My Story
The first dress I shot was my sister's, as my wedding gift to her. I loved that it was unique and that I was able to capture something so quintessentially "her," as I believe each wedding dress is for each bride. The impact of my sister's gift inspired me to begin my own project, photographing wedding dresses that I found at flea markets and thrift stores. I was always surprised at how much significance these strangers' dresses held for me - I think perhaps I felt like I was giving them a second life or possibly even immortalizing something that had been lost. I also found that no matter what era the dress was from, who designed it, what condition it was in, or how much it might have cost, it always made a stunning photograph. As my portraits began to make their way into art galleries and word got out about what I was doing, I started getting commissions from new brides, mothers of brides, husbands, and from those who had wonderful heirloomed dresses that were falling apart and needed preserving in a photograph to prevent them from being lost forever. Thirteen years and many many portraits later, I still thoroughly enjoy capturing so much emotion, history, tradition, and feminine spirit, all by shooting one dress.