Here at The Styling Reserve, we know firsthand the challenges faced by our fellow professionals in the wedding industry. It’s one of the three aspects of our mission to provide you with tips and tools to make your job pulling off the perfect day for your couples just a little bit easier. One way we love to do that is to find pros in the wedding community who are doing great things, and inspire you by featuring some of these amazing stylists, designers, luxury wedding photographers and others who are doing cool things with their weddings and their clients.
Luxury Wedding Photographer, Abby Jiu
This month, we wanted to take some time to shine the spotlight on Abby Jiu, a fine art wedding photographer in the D.C. area. Abby is a mentor to The Styling Reserve’s creator, Lori, and has been a huge supporter of use from the very beginning. She is a sensational photographer, and has grown her business from nothing to one that has been featured (deservedly so!) in some of the most reputable publications in the industry.
Abby began her career over a decade ago, and since then, Martha Stewart Weddings has named her a top wedding photographer, while her wedding photography has been featured in notable publications including People, Brides, The Knot, Southern Weddings, Washingtonian Weddings, and Inside Weddings. In December 2020, Abby was placed at the top of BRIDES’ list of the best wedding photographers in America.
Lucky for us, she took a few moments out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about her approach to styling for luxury weddings.
Q & A with Abby Jiu
TSR: Why do you feel like styling is an important part of a couple’s wedding story?
AJ: Our couples take an intentional approach to their weddings. They are taking the time to plan out details that are thoughtful and sentimental while also beautiful. Since so much of their time and thoughts go into the day, we like to take the same intentional approach to styling their wedding. It’s about so much more than taking pictures to memorialize the day; we really want to capture the romance and heartfelt emotion they experience, while highlighting the thoughtful details that give everything depth.
TSR: What is your approach to styling for luxury weddings?
AJ: I learned early in my career that a lot of planning is the key to styling a wedding that elevates the photography for the couple as well as elevating my brand into the realm of luxury. If there’s anything I can plan and control on the front end, I’ll do it. We always want to make sure to get the details and capture them in the right light. For example, most couples cut their cake after dark, so if we want a shot of the cake in natural daylight, we have to coordinate to get that shot. With every wedding, we work closely with the couples, designers and coordinators to ensure a timeline that allows us to get the best shots of the details of the day.
TSR: Any advice for photographers who want to elevate their styling?
AJ: Remember that every detail has the power to elevate your brand. Things like the dress, veil, shoes, flowers – the couple will have those things that you can incorporate, but you should also bring your own elements to elevate your flatlays. Flat lay backdrops, tiny props, bits of lace and even things like special ring boxes are all things you can keep in your styling kit. Also, take the time to talk with the couple beforehand about their details and try to find additional elements you can bring to enhance and compliment the couple’s details.
Thank you, Abby! It was a pleasure to talk with you! You can see more of Abby’s work on Instagram @AbbyJiu.
