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Austin Wedding and Portrait photographer, Amelia Tarbet. bio picture

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.

Best of 2011

Wow! Going into my ninth year as a full-time wedding photographer, I can say without a doubt, that 2011 was the most exciting year for me. I photographed all sorts of weddings; from Katrina and Chris’ modern wedding at the W hotel, to Virgina and Chad’s traditional grand church wedding in Greece, and then back to my roots with Kathryn and Taylor’s grand rustic wedding in the Texas Hill Country. Just to name a few. A whirlwind it has been.

As I went through weddings I photographed last year to put together this collection, I was (and still am) overjoyed and so grateful to have been a part of these most fantastic client’s special days. I have always felt lucky to have such a range in clients. From super eclectic to more traditional, it’s so fulfilling as an artist to get to capture such a dynamic range in styles and personalities. The one constant with my clients is being told is that photography is really important to them. I recently received an email from a client who said, “I’ve been browsing through a lot photographer web sites and there’s just something so honest about your work. Your photos are personal, candid, and fresh They are timeless”.

I’ve had people make some really nice comments about my work over the years, but I’ve never heard anyone call my photography, “honest”. I cannot think of a greater compliment. Photography shouldn’t just be about the things in a photo, but a feeling. The photography that I appreciate the most is when it makes me feel a certain way. Photography that is created with emotion will never go out of style Period. Looking for light, composition and emotion is what makes an image meaningful, beautiful and long-lasting.

This is just a random sampling of all the things I have loved about this past year. Moments, beautiful flowers, portraits, great ceremony sites, and unique details to name a few. I also want to thank all the wonderful coordinators and vendors who have referred couples to me. 90% of my business is referral/word-of-mouth, and I can’t thank the amazing community of vendors that have supported me. It’s been an overwhelmingly fantastic year and I so appreciate my clients for choosing me to be the person to create images to last a lifetime.

Sam gets the award for “Best Reaction” to seeing his wife-to-be walk down the aisle.

I love how secluded and quite this image feels.

Yes, this church is nowhere around these parts. This is from Virgina and Chad’s wedding in Greece. Amazing old world beauty.

Sometimes, an image just has to be in black and white. It just doesn’t look right any other way. It’s all about the contrast and texture.

Four Seasons outdoor ceremony site over Town Lake. One of my favorite ceremony sites in Austin.

Can we say P-R-E-T-T-Y??!!!

Cute flower girls.

Cute flower girls in action.

I absolutely love being able to capture these kinds of subtle looks between two newlyweds.

Fun engagement session with Katie and Josh at the Austin Executive airport.

I’m pretty obsessed with finding beautiful light. This image might tell you why.

I almost put this adorable puppy in my camera bag and took him home.

One of my favorite venues, The Driskill. One of my favorite cakes, from Tina and Kyle’s wedding.

This father’s smile was pretty contagious.

Another one of my favorite ceremony sites, the deck on the river at Old Glory Ranch in Wimberley.

My favorite dressed bridesmaids. These dresses were all so super hip, and the colors worked beautifully together.

This leather wrap was going to be made into a wallet for Ben.

Candid moments like this make me so happy.

How gorgeous are these rings!!?

A last minute practice for their first dance.

A first glance with a surprise present at the end.

Casey rocked this garter toss.
This look cracks me up.
The food at Barr Mansion=VERY yummy.

Love these peaches.