Wild Faith Photo

Wild Faith Photo Located out of Northern Colorado

09/02/2026

Key Elements to Storytelling in Photos ↓

+Use light to set the tone. How do you want it to feel? Dreamy? I use backlighting. Moody? I use lower light situations. Dramatic? Look for high contrast between light and shadows.

+ No two stories are the same, so why should your sessions be? Dive deep into each couple’s story and craft a story that fits them and who they are.

+ Just like in the movies, I use color grading to help convey the emotions I want to evoke. A lot of my work is meant to feel romantic and whimsical, so I focus on greens and warm colors.

+ Composition makes it visually appealing! In framing each shot, I think about what elements to include and how they interact within the scene, and what will create unique interest. This technique guides the viewer’s eye and helps them view it as you intend.

+ REAL! EMOTIONS! ARE! EVERYTHING!!! Let them come naturally. Trust me, you don’t need to tell your couples to fake laugh!

+ Throughout shooting, I continually ask myself, “What’s next?” This keeps the energy moving and the narrative building, moving along the storyline in a way that makes sense.

+ Set the scene with a compelling first shot and finish with an impactful last image

08/31/2026

HOW I MIX APPROACHES ↓

My approach is documentary at the center, then cinematic in the way I capture it. The genuine moment comes FIRST. Then I think about how to photograph it in a way that makes you feel something.

1. The moment | My first thought is not “how do I make this look cinematic?” It is “what is actually happening right now?” The nervous hands, your mom watching you get ready, your uncle taking a shot of tequila. I start by paying attention.

2. Making it cinematic | Once I see the moment, THEN I think about framing, composition, light, movement, layers, and color. Maybe I photograph your mom through the doorway or frame your friends laughing through a reflection. The moment is documentary. The way I capture it is cinematic.

3. Being an observer | I have to actually be IN your wedding day to notice those moments. Getting to know your grandparents, making besties with the little ones, getting in the middle of the dance floor. I’m not standing across the room waiting for something obvious to happen.

4. Gentle direction | During portraits, it is PROMPTS OVER POSING!!!! I give you something to do, you do it how you naturally would, and then I adjust from there. I want the photo to be beautiful, but I still want to recognize YOU in it.

5. The feeling | I want you to be able to hand your gallery to a stranger and have them tell you what your wedding felt like. Who cried. Who never left the dance floor. What the weather was doing. Not because I recreated it, because I noticed it and knew how to photograph it.

6. Getting to know you BEFORE | I can’t know what to watch for if I don’t know you. Who matters most? What do you want to remember? Do we want 20 minutes of editorial portraits and 20 minutes of whimsical storytelling? How do you actually want your wedding day to FEEL?

The real moment first. Then everything I know about cinema goes into how I preserve it.

08/31/2026

MY APPROACH TO WEDDING DAYS ↓

1. Being an observer | I am constantly watching for the genuine moments that are already happening. I don’t want to force something just for a photo. I want you to actually LIVE your wedding day!!! I do that by IMMERSING myself in your day — getting to know your grandparents, making besties with the little ones, getting in the middle of the dance floor

2. Composition | Documentary doesn’t mean I’m just taking snapshots of whatever happens — I am still thinking about framing, light, movement, and how every image fits into the full story.

3. The feeling | Cinematic photography is about capturing the most beautiful moments of this life in a way that actually makes you FEEL something. I want you to be able to hand your Gallery off to a stranger and then tell you everything about the day.

4. Gentle direction | I will guide you when you need it, especially during portraits, but I don’t want anything to ever feel posed or forced. I create the space and then let the real interaction happen. PROMPTS OVER POSING!!!! It gives you the space to do it how you naturally would — then I adjust from there.

5. The in-between moments | The nervous hands, your mom watching you get ready, your friends laughing in the corner, the five minutes alone after the ceremony. These moments are just as important to me as the BIG ones.

6. Telling the whole story | I’m not just trying to create a gallery full of pretty photos. I want your photos to feel like your wedding day. The rain drops on the window, your uncle taking a shot of tequila, the wind in your veil

7. GETTING TO KNOW YOU BEFORE!!!! This is the biggest piece, a successful wedding day needs a ton of prep work and getting to know you, what you want on your wedding day, what you don’t want, how you want to feel, etc… I spent so much time helping me figure out how we’ll split the photos as well, do we want to do 20 minutes of editorial in 20 minutes of whimsical storytelling?

08/31/2026

How To Take Cinematic Photos ↓

+ I pretend like I’m filming a movie rather than taking photos. This allows me to create more movement and genuine interaction. I tell my couples to act like they’re on a date! I don’t want anything to ever feel posed of forced.

+ Play with light | I used to be terrified of shooting any time other than golden hour, and all my subjects “had” to be backlit. I use side lighting to create a lot of hard shadows. I suggest watching youtube videos on cinematic lighting.

+ I personalize each session. This is also made a HUGE difference in my work. I used to put every couple in the same poses, at the same location. Now I take time getting to know my couple’s stories, put them in a location FOR them, and even sometimes shop for their shoot! Remember: you’re telling a story and you have to get to know your couple to do that.

+Color grade similar to cinema. I studied a lot on color theory (YouTube is amazing for this). In movies, they carefully select each and every detail that involves color (wardrobe,lighting, scenery,etc…) A really popular duo is a teal/ blue in the shadows and warm peach in the highlights. This creates a beautiful contrast.

+ I watch a TON of movies and make shot decks! I use shotdeck to create boards of inspiration which helps me with posing, color grading, and lighting!

+Study the Art of Cinema. There is so much free information on YouTube that’s INVALUABLE. Instead of studying photography, I study cinema! I heard from a birdie that there might be a good course out there too 🤫😉

+ Evoke real emotions. Make them laugh, smile, love. FOSTER SPACE FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY DO THINGS THAT THEY WOULD IRL!!!

+ You are telling a story. Ask yourself “what’s next” constantly throughout the shoot.

+ Remember - every movie has an incredible intro scene and closing scene. Introduce the couple, set the scene, and focus on details.

+ GET TO KNOW YOUR COUPLE! This is one is HUGE. You can’t tell their story without knowing their story.

surprise… i shoot weddings!! (just kidding — i have for the past ten years.. but i just never post them oooops) weddings...
08/23/2026

surprise… i shoot weddings!! (just kidding — i have for the past ten years.. but i just never post them oooops) weddings are my favorite and always leave my heart sooo so full and i always leave so creatively inspired.

brian and chloe’s wedding was the most beautiful mix of editorial and storytelling, and i absolutely LOVEEEEEE when i get to mix both approaches. i couldn’t wait to share these with you all!!!

do you have a favorite?!

04/14/2026

FREE COLOR THEORY EDITING GUIDE ⬇️

A few years ago, I remember so many moments where I was nearly in tears, or wanting to rip my hair out.. sometimes both, all because I was obsessed with the idea of a consistent editing style.

I thought that I had to forge the same colors to work across every single shoot.

Anyways… BORRRRIINNNNGGGGGGG!!!

How do you think movies make you feel so much?

Can you imagine if every scene was edited the same way — the one where they’re skinny dipping after dusk, vs. the one where they’re soaking in golden light, wild and in love, vs. the one where she’s left heartbroken on her front steps in the rain?

It would ruin the whole story.

That’s why color grading is such a big deal in film… they literally hire professional colorists just to do that one job.

And color grading should be just as important in your work, too.

In each of these images, I leaned into the LIGHT, the mood, and the emotion.

I used oranges and pinks to convey the warmth of love, romance, yourh.

I used blues and purples to tap into nostalgia and excitement.

I used reds to bring in intimacy.

I used ANALOGOUS colors in the highlights and shadows to create an immersive effect that just melts you into the image.

If you want to learn more about how to use color this way, drop a comment with the world COLOR — and I’ll send you my Color Grading 101 Guide !!! I think this is truly my most packed freebie yet so I’m SOOOOOOOOOOO excited for you all to grab it!!!!!!!

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THIS?! FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE WITH ME!!!


editing, presets, color grading, cinema, photography education, photo advice, education, editing, lightroom, adobe

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Fort Collins, CO

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