Choosing the Right Photographer for You | The Heart of the Matter
Do these things resonate with your soul, too?
Having your memories captured is a big deal.
There are a lot of amazing photographers out there, but it's so important that you choose someone that inspires you and that you feel connected with. I also think it’s important for you to know what you can expect from me before we start planning an adventure.
Just a few snippets of the last 11 years, with some of the most amazing humans.
Connection
Connection is about feeling like you align with another person beyond appearances, personalities, or similar interests. Connection is about depth. It means feeling comfortable around each other. It means being yourself around each other. You click. It just makes sense. And that’s how your photography experience should feel too.
Trust
Connection cultivates trust and that’s where the magic happens. I am here for you, with you. To support you, help you, care for you, walk alongside of you.
Honesty
You deserve to look back at your photos and see the truest representation of who you really are.
For me, photography is a lot more about the art of making people - making you - feel at home.
Intentionality
The “client experience” should be more than just ensuring you get good photos. It’s about making your time in front of my camera more personalized & meaningful, aligning it with your unique story & personalities. We will work together to curate the details - the who, what, when, where, how, & why. And if you aren’t sure where to start, I’m here to help with that too.
Big Feelings
When you are old & gray, flipping through albums of photos, I want your soul to be flooded with what you felt in those moments. More than coordinated outfits, more than epic locations, more than the best poses, more than an editing style - I want you to remember joy, closeness, intimacy, & conversations. I want you to remember the touching of your hands, the laughter that made your belly hurt, the warmth of an embrace, the kindness in each other’s words. The little things are the biggest things.
A Day Without Limits
You get to build your day from scratch. No matter what you do, where you go, what you wear, or what milestone is happening in your life - do what will bring you the most joy & create space for the memories you want to make.
Investing in Memories
As you are planning your day, I know there are a lot of moving pieces to navigate & details to set. Of those things, photography will be the one that lives through the years. There are a lot of couples out there that have shared stories of regret that they invested money in other things instead of photography, or that they wished they would have invested more in photography because they weren’t pleased with their experience or photos. I don’t want that to be your story, even if I’m not the photographer you decide to hire. When you hire a good, professional photographer, you are investing in so much more than a person to just show up with a camera and snap a few photos. It’s worth carefully considering the person who documents your day.
More Than Your Photographer
If there is one thing I want you to walk away from this page knowing, it’s that I value you. I love what I do & being with you during one of the most important days of your life is an honor. My clients are more than clients - they are familiar faces & friends. That’s what makes this job worthwhile.
Styles & Approaches
What You Need to Know
If you’re looking for a photographer, chances are that you’ve heard some of the buzzwords below. It’s in the language many of us use on social media and our site copy, but it’s important that you know what they mean so that you can decide if it sounds like YOU. All of these words have something in common and it’s the desire for our clients to feel like they can be themselves and being able to document their stories in a way that reflects that. Maybe you want a photographer that has a more hands-off approach (no guidance, no direction, no posing, no prompts). Maybe you want a photographer that has a more hands-on approach (guidance, direction, posing, prompts). Maybe you want a photographer that is somewhere in between and blends both. I’m definitely the photographer that is somewhere between, with a focus on the authentic, emotive, cinematic, & adventurous styles.
Authentic - we want to capture the truest and most unfiltered version of you. Could be hands-off or hands-on approach.
Candid - spontaneous, unposed, completely unaware of the camera. Hands-off approach.
Emotive - we want our photos to capture strong feelings & evoke strong feelings. Could be hands-off or hands-on approach.
Photojournalistic - we aim to tell a chronological story as moments unfold. Hands-off approach.
Cinematic - mimics the feel of a movie, strong sense of mood, movement, thoughtful composition. Usually more hands-on.
Editorial - we want your photos to have a cohesive narrative, theme, or concept; images that feel like they could be (or literally might be) in a magazine or publication. Usually hands-on approach.
Timeless/Classic - we don’t want your photos to be bound by trends, fads, popular aesthetics; the style will be relevant across different eras. Preferably hands-off approach, but some hands-on as needed.
Luxury - we want our work to focus on the sophistication, elegance, & meticulous detail of your wedding (this is most often associated with high-end weddings). Usually hands-on approach.
Adventurous - we want our work to be characterized by a sense of exploration & discovery, most often through landscapes (but not limited to). Could be hands-off or hands-on approach.
A Final Thought
Life brings us a full range of dynamics, seasons, experiences, relationships, personalities, & emotions. Photos should reflect our humanity. There is more to being in front of the camera than hoping that you get photos of everyone smiling/looking straight ahead, or that every detail plays out exactly how you planned. That’s such a very small facet of who any of us actually are. We are complex, life is complex. While photos can’t always showcase every part of that, they can encapsulated some of it. The most freeing thing you can do for yourself when you hire a photographer is to show up, be present, & live your life like you would if the camera wasn’t even there. There are moments to be lived & people to love. Soak in every sight, sound, smell, taste, & touch. Set no expectations. Make the time you have together count.