One dress, limitless possibilities!

I have been admiring the Traveling Dress blog for some time now. I was so inspired by all of the beautiful and creative images I was scrolling through. I am very passionate about personal projects, as they push me to be more creative. I thought about how this was such an amazing and unique opportunity for artists to come together, and put their own spin on it. I found a group of amazing photographers I admire who were willing to participate. We decided on the “golden V-neck maxi dress”. We especially liked the colour, and flow of the dress. The dress was ordered in August 2018, and I was the first to receive it. I just couldn’t wait to get the project started. I quickly went out on a Saturday evening, exploring places in my community in Fort McMurray, Alberta for some shots. I initially attempted some drone shots with the help of my husband (they didn’t turn out as I had hoped; maybe next time!). Once I was finished, I excitedly prepared the dress to be on its way to California to visit my talented friend Nicole.

Melissa Richard (group leader)
Location: Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Instagram | Website

I had seen a few traveling dress loops starting on Instagram and I was so drawn to the thought of this community of photographers all around the world participating in the dress journey together. I was somehow in the right place at the right time and lucky enough to join this group of incredible women. I was the second to receive the dress from an artist I admire so much, Melissa Richard. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants style, if you will, all the way from Canada to Sonoma County, California. I received the package the very beginning of Fall. I opened the envelope to a beautiful mustard gold colored dress. The vineyards were just starting to change and I knew I wanted to a) Wear the dress myself to push myself out of my comfort zone and b) use the vineyards as my backdrop. Nothing could represent Sonoma County, California better than the golden rows of vineyards in the Fall. I also love nothing more in life than being a mother, so I knew I wanted my daughter in at least one photo with me. We took lots of photos that I will treasure forever and have solidified this experience for me. It was time for the dress to go and so I sent it off to San Diego, feeling excited to eventually see what each one of us would create.

Nicole Gross
Location: Sonoma County, California
Instagram

When Melissa, whom I virtually met through an Instagram loop group, asked if anyone wanted to join in on a traveling dress project I left no room for hesitation. At that time, I was seeing more and more of them popping up and thought it’d be so awesome to do our own take on the project. Unfortunately, the timing of it started at the peak of back to school and by the time I received the dress it was already the end of October. It came right in the hustle and bustle of busy fall season for me and I was going through some business growing pains on top of feeling so burnt out from an unbalanced work and home life. I’m sure many of my fellow photographers understand that burn. But, I usually create some of my greatest work from those burn outs where I’m craving a creative outlet for myself, not for others. Truth be told, I had big visions of using this dress at the beach alongside the pacific however, weather wasn’t cooperating with me and I had already overstayed my welcome with this dress. So, I went to plan b and pulled out a black backdrop and decided to get a little more intimate with my feelings and the camera. I don’t think I could have been happier with the outcome of these images. It helped me get through a creative block and also allowed me to be vulnerable in front of a camera which can be extremely intimidating and freeing all at once. After that, I packaged this golden beauty up and sent it off to it’s next journey in Florida!

Rebecca Bond
Location: San Diego, California
Facebook | Instagram | Website

When I got asked to be a part of this “Traveling Dress Project,” I became overwhelmed with excitement! After all, it was my first time participating in a project like this. My oldest daughter, who is 9 years of age, was able to capture me in the dress. We had so much fun doing the project together, & together we created some magic. We first started our journey by capturing the dress along the Emerald Coast of Florida, which is where my family & I have resided since 2001. But we were also able to capture the dress while visiting my home state of Louisiana. So I’d say it was a successful adventure for both of us, & we would love to participate in a traveling dress project again in the future!  The dress travelled to Laura in Washington, Illinois next.

Brittney Preble
Location: Pensecola, Florida
Instagram

Excitement doesn’t even explain how I felt when Melissa asked for volunteers to help with this Traveling Dress project. In my mind, I was in a real life version of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants movie. Knowing that with every new mailbox it was delivered to, it would have a different story, maybe a new stain or rip, all while getting captured within a camera. I live in Washington, IL and received the Golden wrap dress from Brittany Preble in Gulf Breeze, Florida back in April, right before my family left for vacation to Dauphin Island, Alabama. Once Brittany told me she mailed it, I kept checking the mailbox until weeks went by. I finally messaged her for the tracking number because I had yet to receive it and we were leaving soon for vacation. Turns out, the dress was stuck in a post office between Gulf Breeze, FL and Washington, IL. I made a call to USPS , demanded, and it was delivered within two days. When I pulled it out of the bag, it was much heavier than I expected, but so pretty. 

The night before we left for vacation my three little ones and I came down with terrible colds and the flu. We all tried so hard to not let sickness hinder our excitement for warm sand covered toes and seashell collecting, and of course pictures of me in the gorgeous Golden Wrap Maxi dress. I’ve never taken pictures of myself in a dress while in the ocean but I had a vision that I really wanted to live up to. I ended up getting pneumonia while on vacation, which made it really hard for me to not only get out of bed, but to actually put the dress on and dip my feet into the ocean. The last morning of vacation, I grabbed my Canon Mark IV and 50mm 1.8 lens along with an old one tripod, then headed to the shore. The morning was breezy and brisk, the sand and water were freezing! I really wanted to be creative with my vision, getting multiple angles, and a few great DOF shots, but I just didn’t have it in me. I left a little defeated, but at the same time, the dress had been dipped in the Gulf of Mexico and coated with sands of Dauphin Island.

Once at home, in Washington, IL, I knew I would go out to our property and play with the kids while wearing the dress. We weren’t outside for more than 5 mins and my kids had stripped down to their undies and diapers, disregarding any orders coming from me. What can I say, they are kids. I have loved this giant Poplar tree because for one, it’s huge and two, it’s been SO many memories captured of my children. I packaged it up and sent it on its way to Dana Korba in Markham, Ontario. 

Even though my original visions did not work out, I am still so happy and grateful to be apart of this project and cannot wait to see what everyone’s vision of the Golden Wrap Maxi Dress. 

Laura Maxheimer
Location: Washington, Illinois
Instagram | Website

From the minute I was invited to join this wonderful project, I couldn’t wait for my turn with the dress.

We ended up with 9 talented photographers in our group, and we submitted three images each.
This beautiful dress has graced many locations such as; Fort McMurray, Alberta, Sonoma County, California, San Diego, California, Pensacola, Florida, Markham, Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, and Cape Anguille, Newfoundland. I received the dress from my friend Laura in Washington, Illinois, USA.

My vision was so clear for this amazing project. I knew right away which location I wanted to shoot in and knew exactly who I wanted to model it for me. My beautiful friend Kaitlyn was glowing, not only from the beautiful warm evening but from being newly engaged. I was ecstatic, and I barely had to guide her in any poses. It was magical.

The location I selected for our session is part of the Rouge River in Markham Ontario. We were blessed with a beautiful summer evening in July and we shot during the golden hour. There is a beautiful cliff, a pretty river and lots of greenery and paths to explore. I was super excited that we had a little breeze to help with the natural movement of her beautiful hair and dress. I was so lucky to have such a beautiful, young lady to help me capture this gorgeous golden v-neck maxi dress.

After my time with the dress, I sent it along to my friend Ranna who lives in Toronto, Ontario. I really enjoyed being apart of this creative project and can’t wait to see everyone’s amazing images from far and wide.

Oh, the beautiful stories this dress will tell.

Dana Korba
Location: Markham, ON, Canada
Facebook | Instagram | Website

I always wanted to participate in a Traveling Dress project. When I saw a photo of the golden wrap dress, I knew it was meant to be. I received this beauty in July 2019 from fellow Canadian Dana Korba. I was spending the summer at our cottage in Sauble Beach which is surrounded by deep woods and nestled next to the river. It is also a stroll to Lake Huron which has the most incredible sunsets. My daughter Saffron and I took a walk in the forest and that's where I set up the shot of her and I twirling. She loved that her outfit was the same colour as mine. The next photos were taken in a field that I passed each day that summer; I kept thinking in the back of my mind that this would be the perfect spot to photograph the traveling dress with the purple flowers in full bloom. I returned to this field at golden hour and walked into the field where the sun was illuminating the grass. I set up the camera, removed my sandals and danced in the field; it was exhilarating. My time with the traveling dress was truly magical but I knew I couldn't hold onto this gorgeous number forever, and so sent it along to its final participant, Kristin Pope who lives in Eastern Canada.

Ranna Naipaul
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Instagram | Website

I was so excited to be a part of the travelling dress project. I was the last member in the group to receive the dress in the fall.  I knew I had to shoot this dress along the coast. It was my choice of location because of the rugged shoreline and the golden hour light. I asked my sister in law to model the dress for me. She's an adventurous soul so I knew she'd be up for any ideas I had for this project. The sun was just going down as we arrived to Cape Anguille, Newfoundland’s most westerly point.  She braved the cold even after getting drenched from a wave.  

It was such a pleasure to participate in this fantastic project and share creatively with these amazing photographers across Canada and the United States. 

Kristin Pope
Location: Cape Anguille, Newfoundland, Canada 
Instagram