Meet Rebecca Keeling of Rebecca Keeling Studios. She specializes in weddings, couples, and babies- really, she can do it all!
Question 1: Send your favorite picture of yourself. Folks need to be able to stop you in public
and tell you how awesome you are.
Question 2: How would you describe your ideal wedding? The perfect client for you?
I
don't think I can honestly describe an "ideal" wedding because they are
all so incredibly different and amazing in their own individual way.
My experience as a photographer is totally dependent upon my
relationship with my client, not so much by the wedding itself. Clients
who trust me implicitly and who connect with my style and photography
vision, who open their hearts fully to the experience, who pull out
their cute rain boots and kiss their new hubby under an umbrella when
its raining on their big day, who are able to move beyond the stresses
and distractions of their wedding day and really soak in the joy and
love and happiness...these are my perfect clients. Whether it's a
wedding at a big fancy hotel, a field in the middle of nowhere, a tiny
community church, or a Ruritan Hall (yep, we've been there, too)...if
there's true love and deep depths of joy, I will find the beauty there.
Question 3: How would you describe your photography style?
Personal
photography style is really a journey without a particular end for me.
It is ever changing and moving and growing. It's kind of like your
wardrobe...some days it's bright and sunny...some days it's a bit dark
and moody...sneakers...high heels. I use a lot of natural light in my
portrait work, so the feel of a particular session is often totally
dependent on the weather. But I guess I would have to say two of the
elements of my style that are always constant are light and emotion.
Using light is something that took me a very long time to figure
out...and something I still work on every time I pick up my camera.
I've often had people tell me how much they love an image and when I
ask why it's almost always something to do with the light...and the
honest, real emotion I am able to capture, which goes back to having a
personal connection with my clients.
Question 4: What's something that every bride should know
about you?
That I
LIVE for telling stories with my camera...especially a great love
story. I am a ridiculous romantic and I cry at pretty much every
wedding I photograph. Especially if you write your own vows. Forget
about it. I LOVE being a part of your big day and all of the planning
that goes into making it crazy amazing. I have lots of suggestions that
I'll share with you about details that you might not think are
important...but make a huge difference in your images...most
specifically about lighting throughout the day in different locations
you have chosen. But mostly just know that I'm going to do everything
in my power to create the MOST incredible images of your day!
Question 5: What's your favorite venue/season/etc that
you've shot at so far?
Oh,
there's no way to pick just one favorite venue! We've been so
fortunate to shoot in so many beautiful spots...gardens, beaches,
wineries, backyards...there is beauty everywhere! And while indoor
wedding venues can be lovely, I am an outdoor girl at heart. Favorite
season is a bit easier...I do love the fall SO very much. A bit cooler
weather, ridiculously beautiful colors outside, and the sun just seems
to be more beautifully, buttery golden yellow. There is nothing more
gorgeous than an image of a bride and groom with a little bit of sun
flare in the warm autumn afternoon sunshine. Whew...makes me smile just
thinking about it!
Question 6: What was your favorite aspect of your own
wedding?
It's
funny that you should ask that since I am in the middle of planning our
wedding as we speak! We are eloping to the beautiful snowy mountains
of Wintergreen in March, so I'm not having quite the same challenges as a
bride who is having a "traditional" day. I have a 9 year old son who
we are incorporating into our ceremony with personalized vows. Gregg
and I both felt like the day was really just about the three of us
becoming a family and so we decided it would be so perfect if we were
just us! Of course, we are taking along one of our dearest friends, who
is a photographer, to help us capture the day. We obviously couldn't
leave that part out! I have this amazing vision of us in the snow,
surrounded by green cedar trees. With any luck we will have some
beautiful snowflakes falling all around us as we pledge our love to each
other. See...ridiculous romantic at heart.
Question 7: What's the biggest piece of advice you could
give a bride and groom choosing their photographer?
Wow...this
is a big one. I think it would be research, research, research...and
then research some more. All vendors, not just your photographer. The
best referrals will come from your friends who have already gone through
the process, but don't just hire someone because your bestie loved
them. Especially for photographers, it is JUST as important to connect
with their work as well as their personality, rather than making your
decision based on whether you can afford them. Sometimes it might just
be worth taking a little bit from the cake budget, and a little bit from
the alcohol budget, and a little bit from the flower budget and put a
bit more into your photographer. After all, the images from your day
are the only tangible item you will have years from now to remember
those moments and to share with your children and grandchildren. That
doesn't mean you have to spend beyond your means...as a bride planning
my own wedding, I totally understand having a budget. I'm just saying
that if photography is really important to you, put your dollars where
they will last the longest...in your first family heirlooms.
Just like always... here's some of her amazing work that she's done with Maya Couture brides!
Want to know more? Check her out at http://www.rebeccakeelingstudios.com/!
