While we are first traveling photographers, we’ll always be thrifters. We love looking for the perfect steal & finding unique pieces amongst piles of other’s “junk”. It’s cathartic in some way. Knowing there is a story behind every item, and being able to give it a new tale is well.. telling.

We were at Goodwill in Whitehouse, Ohio recently & noticed a long, sexy, red dress sandwiched between some jean jackets ready to be placed on the rack. It immediately piqued our interest. When we saw it was still brand new with tags, we knew we had to photograph it. Just like that, we began planning a styled photoshoot based around this dress!

“Dreamland” was that word that drove our creative vision, and we knew we wanted foresty, green vibes to make the red POP. After our team sat down to brainstorm possible locations, The Toledo Botanical Gardens and Maumee Bay State Park seemed like obvious choices for the lush, dreamy landscapes we envisioned (couples photography also was a must, since the dress just breathes emotion!)

After coordinating a few Toledo vendors and traveling down to the Botanical Gardens and Maumee Bay, we ended up with these magical images. For a $5 dress and a full tank of gas, we couldn’t be happier with the results. Sometimes, it only takes one little light bulb to illuminate an entire room. Good luck trying to shut it off because the glow from this couple was absolutely radiant.

Be sure to check out all our amazing vendors below!

Hair & Make Up: The Moxie Parlour by McKenzie

Floral: Bartz Viviano

Locations: Toledo Botanical Gardens, Maumee Bay State Park