Nostalgia, art, timelessness & warmth intertwine beautifully in Valerie Thompson's works. Rather than focusing on perfection, she is most drawn to the type of imperfection that predisposes itself to capturing one-of-a-kind moments. Valerie's mission? To leave her couples with something immeasurably special, a keepsake that they can hold dearly for the rest of their lives. In her interview with THE WED, Valerie delves into her work style, reveals her favorite Texas locations, and shares what she loves most about being a wedding photographer.
What made you interested in wedding photography? How long have you been in the industry?
I came into wedding photography in a roundabout way. I was formally educated as a journalist and fine artist, but I launched my career in graphic design. I first sought out photography as a means for a creative outlet - my chosen path wound up not being entirely fulfilling, and putting together shoots with friends and other creatives soon took up a lot of my attention during my off-hours. A former mentor once told me that I ought to pay attention to the bastard children artworks I’m making when I’m bored with my "masterpieces”, so I ran with it. This eventually parlayed into the wedding world. I took my first wedding in 2017.
What do you find most exciting yet challenging thing about being a wedding photographer?
My favorite thing is going into a wedding day knowing anything could unfold in front of me - and I prefer it that way. Not knowing exactly how things are going to go is a blessing and a curse, though. It lends itself to capturing uniquely human moments borne purely out of happenstance, but it also means you might catch some moments and miss others. I am an eye, not a creative director, on a wedding day.
How did you come to define your personal style? What makes it special?
My style, as it exists now, is not something I would say I consciously worked at. I believe it came about as a result of my natural gravitation towards the things I like: architecture, fashion, mood lighting, high/low culture, art history, natural materials, cinema, graphic design. What makes any photographer’s style special is how they synthesize the world around them. I spent my greener years as a photographer I think like a lot of other photographers do - studying and thinking about how to mimic the works of other artists I admired. It took me further into my career to transmute this into a much more independent effort, one where my references are less overt and more subliminal, and they come from all around me.
Beyond technical skills, what soft skills do you think are crucial for a wedding photographer?
Understanding emotional nuance. I think a lot of wedding photographers are empaths, which allows us to pre-empt potential moments where we can. Being able to step seamlessly into situations with a variety of different company. Part of the excitement I have for being a wedding photographer is becoming embedded in each couple’s uniquely different guest list. It is like being seated next to different strangers at a dinner party, time after time. The ability to remain unobtrusive lends itself to wedding photography as well. People know when they are being observed, so being able to observe just enough of people to capture what you need while leaving their experience unaffected is a particularly good skill to have.
Do you prefer digital or film? Why?
Most often my preference is film, but both mediums hold their own merits. Digital is quite often a means to an end and the right tool for the task in the fast-paced setting of a wedding day, but my film practice has immensely informed my digital practice. It is constantly teaching me. With all the time in the world I would choose film, but ultimately it is my hope that both my digital and film work become interchangeable, the differences of one less and less discernible from the other.
How have couples' preferences changed over your time in the industry? What trends are you noticing among your clients today?
I am seeing couples more recently shift their preferences to a more hands-off photography experience. They are distinctly not interested in following the wedding “script” and are much more focused on giving space to their experience of the day, rather than fixated on which specific photos and moments they will get at the end of it. I welcome this!
What are some of your favourite Texas locations for photoshoots?
I try to be quite resourceful when location scouting and sourcing. For shoots, I typically defer to the natural style of my couples, or the creative brief I’m given. From there, I set about sourcing locations that typically aren’t purpose-built or intended for photography… unless the brief uniquely calls for it, I tend not to seek out locations that already feel like too much of a “set.”
For weddings, there exist a few rare gems in Texas. Some recent and all-time favorites: The Commodore Perry Estate, Woodbine Mansion, Justine’s Secret House feels like an intimate french bistro. The Carpenter Hotel, Villa Antonia, The South Congress Hotel. There are quite a few boutique hotels in Austin that make great settings for weddings. Nothing really beats wide open spaces, too. The select few weddings I have captured on family or private property hold a particular place in my heart.
What part of the wedding day touches you the most emotionally?
It is hard to say. I feel like there are a lot of little moments throughout the day that are quite touching - sometimes the best ones are completely unique to the couple and their circumstances. I do however always find myself looking for interactions between the couple and their family figures. Whether it is their parents, siblings, or someone who has taken on that role. Those exchanges usually hold a lot of meaning. You can always also catch me paying attention to some of the older guests. For some couples, those guests will have known them the longest. At the slow start of the day, I particularly love moments that feel very reminiscent of adolescence, when my couples are often getting ready in a shared room with friends and family members. It makes me think back to leisurely passing time in my childhood bedroom with friends when I was growing up. There is something very wholesome and human about it.
What's your biggest goal as a wedding photographer?
My goal is to create something that touches on the shared mysteries and truths of the human condition, and I want to create for people in a way that makes them feel understood and valued. When I am capturing a wedding I like to truly embed myself in the day, paying attention and picking out moments equally sentimental and aesthetic. Part documentation and part art. I want for my images to be equally compelling and beautiful - because I think the two things can exist separately but also together in the same image.
When you're not behind the camera, what brings you the most joy?
On free weekends I can usually be found doing something leisurely around the house like reading, scanning film, some sort of maintenance task, or working in the garden. I also love to take on impossibly complicated recipes for food and craft cocktails. I love to travel to see my friends who have now scattered and settled all across the country, and I try and plan at least one purely personal trip abroad per year. Next up is Japan, I think.
