Last Updated: February 14th, 2020
I met Courtney back in April 2018 as we both went to a photography retreat in Oregon. Both of our photography businesses were pretty much in their infancy at the time, and it’s been very interesting to watch the evolution as we’re now coming close to the end of 2019 here (it’s amazing how fast time goes!).
Courtney’s work has progressed significantly, and she is very much representative of how someone, even with limited photography + business experience, can hunker down and create something amazing with the combination of the right determination, goals, and passion!
In this interview, we chat about elopement & destination photography, how she broke into the industry, and some of the cool things she has up her sleeves. You’ll also learn some more about The Mountain Retreat – a photography getaway you can join in on!!
Can you share a bit of background about yourself and how you got into photography?
Hi! I’m Courtney!
I am a Destination Wedding and Elopement Photographer and I friggin’ love it!
I am a big animal lover. I currently have 4 cats and 1 dog. They’re quite needy beasts, but I love them to death! Don’t hate me, but I’m not a coffee person. I drink coffee when I travel at cafe’s, but that’s it, because I am a tea drinker and drink it all day long!
I stumbled upon photography completely by random not even 2 years ago. I have always been an extremely creative person and knew that a desk job was never in my future. Although, jokes on me, because being a photographer 90% of the job is sitting at a desk–but it’s desk work I love!
Once I got a camera in my hands I immediately fell in love. I started taking family pictures, couple’s pictures, pictures of my animals–basically everything I could. I quickly learned that working with couples was where my heart was at!
What made you want to pursue photography as a career? And what drove you to settle into destination weddings & elopements as your focus?
It’s a bit of a long story of how I got into photography as my career and I wrote a blog about it. Feel free to check it out >HERE<.
I am an avid traveler and love to explore new places. Growing up I went camping in the mountains every summer, so being outdoors is something that has always been close to me. So, when I started to learn more about destination weddings and elopements I knew immediately that it was what I was suppose to do. I have loved doing a lot of different things in my life, but I have never been so driven and passionate as I am to be an elopement photographer.
How has your transition from the USA to Italy been both personally and in your photography pursuits? I’ve consistently followed your work since meeting at the photographer retreat in Oregon, and have loved seeing the growth, consistency, and beautiful Italian locations on display!
Oh man, it has been a very up and down process and I’m still figuring it out. In the beginning, both personally and in my business, it was a struggle. I was overwhelmed. Dealing with the move while being thrown into a completely different culture wasn’t the easiest thing. I got super frustrated that I wasn’t getting clients, I missed, and still do–a LOT, the photography community back home. There isn’t a photography community here and I miss being able to meet new people in the industry and having meet ups with friends. It’s extremely different in every aspect.
However, I’ve realized that you just have to roll with the punches and it’s how you react to hard situations that define you. I’ve been pushing and pushing and feel like I’m finally starting to make a dent, but the work never stops no matter what. I’ve slowly started to figure it out here and have had some incredible experiences both personally and in photography that probably wouldn’t have come if I wasn’t here.
Do you have any tips you could share for aspiring elopement photographers out there? How did you manage to get some of your first bookings in amazing foreign destinations?
The list could go on!
If you want to be seen as an expert in your field you need to show them that you are. Meaning, if you want to be hired for an elopement in Switzerland, you need to go to Switzerland, take pictures, document your travel with pictures, take Instagram stories and blog blog blog!
If you aren’t showing people that you travel, why would someone hire Photographer A who appears to not want to travel or have any experience doing so versus Photographer B who travels often and already has taken pictures in the location they desire?
After reviewing your portfolio online, it is incredible to see how many places you have been to like Switzerland, Ireland, Germany, and around the USA, how many couples you’ve shot for, and just how consistent your images have managed to be over the years. What have been some of your favorite places and experiences on this journey of yours?
Do I have to pick? 🙂
Ireland was always my dream destination to visit so that is pretty high up on the list and I’m going back next year for another elopement to a different area than I went to last time so I’m super excited about that!
However, my all time favorite place would have to be the Dolomites in Italy. I could talk about this location forever. The Dolomites hold some of the most spectacular views I’ve ever seen in my life!
Going along with talking about your portfolio for a moment, it’s hard not to notice the distinct mood & style of editing you have. I personally find it pretty interesting that not every image featured in your feed is taken at Golden Hour as well -something I have a bad habit of doing – as do many other photographers in the wedding industry. How would you describe your approach to photography shoots – both during the pre-planning, actual shooting, and post processing stages?
Ohhh yess. Ok, unpopular opinion coming up ahead!
I think a lot of photographers are scared of shooting in harsh light, because they throw on a preset and are used to making small adjustments, but don’t really know how to use every single thing in Lightroom properly to be able to adjust for different types of situations. That’s why I think it’s so important to learn how to create your own preset, because it will force you to learn everything in Lightroom and make you learn what you can do better in camera to make the post process easier.
I used to hate shooting in harsh light as well until I was forced to work with it and learn how to shoot in it, and now I love it! I use only 1 color preset and 1 B&W preset that I created to edit every single image which helps tremendously with consistency.
I typically still center my shoots around golden hour if possible, because it super pretty and everyone loves the soft shadows!
During a shoot I stay as far away from hands on posing and telling the couple to put their hand here and there, because it’s just not natural. I use prompts that allow for the couple to interpret them how they want and by allowing them to interpret my prompt themselves they automatically do what is most natural to them and in the end makes for a more natural and ‘unposed’ photo that allows the couple’s personality to shine.
Related post: Our review of Signature Edit’s Genesis Presets – great for beginners & pros alike!
Your personal brand is very strong. Just a quick glimpse through your Instagram or website (it’s absolutely amazing!) gives a real sense of who you are both as a person and a photographer. I especially love how you add plenty of photos of yourself and personal thoughts throughout – I imagine this allows couples to connect with you before they even send that first email. With this said, how have you approached your personal branding as a photographer? Any tips you can share for those who want to start their own photo businesses to help stand out from the crowd?
Let your personality shine!
You can be professional while still letting your personality come through. In the end, there are a ton of amazing photographers out there and the only difference between you and the photographer next to you–is YOU.
Your ideal audience is going to hire you because they connect with you. Obviously they have to like your work, but in the end if they connect with you and like you as a person they are 100 times more likely to hire you versus the photographer next to you.
While photographing our couple’s is always a great time, as photographers we can both probably admit that having some time for R&R and connecting with other creatives can be a great refresher. With this said, I have plenty of things to talk with you about! Let’s start with this – how do you like to spend your down time, and do you get to take photos “just for fun” or for personal projects at all?
Is there really such a thing a downtime? Haha! I’m pretty bad at turning my business mind off, but I try to keep my evenings free to spend with my husband when he gets home from work. I love to just sit down on the couch with a cup of tea or a glass of wine and watch a movie or whatever TV show I’m going through at the moment.
I travel often and getting to take landscape pictures of wherever I am is always so fun for me! Whenever there is a lightning storm and I’m at home I’ll go sit on my balcony and get some images of lightning which is super exciting for me haha. I also take lots of pictures of fur babies 🙂
Sharing knowledge and expertise with other photographers (and those aspiring to be photographers) is really one of the great parts of working in this industry. It’s always a little flattering to have people reach out for advice (to say the least).
In addition to shooting weddings & elopements, you have also gone down the road of providing education and opportunities for photographers to work together. Most recently, you’ve been highlighting your next photo workshop – The Mountain Retreat – to be a 4 day event hosted at a chalet in Austria. What made you choose Austria for the location?
Austria is such a gorgeous country and is home to some truly incredible mountains! I chose a small mountain town outside of Salzburg that has easy access to some epic hikes and views which is part of what the retreat is all about!
The Mountain Retreat is all about photographers and videographers coming together to make rad new friends, enjoy the fresh mountain air, go hiking, add some epic pictures to your portfolio, learning a bit, and having time to relax by the fire while getting to know one another!
Interested in The Mountain Retreat? It’s happening September 9th – 13th, 2020 in Austria. You can find out more and reserve your spot here.
Do you have any advice for photography business owners who may be considering putting together their own education retreats in the future? What are some challenges you’ve faced putting this together?
For me, I wanted to try to keep it as cheap as possible for everyone so that more people could have access to an event like this. Through planning these retreats I’ve realized just how much work I’m putting into it, and how much information I share that I need to value myself more. Once I get these first two under my belt, I’ll know what I’m doing haha! Trying to figure out how much money to spend here and there isn’t easy especially when you have a group of people so it’s more of a practice makes perfect type thing!
If you’re trying or want to put on your own you need to find your purpose for it.
- Why do you want to do it?
- What’s your goal for putting it on?
- What type of photographers do you want to attract?
Just a few of the questions you should be asking yourself!
We all know photographers (especially beginners) can sometimes get pretty caught up in “gear talk”, but it’s easy to see why when we all want to have the ability to produce work on par with those photographers we look up to. Can you tell us about your first camera setup, and what the most valuable gear for you right now is?
The very first camera I got is the one I still have now! When I do something I’m the type of person to go all in. My very first camera was a Nikon D750 and a 35mm, 50mm and 24mm! I now have 2 of them and use the same lenses. I probably use my 35mm the most, but I love using my 24mm to get some amazing wide shots!
If you had to sum up your approach to taking pictures and purpose for being a photographer, how would you define these things?
I’m a photographer to help couples create the day of their dreams. I always try to go above and beyond for them and help them in every aspect that I possibly can! It’s the best feeling to make someone’s dream come true and to be able to be able to document it for them and to see them drool over their images. In the process, I’ve made some amazing new friends and I think that’s pretty awesome!
You can find Courtney online through her website, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also check out more information about The Mountain Retreat by visiting here. If the Austria retreat is sold out by the time you get there, there will be more on the way for 2021!
For more interviews and photography education articles – stay tuned here on Formed From Light!