So over 6 months ago I was invited to join a group of photographers in planning a one of a kind retreat for others…The Neverland Retreat in Lake Tahoe…a place where we created a dream world for photographers to meet, learn from one another and lift one another up, build friendships and share stories. Well if you know me then you know that ever since I saw the movie Pan last year it became my all time favorite movie, even replacing frozen people! The magic in this movie is what I dream about but to my surprise most of my friends hadn’t seen it! Well fast forward to the decision that this workshop was going to be Neverland and my friend sally and I were paired together to create a super early sunrise session. I just knew we had to create a shoot that revolved around one of my favorite scenes from the movie, the first fight scene…filled with explosions of color, bright smoke and a storyline that tugs at the heart. so we did! We worked from opposite sides of Texas, we spoke daily, sally and her assistant spent most days searching second hand stores for anything we could use to build this scenes but also pack it in our suitcases ha! We ordered smoke bombs and colored powder and found the most incredibly perfect costume from the amazing Lyn of The Era Of Make Believe! (side note cheeks #2 has been as in love with this movie as me and begged me to be Tiger Lily for halloween and Lyn’s creation could not have more amazing y’all! so be sure to check out her shop NOW if you want to have the most imaginative, well made and custom halloween costume for your little one… I also have to take moment to tell you how incredible my friend Theresa is…Yall she met me in Tahoe and spent the 5 days as my right hand man not only taking care of me but also did ALL OF THE HAIR AND MAKEUP ON THESE KIDS! yep she is amazing!
I am sad to say I didn’t get many images from the two morning shoots because coordinating 22 photographers to allow each of them to capture a piece of what they are seeing is hard work but I am just giddy seeing the images these amazing photographers captured!!!! I was able to snap a few images that will forever have a piece of my heart, and working with Sally, Kerri, and Theresa was a complete dream (even though we had to wake up at 3am every day)!
I must give a shout out to these kiddos and their wonderful parents! Y’all these poor kids were freezing! It was in the 50’s in the mornings, and while we did everything we could to make them comfortable by having hand warmers, hot chocolate, and giving them breaks they seriously ROCKED IT without complaint! so without further adieu I give you, our collective vision of PAN….
I also gave the closing speech at the retreat and the group put on a shoot inspired by the movie Peter pan those are coming soon…
Stunning! Love this so much!