MONTANA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER – BRIDAL FASHION EDITORIAL

This is my favorite photo from my fashion editorial with Montana Bride magazine, so I decided to post it all by itself.  This photo embodies the concept I created for this shoot perfectly.  I really wanted to create a fashion editorial with a wedding theme using designer wedding gowns and a pair of models as the bride and groom.  Above all the concept was a fashion editorial, not a wedding styled shoot, or a bridal shoot.  To me, this is the photo that most directly speaks to the concept I created, and that’s why it’s my favorite from the series.  I am very thankful to have worked with such a talented team of professionals to pull off this shoot.  Making fashion editorials takes a team effort and this shoot wouldn’t have been possible without everyone listed below.  Thank you team!  I promise to post more outtakes from this shoot soon!

Photographer: Paul Bellinger @pjbellinger

Styling: Katalin Green @katalingreen

Hair and makeup: Sydney Ross @greenbird406

Models: Arley Knerr @arley_knerr with @rmea_talent and Braydon Sinclair

Dress: ti adora by Alvina Valenta @tiadorabridal @alvinavalenta @jlm_couture

Hairpiece: Paris by Debra Moreland

Bowtie: Hitched Bowties  

Men’s Clothing: Jim’s Formal Wear

Stylist assistant: Brett Conner

Photo assistant: Zak Jokela

Location: Paul Bellinger Photography

Tips for brides:

In case you missed it,  (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Montana-Bride-Inc/256864520550) the new issue of Montana Bride magazine is out, go find them on facebook to see where you can get a printed copy.  Give them a follow for daily wedding inspiration where style meets the real West!

Tips for photographers:

I love this photo because of the mood created by the pose and the eye contact with both models.  The light is buttery soft yet directional so there is nice play of shadow and dimension on the models faces and wardrobe.  This photo is lit with only one light, a strobe placed inside of a white V-flat out of the frame to the camera left, and a 4x8’ white reflector out of the frame to the camera right. The V-flat is a great tool in the studio, and it consists of two 4x8’ reflectors being taped together vertically to create a foldable 8 foot tall v shaped reflector that can stand on it’s own when folded at the taped seem in the middle to create a V shape (follow me on instagram @PJBellinger to see a behind the scenes photo of Zak and the V-flat in a similar lighting set up).  Mine has white on one side and black on the other side so the white side can be used as a reflector, and the black side can be used as a flag to block light or as a “negative fill” to absorb some of the light (the opposite of a reflector).  In this case the V-flat is in the narrowest V formation possible with the opening facing the models and strobe shooting away from the models into the narrow end of the V, which creates a very soft bounced light.  The light is similar to an 8 foot tall by 2 foot wide softbox (or stripbox).  My awesome assistant Zak placed the V-flat directly to the side of the models, but in front of them about a foot or so.  This placement further softens the light as only a feathered edge of the light is falling on the models and background.  The reflector was aimed directly at the models and was placed directly across the frame from the opening of the V-flat so there is a lot of soft bounced light on the shadow side of the models making for a very soft transition between light and shadows.  I like this lighting technique because the soft light is flattering for everyone so it’s a versatile technique I can use often in the portrait studio.  Check out my portrait website to see if you can spot some corporate headshots where I used this type of lighting: http://www.portraits.paulbellinger.com

Thanks for reading!  I am very passionate about photography and I love to share my ideas on the blog.  If you are looking for a wedding or portrait photographer in Billings Montana please visit my wedding website here: http://www.paulbellinger.com

And my portrait website here: http://www.portraits.paulbellinger.com