Wicked Game

This series of images began while shooting a video titled "Wicked Game" about a woman who has been dumped at the altar and decides to end it all, but when she is suddenly rescued by a stranger, things get wicked.. You can see the video on the short films page.

From the video shoot, we went on to a waterfall to continue shooting stills,
seems I am addicted to shooting wet women in wedding gowns.

I feel as though I should probably tell the story of the "Bridal Nightmares" and the subsequent images...looks like I am unable to get past the wedding gown thing...and that might be somewhat telling. I am an artist who just happens to own/run a wedding chapel.

The Bridal Nightmares began around 2000 when I was out running errands and saw a wedding gown (that would have been considered stunning in the 1970's) in the window of a thrift shop. My imagination took over and I thought of all the years that girls play dress-up pretending to be a bride and all the stories that we read over and over again...."they got married and lived happily ever after.."

And we sucked it all down as gospel and believed with all our hearts that when we found true love it would last forever. And seeing that gown standing all alone in that window in a dirty run-down neighborhood, I was struck with the realization that we as girls had been somehow robbed.

I never had the storybook wedding (couldn't afford it) and had never even had on a wedding gown...and so I went into the store and bought the gown and matching hat. I went home with my wedding gown (it was a size 4 and I a size...well, not a 4) and stood in front of a full-length mirror as I held it up in front of myself...I was hooked.

I called the other thrift stores inquiring about gowns and bought up every one I could find. Even found a consignment shop and bought one that fit me! Yep...and every morning this diehard feminist went down to the basement, put on MY gown and veil and danced around. I was 52 yrs old and felt the same as I did when I was 6 and played dress-up.

I realized that other women had to feel the same way and began convincing my students to come over and play in the gowns. The images were funny and sad...here we all were, playing bride and still believing in the magical properties of the gown. And it is the gown that holds the power... feeling like a princess, waiting for our prince to appear...