This Zombie Wedding Project is by Irina Skripnik (website | Facebook | Instagram | Vimeo | YouTube):
Four days before Halloween 2015 me and my husband had a regular conversation, sitting on our couch. We talked about future photo sessions and tried to find out what project we should do to show my photography and post-processing skills, because I am developing my workshops program for professional photographers. So I’m in a constant search of new ideas for unusual photo sessions.
The main task was to find a theme which would be relevant, unusual and memorable, funny and sad, calling and creative.
As I am a wedding photographer, I thought that another standard wedding would be too simple and not interesting. But if it will be a zombie wedding we thought! Why not? It is unusual and I can demonstrate my skills of post-processing on it. And it is Halloween time, so it will be a relevant theme. And I can add wedding traditions in zombie style. And let it be cruel, but at the same time funny!
But there was one problem. It was October 26th, only 4 days before Halloween. But I decided to try.
Five minutes later, I was talking with a make-up artist, who is a friend of mine. I told her the idea of project. She was shocked by the deadlines, but agreed to take part in this adventure.
The next day I began to communicate with my friends and offer them participation as models in the project. After only one hour I had found seven participants. The choice fell on two wedding entertainers, a wedding DJ, an administrator, a casino dealer, an engineer and one professional model. Two hours after I met them in secondhand clothes store. During three hours we made six suits. Three old wedding dresses were found by our models.
Then I began searching for a studio. It took about one hour. Two more hours I spent to write down all the ideas of the session.
Next day, at 6 A.M. we started the preparations. Our make-up artist brought two assistants to help. So, our team included seven models, three make-up artists, one photographer, one assistant and one videographer to shoot backstage video.
Make-up and preparations took about six hours. Then, we spent about three hours for shooting in the studio. After we moved to the center of Odessa, and visited few typical wedding places. We finished shooting at 6P.M.
The funny thing was that people did not understand what was happening. Everyone thought that it was a real wedding. Although in reality it was a funny joke prepared especially for Halloween.
Within two days I processed four photos and presented them to the public right in time!
Yes, we made it!
During the next week I processed all the remaining photos.
In each photo, I tried to show wedding customs and traditions in a funny zombie style. I hope I got it. There is the first dance of the bride and groom, banquet, sprinkling grain, throwing the bride’s flowers and rings. Also there are few portraits in the series.
For this session I used Nikon D800 and my good old friend Nikon D700.
Lenses: Nikkor 14-24mm f2.8, Nikkor 24-70mm f2.8, Nikkor 85mm f1.4.
Flash lights: Nikon SB900 and SB910 with Yongnuo YN-622N triggers.
Post-production: Adobe Photoshot CS6.
You can watch behind the scenes video where I show all the things that happened during that crazy unforgettable day. Video has build in English subtitles:
Hope you will like my first post on NikonRumors! I will follow the comments on this page, and answer your questions. Also, you can always ask me questions on Facebook.
Sincerely, Irina Skripnik, wedding photographer from Odessa, Ukraine.
If you have an interesting idea for a guest post, you can contact me here.
