Creating an Alice in Wonderland Photoshoot at Niagara Falls Botanical Garden
I have no idea where this idea came from.
One minute I was thinking about my new Sony Alpha 7V, and the next I was completely convinced that I needed to turn my best friend into Alice and create an entire Alice in Wonderland photoshoot around it.
Some ideas arrive slowly.
This one appeared fully formed.
As an English Literature graduate, I've always loved classic stories, and Alice in Wonderland has been one of my favorites for years. There is something timeless about it. The curiosity. The absurdity. The feeling of stepping into a world where the ordinary suddenly becomes extraordinary.
And honestly, Kate was the perfect Alice.
She's blonde, she's adventurous, she's always willing to follow me into whatever creative chaos I come up with next, and I knew immediately that she would bring the character to life.
So naturally, I texted her.
And somehow, that random idea turned into one of my favorite creative projects we've done together.
Bringing Wonderland to Life
Thankfully, most of the props were surprisingly easy to find.
I ordered the Alice costume, a wooden treasure chest, oversized playing cards, and gathered a few additional supplies from Dollarama, including paintbrushes and white roses that we transformed into the iconic red roses from the story.
Because I live in Toronto, transporting everything would have been a challenge, so I shipped the larger items directly to Kate's house in St. Catharines.
A few days later, Kate picked me up, we loaded everything into the car, and I stayed overnight so we could tackle the shoot the next day.
Honestly, half the fun of these projects happens before the camera ever comes out.
We spent the evening unpacking props, planning shots, talking through ideas, and figuring out how we could bring Wonderland into the real world with what we had.
A Day in Wonderland
The next morning started with real life.
School drop-offs.
Coffee.
Gathering the last few props.
Finalizing the shot list.
Then we headed to the Niagara Falls Botanical Garden, one of my favorite places to photograph.
Every time I visit, it feels like stepping into a storybook.
The gardens are beautiful, the pathways seem endless, and there are hidden corners everywhere that feel like they belong in another world. For an Alice in Wonderland concept, it was almost too perfect.
While Emma kept Mila entertained, Kate and I moved quickly through the gardens creating both photos and video content.
The giant playing cards found their way into hedges.
The roses became red.
A mysterious treasure chest appeared beneath the trees.
And somehow, for a few hours, Wonderland existed in Niagara.
The Treasure in the Chest
One of my favorite parts of the entire shoot was the treasure chest sequence.
At first glance, it looks like Alice discovering a mysterious object hidden deep within Wonderland.
The reality?
The treasure was my new Sony Alpha 7V.
I wanted a creative way to introduce the camera without simply holding it up in front of a lens and calling it a day.
The story felt much more interesting.
Alice discovers a hidden chest.
The chest glows.
She opens it.
And inside is the tool that helps create the very images you're looking at.
It felt playful, slightly ridiculous, and completely on brand for us.
Creating Fantasy Worlds Without a Massive Budget
I think people often assume creative photoshoots require huge budgets, giant teams, or expensive locations.
This shoot cost approximately $300 in total.
That included props, costume pieces, and various supplies we collected along the way.
Could we have spent more?
Absolutely.
But creativity has never been about spending the most money.
It's about seeing possibilities.
Most of these props can be reused in future shoots, future stories, and future creative experiments.
To me, that's an investment worth making.
Art deserves investment.
Not because it guarantees anything in return, but because creating things that excite you is valuable on its own.
This Is Only the Beginning
The funniest part is that this doesn't feel like a completed project.
It feels like the first chapter.
We already have ideas for more Wonderland-inspired concepts.
An Alice tea party.
More characters.
More stories.
Bigger sets.
Stranger ideas.
This photoshoot felt less like a single creative project and more like the beginning of a series we'll continue building together.
And honestly, that's my favorite part.
Photography has given me many things over the years, but one of the most meaningful has been the people.
I'm incredibly grateful for Kate, for her family, and for the fact that they always support whatever strange creative idea I bring to the table next.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a best friend who will willingly crawl through gardens, pose with giant playing cards, and spend an entire day helping bring imaginary worlds to life.
I am.
And I don't take that for granted.
If you'd like to follow along as we continue creating together, you can find more of our work on Instagram.
Trust me.
Wonderland isn't finished yet.
Gear & Props Used
Camera
Lens
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8
Filters
K&F Concept ND2-32 Variable ND https://www.kentfaith.ca/SKU.2500_82mm-magnetic-filter-kit-cpl-nd2-32-black-mist-1-4-filter-se?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22035932624&gbraid=0AAAAAolCzQ20LjZCziOStsq7KfwktQABN&gclid=Cj0KCQjwo_PRBhDNARIsAEcVALX9mCg-OOx8aDyIMidH5TNhc4YE_l0rjelLvZfsj2r7FxJW1kXtvUEaAoSqEALw_wcB
K&F Concept Black Diffusion Filter
Lighting
Location
Niagara Falls Botanical Garden & Butterfly Conservatory
Model
Kate (@confidently.kate)
Props
Fun Shack Alice Costume (Blue) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00TTY3HY4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Nautical Cove Wooden Treasure Chest https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09TTWNRLZ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Oversized Playing Cards https://a.co/d/0bYKRtgg
Artificial White Roses (painted red for the Wonderland effect)
Paintbrushes
Acrylic Paint
Additional craft supplies from Dollarama
Creative Team
Creative Direction & Photography: Lara Grace Bulut
Model: Kate
Behind-the-scenes support: Emma & Mila
