Behind the Scenes to Picture Perfect
The photoshoot was designed to showcase Boston Athenaeum as a unique and historic wedding destination for advertising campaigns (hello, Boston Magazine!). To achieve this, hours of creative ideation, coordination, and meticulous planning have taken place months before the shoot, so when it all comes together, it’s truly magic.
Go behind the scenes with us as we share highlights!
The Inspiration
Amanda Gallagher, Event Producer at The Catered Affair and visionary behind the photo shoot shared, “The newly renovated Boston Athenaeum itself was my inspiration. Walking through this venue, you notice everything from stained glass windows to pendant lampshades to intriguing antique books. I wanted to evoke an old-world celebration feel in each luxurious space.” Gallagher continued, “As I explored the spaces, I imagined harpists playing amongst marble statues, with glorious food served to guests in formal attire.” Gallagher made sure each unique room within Boston Athenaeum was highly stylized and reflected the timelessness of the building.
Fashion Forward
Femininity and glamour! Two months before the photo shoot, the journey started at L’elite Bridal on Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The once-in-a-lifetime experience was beyond our wildest dreams! Professional models Amanda and Tyliah tried on numerous gowns and ultimately selected designers Monique Lhuillier, Reem Acra, and Vera Wang Haute. Can you imagine anything dreamier?
Professional models, Meyer and Jacob, looked regal and dapper in attire by Classic Tuxedo , an award-winning formalwear specialist. The men enjoyed two fittings by formalwear specialists to ensure perfection. The dark–colored suits enhanced the appearance of the lavish wedding gowns and timeless veils.
Scroll down for more before and after images.
The Photographer
From models and photo assistants to the perfect lighting and props, a lot goes into capturing the perfect shot. Cheryl Richards is one of Boston’s most recognized editorial-style photographers. Cheryl prepares by getting herself into a creative zone, focused solely on the photo shoot (very Zen!). Richards shared, “I fell in love with Boston Athenaeum! It’s a hidden treasure for hosting unique and intimate celebrations.“ Richards captured the beauty of the building and talent brilliantly.
The Glam Squad
Katrina Hess, the owner of Katrina Hess Make-up Studio, is an award-winning Boston-based make-up artist specializing in weddings. When selecting professionals for the shoot, Katrina came to mind because of her classic and timeless approach to wedding make-up. “Smooth and well-blended color with contour was important to ensure the models were camera ready,” said Hess. For products, Katrina shared, “I used several of my favorites, including YSL – Touché Eclat, Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Blush Wands, Saint Jane Luxury Lip Oil.” Katrina is well-known in the industry for keeping up with new styles and products for diverse skin types.
Beaucáge Salon & Spa hair stylist @dericleparis created a modern and elegant look for the striking models from Maggie Agency. Deric made two styles; for Tyliah, he enhanced her natural curls for a half-up, half-down hairstyle, and for Amanda, he styled soft textured curls into a low bun with gentle textured soft waves, very natural. Deric shared, “My signature is simple yet sophisticated.” His passion for style is infectious, and his talent helped bring to life the understated glamour of the Boston Athenaeum.
The after! You see beautiful, flawless images. And that is all you should see. #goalachieved
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Thank you to the talented professionals who collaborated to bring this photoshoot to life.
Creative @thecateredaffair @agallagherrrr
Venue @bostonathenaeum
Bridal: @lelitebridal
Menswear: @classic_tux
Hair: @beaucageboston @dericleparis
Photography: @cherylrichardsphotographer
Make-up: @katrinahessmakeup
Models: @maggieagency
@tyliahdeja
@myer_segal23
@amandamckim
@jacobheart
Boston Athenaeum is available for private events rentals.
Written by: Kori Carter Gillespie is the Director of Brand Marketing at @thecateredaffair in Boston, Massachusetts. Kori is a content writer passionate about crafting brand stories for boutique lifestyle brands.