Memphis Tennessee Wedding Photographer | A Bohemian, Vintage Wedding Inspiration
Photographs.
They turn me into a time traveler, a collector, a historian, an adventurer, a storyteller.
They show the world through my eyes, and they make me vulnerable. And I believe that vulnerability is one of the key ingredients to love, so when I am photographing a wedding I search for those affectionate, vulnerable moments that only happen when your guard is down and you are comfortably tucked into the arms and soul of the person you were made for.
I have a tendency to end up in thrift stores, and recently I stumbled upon an old photo album from the 1930's and 1940's, and it influenced me to design a wedding inspiration photoshoot based around that time and style. I wanted to take a step back in time, into an era before Facebook and hashtags and MTV. I wanted passion and love, and the timelessness that only those two emotions can offer. I wanted to incorporate my southern roots with a vintage feel, and to tie in my connection and love for music and stringed instruments.
For the DIY Bride, I will be making a special post on how to make your own vintage stationary and how to achieve that worn, old timey weathered look. I love arts and crafts, so when I had a hard time finding a calligrapher that could help me achieve this look, I took it into my own hands and decided I would try it myself!
This gorgeous hair accessory and bridal bouquet were created by Knot2Shabby Designs. Choosing which bouquet of hers to use for this session was nearly impossible. Every arrangement is pieced together so perfectly and thoughtfully, she is an artist when it comes to florals!
Since everything about this session was a tad untraditional, I couldn't help but ditch the idea of a wedding cake and contact Heaven to Betsy's Bakery for a couple of her delectably darling pies! (And yes, we all had a slice afterward. Not only are they absolutely adorable, they're, for lack of a better word, heavenly.)
The Eclectic Berry from Collierville, TN truly brought my entire session together with their gorgeous vintage prop rentals. They were so accommodating throughout the entire session, from helping me arrange my set up, snapping some behind the scenes photos, standing in a chair screaming by my side when a snake wandered up to our set up to see what we were up to, and bringing the perfect assortment of props based around my southern, vintage theme. It tied everything together so perfectly. I couldn't have done it without them!
My sweet, sweet friend Adam writes personalized poems, and in every wedding box I deliver to my brides and grooms I include one of his poems written for the Mr. and Mrs. I met Adam at Cooper Young Fest in Memphis, TN several years ago and became obsessed with his poetry and his ability to perfectly put into words the world through someone else's eyes. I capture love through photographs, and he captures it through his inimitable way with words.
Jacob's wooden bowtie was handmade by The Moose Shed. The maker of these uniquely crafted accessories first designed and created them for his daughters wedding, and is now a passion that him and his son-in-law share. He has a wide range of assorted designs, woods, and styles that he offers. It's the perfect gift or addition for the out of the box groom who wants a little spice and diversity to their wedding attire.
Emily and Jacob Hatch.
I knew as soon as I began designing this session that these two were perfect for my vision. The passion and love these two have for each other cannot be posed or created, but simply captured. They radiate a love for each other that I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to document.
"You're the girl of my dreams, and a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true. Time to lay down my bets. Oh, I put all my money on you."
I have become intrigued with film and the process of developing over the last couple of months. Film photography demands and requires you to slow down, calculate every shot, and make every photo you take count. There's a gratifying, exhilarating feeling that comes from seeing the entire process of film; from loading your camera, taking your photo, through developing... it give you a sense of pride and accomplishment to see the photographs you carried through each stage and into their final form. My second favorite thing about shooting on film is the little imperfections. It's natural to want every photo you take to be "perfect" or "correct" but sometimes, life isn't perfect. It's messy, it's out of focus, its darker than you want or intended. Film photography reminds me to embrace the imperfections and quirks and accept the flaws for what they actually are; individuality.
I normally just use my film camera for my own personal endeavors, but I wanted to photograph part of this session on film to achieve the vintage, 1930's look and feel that I wanted to portray. Here are a few of my favorite shots that I got on film and developed at home.
Session Designer & Photographer: Cassie Cook Photography
Bride & Groom: Emily + Jacob Hatch
Vintage Prop Rental: The Eclectic Berry
Bridal bouquet + hair piece: Knot2Shabby Designs
Desserts: Heaven's to Betsy's Bakery
Beverages: Gerst Amber Ale, Nashville TN
Hair Stylist: Abrianna Albonetti
Floral Center Piece: Memphis Center City Wholesale Floral
Handmade Wooden Bowtie: The Moose Shed
Personalized Poem: Adam Maldonado
Stationary: Cassie Cook