Sepia Bride tells all: How one woman's wedding day turned into a viral movement

"Imagine paying almost $8,000 for a wedding photographer and when you raise your concerns, they threaten to sue you for slander if you spoke your truth." -- Alexandra Jaye Conder, also known as "Sepia Bride"

The Story:

Alexandra Jaye Conder, aka "Sepia Bride," took to TikTok to share her "horror" story about her wedding photographer, who charged her almost $8,000 for photos that she felt ruined her special day. Conder initially loved the pictures, but soon realized they had been heavily edited, making her makeup look dull and her teeth yellow. The style was the opposite of the bright and airy vibe she expected, and so began the viral saga.

The viral impact:

Conder's story went viral, sparking a larger conversation about the wedding industry with millions of views and comments. The discourse, now known as "Sepia Gate," even spilled onto other platforms like Reddit and Instagram, dividing users between #TeamBride and #TeamPhotographer.

The impact on the industry:

The "Sepia Bride" incident has led to a broader discussion about the wedding industry and the relationship between vendors and clients. Conder shared her experience to help other brides and bring about change, emphasizing the need for better communication and transparency in contracts.

The result:

While Conder couldn't resolve the issue with her photographer, she obtained some raw images and edited them herself. She plans to re-shoot her wedding portraits and continue creating content to help others in similar situations.

Quotes:

• "I also wanted to share my frustrations as well over how sad I was and still am. You only have one wedding day, and you can’t redo that." -- Alexandra Jaye Conder, Sepia Bride
• "I think my photographer captured beautiful moments, the editing I wasn’t happy about. That's why I just wish we were able to come to an agreement without the added expense." -- Alexandra Jaye Conder, Sepia Bride
• "So, a consult between photographer & client explaining all the details is really necessarily, which I felt I didn’t receive." -- Alexandra Jaye Conder, Sepia Bride

Links:

• TikTok video that started it all
• Conder's TikTok profile with dozens of videos on the fiasco
• Reddit thread discussing the "Sepia Bridal Photography Drama"
• Adobe's explanation of "Sepia" toning technique and its history
• TikTok video where Conder jokes about "Sepia Gate"
• Tiktok video where Conder talks about her plans to create more content to help people getting married