We are big fans of the beautiful work of Phoenix Wedding Photographer BRITTANY MAHOOD and we couldn’t recommend her highly enough. With a timeless fine art aesthetic she works hard to ensure your day is documented with a winning combination of art and heart! We’re thrilled to have her be a part of the MAGNOLIA ROUGE VENDOR GUIDE. Read on to learn more about her.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER? Weddings are celebrations in which all of my favourite things culminate; the people, the food, the flowers, the details and nature. This sector of photography turns all the little intricacies of a day into a legacy; for my couples, their families and for myself as well.
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PATH TO GET THERE: Before photography, I had spent my life playing ice hockey. Being born in Canada with a hockey coach for a father, it was a natural fit. In my early 20’s that chapter came to a close and I felt a gap. In high school I had taken some darkroom classes and really enjoyed the process, so I decided to pick up where I left off, trying to find my new passion. I picked up a camera in 2010 while still in college, began shooting friends and soon enough, those friends tricked me into becoming my first clients. And I’m forever grateful for those in the beginning. Since then, I have been blessed with some really amazing friendships within this industry that have brought all of our businesses to new heights, together.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? Soft, with depth. I have honed in on my shooting and editing style to deliver images that feel ‘whole.’ Film has given me that soft colour and combined with finding flattering light, my style feels romantic, strong and at times even a little moody. My greatest hope is that in 20, 30, 50 years, my couples will find their photos have stood the test of time as a true reflection of them.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WEDDINGS? Weddings bring people together, it’s one of life’s few events where family and friends across the globe hop on a plane to celebrate you. I also love well thought out design. From setting the tone with a custom invitation suite, to the wedding bouquets, to the cake, these little details add so much character and life to a wedding day. My favourite details are always going to be the personal touches; using your mom’s salad recipe for the first course, having your grandmothers silver tray to place your bouquet on for styling, etc. Those intimate details are what make a wedding day truly about the couple and I love capturing that.
CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING EXPERIENCE? I’ve been a part quite a few weddings were I’ve given the toast to the bride as well as photographed the day, so those were all special because they were for people I loved and I got to be involved in a couple different aspects of the day. My favourite experience aside from that would have to be being hired to shoot a wedding in New Zealand. The scenery was incredible, the couple was perfect for each other and I really felt honoured to be apart of it. That’s also where I met Mrs. and Mr. Magnolia Rouge so of course that had to be apart of this!
SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE WITH US AND TELL US WHY: This below is my favourite image, taken this past autumn at a wedding in Canada. The family photos had just finished and we were just about to head to cocktail hour. They had this lace ceremony draping (that was $20 from a fabric store) hanging from the rafters for their ceremony. I asked the couple to stand behind the lace for a minute while I held one side tight to shoot through it. It reminds me that wedding photography is all about ‘making it work’ and choosing the right photographer who can execute your vision. A simple and cheap piece of fabric with 30 seconds outside of ‘portrait time’ on the wedding day led to something pretty special.
ASIDE FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS, THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Juicing – 80% vegetables, 20% fruits. Every big and minor health issue I’ve ever had has been fixed by drinking a jug of the green stuff every day, and boy can I tell the difference when I don’t. Email me for recommendations, I love talking about it!
The Office. Except I might favour Dwight and Angela over Jim and Pam as #couplegoals. Every wedding of mine for the last four years has been edited with The Office on in the background so naturally, I’ve won a few trivia nights.
Music. And Podcasts. So maybe I’ll summarise that as iTunes. I love everything from alternative indie (Bon Iver), rock (Kings of Leon) to rap (Drake, duh). My podcast list consists of This American Life, Dave Ramsey, 60 Minutes, TedTalks and the Accidental Creative among others.
WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU ON A SUNDAY MORNING? I’m a night owl and work most Saturdays with weddings, so I’ll definitely have slept in till 10 on a Sunday. My friends and I have a few favoUrite brunch spots we’ll frequent, then we’ll vote on what to do over a breakfast tostada. The options are usually going to the park, out to my friend’s farm, shopping for house stuff or watching The Office (it’s become a group obsession). Sunday evening one of us will cook, probably tacos, and drink red wine. I have been a homeowner for a year now so hostessing has become one of my favoUrite things!
HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF? We always try to hit concerts and shows that come to town, it’s my financial vice. I’ll be honest though, I’m not good at ‘off days.’ Even if I send a few emails or update some gallery images, I’ll be able to enjoy my ‘off time’ much better. However when I’m traveling, all bets are off. I’ll keep up with Instagram
and have a slightly delayed email queue, but other than that I’m adventuring. Those weeks are my reset button.
