Sweet as in super nice.
And sweet as in super awesome.
Sweet squared.
Someone told me I was their favorite photographer and they hoped to someday reach the level I was on. I choked a little on my sweet tea I was drinking at the time.
(True story… I had both tears and a good amount of coughing to prove it.)
Me?
I might make ridiculous remarks about thinking I am awesome… but that’s just my personality… I don’t really. I’m not cocky in reality. Actually I have spent a lot of time in the past second-guessing everything.
Truth is, I still have a hard time muttering the line, “Hi, My name is Valerie. I’m a professional photographer.”
Let alone being someone’s favorite. ahhh!
Thank you, Kelsey, by the way. I figured you deserved a shout out for inspiring this post.
This year has been a journey into finding myself as a photographer. My editing style, my shooting style, the fact that I LIKE being casual and quirky with my clients… because that is who I am.
Something finally clicked in the past month and a half… and I decided I am going to start shooting for me… because me is all I can be. (Yes, I fully realize that could be a cheesy motivational poster.) No more comparing myself to others. No more doing things because everyone else does.
Wedding photography is a tricky business. You are always bombarded with other people’s work, with articles about what you should be doing, and with guidelines that I’m not really sure where they came from outside of tradition. I somehow found myself doing what I thought I had to do… not what I wanted to do. I’ve been an art kid all of my life. Wedding photography can be an art… and not just a sequence of standard shots… and that is what I want to strive to do.
So, with that… I decided that today, I wanted to share with you my favorite photographers. The ones that I aspire to be like when I grow up and become amazing.
These are the photographers that are bookmarked on my computer for stalking. They’re all completely unique and awesome and speak to what photography can be.
wearetheparsons and the smiley face collective
I don’t think there is a time I don’t leave either of the blogs feeling completely inspired… or sigh about 12 times.
kristen marie…
just really gorgeous work. i love how her editing makes them look as if they’re printed on gorgeous matte paper already.
the image is found.
legend – wait for it – dary.
w. scott chester
vintagey-hazy-awesome-perfection.
angelica glass
bold and cheeky… and airy all at the same time. i can’t figure it out. amazing.
clayton.austin.love.stories.
dreamyyyyyyy.
jagger photography
soft, creative gorgeousness.
There are a ton more (of course)… but these are the photographers that always leave me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next post.
you’re welcome for the additional photographers to stalk.
And because I can’t have a post without at least one photo… here is a photo of my cute assistant amanda at the end of a wedding we shot. love. thank you so much for being a great friend and assistant this year, amanda! best of luck on your newest soon-to-be adventure of mommyhood. (it rocks, by the way. it’s my favorite thing.)
And because I promised… and you’ll start to see how all over the place my taste in music is… here is a little edward sharpe & the magnetic zeros for you.
(warning… this one WILL get stuck in your head).
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