It was a perfect day! Dixie changed into another retro styled dress, I brought out the old 1950s camera as a prop, and off to the park we went to shoot even more pinup and retro!
This was such a cute pinup photo set to shoot of Dixie! I filled her arms with old Famous Barr hat boxes, and we strolled down South Broadway and pretended to shop. We stopped in doorways and wherever inspiration took us. Needless to say, we got lots of attention from passersby!
I had such fun shooting Dixie in her vintage pink dress and home made ice-cream cone high heels. Dixie Dupree is a pinup model here in St. Louis, and we shot these pics for her modeling portfolio.
What a lovely cape! I am sure the woman who originally wore this in the 1930s must have loved it. It was wool and extra large. I posed the retro model outdoors in a variety of settings, because it was so pretty! I especially love the pictures of the green cape against the green brick. I think these photos make for a timeless fashion editorial spread.
The model and I decided to make a quick drive to Carondelet Park. I love these photos of the black French Lace dress even more than the studio photos! It was so easy to get caught up in taking pictures, with the perfect weather and perfect fashion. We shot in the Carondelet Boathouse, on the fishing dock, and under the columned spaces in front. I especially like the portraits with the Carondelet Boat House behind the model. Even with minimal editing, they look totally turn of the century.
This was supposedly a French Lace dress worn to the 1904 World’s Fair. It’s hard to see how it fit, or what the original owner’s size was. Was she petite and the lace draped, or was she a larger woman? Black lace makes for classic styling and photos, any way! The lace was still in amazing condition, but it was literally falling apart at the seams. Here are the first studio photos I shot of that dress.
These hats belonged to the Carondelet Historical Society. The pink dress was from the 1980s and we got it for $2 at the thrift shop next door. The green cloak she’s wearing is from the 1920s.This mixed wardrobe was perfect inspiration for some very emotive, classic, portraits.
I didn’t bother to re-edit these 1910s style photos. Anita was tiny enough to model this Edwardian lace dress without a corset! I wish we’d had one, just for the look. The details on this lace dress were pretty amazing. I posed her with an interior design book from 1912, which I should scan before I sell.
Zizi V. totally owned the WWII WAC uniform. She was my third and last model to wear it. My first retro shoot with Anita had all the awkwardness of a first-time (everything), which made for very authentic emotions. With this third shoot in the WAC uniform, I was more confident and explored beyond the studio to the front room and outdoors (where the natural light was perfect). We played more with the set, even in the studio, and the pictures just turned out different. I think that the outdoor and natural light photos turned out looking like 1940s era snapshots and candids.
It’s interesting to see how many ways the WAC Uniform was modeled by the models I shot in 2011! Besides the WAC uniform, I also photographed Jaslene wearing a feathered hat from the 1960s, and in a traditional costume that she’d brought along to our shoot. It was fun and good times. I really like the 1960s hat best, her expressions totally made it sparkle.
This is another cute retro set from my 2011 archives! Classic, cheesecake pinup in a swimsuit. We had a ton of fun shooting this happy series with the old radio and American flag on the sheepskin rug. The model did her own makeup and it was just as wholesome as apple pie.
Back in 2011, I got to borrow this World War II Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC and later WAC) uniform with matching garrison cap from a local historical society.
This was my first shoot for the Carondelet Historical Society, and the first picture from this first shoot is my favorite.
This was such a fun photography workshop to organize with Joann of Clean Cut Creations Vintage Auto Repair. I have always wanted to put together a “shoot out” event, after having attended several on the coasts. The fact that we chose a vintage theme and were able to round up some classic cars, made things extra awesome.
I provided all the authentic vintage dresses, hats and wardrobe, I applied all the period styled makeup on the models, and guided their hair styles.
Once I had the model in this 1880s bustle dress, I didn’t want to let her out! The weather was SO pretty outside that we decided to go take some fashion photos at Carondelet Park. The boathouse at Carondelet Park, although originally built in 1918, and the concrete pergolas (built in the 1930s), made for perfect a perfect set to go with this 150+ year old dress.
I almost forgot that I took these 1800s styled photos, back in 2012. The first dress is an 1880s-ish tea gown, and it was fun enough to take pictures of… but the second dress, with the attached note saying that it was Miss Meroe’s “Going Away Dress”… was just incredible! I wish we’d had a proper corset, but luckily my model Tiffany was petite enough to fit into it….
Here are the last of the unposted pics from my retro styled photo shoot with pinup model Rebekah Leigh a few years ago. She’s wearing her own vintage wardrobe and posed next to a green vintage Chevrolet. Although these photos are retro inspired, they could easily be modern fashion.
When more than one person is photographing a model at the same time, it is always difficult to get great photos. If the photographers are at different angles, the model doesn’t know who to pose for, and if the photographers are shooting close to each other, they end up with very similar images. It was very challenging to shoot any model in this situation.
Here are more never posted pinup and retro styled pics with vintage cars from my shoot a few years ago with St. Louis model June Ann. She wore her own vintage inspired wardrobe and did her own pinup styled makeup and hair. I am awful at identifying cars and car years, except what I can read on the side of a car, so feel free to comment what kinds of cars she’s posed with 🙂
Sometimes when editing good pinup pictures, or photos that I think are pretty good, my eyes and judgement start to glaze over. I end up thinking that self-similar images are equally good, so show those also. I also never know what people are going to like, and if I like two pictures just the same, may as well post them!
The red skirt, shoes, and matching blouse and accessories in these pinup pictures really pops against the drab background. St. Louis pinup model Rebekah Leigh is wearing her own wardrobe and did her own hair and makeup. This set is from a few years ago, and I realized that I never posted any of these pictures…
