For Christmas this year, my husband gave me a new camera. Since then, I have stalked my family like the paparazzi, photo-documenting each person’s every move. At first they were excited to have their pictures taken with the new toy, but the novelty has long since worn off for them. It has gotten to the point that when my eldest child sees me coming he simply closes his eyes, refusing to open them until the camera goes back in its case.
Luckily for you, the new camera accompanied me to the the farm in January for the photo shoot for the Spring Summer 2013 pattern books. I came home with well over 1000 pictures of the farm and the new garments. Now, I know that Lauria has already shared some of Susan’s pictures from the photo shoot. But when Lauria asked if I was interested in sharing some of my own behind the scenes pictures from the weekend, I simply couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
The weather at the farm could not have been more perfect for the photo shoot. Don’t get me wrong. It was cold. But the sun was shining, the sky was clear and blue with just the perfect amount of whispy white clouds, and I am told it wasn’t nearly as chilly as it has been in the past.
The bunting adorning the roof line of the Orangerie made a previous appearance on the blog during the Fall Shearing Celebration / BY HAND Magazine launch. I love how it has been repurposed to decorate the greenhouse.
I think we shot photos from every available space on the farm. We used the fields, the front porch, the tractor, the barn, the driveway, the yard, the garden, and probably some other places I am forgetting. Some of the props for the scenes included a propane stove, textbooks, a hay bale, a chocolate cake, Luna, and, of course, a few sheep.
We even borrowed a super sweet baby and a nice man named Ben for the photo shoot. They were both extremely cooperative. The baby never once cried at being photographed in the cold air. And neither did Ben, for that matter.
The animals were all very curious about the strange people wandering in their pastures. This pretty girl (Emma, I think?) followed me around while we were shooting one morning.
And here is sweet Hannah.
Lucy clearly wanted her own feature in the pattern books. She wandered into several scenes, refused to budge, and often had to be forcibly removed from the shot.
Lauria was everywhere and everything over the course of the weekend. She kept us on time and on track throughout it all. She stayed up late every night to make sure we were prepared for the next day’s shots. When not giving us our marching orders, she swept, held reflectors, relocated stubborn canines, modeled knitwear, and was always on hand with lipstick.
Shirra and Tanya sent Lauria diving for cover during a staged game of badminton.
Erin modeled for the pattern booklets again this year. Here she is in one of the new designs for Sabine. This picture is far and away one of my favorites from the weekend.
Susan recently posted about Erin’s dog Ben, explaining how Ben has developed as a herder and how he helped she and Erin work the sheep. What Susan didn’t tell you is that Ben’s tongue is almost always sticking out just a wee bit, making him one of the most adorable and photogenic border collies I have ever met.
Muffin both modeled knitwear and busted her butt behind the scenes. When not in front of the camera, she could be found wearing her Aidez sweater knit out of Juniper Moon Farm Willa.
I love this picture of Muffin, Amy, and me.
Though the poses were staged for the camera, the smiles on our faces could not be more genuine. While shooting the above scene, I was smiling so widely and happily that Susan actually had to say to me, “Cris, a little less insanity in the smile, please.”
This visit the farm wasn’t exactly restful. We were up early, busy all day, and in bed late. But I had the most wonderful time working with this group of talented women. We worked together to accomplish an awful lot in short period of time. And we did it well. My thanks to Susan for opening up her home to me and for letting me follow her around with my fancy new camera, and my thanks to Lauria for inviting me to share some of my pictures with all of you.
