Saturday, December 27, 2014

An Amish Photoshoot

Back in November I was taking a walk in our little Amish community and spotted these little munchkins playing in a nearby cornfield. As I had my camera with me, I asked if they would pose for a few shots...

Okay, okay...I'm not serious. =) Actually my father wanted some pictures of Amish people to use for wall displays at our Amish-themed hotel, and since typically Amish people don't like having their picture taken, the obvious option was to take several of my family members and dress them up Amish for a shoot. =) Hudson + Rebecca were the chosen two. We took these pictures on the last nice day of fall, in November. I was so thankful we did them then, because the very next day it snowed and has been cold ever since! #seizethemoment

There are lots of Amish in our community, and we are related to half of them + know the rest, so coming up with some genuine Amish outfits wasn't hard at all. And I must say, I think my siblings can pull off the Amish look pretty well!

Speaking of borrowing the outfits, there is a hilarious story behind that! If you care to hear, read on...

So back several months ago, my mom had borrowed clothes from an Amish friend of ours, for my siblings to wear for a themed event, and also for this shoot. When it was time for the shoot, I realized that I had everything that I needed except the broadfall Amish boys pants for Hudson. For the other event he had just worn regular black dress pants, but I wanted this shoot to be GENUINE so I wanted to have the real deal for him this time. =) 

Mom had told me which Amish lady she had borrowed the clothes from. I think I was in the middle of something when she told me, and not totally paying attention. But she had told me how this Amish family was selling the clothes in a new little store they had just set up and right away I "knew" exactly who she was talking about---some Amish friends of ours who own a little store/rummage sale next to their house. I was sure I heard her say the name "lda" but it didn't really matter since I knew exactly who she was talking about. So I sort of tuned out and didn't think anymore about it...until it was time to return the extra clothes + get broad fall pants. Then off I trekked to our Amish friend, Ida's house. 

Unfortunately Ida wasn't home, but her children were. I explained to them that my mom had borrowed some clothes from their mom a while back, and that now I was back needing a pair of pants. They didn't know anything about it but I didn't think anything of that because I knew that my mom had talked to their mom. One of the daughters said they didn't have any little boys amish pants to sell or rent, which I did think was kind of weird because my mom had told me that their little store was full of Amish children's clothes. But they said I could borrow a pair that one of their brothers had outgrown, so I was all set and didn't think anymore about it. I told them I would go ahead and return the extra clothes (that some of my other siblings had used for the other event) and then bring back the rest when we were finished. They weren't sure of the price for renting the other clothes, which was also kind of strange, since my mom had told me that they sell/rent clothes out all the time, and even though they were happy to let me borrow the pants, it didn't seem like this whole thing was a typical occurrence. So I gave them my number, and told them to have their mom call me when she got home, to tell me the amount, and then I would send a check in the mail.

I went home with the remaining clothes that we needed and we did the shoot! Yay for beautiful weather, awesome Amish outfits, and unimpressed, uncooperative, but nonetheless, photogenic siblings! =) #keepingitreal

That evening I saw that I had missed a call. I listened to the voicemail and was super confused. It was the mom of the family I had borrowed the clothes from, and SHE sounded pretty confused. She said her children had told her that I stopped by, but that she was quite sure there was a mistake, since the clothes that I had returned were not theirs. She said we had never borrowed any from them. Furthermore, she said that the dresses & covering I had returned looked like some from Ila's (another Amish friend of ours) girls. 

Now I was MAJORLY confused. What was going on? 

I came out to the kitchen and explained the whole thing to mom, telling her that Ida had called and said that she (my mom) hadn't ever borrowed the clothes from them + that the clothes I had returned weren't theirs. What was going on?? At this my mother burst out laughing. I wasn't really seeing the joke although I had figured out by now that I had obviously made a mistake. She finally quit laughing long enough to ask me why in the WORLD I had taken the clothes to Ida?! I told her it was because she had told me that Ida was who she had borrowed them from. Amidst laughter she managed to inform me that she had borrowed the clothes from ILA, not IDA.

Whaaat?! Ila? How had I managed to miss that?

Well. Thank-goodness for gracious Amish friends + a sense of humor! All involved got a good laugh out of the situation, and all turned out well. 

Pictures were taken + canvas's ordered, the respective persons had their clothes returned, and yours truly felt quite humbled + made a mental note to LISTEN a little better next time information is being given. =)

Moving on....{smile}
Here are a few of my favorites from that day!

Favorites, anyone? And don't you agree that they pull of the look so well?

-Chels

29 comments:

  1. Fantastic photos - all of them! What is your new hotel? It sounds like a wonderful place with excellent design!

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  2. These are flat out UH-dorable!! And a MAJOR yes to them being able to pull off the look!! I love the b&w of Huds running! Rebecca's ears! So cute! Way to go, girl!

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  3. ADORABLE! These are SO great, Chels. Truly, beautiful images!

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  4. What darling pictures!!=]The poses are really quite imaginative, Chelsy! I especially love the one of Rebecca whispering in Hudson`s ear...way too cute! Have a great day, Asenath

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  5. definitely second from the bottom...adorable kids!!

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  6. OH!!!!! These pictures are absolutely ADORABLE!!!!!!! They truly did pull the Amish look off well, as you said! Actually when I first saw the picture at the top, I did think they were really Amish children.:) And love the story. Don't feel bad- I've had my share of not-listening-too-well experiences. . . =)

    Does your family own a hotel?

    It's kind of difficult to choose a favorite, so in answer to your question, I'd have to say all of them! Were they taken at your family's farm?

    Also, I finally was able to watch your VLOG yesterday! I loved it! I was extremely blessed and encouraged by the whole thing and it gave me some needed laughs, too! And before you even mentioned anything about the outfits, I was even thinking, 'I like their outfits'!=)

    Have a blessed week!
    Blessings, Morgan Roth

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    Replies
    1. Yes, we do own a hotel.
      And also yes, they were taken in one of our fields, right across the road from our house.

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    2. and thanks for your sweet comments about our Vlog-glad it could bless you!

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  7. Oh dear...talk about hilarious!!! Glad you were able to work everything out anyway=)

    The pictures are absolutely adorable! I love them all! But...if I HAVE to choose a favorite or two...they would be the last one of Hudson by himself, and the second to last photo:) SO cute, Chels! Thanks for posting!

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  8. These are adorable! You did a fabulous job! Hehe that story is too funny! :) Love the lower shots best!

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  9. and yes they did pull it off so well and my fva would have to be the one where they are ating thr corn lov Ashley hugs lov u guys an God bless u guys

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  10. Wow, that does sound confusing! Glad you were able to get everything figured out:-) At first glance I actually believed that you took pictures of Amish children!, but then I read a little further... hehe!:-) Love the photos of Rebecca and Hudson! I especially like the one of Rebecca holding the kitten:-)

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  11. Adorable pictures!! Love!!

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  12. Chelsy! I ADORE these pictures and these people! :) Hudson's a great sport (and he's getting so tall!) and Rebecca is darling as always. :) The Ila/Ida story is hilarious - we had something similar happen when we thought were going to a surprise birthday party of a friend...and it turned out to be for another friend of the same name. :P Thanks again for sharing! These are absolutely fantastic - my favorite is probably #22, but they are all so.precious. Much love + thanks again for your hospitality on Friday!

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  13. =) Love LOVE these absolutely darling photos!!!! some pure picturesque detail, Chelsy!! I especially like the black and white but really, I like them all! =) so. good.
    ~ Pris

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  14. Awwww, sweet! Definitely captures it. Corn makes for some interesting perspective effects, wow!

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  15. Love these shots! The sky in the background was beautiful!

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  16. These are precious! I think my favorite is of the two of them poking out of the corn with semi-serious faces. Adorable! The Ila/Ida story is hilarious as well - I just kept imagining the poor mom coming home trying to figure out what her kids were telling her and why she had all these extra clothes :)

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  17. Love LOVE these!! Beautiful work girl!! -Kayla

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  18. Adorable!! ♥ these! can't wait to see you New Years Eve!!

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  19. What is your hotel called?

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    Replies
    1. The Dutch Country Inn. =)
      (www.dutchcountryinnkalona.com)

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  20. They are officially thee cutest Amish kids I have ever seen! *melt me*

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  21. SOO cute! The pics look amazing Chelsy! Did you take them?

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  22. AWWW! what amazing pics!

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  23. Those pictures are so very cute cute! And they look so real! All except for one aspect, and maybe this doesn't apply....I don't know the Amish culture that y'all live around. But most Amish kids, even siblings would NEVER be allowed to hold hand or put their arm around the other, and some can't even touch each other. But, yeah, on the whole, great shots. What a cool hotel y'all must have!

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  24. They look so realistic! Great job, and the photos are so sweet!

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