Classic Gallery: Roen Photography - 10 Years of Dreams

This is where it all began, y'all - my first ever shoot with Miranda Roen all the way back in 2012! I was celebrating 10 years of my production company, Champagne Dreams Productions, as well as the launch of the first version of this website, The World of Champagne! We were having a big party and drag show featuring some amazing drag performers as well as some fantastic burlesque dancers from Bad Weather Burlesque! I had met Miranda not long before I was preparing for this party, and we decided to cook up some gorgeous images to help glam up the website and the event!

All of the years, all of the amazing shoots I've done with talented photographers, and this is still one of my favorite images ever! This is true serendipity! That vintage mint car is not added in, it's not photoshopped. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time! I love this so much! I made the dress myself, and I was hesitant about pairing that super bright fuchsia with the mint. Now I can't imagine anything else!

That red door is like a credited guest star in this shoot! All of these photos were taken in downtown Grand Forks, mostly in the alleys between Kittson and Demers. And I love that Mirand always throws in some black and white edits. I think they are so classic and elegant - something I'm rarely accused of being! She totally gets my grit and glam aesthetic!

The pink against this blue paint is another favorite! And that updo is so great! That wig got stolen at the 10 Years of Dreams party - if you took it, I hope you step barefoot on Legos at least once a day! I've never found an updo that good since!

I love downtown Grand Forks! There are so many quirky, fun locations to snap some really killer pics. Fewer since rich assholes have started to really gentrify the area, but there are still some location gems! And of course I had to do some shots by the window of the Plain Brown Wrapper. Sure, now it's Romantix, but to me it will always be the PBR!

(It was called the PBR because it had this handpainted brown and white sign that said "Plain Brown Rapper" - they spelled it like "a person who raps, a musician" rather than like paper that you wrap porn in!)

I had found a vintage beauty pageant trophy in a thrift store, and bought it - I didn't know what I was going to use it for, but I knew it was meant to be. And when we started planning this shoot, I knew she had to make an appearance. This is this great faded advertising mural in one of the alleys, and it was a perfect backdrop!

A random doorway. A bit of graffiti. A big drag queen. Perfection!

Flashback to when I still had eyebrows! My makeup is so small! Even without the full canvas that I'm used to now, Miranda really captured something with these headshots!

We weren't the only ones trying to get glamorous shots in the alleys that day! This couple was in the same area taking wedding photos and asked if I would pose with them! Of course, I obliged! I have no idea who they are, but I hope they are happy and living their best lives.

And if it didn't work out...call me, Daddy!

Miranda is back in town and we've already been talking about potential collaborations! My mind is always cooking, so I'm sure we'll have some amazing content before the year is over! Look where we started, and it's only been going up since then!