Hey Wedding Photographer, it’s LENSEL. Your weekly kick in the pants, umm we mean.. your delightful and informative look into the world of wedding photography.

Here’s what we have for you today:

• Runway Proposals at Bridal Fashion Week

• TikToks New Photo App

• Wedding Albums but better

If you are new here, click here to subscribe.

FASHION

What’s Coming in Bridal 2024/25?

Everything bridal took over NYC last week for the Spring 2025 NYBFW (New York Bridal Fashion Week). From Elie Saab to Justin Alexander to Gahlia Lahav, the best of the best in the bridal world showcased their Spring collections. As new bridal trends emerge for 2024/25 and being a photographer who is able to connect, get excited and be knowledgable about bridal fashion can go a long way with impressing and connecting with clients (especially in that first meeting). So if you aren’t hugely familiar with this world, jump in a have a look at some looks from NYBFW:

Including:

• The emergence of a few big trends like subtle drop waists (pictured below) and mini dresses (also, surprisingly, picture below).

• A debut collection with an interesting twist on bridal minimalism from Alejandra Alonso.

• A surprise engagement when the boyfriend of a model spontaneously jumped up onto the runway to propose.

Jump through here for a quick skim of the trends, or for the more conceptual, see this rundown of preview sketches which showcase some of the different silhouettes showcased in New York last week.

NEWS

Happening this Week

• Another app from TikTok? TikTok Notes looks like it’s on the way as a photo sharing platform and of course, an Instagram rival.

• Fujifilm doubled the production of the new X100VI and still can’t keep up with demand 

• Highly anticipated wedding details photos finally arrived from Anya Taylor. The first shot is absolute glory. Thanks to VOGUE.

• Is JPEG dead? Google releases a new image format called JPEGLI to ‘help make the internet more beautiful’. Initial look seems very promising

• Bottega 53 shared this stunning French Chateau wedding to kick of the 2024 wedding season in Europe.

• Was there a solar eclipse or something? Of course this wouldn’t be a photo newsletter without sharing some of the best eclipse photos from yesterday. Actually some really cool BTS ones here.

• DJI taking notes from Apple’s playbook with a beautiful teaser and big build up to their next release. Hinting at new drones (April 11th) and gimbals (April 9th).

SAFARI?

How to Stand Out with Unique Wedding Content

We sparked controversy in last weeks newsletter. The summary:

Shooting that wedding for free? NOT recommended. Creating your own content that aligns with your vision and the kind of weddings you want to shoot more of. RECOMMENDED!

We received so many replies and stories of people who regretted started shooting weddings for free and wished they had invested that time and energy somewhere else. In recent years, the wedding photography world has seen the rise of ‘content shoots’, or ‘content workshops’. - a chance for photographers work alongside a mentor and make something to really build a portfolio to be proud of. Something that they can really begin to build an aesthetic and a business on.

This Safari Wedding Retreat is one of the more unique versions of this that we have seen. While there will be wedding shoots designed to get unique (read safari!!) content for your portfolio, it’s a time designed to fuel your creative spirit and rejuvenate you before (or after) a big wedding season. These trips in South Africa are happening in Nov 2024 and Feb 2025.

Read more about these Safari Wedding Retreats here.

BUSINESS

Up Your Album Game

We’re betting they sell it everytime.
European wedding photographers, Danilo and Sharon, recently released their ‘Reflections Book’. A unique, concepted cover and cover housing that aligns with and enhances their brand voice and speaks to their clients.

Unfortunately for many wedding photographers, selling albums is an often after thought. While many know it can be some good extra income, the back and forth and faffing around with clients for some is just not worth it.
But WHAT IF an album could become a central part of your brand, your voice, your offering, your business. Like this.

Take a peek here.