I wanted to photograph Olympic athletes in a way we don’t always get to see them, outside of competition, surrounded by fashion, colour, softness and creativity. What started as a simple idea while watching the Olympics became one of my first large scale creative direction projects for Lara Grace Creative Studio. With Lia and Cynthia trusting my vision, an incredible creative team, beautiful wardrobe, a sponsored studio, food and drinks, we turned an idea in my head into a full editorial production. This is the story behind the photographs, the people who brought them to life, the little things that went wrong, the lessons I learned, and the behind-the-scenes moments I’ll always remember.

What started as a random idea to celebrate my new Sony Alpha 7V quickly became one of my favorite creative projects yet. With my best friend Kate as the perfect Alice, a handful of DIY props, and the beautiful Niagara Falls Botanical Garden, we transformed a simple afternoon into our own version of Wonderland. Here's how we brought the story to life—and how you can create your own fantasy world, too.