I had gone back and forth on writing this post for a while but I thought it would be good to get it out there if not for myself but for others as well. I have been photographing weddings and portraits for 8 years now, wooooa did I just say 8 years? time flies! during those 8 years I have been trying to find my photographic style and finally LOVE that style and want to stick with it.
This is not just a job for me.
Its so easy now to find inspiration on social media of all kinds and fall into that “oh gosh I like that style, oh wait no I love this” and so on. I decided about 2 years ago to stay away from that sort of “searching to find my style” mentality and just start shooting and playing with my ideas and my art.
I cannot tell you what a difference it has made in my way of thinking out a session before photographing it… HUGE!
Now it comes down to the difficult part, and it truly is difficult I’ll be honest. I will have an inquiry for a wedding or portrait session and sometimes they will describe what they are looking for as a completely different style of what I portray or at least what I thought I was portraying. As I listen to them saying “I love those photos with the real high contrast look” or as they show me a shot from a different photographer and say “I really love this shot, can you do something like this?” It takes me a little bit to realize they are describing someone else and hoping I can just mimic that style. I ask you.. why? why not hire that photographer that you obviously love? Sure I know I can photograph it and edit those shots the way you want exactly, JUST like that other photographer, but will it make me happy and you as well? probably not. Enjoying what I’m doing is why I started this venture in my life, Why give up on myself and my artistic style? I have had the difficult time turning down a session or wedding because of each of these scenarios letting them know I felt I wouldn’t be a good fit for them. Because of that not only will they be happier going with someone that fits their style, so will I.
Staying true to you photographic style is something that took me a few years to figure out but I feel I am on the right track now. I am getting inquiries from prospective couples that say they absolutely love my work and most importantly me as a person and trust me to produce gorgeous imagery for their wedding day… they love my photographic style. I am blessed beyond words to know that each couple I work with throughout their planning process is not only a client that hired me for me, but someone I have become friends with over the months as well. Why would you want to hire someone to photograph such an intimate day and not truly trust they will produce the imagery you are wanting for your wedding or portraits?
I am truly passionate about what I do, so it has been difficult not to photograph everything and anything Im asked to by a prospective client. Each inquiry I receive, whether it be portrait or wedding, I make sure I get to know them a bit better and ensure we are a good fit by asking them a few questions about their day and what they are hoping for in their session/wedding. Next I love to set up either a phone call or have them meet with me over coffee for another round of getting to know you and hearing your love story. Does this take a lot of time? I know a lot of photographers think its taking a lot of time and to just book it already! Well I truly believe its better in the long run and completely worth it to spend a little extra time with those newly engaged or expecting mothers booking a portrait session.
I know my clients have appreciated it!
With each session or wedding I give each client the attention they deserve to ensure a beautiful return for them and myself. I book a limited amount of weddings each year, 14 to be exact, so I can spend more time on each individual couple. And I book a limited amount of portrait sessions a month for the same reason.
What would I say my style is? in a nut shell, I aim for the more romantic, soft, fresh, dreamy if you will. I attract couples who are completely in love with one another and show that in a photograph. Im not a traditional photographer, I get excited for those real moments such as when your new husband walks you out in a field or down the street and he just can’t stop staring at his beautiful wife and simply stops in the midst of everything and pulls his bride in for a kiss or simply to look at her some more.
Call me a sucker for romance, or maybe I just watch the notebook to much! HA!
Happiness shows in a photograph and I don’t miss the opportunity to capture that for you.
If you are looking for someone to photograph your wedding or portrait session but found inspiration from other styles of work, don’t settle for someone that you know deep down you
will not love the results from, hire that photographer that truly emphasizes you and that you would be proud to hang those beautiful images on your walls.
I can’t wait to hear about your story and photograph these monumental times in your lives!
Have a beautiful week! xoxo