One Intimate Venue, a Gallery Full of Ideas: By Jiana Taylor

‘A Creative Perspective’
Shooting from the covered porch down into the garden gave the image an unexpected sense of depth and made it feel as though we were quietly witnessing something sacred and private.

The Gear and Details

Camera & Lenses: Canon 5D Mark IV (24-70mm), Contax G1(45mm), Pentax 645n (45mm), Canon 1V (50mm), Canon Rebel 2000 (24mm)
Flash: Godox V860III-C
Number of Shooters: 2
Coverage: 10 hours

The wedding took place at The Cordelle in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s a beautiful, intimate venue right in the middle of the city, which I loved for this wedding because it felt removed from Nashville while still being completely connected to it.

Marissa is a dancer with Nashville Ballet, and she met her husband at Frothy Monkey, so the day felt really rooted in Nashville and in their story together.

Photographer: Jiana Taylor

‘The Getaway’
I wanted the photographs with their surprise getaway car to feel like something from the 50's. Marissa had an incredible amount of dress, but just as importantly, she had her dream Christian Louboutins on. I wanted to make sure the shoes had their own moment, but in a way that was story telling and not just throwing the shoes in a flat lay. I caught this frame as her husband lifted her into the getaway car, her dress spilling around them, and loved how it captured all of those little details in one micro moment. At the same time, it's easy to look at the photo and wonder what the story is behind it.

Setting the Scene

Marissa wanted to create an old-world European environment inside The Cordelle, with muted neutrals, lots of florals, subtle pink and dark plum, vintage details, mixed candle holders, and a huge chandelier.

The challenge was that The Cordelle is a very intimate space in the middle of Nashville.

“We didn't have endless options to move around or create completely different environments, so a lot of my job became figuring out how to make the space feel different from frame to frame. I went into the day with a few images already in my head. I knew I wanted to create a visual nod to Marissa as a ballerina with the chandelier she had installed in the venue, I had thought through some of the portrait styling, and I knew I wanted to shoot a lot of film.”

“There weren't a ton of portrait locations that naturally matched the feeling of the wedding, so I couldn't rely on changing locations to create variety. I had to find different perspectives, use the architecture, work with whatever light was available, and really pay attention to the small things.”

Getting Ready

“Marissa got ready with her mom and sister, they all wore vintage designer robes, and for Marissa, there was an added significance to having that morning with her family. I don't like getting ready photos to feel overly produced. I want the bride to actually enjoy the morning and feel like she can feel at peace before the rush of the day. I tend to photograph pretty quietly at first and let everyone settle into the fact that I'm there. Once the excitement builds, I want to be right in it with them.”

Ceremony

“The day was overcast, which gave us really soft, even light. I loved that for this wedding because it worked so naturally with the muted palette and the atmosphere Marissa had created.

The ceremony was set quietly in the courtyard, and my second shooter and I were able to move fluidly around the space to capture different perspectives. Before the ceremony began, I had my second shooter hang back with the family as they lined up, allowing her to document that raw, emotional energy as it built. I wanted to make sure we captured that anticipatory moment between Marissa and her dad before she met her husband at the end of the aisle, while I positioned myself to tell the story from the perspective of the ceremony itself. It allowed us to capture both sides of that moment without interrupting it.”

Portraits

“Portraits were probably the biggest creative challenge of the day. The venue is intimate so there aren't endless location options. I didn't want to force the couple into a bunch of spaces that didn't feel connected to the wedding.

I was paying attention to where the light was falling, what architectural elements I could use, and how I could change the feeling of an image without necessarily changing locations. I knew I wanted to lean into the greenery throughout the venue while being intentional about avoiding the power lines, buildings, cars, and interstate surrounding the space. I also used the details of the day, like the florals and rentals, to help create more visual depth and make the environment feel more intentional and removed from the city around us.

The overcast light also gave us a lot of freedom. It was soft enough that we could move around the venue without constantly worrying about harsh light. This was the biggest blessing of the day!”

‘Normal with a Twist’
I wanted to get a more intimate close up of the two, but not how one would expect. The photo felt layered and intentional and I really loved leaning into the tension of an otherwise traditional portrait.

‘A Favorite Portrait’
We had been outside taking portraits when we stepped inside for a moment to cool off, and Marissa caught sight of the chandelier that she had dreamed of installing for the wedding. Almost instinctively, she began spinning beneath it, and suddenly the ballerina in her came out. It was spontaneous and the moment was completely hers. I knew I wanted her to remember how she felt in this moment, so I quickly adjusted my settings to freeze her movement beneath the chandelier.

Reception

“The reception was where the transformation of the venue really came together. The chandelier, florals, candlelight, vintage accents, and muted palette made the room feel completely different from the venue we started with.

I wanted to preserve that atmosphere instead of lighting everything too heavily. During the first dance and speeches especially, I leaned into the ambient light and let the images get a little grainier and blurrier.

I also loved having film with me throughout the reception. The film and ambient digital images gave me different ways to interpret the same room and helped keep the gallery from feeling too polished or uniform.”

‘A Reception Favorite’
I needed to finish out the roll of film, but my shutter speed was getting questionable. Instead of fighting it or throwing on my flash, I decided to lean into it, knowing I might get some intentional movement and those warm, funky tones that I love from film. I'm so glad I took the risk because this image feels like I was sitting right there at the table with the guests, experiencing the evening alongside them.

‘Getting the Moment’
I stepped away to change my camera battery when I entered into Marissa's friends lifting her entire dress to help get the bustle just right. I love that I happened to walk into this little bit of chaos. It's such a fun, fully candid moment.

Closing Thoughts

“This wedding challenged me to look at a familiar, intimate space differently and to trust that I didn't need to manufacture something that wasn't there. I went into the day with a few images in mind and a clear idea of how I wanted to approach the space, but some of my favorite photographs were the ones I never planned for. A handful of photographs ended up having this vintage feel to them, which really excited me as someone who loves an image with a good story behind it.”

— Jiana