As a photographer, there is nothing quite like finding and perfecting your signature style. It’s the essence of who we are. Better yet, it shows the world how we see it. 

After so many years as a fashion photographer followed by years of experience capturing exquisite love stories, I’ve honed my craft. 

When brides reach out for wedding photography experiences, they often ask me what my style is. I love to tell them it’s where the editorial, fashion-forward glossy magazine pages meet the authentic emotion of real, candid moments.

The Rome Wedding Editorial Session

It’s that exact signature photography style that captured the attention of the designers of Berta wedding gowns!

With their newest collection set for release, they wanted not just a photographer, but an artist who knows how to capture the essence of the moment. 

Naturally, when they reached out about an editorial session showcasing their wedding gowns in a stylized Rome wedding, I was all in. Here’s how I brought it to life: 

The Perfect Location: Villa Clara

Villa Clara is a historic estate in the heart of the Eternal City (also known as Rome). It’s a collection of suites with gorgeous, ornate architecture and design. 

Built in the 1910s, the estate blends a luxurious modern aesthetic with traditional, yet extravagant Greco-Roman architecture.

As I put together this styled session, I knew the Villa Clara was the best option for the stunning, sumptuous bridal gowns created by the artists at Berta.

The Villa Clara Wedding-Inspired Color Story

Using the location, Villa Clara, as the inspiration for this styled Rome wedding, I created a color story that would perfectly complement the architecture and design of the luxury suites. 

I opted for a color palette of deep, royal colors including royal blue, purple, gold, and a light pink to add contrast. 

Everything from the invitation suite to the shoes drew upon the color story to create a cohesive styled session. 

Of course, the rich purple walls and the gold details of the Villa Clara suites accentuated the color story, too.

Perfect Textiles for Visual Interest

Part of telling a couple’s unique story involves capturing the details. For most weddings, I create stylized photographs that include bridal details and the invitation suite. And to better style those photos, I incorporate textiles to add texture and visual interest to the photograph. 

For this stylized Rome wedding, I added Allegoria textiles to the invitation suite photographs to do exactly that!

The Berta Bridal Gown

What’s a Rome wedding editorial session without a Berta wedding dress? This one was bewitching to say the least! A corset-style bodice that included lace and sheer details paired with a full, tulle skirt created a dramatic and breathtaking Berta creation. 

It was such a dream to photograph considering, no matter where we went, it was the star of the show!

The Golden Palm Frond Arch

As I created the ceremony setup for the editorial session, I knew the site needed to be as gorgeous and dramatic to complement both the Villa Clara venue and the Berta wedding dress. 

To match the color story, I opted for grand, gold palm fronds in a circular arch to serve as the ceremony backdrop.

Modeling the Mood of a Berta Bride

While I adore finding candid moments that are full of genuine emotion on the wedding day, there’s also something to be said for creating bridal portraits. 

Brides painstakingly choose their dresses so they feel their utmost confident selves on their wedding day.

So, I worked with a model for the Rome wedding editorial session who could showcase exactly what it feels like to be a bride wearing a Berta gown.

Capturing the Spirit of Rome

As a destination wedding photographer, part of telling the story of the wedding day is paying tribute to the location. 

To round out the editorial session, my bridal model and I captured the essence of Rome and Italian-based Berta gowns in the most prominent location – the Coliseum.

Epic locations, such as a wedding in Rome, and couples who love the finer details of life, combined artfully with my eye for magical lighting and the emotions that will forever tug at heartstrings are what make my work as a wedding photographer stand out among the rest.

Find our other editorial sessions on our blog! 

Editorial Session Vendors: 

Photography: Lilly Red
Wedding Planner: Wedding House
Styling: Raffy Flowing Communication
Venue: Villa Clara
Bridal Gown: Berta and MUSE by Berta
Textiles: Allegoria Textiles
Stationery: Marthys Vintage Garden
Floral Design: Lada Fiori
Model: Tereza Seknickova
Hair and Makeup Artist: Sara’s Brides