It's all about the real moments...

If you're looking for a wedding photographer, I can honestly say I sympathize. It can be a really long and tiresome process. Where do you start and how do you choose? When I got married, I had no idea what the most important factors were to consider, and I certainly didn't know how to narrow down my favorites. Let me start by saying that photography will be all that's left, besides the memories, when all is said and done. So, what's most important is that your photographer has a style that you can identify with and absolutely love.

My style? It's really a blend of styles. When I first started out in wedding photography seven years ago, I told my clients that my style was total photojournalism and that I would be a "fly on the wall" at their wedding. I quickly learned that this was not a realistic scenario. The trick is to know when it's appropriate to step in and create imagery (ie. creative portraits) and know when to let things just happen. I love candid moments, but I also love stunning, creative, and bold portraiture. However, even when I create portraits for my clients, I want them to feel natural and look comfortable.

I love things that are hip and edgy, but I also love things that are old fashioned. My photography is sort of the same story. Like everything else, photography can easily look too trendy. Certain poses, colors, and even post-production techniques can make images seem really cool now, but how will they look ten or twenty years from now? I know how to move quickly to capture those fleeting moments and expressions that cannot simply be recreated. The welling up of your husbands eyes as he sees you come down the aisle, your mother's expression as she watches you dance with your father, the huge hugs and pure elation (and exhaustion) that everyone shares right after the ceremony is over. I've experienced and seen these moments enough to know when they usually happen and how to capture them.

So, what do you want to remember from your wedding day? By the color of your shoes or the flowers you picked? Of course you do! These details are the result of months of planning and reflect your individual style. But, I am sure years from now those aren't the images you will want to pour over. I'll bet you'll want to see the images that reflect the real moments and real emotions that happened between you, your families and best friends. That's what I believe and that's how I approach photography. Finding beauty in all the real moments and capturing the essense of your wedding in an authentic, creative and natural way.

Deborah and Christian at The Barr Mansion

Deborah and Christian had never even visited Austin before they chose it as the destination for their wedding. They are from Atlanta. After looking around, they chose, of course, one of the coolest cities and venues to host their wedding. It’s been about five years since I photographed two weddings in one weekend, but I knew when Christian contacted me last fall, that their wedding celebration was going to be extra special, and I had to accept the challenge. Boy, was I right! Christian, a graphic designer, came up with the robot and flying saucer theme for their invitations, put together the entire play list of songs for the reception, and created the table numbers. Deborah’s mother crocheted all the flowers, which acted as table cards and as favors (they had closures on the back to wear as pins). In other words, this wedding had a lot of heart and creativity poured into it. A side note- this was also the first wedding I have ever shot without ever using flash! I know, might sound boring to some, but it was great not to have to use ANY artificial light. You can see below why it was not needed. It was a beautiful, bright Sunday morning celebration. The day was so mellow, and we had plenty of time to do lots of portraits, so enjoy the long-ish post. Congrats to you both!