Autumn Inner Witch Shoot for Enchanted Living magazine

This was a Fall shoot I did for Enchanted Living Magazine. Autumn Inner Witch, A snippet from the accompanying article is below...

I adore the Autumn, the rich warm colors, piles of pumpkins, abundantly set tables with baskets and platters overflowing with the seasons beautiful offerings. Since I can remember I have also adored Halloween and Samhain. That time of the year always makes me think of magic and mystical things and what lies beyond the veil. For this year I found myself leaning more towards the Samhain sensibility with a mindset for a thoughtful and subdued celebration. I was curious about combining the harvest season with the inner reflection that fall evokes in me. The feeling of spiraling inward and connecting with my ancestors and my inner witch. I decided I wanted my table to reflect this more restrained mood. I still wanted the pumpkins and the feeling of Autumn but in a way that wasn’t quite so exuberant. To convey this feeling, I chose a subdued color pallet with white pumpkins and soft cream and blush flowers juxtaposed against dark velvety black. I wanted the contrast of the dark and the light, symbolic of the duality of life, to show the beauty of both, neither good nor bad but beautiful in their extremes bringing all between them into balance. Raven showed up reminding me of magic, the unknown and The Great Mystery which they traditionally symbolize. I wanted his mystical iridescent feathers mixed with the glow of old silver and my crystal balls to invite reflection on our inner universe. Layering tea-stained lace over black velvet and tule created the contrasting color story and a base for the decorations. Black floral china, vintage silverware and etched turn of the century stemware gave a nod to both a Gothic and Victorian sensibility, reinforcing the supernatural vibe. Some of these items were my grandmothers thus bringing a bit of her energy onto my table.

This style could go a few different ways with a true honoring of the ancestors by using old black and white photos from years past as part of your decoration. You could easily go classic Halloween with bones, skulls, cauldrons and other spooky touches. For a full Goth look, add blood red roses and black lace.
I wanted to stick with more of a classic feeling while also bringing in a mysterious touch, an atmosphere that invites quiet, thoughtful conversation and an opening to the mysterious inner witch who for me wakes in the Fall.