Lyssa’s Bridal Session

When I first met Lyssa for her bridal session, my immediate thought was, she looks like a goddess. When I told her that, she smiled and said that was exactly the look she was going for — and she absolutely nailed it!

Her wedding dress was stunning and unlike anything I had photographed before. Delicate images of the moon and stars covered the gown, giving it this beautiful, celestial feel that was completely her. And the story of how she got the dress makes it even better — she literally had to chase down the UPS driver when they almost drove away without delivering it!

Lyssa was especially excited about scheduling a bridal session because it gave her another opportunity to wear her incredible dress. We planned the session for just a few days before her wedding, on the same day as her hair and makeup trial. It was the perfect chance to see her entire bridal look come together before the big day — and, of course, create some gorgeous portraits along the way.

We met at Maple Hill Estates in Schoharie, New York, and I couldn’t have imagined a more fitting location. The beautiful grounds and natural scenery complemented the whimsical, celestial details of her gown perfectly.

As we walked around the property, we stopped anywhere the light and scenery caught our attention. It was such a relaxed session, and we had plenty of time to talk, laugh, and get to know each other before her wedding day.

That’s one of the things I love most about bridal sessions. Not only do they give you another opportunity to wear the dress you’ve spent so much time choosing, but they also give us a chance to work together before the wedding. By the time the big day arrives, being in front of my camera already feels a little more familiar.

And with a dress this incredible? It absolutely deserved more than one day in the spotlight.

Lyssa truly looked like the celestial goddess she envisioned — and Maple Hill Estates couldn’t have been a more beautiful place to capture it.