From Proposal to Wedding Day, Francesco Spighi Had This Couple Covered [RF Wedding of the Week]

For Florence, Italy-based wedding photographer Francesco Spighi, maintaining relationships is key to his business success. That, and incredible storytelling skills.

Spighi first met couple Karen and Alvin in Tuscany last year, to photograph their proposal. “Alvin hired me (after searching on Google) to shoot his wedding proposal during a super intimate dinner,” Spighi explains. “The next day I shot their engagement session. Six months later they wrote me these words: ‘It’s been quite a while since we last spoke but we must say that your pictures continue to impress all of our friends and family. They truly are incredible.’ After that they hired me to cover their wedding in New York City!”

Photos © Francesco Spighi Photography

Spighi says he met up with Karen and Alvin the day before their big day to talk a bit about the day-of coverage; he also had the opportunity at that point to shoot a quick pre-wedding session in Central Park in Manhattan. “The wedding itself took place at the Harold Pratt House, an elegant venue designed and erected at the beginning of the past century,” Spighi says. “The light was great, so transparent and clear that it seems impossible to find something similar here in Italy. Tuscany and Italy overall look really different, so both the light and the urban environment caught my attention.”

It was exciting for him to cross the ocean to meet them again, the photographer says, with the goal of completing the story he began shooting a year and a half before. “I was also particularly involved in the celebrations, like it could be with a couple of friends,” Spighi says, adding, “speaking about friends, I want to tell a big thanks to Alessandro, my fellow friend-photographer that served as my second shooter.”

The light during the ceremony was not the best, says Spighi, who explains that it was “really flat and with a poor tone.” But he made a quick fix: “I decided to convert almost all the photos from this part of the day in black and white.
In this way, the poor colors don’t drive away your attention, preserving all the emotions.”

“The groom, Alvin, is originally from India,” Spighi adds, “so Karen decided to surprise him (helped by his mother) by wearing a beautiful Indian dress.”

WEDDING DAY GEAR

Cameras: Nikon D810 (x2)
Lenses: NIKKOR 28mm f/1.8G, 58mm f/1.4G, 85mm f/1.4G and PC-E Micro NIKKOR 45mm f/2.8D
Lighting: Nikon SB-910 off-camera flash (for dancing shots)

CREDITS: Photography: Francesco Spighi & Alessandro Ghedina | Cinematography: Rob Adams | Floral + Event Design: Laura Remmert Events | Wedding Dress: Oscar de la Renta | Invitations: The Write Occasion | Bride’s Shoes: Manolo Blahnik | Groom Getting Ready Venue: The Marriott | Bride Getting Ready Venue: The Surrey | Event Design & Catering: Abigail Kirsch | Hair + Makeup: Amanda Thesen Beauty | Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss | Wedding Venue: Harold Pratt House

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Libby Peterson or Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.