Choosing the right photographer for your upcoming wedding or elopement celebration is an incredibly important decision. I want to work with those who value the art of photography and mesh well with my style and approach, so it’s important you read this section before anything else.

My wedding + elopement photography creative style is best described as real moments with an alternative approach and a cinematic presentation.

My approach is to do things a bit differently than most other wedding photographers, and I love working with couples who also enjoy doing things a bit differently. When people zig, I like to zag.

I love celebrations that are alternative, weird, unconventional, off the wall, adventurous, and non-traditional while also being romantic, beautiful, and intimate. This is an art, and I want to work with couples who respect that it is an art.

I believe in real moments and real emotions without a lot of interference or staged events. Capturing the day as it is instead of how it should be staged is a critical for me. I want the imperfections, the messy bridal rooms, and all the real elements of your celebration.

Every photo you see here, and every wedding + elopement photo I have ever taken is from a REAL celebration. I do not do "staged shoots", and I assure you no A.I. slop will ever be presented here.

The best way I can describe the look of my photos is "cinematic". I have a degree in Critical Film and Television Studies, so this is my way of putting my educational background to work. I love making my photos look like stills from a movie, and I'll even ask you what your favorite movies are to get visual style ideas for your celebration.

Wes Anderson's films are a big source of inspiration. His style is a starting point, and then I go off in my own direction from there. I also have a little David Lynch as John Ford in The Fabelmans on my shoulder to "remind" me the horizon being in the middle of the frame is boring.

Street photography also informs a lot of my visual look and style. That genre is all about the real, and I use what I've learned practicing street photography in my wedding photography work.

Most importantly, though, I want the photos I take to stand out and emphasize the setting of the celebration instead of simply satisfying a social media "aesthetic", what you'd see in "traditional" wedding publications, or the typical "dark and moody/light and bright" designations. You'll see lots of variations in colors and tones in my photos because each celebration is different.

I want you to make sure I have your date available before you go any further. I also want to let you know that the Birmingham, Alabama area is where I call home, but I'm available to photograph weddings and elopements throughout the United States.

These are the dates I currently have booked. My apologies if your date is not available:

September 17th, 2026
Olympic National Park
Forks, Washington

September 25th, 2026
Cary, North Carolina

October 2nd, 2026
Poughkeepsie, New York

October 4th, 2026
Birmingham, Alabama

October 10th, 2026
Des Moines, Iowa

October 13th, 2026
Cleveland, Tennessee

October 17th, 2026
Houston, Texas

October 24th, 2026
Eldred, New York

October 31st, 2026
Sleepy Hollow, New York

December 11th, 2026
Crystal Beach, Texas

April 10th, 2027
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

September 4th, 2027
Des Moines, Iowa

September 11th, 2027
Cleveland, Ohio

October 10th, 2027
Marlborough, Connecticut

This is a list of states where I've had the pleasure of photographing weddings + elopement since 2010: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Now that you’ve read those important sections above, it’s time to talk about what I can offer you and your partner. While elopements and intimate micro-weddings are my favorite to photograph, I’m available for celebrations of all shapes and sizes.

I film believe in giving everyone the same experience, regardless the size and scope of the celebration. That’s why all my couples will receive the following:

• A full day's coverage with no time limit. You determine the start and stop times since you will be reserving the entire day on my calendar.

• Next day sneak previews.

• Rapid turn around time on the digital photos.

• High-resolution/print quality photos delivered in a private gallery.

• Four versions of each photos: A true-to-color version, two cinematically inspired color versions, and a black and white version.

• Photos shot on at least one roll of film.

• A $100 print and product credit.

• Coordination assistance.

• All travel considerations.

I’m also happy to include an engagement session, bridal session, boudoir session, day before or after couples session, 2nd shooter, rehearsal/welcome dinner coverage, and/or storybook album with any quote. I’m also happy to add many of these options on a complimentary basis!

Please get in touch via my contact form below or on my contact page to request a personalized quote based on your celebration’s type, size, location, date, and day of the week, any additional coverage options you select, my time, and my experience.

Standalone engagement, bridal, and boudoir sessions are available, and I’d be happy to set up a session for you!

All sessions include the following:

• No time limit on the session.

• No limit on the number of shooting locations and wardrobe changes.

• No limit on the number of photos you receive.

• Rapid turn around time on the photos.

• High-resolution/print quality photos delivered in a private gallery.

• Four versions of each photos: A true-to-color version, two cinematically inspired color versions, and a black and white version.

• Photos shot on at least one roll of film.

• A $100 print and product credit.

• Coordination assistance.

• All travel considerations.

Please get in touch via my contact form below or on my contact page to request a personalized quote based on your session’s location, date, and day of the week, any additional coverage options you select, my time, and my experience.

My focus for you is still photography. I’m a photographer. I’m not a videographer, a content creator, or anything else. I’m a photographer, and I’m proud to be a photographer.

I don't offer videography or content creation services because I want to put all of my time, effort, and creative energy into making sure you get the best still photos possible.

Other vendors will offer multiple services, but I'm not one of them. I firmly believe in focusing on just your still photography, and I love working with couples who appreciate that, especially when it comes to their wedding photos.

A special feature I offer for all couples is that I give multiple versions of each photo that makes the final cut.

That means every couple gets a true to color version, which is what I'm seeing out of the camera, and then two different cinematically inspired color versions on each photo. Those versions are what you see on this page and throughout my website. Everyone also gets a version of their photos in black and white.

I offer this so you can get a true to color version of your photos while also not being forced to select just one visual style. If you like a light and bright style AND a dark and moody style or a dreamy and cinematic style, you are going to get those multiple looks.

I'm also happy to shoot at least one roll of film at all weddings or elopements I photograph. This is in addition to all the photos I shoot digitally, and it is just one of the many ways I enjoy documenting a celebration.

It’s incredibly important for me to emphasize that EVERYONE is welcome here.

I am proud to be an inclusive and LGBTQIA+ friendly wedding + elopement photographer and am proud to work with any couple that would like me to photograph their special day.

Love is love, plain and simple. I do not believe in discrimination and will not support it.

How long have you photographed weddings and elopements?
-I’ve had the pleasure of photographing weddings and elopements all over the United States since 2010.

What if I only need a couple of hours of coverage?
-Even if you need only a couple of hours of coverage, you are booking your particular day with me. I cannot take another job that day or, in most cases, that weekend, so I cannot charge hourly rates. My pricing is based on you hiring me to photograph your wedding. The time frame is up to you.

How many images will we receive?
Because all celebrations are different and I never want to hold any images back, I never put a cap or limit on the number of photos you’ll receive. I promise you’ll get lots of great pictures of your special day, especially since you get an out of camera version of the photos, two different edited color versions, and a black and white version. 

What is your turnaround time?
I know you will be anxious to see your images so I will begin work immediately after the wedding. Because of the way I work, I guarantee you’ll have all your photos ready and delivered within a week of your wedding date. Your film photos will be sent off shortly after the wedding, and they will take a week to two weeks to process and get back to me.

Can we get unedited RAW files?
I do not deliver unedited RAW files as I feel these are unfinished images.

Do you use Photoshop?
I don’t use Photoshop to edit the photos and make you look like something you aren’t. Unless something is distracting in the background, I like to present the images as is. Lightroom is the main program I use, however, and I will edit images for cropping, white balance, color, and other aspects.

Should we send you a shot list?
The only shot list I’ll need is a list of family photos you’d like done. I do not work with any other type of shot list.

Do you work alone or with a partner?
I typically work alone. The option to have a 2nd photographer, though, is always available for an additional fee.

Do you help with wedding coordination too? 

Yes, and I’m happy to provide that service. While I don’t want to step on the toes of anyone you’ve hired to coordinate, I’m happy to use my experience and knowledge to make sure your wedding day goes off without a htich. This means I’ll help you craft the wedding day schedule and make sure we stick to it. This also means coordinating with other vendors, family members, and anyone else so that everyone is on the same page. The goal is to make sure your wedding day goes by smoothly for you and your partner. 

How do we book a consultation?
All you have to do is fill out the brief contact form on this page to get the process started. I'll then send you a quote, and we can then talk about setting up a consultation via Zoom or over the phone.

How do we book our date with you?
As soon as you get in touch, I’ll be happy to put a temporary hold on your date. To make everything official, we’ll both sign an agreement and you’ll put down a non-refundable retainer payment of 1/4 of the package price. The 2nd and 3rd payments would be due 120 days and 60 days before the wedding. The final would be due the day of the wedding. This schedule can be modified based on your wedding date.

What's your cancellation policy?
My cancellation policy is detailed in my standard agreement form, which you can request if you’d like to review it. Do note that the retainer payment is non-refundable.

What is the level of contact we will have?
Communication is key to any relationship, and I want to have as much communication as possible. I’ll touch base with you frequently to get your design ideas, creative input, coordination information, and all sorts of other important details. This will continue right up to the wedding day as I’ll be working with you and any other vendors to make sure everything is taken care of so you don’t have to worry about anything!

What if I have any other questions?
My phone number is (205) 586-9723 and my email is dsmithimages@gmail.com. I want to make sure you have as much information as possible, so please reach out to me if you have any other questions that might help you make your decision.