My grandfather gave me my first film camera at the age of 13. I remember walking around, shooting anything and everything, not yet realizing it would become my lifelong passion. I spent my twenties immersed in the underground fine art photography world of NYC, working primarily in black-and-white self-portraits. I had an ongoing series where I would have people take selfies in my studio on a timer. This was a decade ago, before “the selfie” took over the internet, even before Instagram was a real thing. That series produced some of the most beautiful images I’ve ever seen and gave me the unique honor of seeing the inner workings of my subjects, something I could have never gotten had I been in the room. This really laid down my foundational love for documentary work and how powerful honest portraiture is.
At my core, I am an artist, always deeply drawn to and inspired by work that speaks to real human emotions—the good and also the sometimes hard to witness. in 2016 I stumbled on wedding photography by chance on a Craigslist ad, of all places. I then went on to work for that company for five years, helping them in the inception stages of their business as their primary photographer. I quickly realized I loved this work, and it provided me with a genuine opportunity to make a living doing what I love. I am so deeply grateful for that.
My wedding photography and portrait style is documentary. I’m a native New Yorker and a ’90s kid, always in awe of the edgier work of the OG street photographers of the ’70s, ’80s, and, of course, ’90s. I like photos of people walking—hands and feet in motion, the shadows and silhouettes of people on the ground. I’m not into corny or clichéd work. I believe in going with the flow and telling honest stories, capturing everything I see. I also have a profound love for florals and wholeheartedly believe they are a significant part of any wedding or elopement. Whether you source and arrange them yourself or hire a company, intentional florals are always worth it.
In addition to photography, I have a master’s degree from NYU in counseling. I live in the Poconos with my husband Ralph, an arborist and tree climber, and our two children, Odin and Luchiana Aruna. We spend a lot of time discussing the world and trying to cultivate a deeper relationship with our land and nature. I think technology is pulling us away from some really fundamental aspects of our own humanity. And while my work deals a lot with the techno world, I also believe this isn’t the answer to real happiness. True human connection is.
A few things I love and tell more about me than words could: I love George Carlin—I think of him like a spiritual leader. Wu-Tang and Portishead were a huge part of my artistic awakening. I believe the earth is a living being just like us and that all things in life are connected. My humor is Larry David-esque. Photo By my Husband Ralph Bury
