I was part of an exciting project with many other Photographers from all over the place. We all took turns in shooting a skirt. I decided I wanted to turn it into a Celtic Shoot. I came up with a story to go with the shoot. Steve wrote the story for me.
As soon as I saw what the colour of the skirt was I knew I had to find a red head to play the part. I instantly thought of Bethany. She is a stunning girl and I knew she would fit the part.
The last time I worked with our MUAH Deonna I had mentioned that I was going to be doing a shoot with a traveling skirt. As soon as I got the skirt for my time I contacted Deonna right away to see if she would like to be apart of the shoot. We decided to create two different looks and I let Deonna create her magic. She stayed through the entire shoot making sure that the hair and make up looked prefect.
We are lucky enough to know some great people, Amanda Preston was quick to loan us the bow and arrows and Mairead Micheniewski loaned us a bunch of authentic Celtic pieces including a shillelagh, dance shoes, a tartan and a bodhran. Thanks you everyone for your help, those touches really made a difference in the final shots.
Here is our version of who this Irish lass is and her story.
Brigid’s Tale
Life was everything Brigid had expected it to be, her perfect man, a family and a home. Humble though it was she had never wanted anything more. Music and laughter, love and peace; life had been… blissful.
She could never have foreseen the tragedy that would follow, a child torn from life too young by the pox. Sleepless nights spent crying for help that would never come.
Not long after, came the soldiers in the middle of the night, breaking down the door, killing all the animals and taking her husband off in chains to the Gods only knew where.
For days after Brigid wandered the fields, straying to the graveyard to morn her lost child and missing husband. Broken and reeling, something inside her snapped one night and grief turned to anger, despair turned to resolve.
This lass would not just lie down and take it. She steeled herself to the task; beating the bodhran late into the night, beseeching Morrigan, Goddess of War, to hear her plea. Even the King ought not to stand between an Irish lass and her true love.
Brigid was not raised a scullery maid, she had been raised a warrior and would be so again. Blade and arrow would be her only companions. She would not rest until her task was complete.
As the sun rose over the heather the grim young warrior painted her face and prepared to find and rescue her husband from the garrison beyond the wood where she knew they would take him. They would live to regret what they had done, or maybe they would not live at all.
A steely grin crossed her face as she slipped into the night.
Model: Bethany McNaughton (provided her own violin)
MUAH: Aurora Hair and Makeup Artistry Deonna Fetzko
Skirt: Ashley Sykes
Bow and Accessories: Amanda Preston
Bodhran, Tartan and Accessories: Brogs Irish Dance Wear & Accessories Mairead Micheniewski
