The One Bride Guide Cover Shoot – V18I3
Tina + Chris Lain
Corpus Christi, TX – Las Vegas, NV
Photos by Shoocha Photography
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Behind The One – Destination: Vegas
The One Cover Shoot – V18I3
Corpus Christi, TX – Las Vegas, NV
by Monica Sawyer, photos by Shoocha Photography
The One cover shoots have always been special. To be part of the collaboration, stars have to align and God has to give a wink to make it feel right. Most of our cover opportunities have popped up, or dropped in our lap, and the right people connected at just the right time. And when it’s all over, we obsess over the images, feeling full of gratitude, in awe of the team and the experience, thinking, “Wow, we did it! Let’s do it again!” It’s definitely our favorite thing to do with The One.
This cover shoot started true to The One’s penchant for serendipity. I was wandering the aisles of H-E-B grocery when I ran into Tina Lain. Tina and I go way back to the early 2000’s when we used to do a yearly, epic camping trip with a huge group organized by her brother-in-law, Casey Lain of House of Rock. We became friends over the campfire, and have had the loveliest, deepest conversations with breakfast dates over the years. Tina asked about The One and I mentioned wanting the brand to focus more on marriage, and help people stay married. Tina loved that idea, and mentioned she had been with her husband, Chris, for over 30 years. She had been brainstorming a shoot to celebrate their enduring love together. As she painted the picture with words, I felt that “meant to be” feeling, and blurted out, “this should be our cover!” And so it is.
Tina Lain is a professional when it comes to image. That’s her biz. She’s a powerful force with many titles: some of which are boss, babe, and bombshell. She has built a team around her of equally amazing, creative pros to support and highlight her endeavors including her business, Gold Dust Cosmetic Collective. I knew she’d want to take the lead on this shoot and was happy to let The One be along for the ride. I’ve admired her past photo shoots with Shoocha Photography and trusted her team. I was so excited when she told me she decided to expand the shoot from Corpus Christi to Las Vegas, Nevada!
When we first started talking about the cover shoot in the aisle of H-E-B, the plan included telling her story of how she and husband, Chris, made it through all the ups, downs, and many adventures (see pg. 6). We talked about doing a lifestyle shoot for the article in front of Pinnacle Tattoo, Chris’ business, and a more elaborate shoot for the cover. Is it ironic that our fall/winter issue cover took place in one of the hottest spots on the planet?
“Once we committed to the shoot, we knew we would travel in order to share our authentic story,” says Tina Lain. “Our daily life is both lived-in and reflected in Chris’ roots. Therefore, it seemed only appropriate to shoot in the desert bringing the magnetic pull of the mountains and wanderlust of the desert to life through the lens. Shoocha Photography has an uncanny ability to foresee an artistic vision long before all else. With temperatures reaching 120, time was of the essence. With no hesitation, they managed to capture the magic of our love—truly the consummate professionals.”
Shyqeri and Nora of Shoocha Photography are known for creating photos that have impact. Their vibrant imagery fits well with the “power couple” vibe of Chris and Tina Lain. These two couples have been collaborating together long enough to know exactly how to execute a joint vision.
“Photographing Tina and Chris for the magazine was truly an unforgettable experience,” says Nora. “Their love, strength, and devotion to their family radiated through every image, reminding me why I fell in love with photography (and Shyqeri) in the first place. We were also thrilled to have Evangelyn Reyes, also known as Dust My Face Makeup Artist, on this project—together, we are an unstoppable team, and it was an honor to capture not just their portraits, but their legacy.”
Evangelyn tells us, “The makeup I did on Tina celebrates many years of love and commitment — soft, radiant, and timeless, making sure it endured the heat of the desert, just like the enduring beauty of a marriage that continues to flourish with every passing year.”
This wasn’t just one shoot, it was many combined to tell a bigger story. We were thrilled to have some of our favorite creative professionals involved. Iuliia (Julia) Prokhorova of Wild Veggie Bouquet designed an exquisite, desert-themed bouquet for the shoot, which didn’t get to make it to Vegas, but we still want to honor the work she contributed, and are thankful to include it in our gallery. Camille Habeeb is Tina’s go-to jeweler and Camille and I go way back as well. She designed my engagement and wedding bands over 20 years ago, and I adore Camille and her family.
The first part of the shoot was at our new favorite downtown spot, Community Grocery, where we met owner, Lucas Boyd and his mom, who had stopped by with fresh-baked cookies. Talk about meant to be – definitely when home-made cookies show up. Check out Community Grocery’s growing dining menu and stock up on unique items at my new favorite snack shop!
From Downtown, to Airline Rd. where Pinnacle Tattoo and Gold Dust sit 600 feet away from each other, to one of the most unique places on earth, Las Vegas, the Lains take us on a journey to tell their story.
“We chose the desert as the backdrop for Tina and Chris’s photo shoot because of its deep connection to Tina’s Arizona roots,” Shyqeri says. “That setting not only reminded us of her birthplace, but it also gave us the opportunity to create powerful and unique images where their love and their hearts could be felt in every frame. As a couple, Nora and I deeply admire the way Tina and Chris live out their love and family values, and we aspire to continue building our own legacy with that same strength and devotion.”
Thank you to the Lains and to Shoocha Photography and the contributors for creating gorgeous images to grace our pages. We are honored and grateful for them and especially to the Lains for telling their story.
For more information, visit:
www.shoochaphotography.com
www.pinnacletattoo.net
www.golddustcc.com
instagram.com/wildveggiebouquet
instagram.com/dustmyface
facebook.com/camillesoriginal
instagram.com/communitygrocerytx
DETAILS
Photographer: Shoocha Photography
Models: Chris and Tina Lain
Floral Designer: Iuliia Prokhorova, Wild Veggie Bouquet
Jewlery: Fine and custom jewelry designed by Artisans, Camille Habeeb and her talent team, Camille’s Original Jewelry Designs
MUA: Evangelyn Reyes of Dust My Face
Locations: Las Vegas, NV and Corpus Christi, TX
Clothes:
Cover
Tina: Custom Ivory Lace Dress and Lucchese, Priscilla in Glitz Cream.
Chris: Ivory lace button-up, Wrangler denim, and Black Cherry Lucchese.
Community Grocery
Tina: Max Duggal, Chartreuse Pleated Charmeuse V Neck Gown With Cape paired with Sergio Rossi, Chartreuse Godiva.
Chris: Calvin Klein, Solid Two-Button Slim-Fit Suit paired with Gucci tiger tie and Stacy Adams dress shoes.
Vespa at Pinnacle Tattoo
Tina: Zara, black dress and Donald Pliner boots.
Chris: Electric blue Calvin Klein Solid Two-Button Slim-Fit Suit and Stacy Adams dress shoes.
Bellagio Hotel
Tina: Dolce Gabanna azure lace bustier and Dolce Gabanna lace heels with brooch detailing.
Chris: Calvin Klein, Solid Two-Button Slim-Fit Suit paired Gucci tie and Stacy Adams dress shoes.
Las Vegas, NV
Tina: Ivory pant suit and Rue De Seine veil. Blush Bridal, ATX, Lucchese, Priscilla in Glitz Cream.
Chris: Calvin Klein, Solid Two-Button Slim-Fit Suit, black tie fitted with a family heirloom Native American sterling silver Zuni inlay pendant and Stacy Adams dress shoes.
Dry Lake, Las Vegas, NV
Tina: Zara Denim and black lace blouse, Lucchese, Priscilla in Crinkle Patent Black. Chris: Classic Levi’s, black T-shirt, and Black Cherry, Lucchese.
Dry Lake, Las Vegas, NV
Tina: Gibson Latimer moonshadow dress and Lucchese, Priscilla in Crinkle Patent Black.
Chris: Classic Levi’s, cream T-shirt, and Black Cherry, Lucchese.