DWF – Let’s start off with a little bio, tell us a little bit about yourself.
SUSAN – I actually have a degree in theatre – a BFA in Acting with a minor in Dance. Realizing pretty quickly that I didn’t want to starve as an actor I decided I’d rather starve as a wedding photographer instead! I shot my first wedding for a friend-of-a-friend in late 2001 and it quickly snowballed into a part-time career in 2002 and was full-time by 2003. I ran a portrait photography business in Tallahassee, Florida while traveling for destination weddings almost exclusively from 2003-2008 when I moved to Brooklyn, New York. Now I still shoot destination weddings but I also am building up a client base in the tri-state area. I live here in Brooklyn with my two wonderful daughters.
DWF – How did you become a wedding photographer?
SUSAN – I was bored and had nothing to do one day so a friend asked if I would take some pictures for a work website. The pictures were terrible but a co-worker loved them and said “Do you do weddings?” Completely floored I first said “no”….then thought and said “yes!” I went into my first wedding with one backup camera, no backup lenses, two CF cards, and a wing and a prayer. Since then I became addicted to learning and growing as a photographer, something I hope never stops being important to me.
DWF- Who or what inspires you as an artist?
SUSAN - My children. Living in such a crazy/beautiful place as New York. Movies – most recently (500) Days of Summer. Strange creepy Asian horror films. Television. Books and magazines. Cliff Mautner.
DWF- If we needed a photographer today why would we book you? What makes you unique?
SUSAN – I think everyone knows the standard speech : I find it very important to create images that show who my clients are as people rather than treating the day as a fashion shoot and my clients as props. We all say that! What I think truly makes me stand out is my ability to not just make 20 good blog images per week or 50 great shots for the album but a true take of images that tells the story of the day with consistent strong images from beginning to end. I will open my galleries up to my potential clients and let them look through everything from start to finish – not just my “best weddings” but every single thing I’ve shot because I think that my ability to make a garden wedding with 50 people and no decor look just as beautiful as a 300 person wedding at the Plaza makes me stand out against my competition.
DWF- If you had to pick a favorite “Tool of the Trade” what would it be? and why?
SUSAN – Dave and Quin’s Quikeys system – it has made me SO much faster with my workflow. Also the Boutwell’s Totally Rad Actions – the best out there, hands down.
DWF – Care to share your favorite photographs?
SUSAN -
DWF – How about some final words to live by?
SUSAN - It’s not about making a pretty blog and buying fancy actions and contributing to the look-alike wedding photography world. It’s not about being popular or a “rockstar” or whose name you can drop. It’s about caring for your clients and doing your best by them. It’s about always continually striving to improve as a photographer, as an artist, as a craftsman. It’s about never being satisfied and always striving to be better – the best you can be.
Location – Brooklyn, New York
Business Name – Susan Stripling Photography
Years in Business – 8 Years
Websites - http://www.susanstripling.com/
Blog - http://www.susanstriplingblog.com/
28 Comments at "Featured Member Susan Stripling"
Wow! That’s it, just WOW! This is art, and it’s gorgeous and I’m jealous.
Beautiful photography as always Susan! Keep up the great work…jb
Susan: I bookmarked your site years ago and still look at it on a regular basis for inspiration. You and Cliff should do a workshop together, wow that would be a killer experience.
Thanks for your inspiration!
I 2nd the workshop. Would love to attend. You’re work is spectacular!
I knew you were someone special since our first meeting Susan. I must say that the more I learn about you, the more impressed I am. Great work as always, and a great philosophy too.
Thanks
Those pictures are pretty good.
Susan
serious admiration from across the atlantic over here in Ireland
congrats
Keith & Ev
Susan, it is great to have admired photographers share how they got started. (BTW the following comment is not directed to attack you as it is not your fault) but it does bother me how photogs in the community will knock people for doing weddings with no experience (I admit that bothers me as well because it’s misleading to say you have experience when you do not) but then the same photogs turn around and brown-nose another photographer who’s done the same thing just because they’re popular in the community. I understand everyone needs to start somewhere (and thank goodness you admit that, unlike some of the photogs I’ve come across) and everyone makes mistakes (who hasn’t?) but why do you think there is a double standard in the community? It sends mixed messages. I would love to hear your opinion on this since you are (relatively) newly successful and still remember what it’s like to get flack for being a new business owner so I perceive you would be understanding of why I’m approaching you with this question. (While I’ve been experienced in photography for ten years now, my business is only coming on three years.) You’ve become the “ask Jane” of the community for now!
Hi Amanda! I’m not at all knocking people for shooting weddings with no experience. Not even in the slightest. When I first got started I was VERY up front that I had limited experience and was only charging $800 for a a full day of shooting and the DVD – and very honest that people were getting what they were paying for; someone new and still learning. I would never say there is anything wrong with that at all! What bothers me is people less than a year into their business and their photographic training being more concerned with the marketing and networking aspect of their business rather than improving their craft and becoming a better and more versatile photographer. I’m not sure what the double standard in the community is that you’re referring to – are you saying that some won’t admit their humble beginnings while making fun of others for starting in the same place they did?
Great interview… especially the final words. I’ve always firmly believed that as photographers it is about craft and vision, technique and artistic approach; maintaining an eye that only you have and can never be replicated – then all of that applied with exemplary customer delight.
Susan, Hello and thanks for your response! I didn’t think you were knocking anyone at all (you are actually very humble in my opinion). I was definitely referring to other photogs in the community. IE you’ve got a lot of photogs who admire your work (rightly so) but then I’ve seen other photogs who did something similar to you with good work as well and they get virtually stoned by other photogs for being newer just because they didn’t land an important interview or have a ton of awards. This has happened to me a few times as well. What they don’t know is that just because I don’t focus on outward looks via awards, etc, doesn’t mean I’m not a valuable wedding photographer (I have excellent customer service skills and decent photos and still improving by the day). Although I’m no Joe Buissink, I know how to run my business. How did you go from new and disrespected to respected? And yes, lots of photogs forget their humble beginnings so it was good to see someone like you admit and talk about where they came from.
Susan: You are such an inspiration. And I loved your PDF magazine… don another soon! Still using what we discussed in your mentor session, DWF convention 2007.
Best,
Tom Brodigan
I’ve followed your work for years – ever since living in Tallahassee myself. Truly beautiful images! Thanks for all of the advice.
wow Susan, you have done an amazing job. how does it work if a couple gets married in another country?
I love that you have a theater background! I have always wondered if there were any other wayward actors that took their theater lighting, personality, and pizzaz to the photography world! It is actually one of the things I say to my clients. I usually see weddings like a play unfolding in front of me and that is why I have so much fun photographing them. You never know what drama might occur!
I agree that is about the client and making them happy! I myself started my wedding business with a Canon Rebel film camera, a friends wedding, and the will to make mistakes and learn from them. I believe anyone can start from somewhere as long as they are honest about their experience. With weddings it is always a good idea to be honest because there is only one day to take the photos! I myself have been struggling with the idea of the “non-pro photographer” shooting weddings, but I have decided I can only take responsibility for the weddings that come my way. If someone only has 300 dollars to spend then lets hope the find a up and coming genius in photography! It only makes it better for us in the end if someone has a bad experience because they will spread the word why they should have a professional instead of a uncle bob or a newbie.
Your work is beautiful and I look forward to being inspired by it more in the future! Thanks for the article!
- Wendy
I really like your photography style and your attitude and the fact you said no then yes to that first wedding, I kind of did the same thing and winged the first one but the bug bit, and i remember the slating that “pro’s” give to people doing the same which i feel is so wrong, as long as you learn and master your craft along the way.
Your work is really inspirational and thanks for sharing your info.
Barry
It was so great to read this interview. I think Susan hit it right on!!!! It was so nice to meet her at WPPI this year. SUch a warm hearted and talented person.
Love you, Susan. Great interview, great philosophy on life and as always, beautiful images. Hugs, Dina
Great Interview. Susan is one of my favorite photographers. I also recommend you check out Susan’s blog and buy a copy of her Think Books. So far three issues have been published and they are great. Lots of behind the scenes information on her photos that have helped me a lot. -Marco
Susan,
I’ve been a big fan of your work for a couple of years now and I’m glad your work is being featured. I hope one of those days when I come home to Brooklyn for more than a couple of days, my wife and I could take you out to lunch and pick your brain.
Your work remains and inspiration,
~ Alex
i agree with so many things you bring up. practice….always learning and providing awesome attention to clients. i feel although a component to your photography for which seems to set you apart in my mind’s eye… is your “use of beautiful” light. there is no action that can really produce this. and with so many photogs coming up daily with templates, blogs and all the fixings to set up “shop” quickly it’s not often i see as brillant use of light such as your work.
that is timeless. also do you use flash much? or off cam lighting? seems to me you use mostly natural lighting. again your work is amazing to me.
xx,
meg
I love the picture of the bride among the trees!
Some good thoughts for folks starting out. And, uh, some nice pictures as well. Glad to be able to say “I knew you when…”
Thanks for sharing deeply Susan! You’re an inspiration to many, love looking at your work.
Susan, I absolutely love your work. I’m always on your FB page looking at your photos. They are truly inspirational.
[...] Featured DWF Photographer Susan Stripling [...]
“It’s about caring for your clients and doing your best by them”.
Congratulations Suzan! You said it all!
[...] If you’d like to see more of Susan’s work or maybe just find out a little bit more about her. You can read our exclusive interview with her right here. [...]
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