Meet Carmen Washam | Wedding + Elopement Photographer & Photographer Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carmen Washam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carmen, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
For me, photography is about so much more than pointing the camera and snapping a decent photo; it’s about getting to know my couples and telling their love story in creative, emotion-filled, ways.

I want to tell my couples’ love stories through artful images that capture the essence of their connection and relationship. I take time to get to know each of my couples, and send them questionnaires with questions like, “what’s your favorite thing about your partner,” and, “how do you like to be held?” And then I use their responses to create a personalized experience at their session or on their wedding day.

I love this because I can draw out the real and raw personalities of my couples, see their authentic smiles, hear their deep belly laughs, and give them photos that actually look and feel like them.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m always saying I’m here for the romance, fun, and the whimsy. I love surprising and serving the heck out of my clients, which spoiler alert, often includes confetti and loud laughs. I love that I get to join my couples on some of the happiest days of their lives and celebrate such sacred moments with them.

I would say what sets me apart in my work is my ability to connect with and hold space for my clients. As a wedding photographer, I’m often the first professional photographer my couples have booked. This can bring up anxiety and insecurities about being in front of the camera (or literally anything else!), and I am able to hold space for those feelings in a way that also invites people to have fun, and embrace the romance and the whimsy of the session or wedding day.

Another thing that I’d say sets me apart from others is my use of prompts instead of poses. I don’t put my couples in still poses because I don’t want their fake or uncomfortable smiles, and I know they don’t, either. Instead, I create fun and interactive prompts that get them moving together like playing tag, slow dancing, or simply walking hand in hand. This lets me capture authentic moments, candid and raw emotions, and create photos that my couples can really see themselves in.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Honestly, I’m pretty low-key and really value quality time, so we would probably go to Southlake to browse Central Market or Trader Joes, and then come home and cook dinner together. Dinner and a game night would really fill my heart!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband, Brian, for always cheering me on and believing in me.

The Heart University with Lindsey Roman and Evie McLeod. Their podcast is a wealth of inspiration and knowledge, and attending their Palm Springs workshop last year was life changing. They gave me the tools and resources I needed to build my business, and finally feel confident in myself.

And, last but not least, all my wedding photographer friends. We are constantly encouraging each other, and supporting each other in life, and behind the cameras.

Website: www.carmenwashamphotography.com

Instagram: @carmenwashamphotography

Facebook: Carmen Washam Photography

Image Credits
Carmen Washam Photography