I stood by the barn, weighing my options for where to set up this year’s Unicorn Experience. But no matter where I looked, nothing quite felt magical.
In the past, I’ve used magnets to attach a backdrop directly to the barn’s metal siding. The photos turned out beautiful—but in the moment, it didn’t feel enchanting. It felt like a photo setup, not an experience.
Just to the left of the barn, there’s a tree line. If you follow it back, there’s a narrow path tucked between the trees and a hill of overgrown weeds. It’s not a place anyone would describe as picturesque. It’s usually where wood and hay get left behind. But standing there, I saw the potential.
That morning, the sun was still behind a tall tree, casting a soft shade over the area. I knew we’d lose some of that light by the afternoon, so I added a white canopy to keep things even. To block the woodpile, I set up a backdrop featuring a misty woodland scene—something subtle and pretty, not too bold. Just enough to suggest an enchanted forest without stealing the spotlight.
Once Trotsky had his unicorn horn on and the girls arrived in their poofy princess dresses, the magic came alive. The soft light, the lush greenery in the foreground gently blending into the backdrop, the way imagination lit up their faces—it all came together.
We created something special.
From where I stood, it finally felt like magic.
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