Jen + Ron's Wedding Photos - Courtesy of a COVID Wedding

Jen and Ron got married during COVID and didn’t have the opportunity to take formal wedding photos. Sadly this is something that so many couples experienced during those years and they don’t necessarily think to hire someone to take wedding photos after the fact. This thought didn’t really cross Jen and Ron’s minds until I met Jen at an event at the local library! My very first “real” client, Lisa, was planning a special winter-themed event for the Langley Air Force Base library and she asked me to take photos of kids visiting with Santa. Jen works with Lisa, so she was there for the event and part of the group picture at the end. Not only was she fun and kind, but she knew what she was doing in front of the camera! She wrapped Santa’s cloak around her shoulders and made the most determined “bring it on” face I’ve ever seen!

Afterwards, when I showed Jen the photo, we started chatting and I learned that she was looking for opportunities to model. I jokingly commented that if she still had her wedding dress I would love to do some wedding photos. When she looked at me and said, “Wait, seriously?” I knew we hit it off. Jen explained her wedding story, her sadness over not having wedding photos, and that she did, in fact, have a wedding dress that fit her beautifully.

Remaking the Memory

Once the holiday season was over, Jen and I touched base and set up some time in a local studio that doubles as a wedding venue - The Studio at City Center in Newport News, Virginia. I also connected with a local florist, Jess at Aster & Bee Floral Design, who was kind enough to squeeze in some GORGEOUS flower arrangements for us last-minute! (Be on the lookout for a post all about Jess and her incredible work later this year!) When Jen and Ron arrived at the venue they were overflowing with joy and excitement - especially after they saw the bouquets and boutonniere from Aster & Bee! While they got ready for their photos, I spent some time photographing the florals, Jen’s shoes, and some other details she brought along for the day.

A Story of Self-Love

As we worked on Jen's bridal portraits, I asked Jen how she decided to pursue modeling - besides being incredible at it! Jen shared that she had a challenging childhood that lead to many struggles with beauty standards and self-love as a teen and young adult. Modeling was helping her to reclaim her body, her self-worth, and reframe the voice in her head that challenged her on a daily basis. Ron's presence in her life serves as a reminder that she is beautiful, worthy, and loved every day, and this was completely evident throughout my time with them. Even though it wasn't their actual wedding day, we took a few moments to recreate a First Look experience, and it was one of the most heartwarming interactions I've ever seen between two people.

Jen + Ron's First Look Experience

The look of true, deep, incomparable love and admiration on Ron's face in these moments completely took my breath away. At every moment you could tell how much he cares for Jen and how she brings joy, excitement, and passion into his life. When I talked to Ron about Jen, everything he said about her was uplifting and supportive. It didn't matter if Jen was going to be a model, a librarian, or anything in between. As long as it made her happy and helped her believe in everything wonderful about herself, he would do anything in his power to make it happen. Once they were together for this shoot, there was nothing I could do to keep them apart. Their attraction to one another was magnetic - even if they were on opposite sides of them room, you could feel their desire to be next to one another. On top of that loving, passionate attraction, Jen and Ron are just plain FUN! They had some creative poses in mind that they have done in previous photos together and they wanted to make sure they captured that vibe in their wedding photos! With the poufy dress things got a little complicated, but we did what we could to make it work!

Congratulations Jen + Ron!

Although their true anniversary was a couple years ago, it was an honor to recreate the unique moments of an actual wedding day for Jen and Ron and give them the wedding photos they deserve to have! From the flowers to the venue and everything in between, we did what we could to make this day feel special and full of love. I had so much fun getting to work with Jen and Ron and recreating their wedding photos, and I know they did too! Keep scrolling for a peek at the rest of their gallery!