Profiles

Catching Up with Jim Garner

Jim Garner is a busy guy. Besides running a successful Seattle wedding photography business, he’s also shooting commercially, creating BODA lens bags, and bringing home awards for his outstanding albums (1st place at WPPI the last two years). We caught up with him to see what’s new.

If you’re shooting part-time and thinking about breaking out, Jim’s been there.

You’re based out of Seattle but you also travel. Where have you been recently?

Just spent last weekend in beautiful Boston, photographing one of the most incredible weddings I have ever seen.  Amazing couple, amazing day.  Great fun.

Is it true that you worked in a cubicle before becoming a photographer? What was your occupation?

Yes, I sure did.  Spending a few years in a cubicle really inspired me to break out and become a photographer.  I was mostly in software sales.

So when did you realize that you could make a living shooting pictures?

After I got our wedding photographs back ten years ago.  I had dabbled in photography for years before that, but never really thought you could make a living doing it.

Was there a photographer that inspired or influenced you?

I draw inspiration from so many artistic people.  As far as wedding photographers go, Yervant is truly my greatest influence.

How would you describe your style?

For our wedding work, I don’t subscribe to any specific “style”.  Rather, I evolve with each couple and their needs.  This also allows me to expand my creativity and personal growth artistically.  Keeps the job fun!

Any horror stories you’d like to share? Something bad that happened during a shoot?

I’ve broken quite a few cameras and lenses but I come equipped with lots of back up gear.  Back in the film days, I did have a broken inner shutter on my most used camera body at a wedding.  Didn’t realize that until the lab called me a few weeks later.  Yikes.  Lucky for me, the bride was a total sweetheart and of course we took care of her.

With the photography and BODA, do you have time to just shoot for fun?

Hard to find time this time of year but I do have two beautiful girls at home and I love photographing them.

Any predictions on the next big trend in the wedding photo industry?

Personally, I think giving couples beautiful and real experiences on their wedding day.  Not just a “photo session” but rather a time to truly enjoy each other and their best friends & family.  We pre-plan with our couples to create the perfect experience that really fits their personalities–in affect, we set the scene for gorgeous moments to happen naturally. We see this as a whole new style and way of approaching wedding assignments.

What type of local publications or resources do you advertise in?

We advertise in all the local wedding magazines.  We are also part of a great online vendor resource called junebugweddings.

What are you working on next?

We’re all about creating gorgeous wedding albums for our clients.

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Need more Jim Garner? Check out his website and blog. Also, check out this interview with Scott Shepard about the BODA lens bag.

If you need some album inspiration, here are Jim’s 2007 and 2008 WPPI albums. Both won 1st place.

© 2008 Wed Shooter.