Although I don’t consider myself a wedding photojournalist in the strictest sense, the act of telling a story through the photos I take – a key concept of photojournalism – has always been a central focus in my work.  For me though, one of the most creative ways to tell a couple’s story is in a somewhat indirect manner – through the details that they have spent so much time, thought, and attention towards perfecting on their day.  By the bottle-opener escort cards that show a couple’s love for craft brews or the hand-drawn programs that show the thought a father put into his daughter’s big day – the details can tell the story that’s not so easily seen and give a level of intimacy between the photos and their subjects that could otherwise be missed.

Below are images from Genell & Saer’s wedding, Brooke & Stewart’s wedding, and Nina & Aaron’s wedding!

Thank you, thank you to the staff at Seacoast Weddings for including my work in the latest issue!

With these recent warm temperatures, I’ve daydreaming about warmer days spent outside in the backyard with Michael & Orvis. I came across these pictures I took in my family’s backyard in North Carolina last March. Aren’t these some of the cutest garden accessories? I’d love to add some unique accents like this to our own backyard this spring. Terrain has some of the cutest garden accessories, as does Napa Style! And how about this fold-down bar for our patio? I’m quite positive our patio would not be complete without it!

Am I missing other wonderful sources for outdoor decor? I’d love to hear some of your favorites!

Since 2009, I’ve managed to meet every couple in person before their wedding day. This is something I’m incredibly proud of, and even with out of town clients, I’ve still managed to keep this up! One of my primary goals as a wedding photographer will always be to establish a relationship with my wedding clients before their wedding day, so that we all feel extremely comfortable with each other by the time the wedding day rolls around.

I shot film at each wedding in 2011. Incorporating film into my work has had a tremendous impact on how I shoot.  It has forced me to slow down and really think about what I’m photographing. Instead of firing off ten shots at a specific moment, I now use only a handful of carefully thought out shots to capture that same moment.

Sixty-five percent of my wedding clients own at least one dog. And several of those who don’t have told me that they plan to become dog owners in the future- many are just waiting for the right time with work/living situations. As a dog lover, this makes me so happy! It’s wonderful to continually work with like-minded clients, who share your interests/hobbies/etc.

I’ve photographed one couple, Brooke & Matt, at eight different weddings since 2009, including their own in 2010. Brooke often jokes that I need to compile an album of her post-college life, because I’ve been there for so many of the special occasions.

In 2011 I photographed three different weddings for fellow wedding photographers. (Two of them were for photographer couple duos!) It’s always an honor to be chosen by fellow industry professionals.

The majority of my couples who get married in Maine do not live here, while the majority of my couples who get married in North Carolina do live there.

I’ve photographed the weddings of six Carolina couples. Given that I met Michael at UNC, a school that holds such a special place in my heart, this fact makes me giddy with excitement.

Sites like Pinterest, Tumblr, and WordPress help me keep up with my couples post-wedding.  A number of my clients have their own blogs, and by reading them, I’m able to keep up with their home decor projects, travel adventures, favorite recipes & books, etc.

We took an evening stroll around North Adams before we enjoyed a delicious meal at a new-ish restaurant downtown, Public. The next morning we woke up to a snow-covered North Adams- what a treat! Before we left to head back to Maine we had the most splendid visit at the MASS MoCA! Seriously, we cannot stop raving about the featured Sol LeWitt exhibit, and look forward to future visits to the museum. Our drive back on snowy Route 2, with all of its red barns & giant fir trees, was so lovely!  Seriously, I cannot wait to return!

The quintessential New England farmhouse Michelle & Stuart rented for the weekend couldn’t have been a more perfect complement to the day’s classically grey, dramatic weather- the whole day felt very ‘Maine’ to me. Of course, the setting of the cozy farmhouse, filled with their family members just added to the overall romantic atmosphere. Michelle surprised Stuart by incorporating the King Protea, the national flower of South Africa, where Stuart is originally from, in their wedding flowers. Heather Caron did a wonderful job with Michelle’s bouquet and the arrangements, and Stuart was incredibly surprised!

Michelle & Stuart were surrounded by some of their most beloved family members, all of whom played a significant role in their wedding day. Witnessing and documenting this type of celebration has always been something I’d love to do as a wedding photographer. The whole experience was simple, yet lovely, and so wonderfully honest & authentic. Thank you, Michelle & Stuart, for including me in such a meaningful, intimate celebration.

The following are just a few of my many favorites from this exceptionally lovely wedding day.

Venue: Private Residence in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Post-ceremony photos: Kettle Cove, Maine. Dress: Larissa Goudis in Munich. Wedding cake: Cakes Extraordinaire. Hair & nails: Head Games. Flowers: Heather Caron Floral Design.

We loved everything about the Inn at Perry Cabin so much that we’re already planning a return trip this spring! I’ve seen photos of the property when the giant hydrangeas are blooming, so perhaps a summer visit is in order too!

Although I won’t go into all of the details in this blog post, my presentation centered around many of the growing experiences I’ve faced as a photographer, and the choices I’ve made for my brand & business. I used one of my favorite books, I Love Your Style: How to Define & Refine Your Personal Style, written by Amanda Brooks, for a couple of its inspiring quotes about the continual exploration & self-discovery of one’s personal style. Although the book is written with regards to fashion, I think the overall message translates wonderfully for photographers and business owners alike. I read it myself last winter and it really helped me to define the brand I launched last spring.

To celebrate my first-ever professional presentation among my peers (and the fact that I didn’t say ‘um’ or ‘like’ 42+ times!) I’d like to giveaway a copy of I Love Your Style! (While it’s written with female fashion in mind, the book’s overall style philosophies can suit men’s interests as well- as one of my favorite male fashion photographers believes.)

To enter: simply leave a comment in the box below. One winner will be randomly selected on Friday, January 20th – one week from today!

I highly recommend picking up a copy if you’re planning a wedding in Maine- the magazine is filled with all kinds of resources, information, and tips! And a giant thank you to the staff at Real Maine Weddings for including a few of my images!

I’m having way too much fun with my Spectra, and I’ve decided that the photos are basically physical versions of the images I take using my favorite iPhone app, Instagram. Since I’m a polaroid newbie, does anyone have any tips for me?