Texas weather is notoriously unpredictable, and February began with unusually warm temperatures, with highs reaching up to 91°F in the first two weeks of the month. However, February 18th, the day before our Spring shoot, was a cloudy day with temperatures returning to freezing. 

When our Art Director Annie and Creative Director Ellen first sat down to begin planning this shoot, their brainstorm incorporated the untamed beauty of wild florals and the soft, romantic elegance of Rococo artistry. Some notable imagery included unique flora such as amaranthus and painters-palettes, Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette, and stills of Martha Stewart in her garden.

We had booked the San Antonio Botanical Gardens as the setting to bring the vision to life, relying on a fully outdoor backdrop. At 3PM the day before the photoshoot, we received a call informing us that all gardens and flower beds would be covered by tarps preparing for an incoming freeze. To our dismay, they wouldn’t be removed until late the next afternoon—well past our scheduled shoot time. It was time for Plan B.

So, we set to work building our own secret garden backdrop right in the middle of our Susan Shaw HQ. We constructed a faux checkered marble floor using peel-and-stick tiles, and made dozens of arrangements in floral foam using stems from a variety of local flower shops. With only hours left before our models and talent arrived on set, we worked together to pivot — and the end result was more magical than we ever could have imagined.

With the help of a talented crew, our vision came to life. And if you're wondering if we ever made it to the Botanical Gardens, we did! You'll have to stick around to see how it turned out. Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date!