Sometimes Zai Laffitte can’t believe her good fortune. “I get to do what I love in terms of photography and do what I love in terms of travel and put them together,” says Laffitte. With 39 countries logged in her passport so far, the Jensen Beach resident follows brides to romantic destinations around the world to capture the wedding images they will cherish for a lifetime.
Laffitte began her career as a journalist for Treasure Coast Newspapers, a job that prepared her to be a successful photographer. “Photography is another form of storytelling,” says Laffitte. She started dabbling in photography in her spare time and launched a MySpace site to show off her work. “I would go up to people and ask if I could photograph them. It’s funny to remember how bold you are when you are young,” she says.
When local photographer Steven Martine recruited her to help with a wedding, Laffitte saw her path forward. “It was very exciting and creative and beautiful. It’s one of the greatest days of people’s lives and you get to be a part of that,” she says. “From then on, I started shooting weddings and never looked back.” Today, she’s highly sought after for weddings across the world—including Italy, Spain, Greece, England, France, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and more. Her photos have been showcased in publications like Vogue Britain, Brides, and The New York Times. Not bad for a hometown girl who started out on MySpace.
We caught up with Laffitte to learn more about the woman behind the lens.
Q: What makes a great wedding photo?
A: For me, the most important photos are not the posed ones or the ones where someone looks good. They are photos of moments of joy and happiness with people who will eventually leave us. A good wedding photo takes you back to a moment you won’t ever have again.
Q: Do any weddings stands out among your favorites?
A: The most unique wedding I ever photographed was at a campground in Canada. It was a whole community thing. The guests brought food and the kids picked wildflowers and made the bride’s bouquet. Everyone had a role. It wasn’t the most detailed wedding, but it reminds me to always remember what I love about weddings:
the love, the connection, and the feelings.
Q: Is there a wedding destination you haven’t been to, but would love to photograph?
A: I would love to shoot a wedding in Singapore. The style of the weddings there is so different from anything I have ever photographed.
Q: With so many weddings under your belt, you’ve got to have at least one disaster story.
A: Yes! I was at a wedding with a lot of candles on tables. My hair was down and I was trying to get around the crowded dance floor, so I leaned back over a table. I smelled burnt hair and thought, “Oh no! Someone’s hair is on fire!” People started hitting my back and I realized it was my hair on fire!
Q: What is the most unusual photo request you have gotten from a bride and groom?
A: I had a bride who really liked Disney and she asked me to Photoshop Mickey Mouse ears into the background of some of her photos. It was an odd request.
Q: What’s one of the most memorable photos you’ve captured at a wedding?
A: There was a wedding where the bride had recently lost her father. During the ceremony, a butterfly landed on the arch behind her and stayed there for a little bit. I got this photo of
the butterfly in focus and the bride in the background. It gives me goosebumps just talking about it.
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