…Or at least a dress rehearsal for Anime Boston!

I met Laura while she was interning for Celtic Dragon Dress designs.  She’d designed a couple of the dresses for two of the Shootstyle shoots last year, and we became Facebook friends.  There I discovered that she combines her mad design and seamstress skills with her love for anime, creating some of the coolest cosplay outfits I’d ever seen.  So when I got the chance to photograph her in her latest creations - two outfits from student-by-day-fashion-model-by-night Yukari from Paradise Kiss, I jumped at the chance!

For a location, I contacted the American French Geneologial Society in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.  I’d photographed a wedding there in 2007, and was really taken with the vintage feel of the old church that the AFGS now calls home.  It was built in the mid 20’s, and feels like it was frozen in time.  I felt the vintage feel of the old church (complete with a cool old gym/auditorium) would make a great background to the vintage feel of Laura’s outfits.  They were so kind to open the building up on a Sunday afternoon just for the shoot!

When we were all set up and ready to shoot, I made another discovery.  Not only is Laura a super talented designer and seamstress, she is also a fantastic model…becoming Yukari and exhibiting completely different personalities to go with each outfit!  And what would Yukari be without the clever, blue-haired cad, George.  Laura’s fiance, Henry, underwent the blue hair treatment and donned the white pants before Memorial Day to take on the role.  Some of the most fun I’ve had shooting in a long time!  Best of luck to Laura and Henry as they premier their costumes at Anime Boston next week!