For the second and third looks of Holly’s photoshoot we headed over to the Charmant hotel in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. It’s one of my favorite hotels to shoot in, and the restaurant is wonderful as well.
Holly had mentioned that she was interested in water so I floated (pun intended) a few wildly different ideas her way, some of which sounded like this- do we want to do a sunrise lake thing, or find a creek in the woods, or do we possibly want a tub?
She settled on the tub ideafor her second look, and I went and pulled some more nuanced concepts for her to help us narrow it down and hone in on the vibe. Because that’s what we do in the planning process- I ask and show and ask and show some more until we really get to something that feels right to you.
And along the way I try my darndest to make sure that it has some elements that are unique. Because why be like everyone else?!
Tons of people have done bathtubs photos before, even me, in this very tub. I wanted to add some color to the white and gray in the room and I knew that maroon would both pop and fit Holly’s dark romantic sensibilities, so I draped the tub with tulle. Not to mention it would contrast very beautifully with her pale skin.
Then onto floral elements. I think that the tendency is to do the standard rose petals here. And while there’s nothing wrong with this idea, (I myself did something similar a long time ago with a woman scattered in nothing but red rose petals ala American Beauty and it remains a favorite. You can see it on my main page if you feel like hunting) I like to challenge my clients to think a little outside the box. So, I suggested orchids, not knowing that they are Holly’s favorite flower. Win win! Since buying a bunch of orchid plants for the sole purpose of destroying them just didn’t sit well with me I went and ordered real touch faux orchids. I’ve used them before and I think they look realistic enough, plus you can re-use them in the future so it’s more sustainable. We went with pink hues to both blend but pop.
Shooting in a hotel bathroom (most bathrooms really) is quite tricky because you don’t have a lot of space to move around. Images are closer. It’s hard to get that great pull back shot that showcases the whole scene. With this room though, I stood on the vanity to get the wide shots of her from above. Ya do what ya gotta do!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again- there is something about putting people in water, whether it’s a lake or a bathtub or a shower, that really ‘settles’ them. Maybe it’s because we begin in the womb, or because we are made of water. I don’t really know, but I love photographing it.
Also, thank you Holly for letting me fuck around and play a little towards the end with a few creative ideas. You never know if one of them is going to become ‘the one!’ Onto the images! –
