Meet the Photographer: Stefanie Russo Photography

"A photographer can make or break the entire wedding experience, and my wife and I are so grateful that we found Stefanie. By the time our wedding came around, we felt like she was another guest that we were excited to have there to celebrate with us and not just a vendor. Stefanie did such an amazing job, making us feel so comfortable in front of the camera, which is not something we could say normally. Her pictures have all turned out great, and she works very efficiently. We were able to preview several pictures within a few days of the wedding. We even had extra time to spend with our guests at the reception during the cocktail hour, which we will never forget. Thank you for everything, Stefanie!"

-Groom

Your wedding photographer is one of the most important vendors for your big day. That is why so many brides take extra care in selecting a photographer that they know will deliver those once-in-a-lifetime images. Stefanie Russo Photography is one of those photographers that has been trusted by number brides in Michigan and beyond! 

Read on to hear from Stefanie herself!
 

Please tell us a little more about your business.

"I am a wedding and portrait photographer with a natural light studio located in Washington, MI. I am a hybrid photographer, which means that I shoot with both digital and film cameras. There is just something so special about being able to capture a moment on something tangible like film. I edit my digital images to mimic film images, so that is where my editing style comes from! I picked up my first professional camera back in 2013 and I haven't stopped learning and being inspired since. I don't like to limit myself by being just a wedding or just a portrait photographer. I love having the balance between the go-go-go on a wedding day and the laid-back lifestyle session in my studio later that week."
 

What sets you apart from others? Why should a bride choose you?

"What sets me apart from other photographers is... me! I honestly feel like I have been friends with my brides and grooms for years! I am so much more than a photographer on your wedding day. I am your friend, your support system, your timeline, your dress bustler (is that a word? haha), your comedian and so on. I'll get you out of your comfort zone, yet make you feel so comfortable all at the same time. I'll always make sure that the day is about you and not me. If you don't want to do something, I will not make you do it (unless you can't make up your mind and I'll make a decision for you haha). I don't want brides and grooms to lose sight of the one reason their wedding day is happening... and that's them!"
 

Do you have anything else exciting that you would like to share?

"I was recently quoted and had a photo of mine published in RangeFinder Magazine! Oh and Chex cereal recently loved an image of my son eating Chex that I shared on Instagram, so they sent me an awesome care package and a handwritten note encouraging me to keep them smiling with my photography! We are huge Chex fans in our family, so watching my boys tare open the box of goodies was the best thing ever!"

What inspires you as a photographer?

"My surroundings! I try not to prepare too much before a wedding or session because I like to be inspired by the atmosphere of the moment. I may be inspired by a simple detail in the bride's dress, the way everyone is hanging out before the ceremony or the chemistry between the couple. The way the groom is loving on the bride during the portrait part of the day may lead me in a different direction and then it sort of has a snowball effect on my brain!"
 

What do you love most about photographing a couples' big day?

"I love how much I learn about my couples on their wedding day! It is so amazing to sit back and watch the whole day unfold (especially after knowing all the preparation that has gone into their day). I feel so lucky to be able to have a camera in my hand to document those moments that go unnoticed to most people. I actually get a little sad at the end of the night knowing that I've spent roughly a year getting to know my couples and then the day comes and goes so quickly! I try to savor their day while I am there, but I love that I get to relive the day while editing their wedding. I'm drawn right back into the little moments, the smells, the laughs and the music! Which is exactly the experience I want my couples to get when they view their gallery when I deliver it!"
 

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