Bridal Portraiture

What a blessing to have such an amazing team come together for a shoot so simple in design as this staged bridal portraiture to create such elegance in imaging.  Lyz was a true talent.  Notice here I am not calling her a model.  I have worked with more than enough models to grant me right to some typical generalizations now.  She listened to direction, created the movement and energy I asked for, and then ran with it like no one’s business.  As my lighting schemes developed through the shoot, she fed from my direction to make the energy really come alive.  With a new hair color and great form, we went to the Salon at the Domain (Domain Phase II by Dillard’s)  to visit my magician hair stylist, Anna Alvarez.  Ready for something fresh and functional for her portfolio and website, Anna started by curling “Un-curlable” hair into beautiful ringlets.  From there, we played with the idea of recreating a simple side pinned curled pony-tail.  But then as Anna worked, she began creating, tucking, teasing her way into a beautiful, functional bridal updo.  What’s amazing about this great style, besides looking exactly the way we needed it to for photographing a vintage dress (courtesy Jenny Demarco of Jenny Demarco Photography) and 1920′s house/courtyard location at Cypress Vanguard Design House.  Upon arriving at the location, designer superstar Benson Roberts makes quick work with his airbrush and make up, making the most subtle hues pop, lighting up Lyz’s perfect skinw ith gold shimmer and soft greens to match the teacup roses set designer Bethany Weigl had added to Anna’s style.  I was told cucumber DNA was responsible for these great roses’ color (Austin Flower Co. on W. 38th, go see them).

Once Benson was finished, Bethany grabbed a reflector and fired my strobes, stepped into the specks of sun rays filtering through the palms of the back patio to shoot.  With Benson’s make up flawlessly enhancing Lyz’s amazing look, we were able to fire a collection of images in four sets (yes, there are only 3 vignettes here: impromptu boudoir coming soon.  No pun.)  The best of the work, as always, stopped feeling like work.  It’s unbelievable how all these All Star talents came together to create a fun, energized shoot.  And remember all you would photogs: if it’s not fun, you’re doing it all wrong.

Big thanks to Megan Summerville for pushing the “Form like Voltron” button, providing an awesome location, and making it come together (oh, and I used one of your amazing lingerie pieces