Vintage Val in her '55 Montclair

 

As I have shared before, many of my photo shoot ideas come to me in visions. 

The photo above is the result of a vision I had with the turquoise car and Val's white

scarf blowing out the window.

 

When I had the vision I thought, WHAT????

WHERE am I going to find that car????

 

I have learned to trust the visions because I am then led to all the props and

fine details of the photos.  I have learned to think of it as an exciting adventure

and to just follow it along.

 

But WHERE was I going to find a turquoise car from the 1950s???

 

A day after I had the vision, I was watching television.  I NEVER watch

commercials because I have Tivo and speed through them.

But that day, a commercial popped up and I found myself watching it.

 

The commercial was advertising an upcoming Antique Festival in a nearby

town with a vintage CAR SHOW!!!!

 

I KNEW I had to go and sure enough I found the exact car in my vision

and the owner was from my own town!!!!

 

Skip and Peggy were awesome to let me use their FABULOUS  '55 Montclair for the shoot!

 

 

It took me several weeks to pull together the props from the vision.

I had to spray paint one of my picnic baskets white because I had

more ideas pour into my brain with Val going on a picnic in

the spiffy car.

 

I found a wonderful vintage dress that matched the car on 

a vintage fashion Etsy Shop called TwoMoxie. 

The owners, Angela and Beatrice sent the perfect dress from Canada and

were excited to see the photos.

 

But I still needed shoes for Val.

One day I had the urge to go to the Salvation Army to look for the shoes.

I did not know what they looked like, but I followed my urge to go.

 

I approached the shoe aisle, but one of the workers was stocking

 shoes and was blocking the aisle.  I tried to look down

the long row of shoes around her, but my

eyes were turned to see the PERFECT colored high heels right in front of me for $3!

 

I was SHAKING with excitement...THESE were the shoes and they

matched the dress and CAR!!!!

 

The props were ready, but the shoot kept getting rain delayed.

 

 

Finally, we were able to synchronize the car, Val, me and the weather.

 

I usually love to shoot in bright sunshine at 10 am,

but when we arrived at the location, I quickly realized the sun

was going to be a big problem with lots of glaring chrome, plus

shooting inside the car!

 

We shot the picnic scenes first.  I backlit Val and

used the reflector.

 

That orange blob on the grass to the right of me is

my mini leaf blower we used to blow Val's scarf in the first photo.

 

To learn about using a leaf blower to create wind in photos

watch my VIDEO TUTORIAL.

 

 

 

The reflector always saves the day in bright sunshine,

but remember to look for the soft "edge" light...not bombard her with

a pure reflection of harsh sunlight!

 

To learn how to use a reflector CLICK HERE.

 

Skip was so nice to take these behind-the-scene shots with my I-Pad.

 

 

Here's the picture story of Vintage Val going on a picnic

in her matching '55 Montclair.

 

Only Vintage Val would drive a car that matches her outfit...hee hee!

 

Look at those PERFECT high heels and I was led right to them!!!!

 

 

Shooting inside the car posed lighting challenges.

I had Skip move the car so we wouldn't get direct sunlight coming

in the windshield.

 

 

WHY don't they make cars in these fun colors anymore???

 

 

This is one of my favorite photos with Val's curl just right.

I LOVE the colors!

 

 

We had to move the car again because of the harsh sunlight.

And Skip used the reflector to light her inside the  dark car.

 

Val is an avid reader and was going to bring a book to the

shoot that matched the car...ha ha!  But she forgot.

 

My friend, whose land we used for the shoot, brought us the perfect book!

"101 Classic Love Poems"

 

Of course, Vintage Val would read that on a picnic in

her matching land rover!

 

My vision showed her with a bowl of strawberries which I bought,

But with the rain, the shoot got delayed and the berries sat in my fridge for a few days.

 

A special thanks to my hubby who didn't eat them,

even though he REALLY wanted to!

 

Vintage Val always gets her beauty nap!

 

I'm still pinching myself over those PERFECT shoes!!!

 

Skip held the reflector for me in many shots.  He is one of only a few

helpers who has an innate understanding of how to angle it for

the softer glow.

 

In this next photo, Skip held the reflector to BLOCK the sunlight

entirely on Val's face.  Notice how it is glaring on the rest of her body.

 

He was standing outside the car holding the reflector over the windshield.

 

THANKS, Skip!!!!

 

 

 

He blocked the sun in this next photo, also.

See how there are no shadows or glare on her face,

but there is on her legs?

 

Skip and Peggy were the BEST!  Peggy even helped arrange

Val's skirt saying, "Jill, I think you need a bit of petticoat!"

 

I could go on and on about those SHOES!  Have you ever even seen

high heels in that color???

 

Once again, the sun blocked by the reflector.

 

 

 

 

 

I am very grateful to Skip and Peggy for helping me fulfill my vision!

 

The shoot took a grueling two hours, but we all had a ton of

fun and laughs!  Val is a trooper!

 

Would you believe, when we got back to my house, Val's

car wouldn't start and we had to jump it????

That would NEVER happen to Vintage Val!

 

It's so magical to play out a vision...