A Whimsical & Vintage Ballerina Photo Shoot by Madeline Shayne
Madeline Shayne’s photography captures more than just a moment frozen in time, but a carefully-spun story to go with it, inspired by a childhood spent painting in a cabin in the woods and a later move to New Delhi, India.
This whimsical and vintage ballerina photo shoot has us all starry-eyed. The shoot showcases the poise and strength of ballerinas, with models Haylie and Celia making standing en pointe look seemingly effortless – both in a serene forest setting, stunning vintage dresses contrasting beautifully with the green and the brown, and a raw, joyful series of leaps through an open field.
Madeline speaks of her love affair with her own creative outlet, photography, on her accompanying blog post, explaining: “To share my world with people, in a way that is so real and believable, helps me to deal with events that are not always in my control and to share my magic with everyone who stops to join the adventure.”
Q: When did you first start taking photos?
A: My journey as a photographer started at the age of 17, when I moved to New Delhi, India with my family. Given a hand-me down Kodak camera by my mom as a way of documenting my experiences there, it was then that I began to learn the importance of remembering the extraordinary moments in our life’s story.
Q: You have a wonderful blog going alongside a lot of your photography - why do you feel it's important to link memoir with pictures?
A: Everyone has a story that weaves a tale of joy, sorrow, and everything in between. The events that occur in our lives and cause these emotions and feelings are part of what makes each of us unique and interesting. This is what inspires me, as I feel that beauty can be found in every moment, good or bad. By including the inspiration as a memoir with each photograph I create, I hope to evoke the memories of our life’s story and to help people recognize the beauty found in every situation.
Q: What media inspires you - music, literature, film, other photographers?
A: I am largely inspired by music and other photographers. My biggest inspirations have always been Alex Stoddard and Kirsty Mitchell. Alex because his work served as the inspiration to begin my journey of storytelling through conceptual photography, and Kirsty because her work rings so true to what I feel the true purpose of photography is.
Q: As a portrait photographer, how do you go about maintaining the right chemistry with your model? Do you work better with friends or strangers?
A: Unease and anxiety are really easy to spot in a portrait, so it is important to create a relaxed environment for both the photographer and the model. I always try to keep a relaxed conversation going while en route to our location or doing the hair and makeup, trying to learn more about my model and what she is passionate about. Once we are shooting, I always tell my models to relax and to just do what feels comfortable for them. Often times the best images from a shoot are those where the model is just standing or sitting how they naturally would be.
I’ve found that there are benefits to working both with friends and strangers that makes it impossible to decide if I prefer one over the other. It is always fun to work with friends, however, like a blank canvas, I find that my creativity can really start to flow when I am working with new faces as well.
Q: What are you planning next?
A: At any given time I always have between five to ten shoots in the planning stages, from costume creation to final post-processing. Currently I am really enjoying editing a shoot I just did inspired by King Midas and the Golden Touch.
Madeline is currently based in Arlington, Massachusetts and specialises in landscape and portrait photography, taking both commissions and pursuing her own creative threads. For more of her work, visit her website and follow her on Instagram at @madelineshaynephoto.
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Full credits: Photography / Styling / Editing: Madeline Shayne | Models: Haylie Jarvis + Celia Parry
Cecile Blackmore is a writer from Brisbane, Australia. She writes and edits at The Creative Issue and hoards vintage clothing – follow her adventures on Instagram at @saintcecile.