“He’s a storyteller” — Julia

I’m Ethan.

I’m a Kansas City based photographer available for travel, who loves the intimacy of a couple session and the personality of portraits. I believe in capturing the honest moments of someone’s story.

My journey started in a newsroom with my love of graphic design. When making the perfect layout, one thing always lacking was great photos. The kind that made you feel something, so I started taking my own.

You’ll hear a lot of photographers talk about having a photojournalistic approach but this is truly where I got started. So I’m never interested in perfectly posed photos, I’d rather capture what happens in-between.

How to book.

Things I’ve Learned.

I’ve been taking real cute pics since 2013 and through shooting well over a hundred weddings — I’ve learned a thing or two. I’ve grown so much over the years and here’s what I know so far.

 

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imperfect is perfect

I spent a large part of my career worrying about everything being perfect. The reality is, life isn’t perfect and there’s beauty in that too. Your photos shouldn’t be either. Now I’m not talking about poor photos being okay to deliver (I give you the best of the best).

I’m talking about your dress being dirty because we ran through a field or your hair flying all over your face because the wind was seriously insane that day. I want you to remember the real story so you can look back and see just how beautiful it really was.

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words mean more

Hearing how happy my clients are will always feel better than the likes I get on instagram. Building a portfolio has never been a priority to me. Instead I focus my energy on making sure my clients have the best experience.

 

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light is everything

Listen, we all love to see ourselves in a cool location but that will never trump good light. I want to shoot you in the best light possible and I will never sacrifice light to get the coolest location.

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we should click

If you are looking to check off photographer on your wedding checklist, I am not for you. I am more than my camera. I’m my clients’ planner, personal attendant, counselor and cheerleader. If you just want some stranger to show up on your day just to go through the motions then all I have to say is, thank u, next.

 

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not my wedding

It’s your wedding, not mine. I never approach a wedding with any intention of projecting myself onto it. I’m not there to fill a quota or make every wedding look the same. I’m not going to have a shot list. Instead, I’m going to be there, in the moment, documenting what’s in front of me.

Now I won’t be flying blind, we’ll still make a timeline for your day. I don’t have a set number of photos I give to every wedding because I truly want to give you the best of the best — not simply fill a quota.

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emotion over everything

There’s so much planning and thought that goes into weddings. From your place setting to your venue, I shoot everything you put energy into.

However, I don’t linger on these details. I don’t want to miss the good stuff. Like your grandma squeezing you and tearing up a bit when she tells you just how amazing you look.

 
 
 

 

 
 

“Ethan captured our elopement in Joshua Tree National Park and let me say this simply: he is an artist. When you’re there in the moment, sure, it’s beautiful. Seeing it all back captured through the eyes of an artist?!

Wow. Ethan’s creative eye is a true gift to his clients. The way he plays with light and movement yields something so unique with each image.”

— julia + tony