We were lucky to catch up with Makayla Renoos recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Makayla, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Working in the wedding industry comes with a lot of expectations, both for vendors and couples that are navigating it. There’s this unwritten idea/script about what it’s all supposed to look and feel like, and oftentimes we can’t shake that weight off of ourselves.

We’ve created expectations around what parts of the day are supposed to matter, we’ve created lingo and shorthand for the orchestration of it all, we have expectations of what the resulting images should be. But what if we allowed ourselves the freedom and pursuit of something that felt different?

Feeling different is the main thing that couples who inquire with me note about my images – that they feel different. That they feel as if you’re there, as if you’re a part of this event you’re only looking back on now. And the risk I take at every event is often forgoing what we believe an image should be, but rather, asking myself what kind of image would feel like the moment actually was. Is it a different angle? Is it getting close? Is it letting something unfold that’s weird or different? Is it allowing other people to open doors/hold dresses/be the cheerleaders when so often photographers are expected to be?

And taking this risk at every wedding, to truly be a photojournalist, a pure witness, only an observer, pays off in the images every time. And that’s why I focus on documentary work.

Makayla, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Makayla, and I own The Autumn Dog Studio. I’m a wedding and event photojournalist. I’m the photographer for people who dread the idea of wedding photography, for people who want images that look and feel like real life, I’m there for the people that want to be as present as possible for their event. I give no direction, I do no posing or prompting, I’m the epitome of a yes-woman without ever giving my own input.

And while it sounds so simple, it’s incredibly, incredibly difficult. Working with a truly documentary photographer means you have to practice radical acceptance in how things at your event turn out. And while my work does come with an artistic and occasionally strategic edge (I’d hate for your necklace to be backwards in your portraits!), I won’t be cleaning up preparation spaces or pausing people, or redirecting you into anything “better”. Because your life as-is, is already plenty beautiful enough.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I’m often told that I have a calming presence. I think people are commonly nervous in front of cameras, but I’ve been doing wedding and event work for almost 12 years, and I’ve come to learn that how I hold myself can affect a lot of the feelings people have around me. I’ve also made a point to put clients first in every aspect of the process, focusing less on vendor connections and growth in the industry, and more on serving people, meeting their needs, and celebrating their events alongside their family and friends as if we’ve known each other for years. Every client and event is personal to me, and I hold everything I get to be a part of with a high degree of importance, and I think a lot of family and guests can feel that.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

From a business standpoint, Unreasonable Hospitality was very affirming for me. A lot of the practices that book touches on are ways I’ve been thinking about my approach to business, friendships, strangers on the street even. How good could this world be if we were radically good to each other?

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theautumndog.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/theautumndog