Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Minetree.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
From a young age, I was always drawn to taking photos. I used to set up my point-and-shoot camera on a makeshift tripod made from an old music stand to take self-portraits. In college, I hardly went anywhere without my camera. My classmates began asking me to take headshots for them which led to engagement shoots and finally to weddings in May 2014. I tried a lot of creative outlets in my life – oil painting, clarinet, musical theater – but nothing felt as right as photographing marriage. I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful details, the little moments and being present for such intimate milestones in people’s lives.
Please tell us about your art.
I am a wedding photographer. Why? Because while weddings are full of big moments, there are beautiful little moments too. Maybe the flower girl is trying to do her own makeup in the bathroom mirror. Or the maid of honor reaches out to give the bride a quick hand squeeze before walking down the aisle. Or the groom is sitting alone in the chapel before the ceremony reading a letter from his future wife while wiping away tears. Even though my couples may miss or forget these memories in the moment, I’m there saving them forever.
There’s something incredibly fulfilling and meaningful in having the ability to create an artistic representation of one person’s love for the other. I provide images they will look back on for the rest of their lives and pass down to their children. I like to imagine that one day, my photos will help someone remember why they fell in love in the first place.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
How I define success as a wedding photographer is that my couples come away from their experience with me saying that I captured their day perfectly as a couple and helped them feel relaxed and at-ease. One of the best compliments I received from a former bride was, “When my husband and I go through our wedding photos, we feel as if every sweet moment was illuminated and our perfect day was captured for us to remember for the rest of our lives.” That to me is success.
And I think to get that success, the characteristic a wedding photographer has to have is commitment. I strive to go above and beyond in serving my couples however I can on their wedding day. Sometimes that means drying off ceremony chairs after it rains, giving my lipstick to the mother-of-the-bride when she forgets her own or being on my feet for ten hours straight. Weddings are hard! They are exhausting! They involve constant problem-solving while never letting anyone know that anything went wrong in the first place. I don’t see how you can make it unless you are so committed to the happiness of your clients.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can find my work on my website at alitakesphotographs.com or on my Instagram at @aliminetree. If you enjoy what you see, I’d absolutely love for you to book a session or pass along my information to your friends! My favorite thing is to meet new couples and get to know their stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: alitakesphotographs.com
- Email: ali.minetree@gmail.com
- Instagram: @aliminetree
Image Credit:
Ali Takes Photographs
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