How do you preserve the feelings of a day as potent as a wedding? For Rangefinder 30 Rising Stars Darren and Shamakia Williams of DSW Photography, based in New Orleans, the aim is nothing less than to bottle it up into fine art portraits that can be savored forever. Their portraits are “powerful, invigorating, and meaningful,” and promise to “look as good as your love feels.” One way that buoyant, magical feeling can captured is in the ethereal veil, and today DSW Photography shared some of their veil toss photo tips to help you learn how to do that, too.

Another part of Darren and Shamakia’s approach that makes their images so heartfelt is that they are a couple very much in love as well, and they treat each wedding as if it were their own. Their focus is on getting all the images they would want if it was their wedding all over again, and they bring the same passion as if it was.

The images they chose to share with Rangefinder this week are from one of their favorite weddings with many of them featuring a magical veil toss.

Natural Light and Roses 

In the chaotic moments directly after the processional, Darren and Shamakia had a very limited time to capture the couple’s excitement and joy after leaving the altar. This time crunch was amplified by the desire of their loved ones to share their congratulations. As the wedding planner cleared the space as best they could, Shamakia and Darren posed the couple in front of a wall of fresh roses and captured the images using only natural light. 

Lead the Veil 

DSW Photography are experts at veil tosses. They say, “The goal is to lead the veil towards the subject. It takes wrist training!” Here are a few more tips: 

1. If the wind is on your side, those are the best images. 

2. If it is not on your side, have someone assist by holding the veil to make it appear as if it is blowing. 

3. If you are alone, continue to throw the veil back and forth and keep your camera steady! 

And, of course, it helps to have a beautiful background, like a wall of fresh roses.

Forever Remembered and Celebrated 

Darren and Shamakia love these images because they reflect a statement photo for the couple —embodying the look and feel of their wedding day. In all their work the duo aims to preserve “these most joyous moments [so that they] will be forever remembered and celebrated.” 

They accomplish this through their editorial style blended with fine art and photojournalism, using a variety of composition techniques and primarily relying on natural light, supplementing with artificial light as needed. The secret sauce of their style is the love, care, and attention they bring to each of their clients. Their client experience is centered on creating a bond with their couples, finding out what they envision and desire on their wedding day. They also find out what the couples most loves about DSW’s work and use this as a creative guideline directing their approach.  

Their passion, care, and expertise shines through in the palpable feelings they capture in their images, which fast become family heirlooms. 

Follow the work of DSW Photography on Instagram and Facebook. View the full 30 Rising Star Winners Gallery for 2024.