READING TIME: 4 min 45 sec
PUBLICATION DATE: 09/23/2024
UPDATED: 09/23/2024
In the heart of the United Arab Emirates, where tradition meets modernity, a group of women are redefining the art of wedding photography. Violet Studio, an all-female ensemble of visual artists, has been capturing love stories for nearly a decade. As they approach their 10th anniversary in January 2025, their impact on the industry is undeniable.
Led by the seasoned eye of Natalia Azzi, this collective brings together a diverse array of talents. As they describe themselves: "We are an all-female team of photographers, cinematographers, editors and album designers. Together with our strong back office team, we are dedicated to delivering not only state-of-the-art images and videos but also a smooth, authentic, and personalized experience."
Violet Studio's reputation has earned them prestigious clientele. They proudly state, "Throughout our career, our reputation and quality brought us to photograph the Royal weddings of Al Nahyan and Al Maktoum families (the ruling families of Abu Dhabi and Dubai), as well as elopements of many public figures well known in the Middle Eastern region."
But their impact extends beyond high-profile events. The studio has played a pivotal role in shaping the wedding photography industry in the UAE. As they explain, "Not only we have unkept these values and earned the trust of our partners and clients, but we have also shaped the wedding photography industry in the UAE, being one of the first studios to introduce the modern cosmopolitan trends to the Emirati brides."
For the Violet Studio team, each wedding is more than just a job. They express their enthusiasm: "For Violet Studio, each wedding is an opportunity to dive in deeper into the magic realm of photography and cinematography, and create the visuals that will take our brides’ breath away."
This passion is coupled with a deep appreciation for the relationships they build: "We enjoy and highly value the relationships we have built over the years with both our brides and their families, as well as with our partners in this field. In the wedding industry mutual support, flexibility, honesty, ability to listen, to build correct expectations and deliver, are extremely important."
Violet Studio's approach to photography is as diverse as the cultures they serve. They describe their style: "At Violet Studio, we are experts in switching between natural candid, dreamy, and glamorous magazine-cover styles and most of our weddings have the combination of all of these three styles."
However, they emphasize the importance of personalization: "Photography is an art and is, therefore, subjective. Everyone perceives colors differently, and what appeals to some people might not appeal to others. Deep knowledge of our brides allows us to build and follow during the shoot an individually designed moodboard that incorporates image references selected for each bride individually, based on their vision, ideas, and preferences."
Staying at the forefront of technology is a key aspect of Violet Studio's approach. They explain, "We live in an exciting world where hardware and software technology evolves in a mind-blowing speed, allowing visual artists to elevate the level of their photography and cinematography, or, sometimes, even take a whole new direction. To keep up with the trends, we keep upgrading our equipment on a yearly basis, continuously investing in new cameras, lenses, lights, drones, cranes, and software. At the moment some of our mostly used cameras are latest mirrorless models of Sony and Canon."
When it comes to post-processing, Violet Studio's philosophy is refreshingly down-to-earth. They describe their approach: "Good editing, in our eyes, is like a good daytime makeup. It’s there, it makes things better, but it shouldn’t be too obvious. We edit the images to look timeless and classy while preserving all the natural features."
One of the most rewarding aspects of their work is the cultural diversity they encounter. The team shares, "Living and photographing weddings in such a cosmopolitan country as UAE we are very privileged to experience all the cultural diversity of this place. We have recently photographed Emirati, Qatari, Omani, Moroccan, Saudi, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese, Lebanese, Palestinian, Brazilian, Iranian, mixed European, Jewish and Singaporean weddings, just to name a few. We really enjoy the fact that wedding photography allows us to experience all the richness of various cultural traditions, which makes us feel as if we travel the world without really flying anywhere. Apart from that, ‘catching’ the moments, emotions, and angles that others don’t see, and skillfully bringing aesthetics into every frame while telling a meaningful wedding story, brings us immense satisfaction and sense of purpose."
Violet Studio places great emphasis on collaboration with their clients. They explain their approach: "Our work is always a collaboration - knowing our customer and their priorities is a good start for successful outcome. Without good communication we might capture the most beautiful images but not meet the client’s expectations."
The team goes beyond just taking photos; they strive to understand each couple's unique story. "Therefore this is a work of really hearing the desires and concerns of the one being photographed and making sure to put ourselves in their shoes. Each new person and new couple is a whole new story for us to discover and reveal through visuals."
Violet Studio offers a range of coverage options to suit different wedding needs. They state, "We have 8, 10, 12 and 15-hour packages." This flexibility allows couples to choose the coverage that best fits their wedding timeline.
However, they emphasize their willingness to tailor their services: "We always put an effort into getting to know the client and understand their specific needs well in order to provide them with our expertise and tailor the most suitable package for their wedding."
To ensure the best possible outcomes, Violet Studio offers valuable advice for their clients: "Establish what end result you wish for, what style you like, what you definitely don’t like. Prepare the list of group photos with your family, relatives, and friends that you would like to capture right after the ceremony. Think about customizing some of your bridal details (for example engraving your wedding perfume bottle with the date of your wedding). Create a playlist of your favorite music that would help you to set into the right mood."
These tips demonstrate their commitment to creating a personalized and memorable experience for each couple.
Violet Studio's expertise extends far beyond the UAE. They proudly share their experience with destination weddings: "Reputation of Violet Studio has gone beyond the UAE and we have travelled repeatedly to many destinations to capture wedding celebrations. Australia, Bali, France, Italy, Finland, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Mauritius are amongst the destinations where we have been traveling to, and we look forward to opening new destinations."
As Violet Studio approaches its tenth year, it continues to prove that in the world of wedding photography, the future is female – and it's looking picture-perfect. Through their lens, they're not just capturing weddings; they're preserving cultural tapestries, one frame at a time.
