Caroline Fontenot

The Hughes Family

Patrick, Lauren, Owen and pup Penny. Another afternoon at home with a family I’ve photographed from engagement, wedding in 2015 to parents. It never gets old!

Photographed in Atlanta, GA

Indigo Houston

Houston’s Indigo was named by Eater as one of the 16 Best New Restaurants in America! I’ve been intrigued by Chef Jonny Rhodes’ concept of fighting racist stereotypes with his “neo-soul” tasting menu, centered around telling stories of African Americans and Indigenous people. He and his wife Chana aim to challenge systemic racism and oppression with Indigo. “Rhodes delivers monologues between courses on weighty topics ranging from mass incarceration to the Great Migration, but even without them, Indigo’s very existence is part of the work: a fine dining restaurant in a historically underserved neighborhood, serving food that unabashedly claims its purpose. In a more equitable dining culture, none of this would be revolutionary, but today it is; diners simply don’t see restaurants like this very often” (eater).

I was so excited to be asked by Eater to photograph Chef Rhodes and his food for the national feature.

The Sjoholm Family

Jay, Lindsey, Henry and Jack. What an honor to have captured their engagement, a full wedding weekend in the Bahamas in 2014, and now life with two kiddos. Glad to call this family our friends.

Photographed in Marietta, GA

Kata Robata

Chef Manabu Horiuchi of Kata Robata, photographed for Eater Houston. This is a small peek inside his Omakase service, one of Houston’s most worthy splurges. This particular evening he served over ten courses, from perfect otoro sashimi and oyster with uni (pictured) to butter-poached lobster and wagyu with chocolate-hazelnut mole sauce!

Full story.

The Avila Wedding – Houston, TX

Rafael and Jessica. I received her inquiry a week before their wedding saying their plans were to wake up early, enjoy coffee together and then head to the courthouse to get married. I was floored with the honor of being able to witness their intimate morning. Here’s a peak into it.

Photographed in Houston, TX

Caroline Fontenot Weddings

Chandni’s aunt flew from India to Florida to be at her wedding. This is her greeting her grandchildren and when I took this photo in 2015, I knew that it was really important. These interactions are what drew me to wedding photography ten years ago, having fallen in love with some wedding photojournalists as I searched for my own photographer in 2008.

When I posted this photo, I remember how few likes it received and it affected me more than it should have. Guess no one cares. Guess I should focus more on the portraits that people want to see. And full confession, I ended up deleting it from my feed.

I never stopped seeking out and shooting the truth you see here, but I did stop sharing it. I did give into easily digestible fast food photography that only tells the story of how I posed two people – that only serves the photographer in an effort to look like the hero. Creative, cool, you must hire me to make #artz for you. My goodness, it feels amazing to walk away from that lie.

It’s been so good for my heart to dig through past work and remember these stories. To feel such freedom in sharing what’s important because it’s not for likes. It’s for this. That in this story, grandma is the hero that she’s always been to these three kids.

I’ve created a new Instagram account to make a good home for my wedding and family portfolio –@carolinefontenotweddings. Yes, this is ten years a little late, but alas, it’s here! To be honest, I’ve never felt like my wedding work fit on my feed and it’s kept me from posting so much that I’m really damn proud of, celebrating good hearts and great love.

I’ve been burned out on a lot about this industry, but thanks to some serious reflection and some All You Witness retreat magic, I’ve recognized what I’ve always known – that this storytelling is something I love to do, and it’s something that matters. The things that burned me out (read: wedding trends, epic portrait pressures, the “making art”) have never been what I’m best at, or what’s worth a damn thing in the end.

Humans matter. Honest moments with souls who have stories worth telling matter. This work matters.

I’d love for you to give it a follow as I dig into ten years of truth telling, pushing anything fake away, and of course, new work with clients who trust me to be a witness for them.

Oregon Coast

The most magical getaway to the Oregon Coast with wonderful girl friends. The view from Mel’s parent’s house has officially made my top 3 views of all time. This place is magic.