oz editorial | first look

this post is part one of two...yes, it's a prelude and I don't typically say anything with a prelude,but I can't just post without saying what's been in my head and why...so, if you'd like to skip the "load-up" as my husband lovingly refers to my rambles...scroll down. ;)this session represents a mash-up of thoughts and day-dreams from this past year and really, parts of my childhood.the wizard of oz.as a little girl, I LOVED this movie.for one, it was one of the only movies growing up where a brunette was the heroine...and the idea of movie being based on a brown-haired girl's day-dream has always fascinated me. ;)then, when it came out that the movie would be celebrating it's 75th anniversary in 2014, I KNEW that I wanted to shoot OZ.while I had still been planning belle in 2012, previews for "the great and powerful OZ" movie started to leak and my little daydream started to become a reality.when "the great and powerful oz" movie came out, that visual fit more in what I thought of the beauty of both the witch sisters.as I said, I always loved judy garland as dorothy but really my absolute fascination has always been with the wicked witch.you're going to laugh but the sister relationship between glinda and theodora (the wicked witch) in the GPO movie was something I could relate slightly to...I'm so laughing because I know my sister is going to read this and say that I am ridiculous.my yess is beautiful and blonde like glinda...and I do NOT have self-esteem issues, so don't think "oh jen..."I sighed and imagined how cool it would be to photograph something like that...the ying and yang of good and evil...the contrast, the drama...I just thought it would just be a lot of fun.plus, I follow incredible photographers like annie liebovitz and tim walker who fill my minds eye with incredible fantastical inspiration.as my day dream continued as I planned, my minds visuals grew in watching shows like Project Runway and the Rachel Zoe show...and the fashion element started to grow...names like badgley mischka and monique llulier were brands I only saw photographing brides or on tv...the idea of actually photographing dresses made by craftsmen like them was literally a dream living somewhere over the rainbow.I'm a mom, a wife...living in gilbert, arizona. what business did I have dreaming about couture gowns and visual drama?I've been studying Galatians 6 for some time and had this conversation with that same glinda sister a few years ago as I would tell her my photography dreams...she boldly asked:

"why not? why not shoot your dreams?"

I've talked about it before here, but the freedom of that simple question has stuck with me.my husband supports me, my family supports me, my kids support me...why not?the funny thing that I've found along asking that question out loud is that I've found a bunch of other dreamers who have skills in make-up, hair, florals, nail art, planning, videography and so, so many other things that brought this day dream over the rainbow to life.last fun fact in planning this session for this post: I was close to quitting on this dream about a month ago.there seemed to be too many bumps on the road to OZ and I genuinely think that God orchestrated my aunts visit last month at exactly the right time...my aunt is a phenomenal artist that lives in the east coast and she is part of a garden club.each year they create gardens around a theme.yup, you can guess what the theme was last season. :)my aunt, being the artist that she is, included vintage wizard of oz books that she kept from from my grandmother and from her own childhood to use in her representation of the wizard of oz in her garden.as I opened to look at the artwork of these beautiful books, my eyes literally filled with tears.the scarecrow's clothing was literally a patchwork dress, just like mine I had been working on this past year.dorothy was a young child...just like my peanut.the lion was more beautiful that the one in the movie...just like the one I had in my minds eye.the logo that lined the inside of book was exactly like the one I had imprinted in my head.and it had belonged to my grandmother who I have so very few real memories with...it was something that tied me to her and it made tears fall.really it was gift from Him to me through my aunt saying what my husband had said to me in the middle of planning the belle session:

"you were meant to finish."

so there you go...a mini-story into the craziness that resides in my head on a regular basis and an answer to the why.if you'd like an audio of the song that's been playing in my head for the year...just click here before you scroll down. :) it's my favorite...photographers: kreatid photography + design | elizabeth ann photographymake up artist: ideal bridalhair stylists: steph, jess + lucy at savante salonnail technician: debbie at savante salonfloral: everybody loves flowersstyle coordination: ashley blunt styling and designvintage books: helen cantrellassistant's: sammie zimmerman, kristy fulbright, dani gailfus, kiana kernssnack caterer and best mom in the world: jan stammdorothy's dress: mod clothdorothy's earrings: kate spadedorothy's shoes: coachglinda's dress: pamella rolandthe wicked witch's dress: monique lluillierthe wicked witch's feather cowl + hat: kreatid photography + designthe lion's dress: badgley mischkathe tin woman's dress: badgley mischkathe tin woman's acccessories: chamak by priya kakkarthe scarecrow's skirt: kreatid photography + designthe scarecrow's accessories: mod clothvideography: MG Filmsdorothy: maddie driesbachoz: joe slaterglinda: lauren witherillthe wicked witch: lizzie englishthe lion: lauren taylorthe tin woman: hannah macquirethe scarecrow: tara yurichtoto: lilly johnston ;)again, thank you just doesn’t seem to cover how I feel right now…but I am.  overwhelmingly so. :)