We were lucky to catch up with Analise Rucker recently and have shared our conversation below.
Analise, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
My journey into photography started somewhat unexpectedly. In high school, I actually thought my future would be in video game development, design, or computer programming. I was fascinated by technology and spent a lot of time exploring those interests. At the same time, though, I found myself constantly taking photos on my phone—mostly nature, landscapes, and random moments that caught my attention. There was something about capturing a scene and preserving a feeling that I couldn’t quite explain, but I loved it.
The turning point came when I showed one of my photos to my step-grandfather. At the time, he was a photographer for a college campus in Colorado. I remember being excited to share the image, but I didn’t realize how significant that moment would become. He saw something in my work that I hadn’t fully recognized in myself. After seeing my interest and potential, he gave me one of his cameras. That gift completely changed the trajectory of my life.
Once I had a camera in my hands, photography became more than a hobby—it became a passion. I spent countless hours learning, practicing, and refining my craft. What started as photographing random subjects evolved into a deep appreciation for storytelling through images. I became fascinated with the ability to capture genuine emotions, meaningful moments, and memories that people could cherish for generations.
The idea of turning photography into a business came from realizing that I could combine my creativity with the opportunity to make a real impact in people’s lives. Weddings, in particular, felt incredibly meaningful because you’re entrusted with documenting one of the most important days a couple will ever experience. I saw an opportunity not just to take photos, but to preserve stories.
In 2020, I launched my wedding photography business. Despite the challenges of starting during that time, the response was incredible. I quickly grew to photographing around 25 weddings per year, and by 2023 I was consistently booking 30 weddings annually. What began as a passion project had become a thriving business.
One of the most rewarding parts of the journey has been the opportunities photography has created. I’ve had the privilege of traveling internationally to photograph weddings in places like Italy, New Zealand, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Every destination and every couple has reinforced why I love what I do.
Looking back, what made this a worthwhile endeavor was that it grew from something authentic. I wasn’t trying to follow a trend or chase a business opportunity. I simply fell in love with photography, and over time I realized there were people who valued the way I captured their stories. That combination of passion, purpose, and demand gave me confidence that this was something worth pursuing, and it’s been an incredible journey ever since.
Growing up I always
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My name is Analise, and I’m a wedding photographer with a passion for capturing authentic moments and telling stories through imagery. Interestingly, photography wasn’t my original career plan. In high school, I thought I would pursue something in video game development, design, or computer programming. While I loved technology, I also found myself constantly taking photos on my phone—mostly of nature, landscapes, and everyday moments that caught my eye.
Everything changed when I showed one of my photos to my step-grandfather, who was a photographer for a college campus in Colorado. He saw potential in my work before I fully saw it in myself and gifted me one of his cameras. That simple act sparked a passion that would ultimately shape my career. From that point forward, I immersed myself in learning photography and developing my craft.
In 2020, I launched my wedding photography business. What started as a passion quickly grew into a thriving career. I began booking around 25 weddings per year and eventually grew to photographing nearly 30 weddings annually. Photography has taken me far beyond what I ever imagined, including opportunities to document weddings in incredible destinations such as Italy, New Zealand, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
My work focuses on wedding and couples photography, and my goal is to create timeless images that allow people to relive some of the most meaningful moments of their lives. Weddings move quickly, and there are countless emotions, interactions, and memories that couples may not fully experience in the moment. My job is to preserve those memories so they can be cherished for generations.
What sets me apart is my commitment to creating a genuine experience for my clients. I believe great wedding photography is about much more than beautiful images—it’s about building trust, making people feel comfortable, and capturing authentic moments as they naturally unfold. I strive to create photographs that feel honest, emotional, and true to each couple’s unique story rather than forcing moments that don’t reflect who they are.
What I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built with my clients and the trust they’ve placed in me to document some of the most important days of their lives. Every wedding is different, and I never take for granted the responsibility of preserving those memories.
The most important thing I want potential clients to know is that I genuinely care about their experience. My goal is not only to deliver beautiful photographs but also to help create a stress-free, enjoyable experience from the first conversation to the final gallery. At the heart of everything I do is a love for storytelling, human connection, and preserving memories that will become even more valuable with time.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Building my audience on social media wasn’t something that happened overnight. A lot of people assume social media growth is all about posting consistently or finding the perfect algorithm, but for me, it was really about relationships and being intentional about where I wanted my business to grow.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that if you want to shoot weddings in specific locations, you often have to be willing to invest in yourself before the work comes. When I wanted to photograph weddings in places outside my local market, I couldn’t just sit at home and hope couples would find me. I had to take the initiative, spend the money, and travel to those destinations first. Whether it was attending networking events, collaborating on styled shoots, or simply getting myself into the environments where I wanted to work, I treated those trips as business investments rather than expenses.
Social media became much more effective once I started creating content from the places I wanted to attract clients from. When couples consistently see you photographing weddings and creating work in a particular destination, they naturally begin to associate you with that market.
Another huge factor in growing my audience has been networking. Some of my best opportunities have come not from photographers, but from other professionals within the wedding industry. Wedding planners, venue coordinators, florists, makeup artists, DJs, videographers, and other vendors all play a role in the client experience. Building genuine relationships with those people has been incredibly valuable because referrals often come from trusted industry connections.
My advice to anyone trying to build a social media presence is to think beyond the screen. Social media is important, but real relationships are what create lasting growth. Invest in networking, invest in experiences, and don’t be afraid to spend money strategically to get yourself into the rooms, venues, and destinations where you ultimately want to work. The content you create from those experiences will naturally strengthen your social media presence, but the relationships you build will often be what drives the biggest opportunities.
At the end of the day, people connect with people. The more you travel, meet others in your industry, support fellow wedding professionals, and genuinely engage with your community, the more your audience and business will grow.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that every wedding is an opportunity to create content for myself.
As a creative, that’s been a surprisingly difficult lesson. I have a very editorial eye, and I love fashion-inspired imagery. I can walk into a venue and immediately start envisioning dramatic lighting, unique compositions, and images that could belong in a magazine like Vogue. Early on, I would often get excited about executing my own creative vision and pushing the boundaries artistically.
Over time, though, I realized something important: weddings are not my content retreats.
The couple didn’t hire me to build my portfolio, win awards, or create images that impress other photographers. They hired me to document one of the most meaningful days of their lives. They hired me to capture their story, their relationships, their emotions, and the moments they’ll want to remember decades from now.
That shift in perspective changed everything for me. It taught me that great wedding photography isn’t about imposing my vision onto a couple—it’s about understanding who they are and serving them first. If an editorial moment fits naturally into their day and reflects their personality, that’s wonderful. But my primary responsibility is preserving their memories, not creating content for myself.
Ironically, once I learned that lesson, my work became stronger. When I stopped focusing on what would look impressive on social media and started focusing on authentic connection and storytelling, my images became more meaningful. The photographs that clients treasure most are rarely the ones that look like they belong in a fashion magazine. They’re the moments with parents, grandparents, friends, tears, laughter, and genuine emotion.
Today, I still love creating artistic and editorial imagery, but I approach it through the lens of my clients’ story rather than my own ambitions. The wedding day isn’t about me—it’s about the couple. Learning that has made me a better photographer, a better business owner, and ultimately a better storyteller.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://abovethewildflowers.com
- Instagram: Abovethewildflowers
- Facebook: Abovethewildflowers
