Frances Beatty Photography shares Ifrah & Justin’s beautiful, serene intimate wedding day at La Maquette.
There is a beautiful painterly quality to the first look album of your couple, where the palette and composition feel spontaneously pleasing yet intentional. What an Epic outcome ! What are your thoughts on this success?
Thank you! I think the first element to success in any shoot, no matter the desired outcome, is trust from your clients and trust in yourself. Without that, there’s nothing. The light is the next element for me.
Without light, there is no photography, but I think of the light as one of the subjects of every photo and look for it everywhere.
Last but not least, I’m drawn to creating images that make you feel something, rather than just show you something, and I use a number of tools to help achieve this.
What makes a beautiful ceremony in your mind from the perspective of capturing it?
Great question!
In my humble opinion, a beautiful ceremony is one that reflects the values and personalities of the couple. One in which people are present, grounded and open.
I think often people want to have a quick ceremony to get onto the good stuff, but the ceremony is so much of the good stuff, if you let it be. Again, working with someone you trust is huge for this. Tade is a master of creating a ceremony that reflects who the couple are and really engages everyone to be present and part of it.
In terms of capturing the ceremony, from a technical standpoint: space to move around freely without interfering with the experience of the couple or guests is amazing, natural light is a dream, an officiant who steps out of the way for the kiss is *chef’s kiss*, and guests who are fully present and not hiding behind their devices is beautiful.
“Dreams are necessary to life “ Anais Nin
How do wedding photos express the dreams a couple has?
Weddings are often an event a couple have been dreaming of, thinking about, working on and creating from scratch for the better part of a year, or more. At the end of the day, the wedding photos are what’s left for you to share that experience with others (think future generations), and for you to relive the day. I think it’s really beautiful to have a way to look back and relive that dream over and over again through the wedding photos.
What were some of the qualities you liked best about la maquette as a Wedding venue and how did you use these attributes to the advantage of your album?
I found myself really drawn to the light in the space and how it changed throughout the day. It was also special to have this downtown and central space feel private and removed during the ceremony on the patio. That’s something you worry about when you work on weddings downtown: that the ceremony will be disrupted by traffic or passerbys, or feel chaotic. It had none of those issues. It was such a beautiful and serene space to have an intimate and emotional ceremony.
What sticks with you as a unique and memorable experience you had working with your couple on their big day?
Ifrah & Justin are pretty special humans. They were so trusting, vulnerable and fun to work with. They carved out time after the ceremony to take in the fact that they were married, together alone in the park. They were kind enough to let me tag along for a few minutes of it, but then I respectfully gave them the space they desired. I wish that was something more couple’s did on their wedding day. Take a few moments to themselves to process the importance of what has just happened.
Photographer : Frances Beatty Photography
Florals & Coordination : Flower Treasures
Stationary : SB Creative Studios
Dress : Oh Happy Brides
Officiant : The Marrying Lady
Hair Stylist Saara G
Makeup Artist Tess B
Entertainment – Mikey McFly
