Grace & Grandeur Bow Company is a velvet bow company based out of Richmond, Kentucky. Sarah, the founder, is a GO GETTER, and I love it. She founded the company in 2020 in the height of the pandemic, showing just how much grit she’s got.

Each of the styles of bow are named after a hard working woman in her family tree. I would say she did not fall far from that tree because she is incredibly driven. Her fantastic marketing and laser focus on her ideal client led to her business growing exponentially within these first two years! She loves all the niches that have found her, including prepsters, grandmillenials, and fashion bloggers. “Classic, preppy, and feminine” are perfect descriptors for each handmade velvet bow.

The Launch

Today is the official launch date for her Valentine’s bows!

She has two main Valentine’s launch colors: hot pink and dusty rose. Each of these colors has a variety of bow types with different lengths of ribbon and extra layers in the upper part of the bow. They are really stinking adorable and perfect for either a date with your sweetheart or a Galentine’s outing!

I am linking directly to her website here so you can go grab yours now!

The Vision

When she approached me about this session for her Valentine’s Day launch/marketing campaign, she is THE clearest vision of anyone I have ever encountered.

Her exact words: “I want Eloise in Paris meets Breakfast at Tiffany’s to really portray a glam girl’s night out.”

Well, needless to say…I think we nailed it!

With the white robes, champagne, feather-adorned silk pajamas, and sleek going out LBDs, we couldn’t go wrong. Each scene was a progression of what would be a night out on the town with your ladies.

Some of the key props we used to bring the vision to life: champagne and crystal glasses, newspaper, a rotary phone, a Polaroid camera and Polaroid images, popcorn, and cucumbers.

Keeping the outfits neutral (white robes and black pajamas/going out dresses) really allowed the Valentine’s bows to pop.

The Execution

We worked backwards in order to create the chronological timeline of events. In order to be as efficient as possible, we started with the ladies in their going out outfits, the LBDs and high heels! That way makeup was already complete for the rest of the shoot.

The location of the shoot was The Bellwether in Louisville. This boutique hotel provided the perfect backdrop for the vibe Sarah was going for, including that little bell that we included in some shots! Our room, the Edgeland Deluxe Suite, had velvet furniture, including the headboard of the bed, the couch, and the chair in the living area. The painted white brick gave us a clean, neutral background to let the models and the bows the opportunity to pop!

We ventured out to the lobby where there were yellow velvet semi-circle couches and glass-top tables; the stairwell didn’t even disappoint! On the way outside, we stopped by the “Selfie Check” station that was an unexpected cute area for photos that matched the pink vibe! Finally, we ventured outside. Although it was cold, both our models were super tough and we got some great images that included the exterior of the hotel that delivered that downtown type of vibe.

Typically, I use natural light to photograph as much as possible. But for this “glam night out” vibe, I incorporated quite a bit of flash. It gave some of the images (especially the ones in the lobby area) that moody/party vibe. This isn’t my normal style, but oh my gosh, I had so much fun stretching that creative muscle throughout this session!

The Result

This session could not have come out better! Check out our going out progression below.

And, of course, don’t forget to go grab a handmade velvet bow from Grace & Grandeur Bow Company!