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I’m Dakota, a Wilmington, NC-based photographer helping engaged couples feel comfortable in front of the camera and creative businesses grow with purposeful brand imagery.

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Behind The Scenes Of Aster Blooms in Wilmington, NC | Styled Bridal Shoot

March 10, 2018

I have followed Ashley of Aster Blooms Photography for awhile now. She is a phenomenal photographer and really good friends with some of my other close friends. She reached out on Instagram and we started talking about our businesses and everything we had coming up. She had been planning a styled bridal shoot for a few months and invited me to join!! I LOVE all things weddings so I was more than happy to spend my day helping to pull her vision together.

The shoot was a dreamy, romantic dusty blue theme in the bright, white Neon Fox studio downtown. I am so excited to use this space in the future!! It is a photographers dream, and also the perfect place for parties –– I will definitely be using it for all things engagements, bridal showers, birthday parties, etc.

We started by helping Something Borrowed Event Rentals to bring everything to the top, she took a few (beautiful!) headshots for me, and we got to work.

Let me tell you, setting up a wedding or even a styled version of a wedding is no easy task! I don’t think anyone thinks about how resourceful you have to be in the wedding industry. When you hire your photographer, you aren’t just hiring someone to capture your images. You’re hiring the person who comes alongside your other vendors, pins your dress, arranges your flowers, finds tape and scissors when you need it, and whatever else comes up. We have to be prepared for anything!

Ashley did an amazing job of collecting and organizing all of the items to create her vision. Something Borrowed Event Rentals had SO many beautiful pieces that made this day so elegant and detailed –– if you are looking for someone who has exactly the pieces you’re looking for, big and small, they have it!!

Rachel Brooke Anderson immediately got to work making our models look beautiful. Ashley wanted a soft romantic look for the bride and a dramatic, sexy look for the formal engagement session. They both looked beautiful!!! One of my 2018 brides said she already has Rachel booked for her wedding and I am so excited to work with her again!

Thornburry Brides provided the most elegant, romantic bridal gown that fit in perfectly with the light and airy theme. It was paired with a long, lace veil that allowed us to capture the most dreamy photos. Brides, if you are contemplating whether or not to get a veil…always get the veil.

This day was absolutely perfect. From the well thought-out details to the loving personalities of the models, I am so glad I was able to be a part of it. I cannot say enough about Ashley and her husband and second shooter Caleb. They are the definition of a dream team, and regardless of the fact that I literally met them in person for the first time at this shoot, I felt like we have known each other forever. We talked about business, learning new skills, goals for the year, the renovations they’re doing on their house, the big life changes I’ve been experiencing…so pretty much everything! I am so grateful for this new friendship and am so excited about what we will accomplish together in the future.

As I was capturing the day (in a blog post soon to come!), I loved getting a ton of “behind the scenes” photos of Ashley, Caleb, and all of the other vendors working together. A lot of work goes into making your day perfect, and sometimes it’s hard capturing exactly what that looks like!

Here’s how all of the magic happens 🙂

Soul sisters right here!

We were obsessed with these shoes!!!

I LOVE these details!!! Brides, don’t forget these on your big day!

These shots of Ashley and Caleb are so funny to me. Caleb is putting together a behind the scenes film of this day so there was a lot of “pictures of people taking video of people taking pictures” haha.

Rachel did a fantastic job on everyone’s hair and make up! I am so excited to work with her again with my fall bride, Emily!!

Here’s how those beautiful veil shots are made…whatever to make it work!

Love these photos of Ashley and Caleb working together!! Such a dream team!

I was able to get some sweet shots of the Bader’s right before we left the space. I don’t normally photograph families or babies, but it’s hard to resist Noah’s sweet, squishy face!!!

Photography and Styling // Aster Blooms Photography

Venue // Neon Fox Studio

Make up and Hair // Rachel Brooke Anderson

Bridal Gown // Thornburry Brides

Rentals // Something Borrowed Event Rentals

Flowers // Occasions Event Design

hello!

I’m Dakota, a Wilmington, NC-based photographer Helping engaged couples feel comfortable in front of the camera and creative businesses grow with purposeful brand imagery.

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