I am pleased as punch to show the professional photos of MOI and my Sons in Paris by the most wonderful photographer Carla Coulson.This finally made me learn to COPY & PASTE!I have COPIED her blog post onto my little site to give you a peek at what she did!I hope you enjoy her photos and words as much as I have.Love the fact she refers to me as a KOOK.I am and always have been and hopefully always will be!!!!ENJOY, the scenes below………..I am still floating from the experience!If you have a desire to create a memory and have a special person or people you would love to share that memory with do something like this!IT WILL MEAN THE WORLD TO YOU and Them.Think of it as your moment of FAME!I can guarantee as the years go by your eyes will stop on your photo that will be framed ,no doubt in your living room and a rather large smile will cross your face every time.DO IT!I hope I have inspired you to take that step……………and to give a proffesional photographer a JOB.(TO LEAVE A COMMENT CLICK ON ENTER ON THE TITLE OF THE POST THE SHOOT.THEN SCROLL DOWN!)
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La Contessa – Portrait Shoot Paris La Contessa Copyright Carla CoulsonNow you may be wondering why this glamorous woman is feeding chickens in the middle of the Jardin du Tuileries? There is a reason.. La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson. The beautiful Elizabeth Kirkpatrick (aka La Contessa) has been the proud owner of the Vintage Hen House in the San Francisco area up until recently and has been the mother of chickens for as long as she can remember. La Contessa Copyright Carla CoulsonLa Contessa is my dream client in every sense, she loves fashion, she once lived in Florence, she is as kooky as I am and loves the theatrical – we are a match made in photographer’s heaven.
La Contessa had a dream (you can read about it here) to bring her beautiful boys to Paris and have a shoot with them as she has done for the past 20 something years as a gift for their father’s birthday.
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson Well, Carla woke at 3am one night with a photo in her dreams. It was one of her favourite Bruce Weber pics of all time. The Duchess of Devonshire feeding her chickens in front of her beautiful home.
Gorgeous sons Nicholas and Kristopher Copyright Carla Coulson So Carla called in the chickens, contacted La Contessa and we had photo bingo! La Contessa had had Mr. Weber’s picture stuck to her fridge for about the past 20 years. Much excitement down the photo from San Fran to Paris!
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson Now when you come all the way to Paris with an opera coat it seems a shame not to take one walk through the French sculpture section of the Louvre? Non?
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson La Contessa being her glamorous self studying French sculpture.
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson Ahhh…
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson Now La Contessa and her boys have been doing a shoot every year for their Florentine father’s birthday so I thought what could be better than these gorgeous guys shooting their beautiful mum. What troopers!
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson Brownie points for the rest of their lives!
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson Before the drama of the chickens and the Louvre we whipped into a cafe for a pit stop and a couple of pics.
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson How lucky to be staying in Rue du Chateau? The planets were aligning for La Contessa and I in ways we never imagined!!
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson And you can imagine what the locals thought of this glamourpuss buying the bread..
La Contessa Copyright Carla Coulson On the steps of her adorable apartment..See where she stayed.. So La Contessa had a dream and so did Carla and in one glorious day both our dreams came true. A huge round of applause, numerous ‘encore, encore’ to La Contessa, Nicholas and Kristopher for their patience, beauty and creativity. “One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.” Lucius Annaeus Seneca
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cindy lauper says
still sing’n this song when i look at your incredible pix,
“I’ve never seen you looking so lovely
I’ve never seen you shine so bright
And I’ve never seen that dress you’re wearing
Lady in Red
I’ll never forget the way you look
The lady in red
Lady in Red
Lady in Red
My Lady Contessa in Red”
still think’n those CHickens are the CHerries on top too!
so happy you are still fly’n high on your dream-come-true!!!
contessa says
So, its a song not a poem!I do not think I have heard it before…….I saw you sent it to me to listen too……….will go listen now!Your the BEST!
So, I listened to it and OF COURSE, I KNOW IT!!!!It is as old as me this song!BEAUTIFUL…………..
XX
Susan says
Isn’t this an Eric Clapton song ?
You look absolutely beautiful – regal and radiant . That red dress and red coat. Wow. WOW.
Susan wheeler
Peggy Braswell says
Saw this on Carla’s blog + loved it. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
contessa says
Hello Peggy,
Thank You for SUBSCRIBING!We follow a lot of the same blogs…………love your little + signs!!
Marsha @ Splenderosa says
OK, I finally figured out how to comment! Thank you for the tutorial. But, imagine how many people go away and you never know about them & how they love you.
Lady in Red, absolutely perfect!
I’ll never forget the way you look (tonight) either.
Brava, Bravissimo!
contessa says
I know MARSHA,I know…………….Thank You for sending me an e-mail on how to leave a comment!
YOU DID IT!
BRAVA!
sarah says
You will have inspired many I’m sure Elizabeth. The photos are beautiful! What a wonderful dream come true. I’m sure with each passing year the smile will turn to laughter and maybe tears (of joy) of such a special time. Enjoy! xo
La Contessa says
I bet your right!
xoxo
Piedmont Pembroke Parent says
Ahh Contessa,
Your photo shoot combined with Carla’s blog was like watching a lovely movie with a great story…and the actors and actress were all so beautiful! Ooo-la-la! C’est Paris!
Giampiero will be over the moon with this year’s surprise for his birthday.
Motto bene, tres bien, WOW!
PPP
La Contessa says
No, surprise this year!Hard to keep quiet!!!!
XXXX
Missy says
Very hard to pick a favorite Elizabeth! You’ve done it again!! Your boys are so beautiful that it is difficult to not stare!! I love mustard pants and military coat. The B&Ws are compelling and I’m sure Giampi will love these additions to his collection!!
contessa says
Missy,
The mustard pants were his idea!The coat belonged to him too!We saw it a few years ago in an antique- thrift shop down in VENTURA!I told him to try it on and TRA LA!!We had to have it!!!!The hair completes the look don’t YA THINK???
XOXO
Ps. Yes, we are all thrilled with CARLA’s photos………….may have to wallpaper a room with them!
Heather in Arles says
I have looked at these photos a million gazillion times and will never EVER tire of them. Ever. Yes, you most certainly are the Lady in Red—-oooh, just typing it gave me goosebumps!
But Marsha is right, who knows how many people get dissuaded and don’t leave a comment??
Know that you are appreciated and adored by many, no matter what.
Gros Bisous,
H
contessa says
I know I need to have the blog re-done………….it just isNOT comment friendly!
Thank you Heather………..your words mean so much to me.
XOXOO
Loree says
These photos are absolutely beautiful and quite timeless. I see that, like me, you like red. So many people are afraid to wear it but it’s always a stunning colour. On another note, I am the Maltese one. My husband was born and raised in Missouri. His mother is Maltese though. That’s how we met.
contessa says
Thank You Loree for clearing that up for me.What does the Missouri Man do in MALTA may I ask?I feel I need to visit one day!
Diana says
Absolutely gorgeous in every way! Your dream came true and now, inspired, we all continue to dream our dreams and make them come true!
contessa says
I Hope so………..XOXOXO
Gail says
Such beautiful photographs!
contessa says
Thank ~ You !
Penelope Bianchi says
Finally!
Thank you for telling me how to comment! Maybe put it on the beginning of your blog!!! You don’t have to redo the whole thing!!!
contessa says
THAT is an excellent idea!
THANK YOU.Will see what can be done…………..XXX
James Andrew says
My Dear La Contessa,
I am so beyond thrilled to see more of these EPIC images!
The Bruce Weber photo of the Duchess of Devonshire is one of my fav images.
It is so sublime to reference these monumental photos.
Do you have plans for more shoots like this?
Your boys are exquisite – must run in your family!
Love,Light and Blessings
JA
contessa says
I was over reading your post when you were writing to me!How fun is that!
No,I have no plans for another shoot like this……….this takes the CAKE!
My Boys rose to the occasion and today the oldest one turns 26!!!!
THANK ~ YOU!!
They were great to follow their MAMA’ to France and create her vision.I sit here with a red box full of prints delivered to me via Paris from CARLA.Today, I frame a few……….in SHETFIELD SILVER frames that I have found on my rounds at the VANVES FLEA MARKET in PARIS!!!!
XXX
Deborah Peterson Milne says
When I first read that Carla did photo shoots such as yours my imagination went wild; what a dream. Your photos are all amazing. The combination of the idyllic setting, your magnificent dress and opera coat (oh the red!), the fabulous chickens, your handsome sons, well they all bring out your joy and beauty. What a memory for your entire lifetime and beyond for your sons.
Carla is one talented woman!
Cheers to making your dreams come true.
Deb
contessa says
And I have signed up for your musings………what a story you have.I need to go back and read more.I am SCOTTISH ~ IRISH on my Father’s side, would love to jump over some day for a visit!
Sunday Taylor says
Thanks so much for visiting my blog. Wow, what a gorgeous photo shoot! Everything about it is so beautiful. Like many of your readers, I also had no idea Carla did this kind of thing. What a memory you now have, and also what a document of YOU and your incredible joie de vivre. So happy to know about your blog!
contessa says
I love how small the world is………love the fact you were just in FIRENZE!Looking forward to your LAKE COMO posts.
Marie Angelique says
I am visiting for the first time and I am in love with your blog. This photo shoot is stunning. Simply stunning. You are so beautiful and your sons are very handsome too. Look forward to reading more!
contessa says
MERCI……….MARIE,tis the photographer and her props…….not to be forgotten her LOCATIONS that made it all SO FABULOUS!!!
I just stood there!
HRH The Duchess of State says
That dress dahhling! That dress & that opera coat! Where on earth did you find such exquisite finery? can’t say enough about the photos and the energy you exalt even on film. Beautiful!
Mark Shaw says
Wow, terrific shots in fabulous venues. You look like a movie star, Elizabeth.
contessa says
THANK YOU MARK………….it was an unbelievable day………we had such fun!
jewels says
Wow
contessa says
Hello JEWELS!
Nice to see you you found me!!
Mary Jo says
Speechless…the red gown against the white marble is just dazzling! I have saved 2 of Carla’s photos of you to my computer…and how genius and serendipity about that Bruce Weber photo. I’ve always had a soft spot for him and your version is magnificent! So glad I was able to read up on this magical photo shoot!
xoxo Mary Jo
Iga says
Keep on shining in 2015 !!!!!
Fabulous YOU !!!
So happy to know you
Iga
Jenny says
I could not be more in love with this post! You look so stylish and love the red! Your sons look so cute too! Love the yellow pants! I would love to do a photoshoot like this one day in Paris! Besos! Jenny
Andrea@WellnessNotes says
Lovely photos!
Piedmont Pembroke Parent says
Contessa,
I loved this behind the scenes look at Carla’s photography magic. Not that you, ma cherie, are not naturally glamorous, but ….this was glamour elevated! The work of a professional. High fashion at the Louvre, pristine marble, breathtaking sculpture and CHICKENS?? Very inventive and most whimscial.
Truly a lifetime memory with your gorgeous and simply charming sons, Kristopher and Nicholas!
So entertaining!
Merci beaucoup.
PPP
Marcy Hammerstein says
This was such a wonderful visit to Paris for me…vicarious of course, but a mini break. The photos have the contrast one always hopes for when wearing a spectacular dress like yours. Such a gorgeous contrast to your surroundings. Loved them!