Who: Douglas Pettway Photography
Why: Douglas Pettway might be the most grounded wedding photographer youâve ever met. As a Navy vet in his forties, Douglas isnât about gimmicks, and heâs not here to bring any kind of drama to your wedding (he ainât got time for that). Heâs married, and he has two kids; he gets what this whole thing is about. Which means you get photos that are creative and evocative, without jumping on the latest trends, and without turning your wedding into a photo shoot. With Douglas Pettway Photography, thereâs just no need to worry, because you know heâs got this.
Where/How Much: Doug shoots all over the greater D.C. area with basic packages starting at ,800 for a whole eight hours of coverage. Travel is free within Virginia, West Virginia, Washington D.C., and Maryland.
Hiring a wedding photographer is a tricky beast. You want someone who produces amazing images (thatâs what youâre paying them for, right?), but ultimately, not even the worldâs most breathtaking wedding photography is worth it if you canât trust your wedding photographer. Douglas Pettway Photography is the opposite of that. With him, you come for the photos, but you stay for the customer service. To start, Doug is not the kind of guy who waxes philosophical about his own work. Mostly because he doesnât think the work is even about him. Itâs about you. (Duh.) He says:
I never want to use a coupleâs wedding as a platform to take part in the popularity contest that the wedding industry has turned into. Iâve learned that itâs important to not pigeon hole myself into a âstyle.â Each and every wedding is a unique experience that requires a broad scope to photograph effectively. I donât want to limit myself and my deliverable images to a âphotojournalismâ approach only, and conversely I donât want every image to be an overly artsy piece that might not represent who my clients are. After all, my clients hire me as a photographer who meets their own styles and allows their personalities to shine through. I donât have any âgo toâsââthe same ring shot or bouquet shot at every weddingâbecause my clients put so much work into their weddings, and their photos should reflect who they are. My end goal is to photograph you and your spouse as who you are and create images that you would be proud to hang over the fireplace.
But itâs about more than just valuing your personal aesthetic. Doug is as good at the business side of things as he is at the creative side (harder to find in a photographer than youâd think). And when youâre stuck waiting on photos for what seems like forever, thatâs when that kind of stuff really starts to matter. Douglas says:
As my calendar fills up, I am finding ways of getting photographs into the hands of my couples faster so that I still have personal time to spend with my family. The win-win is that my couples will have their photographs while their memories of the wedding are still fresh.
Given all that, Iâm not surprised that every single one of Douglas Pettwayâs recent client testimonials says the exact same thing: Doug is personally invested in your wedding, and it turns out that matters. A lot. As one client recently said:
I could go on and on about how perfect Doug was for our weddingâand wedding planning! When I couldnât look at another flower and wanted to strangle various relatives, Dougâs prompt, sympathetic, entertaining communications reignited my enthusiasm. With good communication and natural empathy, Doug really entered into the spirit of our celebration. On the day of the wedding he even surprised us with special access to a local landmark, which meant the world to me. Doug really cares, which is his first gift; the other is taking great photographs! As others have noted, Doug will capture the essence of your celebration in ways that will keep you smiling for many, many years. I couldnât recommend him more highly. Heâs the best!
Dougâs base package price is ,800, which includes eight hours of coverage, or as I like to call it: basically the whole damn day. Plus, when you hire him, you get the free-gift-with-purchase of knowing that these guys above (Dougâs daughters) will be pleased with your decision. And personally? I wouldnât want to cross the one on the left. So if youâre in D.C. (and the surrounding areas) looking for a nice, normal, sane photographer who also happens to be incredibly talented, then Douglas Pettway Photography is your answer.
Click here to see more of Dougâs recent work and then contact him today!
