an accident, but in a way it never did close. It just became a place out of this world, did we find the real wonderland after all?”

AAAAMAZING!!!

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Ryan & Lanie’s Four-Part Cubu Engagement Shoot

July 5, 2011 in Engagement | Written by

I don’t share as many engagement shoots as many of the other wedding blogs. It’s not that I don’t love them (for the record I think every couple should do an engagement shoot – they’re a great way to get to know your photographer and practice posing before your wedding day.) However it does take something extra special to make a couple shoot worth sharing on these pages, when you get sent as many awesome weddings as I do, usually these take priority for me. Yet I think Ryan & Lanie’s shoot certainly fits that inspiring bill.

The shoot was set up in four parts, as bride-t0-be Lanie explained, “First set was shot in Mogwai, which is a movie screening/cafe bar in Cubao-X. The vintage feel of this place helped us to achieve the nostalgic treatment we are aiming for. Add to that is the idea of our stylist to play a vintage film which served as our background during the shoot. For the second set which was still shot in Mogwai, its more like vintage with a twist of modernness to it.  I really love how the tiara went well with my messed up hair.”

“The third set is quirky and nerdy combined!  First part of this set was shot in a vacant lot somewhere near Cubao-x, “guerilla style”. Luckily we were able to finish all the shots just in time before the security shooed as away! Owners of two shops in Cubao-X (Atomika and a little vintage book shop) were all kind enough to let us shoot at their place. Atomika’s all “white” room, made the color of our outfits pop while vintage shop’s clutter of books and other stuff gave us just the right amount of “weirdness” for this set.”

“The last set was just casual and relaxed. We love our matching shirt and sneakers here! I was given an “out of bed” look for this set. This was shot at our stylist shop – Thank You Today. My outfits for this shoot were all from Thank You Today’s shop. While Ryan brought in some of his clothes for the 3rd and 4th set. But all these would not be possible without Rock Paper Scissors Photography and Thank You Today’s creativity and awesomeness!”

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Laura & Colin at Salvation Mountain

January 4, 2011 in Engagement | Written by

I am seriously so in love with Laura & Colin. What an utterly gorgeous pair, with an utterly gorgeous e-sesh (although these shots were actually taken the day after their wedding) at Salvation Mountain. I’ve blogged about this amazing place before. The ‘mountain’ in the Californian desert is a 50 foot mountain, made totally of local adobe clay and paint. The 79 year old creator of this national treasure, Leonard, lives on site alone in his truck (!) and his piece of art has been a work in progress for over 20 years!

“Salvation Mountain is located in the lower desert of Southern California in Imperial County just east of the Salton Sea and about a hour and a half from Palm Springs,” the mountain’s website explains. ”Salvation Mountain is Leonard’s tribute to God and his gift to the world with its simple yet powerful message: “God Is Love.” Leonard’s passion has lovingly created this brilliant “outsider art ” masterpiece resplendent with not only biblical and religious scripture such as the Lord’s Prayer, John 3:16, and the Sinner’s Prayer, but also including flowers, trees, waterfalls, suns, bluebirds, and many other fascinating and colorful objects. Salvation Mountain must be seen to be fully appreciated as those who have made the journey will attest. Its 50 foot height and 150 foot breadth is made totally of local adobe clay and donated paint and is truly unique in the United States and probably the world. From its Sea of Galilee at the bottom, to the big red heart in the middle, to the cross at the very top, the reoccurring theme of “Love” is everywhere at Salvation Mountain”

What an amazing place to shoot huh?!

My friend Jen over at Green Wedding Shoes has blogged Laura & Colin’s wedding today too! Be sure to head over their and check it out. It’s a beaut.

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