MeduSirena - Valhalla Rising
MeduSirena at the Black Wolf Stage
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A Special Collaboration with MeduSirena at the Florida Renaissance Festival
This mini-set with MeduSirena of SAMKOMA is a bit of a bonus shoot for you all! After hitting it off during Week 1 of the Florida Renaissance Festival, MeduSirena and I started talking about doing some solo work together. In addition to being a key member of Ren Faire band SAMKOMA, she’s also a photographer, model, and mermaid performer, with 30 years of Ren Faire experience.
An Early Morning Shoot (After an All-Nighter)
For this special shoot, MeduSirena asked me to arrive before the band’s first performance at noon. I don’t normally hit the Ren Faire on Saturdays, but I figured it would be a good opportunity to avoid the usual Sunday distractions (aka running into a million friends). What I didn’t plan for? Heading all the way down to Homestead the night before for a surprise birthday party for my good friend and muse Okami Moon.
And if you know my Miami crew, you know what that means—I pulled an all-nighter and went straight to the Ren Faire. A little sleep deprivation never stopped me before, though. I arrived at the Black Wolf Stage around 10:30 AM, and soon after, we got to work.
Shooting in New Conditions
We wrapped this quick 30-minute session, but since we only had to walk between locations, it was plenty of time. By now, I know the Ren Faire terrain well, but one X-factor was the morning light. I usually don’t shoot in midday lighting since it’s often harsh and overhead. But thanks to shady spots and cloud coverage, we made it work beautifully.
This shoot really had me breaking from my usual habits, but that’s part of the fun.
Creative Chemistry & Future Collabs
Shooting with MeduSirena was an absolute delight. Her presence is powerful, her look was perfect for the Faire, and our creative chemistry was on point. I was a bit quieter than usual (blame the lack of sleep and bustling Faire crowds), but luckily, we didn’t get interrupted by onlookers wanting their own photos—a rarity at events like this.
We primarily shot in the Ottoman area, which, as I mentioned in my last post, is becoming one of my favorite locations for both hanging out and shooting. At the end of our session, I even snapped a few bonus shots with the whole band—all super nice guys.
What’s Next?
This weekend marks SAMKOMA’s final performances at the Florida Renaissance Festival for the year (though check their page for an upcoming concert next month!). But as for me and MeduSirena? This is just the beginning.
We’re already planning future shoots, and next time, we’re switching roles—she’ll be photographing me! Stay tuned, because this is far from our last collab.
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Florida Renaissance Festival Week 3 - Valentine’s Weekend
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Kayla Bee in the Ottoman Empire
Love & Lowkey Vibes at the Florida Renaissance Festival – Week 3
Love is in the air! It was Valentine’s Weekend at the Florida Renaissance Festival, and the Faire was buzzing with energy. This week, I made my way to Ren Fest with muse friends Kayla Bee and Pain Puppy. These two dynamos knew each other from the fetish scene but had never really hung out before. Much to my delight, they hit it off instantly.
A Chill Day with New Discoveries
All of us were feeling the lowkey vibes of Week 3—so instead of running around non-stop, we planted ourselves in different spots and just soaked in the atmosphere. This turned out to be a fantastic decision because I stumbled upon a hidden flower area in the Ottoman Empire section. This area is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots at the Faire.
We all took turns doing solo shoots, including me! Kayla Bee is a fantastic photographer, so I handed her my camera, and she absolutely killed it with my shots. Expect to see some of those soon!
SAMKOMA & A Special MeduSirena Shoot
We also caught another killer performance from SAMKOMA. You might notice that MeduSirena wasn’t in the set we saw, but don’t worry—I’ve got something special for you. I recently did a solo shoot with MeduSirena at the Faire, and that bonus set is coming soon. More collabs are definitely in the works!
The Usual Cast of Characters
Of course, no trip to the Florida Renaissance Festival is complete without running into familiar faces in the KungFuBreakfast Photographic Universe. This week, I crossed paths with:
Jupiter Stellar (who has been serving nothing but vibes with her outfits this year)
The amazing Faire performers (including a shot of the King on stage!)
What’s Next?
Between Ren Faire weekends, I’ve been shooting tons of content, so I’ll do my best to drop at least one or two more posts per week. In the meantime, follow me on social media for teasers—and if you love what I’m doing, spread the word!
Want to chat or collab? Shoot me a DM—I’d love to hear from you!
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Florida Renaissance Festival Week 2 - Viking Weekend
Nora Mars
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Huzzah! Week 2 of the Florida Renaissance Festival – Viking Edition
Week 2 of the Florida Renaissance Festival was an absolute success! This year feels extra magical, though I can’t quite put my finger on why. Maybe it’s just the energy in the air. Or maybe it was the Viking theme—a staple of any great Ren Faire alongside pirates, wenches, and steampunk. Either way, the vibe was strong, and the photos? Even better.
A Viking-Inspired Adventure
As usual, I headed to the Ren Faire on Sunday, fresh off a Saturday hair appointment, with my good friend and muse, Shannon Marie. A Viking theme is perfect for anyone from the industrial or metal scene, so we went all in. You can catch a glimpse of my outfit in a fun mirror shot, but I’ll admit—I often forget to photograph my own look. Luckily, another photographer snapped a pic of me, so hopefully, I’ll be able to share that soon!
Before even stepping inside, Shannon and I kicked off the day with a quick Viking-themed shoot. From there, I ended up spending most of the day with Nora Mars, a Ren Faire regular for over a decade. She always brings incredible outfits, but this time? Easily one of her best. She and her boyfriend, Dani Van Buren—who also happens to be a KungFuBreakfast muse and Crossroads bartender—dressed in matching yet contrasting Viking looks. The results? Almost as epic as the couple’s shoot we recently did (stay tuned for that drop!).
Friends, Creatives, and Well-Dressed Strangers
My two Ren Faire Sundays have flown by in a whirlwind of activity. So far, I’ve almost exclusively ended up photographing friends, friends of friends, and the occasional well-dressed rando. This week, in addition to Shannon and Nora, I also ran into:
A Rocking Horse, a King, and a Royal Compliment
While most of the chaos is best told through the photos, I do have one standout moment. Earlier in the week, at a non-KungFuBreakfast shoot, I ran into my friend Bowser—a big, sweet stoner dude from the kink scene who always rocks cool character masks (very Ren Faire vibes). He mentioned he was working at the Faire, running the giant rocking horse, so naturally, I had to check it out.
I took a few shots of Nora riding the horse, but honestly? Photos don’t do the experience justice. After snapping a few, I hopped on myself, and we all ended up talking anime. Then, in a perfect Ren Faire moment, the King walked by, complimented our outfits, and carried on his royal way. Definitely a highlight of the season, photographed or not. Now, I’m determined to get a shot of His Majesty.
Plans for Next Weekend
Next weekend, I’ll be at the Florida Renaissance Festival both Saturday and Sunday. Sunday will be for the usual debauchery, but Saturday, I plan to arrive early for a special shoot with MeduSirena. Stay tuned—this Ren Faire season is only getting better!
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Florida Renaissance Festival Week 1 - Jesters Weekend
SAMKOMA
The Florida Renaissance Festival: My Church of Choice
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Everyone has that event they religiously attend. For some, it’s a weekly or monthly club night. For others, it’s something annual like Burning Man or Coachella. And believe it or not, some people actually go to church (and it’s not even abandoned).
I’ve never been the type to commit to one recurring event. I just go where I want, when I want, and usually, once I’ve done something for a while, I move on. But in recent years, the Florida Renaissance Festival has become my church.
What is the Florida Renaissance Festival?
For the uninitiated, every year in February and March, Quiet Waters Park in Deerfield Beach transforms into a medieval wonderland on Saturdays and Sundays. It’s a full-blown Ren Faire experience—incredible live bands, mouthwatering faire food, and of course, people dressing up in their finest medieval, fantasy, or historically inaccurate garb.
For an immersive adventure photographer like me, it’s paradise.
Sundays are my preferred day to attend. That’s when the South Florida alt scene comes out in full force. There’s something about Ren Faire that draws together goths, ravers, punks, kinksters, and every other alternative subculture. Normally, you only see these people in nightlife settings, but here, you get to adventure with them in daylight (which, if you know me, you know I love daytime adventures). In that way, it feels more like a festival or a Burn—just with turkey legs and chainmail.
Ren Faire 2025: Opening Weekend Recap
Now that you’ve had your crash course, let’s talk about this past Sunday (my usual day, since it’s slightly less crowded). I went with one of my besties, Shannon Marie (Kayla Bee was supposed to join but was, unfortunately, sick).
We met up with a killer crew of muses and performer friends, including Pain Puppy, Nora Mars, Mandy Faery, and Jupiter Stellar. We also ran into some folks working the event, like Lauren Flo, Antoinette and the guys from Bard & Minstrels, and Dani Van Buren, who’s bartending at Crossroads again this year.
Puppy and her helmeted kinkster friend were a vibe, and we got some killer photos—especially the ones of her in the stocks (which are exclusive to the Secret Cabal members-only section here on the site).
I also checked out a new act, SAMKOMA, and they were amazing. This year, I plan to highlight more Ren Faire performers, since I tend to focus mostly on the friends and muses I hang out with.
Final Thoughts
Opening weekend was a blast—exactly the kind of adventure I needed. If this is any indication of how the season is going to go, I can already tell I’ll be spending a lot of time at the Florida Renaissance Festival in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for more Faire magic! 🏰✨
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Intro To Beginner Photo Wizardry
Wow! Ok so welcome to my magical photo/adventure blog where I will be sharing new content, tips and tricks, and general musings on my adventures. For those familiar with my work, welcome back! I couldn’t do what I do without all of you so let me say thank you and I am so thankful to be connecting with you on this level once again.
For those new to the magical whimsies of this learned image maker, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jay Kantor, known to those in the know as KungFuBreakfast, First of His Name, Photographer of The Nine Realms. I am an Four Dimensional, ElderGod, Light-Bending Wizard of the Photographic Arts. A Master of the Fine Arts I am known by many names: Instigator, Disruptor, Urban Explorer, Booty Whisperer. My work has been featured in magazines, film festivals, art galleries.
So what am I doing here? Well that is an excellent question. You have entered the tome of my work and I plan to share you my story.