Rapunzel-The Artist
Rapunzel has always been one of those characters that lives in the golden space between whimsy and wonder- a girl who looks out at the world and believes it was made to be explored. For this session, I wanted to step into that world with her.
If she were alive today, I imagine she'd be the kind of girl who always carries a sketchbook tucked under her arm, hair woven with flowers, wandering through fields and gardens in search of light and color. She wouldn't be locked away in a tower-she'd be outside at every chance, barefoot in the grass, chasing the sun as it dipped toward the horizon.
The golden hour light was our tower winder-wide open, glowing, full of possibility.
Inspiration for Rapunzel Shoot
Rapunzel has always felt like a character who sees the world in colors. She paints, she dreams, she notices every little thing most people rush past. That became the foundation of this shoot-not just her appearance, but the way she looks at the world.
I pictured her not locked in a tower, but wandering through gardens with the sun at her back, stopping to pick wildflowers, or sketching what she sees before the light fades. There's a sweetness to her story, But there's also strength. She's curious and brave, and she steps into the unknown with a softness that makes the world bloom around her.
I wanted this session to capture that contrast the quiet, gentle dreamer and the daring girl who finally leaves the tower. That's why I leaned into warm, glowing light, and soft colors. Every choice-from the delicate braid woven with flowers to the flowing dress that moved with the wind-was meant to feel alive, not staged.
This wasn't about creating a costume. It was about creating a feeling-that magic moment when you step outside, look at the sky, and know the world is waiting for you.
Behind the Shoot
Every Creative session has a moment where everything clicks-the light, the movement, the energy-and with Rapunzel, the moment came the second the sun dipped low enough to turn everything gold. We planned this session intentionally around golden hour, when the light is soft, warm, and wraps around everything like a gentle glow. It's the kind of light that turns ordinary spaces into something magical.
I positioned her so the light would filter through her braid and flowers, creating little highlights that shimmered when she moved. Instead of rigid posing, I gave her light prompts: "walk slowly toward me," "look off to the side," "play with your braid." These soft directions allowed her to stay in character while still moving naturally. The result was a series of moments that felt unforced-like we were catching her in between adventures, not staging a scene.
I wanted this session to feel alive, so I kept my shooting angles low and wide, letting the sunlight stretch across the frame. The background was simple, open sky, warm tones, and a few natural elements. I let her interact with her props-the sketchbook and paintbrushes-the way she might if she were lost in thought on a quiet evening. Those tiny gestures-the tilt of her head, the way her hair caught the light-carried the story better than any elaborate setup ever could.
As the light faded, the last few shots felt almost cinematic. It wasn't about perfection-it was about capturing that moment right before the sun disappears, when everything glows and feels like a dream.
Shop Rapunzel's Look
One of my favorite parts of creative sessions is blending fantasy with reality-taking the essence of a character and turning it into something someone could actually wear and feel beautiful in. For Rapunzel, that meant leaning into softness, movement, and whimsical detail.
Her look was built around a flowy pink floral skirt, delicate floral hair pieces, overalls, and a few simple props that tied her character to the real world-a sketchbook and paintbrush to mirror her artistic soul. Everything was chosen to be wearable, not costume-heavy, so the session would feel authentic rather than staged.
I've curated everything you need to recreate this look in one easy place- from the outfit to the little details that bring the magic together.
