5 minutes with... New York wedding photographer Kimberly Hidore

Philadelphia wedding photographer KIMBERLY HIDORE has loved photography since middle school when she would spend hours in the dark room, and carrying her DSLR with her everywhere, especially when traveling. "Years ago, my little sister decided to elope at a courthouse. She hired a photographer to capture the day, but 10 minutes before the ceremony, the photographer cancelled. Of course my DSLR was in my bag, so with absolutely no wedding or professional photography experience, I photographed her elopement. In that moment, I knew I wanted to know more about photography and photographing weddings. The rest is history."

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PATH TO GET THERE. You could say I was obsessed. While I have loved photography from a young age, the thrill of photographing couples and capturing emotion was new to me. I voraciously learned all that I could through courses and working with other photographers. I love to learn, so I push myself constantly to keep learning about my craft and hone my style.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I would describe my style as romantic and editorial. I love to offer direction to my couples to create chic, artistic portraits, but I also live for the in-between moments and the natural interactions. My style is highly emotive and very romantic as I capture genuine love and joy.

Read on to learn more about her.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WEDDINGS? What I love most about weddings is the joy that fills a wedding day. My face often hurts from smiling at t
he end of the night. I love seeing the joy between couples as the promise forever to each other, and also the joy of family and friends who are delighted to offer support and love on such an important occasion. To have everyone you love in one room to celebrate you is a gift, and I love seeing my couples embrace and make the most of every moment.

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE WITH US AND TELL US WHY. This is my favorite image for so many reasons. Bianca and Francesco were the sweetest and so very, very in love. This photo captures their emotion in the moment, as they lean into each other for a devastatingly romantic kiss as they made their wedding exit on a vintage cigarette boat on Lake Como. The light reflecting on the lake mirrors the levity of the moment, with the mountains in the background for dramatic effect.

CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING EXPERIENCE? I had the privilege of photographing a wedding for dear friends a couple of years ago. While the wedding itself was exquisite, this was one of my favorite wedding days because I already loved this couple so much. They let me in even more because we were already friends, and I was able to capture so much deep emotion from one of the most kind and loving couples I know. It was a true gift.

ASIDE FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS, THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? Coffee, traveling, and the beach.

WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU ON A SUNDAY MORNING? On a Sunday morning, you would probably find me in a yoga studio. I am incredibly passionate about yoga and I am actually a certified instructor.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF? An ideal day off would be spent in Italy, wandering the cobblestone streets and sipping cappuccinos in picturesque cafes.

Philadelphia wedding photographer KIMBERLY HIDORE is a valued member of the Magnolia Rouge Vendor Collective. Kimberly loves capturing weddings on the East Coast and internationally. "I fell in love with photography when I was just 12 years old, learning to shoot on film and develop my own images in a dark room. I have loved visual storytelling ever since, and it has been one of my life’s greatest joys to work as an artist and business owner to tell love stories. I specialise in capturing ethereal joy drenched in beautiful light, and effortless images that depict the nuances of human emotion and pure connection. I live for the expression of human emotion—the tiniest touch of a hand, wiping tears from a lover’s cheek, and the joy that radiates from my couples’ eyes as they promise forever to each other. You can see more of her portfolio here.