We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bailey Weigler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bailey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

As a wedding photographer in Dallas, I’m at the forefront of wedding trends and seeing how events have changed over time. 2022 is a wildly popular year for weddings because people are ready to celebrate! There are an estimated 2.5 million weddings happening this year which is the most since 1984. It’s been a privilege to be able to continue safely running my business during the pandemic and I’ve noticed a big shift in weddings during the past couple of years. Many couples want to get married and do it as safely as possible while still getting to fully enjoy their day with family and friends. Here are 3 trends I think are absolutely fabulous in our industry and hope to see more of:

1) Larger weddings with an intimate curated guest experience. Over the past 2 years, intimate weddings (or micro weddings) have been very popular in the wedding industry. Many couples are still choosing to keep their gathering small, however many are ready to bring the party with a larger guest list! Couples are choosing high quality vendors as well as specialty vendors to entertain their friends and family, making the experience feel more intimate but fun at the same time. Breathtaking venues with a variety of outdoor spaces, over the top floral design, cozy lounge areas, cotton candy, champagne towers, coffee carts, live painting, bespoke paper goods, and a variety of other unique and thoughtful design and entertainment elements bring sophistication (as well as joy!) for couples and their guests. Couples are also tweaking their timeline with first looks and planning appropriately so they can spend more time connecting and being present with loved ones as well as each other.

2) COLOR! This is one trend I am absolutely obsessing over. Couples are increasingly choosing unique and unexpected color palettes to show off their personalities on their wedding day. From colorful wedding gowns and suits to brightly colored floral arches and table design, the options are limitless! Hiring a wedding planner who specializes in design and styling is a great way to bring your vision to life and wow your guests with a technicolor experience.

3) Sustainability has been on the rise over the past couple of years and it’s no different for weddings. Eco-friendly gatherings have surged in popularity and it’s personally something I am very passionate about so of course I love it! Digital Save The Dates, foam-free floral design, dried florals that can be reused as decor in your home or given as gifts, plastic-free catering and plant-based and/or locally sourced menus, cruelty free hair and makeup products, and having a donation link to your favorite charity in your registry are just a few things to consider when planning a sustainable wedding. Hiring vendors who share the same values such as sustainability and inclusitivity is crucial as well. There are so many options for couples looking to reduce the footprint of their wedding day and everything can be customized to be as luxurious or laid back as envisioned with the right vendor team.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Bailey Elizabeth and I’m a Dallas wedding photographer with an artistic soul, a love for animals, a home full of crystals, and a passion for capturing intentional connection and celebrating love stories of all kinds! I have been in business for 6 years and have served 150+ couples so far on their wedding day. I graduated from the Fine Art Photography Program at Texas State University and have continued my education through workshops and wedding-specific courses.

As a storyteller, I take the extra time to get to know you and your relationship. My focus is to create stunning, timeless, and meaningful images that you, your partner, and your family will cherish forever. I’m inspired by beautiful natural light, elegant and lush florals, joyful moments, romantic cuddles, and kind hearts. Most days you can find me editing away with lo-fi softly playing in the background and the smell of my favorite incense in the air – or unsuccessfully attempting to fend off a couple of fluffy cats and a corgi begging for cuddles & treats. Friends, family and clients have described me as “compassionate” and “trustworthy” as well as “unique, fun and creative.”

My wedding work has been featured in places like Brides of North Texas, Brides of Austin, Equally Wed, The Knot, HGTV, Allure Bridals, and many other leading industry publications. The experience you have before, during, and after your wedding day means everything to me. When booking me as your wedding photographer, I feel that quality should be equally as paramount as the experience when working together. I want you to be smiling, laughing, and feeling at ease throughout the entire process. I’ll be celebrating with you every step of the way!

Your experience is so important for personal reasons as well. After all, your wedding photographer is the one person who will be by your side more than any other person on your wedding day (other than your soulmate, of course)! So, hiring a professional photographer who not only has the style of photography you are obsessed with, but also a fun, outgoing attitude is so important – and that’s exactly what you get with me. I’m proud of my work and I adore and value every couple who trusts me to capture their wedding day memories.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is essential to running a successful business and I’ve always made it a priority in my marketing strategies. I believe that having an engaged audience is infinitely more valuable than a large audience, so I’ve never put emphasis on how many followers I have. Instead, I make it a point to engage with potential clients and create brand recognition through consistency and trust.

The best way to grow your social media is consistency – both in frequency of posting and content. If you are posting valuable content regularly and within your niche, your audience will grow steadily. For example, as a wedding photographer, I only showcase couples and weddings on my social media (with some personal branding posts sprinkled in to keep it real and create connection!) Engaging with other accounts is a great way to grow your audience and I recommend setting aside 15 minutes every day to genuinely connect with people on your preferred platform.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are many reasons I absolutely love creating art but the biggest one (honest answer here) is that I get to create a life I love living. I choose my own hours, I choose what clients I want to work with, I can schedule vacations or sabbaticals when needed, I have complete control over my creative process and pricing, and I get to connect with other artists and creatives and nurture friendships as well as provide support within our community. It’s not easy and at times it can even be scary; taking risks in your business and choosing growth is not always an easy path. I have practiced coming from a mindset of abundance and so far it has served me extremely well. I get to do something I’m passionate about while enjoying it fully and it fills my cup to the brim!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://opalonyxphotography.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/opalonyxphotography
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/opalonyxphotography
• Other: https://pinterest.com/opalonyxphotography https://www.bridesofnorthtexas.com/vendors/opal-and-onyx-photography/

Image Credits
Opal & Onyx Photography