My approach to the wedding mission
my approach to the wedding mission
I See You as Real Humans, Not Just Portraits
Hey friends! I’m Jesse. like many of you, life’s taken me on a wild little ride that’s shaped the way I see love, connection, and all those fleeting moments that somehow end up mattering the most. Especially when it comes to wedding photography.
Although this industry seems magical, there’s still a lot of noise. Everyone’s striving to be the most authentic, The most different, The most creative, the most everything. and look, lets be real… there are a million photographers out there. All with cameras, presets, and pinterest boards ready to go. so… why me? why this? why go through the trouble?
a small town heart with big city dreams (the cliché mantra)
if it were up to me, i would have grown up indoors as a canvas introvert — the early 2000’s headphones on, eyes glued to a blockbuster rental, probably painting the same flower over and over, content in my own quiet world. but… I was quite the opposite. I was the middle child of six who got the “youngest child” treatment (The math isn’t mathing) and you can imagine, me getting quiet time? absolutely not. My life was loud and chaotic. I was always around my siblings, fighting, yelling, laughing, and being batshit crazy! We drove our momma to the brink. it was beautiful madness.
Still, I found my soft space. My mom’s best friend, Connie, a second mother, really, was my breath of stillness in all the noise. She was creative. She was curious. she introduced me to the artist inside me, And I soaked that in like sun through a window. I spent a lot of my childhood with connie, so in some ways, i embodied the best parts about her. That and the combination of my mom’s tough love and the way she always keeps me grounded, I learned to notice things, Feel things, and Ask questions that didn’t need quick answers. they both are a lot of the reasons why I live my life so creatively and curiously (and so far have survived).
By the time I hit my early double digits, I was obsessed with connection. don’t get me wrong, i was still very much that shy introvert guy but what went through my headspace seemed AGGRESSIVELY mature. I wanted to know what made people tick. What made them laugh when no one was looking. Why the best memories were always hiding in the most ordinary places.
But then life kept life-ing, as it does. I got older, Got louder, Got busy, and became that reckless teenager. I snuck out past bedtime out of my bedroom window, roamed the neighborhood with my hooligan crew, stayed up way too late during sleepovers, played hookie with my friends, and posted horribly off-key singing videos on YouTube (don’t go looking). And even though I wasn’t always proud of every decision, I had a blast, and I look back now and see how all of it — the chaos, the curiosity, the quiet… trained me to notice the honest, overlooked details.
The stuff couples miss when they’re caught up in the pretty pictures.
the magic that lives in the in-between and imperfections.
And that? That’s the heart of how I shoot weddings.
Wedding Photography Isn’t Just Photos (Trust Me)
As an artist, my work is a reflection of how I see the world. the angles I lean into, the moments I choose to pause on, the dynamic I help create. All of it is layered with pieces of who I am.
When you invest in my brand or any photographer, really… you’re not just paying for images. You’re choosing how your story will be told. You’re trusting someone’s eye, someone’s heart, someone’s perspective.
So no, photography isn’t just a photo. It’s a feeling. A connection.
After nearly a decade behind the lens, I’ve realized that my job isn’t about making things look perfect. it’s about making them feel real (read that again). Sure, I’m a sucker for the cute stuff, those monumental poses, the good lighting, and the warm earthy tones. But the real magic? It lives in the human stuff. The raw stuff. The spark behind the smiles.
Like when someone leans over and whispers, “Are we glowing yet?” on their wedding day… my goal isn’t to pose them into perfection. It’s to help them feel that glow naturally, effortlessly, off the cuff. No stiffness. No pressure. Just honest moments, captured with care.
My philosophy? Love real and photograph real.
you know that saying, “No fluff just the real stuff”? (I’ve got a tattoo of it behind my left arm!)… well lets use this to our advantage! no forced grins, no "tilt your head and look lovingly into the abyss" kind of thing, no telling you when you can kiss for the photo. Just honest, human moments. the kind that make your heart do that warm little wiggle.
posing: I don’t do stiff. If you’re worried I’m going to stack you like a Jenga tower, breathe easy. I’m here to gently guide, not stage you into mannequins. You’ll get movement, prompts that feel natural, and space to just be together. Don’t get me wrong, posing is great and there’s a time and place for it! Key thing here is knowing when to step in. Some folks need more guidance, some folks just don’t. (don’t know where to put your hands? me neither! but my advice, use them for what they’re made for. Feel your garments, feel your dress, their hair, their cheeks, their hands; and when you start to do this, you’'ll eventually feel so natural at it you’ll be a hand pro! Just start feeling!)
Psychology > Gear: while I do love my gear (shoutout to my lenses), it’s not the tech that makes the magic… it’s the meaning. I care way more about why you’re smiling than how sharp your images are. Emotions over megapixels, always.
I’m on the lookout for the things that matter: the big “I do’s” and the little stuff too:
The glance you sneak when no one’s looking. The squeeze of a hand under the table. The breath you take right before the vows hit. Spoken. Unspoken. Anticipated. That’s my jam.
Memorable but seamless: And while I might be lowkey crouching in a bush or casually pretending to be that fly on the wall, I’m really your behind-the-scenes storyteller, part photo coach, part memory hoarder, part everything you felt you needed but too much effort to prioritize. My goal is for you to feel so at ease that you forget I’m even there, (again, like a fly on the wall… well minus the buzzing… and huge shout out to the flys)
laid back, less production, mold free -
just like a wedding should be.
So even though this industry carries a lot of noise, it still holds a lot of magic. and the true magic is what each and every photographer out there brings to the table. for me? That early desire for connection? the craving to be seen? to share it? it all quietly lit the path toward wedding photography. Each session now is more than a job; it’s a continuation of that kid, still waiting, still watching, still wondering what makes people tick. still preserving the moments we consider the outtakes.
With a camera in one hand and a backpack (still full of snacks) in the other, I step into your day not to stage it, but to feel it. the “wait for it” glances, the unscripted bursts of emotion, the cracks in the timeline where real love lives.I've flipped tables (figuratively, mostly) to celebrate the quiet beauty of this work and that joy shows up in every single frame.
From Childhood Quiet to Business Bold: What You Can Expect from My Work & My Brand
Warm, textured aesthetics: think mustard, burnt orange, off‑white, black tones, cozy, vintage, and intentionally UnSTAGED.
Authentic storytelling: no hollow platitudes. this is your story, unfiltered and honest.
Inviting experience: relaxed direction, intuitive pacing, and playful collaboration.
Real emotion, captured: because the only thing better than looking back at a photo is remembering exactly how it felt.