Carrie Grant Photography

High Concept Day - Vintage Saloon Girl

2011-06-08T21:42:00.000-07:00

Carrie Grant Photography is partnering with a licensed cosmetologist to offer Glamour Portrait & Vintage Boudoir photo shoots. We will be featuring High Concept Day shoots every couple months, each with a different theme, costumes, sets, and props. With having a Make-Up Artist and Stylist on site, we will offer an experience you can't find anywhere else on the coast!

Our first High Concept Day will be a Vintage Saloon Girl theme. Have you always wanted to dress up as a Saloon Girl and just didn't have the opportunity or means? Well, we have the time, the place and the ability to make you a Saloon Girl like you've never seen before. This is not just a Vintage Portrait Session in the studio, this will be a closed set, by appointment only, where we do high quality hair & make-up, dress you in an authentic costume, and create the most amazing portraits you could ever imagine. You will feel as tho you belong on a magazine cover!

We are providing the corsets, skirts or pantaloons (if you want to wear something on bottom), fishnet stockings, feather boas, hair feathers, chokers, gloves, fans, etc. You bring your own underwear, strapless bra (for those that would like the extra support), and shoes/boots (if you would like them showing in the portraits). We will also have a variety of set props depending on the look you prefer, such as: guns, whips, whiskey bottles and shot glasses, velvet blankets & fancy pillows, saddle, wagon wheel, etc. Feel free to bring any props or costume accessories with you to make your photo shoot even more personal and unique.

Your Vintage Saloon Girl photos will make incredible gifts for a husband, boyfriend, or fiance...or enlarge and frame them for yourself to grace your bedroom wall to remind you how beautiful, feminine and sexy you are.

For our first High Concept Day we are offering a "Half-off" Introduction Special. The price will be $100. $50 is required to secure your slot as a non-refundable deposit, then bring the remaining $50 on shoot day in cash. This breaks up the cost and makes it easier for everyone to afford a shoot! Approximately 2 weeks after the shoot, you will receive fully edited high resolution digital images on a CD with a print release so you can make prints in the amount and sizes that you want.

To secure your slot, email us at carriegrantphotography@gmail.com and choose at least 2 time slots. We will fill them first come first served. We expect to book up fast, due to the high interest we have already received, so email us as soon as you can!

The times are:
Saturdays - July 9th & 16th
10:00 AM
12:00 PM
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
6:00 PM

Sundays - July 10th & 17th
2:00 PM
4:00 PM
6:00 PM

Some ideas for future High Concept Days include: Santa Baby - Christmas Pinups, Sweet Tarts - Valentine's Day Pinups, Calendar Girl Pinups, Burlesque, 1920's Flapper, 50's Housewives, Scarlett O'Hara, Marie Antoinette, King Henry's Wives, Bad Alice in Wonderland, etc. And of course as I find props that we just can't live without, the list will expand and we could have some very creative shoots!

Here are some examples of High Concept Days from a photographer friend of mine in Texas:

Fay's Prom Glamour / Trash the Dress Session #1

2011-05-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a perfect Sunday. It was warm and sunny, virtually no wind on our notoriously windy Oregon Coast, Church was uplifting, and then I had a wonderful photo shoot with Fay, a local High School Junior who has been doing such an excellent job planning next week's Prom. Fay bought a prom dress a couple years ago that she never got to wear, and since she bought a new one for this year's Prom, we decided to do a Trash the Dress session so she could at least get some fun photos with the dress she never got to wear. Here is a preview of yesterday's session down at Battle Rock Beach.

Carrie Grant Photography - In the News!

2010-08-14T13:04:00.000-07:00

My business made the front page this week in our local newspaper. The feature article writer came into my studio last week for a Portrait Session and interview, which was so much fun!

Another reason I truly love about having my business in a small town.

Thank you, Kim, for such a wonderful article and helping promote my new business!

Vintage Portraits - July 2010

2010-07-20T15:41:00.000-07:00

I just had such a fun portrait session with Gayle and her niece and nephew, Olivia and Nathan.

Olivia

Nathan

I love that so many people want to work for me after having their portraits taken here. It makes me appreciate that they enjoy the atmosphere I've created in my studio for my customers to have fun dressing up and creating fun memories.

Trash the Dress - Part II

2010-01-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

This is a great article I found with such a good explanation about Trash the Dress (TTD), to help me introduce the concept into our area. The thing I love about this idea is that it's all about making a woman (and sometimes even her groom) feel glamorous for not just a day, but every time she looks on her wall and sees the incredible portrait of herself.

TTD (or Rock the Frock, or Wedding Glamour) photos can be for brides certainly, but why hold to that standard? I think that a woman who had recently divorced and is about to donate her dress to charity, or a bride that called off her wedding but has a non-returnable dress should be able to get some POSITIVE memories of her gown and have some empowering photos to remind her of who she is.

Seniors are also adopting this trend to get some High Fashion Concept portraits of themselves in their prom dresses that they will never wear again. What a great way to end their high school days, especially if they bring a boyfriend or group of friends to make the experience even more special for them.

Below the article I posted several examples of TTD that I found from Photographers I respect and admire. These are to give you an idea of the type of work I'd like to start here on the Oregon Coast. If this is an experience that you would love to have for yourself, contact me to set up a TTD shoot for yourself!

~ Carrie Grant Photography

WHAT WAS ONCE UNTHINKABLE IS NOW A TREND: GET THAT LILY-WHITE DRESS AND DIRTY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE SAKE OF MEMORIES.

Weddings are very much about tradition for most brides. There are reasons we wear the white dress, go to the church, exchange rings and gather our families around us. But for brides who want to add some punch to those traditions, the national “trash the dress” trend is gaining momentum locally. That means taking that traditional dress to nontraditional places for once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities. It might be gritty, you might get wet and you will certainly take risks. It’s all about an adventurous couple and a creative photographer teaming up for high-fashion, high-fun memory making.

Jeremy Lawson (J. Lawson Photography, 417-499-0399, jlawson photography.com) says he sees two main reactions to the idea of a trash-the-dress shoot, and they both revolve around money. “Some clients say, ‘I paid a lot for this dress, so I might as well get a lot of use out of it,’” he says. “But people who aren’t comfortable with it say, ‘I paid a lot of money for this dress; I don’t want to destroy it!’”

But it’s important to remember that it’s not always about destruction, and it’s never about disrespect. One school of thought is more abstract: If a bride values her vows and wants to stay with her husband forever, then she knows she’ll never need her wedding dress (or any wedding dress) again. So why not let it get a little dirty for the sake of art? It’s the last time in your life you’ll be wearing a white, billowy work of art.

Lawson says trash-the-dress shoots work best on destination-wedding days because the bride and groom don’t have as many friends and family around, and they are out of town and away from their routines. At times like that, it’s easier to get caught up in the moment and be willing to go a little outside your comfort zone. Honeymoons can provide that same kind of freedom. Dori Grinder, marketing director at 417 Magazine, got married in Marshfield in early November and took her gown with her on her honeymoon in Hawaii. While there, she found a local photographer and had a sunset photo shoot while playing in the surf with her new husband, Kevin.

At local weddings, though, Lawson says most trash-the-dress shoots are separate sessions scheduled after the wedding day, when brides don’t have to worry about keeping the gown clean. “You have to understand,” Lawson says, “that when you see this great photography in a magazine, the people wearing the dress have to go through a lot to get that picture. It’s more risky, and you get a little dirty.” Plus, he says, you have to be ready to let loose and have fun in front of the camera. One Springfield wedding that he shot ended with the wedding party getting drenched in the fountain at Jordan Valley Park.

“People visualize a girl in a white dress in pretty settings,” says Dawn Shields (Dawn Shields Photography, 417-880-6600, dawnshields.com). “But you can do the complete opposite and get great pictures, as long as the bride is open to doing it.” The key to a clever location isn’t always grunginess and dirt; it can be any spot you don’t expect a bride to be, Shields says. She has taken brides to shoot below gritty downtown overpasses, in urban alleys, in patches of flowers, in Missouri’s woods and in the fountain in Park Central Square. “It gives brides something cool to do with the dress besides put it in a box,” she says. “And their daughters are probably never going to wear it.”

People use the term “trash the dress,” but total destruction of your gorgeous white gown is not a requirement. Shields says most of the brides she works with are still able to easily get their dresses restored. Plus, careful brides and creative photographers can find ways to get great pictures with minimal damage. Sarah Kunau of Springfield went for a fast ride down a narrow track in her wedding dress, and photographer Preston Dial (Preston Dial

Photography, 417-889-2345, prestondial.com) got it all on film. “Preston had brought up the idea of going into a fountain, but I didn’t want to totally ruin the dress,” she says. “We tried to think of other ideas, and we realized that everyone in the wedding party had Silver Dollar City passes.” So after the wedding and reception, the wedding party hopped on Thunderation (along with the May amusement park crowds) for a photo op. She sat on a blanket to minimize damage to the gown, and she walked away with only some grime on the bottom of the skirt. No destruction, but fun and unusual pictures.

"Fashions fade; style is eternal."

–Yves Saint Laurent

Trash the Dress / Drown the Gown / Rock the Frock - part 1

2010-01-14T15:27:00.000-08:00

These Are Not Your Mother's Wedding Photos!!

Recently, a new trend in wedding photography has brides posing in their dresses in very non-traditional surroundings or with unusual props.

"Trash the Dress," also known sometimes as "rock the frock," is an unusal type of wedding photography. Occuring post-ceremony, the pictures usually feature the bride in her gown in a non-traditional setting or with odd props. According to a 2007 New York Times article entitled, "Is This Any Way to Treat Vera Wang," the trend was started in 2001 by Las Vegas photographer John Michael Cooper as a combined effort of a bride feeling "antiwedding" and Cooper's desire to explore creative and daring wedding photos. Since then, the trend has exploded, with photo shoots featuring brides, and in some cases, their grooms, as well as bridesmaids and promgoers.

Why "Trash the Dress"

There are many personal reasons a bride chooses to trash a pricey wedding gown. First, some brides would pefer to have the photos rather than a preserved wedding gown. Second, some brides enjoy the idea of having creative and daring photos as part of their wedding album and memories. Third, "Trash the Dress" photos may allow newlyweds to express themselves individually and as a couple as opposed to the beautiful yet very traditional shots already lining their wedding albums. This expression can come in the form of settings and props.

Settings

One of the most charming parts of a "Trash the Dress" shoot is the unusual settings. The following ideas can be used in a "Trash the Dress" shoot.

· Bride at the beach. In warm weather, some of the most beautiful photos are of newlyweds laying in the sand together, or swimming together. Brides can mimic mermaids in the water as the floating material creates photos with an etheral touch.

· Bride in the park. Brides can embrace their inner child by playing on the playground in their gowns. An added bonus? Have a photo of the groom pushing her on the swings, or all of the bridal party riding on the merry-go-round.

· Bride in the city. Often, urban settings create some of the most unusual and artistic photos. Train tracks or fire escapes add a gritty feel to photos. Or, look for urban touches such as distinctive buildings or decor, or even graffiti. These photos can be especially beautiful in black and white.

· Bride in the country. Release your inner cowgirl with a "Trash the Dress" photo shoot on a farm. Being photographed in a field of flowers or mud can yield fascinating results.

PropsProps or unusal accessories are a great way to show one's individuality. Ideas include:

· Animals. What better way to showcase beloved family pets than by getting a photo with the bride romping with them in some wedding finery?

· Motorcycles and tractors. Forget the photo of the bride stepping into a limo. Show off her bad girl side by posing in wedding finery on a motorcyle, or lose the fear of getting dirty by posing on a tractor. To make it even more interesting, pose on a mechanical bull and wear a cowboy hat.

· Hobby props. Love to read? Get a picture of the bride in her gown reading a book on a porch, bare feet proped on the railiong. Does the bride and groom enjoy baseball? Put on those baseball hats, grab some bats and balls and commerate the couple's hobby.

· Accessories. Remember, personal details is what makes the picture special, and a "Trash the Dress" shoot can be very personal. Don't be afraid to put on those combat or cowboy boots and hike up that long skirt. Hats and jewelry are other great ways to let a bride's personality shine through.

Above all, a "Trash the Dress" shoot should be fun. Be warned – that beautiful dress may get dirty or torn, or some brides prefer to destory them entirely in the name of art. But should you chose to participate in this, the couple can end up with a collection of beautiful, artistic pictures which they will treasure for years to come.

Photo Credits to Dawn Shields Photography and Weddingbycolor.com

as examples of the type of work I want to do here for local brides & seniors.

Carrie Grant Photography - Your Southern Oregon Coast Photographer

2010-01-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to have my blog up and running so I can share my photography with everyone, and get my name out there as the up and coming photographer of the Southern Oregon Coast!

I have been photographing weddings, seniors, families and events for several years on a part time basis. Now I am devoting all my time, energy and love into my Photography business. People tell me all the time that they see how much I love photographing weddings, their families, their children and capturing those perfect moments. I truly do. I also love trying new things, so I am always open to new methods, poses, locations and ideas. The current "IN" thing that I am dying to delve into is Trash the Dress (I will post a separate blog entry about that for those that have never heard of it), so I'm going to be looking for a couple models to pose for me in various locations in North Curry and Coos Counties to show what we can do and bring this forward fashion trend to the coast!

I am also currently stocking my costume and prop supply so that in just a few short months I will be providing the area with an Old Time Photo Studio! I will have old western costumes for men, women and children, southern belle and gentlemen costumes for those who love the Gone With the Wind era, Gangster and Flapper costumes from The Roaring 20's, and many other costumes and beautiful gowns for dressing up and having fun, glamorous and always unique portraits taken to treasure always. My goal is to have my studio open and ready by early summer so we can provide this unique experience to tourists and locals alike, especially on The 4th of July.

If you are interested in hosting a Portrait Party (see future blog post to learn about them) and earning free Portrait packages for yourself, or if you are looking for an innovative fundraiser for your child's school, youth group, sports team, or event, please message me for details and an information packet.

I look forward to seeing you all in the future...from behind a camera lens, of course :)