As early as I can remember, my father always had a camera with him when we as family left the house. His birthday and Christmas gifts were entirely or complimented with rolls of film. It wasn’t long before I had the same fascination with capturing moments in time through photography.
In high school I was able to take an art program consisting of commercial art and photography. Studying traditional fine art, graphic design, film, and photography in college gave me a strong foundation to build and create art with my camera.
There is an overwhelming and humbling satisfaction when someone experiences true emotion from my work. One wedding I shot for an incredibly warm couple, Johanna and Steve Fenstermacher, sticks out as one of my favorite memories as a photographer. The venue for their wedding was an old farmhouse and barn in the countryside of Pennsylvania. Every inch of the property would make the perfect scene for an oil painting.
When I walked into the suite where Johanna and her bridesmaids were getting ready her warm greeting was that of a lifelong friend. Her smiles of joy and excitement for what the day would bring set the tone for a perfect wedding.
Both Johanna and Steve had told me I had complete creative freedom to photograph their love. As the day went on we were able to find so many beautiful places at their venue to make magical fairy-tale photos. I as gave them sneak peaks from the back of my camera their excitement grew and I knew something incredibly special was happening.
Walking around we discovered a vintage truck tucked away in between the caterers tent and a utility shed. I quickly set up my lights after a couple of shots I saw what would be a photo that has shed many tears and won me multiple awards.
As the reception was wrapping up I had asked them if they wanted to step outside and take some more photos with sparklers. The hugs they gave me for capturing their day were filled with true passion that made me feel like I was now part of their family.
The several hour drive home late that night gave me time to reflect on my experience and how honored and lucky I was to have been the one chosen to be part of such an important day of their lives. To top it off the videographer told me that Steve’s microphone has still been running after they walked out of the ceremony and Johanna was heard saying “Don’t we have the best photographer?”