Maddie Gets Married: Why We Chose Our Photographer

Happy New Year! One of my favorite things to do at the end of each year is to look through all of my pictures and memories from that year. I’d say November 9 was a clear winner!

My sister, Olivia Suriano, is a wedding photographer (previously with Nancy Ray Photography and now with Olivia Suriano Photography, as Nancy has closed the photography side of her business), and my family is spoiled by her talent to have holidays, birthdays, and other occasions captured on film. If it weren’t for Olivia, I wouldn’t have the background knowledge on the importance of shooting in film, and it just so happens to be my team’s clear preference when it comes to sourcing photography for our own clients’ weddings.

As I mentioned in my Engaged, Now What? post, Nate and I have chosen Callie Davis to shoot our wedding this September. Obviously, we would love to have Olivia shoot the wedding, but she’ll be a little busy as one of my Matrons of Honor, alongside our older sister, Brittany.

Callie Davis | Nancy Ray Photography

Callie is one of Olivia’s dearest friends and former colleagues. She worked with Olivia and Nancy at NRP for 7 years and alongside Becca and Betsy at several RRE weddings, and they are thrilled to get to work with her again! This was yet another testament to why we chose Callie - not only is her work beautiful, but she’s a dream to work with. Your photographer is hands down the vendor you spend the most time with on your wedding day, and that can end up being a miserable experience if you don’t enjoy working with them.

Photography by Callie Davis for Nancy Ray Photography

When choosing a photographer for other RRE couples, Becca not only recommends photographers based on their work but on a personality fit - i.e. how well they would get along with the bride and groom. For many, posing for photos isn’t the most natural thing in the world. Add already feeling uncomfortable to not feeling comfortable with your photographer, and you’re guaranteed to get some awkward-looking images. Nate and I know Callie personally and have no doubt she’ll help us feel as model-like as Justin and Hailey Beiber on our big day.

While Callie is no longer a practicing wedding photographer, we are so appreciative she has agreed to come out of photography retirement to shoot our wedding, and we can’t wait to share her images of our wedding day with you all! You can find her beautiful work here.

Stay tuned next week, as we continue our Maddie Gets Married Series!

Want to read more of the Maddie Gets Married Series? Follow along:

Week 1: The Proposal

Week 2: Engaged, Now What?

Week 3: Preparing for Our Creative Session

Week 4: My Biggest Takeaway from Our Creative Session

Week 5: Why We Chose Our Photographer

Week 6: When Decisions Get Hard

Week 7: Nate’s First Visit to the Merrimon-Wynne House

Week 8: Save the Date!

Week 9: How to Handle Late RSVP’s & A Free Guide to Creating Your Guest List

Week 10: The Event Design Process