I started my studio as a video company almost three decades and over a thousand weddings ago. Igrew quickly and it soon became clear that I specialized in weddings. Several banquet halls and other photographers and DJs started to recommend me to their clients. Life was good.

Back then many videos were 2 or 3 hours long. Couples wanted everything covered. Good quality video was rather new. They did not want to miss a thing. Still cameras weren’t on phones and still used film. That film and processing was expensive. They did not take many pictures. It was the videographer’s job to tell the story of everything that happened. It was not expected of the photographer. That is what was drilled into my head. Tell the story!

Before we took detail shots in the church and set up microphones, we had to show, where is this taking place? What is the name of the church? What does it look like? What time of year was it, how did it look? Once that was established, THEN we went on from there. After the viewer had the understanding of how to envois the rest of what was about to happen.

As I transitioned (back) into the still photography side of wedding coverage, That is the background I brought with me. If you have known me long enough or read my musings in the past you will undoubtably here me mention storytelling. It answers all those questions and more. Stories bring back the genuine emotions of who, what, why, where and when. Not staged posed listing of a candle, signing a book, re-putting the rings on, etc. That was all fake and did not bring up emotions or felling. Except the memory of the photographer telling you you are holding your hands wrong or not spending any time with your guests because you were posing for even more staged photos.

As I took still wedding photographs, I used my extensive wedding experience knowing the flow of a wedding. I found I could do a good job preserving those moments as they happened. The real story of what actually happened. As it happened, where it happened and so on. Thus began my story telling philosophy

About 80% of a wedding, I photograph is completely natural, candid and unobtrusive. My videos were closer to 99% candid. In photography, you still HAVE to get those properly posed and professionally lit wedding day portraits. Those were and are still are the main images that people want. What they hang on walls. What the put on the cover of their bridal albums, etc. I love candids but they are no substitute for a well done portrait!

I then had to learn proper posing and lighting. Since I was a videographer that was new to me. Having done so many wedding with so many photogrphers, I asked a lot of questions and gleaned what I could from my favorite ones. Each had a diffent style. I took the parts I liked from each and created my own look. Asking LOTS of questions along the way.

Now I could both tell a compelly story and help people look their very best with proper posing and lighting. Truly, the best of both worlds!