AN ALPINE ELOPEMENT (COURCHEVEL PHOTOGRAPHY)
IT'S STYLED SHOOT TIME.. A CHANCE FOR ME TO FULLY ART DIRECT A SHOOT, WITH MY OWN VISION AND DESIGN. I SPENT WEEKS COLLECTING PROPS IN VINTAGE AND SECOND HAND STORES, ORDERING AND STITCHING LEATHER, LOCATION SCOUTING ACROSS THE 3 VALLEYS, HAND PAINTING A LEATHER JACKET, AND TYPING AWAY ON AN ANTIQUE TYPE WRITER. ALL OF THIS TO DESIGN THE PERFECT ALPINE ELOPEMENT AT SUNSET.. I'D CHOOSE A DAY LIKE THIS OVER A BIG TRAD WEDDING, EVERY TIME! MAKE SURE TO FLICK THROUGH TO THE END FOR THE BTS VIDEO BY DELICATE MOTION...
Elopements are everything right now. Every wedding photographer dreams of opportunities to shoot adventurous couples in stunning locations. Instagram and Pinterest are bursting at the seams with gorgeous couples embracing in front of jaw-dropping backdrops. But I actually live in the French Alps all Winter. These incredible views are not social-media hashtags, they are my world. My front door opens out onto views of mountains and snow topped trees, and winding mountain roads are a means of getting around, not an instagram photo-op.
I wanted to use this backdrop for a styled shoot, without the OTT dramatic style which seems to dominate right now. Though the setting is dramatic, the atmosphere here is pure fun and energy. I wanted to art-direct something out here, which felt like my life here. I wanted the styling to be young, relaxed and boho with an alpine twist. I wanted the couple to be relaxed and having fun, and I wanted to the setting to be quietly epic.
After a month of location scouting, I chose to shoot just outside a village called La Praz, close to Courchevel. Finding this spot wasn't easy. I had to find somewhere accessible by car, with uninterrupted views, and somewhere to set up a rock-table-setting. I had scrambled through countless forests, around lakes and as high as we could drive up the mountains. But this little Matzot (a tiny rural hut, usually for storage) was the perfect moment.
The Team:
I had such a great team on the day too. Not only did friend and fellow snapper Katie Probert come and take some BTS stills of the day, but Alex Davies of Delicate Motion, came and shot a beautiful video. Make sure to flick through to the end to see it!
My models were drop-dead-gorgeous friends Joshua Persaud-Walters and Nienke Summerhill. A huge thank you also goes out to my other half Adam, who drove everywhere, taxi-ed, helped, dug holes and generally saved my life for this entire shoot. It was riddled with surprises and hurdles!
Credits:
Art Direction, Styling & Photography - The Wardette Studio
Videography - Delicate Motion Videography
Make Up Artist: Becca Knubley
Dress: Jarlo Tall Maxi Dress With Strappy Back via ASOS, with customised Leather Detailing
Leather Jackets: Nienke's ASOS with Polly & Me customisation, Josh's Vintage.
Flowers: Sonya Pollitt (Chamonix, France)
All Calligraphy Designs: Polly & Me (traced and copied onto pieces by me)
Rings: Handmade by Chamonix Jewellery
Mountain Themed Props by My Mountain Boutique
Mountain Necklace, by Little Wren's - Embroidery pieces, by Snowbird Art, Antler Print by My Mountain Boutique
All Other props are all vintage, collected here in France, or created by me.