I think most business owners have a love-hate relationship with social media. It’s an amazing tool for connection, no-cost marketing, and showcasing your work. It’s also a bit draining, a time-suck and a spiral into comparing yourself against others.

Despite its pitfalls, I have to give Instagram the credit for the beginnings behind this styled bridal shoot. It’s kept me connected with some of my marketing and public relations classmates from college. Who ironically work in the wedding industry as well. It’s only ironic because the college we went to, The University of Findlay, is a fairly small college. And the fact that three alumni who graduated within a year of each other, and took many of the same marketing and pr classes, call themselves wedding vendors.

A few months ago one of my fellow alums, Nick Thompson, who works at a wedding venue in Columbus, Ohio reached out to me - offering the venue as a great photo location. That’s when I had a light bulb moment. I also knew a makeup artist who just so happened to be a Findlay alum too - Olysse Elkins.

I decided that it would be fun to get together with them and collaborate on something creative. What started out with a venue, a makeup artist, and a bridal model - flourished into a full fledged bridal styled shoot complete with a sweet heart table, two extravagant wedding cakes, and a phenomenal floral headpiece.

In this case, social media is a winner - a tool for collaboration and connection.

I really enjoyed getting to work an amazing list of vendors on this shoot! It’s a mix of edgy charm paired with vintage decor and fine art florals, making it an elegant bohemian styled bridal shoot with pops of orange, modern details, and off-beat desserts.