We recently connected with Gabrielle Stowe and have shared our conversation below.

Gabrielle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

I am a wedding photographer who specializes in photographing couples who ski on their wedding day- alternative weddings are becoming increasingly popular, and are only going to continue to grow. In recent years elopements have become more mainstream, creating a shift in the wedding industry and giving couples more freedom to celebrate the way they want. The pandemic caused the industry to evolve even more. Since so many couples had to change their plans or get creative as to how to celebrate, it shook up the standard for what a wedding looks like. It gave people permission to derive from the traditional ballroom-wedding format and rethink how they want their day to be. Whether that be focusing on a small guest list, having their ceremony virtually accessible, incorporating their favorite activity or hobby into their day, or having an intimate ceremony with a larger party afterward, countless options became more mainstream.
I absolutely love when couples ditch the expectations and go after what they truly want. Although I have been in business prior to the pandemic, there has been an uptick in couples who chose to spend their day in a more untraditional way. My couples are choosing to focus on what they love to do together, skiing and snowboarding, and opting to incorporate that into their wedding day. This looks different from wedding to wedding, but the one thing my couples all have in common is their love for being on the mountain. Some couples elope and I’m their only witness, while some have a 100+ person guest count. I’ve photographed weddings where the couples never take off their skis and spend the whole day on the mountain, and others where they have a more formal wedding day, but take a break in the middle to get in a run or two. Some choose to have their wedding at a swanky ski lodge dressed to the nines, and others tailgate at the base and grill out in colorful outfits and fun costumes. The options are endless, and they are all based on what the couple values most and their ideal way of spending the start of their lives together, without being held back by the expectation of what a wedding “should” be.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a skiing wedding photographer, which means I photograph couples who incorporate skiing and snowboarding into their wedding day! I am based in the mountains of Colorado, but photograph all over the United States and the world. I’m the first photographer to specialize in this very specific niche. I help countless couples plan their dream day on the mountains, while photographing them as I ski myself. Skiing has always been a big part of my life as I spent a decade ski racing on the East Coast. After moving to Colorado I became a wedding photographer, and ended up combining my two passions after capturing a ski wedding in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I realized there were other couples out there who would want to celebrate in this way, but could easily get discouraged by the lack of resources and the needle-in-haystack type search for a photographer who is also an experienced skier. This inspired me to start Ski the Day, to capture and empower couples who want to spend their wedding day exactly how they choose.

Last summer I posted a reel on Instagram of a super fun wedding day where the couple, their family, and their friends skied down in formal attire. It ended up getting 91+ million views worldwide, and led to an increased interest in getting married on skis! This also led to an increase in photographers jumping into this niche unprepared. As fun as photographing on skis is, it is also a challenge and requires a lot of experience. There are many things that go into this type of photography, besides the knowledge of how to shoot a wedding, and the ability to ski. It’s crucial to have an advanced skiing level, an understanding of the mountain, the ability to navigate different weather conditions, knowledge of the rules and the regulations, top of the line gear for action photography that can withstand winter weather, the skills to navigate different lighting conditions, and the skills to create artful compositions while the subject is moving (and you’re moving as well).

I have extensive experience planning and capturing weddings while skiing that I utilize to best serve my couples. I know the ins and outs of what is and isn’t possible when you combine skiing with a wedding day so they can be set up for success and avoid pitfalls. Whether that be tips on exactly what to wear and how to layer, how to create the perfect timeline to fit in everything they want, guidance on picking the best location for their ceremony, how to involve family members who can’t ski, and giving them ideas on what their day can be, and everything in between, I’m there for them at every step in the process.

My favorite thing I’ve heard from couples is “I’ve always wanted to ski on my wedding day but never thought it was possible. I’m so happy I found your work and you can help us make it happen!” It is an absolute joy and honor to be trusted with the best days of people’s lives and help their dreams become reality.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Being a professional photographer you of course have to know your way around a camera, have an eye for composition, an understanding of light, and the skills to edit. Those are very important, but what makes me stand out as a photographer in this specific niche is my knowledge. My clients have a vision of how they want to spend their day on the mountain, but it’s something they’ve never done before. They’ve been skiing countless times, they’ve attended their friends’ weddings, but they typically have never planned a wedding themselves, let alone one involving skis. With my knowledge as a wedding photographer, an advanced skier, and my experience combining the two, I am able to help guide them to make that vision come to life.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I absolutely love capturing the authentic joy that couples experience on their wedding day. I always say its the ‘best job in the world’. There are so many professions that work with people on some of the worst days of their lives. I feel incredibly grateful that my job exclusively works with people on their best day. Witnessing the joy of the someone marrying their favorite person, combined with the exuberance of skiing together, only elevates the experience of being a wedding photographer and it is incredibly rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: skitheday.com
• Instagram: @skitheday
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skitheday
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkitheDay
• Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/skitheday1/ TikTok: @skitheday

Image Credits
Gabrielle Stowe / Ski the Day