I can promise you, if you have a DSLR or a mirrorless, I can teach you how to use it in manual mode. In my humble opinion, anyone can learn how to compose a photo and study light. But...not every person who can snap a photo has patience to work with a two year old who wants to be independent and would rather run than sit still.

Not every person with a fancy camera knows to take a deep breath and hold it when the bride walks down the aisle at a Catholic indoor ceremony, which allows no flash photography, to steady their shot to avoid motion blur or camera shake. Not everyone knows that flash photography isn’t even allowed in most Catholic ceremonies. Anyone can snap a photo on their phone of the bride and groom having their first dance, but do they know how to avoid the uplighting on the dance floor that creates a blue shadow on the brides face? Do they have extra tissues in their bag to pass to the bride’s dad as he tears up watching from the sidelines?

I can give anyone my camera. Teach you how to use it with every technical detail, but I can’t teach the client experience, patience, professionalism, and problem solving that comes with this job.But not everyone is capable of operating all the other stuff that comes with working with people and operating a business.

Taxes, burn out, business plans, social media planning, contracts, legalities...difficult situations, wedding day crises, reshoots, client communication, insurance, more taxes, time management, late nights, humbleness, client service over profit, deadlines and professionalism.

This is so much more than clicking a button, and it’s so much more than just knowing how to take a technically sound photo. This is documentation of someone’s important moments. This is serious stuff, these are precious memories I’m being trusted with, gang. I take that, and the business as a whole, seriously.