The Lovely Lens
You're gettin' hitched! (YaY!) But maybe you’re not super into the idea of a traditional wedding. Maybe you’re put off by the overload of manicured, monotone weddings that appear online as you start planning. Perfect. You belong here.
I'm Celia, and I tend to think of myself as an anti-wedding-photographer wedding photographer. It seems confusing, I know, but it’s actually pretty simple. I’m a skeptic when it comes to this industry! And much of my work is outside the wedding world (in the documentary realm, to be exact). But I DO love love and pretty things and making weird art. So when I pick up my camera, I don't exactly see “a wedding.” I see humor and irony and color. I see people who are geeking out, goofy, unabashedly happy and imperfect and going through a gushy mess of emotions. This doesn’t mean that I don’t love a good posed pic (portraits are kinda my secret favorite). It just means I approach them differently, meeting you where you feel the most comfortable, whether it’s epically silly or subtly candid. And it also means I don’t shy away from shooting the awkward dance moves and runny mascara, because I believe that stuff is human and real and awesome.
I’ve spent my life floating between the journalism and art worlds, wandering the country (several, in fact), honing my craft. I love telling stories almost as much as I love listening to the stories of others. I’m the type of person who makes up nonsensical musicals for my own amusement and I nurse a soft spot for sci-fi and space, elven woodlands, classical music, baking and growing things. There is no place I’d rather be than outside, preferably barefoot. In another lifetime, or perhaps a parallel universe, I would have continued dancing as a career.
There’s a mile-long list of why I love to shoot weddings. But more than anything, I think it’s because they’re some of the last remaining spaces that are truly free of cynicism and fear. They offer a safe space for all that we hold dear in this life, everything we want the world to be. They are a brave statement, and that’s worth a lot.
How I cater to offbeat weddings
The Wedding Industry is quite a beast, one that can really swallow up every ounce of genuinely unique inspiration you have (as well as every penny). For all its progress, it’s a machine that as a whole can still feel deeply entrenched in catering to a very young, white, straight, cis, able-bodied audience, and works hard to sell that image as its default standard. There is nothing I take greater satisfaction in than shattering that mold.
I’ve spent my entire life drawn to those who feel they don’t quite fit in. It’s reflected in my relationships, friendships, partnerships and family. I’m a queer photographer who was attracted to a career in storytelling (weddings are the other half of my photographic work as a journalist) because I’m fascinated by people and understanding the messy context that makes them who they are. There is no wrong way to get married, there’s not even “a weird way” (in my opinion). Weddings are what we make them, and marriage is one of the few rites of passage in life that have always been a social construction. It can be an amazing window into our individual and collective selves.
I truly believe that everyone is offbeat at heart. We all have our quirks, and if we’re bold enough to embrace them, weddings can be the ultimate reflection of our personalities (and also a hell of a good party, if that’s your jam).
"Celia! What a gem. She is an absolute pleasure to work with. One of those vendors that makes your wedding day easier, not harder. She takes fantastic photos, has a great eye, and is an excellent dancer. We love our wedding photos and would enthusiastically recommend Celia to dear friends and vague acquaintances alike." ~ Rich & Sam
Examples of my work
Rates
$$$ midrange
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