Help Needed with Trash the Dress/Burn the Dress

[OhSnapPhotos]

I have a friend who wants to do a Trash the Dress/Burn the Dress session to celebrate her divorce. I've done a couple TTDs before and feel fairly confident/competent with those, but I haven't worked with fire before. Has anyone done any sessions like this? Or does anyone have any suggestions for how to do this session, etc.?

I've done an image search and not come up with a lot. I would prefer to NOT have the dress on the 'bride' when it is on fire as that just seems to be inviting trouble. But we want to make it clear that the dress is burning and that she's taking an active part.

I would LOVE to be able to do a shot where it looks like she is throwing a bucket of gasoline on the fire, but I'm not entirely sure how to manage that.

We're thinking of doing TTD during the afternoon/evening and then having a bonfire for the burning later, nearing or after dark.

I'd love any setups and suggestions anyone has. This is meant to be a fun/practice session, although I'd really love to be able to have shots come out for her, myself, and my portfolio.

Mods - if there is another forum where this would be more appropriate and/or receive more attention, I would appreciate a move!

[TheDarkReaver]

Originally Posted by OhSnapPhotos

I would prefer to NOT have the dress on the 'bride' when it is on fire as that just seems to be inviting trouble.

That did in fact make me LoL

Here's what you do; Get a mannequin to put the dress on and set it up in a well ventilated area where a fire can easily be controlled. When this is done hire a flame-thrower from someone, one of those big ones where you have to strap a couple of propane tanks to your back. Give the device to the 'bride', making sure to give her a quick break down on how it operates. Set her to the task of then using the flame-thrower to incinerate the dress wearing mannequin, all the while throwing some action stances and laughing manically (think Al Pacino in Scarface, "Say hello to my leetle friend!"). Just snap away and you're there!

[stkywik]

I was thinking that you could lay the dress out on a makeshit table of sorts (two saw horses and plywood should do just fine) in a funeral pyre sort of way. Have the ex-bride stand behind it, dousing it with charcoal lighter fluid. I think the lighter fluid would be more easily recognized by the viewer than a bucket of gasoline. that may be misconstrued as her trying to throw water on the dress in an effort to save it/ her marriage.

[CiiVii]

You could also stuff it full of kindling/sticks/hay atop the rest of the firewood so it is standing up. Gasoline and diesel light and burn slowly, so it might be possible to make lines with it and thus control the way it starts burning.

[SusanH1970]

Here is a thread that I posted a while back with a link to a really cool burning TTD session. Thought it might give you a couple of ideas. It does feature a couple rather than just the woman, but it's still got some interesting ideas.

Cool Trash The Dress slideshow

[OsmosisStudios]

Before you set anything ablaze in public, or at home, be careful. Fire extinguishers, hoses, etc. Just in case. Also check with local fire rules: you may not be legally allowed to have a fire over a certain size in places, or you may require the fire department to be present.

Of course, having firemen around can go a long way to helping things

[OhSnapPhotos]

LMAO @ DarkReaver!

That is SUCH a great visual! And something we hadn't even considered. I may definitely have to look into making that happen.

In regard to my comment about not having the dress on a real person, the majority of photos/links I could find were of just that! I imagine they were probably PhotoShopped and/or done under very controlled circumstances, but ...

[OhSnapPhotos]

Originally Posted by stkywik

I think the lighter fluid would be more easily recognized by the viewer than a bucket of gasoline. that may be misconstrued as her trying to throw water on the dress in an effort to save it/ her marriage.

I hadn't thought about that. Good Point!

[CiiVii]

Originally Posted by OsmosisStudios

Of course, having firemen around can go a long way to helping things

Ooh- If you know a firefighter, having one stand there looking the other way while the former bride burns her dress would be pretty darn funny.

[Jim Bryant]

Or have a fire fighter dressed up in his gear standing by with a fire extinguisher handy.