What separates a normal girl from an Austen Aficionado? Is it the hair, the dress, the accessories? Nay, I say it's forever and always the story.
I came to love Jane Austen's books late in life; not being refined in the nature of my readings. Old books never lured me to open them. Until one day, I was introduced to the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice . The author, the book, the movie all became front and center, and from that moment I knew, I wanted to do a shoot based on those things with a spin of my own.
Pride and Prejudice is based on the inner workings of the Bennet Family, especially the 3 main sisters: Jane, who is oh so beautiful, Elizabeth the oh so witty, and Lydia who is just silly.
The story is set in the English Countryside, at various mansions and amongst many a party. The drama escalates as each character makes choices that effect themselves and their family. The overall story among sisters is never really told, but you can gather little odds and ends of their feelings through their interactions.
Enter me. I wanted to showcase a shoot that tells the story of what it might have been like to be a Bennet Sister. In my point of view, these girls were closely connected. like a mixed bouquet of wildflowers, each sister portraying a special personality that was unique on it's own, but accenting each other perfectly when all together.
Jane, our beauty without fortune , is a mother hen to her youngest sisters. She allows herself to get caught up in their silliness at times, and is very close with Elizabeth to whom she is closest in age.
Jane
Elizabeth, a beauty ofher own sorts, tends to delight in more intellectual conversations. She is witty, and sharp and at times must too watch over her silly sisters Lydia and Kitty. She is not one to be put into a box of ideas and kept there, she counsels with her sister Jane and best friend Charlotte
Elizabeth
You couldn’t find more sillier sister than Lydia and Kitty These girls are their own best friends and worst enemies. They tolerate their older sisters mothering, and Mary's disapproval, but when it's a regiment soldier, or dancing, these two girls err on the side of being inappropriate.
Lydia
Kitty
Last but not least, Mary. Painted as a sever character in the book and movies, I opted to soften her somewhat. She is well-read in everything chapter and verse. She has a brilliant mind, and is shocked at Lydia's and Kitty's antics at times. She isn't much to socializing but will do so at her sisters request. She loves "cover-sating" with Elizabeth, as she has a mind that Mary can respect.
Mary
This shoot wasn't about the bells and whistles, but more about the relationships. The story behind the story. It's also meant to inspire.
The silly sisters letters
Instead of dressing all in white on your special day, what about throwing some regency era styling to it and being the next chapter of your favorite novel? Even though this wasn't shot along the English Countryside, this was such a fun shoot to do. The Models all are sisters and friends of two different families, and yet that relationship really brings out the unique personalities that translate into the story I am trying to tell. From shoot to a movie in the making, The Bennet Sisters
Big thanks goes to
Katheryn Patterson Adams for Costume Creations and sewing
Erian Stone for Makeup and Hair
Jeanne Covert for location scouting and being my personal assistant
Models
Lizzy Covert as Jane
Erian Stone as Elizabeth
Kaitlyn Covert as Kitty
Sierra Stone as Lydia
Olivia Stone as Mary
Photography, Shoot styling and Creation- Jessica Stone