So about this night. It was stormy in Valleyview - LIKE THE CRAZIEST WINDS EVER - but luckily it was so gorgeous up above Batchelor. I mean.. we got it all. Golden hour, sunset, a rainbow & blue hour.

It is always so fun to create with other creatives. Carmen is a photographer, makeup artist & stylist and I was SO excited to finally meet her. Our original session was rescheduled because of that awful blizzard at the beginning of the year! And then this, that and the other happened. And then Covid happened.. I was worried after all this hype it might fall flat. I was wrong. I’m in love with what we created together. 1000%. It was just what my heart needed!

I love creating collaboratively - my fave shoots are always the ones where we are sorting through piles of outfit options & putting together looks on the go. There is something about that little bit of spontaneity and improvisation that fuels me! You show up with some things, I show up with some things & magic happens.

“The Skirt” in Burgandy - it was in my client closet BUT Carmen and I traded this skirt and the above green kimono wrap dress!

House of Flynn Star Cover Up (EM client closet)

As most of you know, I love shooting Reclamation dresses! They are unique, romantic & versatile pieces you could shoot over & over and you would never tire from them. I’m bringing in an amazing design in the new year that I can’t wait for. Trista and her team are incredible designers and I swear to you the dresses are infused with magic inevery stitch. She is also a huge supporter of fellow artists and creators. I love signing in to watch her Instagram live videos to catch a glimpse of her daily creations or musings.

I rented my first Reclamation dress via KCL Photography’s Travelling Dress Canada group. She created a group for Canadian photographers so that we could all have the opportunity to shoot with these incredible dresses.

I was lucky to have 3 shoots while I had the black lace dress with me! This first shoot was with Ginger Turley of Ginger Turley Artistry. We wanted to create portraits that were a true representation of her style & of herself and I think we accomplished just that.

P.S. To get that dust shot, I had my lovely assistant Maddisen drive by. I did layer a bit more in but the initial effect was done in shot! So fun!!

This second set I wanted to play with light and explore this beautiful location a little bit more. I shot a previous Reclamation dress here and didn’t want the two to look remotely the same. Kyla is always up to create together and her red hair against this background was perfect. We also shot some outdoor boudoir - but more on that later! ;) We created a high fashion look and I also got to play with my 14 mm lens. I don’t always get to bring that bad boy out but when I do it makes magic.

This third set was a year in the making. Danielle Anderson of Renegade Beauty and I designed this with hopes of it getting published in Gilded Magazine. We wanted to shoot something a little bit spooky, we love dramatic shots and we reaaaally wanted to incorporate gold leaf with Danielle’s own spin on the look. We are so grateful to have been published among the other very talented international artists. With just 30 minutes to shoot, and only 10 minutes of that still during daylight this was the most challenging shoot. Thank goodness for flash! It turned out exactly how I imagined it and it wouldn’t have been the same without each person involved.

Team:

Photography & Concept - Emily-May Photography

Co Designer, Make Up & Hair - Renegade Beauty Co.

Model - Jarilyn Southgate

Crown - Lady Sixela Designs

Assistant - Bright Adventures Photography

Dress - Reclamation