Whenever we get to work with James Christianson we immediately feel at ease knowing our staff, our couple and the entire wedding could not be in better hands – both professionally and personally. Our relationship with James has evolved over the years, each experience more pleasant than the last. We admire his work ethic and effortlessness the day of the event and then get goosebumps scrolling through the finished photos when they make their way into our inbox. We are looking forward to many more years of collaboration with this insanely talented photographer and are excited for you to get to know him here!
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How would you describe what you do in your own words?
I would use two words to describe what I do. The first is, EXPLORE, the second is SIMPLICITY.
EXPLORE. Whenever I have a camera in my hand, I feel like and am exploring, searching for a feeling, for surprises. At a wedding it can mean searching for a fleeting moment, a shared look between bride and groom, a lifetime of hopes and dreams coming to reality in a Father’s face. It can also be exploring the details that give me a certain feeling; the hem of a dress caught in the wind and how that reminds me of freedom and an open road, an older couple holding hands and the legacy that gesture holds.
SIMPLICITY. Life in general is going way too fast and a wedding is an amped up version of life. All the joy, love, happiness, dignity, and faith as well the uncertainty, chaos, fear and stress that we experience in life is present at a wedding. It’s a microcosm of life, wrapped into one day. It is easy to get carried away by all that is going on, so I am always looking to simplify my imagery, to isolate a feeling, an emotion, to clearly communicate a perception. Through a collection of simplified images, I am able to tell a complete story that truly communicates the beautiful complexity of a wedding day.
What is your idea of a dream project?
A dream project would be to shoot a lifestyle book for a brand. Travel to London and create a book for Bottega Veneta or go to Amsterdam and create one for Scotch and Soda (a brand i actually wear a lot of, ha!)
What has been your favorite wedding or event you’ve ever worked or attended?
I absolutely love working any event with Calluna Events. They make my life on a job a true pleasure because they free me to just do what I do best. Outside of working with Calluna, I had the opportunity a couple years back to photograph weddings for two of Ralph Lauren’s children, one in New York and one in Telluride, Colorado. While it was a huge responsibility to photograph weddings for this American fashion Icon, I relished the opportunity and the experience.
What makes you excited to go to work in the morning?
I love the creativity, the autonomy and the ability to work directly with people.
What advice would you give a younger you?
Don’t follow industry trends, stay true to who you are and the way you see the world. That unique creative voice is the most valuable asset we have as photographers.
What’s your favorite trend you are seeing in your industry?
I try not to follow trends (see above), but one of the things I am seeing more of in photography is smaller camera’s and lenses…a simplifying of gear which is a great fit for me.
See the work for yourself:
Jessica + Jeff | Jenn + Jason | Todd Reed Styled Shoot | Emma + Patrick | Bre + Ben
