Desert Botanical Garden |Bohemian Stylized Bridal Shoot {As Seen In Phoenix Bride & Groom}

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This is the story

of how this shoot came to be,

and of all the new wonderful people I am blessed to call friends.

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It all started when I had the great privilege of meeting a wonderful lady by the name of Jeanne at the Phoenix Fashion Bridal Debut this past June. Jeanne was so kind to come over to my booth and give me thoughtful and encouraging words about my art.  She also asked if I’d ever be interested in working together with her business “White Poppy Floral“ so of course I said “YES!” and that’s exactly what we did. We got together and had lunch a few times, discussing how much fun it will could be to collaborate to create a beautiful editorial styled shoot. We came up with four looks all together. We have high hopes of producing the other three looks in the future so keep an eye out! Once we picked a look for this go around, we started building a team of people that could help make this shoot come alive.

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I found some truly amazing vendors in the area that were more than excited to collaborate with us, let me tell you about them all…

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I found a talented stylist and make-up artist by the name of Lidia at the Arizona Wedding Magazine mixer, her business is “Bridal4theWin“ She was very interested in collaborating with us because our styles worked well together, and I am so fortunate to have met her.  Unfortunately, Lidia had a booking earlier in the afternoon we planned to shoot, so Jeanne graciously reached out to her personal  hairstylist Susan Kennedy to get on board for hair style! Susan is so much for to work with, and I’m very thankful to Jeanne for making that connection. I really enjoyed getting to know Susan as we worked together.

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Next I met a wonderful lady by the name of Melanie at my church,  and she just happened to own a bridal shop called “Brilliant Bridal“, and ironically, we even did the same wedding show together earlier. It seemed it was meant to be!  We have become good friends and it’s been wonderful getting to know her and to be apart of her life! She was especially gracious to let me go through ALL the dresses in her shop and pick out what I wanted!

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As the organizing of the shoot grew more complex, I decided that it would be incredibly helpful to have an assistant. Fortunately, at the same time my new friend Esther Yoo (also from our beautiful church) asked if I needed help. She’s very gifted with organizing and planning and was a PERFECT fit! I am extremely grateful to her. An assistant makes all the world when you are planning, collaborating, organizing, and shooting! It’s hard to keep your thoughts straight.  

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Then we needed models! I found four beautiful women that I loved, which means we have a model lined up for each of the following shoots as well! We had to pick one that personified this style however, and we settled on the drop dead beautiful MaryKay , who I met through an old Illinois friend (thanks to you Tara for the intro)! MaryKay was the best match because she was essential to our look. She effortlessly exuded the bohemian style we were embracing , which as you will read, is what it’s all about! We even used some of her personal funky & chic jewelry!  I had picked out a metal headpiece on pinterest that I wanted and she showed the image to her talented friend TED LOVE, who proceeded to make it perfectly! It was identical. I was beyond thrilled. MaryKay’s style blended with mine, and my personal jewelry looked equally at home adorning her beautiful frame, a wonderful fit altogether. 

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Lastly, although we had built a team, we still needed a location. We were back-and-forth between a few venues that offered a space but we really had a specific landscape in mind for this style. I stumbled upon the Desert Botanical Gardens as an idea because I have a membership and love to be there for the peaceful atmosphere and wild beauty.  This relationship was also meant to be, it appears, because no less than a week in, I happened to be photographing an Arizona Wedding Magazine mixer and I was connected with Nicole, the wedding coordinator at Desert Botanical!

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I was really interested in having even more of a wild desert landscape for civil twilight so I decided that Papago Park (just on the other side of the gardens) would be an easy transfer from the Desert Botanical. Having spent some time hiking and scouting the park, I felt confident it would be fantastic for the second look I wanted.

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So the team was set, and I have to tell you, it had been a struggle for me to get all of it organized and planned, specifically juggling our diverse schedules. I had a few breakdowns, re-arranging, and cry fests that my hubster Nate, close friends Libby and Stephanie, and Jeanne encouraged me through. I might be gifted at strategy and administration but this was a reach for me and I do not plan on doing it the same way again. Next time we NEED a planner! It was a learning experience for sure, but eventually it all came together and it was time for the big shoot!

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Let’s talk about the shoot.

Let’s talk about a theme. 

Let’s talk about my passion.

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My  main focus for this shoot (and really all my art) is to offer up freedom and inspiration to my clients. To show them how beautiful it is to do exactly what they want to do for their wedding. To bring themselves fully, maybe their own china, their own cups, their own table (which I did), or really anything that is “them” to the core. To be fully present because this day publicly marks and celebrates the beginning of “them” and their story together. Their wedding style can be just this, an outward reflection of an inward reality, of who they are! We rarely think of weddings in this way. We forget what it’s all about. I say bring the elements that represent who you are; do that eclectic tablescape, order that unique arrangement of flowers together – it will look fantastic and the florist will love the creative freedom! Wear the jewelry you love, wear the dress/tux you adore, wear that headband you want, bring that tent you made!

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I think all too often society tends to push us towards doing what everybody else thinks is socially acceptable for a “wedding”, myself being one of them. I would have done many things differently if I knew I had the freedom to bring myself and Nate fully – we pushed many boundaries because that is who we are and were met with disapproval in a way. Yet I strongly believe people should be able to do something uniquely them and be loved for it!  I think that weddings are sacred, symbolic, and memorable times and spaces that are solely “us”, you + you, as a couple. Bringing all of that into this one day to show your friends and family the beauty of you. I want us free, not to be afraid to present who we are. I long to be met with acceptance, awe of the beauty of humanity, and respect for all our differences. We are seeing more of this being celebrated in the past few years and I yearn to echo it in my own little way – so that’s just what we did!

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So I say, do what is you and do what you love

… above all else, it is your wedding day, be free.

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For this first shoot we decided to do something very free and what you typically would not see together…along the lines of an elegant gypsy + garden style mashup. You might call it bohemian in a way. This could be a wonderful look to have if you’re wanting something smaller and more intimate. I was really looking for something along the lines of a garden tea party reception and I brought along my china dishes, some bowls, some lights, a tent, a cake tower, pillows, and vase.

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Jeanne picked out some lovely linens and runners with BBJ and bought some super unique and adorable candles, goblets, vases, and she obviously created the most BREATHTAKING floral arrangements you have ever seen. She is superbly talented, I was beyond impressed with her lovely creations! I was thrilled to photograph them and smell them and take one home (which I dried and kept because I love it so much).  Jeanne had a perfect vision for elegance and simplicity, so she picked out some black starter plates, and laid out the table arrangement and super cute menus (by Celebrations in Paper) for her tablescape. (LOVE THOSE MENUS) She put the whole table together for us! I came over from scouting the location and BOOM she and Esther had the whole thing done!

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With my personality of beauty in chaos, I wanted to experiment with a dash of wild and eclectic, and after we captured everything Jeanne had laid out I swapped in some proper looking china and added Jeanne’s BBJ napkin linens. To complete the look, I set an old vase in front with Jeanne’s great header floral arrangement. Viola, new look, with great images from each! With just two styles, only slightly different, you get a sense of the numerous lovely varieties of the same layout that you could create at your event, adding your own dash of personal style to endlessly customize your look.

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Tablescape completed, we invited MaryKay onto the scene, having been expertly styled and adorned by Susan, Lidia, and Melanie. She first wore a brilliant floral headpiece that Jeanne made, which subtly echoed the garden scene, and we softly segued from garden into desert from there.

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I always try to make time in my day with my clients to ensure that they have an opportunity to get away from the party and all of the hustle and the stress, to just be alone together.  This is a great time for me to photograph my clients in the natural beauty and habitat of their location or a nearby spot that represents their personality in a way. I also try to plan these times at the ideal lighting of the day, close to sunset. These images speak volumes to the potency of a well timed session.

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Now at Papago Park, Esther and I quickly set up this beautiful, fantastic tent that I had built with the help of my expert builder and two-year-old. Meanwhile, Susan and Melanie helped MaryKay into her second look. This was a really fun and free time to kick off our shoes and relax (literally). I was so excited for the gypsy look in the wild desert – it was probably the most “me” out of all of it. I love mastering natural light and taking advantage of each minute because it shifts so quickly from sunset to civil twilight and it’s the very best light of the day. If you follow my work and style you will see that I almost always schedule portraits at this time of the day. I will rarely take a lifestyle session outside of this time, and for weddings I will do everything possible to arrange the day so this is my scheduled portrait time as well. I think that this really embraces MaryKay’s freedom and style and her ability to enjoy the “wedding day”.

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Hey. See that? I made that tent. With a two-year-old carpenter. It was super fun and super easy.

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Without further ado, may I present the remaining photos of seriously hard, but exquisitely enriching work, from many wonderful people, all to create some breathtaking and beautiful art!

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The main goal of this shoot was threefold,

for Jeanne and I to build our relationship,

to form healthy relationships with other small businesses in the local wedding industry,

and to create beautiful things.

All three were accomplished beyond what we could have hoped. We have formed wonderful friendships and created a stunningly talented referral list for our clients! I am just waiting for the day when we all get the same wedding and ROCK IT!

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A big, big thank you so all the vendors who so graciously gave to this project! This never would have been so unique without each of you! I am honored to present the team that collaborated to create an Editorial Stylized Bohemian Bridal Shoot!

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Desert Botanical Gardens  {www.dbg.org} | Nicole McCall

Fully Alive Photography & Assistant  {www.fullyalivephotography.com} | Tracy Battaglia + Esther Yoo

White Poppy Floral {www.whitepoppy.com} | Jeanne Birmingham

Beauty by Lidia Win  {www.bridal4thewin.com} | Lidia Win

Brilliant Bridal    {www.brilliantbridal.com} | Melanie Little

BBJ Linens {www.bbjlinen.com}

Susan Kennedy {Hair Stylist}

Celebrations In Paper {www.celebrationsinpaper.com}

MaryKary {Model}

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Also, please head over To Phoenix Bride & Groom Magazine for more on this shoot!

Publication version titled “Desert Flower” in Phoenix Bride & Groom HERE

Editorial blog “Bohemian Desert Style” post HERE

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