Ashley & Frankie // Studio Motherhood Session // La Grande, Oregon

In college I was introduced to the concept of multiple artists using a single item to create a piece; in my experience, students would be asked to create an image or drawing with a single subject piece, such as an umbrella or a rubber duck. After time spent creating, we would gather to admire each other’s images and hang them side by side on a wall. Each time this happened, I learned an important lesson: artists see the world in such deeply personal and unique ways. Not a single drawing or image looked remotely similar, despite containing the same subject matter. The takeaway from this, years after college, is the reminder that as an artist out in the world I don’t need to worry so much about the sea of other creatives: what I have to offer is unique and beautiful because of the way I see the world and the people I photograph.

To this day I still love participating in similar types of activities with fellow creatives, and the concept of the Traveling Dress is hands down my favorite! Take one piece of clothing, ship it around the country, and watch as so many artists bring their own perception to life. What a beautiful project to be involved with! It reminds me that we can all have a huge impact in such small, meaningful ways with our art.

This is my most recent take on a Traveling Dress piece. Giant thank you to the folks at Reclamation Design Company and Wild & Styled Co. dress rentals for facilitating this project, and another shoutout to my ridiculously talented friend Eye of Zion with her crystal bracelet crafting. And of course, this wouldn’t have been possible without my beautiful model/friend Ashley from Pinedrops Designs and her darling babe.