A Bragg-Mitchell Mansion Portrait Session

I love photographing Azalea Trail Maids! This year, I am fortunate to get to work with multiple Azalea Trail Maids. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Azalea Trail Maids, these young ladies serve as ambassadors for the City of Mobile. You can read more about them here. Each year, there are 50 young ladies selected to serve on the court from area high schools. Madison is representing Mobile Christian.

Like most of the Azalea Trail Maids I work with, Madison wanted to do her portraits at The Bragg-Mitchell Mansion. This antebellum home is the perfect backdrop for portraits of the maids in their beautiful dresses! I am always fascinated by how many layers there are to these ensembles. First the hoop skirt, then another layer, then the outer skirt, then the apron, and the sash…all this is worn over the blouse and the pantaloons. Then they put on the gauntlets (the gloves for their hands), hat and carry a parasol. It takes quite some time for them to change into the full attire!

Each Azalea Trail Maid works with a dressmaker to design their dress. Each dress adheres to guidelines, but is unique to the young lady wearing it. I love taking in these details as I take the portraits. I also love the various pocket designs the maids have for their pantaloons. These pockets attach to the pantaloons and carry their essentials (phone, keys, lipstick), which keeps their hands free for waving during appearances.

Thank you Madison for such a fun session! I hope you have a wonderful year serving on the Azalea Trail Maid Court!

Madison is representing Mobile Christian on the 2023-2024 Azalea Trail Maid Court.

Her dress was designed and made by Ouida Jackson.