How to choose the ‘right fit’ photographer?
I want to make sure I'm guiding you in the best direction to finding your best fit team for wedding day, photography editionI want you to love your images - first and foremost. These images will outlast us all; with future generations peeking through their family history and admiring your memories that helped to lay the foundation for them to make their own. Selecting the right photographer to help document your memories is so important for this reason.
When you’re on the hunt for the ‘right fit’, I have a few things you should look for (speaking as a professional and from my own experiences - because I’ve been where you are):
Editing style - warm, vibrant, crisp, true to life, edgy, moody, bright, film-like, nostalgic
Posing style - candid, documentary, editorial, experimental, lifestyle, and a good combo of all the above
Do you connect with them on a personal level?
Art is subjective. We all are drawn to art in different ways from so many varying perspectives. There are so many different aspects to love about a photographers art in terms of aesthetics, colors, composition, and posing style. Ultimately, you can’t ask Picasso to paint a Michelangelo. You should love your images through and through. That’s why portfolios are so important in this industry. If you peek through a photographers portfolio and find yourself dreaming of a day you’re in front of their camera so you can plaster their art all over your home and throughout your family history - that’s a good way to determine if their style is what you’re looking for.
Photography is an incredibly personal and vulnerable art form. After all, you are the subject of your photographers art. Connecting with your photographer as a human is a huge step in selecting your photographer. When you start that initial hunt and find yourself on a photographers website, do their words speak to you the way a friend would? Do you laugh with them and resonate with their experiences or ways? Now picture yourself in front of their cameras. Can you envision them pulling you out of your shell and celebrating alongside you? Are you welcomed into your natural element, exactly as you are?
Is Nicole Kilday the right fit?
First and foremost, we’re artists in this profession. I’ve spent years (professionally since 2016) practicing, educating, and growing as an artist in terms of the technicalities of photography as well as the behind the scenes post-processing and editing.
My style is ever-evolving as I grow and experience new opportunities; however, I always gravitate to a posing style that is hyper focused on the natural, raw, authentic interactions & movement in each love story. I love a good snuggly and candid vibe, while simultaneously enjoy the experimental aspects of editorial photography.
I consider myself an introverted extrovert; standing at 5 foot something shrimpy & quiet on a regular basis (but I promise the quiet isn’t for lack of thoughtfulness or words). Just as hopping in front of the camera can place you out of your comfort zone, I believe in “grabbing the mic”. I say this half as a joke and half seriously - I’ve quite literally grabbed the mic on the dancefloor for a group shot of EVERY. SINGLE. HUMAN in attendance at a wedding. I might look small - but I’m mighty.
Things I pride myself on that makes me unique in this industry:
My art thrives in friendship. I don’t say this lightly and if you’ve worked with myself or my team, you know I’m here to be more than ‘hired help’. At my core, the human connection is what drives me and my art. Sharing my empathy and investing wholly into each human I come into contact with is where my heart takes root. My goal as a professional, is to show up as a friend first. This gives me solid ground to stand on to know how to truthfully document your story(ies) & a unique approach to storytelling by using my art as a way to explore, experiment, evolve, and deepen my connections with others.
I believe art is ever-evolving, just as we all are as humans. It ebbs & flows, the same way each chapter in love does. This also means there are no standards or norms my art will ever fall into, as I continue to grow, learn, and change as an artist through my own life experiences and lessons. After all, it wouldn’t be true to you if I followed trends, or photographed every session/milestone from a Pinterest board checklist. My art is meant to fully encapsulate your memories, and bring you back to exactly how it felt in those moments.
I believe everyone deserves a seat at my table. All are welcome here.
Most importantly, I understand selecting a photographer is a big decision, and believe you should be able to make that choice with 100% certainty. My job is for you to love your images and the experience - nothing less. If my art doesn’t speak to you in more ways than just a pretty picture, that is OKAY. These images will last longer than our lifetime, and I want your story to be told in a way that portrays your memories exactly as they are and were - from your sun kissed skin all the way to the butterflies in your stomach. You should be able to not only see, but feel your memories.
I want you to be able to trust that your story will be told exactly as it was.That way you can focus on experiencing your memories wholly as they unfold.