Two women work together cutting white fabric on a large table in a black and white motion-blurred photo.
A woman in a black top handles white fabric near garment bags in a dimly lit black and white workshop.
A fashion designer traces sewing patterns on paper using a ruler on a large work table in black and white.
A focused woman in a black top smooths white fabric on a work table wearing a watch in black and white.
Close-up black and white photo of hands carefully handling delicate white fabric from a storage box.
A designer traces curved sewing pattern pieces on paper at a drafting table in a black and white photo.
Dramatic black and white portrait of a dark-haired woman in a black top with soft moody lighting.
A woman in a black top works with white fabric at a cutting table in a black and white workshop photo.
A dressmaker carefully marks or cuts intricate white lace fabric on a dark work surface in black and white.
Black and white close-up of elegant white satin fabric and strands of pearl beads on a wooden floor.
Black and white close-up of hands carefully sewing delicate embroidery on white fabric.
Black and white profile of a woman working with delicate white fabric in soft light.
Black and white image of glass bowls and beaded chain on a white surface with hands above.
Black and white blurred image of a person working under a lamp over a white fabric table.
Black and white image of hands threading a needle over white satin fabric with scissors nearby.

The Artist Behind the Gown: Photographing Sarah Lottes Bridal


When I photographed wedding gown designer Sarah Lottes in Cleveland, I kept asking myself: Who is the artist behind the gown?

Her studio was split into two worlds. Downstairs, in the basement, the light was sharp and overhead. That’s where the work happened. I watched Sarah transform a vintage wedding gown into a slip dress, layering lace and pearls with steady hands and full focus. Upstairs, everything changed. Her showroom glowed with natural light, and a full-length mirror reflected brides as they stepped into their imagined futures.

I photographed her in black and white film, my chosen medium for its nostalgic tone and timeless look. Stripping away color made the textures — silk, lace, pearls — come alive. The images feel like memory, like something familiar and enduring.

What struck me most was Sarah herself: a mother, a business owner, a visionary with a classy, timeless aesthetic. She moves between roles just as she moves between basement and showroom, balancing light and shadow, work and dream.

Though I now live in Southwest Florida — between Sarasota and Fort Myers — this project continues to inspire me as a wedding photographer. My approach is rooted in documentary storytelling and a deep love for film photography. I don’t just capture the dress or the details, but the artist behind them, the truth behind the moment.

For couples searching for a wedding photographer in Sarasota, Fort Myers, or Naples, my work is about more than pretty pictures. It’s about honesty, nostalgia, and creating photographs that feel alive decades from now.