About
Cameras have never been far from my hand.
Growing up, my mother couldn't pass up a yard-sale, and it seemed each and every one had a table full of lonely cameras that needed rescuing. So my collection grew over the years, as did the cost of all that film. I became very good at telling the stories of my life through the photos I'd take, cataloging events for posterity and capturing beauty in unlikely places. It wasn't until I got a hold of a digital camera, however, that I thought about doing anything professionally. I won a few awards at local fairs, and emboldened, began selling my photos at several local stores and coffee shops.
In 2003 I photographed my sister's wedding as a wedding gift. I enjoyed it immensely, and my work was very well received. Thus began the referrals. To this day, the gift I gave my sister keeps giving; I've been lucky enough to find the vast majority of my clients through referrals by couples I've already worked with.
But this doesn't really tell you much about me. In many ways I'm a traditional photographer - I carry a camera, and make people smile with terrible jokes - but there's a bit more to it. I do everything in power to make sure your wedding goes perfectly. I understand very well how important this day is to my clients, and I really do pitch in where ever I can, so long as it doesn't interfere with my photography. I continue to photograph weddings because I enjoy being with people on one of the most important, happy days of their lives, not because it's my job. In fact, my wedding photography tends to be a self-supporting endeavor, just barely paying for my photographic toys.
So a few more specific things about me: I'm a very social photographer. I very much enjoy actually making people smile real smiles while looking through my lens. Sure, I'm a bit goofy at times - ok, frequently - but really that's often what it takes to bring out the best in people.
I try earnestly to capture your event so as to reflect it as completely and wonderfully as possible. I make sure guests have the opportunity to take their own photos of you in addition to mine. We are *not* in competition - in fact, I encourage guests to contribute their properly attributed photos to your online album, so you can keep all of your photos in one place. The point is to improve the final product: retelling your story.
If you have a chance, please do read the responses given to me by my clients, as well as take a look at the complete albums I provided them. This will give you a better idea of my style of photography, and what you can expect to see in yours (note: most photographers just show you a few of their best photos from each wedding. Even I do this on my front page, but I also allow - and encourage - you to see everything). Also keep in mind: you get everything I shoot on disc and will never have to pay extra to get more prints, since you have the right to duplicate everything.
Ok, there is one thing I'd like to ask of you - talk to me. As I said, I do this because I enjoy it - I like people, and especially sharing (and capturing) the most important day of a person's life. It makes me feel great when I'm able to help folks, so if you have any questions about the industry, what to expect from a photographer, or you're just bored, give me a call or email. I wish you the very best in your wedding planning, and if nothing else, please remember: your wedding is an adventure to be savored, not labored through. Each difficulty you encounter, each requirement met - these are things that are very much a part of the wedding experience and life. Enjoy them, because there will be a day very soon when they'll be behind you.
