I always say that building a connection with your photographer is one of the most important parts of the wedding planning process — and what better way to get to know me than a little Q&A?! From how I got started in wedding photography, to what gear I rely on, to some fun rapid-fire facts, I’m answering all your most-asked questions. Whether you’re a future couple, fellow photographer, or just curious about life behind the lens, I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into what makes me, me!
About You
Q: How did you get into wedding photography?
A: I started photography when I was about 12 years old taking photos of my horse (yes, I’m a horse girl — but hey it’s cool and chic now!!!), and from there started teaching myself all about camera settings and editing programs and building websites to market myself. I didn’t think photography could be my full-time career, so I went to college to study marketing since it felt like the most creative route in the business world. Post-grad, I started picking up my camera again to photograph my apartment (I briefly tried to become an interior design influencer HA) and posted on my story, “If anyone wants a shoot, let me know!” Unexpectedly, someone I went to high school with reached out and asked if I could do engagement photos for her and her fiancé. I had pretty much no clue how to pose couples but I said yes, and from there started photographing couples, families, bridal showers — and eventually people started asking if I would shoot their weddings. I am SO appreciative of all the couples who trusted me so early on in my journey, I would never be where I am today without them! I also wrote a longer blog post about this, so feel free to read that here.
Q: What did you do before becoming a full-time photographer?
A: I did graphic design and branding for an EdTech company based in NYC. I was shooting sessions and weddings on the side as a hobby, since I worked full-time during the week in the city, but when COVID hit and I was working from home more I was able to focus more on building my business, and eventually went full-time with photography at the end of 2021.
Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer?
A: Yes and no — as a small child I wanted to be a dog when I grew up, and eventually a vet, but then realized I could NEVER handle seeing animals in pain. I’ve always been creative and before photography I loved drawing, so I feel like part of me always wanted to do something on the artistic side. Like I said, I never really thought photography could financially support me so I didn’t seriously consider it as a career until I started getting more into weddings.
Q: What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
A: Obviously I absolutely love being able to document such an important day for my clients and their families — but selfishly, I love the connections I build with my couples. I know how uncomfortable it can feel to be in front of the camera, and I truly believe that making people feel at ease on a day that can be so stressful and overwhelming is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Of course stunning photographs are a really great gift as well, but there are SO many talented photographers out there who can beautifully capture a wedding day. You can absolutely create incredible photos without having any sort of relationship with your clients — but that just isn’t how I work. My favorite thing to hear from my couples is how they felt like we were friends just hanging out on their wedding day. It’s so rewarding to not only give my clients a beautiful gallery, but for them to also have an incredible experience from start to finish and be able to look back at their photos and remember the joy they felt that day.
Q: What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
A: I feel like I’m pretty open with anything that could be deemed a surprising fact about me (I’m a horse girl, I love fantasy/sci-fi, I had a really serious Pokemon phase growing up, etc.), but recently someone told me that I’m much funnier in person than I seem on Instagram LOL. As much as I love personal branding and think it’s such an important piece of my business, I do find it hard to fully be myself online without seeming completely crazy — but in truth I do think I’m a pretty weird person, and have been told such as well. In a good way though!!! I think?
Business & Process
Q: How far in advance should couples book you?
A: Typically couples book me about a year to a year and a half before their wedding!
Q: Do you help with the wedding day timeline?
A: Yes!!! As a very Type A girlie I love being involved with the timeline. On my consultation calls with couples, I will put together a sample timeline so they can understand how I typically structure a wedding day, and will of course work with timing from their venue, planner, and other vendors as we get closer to the big day to make sure we are all aligned.
Q: What’s your favorite part of a wedding day to photograph?
A: Definitely couple’s portraits — at the end of the day, a couple’s wedding is about THEM, their love and their journey, and I just love documenting the genuine joy between two people.
Q: How do you handle bad weather on wedding days?
A: Obviously we pay an Etsy witch to cast a spell, but if that doesn’t work we get creative. We utilize indoor spaces, overhangs, car ports, and of course, clear umbrellas — as well as having a timeline where we can be flexible about moving pieces of the day around. For example, if we have couple’s portraits on the timeline but it looks like the weather will be clearing up in an hour, we can do the first look in covered location, perhaps start wedding party and family photos earlier if we have a great indoor spot for those, and be able to get the couple outside when the skies clear.
Experience & Style
Q: How would you describe your photography style?
A: I aim for my photography to feel natural, organic, whimsical, and timeless. I strive for my editing style to reflect rich, true-to-life colors that still feel a little extra romantic and dreamy. I love capturing genuine emotion and joy, and while I sometimes incorporate a bit of a more modern, editorial edge, I typically focus more on heartfelt storytelling — imagery that feels personal and authentic, with artful composition. My approach to wedding days includes a mix of traditional and candid — while it’s fun mixing in trends, I want couples’ galleries to be able to stand the test of time.
Q: How many weddings do you photograph each year?
A: I try to take fewer weddings each year to create a better work/life balance for myself and have some sort of personal life on weekends, but this year I have 27 weddings on my calendar.
Q: What’s the most unique wedding you’ve ever shot?
A: I feel like the intimate weddings and elopements I’ve shot always feel the most unique to me, because they tend to deviate the most from a traditional day (and my own wedding had only 10 guests, so I am a bit biased!). I absolutely loved shooting my friend and fellow photographer, Avery’s, elopement in San Diego — she and her now-husband got ready together in a beautiful hotel in La Jolla and they exchanged vows on the iconic Sunset Cliffs. Here’s more from their day.
Q: What are your favorite venues you’ve shot at?
A: My favorite venues in New Jersey include Natirar, Hamilton Farm, Ashford Estate, Ryland Inn, Fiddler’s Elbow, and Battello. I absolutely love shooting at venues in New England as well, like Glen Manor House in Portsmouth, RI and Smith Farm Gardens in East Haddam, CT.
Gear & Editing
Q: What gear do you shoot with?
A: I shoot with Canon for my camera bodies and lenses, and Profoto flashes.
Q: Do you have a favorite lens?
A: For most of the wedding day I shoot on my 28-70mm, and for ceremony and speeches I’ll also use my 70-200mm. However my favorite lens for portraits and engagement sessions is my 50mm RF 1.2.
Q: What’s in your camera bag on a wedding day?
A: Too much. I have multiple Canon R6 camera bodies, a bunch of lenses (28-70mm, 70-200mm, 28mm pancake, 50mm, 85mm, 100mm), and several Profoto flashes. Then there’s the batteries, SD cards, my flat lay styling kit, my styling mats, my rain gear, etc. etc. etc.
Q: What software do you use to cull and edit?
A: I use Photo Mechanic to cull, and Lightroom to edit!
Business Growth & Tips
Q: What helped your business grow the most?
A: Social media, 10000%. Being consistent on Instagram especially has helped my business see the most growth, and I am a huge proponent for personal branding and showing who you are online. The wedding photography industry is extremely saturated with thousands of talented creatives who produce beautiful work, so the best way to stand out is to offer something no one else can — and that’s YOU. Your personality and the experience you provide is always going to be the most differentiated element of your business, so being able to make people feel like they know you as a person vs. just a faceless, sometimes even nameless (PLS put your first name in your Instagram bio if your handle isn’t your name, I beg of you!!!) entity is so beneficial. I love when I meet couples at their engagement session for the first time, and the first thing they say to me is, “I feel like I already know you!” or “I feel like we’re already friends!” or “your dog is SO CUTE” (extra points for hyping up Macie).
Q: Do you have any advice for aspiring wedding photographers?
A: Aside from building a strong presence on social media, my biggest advice is to provide the most incredible experience you can — from start to finish. Like I said, SO many people can create beautiful images, but when you provide an unforgettable experience from your very first communication all the way through the wedding day and after, it will truly set you apart. And all that to say, just CARE. Care about your couples, care about their families and their guests, care about the other vendors you are working with and take into consideration what they need on a wedding day and how you can help them. At the end of the day, being an inherently good person and going above and beyond for your couples will get you so much farther than just posting pretty pictures on Instagram (but definitely continue to do that too LOL).
Q: What’s something you wish you knew when starting out?
A: Be yourself — which ugh I know is so cringey and cliché but like I said, you are the only you and that’s why people are going to end up wanting to book you. I don’t think I was ever… not myself? But just giving myself permission to be exactly who I am when interacting with couples has really helped me grow in a positive way. In that same vein, I wish I knew that not every couple is a good mutual fit and that’s okay!!! I used to try and book everyone and everything and every type of shoot, but at the end of the day you want clients to work with a photographer who can best serve them and their needs, and sometimes that’s not always you and that’s okay.
Q: How did you find your editing style?
A: LOTS of trial and error. I still look back at photos I edited in like 2018 and I’m like WHYYYY. The skin was grey, the grass was grey, everything was grey. There was no depth, no dimension. Everything was flat… and grey. But we all go through those rough patches and we learn! It really just takes practice editing throughout a multitude of different lighting scenarios to really hone in on your style, and I’m SO unhealthily obsessed with creating consistency across my work as a whole so it really took a lot of time to get to where I am now. Also the more you shoot, the more you learn about lighting which really impacts your editing (and can make your life so much easier or sooo much harder in post-processing).
Q: How do you stay inspired creatively?
A: This is honestly something I struggle with, especially when it comes to comparing myself with other amazing photographers I follow online. It’s so hard to see someone else’s work and feel discouraged about your own, especially when my entire Instagram feed is weddings. I almost find it easier to not get caught up in what other people are doing, and find inspiration elsewhere — non-wedding photography, or art, or the way shots are composed in movies. Shooting new places also helps me feel more creative, because as much as I love shooting in places that I’m used to working, it is easy to fall into a creative rut when you’re doing the same thing over and over. Continuing education and shooting alongside other creatives is also so cup-filling, especially when you don’t really have any co-workers or people to bounce ideas off of. Kind of unrelated, but having a network of others who do the same thing as me in the same industry definitely helps me feel less alone and more motivated.
Rapid-Fire Questions
Q: Go-to coffee order before a shoot?
A: Vanilla latte — iced in the summer, hot in the winter!
Q: Canon or Nikon? (or Sony!)
A: Canon R6 for work, Fuji XT-5 for fun!
Q: First dance song you’ll never forget?
A: Any EDM song slowed down for a first dance makes me SOB. Specifically Kygo.
Q: City or countryside wedding?
A: Love city vibes, but countryside girl at heart.
Q: Dream wedding destination to shoot?
A: Rosecliff in Newport has been on my bucket list forever, and shooting a wedding there next year!
Q: Most-used emoji?
A: Definitely the white heart, OR the heart hands.
Q: Morning person or night owl?
A: Morning person 100000%.
Q: Favorite lens?
A: Canon RF 50mm F1.2 BUT I use the RF 28-70mm the most.
Q: Editing with music or silence?
A: Audiobook!!!!
Q: Black & white or color photos?
A: We loooove a black & white, but when the colors hit right it can’t be beat.
Q: Favorite guilty pleasure reality TV show?
A: Love Island, usually UK but I’ve been liking the US seasons lately too!
Q: One word couples use to describe you?
A: This is hard!!! Friendly?!
Q: TikTok or Instagram?
A: TikTok for fun, Instagram for work.
Q: Favorite non-wedding thing to photograph?
A: Furbabies!!!!!
If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading!!! I hope this was *moderately* enjoyable and gave you a little more insight into who I am, how I got here, and what it’s like to work with me. If you’re newly engaged and thinking we might be the perfect fit, I’d love to hear from you and chat more!
xo, Jill
