5 minutes with... Washington D.C. wedding photographer Brigitte Renee

Having learnt to use film borrowing her stepdad's camera, Washington D.C. Wedding photographer BRIGITTE RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY fell in love with how timeless the medium is. She thrives on finding the balance of classic portraiture and whimsical fun, capturing your story in an elegant way, and also allowing you to be in the moment. "I hope you take away from our experience together the kinds of images that remind you of the joy that can be found in the simplest of moments together." Read on to learn more about her.

WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER? I’ve always had a desire to create. I find myself often feeling somewhat reserved, and I feel like photography can peel those layers away from both my subject and myself. It’s a way of showing people how I see the world. I just love it.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR PATH TO GET THERE: I used to fly in the Navy, and it was on an extended carrier deployment where all I saw day in and day out was gray. Shades of gray on the ship, shades of gray in the plane, gray everywhere. One of my bunkmates was engaged at the time, and looking through The Knot magazines gave me life. The vibrancy, the beauty, and the colour gave me joy in a way I never realised. I learned how to use my DSLR camera on the flight deck of the carrier, and when I got home, I started my business and never looked back. Sometimes seeing all the gray can help you highlight where the colour in your life is, I guess.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE? I like to describe my style as joyful, whimsical, and classic. I like my images to feel classic and timeless so even if the styles change a little, that sentiment is echoed throughout.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT WEDDINGS? Each wedding day is its own story, and I love hearing all the little pieces that make this couple uniquely them. Not only does the day combine so many different types of photography, but it allows me to meet so many wonderful people.

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE WITH US AND TELL US WHY. This image captures the pure joy and essence of a wedding day. They’re married and joining the party.It’s an unprompted moment, and you can feel the excitement, but I also composed it to lead the eye to the couple and then to their excited guests to help your eyes tell you the story. It’s black and white so that the color doesn’t distract from the feeling.

CAN YOU RECALL YOUR FAVOURITE WEDDING EXPERIENCE? There was one wedding where two grooms were getting married, and one of them was getting married without his family even knowing. It was incredibly emotional. I was very close with this couple, and the whole day I just felt so much love and joy for them. I laughed with them, I even got misty eyed during the toasts. Their energy was so magical, and I remember leaving the day feeling completely love drunk without a sip of alcohol.

ASIDE FROM FAMILY & FRIENDS, THREE THINGS YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT? I assume my cat counts as family, so cheese, wine and adventures.

WHERE WOULD WE FIND YOU ON A SUNDAY MORNING? Snuggled up with a cup of coffee and a good book with my cat sitting next to me.

HOW WOULD YOU SPEND YOUR IDEAL DAY OFF? Spending time with my family! Always spending time with family.

A big thank you to Washington D.C. Wedding photographer BRIGITTE RENEE PHOTOGRAPHY was for sharing this beautiful wedding with us. Brigitte fell in love with the timeless nature of film and thrives on finding the balance between classic portraiture and whimsical fun, capturing your story in an elegant way, and also allowing you to be in the moment. "I hope you take away from our experience together the kinds of images that remind you of the joy that can be found in the simplest of moments together." You can see more in her portfolio here.