Evolving Behind the Lens
I’m More Than a Wedding Photographer
If you’ve landed on my website, chances are you know me as a wedding photographer. And I get it — weddings are big, beautiful, emotional days. They’re filled with movement and meaning and once-in-a-lifetime moments. I love them for all of those reasons.
But I want to say this clearly:
I am so much more than a wedding photographer.
My First Love: Portraiture
Long before timelines and first dances, I fell in love with portraiture. Not the stiff, overly posed kind — but the kind that feels like someone paused real life for just a second.
Portraiture is intimate. It’s collaborative. It’s about trust. It’s about seeing someone as they are, and helping them see themselves that way too.
Whether it’s a creative editorial session, a quiet studio setup, or a spontaneous outdoor shoot, I’m always chasing that feeling — the in-between expression, the micro-moment, the subtle shift in posture that says everything without trying too hard.
Weddings may have introduced many of you to my work, but portraits are where I get to slow down, experiment, and refine my eye.
My Ongoing Love Affair With Film
Film changed the way I see.
Shooting film forces intention. You can’t overshoot. You can’t immediately check the back of the camera. You have to trust your instincts, your light, your meter — and your subject.
Film teaches patience. It teaches restraint. It teaches you to look harder and wait longer.
And that discipline spills into everything I do — weddings, portraits, personal projects. Film keeps me honest. It keeps me curious. It reminds me that photography is a craft, not just content.
I’m Always Experimenting
I don’t ever want to feel like I’ve “figured it out.”
If I only did one thing, one way, forever — I’d lose the spark. So I’m constantly trying new ideas:
New lighting setups
Unusual locations
Mixed media
Motion and stills together
Medium format and 35mm
Documentary approaches blended with editorial direction
Some experiments turn into portfolio pieces. Some stay personal. Some fail completely — and that’s part of it.
Growth requires risk. Creativity requires play.
Being recognized in the LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards was a defining moment for me. Black and white photography strips everything back — no distraction, no excess — just light, shadow, and emotion.
That award affirmed something I’ve always believed: when you commit to experimentation and craft, the work deepens. And I plan to keep pushing it further. You can check that out here- https://www.lensculture.com/photo-competitions/black-and-white-photography-awards/winners?modal=jacqueline-franquez-the-winner-of-black-and-white-photography-awards-2025
I Refuse to Be Put in a Box
Being known for weddings is something I’m incredibly grateful for. But I don’t want to live inside a label.
I’m not just a “wedding photographer.”
I’m not just a “portrait photographer.”
I’m not just a “film photographer.”
I’m an artist who uses a camera to explore people, light, emotion, and story — in whatever form that takes.
Some seasons might be wedding-heavy. Some seasons might lean into portraiture. Some might be experimental, collaborative, or completely unexpected.
And that’s the point.
If You’re Here for Something Different…
If you’ve been wanting portraits that feel less traditional…
If you’re a creative who wants to build something visually bold…
If you have an idea that doesn’t fit neatly into a category…
I’m in.
Because the best work doesn’t happen inside boxes.
It happens in curiosity.
It happens in trust.
It happens when we try something new.
And I never plan on stopping.