Featured Posts, Wedding Photoshoots

May 17, 2010

A Bridal Photo Shoot in Paris — Part 1

At the end of March I had the amazing opportunity to fly off to Paris with my dear friends and colleagues, Robert and Kathleen Trenske and Beth Chapman from The White Dress by the Shore to put together and style a photo shoot in Paris! Clearly, it was my dream location. Can you believe I had never been to Paris? Blasphemy! But I cannot think of a better group of people to explore the city of lights with—especially since Robert and Kathleen could be Parisian tour guides and Beth, well, don’t you think someone as fashionable as her belongs in Paris?

Beth and I worked on coming up with a design board for our shoot, as we usually do, and were really inspired by a photograph that Robert and Kathleen took on their first trip to Paris. We wanted to do a monochromatic, black and white shoot, where the images felt like classic black and whites even in color. I really think we achieved that! Beth had a vision for fashion that was heavily influenced by runway, vogue, and of COURSE Sex in the City!

Throughout the process we worked with Kim Peytet of Parisian Events, who helped us source all the wonderful Parisian venders that collaborated with us! Kim introduced us to so many wonderful people who I will introduce YOU to throughout this post!
During our short (count 4 days!!!!) time in Paris, we did two days full of shooting and one day full of scouting. The other day was the day we all arrived—so we really hit the ground running! This shoot was recently featured on Style Me Pretty, and was part of Robert and Kathleen’s brilliant photography seminar – Taking Off.


Kim secured a beautiful apartment for us to work from and for Robert and Kathleen to teach. It had a roof top deck where we put together an amazing tablescape with the help of several talented people! The morning began with hair and makeup… our model, Segolene, is positively beautiful. Hair and makeup was covered by our new friend, Masafumi Matsuda, who also doubled as our Japanese / Parisian tour guide on day two. =) If you are looking for beauty while in Paris– look no further!! Masafumi is absolutely amazing!!! Beth styled Segolene in the most stunning Modern Trousseau gown before it hit the runway at bridal market and jewelry by The White Dress by the Shore in layers, and layers of decedent pearls and diamonds!

The shoes, by Vouelle, were beautiful white pointed toe heels with a little ruffle of fabric at the toe. Our friend Elizabeth Porcher Jones, lover of all things Paris as well, did the stunning calligraphy on this invitation.

Our male model, Jeremy, wore a classic black tuxedo by the generous folks at Tuxego in New York. Catherine Muller is the talented floral designer and created the ivy and white floral boutonniere. Our talented friends at Posh Paperie in San Diego mailed their amazing program, with ivory, silver, and red embellishments all the way to Paris for our shoot!

We styled the gorgeous tablescape with white linen from our friends at Rentals Unlimited. The best part? They happened to be in Paris (randomly) while we were there, and stopped in to say hello! It truly was an East Coast destination. They also provided the lace-styled chair caps and white napkins. Catherine Muller put together a beautiful white and green arrangement in an antiqued pedestal. The arrangement was very gardeny, filled loosely with calla lilies and other beautiful white flowers. She did an amazing job! The paper flower garland down the center of the table is absolutely brilliant—you need to run out NOW and get some! Originally I had envisioned the garland hanging over the table, but it was really windy on that roof top and there was NO way that was going to work. So we improvised. Thanks to kate’s paperie, the maker of that fabulous garland!

Is that cake not gorgeous? The Sugar Plum Cake Shop in Paris created a white and ecru cake with macaron and ribbon embellishments. Perfection!!! Posh Paperie created the perfect paper ribbon cake topper. The cake pedestal? Lugged in my suitcase (among MANY, MANY things). I’m said to say it didn’t make it home, but it was certainly a worthy sacrifice!!

Segolene wore a beautiful tulle necklace with broach by Miss Ruby Sue (broach by The White Dress by the Shore).

More beautiful table details! We love the place card holders, silverware and knife rests (only in France!), and glass chargers by Noel-Collet. More of Catherine Muller’s beautiful centerpiece and kate’s paperie’s tissue flowers. I love hanging things off the backs of chairs, so you know we had to do something!

Beth had an amazing pose that she wanted to create with Segolene… and viola… magic!!! Her bouquet was similar in style to our centerpiece and we wrapped it in the most BEAUTIFUL lace paper from kate’s paperie. I am still drooling over it!!

For most of the day it rained– so we stayed comfortable inside until the weather broke. We made a mad dash over to the Eiffel Tower for the second half of our shoot!

Big thank you to Robert and Kathleen for coming up with the idea and asking us to be along for the ride! We would have never had the opportunity to do something so amazing if it were not for you. Another big thank you to Beth Chapman, who is always amazing to collaborate with. Your sense of style and fashion really made this photo shoot what it was– spectacular. And big thank you to Marshie, our fashion and craft guru who had so many wonderful ideas!!!! Your energy, enthusiasm and company truly made our trip. We are so grateful to Kim of Parisian Events for introducing us to the wonderful and generous Parisian vendors who were so EASY to work with and fun! Your help was instrumental in the amazing success of our shoot and we are so appreciative!

Thank you all for your time, attention, creative input, and conversation!

More to come. xoxo

Photography: Robert and Kathleen Photographers / Fashion & Model Styling: Beth Chapman, The White Dress by the Shore / Event Design, Planning & Coordination: Jubilee Events / Event Planning: Parisian Events / Gown: Modern Trousseau / Jewelry: Beth Chapman, The White Dress by the Shore / Makeup & Hair: Masafumi Matsuda / Rentals: Rentals Unlimited / Tableware: Noel Collet / Shoes: Vouelle / Headpieces: Twigs and Honey / Paper Cake Topper Menus and Escort Cards: Posh Paperie / Lace Paper and Floral Garlands: kate’s paperie / Floral Design: Catherine Muller / Tuxedo: Tuxego / Calligraphy: Elizabeth Porcher Jones / Cuff Links / Cake: Sugar Plum Cake Shop / Ruffled Tulle Necklace: Miss Ruby Sue / Gown Cleaning and Shoe Preservation: Madame Paulette

  1. Jessica says:

    Incredibly styled and thoughtfully shot, great job :)

  2. if knew French I would be spouting off some crazy french words!!!! wee wee!!!! viola!!!! WOW! These are great, so rich and beautiful…. and FRENCH!! Great job all around!!

  3. LISA STANFORD says:

    I LOOK FORWARD TO WEARING A DRESS LIKE THAT SOON. THE PICTURES WERE INCREDIBE, NICELY PUT TOGETHER

  4. Melissa says:

    A wonderful shoot. I love all the details that the photos capture.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.