Courtland Wilson
Courtland Photography provides award winning wedding photography for adventurous couples who value real moments and human connection. Serving Northern California and destinations world wide. Veteran owned and operated since 2013.
Like many veterans, when I left the military I struggled to find purpose again. Searching for a calling, I randomly discovered wedding photography while studying photojournalism in college. I had finally found my passion!
After 11 years of capturing hundreds of weddings I understand what it takes to document the essence of your big day. I go the extra mile to understand your unique needs and values, preserve the fleeting moments, and showcase your wedding with creative, emotional, and authentic photography.
Skills
Lightroom / Natural Light / Off Camera Flash / Photojournalism / Photoshop
Curated Galleries From Courtland Wilson
Browse our hand selected collection of imagery from Courtland Wilson for your wedding inspiration. Click into each image for the full view
Curated Videos From Courtland Wilson
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FAQs
What inspired you to become a wedding photographer?
I always carried a Sony point-and-shoot camera with me during my combat deployments to Iraq. After leaving the military, I wanted to become a war photographer. I loved documenting stories and searching for beauty amongst the chaos of war. While honing my skills, I picked up random photography gigs and wedding photographer was one of those side gigs. I had a blast during my first wedding. I realized I could do photojournalism on people’s best day of their lives and not their worst. It’s still documenting beauty within chaos, but a different kind of chaos. That hit home for me.
How would you describe your photography style?
My style is a mix of vibrant art mixed with human connection. I love environmental portraits and using off camera flash to create an epic landscape shot of “big world, tiny people”. When people view my work I want them to laugh, to cry, or to take their breath away.
How do you ensure that your clients feel comfortable and relaxed during the photo shoot?
If it’s the first time we’ve worked together, I like to meet an hour prior to me even touching the camera and just hang out at a wine bar, brewery, or coffee shop. This helps get the butterflies settled before the session.
How do you ensure that you capture all of the important moments on the wedding day?
My coordinate with my couples multiple times leading up to the wedding to ensure we’re all on the same page. I also have a few questionnaires my clients fill out throughout their entire experience with me. And lastly, I coordinate with key vendor such as the wedding planner to makes sure our couples are taken care of properly.
What is your favorite part of the wedding day and why?
I really enjoy the getting ready and first look portions of the day because you can see the transformation from nervousness to pure joy. That transition really helps tell the whole story.
