The travelling dress

What happens when 16 Photographers from around the UK all take photos with 1 dress?

Last year I was asked to join a travelling dress project. I knew immediately I had to be involved. 
We purchased one dress between us (well, 2 identical dresses for expedience) and each photographer had 1 week to photograph the dress in whatever way we wanted. I knew the results would be varied and amazing, but I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined the incredible diversity, beauty, and powerful images that would be delivered by this small group of amazing photographers. I would like to share some of my, and their images below, but the full stories can be found here: https://www.thetravelingdresscollective.com and I highly recommend taking a look.

I had planned to do a project on child loss and grief for a long time… Our son Phoenix died during labour 4 years ago followed by 2 miscarriages, which anyone who has lost a child knows, leaves an indelible imprint on your life from that moment on. My life was split into the before and after, and in the loss community there is a lot of talk about the “new normal” because there is simply no going back to the person you used to be after losing a child.

The traveling dress project gave me the perfect opportunity to finally do it, I was at a beautiful old English stately home in Portsmouth called Rooksbury Manor on a retreat with other photographers. The light-filled orangery filled me with inspiration and provided beautiful back-light and reflections, and fellow photographer, the beautiful Polly McRichards, agreed to take time out of her weekend to follow my vision and model for me.

I know child-loss and grief sounds like a morbid topic, but I wanted it to be beautiful, and help break the taboo. It is amazing how many people have reached out to me over the years as I talk openly about our son and the love I have for him, and how they have been able to open up about their own experiences of loss and grief.

By creating beautiful art and imagery that people can relate to I hope viewers will feel a kinship, a shared connection that may make them feel less lonely and isolated, and even give some the power to talk about something they may have bottled up inside. I'm not sure if I've achieved that, but hopefully some people will relate to the feelings I've tried to convey.
I was recently surprised and honoured after being contacted by an author in America who wants to use one of my personal images, a composite created for our sons 3rd birthday, for a PHD project and an upcoming book on bereavement and memory through photography. I think this shows the power that photography, and social media, can have, that someone I have never met, who lives on the other side of the Atlantic, has not only seen and been touched by my image, but wants to share it to convey the feeling to others.

I hope that whether you have experienced a personal loss or not, you will feel something when you see my photographs, and maybe be able to talk openly to people you know about it.

I would love to share everyones amazing images, please look at some of the amazing concepts below and click on an image to go to the photographers page.

Check out the other AMAZING photographers who took part in this project... I honestly couldn't be more honoured to be here among them

Bex Willis
Bexboater Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bexboater
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bexboaterphotography
Website: http://www.bexboaterphoto.co.uk
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Mara Cabral
Wind and Sun Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/windandsunphotography
Website: http://www.windsunphotographywales.co.uk
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Jenn Knox
PhotoJenniK
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PhotoJenniKPhotography
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/photojennik75
Website: http://www.photojennik.co.uk
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Heidi Hayward
Northern Angel Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Heidi-Hayward-Northern-Angel-Photography-1775574959320568
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/northernangelphotography
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Debbie Dee
Debbie Dee Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/debbiedeephotography
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/_debbie.dee_
Website: http://www.debbiedeephotography.co.uk
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Abbie Wilson
Abbie Wilson Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AWPhotographyUK
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/abbiewphotography
Website: http://www.awphoto.co.uk
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Karah Mew
The Glass Narrator
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/theglassnarrator
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/the_glass_narrator
Website: http://www.theglassnarrator.com
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Elle English
Butterworth & English - Fine Art Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/butterworthandenglish
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/theadventurousmum
Website: http://www.butterworthandenglish.com
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Birgitta Zoutman
Birgitta Zoutman Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/birgittazoutmanphotography
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/birgittazoutmanphotography
Website: http://www.bzoutmanphotography.com
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Anni Pekie
Anni’s Looking Glass
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnisLookingGlass
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/annislookingglass
Website: http://www.annislookingglass.com
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Chantal Cross
Live Sleep Repeat
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/459017837779165
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Mira Demeter
Mira Demeter Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MiraDemeterPhotography
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mira_demeter_photography
Website: http://www.miraphotography.co.uk
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Charlie Raw
Charlie Raw Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CharlieRawPhotography
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/charlierawphotography
Website: http://www.charlierawphotography.co.uk
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Clare Champion
A Little Bird Told Me Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alittlebirdtoldmeuk
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/albtmp
Website: http://www.alittlebirdtoldmephotography.co.uk
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Joanne Lewis
Joanne Lewis Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/joannelewisphotography
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/joannelewisphotography
Website: http://www.thevisualstoryteller.co.uk
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Zoe Bill
Zoe Bill Photography
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/zoebillphotography
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/zoebillphotography
Website: http://zoebill89.wixsite.com/zoebillphotography
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