Spotlight | Dusty Brown Photography

I've known Dusty for quite some time, and I am honored to be featuring him and his work today. We worked together last year just once, on the gorgeous wedding of Monique & Kevin, but from that one day, I can tell you his personality shines through. He's fun to be around, easy to talk to, and genuinely excited about his clients. Ooh, and I absolutely love his work.

Please enjoy our Q+A with Dusty Brown Photography and then go check out his website and blog to see more of his fabulous work.

How long have you been shooting weddings?
I photographed my first wedding back in 2000. Since that first wedding I was hooked. I started in advertising photography and when a friend asked me to help him with a wedding, I had a ball! In advertising there are a lot of people in line to determine what the photograph will look like. If your portfolio has all the sweet shots in it you can muster up, the client still has the last word of what photograph will look like. With weddings its up to me to see my clients vision and what they want from their wedding photographs. Its a great feeling to have a bride and groom trust what I do, they love what I have done in the past and they are excited for what I can bring to them. I'm proud to say I am still friends with that first wedding couple.

What inspires you as you work with your clients?
Having been a photographer for 14 years now, I have seen a great change in the photography industry. But one thing never changes and that is people. People inspire me. The beauty and love of a wedding day. The happy family as they share an afternoon. The hope and excitement for the engaged couple. The high school senior waiting for June. I am constantly inspired by what the next session will bring. Its human nature to change and move. I have seen all types of personalities and attitudes. I have made them feel secure and safe about the photos, but it's what I do with that personality that gets me inspired. The person in front of the lens is the most important thing in the world at that moment. That is a huge sack of inspiration!

Why weddings? Why not nature?
Nature excites me in a different way. Its slow moving. There is only a window of daylight everyday that really makes great nature photography. I used to go out with my 4x5 view camera and sit with the trees and countryside and wait for the perfect moment. I would rush back to my darkroom and develop it all, wait for the film to dry and print it up. That was one sentence to describe about 2 days of work. Digital has made that process much easier but its still slow!

Weddings are moving and ever changing. I love to meet new people and every wedding there is a group of friends to get to know!

If you could shoot a wedding for anyone, who would you pick?
I'm torn between my first grandchild {my kids are young so this would be in the next 30-40 years!!!} and Johnny Depp.

Do you have one "gotta get it" shot at every wedding?
I don't really have a gotta get it shot. But there is a small mental list of don't forgets - rings, flowers, moms, and anything that is special to the family. I set aside a bit of time to get the details of the day - exterior of the Church, reception room before anyone enters, and of course, the cake. Details make this whole world sing and make up a very important part of every day.

What is your favorite way to spend a non-working Saturday in the summertime?
Huh? Is there such a thing?