An afternoon of flowers, vintage dresses, fairy wings, and a little midsummer magic in Humboldt County, California.
There is something especially beautiful about bringing a creative vision to life alongside people who love the little details just as much as you do.
This summer, I had the opportunity to collaborate with some incredibly talented creatives here in Humboldt County for a styled afternoon at Fleur Day Farm. What came together was everything I love about whimsical photography: romantic florals, beautiful textures, flowing dresses, and an atmosphere that felt as though it belonged in the pages of a storybook.
We called it A Midsummer Soirée.
A Garden Filled with Midsummer Magic
Fleur Day Farm provided the loveliest setting for our afternoon. Surrounded by flowers and the natural beauty of the farm, we created a garden gathering that felt both elegant and wonderfully imaginative.
The tablescape was a beautiful part of the story, with thoughtful styling that complemented the florals and romantic atmosphere. Every little detail added to the feeling of stepping into a fairytale.
What I loved most was that the setting didn't need to be elaborate to feel magical. The flowers, natural light, and carefully chosen pieces worked beautifully together.
Flowing Dresses, Fairy Wings, and Storybook Details
One of the most delightful parts of this collaboration was the wardrobe.
Piccola California brought such a lovely collection of children's dresses, wings, capes, and crowns. These little details added an entirely different dimension to the photographs, giving the girls the freedom to become characters in their own midsummer story.
For the women's wardrobe, Shipwreck Vintage provided beautiful vintage dresses that brought a romantic, timeless quality to the afternoon.
Additional pieces from Shop Noralee, Rylee & Cru, and Meri Meri added lovely textures and whimsical finishing touches.
I have always loved photographing clothing that moves naturally. A flowing dress, a delicate cape, or the smallest adjustment of a hand can create an entirely new photograph. These beautiful pieces made that especially fun.
The Beauty of Creating Together
There is something wonderful about seeing different creative talents come together around one vision.
Fleur Day Farm helped bring the garden setting and tablescape to life, while Jacqui Langeland contributed additional styling that tied the details together.
The Left Fork created a beautiful cake that felt perfectly at home among the florals and vintage-inspired pieces.
As the photographer, I loved being able to take all these thoughtful elements and weave them together through imagery. Rather than simply documenting each detail, I wanted the photographs to feel like little moments from a story—soft, romantic, imaginative, and full of life.
A Little Bit of Fairytale in Humboldt County
One of my favorite things about photography is the opportunity to create something that feels extraordinary in an otherwise ordinary moment.
A beautiful dress becomes even more magical with a little movement. A garden gathering begins to feel like a scene from a fairytale. And the smallest details—a crown, a handful of flowers, the way the light falls across someone's face—become some of my favorite photographs.
This afternoon was a lovely reminder of why I enjoy creative projects so much. They give me the opportunity to experiment, collaborate, and continue finding new ways to create the whimsical, romantic imagery I love.
I'm so thankful to everyone who contributed to this beautiful midsummer vision.
And I hope these photographs inspire a little dreaming of your own.
The Creative Team
Photography: Bethany Joy Photography
Location, Florals & Tablescape: Fleur Day Farm
Children's Dresses, Wings, Capes & Crowns: Piccola California
Women's Vintage Dresses: Shipwreck Vintage
Cake: The Left Fork
Additional Styling: Jacqui Langeland
Additional Wardrobe: Shop Noralee / Rylee & Cru
Fairy Accessories: Meri Meri
Bethany Joy Photography specializes in romantic, whimsical, and cinematic photography throughout Humboldt County and Northern California, creating imagery inspired by natural beauty, movement, and a touch of fairytale magic.
