This wedding at the Vanderbilt Grace was the first time I ever photographed in Newport, Rhode Island. I was immediately charmed by this boutique hotel, built in 1909 by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt of the famed Vanderbilt family. It is one of the very few Rhode Island private homes that has been turned into a luxurious hotel. Each of the thirty-three rooms in the hotel are perfectly appointed and have simply incredible light, which is so crucial to compelling getting-ready photography. For this 2013 Vanderbilt Grace wedding the bride had a beautiful suite to prepare in. This was wonderful because they were able to spread their belongings throughout the suite and minimize the clutter during the getting-ready process. When the bride was ready to put on her dramatic Lazaro bridal gown I stepped in and asked her to get dressed next to one of the large windows in the suite. While I never fake the moments or natural occurrences in the images that I shoot, I will often ask brides to get ready in a certain location. I am setting the scene for perfect lighting and guaranteeing that I will be able to compose the images the way I’d like - and then the moments are their own. I love the reflection of the bride in the television….something I had absolutely planned out before asking her to get dressed in that specific location!Keywords: Belle Mer (22), bride prep (83), current portfolio (75), destination (40), Getting Ready (101), moment (253), Newport (20), Rhode Island (50), wedding (1294). Filename: 56_reflections.JPG. 1/160; f/3.5; ISO 1800; 24.0 mm.
