Bluestem Hall Styled Shoot - Velvet Summer

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of photographing a styled shoot at Bluestem Hall with a dream team of vendors. So, what is a styled shoot? It is when a team of vendors come together to create a vision which is photographed to provide inspiration to others. The group who came together for this shoot blew me away with their creativity, artistic vision, and ability to create such beauty. I am truly surrounded by a community of empowering and creative women.

When initially coming up for the concept of the shoot, I had visions of velvet and colorful summer hues like mustard yellow, mauve, and orange. We utilized accents of gold and a mix of modern and vintage decor pieces. Despite the warm weather, I believe that velvet and texture can be incorporated no matter what time of year. I knew right away that I wanted to hold the shoot at Bluestem Hall in Urbana, IL. If you haven't visited Bluestem before, you 100% should, as it is an absolute dream venue! The quiet prairie wraps around the hall and is the quintessential backdrop. During the summer, you can feel the prairie alive and the colors pop. I couldn't imagine holding this shoot anywhere else.

Every detail of the shoot was thoughtfully curated to match the overall feel and vision. From stunning velvet furniture pieces and fur pillows, to colorful and summer hued florals, to modern geometric shapes, to hand cut glass place cards, and even an intricately designed cake (every single floral was hand crafted from buttercream). The beauty of the shoot was breathtaking. I had such an incredible time working with the vendor team and models- how gorgeous do Carmen and Dylan look? They are ACTUALLY getting married at Bluestem Hall in December, so the shoot was particularly meaningful for them. I could not have asked for a better team of people to work with or overall outcome of the vision.

Enjoy a few shots of some of the modern, velvet summer beauty.

Photography: Lauren Winterbotham Photography

Venue: Bluestem Hall

Florals: Flowers by Kristine

Formalwear: Michelle's Bridal & Tuxedo

Rings: Flora Gems

Furniture: Spruce Wedding Rentals

Videography: Second Cup Studios

Hair and Makeup: Something You Salon & Spa

Decor Rentals: Ivory Aisle Rentals

Vintage Decor: Beyond Normal

Cake: Caked Up Journey