I was raised in a northern community and found myself drawn to camping, hiking and exploring at an early age. After high school I started out on my first international backpack trip and before I knew it, nearly ten years had passed, and I had traveled around our globe many times. During my years abroad I had the good fortune to meet some great people…two of which, a young Danish photographer and a Parisian artist, set me on my path to photography. I had no formal education in photography but I saw the world quite differently than many others I knew.

My greatest success was meeting my wife Colleen, who comes from a completely different background.  She is well educated and encouraged my passion and has taught me how to pursue my dreams with hard work.  In our nine years together she has given me three amazing little backpackers. I’m goofy, I laugh a lot and I don’t take life too seriously. And when I take photos I don’t just want them to be pretty, I want them to be pretty freaking awesome.

My parents. They had me at a young age and left their remote hometown and followed an opportunity for a better life. Life wasn’t easy when we were young but they taught me to explore, be independent and take risks. For photography, Sebastiao Salgado. His early work is quite dramatic and I am drawn to his framing and powerful emotions.

My work has continued to change and develop over the past 15 years. I’m not sure I can label it, but from my travel background I’m drawn to wide spaces and powerful and intense portraits. I lean towards the dramatic even though my personality is loose and light – perhaps that style of imagery is my outlet for my dramatic side?

I’ve been fortunate to shoot in incredible places with fun brides and grooms which has lead to some pretty cool weddings and shots. I don’t think I could pick one favourite and I’m just happy that people trust me with them.   The new father in me has really changed the way I view weddings from when I had no children. Of my three kids I have two daughters, so every wedding reminds me that one day I hope to be lucky enough to walk these princesses down the aisle.

Each couple and the photographer have their own personality and style. Speaking on behalf of myself I want to remind couples that this day is about bringing family and friends together one time! No two weddings or emotions are ever the same so your day will be yours, and your images unique to your wedding.  So you might have images in mind from Pinterest or somewhere, but it’s likely impossible to replicate them, and they may look forced. Trust whoever you hire on your wedding day to capture the real moments that mattered to you that day and take time to enjoy your day and the people surrounding you.

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Visit Carey’s blog to see all his latest adventures!

Cheers,

Jennifer + Team | Jennifer Bergman Weddings
Edmonton Wedding Planning + Design

Meet Kelly Redinger. Kelly is the fun-natured photographer behind Kelly Redinger Studios, based out of Sherwood Park, AB.

Quick – give us your best Tweetography (ie. tell us about yourself in 140 characters or less)!

Hello. I’m Kelly. I photograph people in love. And I wake up every morning super excited to create inspiring photos. I am a happy guy.

Why did you become a photographer?

I have always been a visual person. And I love meeting people. It was a natural fit to combine these two into an awesome career. Photography allows me the opportunity to freeze in time the amazing things I see around me. And I love how looking at an image, at this single frozen moment in time, can evoke such strong emotional responses. After finishing my bachelor of commerce degree and working at a job I absolutely hated, I made the decision to wake up every day and enjoy what I do for a living. Choosing photography was a really easy decision, and I’ve never looked back!

Who have been the biggest influences in your life?

My biggest photography influence comes from master photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Julia Margaret Cameron because of their ability to capture amazingly touching moments in a time when technology made photography extremely difficult. They were photographers in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, and they could capture these brilliant moments with these antiquated tools, and their images have stood the test of time as some of the best. Especially in our tech-savvy world, it is inspiring to be reminded that a photographer is not defined by his photo equipment, but by his talent and creativity.

What are some wedding day photography tips that couples should keep in mind?

By far the biggest thing I try to encourage couples to keep in mind is to enjoy the day! This seems simple, but there is so much time and energy spent planning out the day, that often the bride and groom get caught up stressing over the tiniest details and lose sight that this is supposed to be one of the happiest day of their lives! Relax, enjoy yourselves, enjoy your guests, and be present. If you are distracted and worried about the small stuff, then your wedding photos will capture that. But if you can forget about your stress and all the little details, and just focus on savouring every moment of your wedding day, you can be sure that when you view your photographs, you will see your joy and happiness and love written all over them.

Do you have a favourite wedding or wedding moment that you’ve photographed?

This is a tough call as I find there is something special in every wedding. One of my favourite moments from this past year was working with Danielle and Christopher. They had a really small wedding, and only wanted a small and intimate creative photo session as a compliment to their day. Their energy, and love, and eagerness to have great images meant we created a TON of fantastic photos in a really short period of time. The highlight of the day (for me…I’m sure getting married was their highlight!) was having Danielle pose in the window display of Career Girl Bridal on Jasper Ave.  I love how the photos turned out. They were SO much fun to work with.

What’s in store this year for Kelly Redinger Studios?

I am looking forward to introducing some new elements into my wedding photography, continuing to evolve my style, and expanding my brand to an even larger audience. I am also developing a couples portrait session called’ 1+1 Sessions’ geared specifically towards couples (think engagement photos for people who are already married!)  Another exciting project I am developing right now is a photography workshop called I Photograph People, which will help guide photographers in working with people and getting the best results. This is shaping up to be a busy year!

You’ve been married for 10 years now – any tips for the future newlyweds out there?

Hold hands. Hug in public. Laugh. Have date nights. Surprise your husband/wife with little notes in his/her wallet, or car, or lunch bag, telling them how awesome they are. And flowers now and then don’t hurt either.

A few of Kelly’s amazing images:

Drop by Kelly’s blog to say ‘hi’ and see what’s he’s been up to recently!

Thanks Kelly!

Jennifer