How I Became a Wedding Photographer
My journey with photography started over ten years ago when I decided taking a photography class in high school would be a fun elective. Little did I know, that class would decide the course of my major in college and eventually my whole career! While studying photojournalism at San Jose State, I met a young entrepreneur who had started her own wedding photography business. That was the first time I ever thought about running my own business and she inspired me to try. The summer before I graduated, I asked to be her intern and I got to shoot all her weddings with her that year. By the following year, I was getting paid to assist and gradually started up my own business as a wedding photographer!
These last 7 years of shooting photography have been so exciting! Definitely lots of ups and downs for sure, but also so much learning, growing, and honing my skill. I've defined who I am as a natural light photographer and grown my business based on making true connections with the clients I meet. I want so much more than to just take photos of people, but to truly build relationships along the way. That's one of the reasons I love shooting weddings. I get to venture on a journey with each couple, all beginning at their consultation and not even ending at their wedding. If possible, I love being their go-to photographer for all life's big events (i.e. maternity, newborn, family sessions)!
My Favorite Shoot
I've had lots of fabulous clients over the years, so it's definitely hard to pick my all-time favorite shoot. So I narrowed it down to one of my favorites from this year. My bride and groom, Jenna and Brad, were absolute sweethearts to work with! Every professional photographer out there I'm sure has heard the term "ideal client" at some point or another. It's easy to jump to the idea that it's the person who spends lots of money on your services by getting your highest package and it doesn't really matter who they are as long as they are paying you! For me, that's definitely not it! To me, it's a person who is genuine, down-to-earth, loves my art and then is a faithful cheerleader for my work long after our time together.
When I met Jenna, we simply clicked and I knew that she was exactly the kind of "ideal client" I always look for! Not only is she kind-hearted and always friendly, but she and Brad were naturals in front of the camera! Their love and affection for each other was so evident and I loved having the opportunity to capture that in photos. They were married at the lovely Saratoga Springs, with gorgeous California redwoods as their backdrop. There were lots of fun boho accents scattered throughout, including her amazing dress and an awesome teepee altar! I love how the images came out and really, the overall experience I had with this couple which is why it's one of my favs!
