If you’ve found your way here, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.
After six years as a wedding photographer, I’ve realized something. The questions I answer most often have very little to do with cameras.
They’re questions like…
“How do we choose the right wedding photographer?”
“Should we do a first look?”
“Why don’t my Pinterest inspiration photos look the same?”
“How do we keep family photos from taking forever?”
“What if we’re awkward in front of the camera?”
Those conversations have become some of my favorite parts of the job. I love helping couples feel confident before their wedding day ever arrives.
So I decided it was time to create a place where all of those conversations could live.
Welcome to Photo Tips with Chalyse.
Whether you’re planning a wedding in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Amelia Island, or anywhere beyond Northeast Florida, my hope is that this series becomes a helpful resource filled with honest wedding photography tips, practical advice, and real experiences that help you feel more prepared and less overwhelmed.
Why I’m Sharing These Wedding Photography Tips
I’ve spent the last six years photographing weddings, engagements, and families, and before that, I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Design with a concentration in Photographic Design because I wanted to understand not just how to create beautiful photographs, but why they work.
Along the way, I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to learn from talented photographers and mentors who generously shared their knowledge with me. Many of the things I do today are because someone else took the time to teach me first.
Now, I want to do the same.
Because I believe great photography isn’t just about beautiful images. It’s about creating an experience you’ll remember just as fondly as the photos themselves.
The Wedding That Changed the Way I Photograph Weddings
One of my biggest teachers wasn’t a classroom or a mentor.
It was my own wedding day.
Like so many couples, I had imagined celebrating with the people I loved most, soaking in every moment, and walking away with photographs that would help me relive it all for years to come.
Some parts of the day were exactly that.
Some parts weren’t.
Our family portraits lasted much longer than I ever expected. By the time they were finished, I felt exhausted instead of excited. We never made time for the couples portraits I had been looking forward to most. Looking back, I wish someone had stepped in to protect a little more of our time together.
That experience has stayed with me.
It didn’t make me love weddings any less.
It completely changed the way I approach photographing them.
Today, when I’m helping build a wedding timeline, organizing family portraits, or suggesting we sneak away for ten minutes during golden hour, it isn’t because I’m trying to create the perfect Instagram photo.
It’s because I know how quickly a wedding day goes by.
I know how precious those quiet moments together are.
Your wedding shouldn’t feel like one long photo session.
It should feel like the best day of your life.
The photographs are there to preserve it, not take it over.
Life Behind the Camera
I’m also a mom to three energetic little boys.
So if you’re worried your toddler won’t sit still during family photos, your flower girl has her own agenda, or your kids are a little wild…
Trust me. You don’t have to apologize.
Children don’t have to be perfectly behaved to create meaningful photographs.
Some of my favorite images happen in the in between moments. The giggles, the cuddles, the snack breaks, the running hugs, and the beautiful chaos that makes your family uniquely yours.
As both a photographer and a mom, I’ve learned that perfection isn’t what makes a photograph meaningful.
Connection is.
What You’ll Find in the Photo Tips with Chalyse Series
This series is designed to answer the questions couples ask me every week.
We’ll cover topics like:
- How to choose the right wedding photographer
- What to wear for your engagement session
- Building a stress free wedding timeline
- Why your Pinterest inspiration doesn’t always match reality
- How to feel comfortable in front of the camera
- Tips for family portraits, wedding days, and everything in between
Some posts will focus on weddings.
Others will be helpful for engagements, families, and portraits.
But every article has the same goal.
To help you enjoy your experience just as much as you love your photographs.
My Promise to You
Whether you ever become one of my couples or simply stumbled across this blog while planning your wedding, I hope you leave here feeling like you learned something helpful.
Photography is about so much more than pretty pictures.
It’s about preserving the moments you’ll one day wish you could step back into.
If I can help make those moments a little less stressful, a little more joyful, and a lot more intentional, then this little corner of the internet has done exactly what I hoped it would.
I’m so excited you’re here.
Welcome to Photo Tips with Chalyse.
I can’t wait to share what we’ve learned together.
💛 Chalyse’s Take
If there’s one thing I hope every couple remembers, it’s this. Your wedding day isn’t a photoshoot. It’s one of the biggest days of your life. My goal has always been to help my couples experience every moment fully while creating photographs that let them relive those memories for decades to come.
Happy planning,
