The magical world of wedding photography
At Le Dressing Club, we love discovering small hidden talents. We tend to focus on the wedding dress, the venue, the invitations or the decoration… However, what is more important than capturing one of the most important moments of your life ?
Photography is a representation of the soul. It reflects emotions, love and passion, through gestures and looks. It is able to capture a moment that even the people present at that time might not remember - An atmosphere, a detail or a beloved memory. As another form of art, photography allows to keep a memory alive through a creative universe. Each photographer has their own way of capturing a scene according to their realm, experience, personality as well as personal inspirations.
That is why we have recently been drawn to the world of wedding photography and more specifically to Pierre Atelier's work. We discovered the wedding and lifestyle photographer through Instagram after realising that a lot of the pictures we repost were taken by him and that he shoots for many of our brand partners, namely Oksana Kokhan and Les Couronnes de Victoire.
He kindly answers a few of our questions to help us get a sneak peak into his universe and his passion. We are super excited to share more about his background, career, opinions and mindset with you.
Pierre Atelier is a passionate and fascinating photographer, defined by simplicity and lifestyle, in addition to his love for cycling around Paris and his addiction to coffee.
We are confident you will love his mindset as much as we do!
Hi Pierre ! Could you tell us more about you, your background and experiences ?
I'm Pierre Atelier, about thirty years old - I prefer staying vague ;) - and passionate about photography and visual arts in general. I have been a full-time photographer for 10 years.
My work tends to be a balance between studio photography (catalogue, look-book, new collections, fashion photoshoots...) and natural light photography (editorial, events, weddings...).
These two disciplines complement each other perfectly.
Could you explain your concept, your passion and what makes it unique?
The concept is simple: capture everything that happens during a wedding, not just the ceremony or reception but the whole day.
And to that I would also like to add: "photograph people having fun".
Have you come across a more beautiful profession? :)
I have a preference for secular ceremonies, which tend to make for very spontaneous photos, as well as off-season weddings (anytime from the October to February months), which I believe are by far the warmest.
VENUE INSPIRATION. One of Pierre Atelier's photographs. A rustic universe made contemporary with a touch of originality. This cliché, although absent of human-beings or smiles, still offers a feeling of warmth and a familial atmosphere. A cliché sometimes expresses more than a video.
When did you start photography ?
The first camera I touched was a Rollei 35B when I was 17 years old. I discovered photography in San Francisco years ago, and soon after I made my first prints in black and white in New York. I started as an assistant in a photography studio, then in a laboratory. I then launched "Pierre Atelier" in June 2016 and since then it has been nothing but happiness.
Wonderful encounters, intense memories and lots of beautiful photos :)
Which brands, blogs or magazines have you previously worked for?
It sounds pretentious, but I think I have worked for over 60 brands or designers. From dresses, suits, accessories, florists, restaurants, magazines, caterers, wedding planners, jewellers... Whether in France, Europe or the USA. To name a few brands: Maison Lemoine, Brollops Bruket, Les couronnes de Victoire, Carol Hannah, Sisters in law…
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A MOMENT. Capturing an emotion, a gesture, a look. Bring a photo to life and express it through moments of love and conviviality. Some simple lighting and cold colours to create a picture full of sobriety. The picture conveys the joyful atmosphere of this moment, we understand its meaning and we can feel its importance.
Why photograph the wedding world? What personally drew you to this sector?
It all happened by chance. I was at a studio shoot one day and the model was telling me she was struggling to find a photographer for her wedding.
I offered to do it, she gladly accepted and I absolutely loved photographing her wedding day.
They had a secular (non-religious) ceremony in the open air, at the beginning of October: it was beautiful. The best start to my wedding career.
What were your inspirations and what continues to inspire your creativity today ?
Fashion, only fashion. For the framing, the gestures, the postures, the composition and the creativity: the unexpected.
Fashion is an ocean that designers and photographers try to sculpt. A project as ambitious as it is poetic.
COMPOSITION. The much loved traditional English red double-decker bus, a white dress, a bouquet of flowers and two newlyweds. All you need for the perfect photograph. We found this shot very fitting given Le Dressing Club has opened in London this year!
A simple yet creative cliché that showcases the British culture.
What message do you wish to convey through your pictures?
"The truth of the moment", and everything the bride and groom could not see during their wedding day.
The smiles of the guests at the back of the room, hand details, large photos of the whole party to capture the atmosphere
- Anything that will revive their memories in years to come and across generations.
How can you describe the style of your shots? Bohemian? Retro?
Mmm... "Lighting" seems to be the word that best describes my work. No fad effects to be regretted, like moody or other tasteless filters.
Simplicity and the profound respect for colour in photographs will not be outdated in 10, 20 or 30 years time.
DINNER. « Noix de saint-jacque à la plancha, méli-mélo de légumes cuits et crus à l’huile d’argon, vinaigrette aux agrumes » A photograph that communicates flavours through its warm colours, a simple layout and a touch of effortless French style, exactly how we like it!
What do you highlight most in your photos?
The human-being, definitely. The stories between humans, our interactions, our exchanges, our body language...
Even behind a face mask, the gaze remains such a powerful vector of communication.
EMOTION. Here are a few more shots from Pierre Atelier illustrating several different moments. Two of them were taken at Oksana Kokhan's photoshoot for her 2020 collection in the Montmartre neighbourhood in Paris. These two photos are full of lightness, simplicity and effortless romanticism.
All of Pierre's pictures convey an emotion: trust, love, protection, joy, tenderness, accomplishment, the list is endless...
Any exciting new projects for the future you can share with us? Future collaborations? A different style of photos?
We have just finished a Halloween shoot which was a great success !!! In collaboration with wedding planners, we are moving towards photoshoots that resonate with the news & current climate...
That is all I can reveal for the time being :)
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A profession, a passion, an art, according to Pierre Atelier. Photography is a key element of your wedding day. Whatever your budget, your theme, your venue, your ceremony or reception, a photograph will be an essential tool to help you forge your memories. Even if some of them will hopefully be unforgettable, your wedding photos will bring these memories to life and pass them on to future generations.
We would like to thank Pierre Atelier for taking the time to answer our questions and sharing his passion with us.
We admire his simplicity and openness!
Find out more about Pierre Atelier's work over on his website.
