Capturing photos of your wedding day is one of the most important hiring processes you'll encounter in the wedding planning process. Hiring someone with a wide range of experience – from film to digital, light to dark – are very imprtant factors to think about! Let us introduce you to Ryan Tolbert of Ryan Tolbert Photography. With a background in darkroom film photography for 16 years, Ryan has a hybrid approach to capturing your Nashville wedding photos. A photojournalistic approach is (in my opinion) one of the best styles in wedding photography today and Ryan will capture those special moments in between the traditional wedding must-have shots. So without further ado, I'll let Ryan take it from here!
Tell us about Ryan Tolbert Photography + how long you've been in business.
Ryan: I have been shooting weddings professionally for 5 years, although I have been into photography for over 16 years. I started in the darkroom with film and today I am a hybrid photgrapher. I work with both film and digital photography as a medium to give life to my photos. My primary style is photojournalism. I love story-telling. I want to capture the day in moments where you didn't even realize I was there. I love how weddings enable to me to document the beginning of a love story between two people.
How did you get started in weddings?
Ryan: I got started with weddings for two reasons: one because my wife is a wedding planner, so it made sense for me to see how that fit my style. Two, I always knew that I wanted to be a people photographer. Serious people, silly people, lovey-dovey people… all of it. I love the fast paced nature of the day, the excitement as the bride looks into the mirror for the first time, the way the groom smiles as he watches his stunning bride come down aisle. I love capturing all of the little details, the handmade decorations, the special toasts from a lifelong friend. I aim to capture real candid moments in a photojournalistic style. Of course I love to take posed formal pictures, but I love the candid moments in between just as much.
What's the philosophy behind Ryan Tolbert Photography?
Ryan: My philosophy in a word is “simplicity”. The real art to being a great people photographer is getting your subjects to be themselves. It can be nerve-wracking to be in front of the camera, so I try to make my clients feel like they are hanging out with a friend. Once they can let their guard down, you can capture the couple as if you weren't there. Many times the relationship we cultivate through the camera ends up leading to a real life-long friendship.
What are your strengths compared to other photographers?
Ryan: One of the unique things about us is that we can work with just about any type of lighting scenario. While I love a bright sunny day at a beautiful outdoor venue, this is not always realistic for every occassion or every time of year. We work with artificial light when the situation calls for it, all while making the images look as natural as possible. We can also use artifcial light to intentionally create more dramatic photos. These are unique images that can't be replicated with a phone and look completely different that what they may see with the naked eye.
What type of bride will book you to photograph their wedding?
Ryan: Shopping for photography is not an easy task. It's likely something that a bride has never done before. I would like to think that brides are attracted to my business because they want to invest in me as a person. Every wedding is unique, every couple is unique, so I try to make the experience as personal as possible. My first question at a consultation is “tell me about your wedding”…because I genuinely want to know.
What is the most innovative new photography trend that brides and grooms might appreciate?
Ryan: I love talking to couples about the upside of a first look. While there is nothing wrong with traditionally seeing each other at the ceremony, the first look opens up so many possibilities. I love seeing the couple get to embrace each other for the first time. These are cherished photos that the couple would not have had otherwise. I only need 15-20 mins to create some quick magic that they will appreciate for years to come.
Is there anything else you'd like to share about your company?
Ryan: While it's not highly mentioned on my website, or social media I am available for destination weddings. I can hold an umbrella drink and operate a camera at the same time… you'll see.
Thank you so much for sharing some insight into your photography style and vibe, Ryan! We're so excited to see more of your work! You can see more of Ryan's portfolio on his website here and also on his Instagram page here.
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