HOW I BECAME A PHOTOGRAPHER

Storytime! Throughout my website, I share very brief versions of how I became a wedding photographer – but there is so much more to my story and my start. And I’m not going to say it was all sunshine and roses, but it sure has a happy ending. 

It all started with my wedding and my wedding planning. I was the least ‘bridey-bride’ ever, I didn’t love the attention or wearing accessories that said “bride”, sporting white, or any of the other gawking that comes with weddings. Not to discount others and their preferences, I’m just saying that isn’t my jam. 

BUT, I do love to entertain, style, and decorate. When it came to planning for the details that meant so much for both the wedding and our guests, I had an absolute blast putting everything together. For me, the devil was in all the details – and I’m not joking in the slightest. I built my whole wedding around my favors – my “perfect pair” pear candles. 

THE REAL REAL – THE WEDDING BLUES. 

After my wedding, and it was all over I had the wedding blues so bad. I think the wedding blues are such a thing, and no one is talking about it. They come after you’ve spent months (maybe years), immeasurable effort and thought, tons of money, and plenty of dreaming and anticipation for your wedding day. 

And then after the day and your mission is complete, it can feel like you lost your purpose. I also was second-guessing the whole day, wondering if my details I labored overcame or life and if my guests enjoyed them at all. In my wedding blues, I had come to believe everyone had a terrible time – and the story I had in my mind became real. 

That was me (and that’s okay if it’s you). 

When I got my photos back from my photographer weeks after the wedding, I melted with both happiness and relief. I loved how my photographer told our story. The photographer capturing reality calmed the fake stories in my head. Peace came with the photos, and my wedding blues faded away. 

Not to mention, my photographer captured photos I didn’t even know I wanted or needed. A personal favorite is of my mother’s hands while she buttoned up my dress. 

WHAT CAME NEXT

Once I was feeling back to normal, I came to realize I enjoyed planning so much I thought I would make for a good wedding planner and a florist. I tried out both,  but didn’t love either career. 

In the meantime, I had developed a good relationship with my wedding photographer – and she invited me to come to a wedding and be a third shooter (it’s pretty standard to have a second shooter, and a third is just a bonus). My wedding photographer, turned friend, gave me a camera and a chance.

After that first wedding, she sat down and took the time to review the images I had taken with me. One photo I captured was of a sweet lady – and my mentor gave me the best review for this photo. Her words made me feel magical about what I captured, and I knew I wanted to make others feel that way by capturing more moments with photos. 

And that was it! I bought camera equipment and spent the next year driving to Lake Tahoe for weddings. I was an unpaid, third shooter every weekend just learning everything I could. It was such a valuable experience to just be a sponge, and it was so special to have a mentor who trusted me. 

Now, 15 years and 400 (and counting) weddings later – I aim to be a guide and a resource for my couples. It can be difficult to navigate wedding planning, wedding day, and wedding blues – but experience can definitely help alleviate stress for couples. Let’s put my experience to work for you to make some magic!

Let’s work together!