Autumn Meets Old World

It's hard to believe this styled shoot was back in May! This spring and summer wedding season got the best of me and sometimes I have to force myself to put personal projects on the back burner. This shoot was a HUGE learning experience for me and to be honest, it was a difficult one! 

I would say about 95% of these images are all shot with my film camera (scanned by the amazing Photovision). I took some back up shots with my digital camera and couldn't help but put a couple of those in as well. This shoot was shot almost entirely in a beautifully natural lit church, yet for film, this still poses a challenge! Especially with the type of film I was shooting with. Lesson learned! This was also one of the reasons it took some time for me to share. Unlike my very first shoot that exposed perfectly (beginners luck!) this shoot needed some special love and attention in Lightroom : ) Most of the shoot was underexposed which causes haze, low contrast, and even some weird color casts with film. So although I still loved the images, I had to take them into Lightroom and give them more life! In the end I am still SO happy with the outcome.

I have had this vision to create a very timeless old world bridal shoot for the longest time! Something that made you feel like you had stepped back into time. Romantic and inspired by the rich colors of fall. (even though it was shot in May!) So instead of shooting it digital, I thought this would be the perfect time to pull out my Pentax and go for it! I think the film definitely lends to the old world theme. 

A couple more thoughts about the contributors to this shoot, who I am INCREDIBLY thankful for! 

MODEL: JACKIE MUMPER - This truly all started because of you my love!! Jackie was a bride of mine this past June! Yes, she got dressed up and pretended to be my bride for this shoot and exactly one month later, she got married for real!! So thankful she was willing to be a part of this! I mean, I couldn't have asked for a more beauitful subject!

VENUE: HISTORIC ST. MARTINS CHURCH - When thinking of a venue for this shoot, my heart was set on the Historic St. Martins Church in Berlin, Maryland. This is a magical place. You truly step back into time when you enter this late 1700's church and their is something so peaceful and romantic about it. When I have brides looking for a unique indoor wedding location in the area, this is always my first recommendation. I was SO incredibly grateful that Sherrie and Laura from the church, were so welcoming to willing to open the church for me for this shoot. Thank you a million time over!!

BRIDAL GOWN: RACHEL ZOE - Jackie actually helped me find this dress for the shoot! Finding the perfect dress for this shoot deemed to be a more difficult task than I imagined! I really wanted it to feel like something from the past. I think if we had chosen something more modern or contemporary, it just would have felt out of place. So when Jackie sent me the link to this dress I knew right away it was the one! The caped back was incredible! I couldn't have imagined anything more.

JEWELRY: CFD FINE JEWELRY - Caroline is an amazing artist and also another bride of mine!! (My brides are amazing!) Caroline got married only 3 days after this styled shoot!! Are you kidding me?! So thankful she was willing to lend me her amazing custom rings for this and be a part of the shoot. Even though it was just 3 days before her very own wedding! This is the second styled shoot I've used Caroline's jewelry because, well, they are gorgeous!! And I truly felt they went right along with this old world theme. 

MAKE UP ARTIST: REBECCA RITCHIE - Another favorite! Im telling you, I had the dream team supporting me on this day! Rebecca was doing Jackie's make up trial for her wedding day so it was the perfect opportunity to pick May 17th for the styled shoot! And of course Jackie looked incredible!! 

FLORALS: FLOURISH FLORAL ARTISTRY AND DESIGN - Maddie is a dear friend and I swoon over everything she creates! When sharing my vision with her I had no doubt she was going to create something even more incredible than I was imagining! The silk ribbon for the bouquet and table runner were none other than Silk and Willow <3

DESSERT: THE BROOKLYN BAKING BARONS - I know most styled wedding shoots include a pretty white cake but I had no intentions of that! I knew right away that I wanted those delicious honey whiskey cakes on display and I was so thankful that Chris and Tony were willing to be a part of this shoot. First of all, if you haven't had one of these yet. What are you doing with your life? Secondly, these mini whiskey cakes gave the unique twist on this shoot that I was looking for. They fit in so well with the theme and even gave a nice pop of color with all the more muted tones. 

STATIONARY/CALLIGRAPHY: LULU'S LETTER CO. - Sometimes social media can be a drag, but most of the time I am incredibly thankful and appreciative for it! I met Misty on a creatives group when I reached out looking for a calligrapher who wanted to be a part of the shoot! I was specifically looking for someone with this "old world" style in writing and as soon as I saw Misty's work, I knew I HAD to have her be a part of this! Without too much direction, Misty went to work and sent me a wedding suite that I couldn't have dreamt up myself! It was STUNNING! and more than I could have ever asked for!! I especially loved her attention to detail. The string, wax seal, and even the amazing envelope liner that was a map... it was just perfect. 

Ali & Justin are Married!

There is so much to say about this day. This couple. This friendship. So much that it makes me tear up a bit just thinking about it.

I've been noticing a pattern in my own life and in the love stories I've been hearing lately. A simple fact about us as humans, that has so much importance. And it is this. Your life is based on choices. And with every choice you make, the course of your future changes. If you really think about it, that is a heavy statement! In that moment, you may not be able to see the impact of your choices, but down the road you will. And in turn, be so incredibly grateful for some of the choices you made. 

For me, one of those choices was when I was 19 years old. When I decided to get on a plane to Greece and study abroad with complete strangers. I didn't go with a friend and I didn't know anyone that would be there. I knew this experience would probably be fun and I'd learn a lot... but what I didn't know when I made this choice, was that it would bring me 6 lifelong friendships and an unbreakable bond between us. I never imagined this simple choice I made would send me all across the country, documenting my friends weddings over the years! If I had listened to the fear inside of me that said don't go, and chosen a different path, I would have never met these 6 amazing people. I truly cant imagine that. My future would have looked so different and way less awesome without them, that's for sure ; )

The first time I met Ali was our first day in Athens, Greece. I was pretty shy and I remember being a little intimidated by her outgoing and funny personality. But she was so welcoming and warm to everyone, that it helped me relax and become excited for what was to come in the next month. Little did I know in that moment, and even in that month, that I would one day document Ali's wedding in her hometown of Brooklyn, New York. 

I hadn't had the chance to meet Justin until the wedding day. But as soon as I met him and watched him goof off with his friends that morning as he got ready, I knew right away that Ali and Justin were the perfect match. And then, to see them together right after their first look on the rooftop balcony, it became so clear how much love they have for each other. Their silly nature made my job easy and I couldn't have asked for a better pair to photograph over the NYC skyline that day. 

If you have been following my posts on social media, then you know how obsessed I was over all the details from this day. The dress, the shoes, the Rolls Royce, Justin's electric blue suit, the venue, the view, the sunset!! I could go on and on. But one thing I didn't mention was the FOOD! Can I just say, I have never been fed so well in my entire life! Drew can also vouch for this. But when the groom is an amazing chef and together Ali and Justin are absolute foodies, you can expect nothing less!

So here I go...Cocktail hour was a full course meal in itself! I think there were 20 different appetizers being passed around and every single one was TO. DIE. FOR. I didn't even know what some of the food was, but I just trusted it was going to taste amazing, and it did! Side note: This is a photographers dream, wait let me rephrase, this is a pregnant photographers dream... normally I don't eat anything during cocktail hour, and sometimes not even during the reception so I was in absolute heaven! Not to mention, along with the passed hors d'oeuvre's there was a cheeseburger slider, french fry, and shrimp sandwich station set up... I mean. I just don't even know what else to say...

Oh yes I do! Because we then sat down to what felt like a 10 course meal of the most delicious food and desserts. I haven't even mentioned the creme brulee, lava cake, or DONUT BAR. You would think that would be it right? Nope. On top of it all, when the clock struck midnight, what else but a lobster food truck pulls up outside the door! Yes, lobster rolls at midnight. AMEN. 

Ali and Justin, I love you guys so much and am SO incredibly honored that I was able to document this day for you. What a celebration it was! So looking forward to being reunited again with my Greece family soon, all the love!