If you read my last blog you know that over the last several years I have worked mostly with and for other people and grew my own photography business very slowly by referrals.

I have recently sort of been forced to finally hold my own in the photography world. I am so grateful to still have amazing mentors, friends, and colleagues in the business who are cheering me on, giving me tips, advice, and business. Over the last few days I’ve started to feel a peace about this whole situation and about my business life in general – a peace I haven’t felt in years. I am SO excited to be on this journey – finally building my own business. It’s definitely scary, but I know with this new found fire under my butt I will succeed.

As part of the building process I have promised to blog more! I want to finally share all of my favorite work from last year and share with you my process and progress while I build my photography business. Phase one of this process is to build a new website, and blog like crazy to start getting some rankings in google and of course ALWAYS referral business.

On to some pretty pictures… Last year I photographed a wedding at Marbella Country Club for the first time! This club is so beautiful, and the bride and groom were absolutely stunning and adorable. The second Ruth put on her wedding dress her eyes welled up with joy.

Jon and Ruth took advantage of one of my favorite new wedding traditions: a “Reveal” or “First look” when the couple see’s each other for the first time before their wedding. Often times couples are concerned about breaking tradition, or not getting the “wow” look from their groom, but I love this concept for SOOOO many reasons. The main reason I love a reveal is because I feel that it actually gives the groom the opportunity to REALLY react to his gorgeous bride. Without the nerves of potentially hundreds of guests watching, he gets to see his bride for the first time privately. He gets to embrace her, kiss her, tell her she’s gorgeous and get a really good look at her bridal glow. What people don’t realize is that often times, the groom is so nervous he doesn’t give a facial reaction at the isle. I always wait for that look and 9 times out of 10 I don’t get it at the isle. But 9 times out of 10 I WILL get it during the first look.

Another reason I love the first look is because I get to be up close and personal to capture moments like this for the couple. It’s much more challenging to capture this as she walks down the isle:

A reveal also allows for a lot of flexibility with romantics. When we photograph before the ceremony it reduces stress and rushing for this segment of photography which is arguably the most important part of the day. Often times guests only enjoy cocktail hour for ONE hour which means after the ceremony you only have one hour to photograph the family portraits, wedding party portraits and the bride and groom romantics. If you are a couple who prefers to wait to see each other at the isle – but photography is VERY important to you – EXTEND your cocktail hour so that you have more time to photos.

The grounds at Marbella Country Club are so beautiful. I love the architecture!

One of my favorite times of day to shoot is right at dusk. Just after the sun sets, if I can, I will whisk away the bride and groom for just a few  evening shots to end the night.

For my first Marbella Country Club wedding – not too shabby hu?

Stay tuned for more! With my next blog my new site should be launched!

With love and hope,

Brianna