How did you get into photography? Are you self-taught or formally trained?
Both! I (Amber) have an undergrad degree in Fine Arts, I started photography after losing my hearing and giving up a career in classical music. At first, I was self-taught but then I enrolled in the International School of Wedding Photographers to fine tune my craft.
Describe your style in one sentence.
Our style is timeless, intimate and authentic. We believe marriage is forever, so we create images that will withstand trends.
What’s been your favorite experience as a wedding photographer?
We are both a sucker for father-daughter dances and first looks, but by far our favorite part of any wedding day are the vows. We love being apart of a couple’s day one of forever.
What do you love most about photographing weddings? Why do you photograph weddings in particular?
We love the people. We believe that photographs preserve relationships. We aim to capture the authentic interactions that happen on a wedding day so that our couples have a tangible memento of all the people they love best.
Where is the most interesting or unique place you’ve photographed a wedding? Was there anything especially challenging about it?
The deck of a yacht was unique and offered amazing views of the bay and city skyline as a backdrop for our couple.
Do you have a favorite, must-capture moment for every wedding?
My personal favorite is the groom’s reaction as his bride comes down the aisle. I also love to capture the exit from the ceremony when the joy of being married is radiating off of them!
As a photographer, what has been your biggest wedding day challenge?
Creatively lighting dark wedding venues!
What piece of advice would you give brides and grooms to ensure that they get wedding photos they love forever? (This can include tips about preparation, choosing a photographer, or anything else.)
Create a wedding timeline with your photographer to maximize the best lighting conditions so that you can guarantee that you have plenty of beautiful portraits to hang in your home. Also, an unplugged ceremony ensures that your photographers can do their job unencumbered, allowing us more opportunities to capture the most important moments.
What are your favorite wedding trends to photograph right now?
This year many of our couples have chosen to dine al fresco under the stars and we just love the warm, romantic intimacy of these receptions!
How do you think an app like Joy can help make weddings better?
I love that Joy has created a platform to give couples the opportunity to share what matters to them most and streamline the communication with guests!
If you weren’t a wedding photographer, what would you be doing?
I can’t imagine another life, but I do have the itch to write, so perhaps I would turn my storytelling efforts in that direction!
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
We believe that the wedding day is the start to forever, it is saying “I Do” in the every day. Joy is delighting in all the aspects of marriage, even the hard ones. It is looking back at how far you have come together and still be excited for what the future will bring.
Contact Amber Lea Photography here, or follow on them on Facebook and Instagram.
