Being in Toronto you are exposed to so many beautiful bridal designers through all the incredible local boutiques. From vintage aesthetics, to boho, to modern, you can really find the dress that fits your style and the vibe of your wedding.
When I met Aurélia I looked through her 2020 collection and could see her French influence and the way she was pushing the boundaries of what a wedding dress is traditionally supposed to look like. The unique fabrics and silhouettes she was creating really made her stand out as a designer and I was instantly inspired by her artistry.
When she approached Brian and I to photograph her 2021 Collection: Eclipse - my first thought was how excited I was to see her newest collection. I couldn’t wait to see what her inspired mind had conceptualized and what beautiful gowns she had brought to life. Let me tell you, she did not disappoint. The fabrics, the shapes, and the SLEEVES! Oh man, this collection is truly a work of art. Another thing that really stood out to me was the range and diversity found within the collection itself. There is an incredible slip dress with an open back and the perfect detail at the bottom - I honestly think Aurélia perfected the slip dress. She also has angelic two piece that is made up of the most unique silhouette and fabric (quilted cotton) that gives you high fashion vibes and truly something that jumped out of the pages of VOGUE magazine.
So after being completed inspired by the collection and having Aurélia share her artist statement with us, we couldn’t wait to create the imagery that evoked the emotion and the intention behind her work. If you’re wondering what Aurélia’s intention behind her collection is, here’s the direct statement from her website :
“Eclipse is the power of an ephemeral moment that lasts a few minutes but leaves a mark for a lifetime. The elements are so strong. They remind us how much we rely on them; how much we need them.
The eclipse is the woman who shines. She’s the sun, she’s the moon. She stands out naturally with grace, with her inner beauty.
The work of the Japanese architect Tadao And inspired me a lot with his game of shade and luminance, the way light slides on the concrete, giving different perspectives. I play with contrasts in this collection, with volume and flowy lines.
The bride elevates her style, whether it’s minimal or bold. She embodies a unique warm energy.”
The contrast, the bold or the minimal, the sun and the moon, the light and the shadows. The overarching theme of her collection fit seamlessly into our own aesthetic as creators and photographers. I often think of Brian and myself as having this sort of contrast within our works, from our approach to our artistic eye, we somehow managed to influence one another as artists while still maintaining our own voices as creatives. We’ve always brought to our work this juxtaposition of intensity and softness, something dream-like but also vivid and clear, this is exactly how we wanted to approach shooting this look book campaign to give it as much of a genuine element of artistic editorial and narrative.
The culmination of all of Aurélia’s hard work and then all the hard work that the team invested into this project, resulting in something we are all proud to showcase. A little shoutout to that incredible team - Dina Roudman was our muse, the model for the collection. Her edgy but endearing look brought another dimension to the collection and inspired a lot of the visuals. Jen Cronin - is the most talented hair and make up artist that has been a kindred spirit for us since we connected last year. Her aesthetic is so inline with what we love that we seem to always be on the same page. Jenny Serwylo - I do not have enough thanks for this woman and the level of work ethic and enthusiasm she brings to every project. Working as our production coordinator (but she is also a super talented and hardworking wedding planner), she spearheaded the day keeping us on track, well-fed, and completely organized. Brian - my partner in crime. His unlimited creativeness really pushed this campaign to embody the emotion and themes that Aurélia had been influenced by. Our thoughts and ideas always seem to find a balance as we layer them on top of each other and create something that could not have existed without one or the other. Having him lead the creative direction as I took control of the camera was a dynamic that really worked for us. He also (somehow, on top of everything) was able to put together the short video that you can find at the end of my blog post.
Having the opportunity to work on a bridal campaign was certainly an ambition of mine. The eclipse - the perfect analogy for our commercial and wedding work colliding - continuing to feed into the core of what this project was. I’ll continue to explore the balance between the different types of photography that I do, and see where it takes me.
Toronto it such a great hub for innovative design and fashion. Although Aurélia is originally from France and just moved here last year, her unique bridal gowns have found their own place in this city. Among the bridal boutiques and all the talented wedding dress designers right here in Toronto, I’ve witnessed how Aurélia carved out her niche and has embraced her modern, non-traditional style. So for all those brides our there who are alternative or looking for a vintage meets modern aesthetic for their wedding dress, hit up a local bridal designer or bridal boutique - you won’t be disappointed.
CREDITS
Designer: Aurélia Hoang
Creative Director / Photographer: Brian Batista Bettencourt
Creative Director / Photographer: Ryanne Hollies
Model: Dina Roudman
Hair and Makeup Artist: Jen Cronin
Production Coordinator: Jenny Serwylo
