Sometimes you want control, total control. Wedding photographers rarely get that luxury, which is much of the appeal and excitement.
However, when Sharon from Tiffany’s Bridal contacted me around the first of the year about doing a portrait shoot highlighting some of their new bridal gowns; I leapt at the chance to control the entire event.
Control also means knowing when you need help. This was too big an endeavor to trust to myself alone. We needed awesome models, a great location, dreamy wedding dresses, fantastic makeup, and someone to plan the details. What I got was a dream team of creativity and professionalism.
After several meetings, we got together on a blustery January afternoon at the wonderful Historic Mankin Mansion here in Richmond. The grounds and Rockefeller Room at Mankin have rightfully earned a glowing reputation that is truly nationwide. Mary-Catherine and Meghan were the most helpful of hosts. Emily Hudspeth Professional Hair and Makeup Design is a new friend and has quickly become one of my favorite people to be around. She is also a truly fantastic makeup artist; professional and exceedingly talented – and a hoot!
Tiffany’s Bridal entrusted us with thousands of dollars of amazing gowns, on a really nasty day, without a peep of concern. They are an institution in Central Virginia, and the first stop when looking for a wedding dress, or tuxedo.
Lindsay Averette of LK Events & Design is truly whirlwind of ideas and planning. She is ultimately the vision of this day, and my foil. Having her there to coordinate and bounce ideas off of was a tremendous asset. It is somewhat expected to gush on your blog about the people you work with, be they clients or other wedding and event professionals. But it is true in the fullest sense of the words that I could not have done any of this without the contributions of these wonderful people. Any success I had with my lens can be laid in many ways at their feet.
Oh, and of course. There would be no shoot at all without our fantastic (and stout-hearted) models. Alexandra and Ashlee braved bitter cold and rain in the lightest of gowns and never stopped smiling. Their beauty is only matched by their spirit.
Gowns: Tiffany’s Bridal
Models: Alexandra Snider & Ashlee Heflin
Location: Historic Mankin Mansion
Makeup and Hair: Emily Hudspeth
Design: Lindsay Averette
