This is the photo that feels like a secret shared with the whole world. During couple portraits at The Wilds in Bloomington, Indiana, I slipped under the bride’s cathedral-length veil with my camera, crouched low, and shot upward as her new husband pulled her close for a kiss. The veil became our private tent, diffusing the late-afternoon light into the softest glow while the winter landscape blurred into a dreamy backdrop of snow and bare trees. Her laughter is muffled but unmistakable, his arms wrapped tight around her like he never wants to let go, and for one perfect frame, it’s just the three of us under that veil, me, my camera, and all the love.
As your wedding photographer, this “under the veil” shot has become one of my signature moves, and The Wilds is the perfect place to make it happen. The venue’s wide-open spaces and natural beauty give us room to play without distraction, and winter weddings here are especially magical. The low sun creates long, soft light that filters beautifully through tulle, turning ordinary veils into ethereal curtains. One gentle prompt, “Pull her in like you’re stealing one more kiss before the party starts,” and the moment unfolds naturally.
The Wilds in winter are quiet and breathtaking. Snow blankets the meadows, and the barn’s warm lights wait in the distance like a promise of the reception to come. There’s no wind harsh enough to ruin a veil, just enough breeze to make it float like this. We schedule couple portraits right after the ceremony (around 4:00–5:00 p.m. in winter) so the light is low and golden, and the cold gives couples the perfect excuse to stay close.
At The Wilds, couple portraits aren’t rushed checklist items. They’re the pause where you remember why you’re here. And sometimes, they happen under a veil, and the rest of your life waits just beyond the tulle.
I’ll crawl under that veil with you. Because some moments deserve to feel this close.
This image was captured with the Nikon Z9 and a 35mm prime lens in natural light and edited to look like film.
Location: 6483 Kent Rd, Bloomington, IN 47401.