Photographer Milena Dekic from “I Love Wednesdays”: An Interview

Last week, I sent a newsletter to my mailing list, and it included the following interview ( I have also placed more of her photos in this blog post)...To join the mailing list of Penelope Red, email me: designer@penelopered.com.au, and just let me know you would like to subscribe.

Please note, all of the photos taken in this posting were taken by Milena from I Love Wednesdays.

One of the great things about working in this industry, is the chance to work with brilliant and talented people. Milena Dekic from “I Love Wednesdays” is one of the inspiring and very talented people whom I have had the pleasure of working with recently. She was the photographer who created the beautiful images below:

The Cherry Red Bolero

The Tokyo Sydney Catsuit

The Paris Bow Top

The Barcelona Corset

I thought you would all enjoy to read a little about Milena’s work....

1. What inspires you?

I think the only way I can really answer that question without answering "everything!" is to tell you that I love stories. Stories have a way of weaving themselves into your being. Everyone has a story; whether it is good, bad, funny, indifferent, filled with silliness; everyone has a story. My job as a photographer is to capture that story, and I am grateful for it every day. Sometimes I get to create my own story and other times I get to be a part of other people's; to document intimate moments that are only really shared with closest family and friends. To be let into other people's lives and their stories and see them unfold, really, how could you not be inspired?


2. How did you start in this profession?

I didn't really think that being a creative as something that I could do as a job, it was always something that I just loved to do. I've drawn from the time I could hold a pencil and taken photos from the time my parents would let me play with the camera. Deciding that this was something I wanted to pursue as a career was really surreal. I didn't do art at school, but I applied for a scholarship to design college anyway and I honestly don't know what they saw in the exam that I sat, but I got accepted. I will never forget one of my favourite teacher's reactions when I told her, "well, that makes sense, the back of your essays are always covered in drawings," considering she had me for history, it's rather telling.

My professional start was as a Junior Designer for a photography and design studio. I didn't really know what I was getting myself in to and I really couldn't believe that someone was going to pay me to be creative. I ended up being the Senior Designer and Retoucher and was involved with every photo shoot that the studio did. I think back on it and how absolutely crazy it was to go from uni and not knowing anything to running projects from beginning to end and liaising with clients.



3. What projects are you working on?

At the moment, I'm working on a photo shoot for a new clothing label, a collaborative photo shoot with a fantastic make-up artist, design projects for a couple of IT companies, a few wedding album designs, scouting locations for upcoming engagement & wedding location photos and a few personal projects I've got in the works. It sounds rather crazier than it actually is.

4. What are your aims and ideas for the future?

Continue doing what I'm doing and what I love. I'm moving more and more to doing weddings, which I am so grateful for, because it encompasses everything that I'm passionate about; photography, design and stories. I think I'm really lucky that I get to share the celebration of two people in love, and it is awesome to get to be a part of all of it.





If you are planning a wedding, or know of someone who is, and you are in Sydney, then Milena could help to capture your wonderful day! You can contact Milena at I Love Wednesdays on the following:

Crystal's Wedding Dress: Part 2

In November, when I posted the "Crystal's Wedding Dress: Part 1" entry, I promised that I would post the photos from the wedding day... so here they are!



Of course, Crystal is a beautiful girl, and you could place a sack on her, and she would still be glamorous and beautiful; but I like to think that perhaps my design has helped to enhance that beauty!



They had a quiet civil ceremony in Edinburgh- aren't the photos lovely!



If you haven't seen the part 1 entry, or can't remember it, please make sure you take a look! It features the making of the dress; the design process of concept to realisation- a little background of how I work, and how I create my designs.



The coat is a Penelope Red design too, it is actually the same style as the Penelope Red Silk Road Hooded Coat, which is available in my etsy shop.

I can also make the coat in other colours as well.




The dress is a similar style to my Winter Tailored Dresses- more on those later!



Follow me on twitter or facebook for more updates of my latest designs and finds!

Crystal's Wedding Dress: Part 1

My best friend, Crystal, is getting married! They have chosen to elope to Scotland in December, and have a civil ceremony there, then enjoy a honeymoon travelling throughout Europe- how exciting!

I have been asked to create the wedding dress- quite excited!

To see the completed designs, and photos from the wedding day take a look at Crystals Wedding Dress: Part 2

The design brief:

Classic Audrey-inspired style, with an understated elegance. A dress that she can wear with ballet flats, and still be sophisticated. It must include the Scottish Tartan of her fiancé's clan, but not clash with the elegant look. It also needs to be warm; but since we are limited to virtually no choice of winter fabrics here at the moment, we had to make do with whatever fabric we could find - they plan to elope in December! We are using silk dupion for the dress, and a wool boucle for the coat.

This is what I came up with...


I noticed that the tartan ribbon Crystal bought was a synthetic fibre, and it would pleat easily. Pleating the ribbon would also mean that it would sit around curved lines easier, than if I left it straight.



I decided to cut the pleated ribbon in half, and attach it around the sweetheart neckline, and around the pointed sleeves.




I made the sleeves with a point as it mirrors the sweetheart neckline curves.




To help create extra warmth in the dress, I have placed a cotton/silk interlining throughout the entire dress, as well as interfacing where needed. This is all encased in a beautiful silk lining. An invisible zip fastens at the back.




The coat:

Crystal's engagement ring features a blue sapphire in the centre, and the tartan also features a Navy blue. As we had very limited fabric in the wool bouclé, we needed to include other fabrics to create this coat; we chose a Navy wool for the contrasting panels at the shoulders and for the hood, and a faux fur was used at the sleeve cuffs and hood edging.


The Navy panels at the shoulders will draw the eye up to the shoulders, rather than the hips; a Navy blue belt will be worn with the coat to draw in the waist. Navy blue buttons will be added to the centre front.


The faux fur adds drama and glamour- I can just imagine it once she has her make-up and everything is finished! I can't wait to see photos!



We will also be shortening the coat. I can't wait to see the finished product!!



To see the completed designs, and photos from the wedding day take a look at Crystals Wedding Dress: Part 2

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Our Wedding Anniversary: Photos of my Wedding Dress

My hubbie and I recently celebrated our Wedding Anniversary! What better way to mark the occasion than to share a few photos of my dress from our wedding day...



I love re-looking through our wedding photos. I have recently framed a few, and placed them on our bedroom walls- as soon as I wake up, I see them, and they always make me happy.

My Mum and I made the entire wedding dress. We hand stitched on every single last bead! It took us months to bead it all- but every time I look at my dress, I believe it was worth it!



As soon as we became engaged, I knew exactly the kind of dress I wanted- strapless with a fishtail.

I started off with the basic shape in mind, then the design evolved from there. I wanted beading/embellishment that was obvious- something a little bit Art Deco/Art Noveau to match the gorgeous ring my Husband chose for me.




I found a lace that suited the theme, which featured a fleur-de-lis motif, so I used this to inspire the rest of the design. The shape of the fleur-de-lis is mirrored in the contrasting panelling, as well as the large flower motifs that have been beaded down the side panels.



I decided to have a button back (with the corset inside the dress), and when it came to buttons, I had initially planned fabric covered... then my Mum discovered some buttons that my Grandmother had given her. They were old crystal buttons- that were just gorgeous! There wasn't enough to match, but I didn't care. I thought it would be a nice addition to the dress, and it really would make it special-something no one else would have!



I used silver diamantes and silver glass beads as the main beading, as the engagement ring was made from platinum and diamonds. I knew that I would wear my strand of antique pearls and earrings (another present from my hubbie!) with my dress, so I added pearls to the beading to create a more subtle line between the diamante and silk.




I added the lace to the edge of the train, at the back, as well as one motif each to the centre front and centre back (where the panels join at the knees). Lines of silver beads and tiny pearls were beaded down towards the train hem where the lace sits.




The hat/fascinator I wore on the day, was made by myself- using fabric and beads left over from the dress.


I also made a faux fur stole to go with the look!






We took photos in front of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge.


It really is hard to describe and take photos that do the dress justice! I hope you like the few photos I have included from the day.

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How-To Frame Your Photos Uniquely Part II

As promised in part 1, these are the steps for the wedding "artworks":

1: Collect all the materials you will need (clean chopping board, metal ruler, long plastic ruler, pencil, blade, your papers). I used frames from Ikea for this project. The Ribba series is recommended.

2. You need to first decide on what papers you will use. I used the rust/red colour, and the gold, because I wanted to place these framed photos in our bedroom, and the colour scheme happens to be Rust/red, gold, white and black. I deliberately used a photo that was smaller than the mount size, so I can have a large double mount of gold. I bought my papers from Pepe's Paperie.

3.Measure the photo. Minus approx 1cm from the width, and 1cm from the height, then halve each of these measurements. Square up on the back of your A4 piece of board (I used the gold cardboard for this), these measurements (starting from the outside). Check to make sure your photo sits approx 5mm outside of each of these lines.

4.Using your metal ruler, blade, and clean chopping board, cut along the line, to create a window for the photo to sit in.

5.Use sticky tape to tape the photo face-down to the back of the window mount. Sticky tape is best, as it allows you to undo it, and reapply if necessary.

6.Check to make sure the photo is sitting square to the mount.


7. Using the mount, draw the dimensions of the window size for the large mount, onto your piece of paper. (In my example, this is the rust coloured paper)

8. Cut this paper out, and cut out the window.

9.I decided that the mount looked best, with a highlight of black. The best way to do this is get a wide pen, and very carefully mark along the diagonal edge. (see photo)


10. Glue your pretty paper, to the large window mount. Then tape the small window mount, face-down to the large window mount. Check that it has been lined up square.


11. I decided to decorate the corners with a little gold detailing, but this is entirely optional.

12. Assemble the frame as normal, and hang it proudly!