We Recreated Their Wedding Day As Post-Apocalyptic Vikings

Kenny and Ana’s photoshoot with me was a handfasting gift from their friends. An opportunity to create some special photos they had been unable to capture on the day.

Settling on a Post-Apocalyptic Viking theme as it was something both Kenny and Ana both love we set about planning.

Whilst I scouted for locations, planned poses, shots and ordered smoke bombs, my colleague Fran planned their hair and makeup whilst Ana and Kenny gathered inspiration from various corners of Instagram and Pinterest. Clothes, hair, make-up, jewellery, weapons and accessories.

Knowing that their sewing skills were limited, Kenny and Ana selected items that they could customise or craft. Searching for materials everywhere from DIY stores to haberdashers, woodlands, to their recycling.

Six months later we were ready.

Fran – Fran Hansen –

This photoshoot with Anastasia and Kenny was one of my favourites to date! Being given a brief of post-apocalyptic Viking wedding is certainly something I felt very excited about, particularly as I have a great interest in Norse mythology and history myself. I really enjoy reading and research, so most of my inspiration for the makeup design came from books, in particular, ‘Norse Myths: Gods of the Vikings’ by Kevin Crossley Holland.

I also looked into how black paint could be translated onto the skin and what techniques I could use to achieve a really textured, unfinished, warpaint-like finish, so when recreating this effect I took inspiration from the tattooing style, dark trash realism, a heavy, distortive style popularised

by tattooist Anrijs Straume.

We worked together to choose some runes that really resonated with Anastasia and Kenny, which I painted onto their heads and faces. Some represent letters, others meaning and gods, such as Odin, and the earth. Originally, I actually designed three looks for the shoot, as in my head I had separated the designs into characters or personalities;

a warrior, a mage and a healer.

In the end we took elements from all three face charts and created something truly unique. One of my favourite parts of our story board was when we set up a bone divination reading, using props Anastasia and Kenny had made themselves. It was amazing for Birgitta and I to work with a real couple on set too, I feel like their organic chemistry

and emotions translate really well in the shots.

Creative Concept – Zoutman & Hansen

https://www.facebook.com/zoutmanandhansen/

Hair & Makeup by Fran Hansen Hair & Special FX

https://www.facebook.com/franhansenhairfx/

Photography By Birgitta Zoutman Photography

https://www.bzoutmanphotography.com/

Location – Moreton Corbett Castle, United Kingdom