PHOTOGRAPHER | Jess Buckley

Jess Buckley is a documentary-style travel wedding photographer, specialising in film. With a background in fine art, her work is characterised by a playful and artistic perspective, and photos that feel rich in colour, spontaneity, and joy. Jess Buckley is based in Portland, OR however, frequently photographs weddings in New York and California and is also available for international destinations.

What would you like couples to know about you?

Words can’t convey how grateful I am for the work I get to do. Weddings are a monumental experience and being invited into folks' inner circle, on such an intimate and extraordinary day, is a privilege I don’t take lightly. My biggest priority on the day, and in the photos you receive, is making people feel special and seen. I don’t want to show you just what the day looked like, but what it felt like to be there and how much joy was in the room. Which means I’m not just going to be a fly on the wall, but I’m going to really immerse myself in the day right alongside you! It’s an immense honor to be trusted with these once in a lifetime moments, so I put a huge amount of heart and care into creating an honest, beautiful, heirloom-quality documentation of your wedding story. I take on a limited number of weddings each year so that I’m able to give each celebration the time, energy and love it deserves.

Where are you based?

I’m based in Portland, OR but am very lucky to get to travel for a large part of my work. I can most often be found frequenting weddings around New York and California, but I’m very happy to travel to wherever your celebration takes me, US or international.

Do you travel for weddings?

Yes! I travel for most of the weddings I photograph. I’m naturally a very curious person. I love trying new things, eating new foods, going places I’ve never been, so destination weddings really activate my imagination and creativity in the best way! I try to bring a child-like wonder to every wedding and let the textures, colors, and energy of the location really inspire the photos I make.

How would you describe your style?

Colorful, natural, atmospheric, spontaneous, honest! On the day, I’m seeking out candid moments of connection and emotion, documenting them with a fine art sensibility and creative compositions. I’m always searching for those little unexpected moments, ones that you wouldn’t expect to see in a traditional wedding photo gallery, that add an element of surprise and delight when you get your final gallery back.

On the back end, I think one of the strongest storytelling tools is color, so shooting mostly film and doing all my scanning and editing very meticulously by hand is an important part of my process. I strive for true to life colors that feel painterly and rich, that have the ability to convey the ambiance and essence of the day in a static image.

How would you describe your working style?

I strive to be a warm, kind, and grounding presence on the day. I think the most authentic candid photos happen when people feel at ease. I really try to blend in, I want folks to feel like I’m just another guest with a camera, someone who’s approachable and you can be yourself in front of.

When I’m shooting, it’s very playful! I’m usually quietly floating around the room, following little sparks of connection, joy, emotion, silliness, whatever it may be. It’s kind of like catching fireflies or going on a scavenger hunt, I’m always searching. I’ve been told a number of times by guests that they catch me with a big smile on my face while I’m shooting - it really is so fun.

I photograph in a documentary style, so I prioritize candids and authentic moments for 95% of the day. When it comes to portraits, I step in and give gentle guidance when needed, but also know when to step back and let things unfold naturally so things never feel too forced or posed. It’s a fun dance!

Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?

I shoot mostly film, 35mm and medium format, with a bit of digital woven in throughout the day. It usually shakes out to be somewhere around 70% film, 30% digital. I came to photography 15 years ago through shooting film and printing in the darkroom in art school, which really shaped my POV and creative style. Shooting film allows me to work in a more slow and thoughtful manner and it renders color and light in a way that is so unique and unmatched by digital. While film is my medium of choice, I always rely on whatever camera is going to make the best photo in any given situation, whether digital or analogue.

What is a favourite product or service that you offer and why?

All day coverage! Rather than offering coverage by the hour, I let couples decide what parts of their day they want photographed, and I’m there for however long that takes. I like this open ended approach because it leaves more room for creativity when couples are building their timeline. It allows them to plan their day exactly how they want, removing the stress of trying to fit a 10 hour day inside an 8 hour box. It makes space for the small moments, the in-betweens, the fun little side quests like popping into the donut shop on the way to the venue, and not just the “expected” wedding day moments. Most importantly, it lets the couple (and me!) be fully present and relaxed, not looking at the clock or worrying about hurrying on to the next event. In turn, I think this results in even more of those magic, authentic candid moments, and allows me the time and space to thoughtfully observe and capture them.

Where would you love to travel to for work?

Honestly, I really love going anywhere I haven’t been before and I’m extremely grateful anytime I’m invited to travel to someone’s celebration. I recently photographed a wedding in a small town in Mississippi and it was equally as inspiring and exciting as traveling to an exotic destination. I’ll be headed to a wedding in Alaska soon, which was pretty high on my bucket list. I’d love to photograph a wedding in New Orleans, Mexico City, Ireland, Sicily. I’ve also been daydreaming about photographing a wedding on a bayou! Truly, any celebration where the location is meaningful to the couple and woven into the story of the wedding, especially if it has cultural or ancestral significance, that’s where I’d love to be.

Who is your dream client?

Kind, fun, down to earth couples who have an appreciation for art and creativity. People who value the community aspect of a wedding and want to prioritize intentional time with their people and being fully present in their celebration. Anyone who says, “we trust you, we love your POV, do your thing”. That’s when the magic happens! I also feel deeply inspired when getting to work in unique non-traditional venues.

What is your advice to couples getting married?

When planning, before you look to other weddings for your inspiration, sit down and make a list of you and your partner's hobbies, passions, and unique aspects of your love story. Find ways to infuse those into any and all aspects of the day for a celebration that is uniquely yours. Then, hire vendors you really love and trust to execute your vision so that when the day comes, you are carefree and able to fully experience and enjoy your day.

Jess Buckley

Website: www.jess-buckley.com

Instagram: @buckleyphotowed