VIKING ELOPEMENT

I have always found my home in work that requires me to fully dive in. Breathe in deep. Believe. I believe in my client’s love. I see the light of their children and am in awe of how beautifully unique they all are. I sort images wondering how undeniablY lucky I am to capture their memories. For the Floyd’s, I smile thinking about how impossible it was that this friendship - that started on the other side of the world - ended up right here. Right now.

For Ashley and Mike Floyd, I watch their love story and wonder how many times their souls have found each other in this world. How many lifetimes have they lived in unity. Fifteen years together in the now, the Floyd’s creative and incredibly kind son, Dom, is their entire world. The whole family lives to build, to learn, to explore… and I selfishly tag along whenever I can.

Using a tree in their front yard, Mike and Dom built two axes for this styled shoot and constructed the shieLd from other raw materials. As if they came from another time, this family lives for viking history and feeds my nerdy soul every time we meet. My husband met Mike while working in Africa and knew right away they would be the best of friends. It was just a bonus that his wife and son are so amazing to me and our sweet Koa. As if we needed another reason to get together, this shoot was planned for Ashley’s birthday after we spent hours hiking barefoot in the hills of northern Alabama. Sloshing floral buckets down a dusty trail, climbing trees (and humans) to construct a 20ft floral arch, and off-road eyelash applications all contributed to the celebration of this beautiful human.

The capture of a love that has crossed space and time, I invite you to enjoy “The Viking Elopement”. A collaboration of friends that has become one of my favorite adventures. < Insert Viking Warrior Cry >

FLORAL | PHOTO | DESIGN : THE COSMO COTTAGE, ASSISTED BY S.N.

“Working with Varis was such an enjoyable and memorable experience. What was meant to be traditional family photos quickly transformed into the photshoot of our dreams. You see, Varis is not your traditional photographer. She can capture any moment and make it extraordinary. My husband and I brought the idea of doing a viking-esque theme and V dug right in and was just as excited, if not more excited, about it than we were. She not only took stunning photos, but she designed all the elements of the shoot, including the beautiful flower arrangements and greenery. She even toured the countryside of Alabama with me to find the perfect location…”

— ASHLEY FLOYD

PROPS | FLOYD FAMILY / FLORAL ARCH | THE COSMO COTTAGE ASSISTED BY S.N.

“...Varis made us all feel comfortable in front of her lens. My family has not done a professional photoshoot since our son was a toddler, and we were nervous about the process. She walked us through all the steps and ensured we were in good hands. In the beginning of the shoot, my nerves were showing, and she quickly pumped me up and made me feel right at home with her. At one point, I even let out a “viking roar” because I knew we got it, the perfect shot. Her, her husband, Michael, and even their sweet little girl, Koa, were all hands on deck to make this shoot come to life...”

— ASHLEY FLOYD