WATCH: Rangefinder 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography Panel Discussion, WPPI 2018
Updated: 6 days ago
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These days, it’s not enough to have a unique aesthetic or signature look; you also need solid business, branding and networking skills to build a profitable brand that evolves and grows over time. And we get it—making your mark in an over-saturated market can be overwhelming and frustrating, to say the least.
Rangefinder editor-in-chief Jacqueline Tobin brought together a panel of hardworking industry creatives at WPPI in Vegas this past February to discuss not only how to get hired by brides and grooms, but also what type of wedding imagery wins competitions and receives accolades from industry leaders and peers alike.
Two of the 2017 Rising Stars, Mantas Kubilinskas and Cami Grudzinki , joined wedding photojournalist Kevin Mullins and Art, Life, Business branding expert Blair deLaubenfels to discuss inspiration versus imitation, how to submit a strong, cohesive 30 Rising Stars portfolio rather than a collection of images that fail to deliver, what catches a photo editor’s eye and why, what to consider in naming your photo business, how to be your own best editor on your website, and so much more.
(A big thanks to our 30 Rising Stars sponsors, Fujifilm and ShootProof! ) By Jacqueline Tobin
Explore more wedding photography by Mantas Kubilinskas.
What a 2018 WPPI panel says about wedding photography
At WPPI in 2018, Rangefinder brought together photographers and creative-industry voices to discuss how an individual style turns into work that couples and editors can recognize. I was part of that conversation as one of the magazine's 2017 Rising Stars. The panel touched on building a portfolio, being selective about the images shown and understanding the business that supports the creative work.
A portfolio with a strong identity is not necessarily a portfolio where every image looks the same. I want to show the range of a wedding day: quieter documentary photographs, changing light, interactions between family members and a few more composed portraits. A cohesive set makes those differences feel connected without flattening every couple into one visual formula.
I also think couples should look beyond awards when considering a photographer. Ask to see complete galleries, discuss delivery and backup plans, and notice whether people seem at ease in the photographs. An award can tell you that an image caught someone's attention. A full wedding story helps you understand what you can expect from the person doing the work.
The video remains part of the original archive. These notes summarize why the subject still matters to me rather than claiming to reproduce an exact transcript of what every panelist said.
What this recognition says about the work
Features and awards are useful context, but they are not the goal of the photographs. The work I submit is built around timing, human connection, composition, and moments that can stand on their own without a long explanation. That same standard carries into a full wedding day, where consistency matters just as much as a single striking frame.
How that translates to a wedding gallery
For couples, the practical benefit is an approach that stays observant throughout the day. I look for unscripted reactions first, then create a smaller number of intentional portraits when the light, architecture, or emotion calls for them. The result is a gallery with both documentary depth and photographs that feel visually distinctive.
