We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sally Grieshaber a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Sally, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?

The wedding industry is ever changing since the COVID-19 pandemic. We were already seeing an uptick in couples ditching the traditional big wedding & developing an intimate day that more accurately depicts their relationship. The term “elope” has been given a completely new definition in the past few years. More than ever, couples are traveling to destinations they love & spending the day out in nature with their closest family & friends (or even just the two of them). Couples are becoming more intentional about their wedding days, and I am completely here for it.

Another huge trend in the industry is the revival of film and documentary style shooting. With iPhones improving quality, photographers are transitioning to film or film-like styles to create nostalgia in their work. Photographers are also moving more towards “documentary” style shooting for wedding days instead of so much posing and staging. Since couples are being more intentional about their wedding day, these raw/authentic moments are so much more meaningful to the couples.

Sally, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a wedding and elopement photographer who specializes in destination adventure elopement photography. From as young as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with the cliche idea of capturing a moment in time. I’ve always been a huge traveler as well, planning the next adventure as soon as I get back from the one I was just on. It only made sense for me to combine my two true passions in life.

I received my first point & shoot camera at the age of 8 & spent all of my time practicing my skills on whoever and whatever would let me. When I started college, I purchased my first DSLR camera & sparked my passion once again. I started taking clients at the end of 2019–yes right before the pandemic hit. However, this worked in my favor & I started capturing canceled weddings turned into backyard elopements! I truly started to fall in love with the idea of cultivating an intimate day rather than a large traditional wedding during this time.

I’m all about capturing the moments as they happen. I want to tell the story of your wedding day, so you can remember exactly how it happened. I want the raw, authentic emotion of the day, not staged fake moments. I have a warm, moody editing style.

I truly aim to help each of my couples cultivate the day of their dreams. For elopements, I always offer planning assistance in regards to choosing a location, permit assistance, vendor referrals, activity ideas, and basically anything else to ensure they have a day that is authentic to them and their relationship–I mean that’s what a wedding day is supposed to be, isn’t it?!

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

Truly, a number of things. Word of mouth is HUGE in the photography industry, so simply getting out there, working with clients, and doing your best is one of the best ways to build reputation. This also goes for industry connections. Grab coffee with fellow photographers, second shoot under other photographers, attend workshops. Really connect with those in your industry, as they are likely to refer you when they are booked.

We are also in a time where we have a unique opportunity in social media. If you are not on TikTok or creating Reels on Instagram, you need to start. Now. I know it is intimidating, you do not have to tell my introverted self that. However, the algorithm is so unique in the fact that your content is being shown to a majority that do not follow you yet. You are able to reach so many new potential clients, for free. By partaking in TikTok and producing content relevant to my business, I was able to grow to over 28,000 followers on the platform alone & have booked nearly half of my clients for 2023 solely from TikTok.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Easy. Getting to create art that is so meaningful for other people. I get to create memories of some of the most meaningful days in people’s lives. I love that I can absolutely make such an impact for people & give them something tangible to look back on of their favorite relationships. Whether that’s taking the last photo someone had with a grandparent, or taking the first photo of their new child, it is just as rewarding every. single. time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sallygrieshaberphotography.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallygrieshaberphotography/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sallygrieshaberphotography
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sallygrieshaber
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sallygrieshaberphotography/