Introducing Destination Wedding Photographer: Paige Gustafson!

Tell us a little about you?
My name is Paige, I am from Dexter, Michigan and a graduate of Albion College who absolutely loves to capture the moment.  I live in Central Florida now. I love Disney and the beach so living in Florida is true perfection for me.  I have been lucky to have been a part of over 100 weddings from coordinating to photographing to being an assistant, I feel that I truly understand weddings and how to keep your day on track and keep everyone having a great time.  Your wedding photographer is a big part of your life on your wedding day so it is important to me that we have a connection, and that you are comfortable with me.  The moments captured will be the photo on the wall that your family will see for a lifetime. My goal is to truly capture every moment for you as if they were my own.  
 
How did you get into photography?
From as far back as I can remember I have always had a camera in my hand.  I really started though my junior year of college when I was with my team at horse shows.  When I graduated college, I began to work at The Little Wedding Chapel, coordinating and second shooting for my dad. When the opportunity presented itself for me to photograph weddings on my own, I dove right in.  
 
Why weddings?
 There are so many reasons why I became a wedding photographer but the main one is this; Wedding days are stressful. You have everyone in your family with you, some you haven’t seen in quite some time and everyone wants a piece of your time.  I want to be that person who captures your time, your emotions, your moments.  The moments you become a family.
 
What is your favorite part of a wedding day?
My favorite part of the wedding day is such a hard question to answer!  But, I would have to say the moment when the bride and groom come back up the aisle right after they are married.  The joy for their new life together is just incredible.  
 
Can you share a moment during a wedding that took your breath away?
There is always a moment from every wedding but the one that made me cry was at Valerie & Nate's wedding.  Valerie did a "first look" with her dad and her brother.  She had a hand-written letter for her father that was just absolutely beautiful.  Later that same morning she had me deliver a letter to her brother, and it was just as beautiful then as it was with her father.  Very touching moments. You could say I love "Love."  Valerie's love for her family was shining so brightly on her wedding day!
 
How would you describe your photography style?
I am a documentary style wedding photographer that loves bold colors.  While I do your portrait style setups, I also love to simply capture your interactions as your own and how you are comfortable. 
 
What would your past wedding couples tell us about you?
Everyone that I have worked with has been so relaxed on their wedding day.  When I work with a bride and a groom for their wedding day we talk about the things that they want well in advance so that nothing is missed and there is no stress about forgetting something.  They have also told me that they don't feel rushed.  Because I work with the wedding planners on your day, I also work to keep you on track to make sure you get the most out of your day. 
 
Any advice for our future destination wedding couples?
When traveling make sure that you don't get lost in the planning, HAVE FUN.  Many people get suck in the stress of planning your wedding to perfection.  No matter how the day turns out, it will be perfect, it's the start of your new beginning. ​

---

Learn More About Paige