I have a confession to make. When I started my photography career, I never envisioned myself capturing weddings. In fact, I was downright terrified of them. Something like attending a wedding or photography workshop was far from my mind. I absolutely loved attending weddings, but being responsible for someone’s big day and not missing any big moments (hello, first kiss!) seemed like a daunting task.
When I vowed (pun intended) never to photograph a wedding, I was a year into the pandemic and fresh off a decade-long career as a TV/Video producer. I was burnt out and in need of a change, so I picked up my camera and started capturing portraits and families. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go with my photography exactly, but I knew I had a desire to create beautiful images, tell stories, and make people happy. Staying in the family and portrait bubble felt like the safest bet to fulfill my creative desires.
But when you’re a creative, is safe really going to get you where you want to be?
Taking The Leap
We all know that true growth comes from stepping outside your comfort zone and learning something new. As the child of educators, I have always felt that learning never stops. It’s an approach I have applied to almost all aspects of my life. Whenever I am afraid to tackle something new, I look to how I can learn and demystify it so it becomes a skill instead. I ask questions. Seeking knowledge and taking risks has always been key to propelling myself forward in directions I never thought were possible – which is exactly how I ended up becoming a wedding photographer.
Four months into my photography business, I got a text that changed everything. A fellow photographer asked if I could capture a very intimate micro wedding, followed by portraits in Central Park. I had been working with some couples, but didn’t feel ready to make the leap, so I politely declined, letting out an internal sigh of relief.
My friend persisted. There is nothing to be afraid of, she said. You know how to shoot, you know how to work with people, and you know what a wedding looks like. You’ll never know you don’t like it if you don’t try. Trust yourself. It’s two hours, and I believe in you.
Research and Preparation
Over the next few weeks, I did a lot of research. I spoke to other photographers about tips and gear, upgraded to a used full-frame camera (thank you, Adorama!), and made a very detailed shot list. By the time I arrived at the wedding, I was nervous but ready, and my friend’s words of encouragement propelled me through.
Two hours later, I collapsed on a bench near the Boathouse….completely giddy. The fears had dissipated and were completely unnecessary. I had absolutely loved every moment of the day – the romance, the glee from the family members, and finding creative ways to tell this couple’s story with different prompts and angles.
Suddenly, I had found my thing! I was going to be a wedding photographer! I’m not sure if I manifested it, but things got real very quickly after that. And I mean quickly.
On the way home from the wedding, my phone pinged – an inquiry for a small wedding! Was it fate? Was it adrenaline pumping from the previous two hours? Two weddings in a month, could I really do this?
I realized then that if I was serious about this career focus, I needed to make sure I knew exactly what I was doing so that I could give my couples the best experience on their day. Investing in more education was the first step.
An Education
Since that time, I have photographed over a hundred events and more than fifty weddings, elopements, and City Hall marriages. It sounds cliché, but every single one is different and brings with it new challenges and new opportunities for growth, which is why I believe continuing education is so important.
I have spent my career since absorbing everything I can about wedding photography. I began second shooting full weddings with other photographers. This helped me see different approaches to wedding photography. Experiencing everything from a fancy St Patrick’s Cathedral wedding to a low-key restaurant bash solidified my belief that couples should do on their wedding day whatever makes them happy and feels most like their story.
Building a Community
I started building a community of fellow photographers and worked with a dozen more couples all over the city to hone my style and POV. Through a lot of trial and error, I learned what I was good at: storytelling, capturing authentic connections between my couples, and, thanks to my producing career, managing a wedding timeline.
I also learned which skills I wanted to improve on (ie, how to light in all kinds of scenarios and stay on top of technology changes). For a long time, though, I felt like something was missing from my toolkit. I wanted to attend a dedicated workshop to learn from other creatives and freely create without the pressure of a full wedding day, but it was hard to find the right course for me. Everything was too far, outside of my budget, or focused on iconic locations in New York City that, as a lifelong New Yorker, I already knew well. What I wanted was hands-on education in a unique setting, with exposure to more lighting scenarios and different experiences.
Enter Adorama’s Wedding Workshop, August 2024.
Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone
I had been shopping at Adorama for years when I received the email about their Wedding Workshop. I was immediately intrigued!
The idea behind the workshop was that all attendees would have the opportunity to photograph models in four bespoke wedding portrait setups, each taught by a different leading wedding photographer. I was excited not only to test out different lights, but also for the chance to get 1:1 time with the photographers teaching (Kesha Lambert, Rob Hall, Susan Stripling, and Alison Conklin).
The workshop exceeded my expectations. Every set was a dream – each its own little universe – magically brought to life by Stacy Armand, the event designer. I loved that each set prompted us to explore a different creative aspect of a wedding. Alison’s set was whimsical and colorful, which allowed me to tap into the fun of a wedding day I love so much. Susan’s striking red and black set was moody and dramatic. Working with each model individually, as opposed to as a couple, challenged me to be intentional with my direction. Kesha taught us how to use props and off-camera lighting effectively to get striking, dynamic images. Rob’s light and airy setup was perfect for letting us experiment with using different combinations of a three-light setup that blended natural window light as well.
Time to Focus, Time to Learn
We were given our own dedicated time to work with the models, which was incredible. My style is documentary-first, which means I am more inclined to capture natural, candid moments. Being in a smaller environment with less activity allowed me to slow down and focus more intently on what I wanted to capture, followed by setting up the shot to execute that vision. Along the way, each instructor gave thoughtful advice and encouragement. I loved the freedom I had to explore and create without being on a wedding timeline!
Perhaps the most surprising part of the day was the sense of community I felt. Chatting with other attendees, we exchanged tips and learned from each other as well. To this day, I am still in touch with friends I made in last year’s workshop. We shoot together, co-work, and help each other navigate entrepreneur life.
I left that day in 2024 feeling empowered, confident, and excited to bring my new experience to future weddings.
Building on the Foundation and Looking Ahead
I was happy to return for 2025’s workshop and build upon the previous year. I was especially glad that Adorama included a business workshop from Vanessa Joy. Building a portfolio and learning technical skills is important, but business education is just as necessary. I loved hearing Vanessa’s perspective on how she works with her clients from beginning to end. It helped me to reflect upon my own and see where I could improve and make tweaks – always learning and growing!
Perhaps the biggest takeaway for me from the past two years of the Wedding Workshop has been that a photographer’s journey is a personal one. There is no one way – or right or wrong way – to do things. Each conversation I had with this year’s instructors – Petronella, Susan, Michelle, and Joshua – left me with the reinforcement that the best way for my creativity to flourish is to support it with experimentation and flexibility.
As my wedding photography journey continues, I hope to use my knowledge from these workshops to continue pushing the bounds of my creativity while seamlessly balancing the natural, documentary-first experience I enjoy giving to my couples. I want them to feel free to be fully present in the moment, so looking back at their photos allows them to relive vividly a day that looks and feels like their story.
