I took about 1,300 raw images and 72 film exposures of Alicia in her garden. I’ve known Alicia for years now, and I first met her, she walked into my studio in the middle of winter with a basket full of things she had made or canned from her gardens and her seed ordering catalog for the following growing season. We instantly clicked and became fast friends and over the years that would follow, we would go on to collaborate on several photo shoots together; her bringing props, creative direction, and buckets upon buckets of her homegrown flowers and me styling, directing, photographing and editing. We put a model call out and a few local gals volunteered to have their makeup and hair done and shoot with us in various locations around the White Mountains.

Alicia has been in for the fight of her life the last few years battling a serious cancer diagnosis. When she asked me about capturing and celebrating HER, in her element, surrounded by her garden, I was so honored. When Alicia and I work together, it’s nothing short of alchemic. This woman’s spirit is something that inspires me and moves me. She is the strongest person I have ever met. At the end of our shoot, she took me on what she called, “a toodle” around her parents property, ripping around in their golf cart. In true Alicia fashion, she gifted me with homemade pickles, a giant bouquet, and 2 gallons of elderberries. To know Alicia, is to know her strength, her humor, her beauty and her kind heart.

I’ve been having lot of fun experimenting with how I edit these, and trying to find my own style again with my photo work and trying to do something a little softer, like when the Wizard of Oz changes from black and white to color. Cinematic, soft, vibrant and ethereal. Anywhooooo, This shoot was really special for me to do, and I will be reliving this day forever because we just had so much fun, as always.