Photographing my models on DIY diorama sets - My Own Little World - Part 1

The World is What You Make It.

Join us on a strange and wonderful journey through 10 little worlds, across magnificent cotton candy clouds and watermelon skies. Dip your toes in a stream of purple water, see an enchanted castle with 8 girls named Emma, dance with a giant bear, hang out with a frog prince and sit on a rainbow. Welcome to the brain of Casey Scalf.

I had the Fearless Spirit Model Crew make their "own little world" dioramas, using objects from my fairy gardens, miniature set pieces and all the artsy and strange things that I have in the studio. I photographed the girls on just a white backdrop. As usual, I made them do really strange poses...and as usual, they gave me a hard time and laughed a lot. Then, I had those images printed and we cut them out like paper dolls.

Stay with me here!

I placed each of their paper dolls in their "own little world" diorama and then photographed each one. I created my own clouds out of cotton. I made the beautiful colored skies with colored gels, placed over my lights. It was so much fun making everything so over-the-top and colorful. I didn't care if anything "made sense".  

I love the model crew sessions because I get to experiment with all the crazy ideas in my head...and the models get to be a part of the creative process. Stay tuned for the Part 2 video.