With wedding season being back in full swing, I can finally begin blogging about some of the wonderful sessions I’ve been sitting on. One thing bridal portrait photographers have in common is not being able to show their work until the wedding has passed. As Monique & Johnny had their wedding last week at the Umstead Hotel, I can finally blog about her awesome bridal portrait session.
As Monique was having her wedding and reception at the Umstead Hotel, and as it’s such a gorgeous facility, she wanted her bridal photography done their as well (trust me, no complaints here). We started out in the main hallway where, at each end, is a gorgeous (and huge) hand made vase with reeds/sticks and, well, daunting light challenges. Monique brought her entourage and I immediately put them to work with reflectors and lights. I specifically wanted to use a video light in this area and, with the help of Monique’s friends, we got a great portrait. Not sure if other bridal photographers have 4 assistants, but I think I need to re-visit this one day. :)
We moved outside and took advantage of the beautiful time of day to highlight both Monique and the surrounding property. Shooting both in the front and back of the property, not only did we capture great photos of Monique (in her stunning gown), but also showed how gorgeous the Umstead Hotel grounds really are. In a slightly unusual, well, different, way to photograph her bridal portrait, we finished up well after dark, outside. Photographing at night is really one of my favorite things to do and we both LOVED the results. So, without further ado, here are a few samples of Monique’s Umstead Hotel bridal portrait!