Wendi Riggens I met through a photography social group and have met her in person. She is fun, bubbly, energetic and professional. I have much admiration for her and her work!
I thought it would be nice to allow you to get to know her too.
How did you arrive at running your photography business? What path brought you here?
I went off to college, got my bachelor’s degree, and entered the 9-5 world after I graduated. I never felt fulfilled, though, and turned to photography to keep my mind occupied. This quickly turned from hobby to passion to business, and I’ve never looked back! When my full-time job announced earlier this year that I would no longer be needed, I made the crazy decision to make the jump from a little part-time side business, to full-time venture. It’s been a scary journey, but I would rather take the risk and fail, then to never take it and always wonder “what if”. With a little luck and a lot of hard work, I hope to keep the passion and have a fulfilling life-long career with this!
What are you known for in photography? Do you have a specialty? Tell me about it...
I am a wedding photographer, first and foremost. I love the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none”. I really feel that in this creative field, you can’t do everything and be good at it. You have to really find something that you love, that you can throw your heart and soul into, that you can invest yourself in, and really shine at it. For me, that is weddings. There is nothing quite like the expression of true love and joy on a groom’s face the first time he sees his bride, or the tears streaming down the otherwise tough cheeks of her dad as he walks her down the aisle. Being a part of these moments, capturing them in time so that they are never forgotten, is priceless to me.
What do you love about what you do?
The love, the anticipation, the excitement – I love every moment of them! The biggest compliment I receive is when clients view their images and say that they feel like they can hear what is going on, and remember those moments as if it were yesterday.
How would you describe your style?
Natural and organic, with a flair for fun! I like to shoot the wedding and my clients as they really are, and really work hard to get to know them beforehand, so that their wedding images really express their personalities. I like to get creative with posing when the situation calls for it, but my favorite images are the ones where my clients are just being themselves.
Tell me 5 of your favorite photography items that you use?
1-Canon 5DMkII – love this body!
2-Canon EF 70-200 2.8 L IS USM – This is such a wonderful lens for taking those really intimate, emotional shots, without being right in my client’s face. It lets me be a part of the moment without being the moment.
3-Canon EF 24-70 2.8L – This is my main go-to lens for most of my work. It’s versatile, sharp, and handy as can be!
4-Adobe Lightroom 3.0 – Lightroom saved my life and my sanity. I went from processing weddings in 40+ hours, to less than 10. It took me a bit to figure it all out, but once I did, it changed my workflow. I love Lightroom!
5-Shootsac – I first found the Shootsac when they launched it at WPPI in 2007, and am now on my second one! I love that I can have all of my personal stuff (wallet, phone, survival kit), extra stuff (batteries, memory cards), my favorite lenses, and a water bottle on me, without having to lug around an entire camera bag. I always have what I need, and can switch things out as the situation changes. Working with clients, I may have my 24-70, 17-40, and 70-200 lenses in the bag while I shoot with the 85. At receptions, I have an extra flash and pocket wizards, 100 macro, and the flash battery pack on me. I travel lighter and can focus on what I am doing and not what I am carrying!
Tell me 5 things unrelated to photography that you love?
1-Traveling, I love exploring new places, meeting new people, experiencing new things.
2-Pillows! I sleep with a lot of pillows. They have to be soft down-alternatives. I do love feather pillows, but only ones that are broken in!
3-Pink. I wasn’t a little girl who loved pink, but I am an adult woman that does! My favorite outfit to wear to the gym is my pink t-shirt, black capris with a pink waist band, pink sports bra, pink socks, pink Nike’s, pink iPod, and pink earbuds (and sometimes my pink Blackberry). It makes me smile, especially when I am working out!
4-The statues in my bedroom. They are two wooden statues we picked up in Estes Park, CO at a little ethnic store a couple of years ago, and when I lay in bed, I look at them, and they make me smile. They are very simple, one is a man and woman kissing, and the other is a mother holding her child in the air and kissing him. The lines and emotion in the carvings really speak to me.
5-Jodi Picoult novels. Love her!
Where can we find you when you’re not working?
At the gym on the treadmill, my favorite Mexican restaurant Casa Fiesta, or just vegging on the couch with my husband and playing with our son!
Why would someone want to hire you as their photographer?
I have a very specific style, and when someone hires me, it would be for that style, and not just because they need a photographer. I don’t shoot just anything, and am very particular about the clients I work with, so it is important to me to really get to know my clients before our shooting time, so I can really show who they are, and not just what they look like. The people that I get along with best understand that, and understand that there is more to photography than just backdrops and props, and that they are going to be pulled out of their normal photography comfort zone and asked to trust me to really create amazing images for them.
What area/locations do you work in?
I am based in Burlington, Iowa, but love to travel, and have photographed weddings, events, and sessions all over the country, as well as in Mexico. My favorite places to shoot so far have been Chicago and Panama City Beach, Florida, and some day I hope to travel to NYC, San Francisco, and back to Paris!
Do you shoot digital, film or both?
I shoot digitally for all client work, but I do some film work for my own personal projects. My digital work is all photographed using Canon equipment. Film, I shoot with a Holga and an old Pentax K1000.
Any advice you have for someone looking to hire a professional photographer?
Do your research, and really look for someone that you click with, that has a style that you love. Photography is an investment in your memories. Don’t settle for second best, find someone who’s work speaks to you, and that you love, and you will never regret spending any amount of money on your images!
Anything else you’d like to tell people about yourself?
I am pretty awesome. And modest. J
I invite you to visit Wendi's websites
Thank you Wendi, this was a lot of fun interviewing you. I think I may do more interviews soon!
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