I hadn’t planned on photographing a medieval reenactment after-party. After finishing a wedding shoot, I was ready to head home when I noticed a party in a nearby barn. Curious, I went inside and found a crowd celebrating in an unexpected mix of historical costumes, lingerie and drag. The contrast between what they wore during the day and night caught my eye. It was a glimpse of people enjoying themselves in a setting far removed from their everyday lives.
An Unexpected Invitation
This was about ten years ago, after I’d photographed a wedding at Avoncroft Museum. The partygoers had spent the day taking on historical roles, but the evening took a different turn. Some still wore their medieval costumes; others had changed into bras, corsets and lingerie, or dressed in drag. The atmosphere felt playful and uninhibited, with people chatting, dancing and laughing. Some made themselves the centre of attention, while others watched from the sidelines.
I took out my camera and began shooting the scenes around me. I was drawn to the theatrical moments, from people posing in their outfits to exaggerated expressions and gestures, but I also photographed the quieter exchanges between friends.
Behind the Costumes of a Medieval Reenactment
Most people were happy to let me photograph them, although a few asked me to keep their identities private because of their professional lives. I respected their wishes. People occasionally invited me to join the party, but I politely declined, preferring to remain an observer. Even so, I knew my presence affected the scenes I captured. Some people played up to the camera; others carried on talking and laughing with friends.
Out of Character?
Looking at the pictures now, I’m struck by how the evening followed a day already spent stepping outside everyday life. The reenactment allowed people to inhabit historical roles; the party offered another way to experiment with clothing, appearance and behaviour. Perhaps the two weren’t so different after all.
I can’t know what these moments reveal about the people beyond that evening. A photo only shows how someone appeared in a particular moment, not the whole person. I stayed for about an hour before heading home, tired after a full day’s work. At the time, the photos were simply the result of an unexpected detour. Looking back, I wonder whether the partygoers were really out of character. Perhaps, both the medieval reenactment and the after-party gave them room to express sides of themselves that everyday life rarely permits.
Project Details
Location: Avoncroft Museum, Worcestershire, England
Date: 2016
Camera: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III
Lens: EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
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