Where you call home: Birmingham, AL
Things you’d write home to your Momma about: Featured on Style Me Pretty, Southern Weddings, Polka dot Bride, Every Last Detail, Sassy Bride, hi-fi weddings, Weddings Unveiled, Design Sponge
Location/coverage: Worldwide (I LOVE to travel). I’m located in Birmingham, AL and typically shoot around the Southeast and some in the Northeastern US.
How I got into weddings: Not long after I started taking photography classes at Auburn University, I started shooting for my college ministry. After months of photographing our weekly worship sessions, the leader of the worship band asked me if I would shoot his wedding later that year. I nervously agreed and then had almost a year to think about what I was going to do — I hadn’t even attended a wedding since I was a kid. During that year, I moved to Birmingham and lived in a building with an entire community of talented photographers — many of whom I had admired online for some time. I assisted a few of them and really developed a good sense for wedding photography. When I returned to Auburn to shoot my friend’s wedding, it was a success. That experience showed me how much I enjoyed photographing a wedding. Once I started I couldn’t get enough!
Favorite thing about weddings in the South? I love that Southerners view the wedding as a real party, and take the time to earnestly celebrate a new marriage. They make the day meaningful in a way that’s not only fun and memorable, but also really makes everyone involved feel they are part of it. I think a lot of that attention to detail comes from a strong tradition of southern hospitality. I didn’t realize until I left the south for a year to live up north, that not everyone cares in the same way about their guests’ experience, but I’m all the more grateful for it everyday since I’ve returned!
Favorite part of a wedding day? I love the moment after the ceremony when the newlywed couple are together outside of the crowd for the first time and they can’t get over how in love they are. It’s like they’re glowing. One of my favorite parts of sharing in their wedding day is capturing their first look at each other after the ceremony — that ecstatic realization that they’re married!
Best piece of advice you can give to brides and grooms? It’s YOUR wedding day, so don’t let any vendor tell you how it should happen. You know what you want it to be and how you want it to happen, so don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. A lot of brides ask me about photo schedules and I emphasize that it’s not about photos. My job is to capture the story of the day as it unfolds in all of its beautiful moments, and they can trust me. Don’t get caught up in all of the intensity that so easily leads to stress. Remember, it’s about the bride and groom joining their lives.
Dream travel destination? I am passionate about travel, and have been all over the globe. If we’re just talking about travel — I’ve always wanted to visit India. It’s been on the top of my list for ages, and is one of the few places I haven’t seen. As for weddings, I think a wedding in Southern Europe, near the Mediterranean would be incredible — I spent a couple of weeks doing work in Athens in 2010 and couldn’t help but think how amazing it would be to shoot a wedding in that part of the world.
Favorite Southern city? Nashville, hands down!
Early bird or night owl? Night owl for sure
Pie bar or red velvet cake? I think I’ll have to do a write-in vote for chocolate chip cookies (or chocolate chip cookie cake)!