We’re on the quest to make more connections with wedding vendors this year. When we shot Bobbie Jean and Jason’s wedding with Jessi Nichols Photography last November, we knew right away that she was someone we wanted to get to know better! Recently, we got coffee with Jessi and just from spending that short amount of time with her, Mer and I could tell what a kind and genuine soul she is.
If you’ve seen any of our other vendor features, you’ll notice that we ask questions that range from business to personal. We feel it’s important to paint a full picture of who the vendor is as a whole. Yes, you want beautiful photos from your photographer, but it’s also so important to enjoy the person behind the camera! He/she will be with you for some of your most life-changing memories on your wedding day.
Jessi’s desire is to capture your day in the most beautiful way possible, and at the same time, go out of her way to make her couples feel loved and cared for in the process. (I.e. Read her response to the second to last question!)
If you’re a bride looking for a photographer, I think Jessi hit the nail on the head when she encouraged people to, “…meet with them in person…” If you get coffee with Jessi I think you’ll find yourselves just as impressed as we were 😊
To let you get to know Jessi’s story, business and background a little bit better we asked her a few questions. Below you can find her answers and some stunning images of her work! It’s an honor to feature this “friendor”!
Q & A
Tell us a little about you and your business!
My business officially began in September of 2013, but the story of my love for photography started years before that moment. Jessi Nichols Photography (JNP) exists to provide beautiful, timeless photos for one of the sweetest seasons in your life. I believe in a full wedding experience – from the proposal, to the engagement, to the wedding day, to anniversaries for year to come. JNP encourages relationships, walking through these seasons of life and building a friendship as we go. I always want my sweet brides to feel loved, cared for, and that they can trust that their wedding day will be documented in a bright, cheerful, and timeless way!
What made you want to become a wedding photographer?
When I went full time in 2013, I photographed everything I possibly could – families, couples, babies, commercial photography, you name it. After about a year of dabbling in a bunch of different varieties of photography, I found that I loved serving couples during their engagement & on their wedding day the most. I absolutely love the gorgeous details that go into a wedding day, the emotions that arise, the sentimental value of having all of your favorite people in one place, I love it all. So, I made the shift from lifestyle photography to solely wedding photography in January of 2015 so that I could fully serve my couples.
How would you describe your style of photography?
I feel that the best words that encompass my style are bright, genuine, and timeless. Everything should be natural & comfortable, and that is what I aim to achieve every session & wedding day. I have a photojournalistic style as well, telling your story as it unfolds. I don’t believe in posed or forced moments, I fully believe in genuine interaction and capturing those joyful moments as they happen organically!
What is the best part of your job?
The absolute best part of my job is connecting with my brides, some my best friends are past brides! I’m a big believer in coffee dates and encouraging friendships with my brides, because it creates a more comfortable atmosphere, especially on the wedding day. This gives the space to truly get to know one another, their story, and the ability to tell their story in a genuine way.
What do you like to do when you’re away from work?
I love spending time with my husband, Braden, and our golden Sampson! They’re the real MVP’s behind JNP! We love going to crossfit together, going for walks, and really fun dinner dates somewhere downtown Greenville. Recently we started doing a weekday morning coffee date on Wednesdays for a little QT mid week, highly recommend! We also absolutely love to travel! Over the past 5 years, we’ve crossed quite a few places off of our bucket list (Almafi Coast, Tuscany, Paris, Santorini, and many more). We plan to do quite a few domestic trips this year & we couldn’t be more excited! On our list for this year is Newport Beach, Amelia Island, Orlando, Anna Maria Island, San Antonio, and a few more!
What advice would you offer a couple who would consider themselves camera shy?
I feel that I frequently hear “I’m so nervous, we aren’t models at all!” Goodness, it’s so normal to feel a little uncomfortable at first! As normal humans, we don’t get in front of a camera all that often, so it’s totally normal to feel a little camera shy! My best advice is to trust that your photographer will create a comfortable environment. I love to walk and chat for a few minutes to our first photo location, rather than immediately sticking a camera in your face. I also love to play music during sessions to fill any awkward silences, plus it creates a fun environment and keeps the energy up! Your photographer isn’t going to ask you to do anything weird, or aim to make you uncomfortable, they simply want you to be yourselves & will guide you through natural posing!
What is the best piece of advice you can offer a couple looking for a wedding photographer?
My best piece of advice when looking for a wedding photographer is to first, figure out what style of photography you love! Are you drawn to bright and airy images that have a timeless feel? Or, are you drawn to more moody, romantic images? Once you’ve nailed down what style you love, reach out to photographers who encompass that style. I then highly recommend meeting the photographer(s) you love in person. A genuine conversation over coffee will tell you a number of things, but mostly it will show if you enjoy their company. Your photographer is with you all day on your wedding day, so you want to connect with them!
