hello. I’m Karly :) I’m the one
behind the camera
And I can’t wait to work with you.
I love being a witness to everyone’s love, and am grateful for the way you open your hearts and homes to me as I become a part of documenting your story. My hope is that, if you’re reading this, it’s because you have seen and love my work, and trust me to photograph you in a way that lets you be your happiest, most relaxed self. You get to do the easy part- relax and live life to the fullest! I’ll take it from there.
The importance of documenting you and your family is not lost on me, and I want you to feel that throughout this entire process-- from the first inquiry email down to the last dance of the night on your wedding day. My job is so much more than framing a scene and clicking a button on my camera, and I’m consistently honored and humbled by everyone who chooses ME to be on this journey with them. I’m making art but I’m also making connections, and witnessing love at it’s most hopeful and climactic, but also the most quiet and understated.
My love of photos no doubt stems from my own history in pictures—
My dad took so many photos of me and my sisters as kids and I feel so lucky to have these images to look back on. It reminds me of things I would have otherwise forgotten. It reminds me of moments that maybe weren’t the kind you’d write in a biography but definitely the kind you would write in a journal. The kind you look back on and laugh or cry because the moment strikes something in you. One of my favorite pictures of me and my sister when we were kids is this picture of us holding burnt Eggo waffles and crying as we fight for space in front the door to the upstairs. The amount of times I have howled with laughter looking at this, I couldn’t tell you. The best part about this picture is that I never would have remembered this moment if not for this photo, because in every other photo in the sequence, we are smiling at each other. I love it because it’s so us. It’s so sisters.
And that’s what I want to do for you with my photography—
I want to help you remember everything, especially the small,
quiet moments that you wouldn’t necessarily put on your greatest hits,
but that hits you with emotion even decades later.
Here’s the thing about me:
If you need to know what kind of person I am, here’s a story for you:
When I was six years old, my soccer coach was handing out ribbons at the end of the season to all the players on the team. Everyone was getting ones that said really encouraging things like ‘Fastest Runner,’ ‘Defender of the Year,’ ‘Goal Scoring Champion’ etc.
When it was my turn, my coach said “I want to give Karly the Bread Award.” And I was crushed. I wanted MVP. I wanted Fastest Runner. I wanted everyone to know how great I was. Inside my head, my world began to crumble because I think I’m hot stuff and this dude was just like “idk she likes carbs I guess.”
But he went on to explain that I didn’t earn this award by throwing back baguettes on the sidelines. It was because, he said, “Karly always rises to the occasion, doing whatever necessary, whenever it is needed.” (My dad had to explain the joke to me later because six year old Karly was like I LITERALLY DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH BREAD). The award was actually perfect for me because he was right; you need me to play goalie? Let me grab my gloves. No subs for the whole game? I’ll run my buns off (get it? like bread). Need me to eat bread on the sideline? Thought you’d never ask! (No one ever did ask). That kind of dedication to teamwork and getting the job has served me well in every class or job that I’ve ever had in my life, and that includes my job as a a photographer.
Anyway, all of this to say- I’m the person you want around on your wedding day.
I’m a sniper from the side. I’m a shark and a mirrorball. I’m thinking every possible scenario through before it happens, I’m standing in the middle of a river (I’ve actually done this), I’m scanning the room for moments that need to be documented, I’m holding my camera at ready for a smile or a tear and I’m getting all of it. I’m practicing constant, never-ceasing vigilance. I don’t think that REAL, genuine wedding day photos are born from the direction of a photographer, but they are born from the photographers ability to be where they need to even without planning. There are times when I will help with poses and prompts, and I’ll always point you towards the best lighting, but the real magic is found in YOU and in the small moments of your day that aren’t planned or scripted. Wherever you are, I’ll be there. Whatever you want for your day, I’ll make it happen.
If you’re focused on each other and on your family, and on the love that surrounds you on this day-- the magic will be there, and I will capture it in the viewfinder of my camera. Let me rise to YOUR occasion.
And if you got any of those references I slid into that last paragraph, we will be fast friends :)
You want me there on your wedding day if you…
desire REAL candid photos instead of ones made to look real;
are looking for unique photos that capture real life
prefer to be fully present and live in the moment.
Having me at your wedding will be like having…
a friend attending the wedding with a camera;
someone who can (and will) cut a rug on the dancefloor at the end of the night;
a calm, helpful and upbeat bestie.
FAQs
-
It depends on the event or session but the answer is always ‘a lot’. My style is very documentary, so no matter what we are shooting, your images will read mostly like a story of the day. For weddings, this is usually about 100 photos per hour of coverage. For other session types, it’s usually 100-200 photos (unless otherwise stated).
-
For a wedding it will take about 4-6 weeks. For other session types, It’s 2-3 weeks. I know hard it can be to wait and I promise I’m also VERY excited to get those photos to you! I always do everything in my power to make it happen fast, without sacrificing any quality. If you need them back faster, please reach out to me and I can get them to you faster for a fee.
-
I thought you’d never ask! Also— If you book a wedding with me, all travel is included- no extra or surprise fees to worry about!
-
First of all— hello, hi IM SO HONORED! I’d love to work with you! You can start the process by clicking the “inquire” button at the top of any page on this site. After you fill out the contact form, I will get in touch with you and we can set up a zoom meeting to see if we are a good fit! If we decide to move forward, we’ll sign a contract and you’ll send me a deposit to hold your date. This deposit is not refundable and is 40% of your total fee. The remaining 60% will be split between 2 payments that occur 3 months and one month before the wedding. Once your deposit is paid, I am at your disposal for planning meetings, questions, brainstorms, chat sessions, etc! Anything you need between now (and even after your wedding ends) I am there for you!
-
This is probably my MOST frequently asked question. And I’m going to let you in on a secret. You ready? Almost every single person I have ever photographed has told me this. Look at all the pictures on this website and know that you are NOT different from any of them! None of them were models, none of them were confident in front of the camera, and if I’m being honest— that’s why I like doing what I do. I love being able to show you how beautiful and interesting and REAL you are, because all of that is magic. Your job is to show up, and trust that I’ve got the rest :)
-
Absolutely! While I prioritize letting you be fully present and living in the moment, I will guide you in some ways (this mostly looks like me finding the best light at any given moment lol), but there are some things that just cant help but be posed! You’ll still get portraits and group shots, but the real magic is in the observation of genuine interaction. I will NEVER tell you not to prioritize a certain shot on your wedding day and am always respectful of what you want (it’s your day!) but if you hire me, it’s because you value my emphasis on candids and are thinking very intentionally about the meaning of the day and how you want to experience it.
-
I do offer prints— and the good news is, you don’t have to buy a print package! Anything you could want is available in your online gallery upon delivery. You choose what you want, when you want it (order early and there’s a discount in it for you!)
-
Do it right now! My contact form is no-pressure and it’s the fastest way to find out if I’m available. Weddings can book up fast and it’s best to reserve your spot as soon as you can in case your date gets taken!
Your journey to forever starts now, and I’m here to help you enjoy the process & remember it always.
“We have used Karly for a couple of occasions now and she is excellent. She recently did family photos for us and they captured our family perfectly. They are candid and she did an amazing job getting perfect pictures of our baby who is on the move. She is professional, nice, funny, creative, and so fun to work with.”
Elle+Joe, 2023