Check out what’s the recent TikTok drama called ‘Sepia Bride’ as it has taken over the social media platforms like Reddit, X/Twitter and TikTok
For the unversed, as the name suggests ‘Sepia Bride,’ the controversy focuses on a bride who complained about her wedding photographer.
Alexandra Jaye Conder, known as @alexandrajaye5 on TikTok, posted several videos claiming that the photographer she hired did not meet her expectations.
Explained what is ‘Sepia Bride’ Alexandra Jaye Conder and photographer drama as goes viral on Twitter/X and TikTok
Alexandra explained that the photos from her wedding day appeared too orange and yellowish, lacking the natural tones she desired.
Upon reviewing the photographer Han’s Instagram portfolio, it’s clear that she favors warm yellow tones, a style reminiscent of a low-contrast version of the orange and teal color grading popularized by Sam Kolder.
“Sepia” bridal photography drama
byu/Puzzleheaded-Bid-963 inphotography
Although Alexandra liked the photos from her rehearsal dinner and the nighttime reception, the actual wedding day photos were disappointing due to the overcast weather and lack of natural light.
This affected the photographer’s warm tone editing style. Han re-edited the photos, but Alexandra was still not satisfied and requested the RAW files, which Han offered for $4,000.
Alexandra’s reference to her wedding photos as sepia led to the TikTok drama being dubbed ‘Sepia Bride.’ This controversy spread to other platforms like Threads and Reddit, where it garnered various reactions.
Social Media User’s Reaction
On the r/photography subreddit, user Puzzleheaded-Bid-963 summarized the story, and many users supported the photographer, while others sympathized with the bride.
Some users pointed out the consistent color grading in the photos taken on the previous day and the night of the wedding, which contrasted with the day-of-wedding photos.
After diving into the Sepia Bride drama, I just want to elope because all that shit sounds expensive and stressful.
— Brittanie (@Burrrittanie) June 28, 2024
It remains uncertain whether the photographer edited each photo individually or used a batch edit with a preset.
Professional photographers on TikTok noted that background and lighting significantly impact the final results, though these can often be adjusted through re-edits or retouching.
What Did Alexandra Say?
In an email shared earlier with media, Alexandra expressed that there was miscommunication between her and the photographer.
In a statement, Alexandra said, “I sent the photographer multiple Pinterest galleries for the vibes I was looking for.
“Ultimately now I’m realizing that there was miscommunication between the 2 of us with the reasons of the Pinterest board.”
She liked Han’s style and editing when booking her but found the final photos disappointing.
Alexandra added: “I just found that a lot of the special moments in my gallery did not live up to the expectations of her work.”