Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Miranda Suess. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Miranda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

As a wedding photographer and business owner, I typically work solo—but I’ve also made it a point to support fellow photographers as a second shooter. Doing so has helped me build genuine community, stay humble, and learn new techniques by observing how others pose couples, communicate during high-stress moments, and manage timelines.

But what truly makes my work different is the creative and personal way I approach every couple’s experience:

While many photographers focus solely on golden hour portraits, I’m deeply inspired by Disney Art and Thomas Kinkade’s storytelling style. Although I also love shooting at golden hour, I’ve developed a signature look that includes enchanting fine art night portraits using off-camera flash. These dramatic, magical images add a fairytale feeling to the gallery—capturing love in a way that’s timeless and cinematic.

My upbeat and energetic personality isn’t just who I am—it’s a core part of the experience I offer. From the moment we connect, I strive to make everyone around me feel comfortable, uplifted, and at ease. Whether it’s helping the bridal party shake off nerves or guiding camera-shy couples through natural posing, I create a fun, positive environment for photos. For context, my couples can find how I work behind the scenes on wedding days on YouTube!

Instead of relying on generic photo timelines, I work closely with each couple to create a personalized wedding day schedule that reflects what’s most important to them. My planning process includes:

* A custom questionnaire that uncovers relationship dynamics and moments that matter
* A buffer-friendly timeline that accounts for real-life wedding day delays
* A pre-wedding video call to align on expectations and logistics

For example, I once added a 45-minute cushion for travel between the church & reception venue—which turned out to be a lifesaver when traffic hit and had us at a stand-still for almost 30 minutes. The couple arrived to the venue feeling stress-free, and we were still able to capture their portraits without rushing.

One of my core values is making sure my couples truly enjoy their wedding day—not spend it endlessly posing for photos. I work efficiently to capture romantic, story-driven imagery while also building in plenty of breathing room. After all, so much time, energy, and investment goes into a wedding, and I believe couples should spend that time celebrating with their guests—not stuck in front of the camera when they could be enjoying cocktail hour or the wild dance party.

My mix of artistic vision, thoughtful planning, and joyful energy allows me to give couples a photography experience that goes beyond standard industry practices—making them feel truly seen, cared for, and celebrated.

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 back background and context?

I got into the photography industry thanks to a few very important people in my life—starting with my dad. When I was a preteen, he gifted me a point-and-shoot camera, and I was instantly hooked. I would dress up the neighborhood kids I babysat, do little photoshoots with them, print the images, and give them to their parents as gifts. In high school, I brought my camera to parties and took photos of my friends to post on Myspace—back when that was the thing!

Noticing my eye for composition and passion for photography, my dad encouraged me to apply for a job as a studio portrait photographer at our local Walmart’s PictureMe Portrait Studio when I was just 17. I put together a portfolio of my favorite portraits, went into the interview with confidence, and was hired the very next day. By the time I turned 19, I was promoted to studio manager, leading a small team of three. It was during that time I learned how to pose people of all ages and group dynamics—skills I still use at every wedding today.

Like many teens, I eventually chose more social freedom over structured work and stepped away from the studio. But photography kept finding its way back into my life. After graduating, my grandfather—who was a police officer and a wedding photographer—gifted me my first DSLR: a Nikon D90. Although I had used DSLRs in the studio, they were always on auto, so I had to teach myself how to really use it. I brought that camera with me across the country as I moved from Phoenix to Scottsdale, then Orlando, and eventually Los Angeles. It often sat on a shelf collecting dust, but I always held onto it.

When my grandfather passed away unexpectedly while I was living in LA, I felt a pull to reconnect with photography—it was a way to feel close to him. I began photographing my roommates, sunsets at the beach, architecture—anything that caught my eye. Then on a trip to Joshua Tree with my boyfriend, I brought my camera to capture the scenery. At one point during sunset, he asked why I wasn’t just enjoying the moment, and I explained that this—taking photos—was how I enjoyed it. That moment really stuck with him.

Not long after, we were invited to his cousin’s intimate elopement in a community room. There were no vendors, just close friends and family. I asked if I could bring my camera, and with the couple’s blessing, I quietly captured the day. It felt incredibly natural. I instinctively used my studio experience to guide portraits and group shots. Afterward, I spent days editing the photos—I was obsessed in the best way. My boyfriend and his family loved the results. He looked at me and said, “Why don’t you charge for this? You’re really good—and you clearly love it.”

I had heard similar encouragement before from friends and my dad, but this time, it hit differently. That same week, I launched Suess Moments on Instagram and started sharing my first wedding and portrait work. I offered portrait sessions to coworkers for just $75, volunteered for styled shoots, and slowly built a portfolio that felt like me. Six months later, my boyfriend and I moved across the country again—this time to Brooklyn, NY—where I had to start all over.

Since then, I’ve grown Suess Moments into a full-time business rooted in a style that’s been described as whimsical, romantic, and true-to-color. I’m most proud of the way I help my couples feel confident in front of the camera. I guide posing with kindness and intention, taking the time to understand each person’s insecurities so I can pose them in ways that feel flattering and natural. I also bring a friendly, organized approach to wedding photography, making sure every couple not only gets beautiful photos—but also a joyful, stress-free experience they’ll never forget.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

When I started Suess Moments in 2017, it wasn’t my full-time career—yet. At the time, I was juggling two jobs: working late nights as a bottle service waitress at a nightclub and weekdays as a marketing manager and event photographer at an event production company. Every paycheck I earned was carefully saved to upgrade my camera gear and invest in the tools I needed—like editing software and website platforms—to slowly build the foundation of my photography business.

In 2018, I made a bold move to Brooklyn. I didn’t have a job lined up, so I leaned on my savings to stay afloat while pouring myself into Suess Moments. I started by promoting my work on lead-generating websites and taking on engagement shoots, family sessions—anything that would allow me to grow my portfolio and sharpen my skills.

Soon after, I landed a full-time job as an office manager in Manhattan. During the day, I handled office logistics—but at night and on weekends, I was all in on Suess Moments. I spent every spare moment updating my website, studying marketing strategies, and learning from YouTubers and online mentors. It was a full-on obsession—my side hustle was quietly becoming my calling.

Then the pandemic hit. I prayed to be furloughed—and miraculously, I was. It gave me the unexpected gift of time, government support, and continued health insurance from my previous employer. I finally had the chance to go full-time with Suess Moments, and I didn’t waste a second. I dove in headfirst, taking on bookings, refining my brand, and growing my business in ways I had only dreamed of before.

Suess Moments wasn’t funded by a lump sum or investor—it was built step by step, gig by gig, with money earned through hustle, sacrifice, and sheer determination. What started as a hobby funded by multiple jobs became a full-time business that I’m incredibly proud to call my own.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best sources of new clients for me is sharing content on Instagram and my blogging about wedding venues and engagement shoot locations in New Jersey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://suessmoments.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suessmomentsweddings/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MirandaSuess
• Other: https://pin.it/4Im4q0Dqa

Image Credits

All photos belong to Suess Moments Weddings except for the images of me with cherry blossom wearing the blue dress belongs to https://alinadelfinowedding.com/