The creative idea of this editorial bridal shoot emerged to capture poetic moments that evoke deep emotions, portraying a bride who embodies femininity, freedom, and natural beauty. Factors such as elegance and calmness intimately intertwine with the strength of a modern, self-confident woman in a setting with a dreamy atmosphere that transports the beholder to a romantic and fantastic dimension.

Wedding Planner Blanca Tapias provided much-appreciated inspiration. Together, we decided to choose La Centenaria 1779, located in Gavá, Barcelona. Its architecture and aesthetics brought a unique charm to the scenes, resulting in a perfect setting for the intimate atmosphere we wanted to convey.

For the different shots, we mainly used two areas which offered different possibilities of natural light. The Orangerie has an elegant and warm atmosphere with sunlight coming in directly through the glass windows. This space was ideal for playing with light to create artistic photographs and focus attention on those moments. We also took advantage of another room with white walls and soft natural light, where Elisa Bertrán designed a set of hanging natural flowers to evoke ethereal and spontaneous moments, intertwining dreams and nature.

Once Naara Sierra had done Viviana Pérez‘s hair and makeup and Coco de Riquer had perfected her look with Laura Escribano‘s wedding dress, The Forest Shoes, and Bea Hurtado‘s headdress, I spoke with Viviana to tell her the main idea we wanted to communicate.

As a wedding photographer, I always take the time to explain my approach to the work and the concept and to connect with the people involved, allowing for more freedom during the shoot. I also direct in the moment as we are working on each of the scenes.

For me, it is essential that the emotions and moments are genuine. I often use music to create the right atmosphere for the vibe I want to reflect. This allows the people I photograph to connect more deeply with their feelings. 

For photographers who want to achieve emotional and evocative images, I have three key pieces of advice to share:

1. Communicate your concept to the model with honesty and enthusiasm.
2. Create the right atmosphere. For example, use music during the session and allow yourself to be vulnerable so that the model feels comfortable and can open up in front of the camera.
3. Work as if you were filming a video. This way, the model won’t be waiting for the exact moment of the photo, and each scene can turn into hundreds of potential shots.

Throughout the shoot, I used my Canon R6 II camera along with the RF 28-70 f/2 lens. We were atmospherically supported by the use of a smoke machine, a reflector, and a 0.5mm polyurethane sheet, which I placed between the model and the camera to create a few shots that evoked a certain drama, subtlety, and intangibility.

Rangefinder Rising Star of 2021, Adrián Vilanova is passionate about telling stories that are real in their evocation of the emotional experience. Based in Valencia, Spain, he is a destination and elopement photographer who also mentors other photographers. Follow him on Instagram.

As a thank you to our readers, we’re pleased to offer you a Rangefinder exclusive discount code to get 25% off The Portrait Masters course below. Use the code RF25 at checkout to redeem. This code cannot be used in combination with other sales.