Inclusion
I bottled up the freezing cold water of Lake Huron as it rolled in, softly washing the rocks along the shore of our 300 ft tiny cabin. The same Lake I would swim and bathe in as a child. It never felt like Michigan, but it somehow still feels like going home.
Next I walked up the limestone stairs my husband and I put in by hand that leads to a dead birch tree we still haven’t cut down so we can harvests it’s bark for fires and the wood peckers can continue to enjoy it. I peeled back it’s skin and put it into my cauldron for a special fire ceremony later back at my home. I asked my husband to gather something significant from the property and he chose the milkweed pods we leave standing for the monarch butterflies.
Lastly we drove to the rustic campground I would stay at with my parents and grandparents every 4th of July to collect the rare bit of sand that lines the shores. Nothing has changed there, not the limestone fire pits, not the flat patches of grass tucked between the hemlocks overlooking the tiny islands that are scattered through out the bay. Yet somehow, everything in my life outside of that very park has managed to change.
I describe to you the location I chose to gather materials for the Lake Formed Inclusion pendant necklace LEE.BA.TROY Studio will make for me.
Through the alchemical process of hand-casting molten metal, the Artist, Kristy, transforms water, sand, and natural elements into one-of-a-kind wearable sculptures that embody both artistry and nature.
These pieces and the process to create them are not just stories to listen to, but stories to hold. After seeing LEE.BA.TROY share about them on her social media I was intrigued to tell the story through Photographs in an Editorial Shoot. I asked about her process to get a clear vision for the shoot and her response was both inspiring and emotional. These pieces are not mass produced (even if they are not custom inclusions) but crafted with intention, purpose, and respect for every element involved. Kristy shared with me, “Collecting sand and water from a location- this is a ceremony of sorts for me. It’s also natural EMDR because I walk the shore and scan left to right for treasures with mindful breathing and taking in the sound of the lapping waves or other sounds.”
If it’s an Inclusion piece, meaning it’s custom made and includes natural elements of your choosing, anything from bridal flowers, birch bark, hand written letters, to cremains can be added. During this process Kristy takes a moment of silence to honor the keepsake inclusion.
Once home I wrote a letter, a little reminder to myself, and burnt it along with the bark and pods. The next day they were sent to LEE.BA.TROY Studios where Kristy will work her magic.
EDITORIAL
Editorial Spreads in magazines often capture the essence of a moment, tell an intriguing tale, share secrets with the viewer. These shots are not meant to sell to you, they’re meant to invite you into their world. That’s exactly what felt right for this shoot. Items this special don’t need marketing, they need their story told- just like we all do.
Yet. I am still a business woman, working with other businesses, and selling is a part of staying alive in business. What I love about shoots like this for my clients is they do both- they share, genuinely, from a deep place, and because of that connection and emotion they also sell. Moving forward I’m excited to bring this approach to more of clients, as it feels far more honest, playful, and like a gift to the viewer and shopper. They aren’t being sold to, they are being shared with and shown, like a human being.
Product
And for the sake of traditional marketing I did get some solid product shots as well that still hd an artistic edge to them.
Lady of the Lake
In my head I started to develop this character, a woman of mystery who’s tied to the Lake. These pieces feel magical, etherial, and mysterious to me. What they hold is stories, memories, history, love, hope, happiness, grief, until it is all transformed, secretly tucked away in silver, becoming a comforting talisman that lies upon our chests, still being shared with the rest of the world as a unique little nugget that shines in the light.
To get to know this “Lady of the Lake” better I let the thoughts pour out into a poem, a very rough draft, which highly influenced how I shot the rest of this Editorial Set. I imagines her sneaking out into the night, unseen, to visit the Lake, unburdened by man.
These images were highly edited to have a more “character” like feel to them.
Fine Art
The last thing I did was sit with this mysterious character and really lean into more of a Fine Art approach with her.
If you would like to see the hand written rough draft poem and the finished Fine Art Piece visit my Fine Art Blog!
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If you’re interested in booking your own Editorial or Commercial shoot for your business or Art please reach out by messaging me and we can start designing something for you!
Want to see more Commercial and Editorial Photoshoots for Inspiration?