portraits

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.