Dear Future Brides

Dear Future Brides,

I’m about to get a little cheesy on you, but hear me out…….

When I’m holding my camera, it’s not just a “tool”. It’s more about holding emotions, interactions and experiences. The images I create with that tool are like looking back at myself. Photographers are not all built the same. How your photographer views the world-or more specifically-your wedding day, has a HUGE impact on the types of images they will create because it’s also a reflection of us looking back at ourselves. How we were brought up, the good and bad experiences we’ve had, and even the tragedies and traumas we’ve encountered over the course of our lives. They’re all little bits and pieces of how we see the world. The things I value and look for on a wedding day (or any shoot) is very different than the next person. Being able to connect with your photographer will have an impact on the images they create. Those images will essentially become your family legacy one day. It give me chills every time I think about it.

I’m an observer and I’ve always been fascinated in people, their stories and how they interact-even when I’m not working or have a camera in my hand. For example, this past Spring, there was an elderly couple in the coffee shop holding hands and intertwining their feet under the table. It seemed like they had been married for a lifetime but in that moment, they were like two newlyweds all gitty and giggly. He was smiling at her so intensely with his head tilted just a little to the sidew while she was telling a story with so much animation on her face. She’d throw her head back laughing…it was the sweetest moment. The kind of moment that makes you think: “I want that some day.” I watched from a few tables back and it made my heart melt. I didn’t need to know what they were talking about, and quite frankly it didn’t matter, the way they were interacting told me everything. THAT’S what I’ve always been attracted to…the social interactions between people. Yes, I absolutely love colors and light and textures and composition and ALLLL the other things that go into taking a photo but let me tell you, after someone you love dies and all you have left are photos of them, I’ll bet anything that you won’t care about the light or the texture of the background, you’re going to want that photo of them throwing their head back laughing. The kind of photo you can almost hear by just looking at it. I know this first hand.

Imagine yourself pointing to your wedding album with your Grand-babies on your lap. You tell them about how Grandpa was so nervous and how he cried when he saw you for the first time. You all laugh about “what you wore” and how the styles have changed since then or how Grandpa used to have hair. You will smile, kiss the top of their head, point to the images and tell them about “the good old days”.

This is your family legacy and as much as I want to say your wedding images are for you to enjoy now-that wouldn’t be 100% true. They are for “them” to enjoy later and I remember this when I’m shooting. I’m telling your story, I’m documenting your personality, I’m capturing moments that you will talk about, laugh about and cry about in the future. After all, the older an image gets, the more special it becomes.

I can’t wait to tell your story!

Much Love,