Photoshoot: Elverhøj
Location: Jægersborg Dyrehave
Models:Lone Jacobsen
Emilie Gersager
Rikke Christensen
The theme for the
newest issue of Starlight Magazine is "Sensommer" (late summer) and we decided to put emphasis on faeries/elves. I've been wanting to do a shoot like this for years now, but back when the idea first arose, I didn't have the skills or the resources.
The idea was to show the myth of the Scandinavian elves. It is said that the elven girls are stunningly beautiful and they live with the King of Elves in hills, old trees and swamps. If you walk alone in the forest or you fall asleep near their home, they might come to you. They will try to seduce you; Lure you back to their place and then you'll never be able to leave again. They will sing and dance for you in attempt to win you over. If you refuse, they will turn cruel, menacing and probably kill you. The only way to tell them apart from humans are by their hollow backs.
There are two pages of behind the scenes of this photo shoot in the magazine, but for those of you who don't read Danish, I'll just review.
I think almost two months of preparations went into this shoot. I didn't really own any white Lolita clothes, so I had to sew a dress and two skirts.
Finding the right location proved a bit tricky, as the date got closer and I still hadn't found a place. I tried searching the forest near my parents' summer cottage, but nothing really stood out. I guess, I kind of had the whole thing pictured in my mind and then it's hard to find something to live up to an imaginary place. But then Tenna came with me to Dyrehaven and we found what I think is a really great spot.
Don't even get me started on the dry ice situation.
Luckily it wasn't hard to find the models for the shoot, since I have such good looking and just generally awesome friends. :D
Stine was supposed to be our Soldier guy, but unfortunately she became sick and unable to do it, Rikke stepped in in last minute and was able to pull off the character really convincingly, I think. Stine was going to put her outfit together herself, I didn't have any of the soldier's clothes at my place, so Rikke and I had to throw something together. But I think it turned out really nice :D
We met up at my place at ten in the morning and then more than four hours later we were done with hair and makeup and ready to leave.
It had rained all morning, but it stopped and when we got to the forest, it was calm and peaceful. We got so close to a huge herd of deers, it was amazing. They were really cute :D
The girls had all (well, just the three elves of course) agreed to have bare feet during the shoot. Yeah, I told you they're awesome. And I really admire them, I don't think I would have been able to do it - with all the insects (I'm really not good with insects), stinging nettles and animal droppings laying about, but they did it and that's commendable.
Rikke had to leave us at one point, when I only needed to take some of the three 'evil' elves. Dark clouds had been lurking in the horizon for a really long time. Eventually, they were in the shot and that looked awesome, right up to the point when the sky opened and it started pouring down. It was a "Save yourself"/"Oh god, the equipment"-situation. And then we walked back through the forest in the rain after shooting for about three hours.
Then back at my place, Lone and Tenna stayed for pizza and an episode (or two) of Supernatural.
I love days like this. Seriously. Wonderful company, beautiful scenery and just full of good times. I don't see how it could have been any better. :3
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Since we did so many variations: group shots, singles, the different parts of the "story", I have ended up with a lot of finished photos, a lot more than I ever expected. So today you've seen the ones that made it to the magazine. Then over the next few days, I'll be posting the rest. So stay tuned ;)
