Historical Photo Shoot with Laurie Cabot - The Most Famous Witch in the World

Listening to a story from Laurie

A very happy, yet anxious photographer and Ms. Laurie.

All is complete, now we head up to the studio!

All Behind the Scenes photos by Dawn Dorgan

On March 12, 2012, one of the most important shoots of my photography career took place with Salem's own Laurie Cabot, High Priestess of the Cabot Tradition.


*****Oooopsie forgot! Ms. Laurie wasn't in the studio 5 minutes before EVERY battery went completely dead!! This is a common occurance when spirits/spiritual energies are present (like when Ghost Hunters investigators' equipment/batteries die). Just had never experienced this happening with a LIVE person! Well, afterall it was LAURIE CABOT! :}*****


Needless to say, much preparation and coordination with numerous people took place months prior to this shoot date.  William, the Project Manager took off three days work and came in from NYC to assist with the shoot.  Mystic Woman, Dawn Dorgan took an afternoon off work to assist and provide transportation.  Several Professors went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that we had complete access to the studio and that there would be no problems.


Laurie, her daughter Penny, and Dawn arrived at the University mid-afternoon.  We spent about 15 minutes in the lobby area going over the concept of the shoot and processing paperwork.  Afterwards, the whole crew headed up to the studio.  William and I had set everything up and had finalized the lighting design, tested all equipment, and set up the studio the day before the shoot.  This was a necessary plan as I knew that the lighting was going to be difficult and quite frankly I was not 100% sure I could even do it.  Candlelight/natural light sources in a studio is challenging to say the least.  However, with the assistance of the Project Manager and much effort we accomplished our mission for pre-sets and design on Sunday.  Boy oh boy am I glad we did too!


Laurie looked beautiful but fatigued.  She told me upon arrival that she was not feeling well and that she was concerned about the length of time it would take to do the shoot.  So, I knew that speed was going to be mandatory.  The entire shoot only lasted 20 to 25 minutes from beginning to "wrap."  I only used one lighting set up, one prop set up, and just two angles.  I was very concerned about Laurie and I could see her "fading" in just moments after we began.  It became very important and a priority to finish and get her safely on her way home.


Today, I came into the lab and started processing the photos.  Kim, one of the photography professors that is on the Portrait Selection Committee was here, thank goodness.  She was very impressed with the shoot and calmed my fears by taking really close looks at a few of the photos I was working on.  I learned yet again from Ms. Kim, she was telling me that all photographers go through the frustration and fear stages that we experience during a very short shoot.  Thanks Kim!!!!


I have posted two portraits on smugmug and there will be a few more uploaded over the course of the next couple of weeks.  


Many, many heartfelt thanks to William, Dawn, Laurie, Penny, and the Professor's for making sure this shoot happened.  A special thanks to Laurie...I know all too well the huge sacrifice it is to "show up" when you are hurting.  It ain't easy folks!


Laurie told me personally, a year ago, that I would be the last photographer to shoot her in the studio and believe me, she has been photographed by many accomplished photographers over the years.  
So on March 12, 2012 history was made, I did a studio shoot of the most famous witch in the world for the last time.  I feel honored and fortunate to have had this experience and this shoot will most certainly enhance the success of 
The Mystic Women of Salem project !
:}

Meeting with Mayor Kim Driscoll

On February 27, 2012  I met with Mayor Kim Driscoll at Salem City Hall.  Even though I was still a bit "out of sorts" due to Marcio's recent passing, I enjoyed our meeting regardless.   She was very interested in MWS project and wanted to know all about it.  A city council woman had mentioned the project to her and she had seen some of the pr materials around town.

I began by telling her about the layout/format of the book and what the introduction will say.  Of course some of you know that Jac's "words of wisdom" will be a part of the intro. (if you don't know the story, you will have to wait until the book comes out :}).  When I told her about Jac's life long observance of how Salem seems to "choose or repel" people...she clapped her hands and said, "oh my gosh, I have never heard it put so well!" The ending sentence,  "So come to Salem and see if Salem chooses you" seemed to delight our City's Mayor and she confessed that this is exactly what happened to her.  After graduating from Salem State, she just never left...Salem chose her for sure and I for one am happy she was chosen.  I do not know about the hot topics and issues of the City, as my entire life revolves in and around the University, that being a world of it's own.  However, it seems to me that Mayor Kim is a perfect fit for our City.

One of my main goals is to have this book in the tourist center, here in Salem....easily available to the thousands of tourists that descend upon our city at various times during the year.  Because of this meeting, I am sure that this goal will be met due to the contacts that Mayor Kim gave me.  She wants me to keep her updated as MWS grows and matures, especially the closer we get to publication release date(s).  She offered to link MWS with Destination Salem (a city run publication/pr tool) as we approach release.

After a full hour of jam packed conversation and information exchange, I can tell you all that the Mayor  was very supportive and an endless source of information and contacts, for me as a photographer and for  The Mystic Women of Salem.

Thanks Mayor Kim...it was a real pleasure!  :}