Winter Trash the Dress : Maine Edition

I’ve been speaking with a local woman about a trash the dress session since about the time I moved to Maine. We’ve discussed everything from mud to paint, and water to fields. We finally decided on a theme a few months back and we’ve just been waiting… and waiting… followed by more waiting.

This winter has been a very weird one for Maine, considering there is usually about two feet of snow on the ground by this time. I am not complaining! Don’t get me wrong, snow is fun, especially when you have the means to get out and play in it. I, however, do not. Not even snowshoes! Remind me to acquire a snowmobile this summer, would ya?

So, Saturday, Cherie (That’s pronounced SHER-Ree, not SHAR-REE lol) and I decided that “today was the day”. I spent the whole morning getting ready- the gear and myself. Almost 12 years in and I still get butterflies before every shoot. I hope it stays this way throughout my career.

We met at my new studio in the afternoon to get Cherie ready. Her dress was a beautiful white satin with white and read beading. Around the waist was an eye-popping red sash that tied in the back. The train was there, but it wasn’t enormous. Just enough to appreciate it being there.

We went with a natural look (because I forgot my bright red lipstick), down, straight hair, and jeans. Took to my trusty Honda and set forth to the shoot location. I pulled into the parking area at the location and immediately realized I was sliding. I pumped my brakes until I came to a stop and backed up about 10 feet.

This is where it gets good.

To my right it a cabin and a rather large snow bank. To my left is a field with a snowbank barrier, that would, essentially keep my from sliding into the creek on the property. I decided to go left. Left went well until I started heading back towards the road… up an incline… on about 2 inches of ice.

It didn’t work out well.

I turned to Cherie and said, “We can either sit here and wait, or get to shooting while it’s still daylight.” The sun goes down at 4:15pm here in Northern Maine. She hopped out of the Honda and we began shooting. It went smoothly and she was a real trooper. I had to take a break for about 20 minutes because I was cold. With two pairs of socks, boots, thermals, jeans, thermal shirt, hoodie, snow jacket, and hand warmers!

We awaited our rescue and this is the end product: