It’s not often I get to blend my career as an editorial and commercial photographer within the realm of my career as a wedding photographer which is what made working on this campaign that much more special to me.
Aurélia approached Ryanne and I several months ago in regards to her upcoming bridal collection titled ECLIPSE, sharing her vision and philosophy behind the wedding dresses she was designing. It was of the utmost importance to her to capture the bridal look book and campaign images with an artistic edge and fashion forward minded. She made it very clear she didn’t want anything cookie cutter or “traditional” in the wedding sense. Listening to her passion about her collection was infectious and her vision aligned exactly with our aesthetic and overall approach to photography as both editorial and wedding photographers.
Here’s Aurélia’s artist statement about her 2021 bridal collection ECLIPSE and her vision for the modern wedding dress and contemporary bride:
“Eclipse is the power of an ephemeral moment that lasts a few minutes but leaves a mark for a lifetime. The elements are so strong. They remind us how much we rely on them; how much we need them.
The eclipse is the woman who shines. She’s the sun, she’s the moon. She stands out naturally with grace, with her inner beauty.”
When I first heard this statement from the designer I immediately knew I wanted (needed) to be part of this campaign and realized I could bring my own interpretation of her vision to create a cohesive campaign that perfectly blends my aesthetic as a photographer and director along with Aurélia’s craftsmanship and artistry.
The wedding scene here in Toronto is vast and there are artists across all spectrums. If you’re a bride in Toronto and you’re seeking ANY vendor, I encourage you to look closely at the artists here in the city as we are spoiled for choice. If you’re looking for a local wedding dress designer and timeless wedding dresses, Aurélia is a natural choice and I encourage all brides to consider working directly with her as you will have a devoted artist crafting and creating something with true care and artistry.
A campaign like this isn’t possible without a dedicated and talented team. Dina Roudman was the perfect model to photograph and working with her was a dream, her look bringing me back to Madonna in the 90’s during her days gracing the cover of Vogue magazine and every perfume ad in every magazine. Jen Cronin was in charge of hair and makeup and brought her vintage aesthetic and flair to the table that was the perfect compliment to the wedding dresses. Jenny of Three Lights Events was THE best production coordinator and truly the shining star behind the scenes allowing us to create within a stress free environment, something that’s truly priceless. Ryanne, as usual, was the perfect partner to collaborate with as a creative director. As I handled my role as the Director and analog film photographer, Ryanne was on the ball creating truly fashion inspired editorial imagery that elevated and brought together all the elements.
I embraced my role as the creative director and photographer, shooting the short for the campaign and lifestyle images to accompany the look book was a truly rewarding experience and allowed me to truly be creative within the wedding sphere, something I’m always excited and grateful to be doing. I look forward to being involved in more large scale production and campaigns within the wedding world and this is just a taste of what’s to come from me in 2021 and beyond. My goal is to change the perception of what wedding photography is and what a wedding photographer is supposed to be.
Song of the Day
