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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.