This is what I live for. This moment right here.
Friends, dreamers, artists, collaborators, stepping into the courageous voyage of creativity. United in nostalgia and a desire to pursue beauty, and connection. Sharing in our talents and our gifts: Every person willing to host, or bake, or sew, in order to bring this dream to life.
Welcome to Wonderland.
Here a cross-pollination of fictitious Universes and characters gather in a make-believe world that Walt Disney would be proud of; a modern day Disney. This Alice in Wonderland tea party had been a dream of mine for four years. It wasn’t until I met this band of creatives - my fellow adventurers along the 18 Inch Journey - that I realized it would be possible to bring one of my greatest dreams to life in the woods of Sophia, North Carolina.
For this modern day Disney editorial event, no detail went unattended. Every costume, prop, and placement was crafted with precision, heart, and excellence. Together we built an ode to childhood - resulting in one of my favorite editorial pieces to date.
Alice was our host. Together with the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter, she welcomed each guest from another film, book, kingdom, and realm, to gather at the table here in Wonderland. We broke through the barriers of time and the parameters of pages to weave a new story: one of communion, where everyone is welcome to sit at the table together.
Over cakes and cookies, we chatted and laughed during this magical Alice in Wonderland tea party. Leaning into friendship and playfulness. Perhaps our childlikeness got the better of us, as it didn’t take long for a cake fight to break out. Frosting and whipped cream went flying, and I couldn’t help but smile, knowing this was the perfect end to a most magical day.
Moments like this remind me why I fell in love with photography in the first place. It is the opportunity to tell stories, to blend fantasy with friends, that remind me why I do what I do. After all, as Walt Disney once said - ‘It's kind of fun to do the impossible.’
Vendors
Styled by: Sam Solorio, Rachel Chung
Makeup: Justina Stevens, Mary Rachel Hall
Garden/table design: Ben Gardener, Marissa Mitev, Melanie Mikus
Cake by: Martha Mcrae
Baked goods: The Table
Enjoy this beautiful video by my dear friend Ryan Brisco. He filmed and edited my concept and made it into one of the most captivating stories. (This is also a beautiful glimpse into my 18 Inch Journey Phase II.)