Behind the lens: the 2025 Edition

Every wedding season leaves its mark. And 2025 was no exception.

It was a year of creative growth, new tools, and a few honest lessons. But what I’ve always believed became even more clear: the strongest photos come from connection. When I’m aligned with a couple’s energy and vision, everything clicks.

And while there’s no such thing as a perfect wedding or a perfect photographer, I’ve never felt more grounded in the kind of work I want to create and who I want to create it for. Here’s a little peek behind the lens at what 2025 taught me.

The power of clear communication

There’s a kind of creative magic that happens when the couple, planner, and photographer are all working towards the same vision. It creates space for trust and genuine connection. And 2025 reminded me just how important that alignment really is.

I’ve made space in my process for deeper conversations up front, spending more time talking through what’s most important to each couple, how they hope to feel in their photos, and how we can align our expectations from the start. It's not just about logistics but language and connection.

When couples feel understood before the first photo is ever taken, it sets the tone for everything that follows. And that kind of trust always shows up in the final gallery.

The secret ingredient to great photos

If there's one thing this year has confirmed for me over and over again, it’s this: the best wedding photos don’t come from lucky angles or golden hour lighting. They come from trust.

Everything changes when couples share their vision and open up about what matters most to them. I get to see the day through their lens. I understand what they're hoping this celebration will feel like, rather than just how they want it to look. That kind of collaboration turns a vendor into a creative partner.

You can see it in their relaxed shoulders. In their real laughter. In the way they’re able to be fully present because they trust the team they’ve chosen. These are the couples who get to enjoy the moments as they happen, knowing they’ll be captured with care.

For my newly engaged couples out there, the ones curating the entire vibe of your weekend, your photographer should be someone who understands that this is more than a day. It’s a world you’ve built. And they should know how to move through that world with intention, documenting the details that reflect your unique story.

Pushing yourself creatively

One of the things I love most about this work is that it never stays still. There’s always more to learn and new ways to tell stories in deeper ways.

This year, I pushed myself creatively. I finally bought a drone and immediately saw how it could shift the scale and perspective of a story. I upgraded all my camera gear and explored ways to use flash to add more texture and dimension to those party images.

It was a year of reinvesting in the craft. Recommitting to the work as an art form.

Each time I learn something new, it opens up more ways to see a celebration. More ways to reflect a couple’s story through light, composition, and movement. Bringing that energy to a wedding makes the experience more dynamic for both me and my couples.

Growth like this is never about chasing trends or just adding tools others might be using. It’s about sharpening the lens through which I see the day. It’s about staying curious. And it’s about making sure my work continues to evolve as my couples do.

Worldbuilding through the couple’s lens

One of the biggest creative shifts in my work was learning to see each wedding not just as my couple’s story, but as a world they are building that represents who they are at this moment. That world is filled with many stories; it’s a universe built intentionally by two people who know exactly what matters to them.

It’s more than documenting what happened. It’s interpreting the environment they have carefully curated. The different color palettes for the ceremony and reception. The velvet of the lounge seating. The way the room glows as the sun dips behind the hills during cocktail hour. All of it is important when it’s been chosen with intention.

This mindset inspired new ways of working with my team. We began creating internal moodboards to reflect different phases of the day and brainstormed ways to thread the couple’s energy through every frame.

The more I lean into world-building, the more expansive my practice becomes. Seeing the weekend through the prism of my couples gives me access to create the portal back to how it felt to live inside that world.

Weekend weddings & deeper connections

My full-weekend and destination weddings were among my favorite moments of 2025. There’s something special that happens when everyone is in one place, together, for an extended period. People settle in, and the entire experience becomes something deeper.

As a photographer, this kind of setting is a dream. When I get to spend extra time with you and your people—whether that’s at the welcome dinner, a beach hangout, or just catching moments in between—there’s a familiarity that builds. By the time the wedding day arrives, I’m a known part of the room - a friend and a photographer.

Guests feel more comfortable, which means more authentic moments and spontaneous joy. That comfort radiates in the photos. These weekends create a container for connection. Everyone has traveled for the same reason, and they’re fully present in that time and place. It’s what makes the experience and the photos so rich.

Looking ahead with gratitude & excitement

To every couple who invited me into their world in 2025, thank you. Your trust, openness, and belief in my work mean more than I can ever fully express. 2025 stretched me in all the best ways. It reminded me why I love this job and how much beauty lives in the in-between moments.

Here’s to 2026: more artistry, more presence, more joy. I can’t wait for what’s ahead.

Planning your wedding and looking for a photographer who will meet you with care and creativity? You know where to find me.