Ouray Magazine's County Lines Locals Series
Welcome to the County Lines Local Series podcast. Join us as we dive into the heart and soul of our communities, uncovering the stories that shape our lives we'll explore the human experiences that connect us all.
Each episode will feature interviews with local residents, experts, and community leaders. We'll discuss everything from local history and culture to current events and challenges. Our goal is to shed light on the unique perspectives and stories that make Ouray County so special.
So, tune in and join us on this journey of discovery. Let's explore the County Lines together.
Ouray Magazine's County Lines Locals Series
Capturing Adventure: Aubrey Fletcher's Journey into Elopement Photography
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Join us as we sit down with Aubrey Fletcher, an elopement photographer who traded the hustle and bustle for the serene landscapes of Ouray County. Curious about how moving to a mountain paradise in 2018 shaped her passion for capturing adventure elopements? Aubrey reveals how the majestic backdrops of Ouray have become the perfect canvas for her artistry, aided by her trusty Nikon D850 and Z7 II cameras. She shares how Ouray’s scenery magnetizes couples seeking unforgettable wedding experiences and offers a peek into her ventures photographing larger weddings in Telluride.
Prepare to be inspired by Aubrey's meticulous approach to creating seamless elopement experiences for her clients. Imagine planning an adventure elopement up to 18 months in advance, with Aubrey guiding couples through everything from weather forecasts to attire and local secrets. Her stories of unique shoots, including a thrilling via ferrata session, highlight her flexibility and adventurous spirit, ensuring each elopement is a one-of-a-kind memory. Aubrey also opens up about her selective approach to winter elopements, balancing her busy summer schedule with the allure of winter’s quiet beauty.
Explore the evolving landscape of wedding photography as Aubrey shares insights from her journey since 2013. Discover the shift towards intimate elopements and the rising popularity of micro weddings, blending small celebrations with close family and friends. Aubrey contrasts the different vibes between Ouray's personal events and Telluride's more traditional weddings. Aspiring photographers will glean valuable advice on second shooting and honing artistic passion, while couples planning their special day in this scenic region will find practical tips to navigate high demand and create memorable experiences.
Exploring Ouray County's Adventure Elopements
Speaker 1Welcome to the County Lines Locals podcast series with your host , marcus Van Meter , where we explore the heart of our community , sharing stories , insights and the voices that make our county unique . Sit back , listen in and let's dive into what makes life here so extraordinary .
Speaker 2Welcome everyone to the Euray County Lines Locals series podcast . I'm your host , marcus Van Meter , and today we have the pleasure of sitting down with another photographer , aubrey Fletcher , who is an elopement photography specialist here in the area and very successful at this . Aubrey , welcome to the show .
Speaker 3Thank you so much for having me , marcus . I'm excited to tell a little bit about my story and , of course , share good news about your ray yes , absolutely .
Speaker 2You know , I think everybody thinks about oh , I want to live in your ray , I want to get married in your ray , and they , you know , they really don't understand what that might look like , and so that's why we have you on the show today .
Speaker 3So , aubrey , tell us a little bit about how you got to your ray , why you're here and how long you've been doing what you've been doing of shooting elopements yeah , so I'll try to keep this in a nutshell because it's kind of a crazy story , um , but in a nutshell , my family and I moved to your ray in december of 2018 , so we're going on seven years now and absolutely been in love with the mountains here Since before then .
Speaker 3My in-laws actually came to the Ouray Western Slope area in the early 90s and so they would come out on vacation , and then my husband and I , when we got together , they brought me out and , of course , immediately I fell in love with the area , loved it , and then we all decided to move out here and it's been such a wonderful experience for us . It definitely fits our lifestyle . We're very outdoorsy people and this just fits , and so we love that we can call Ouray County home and that we can just spend so much wonderful time here in the mountains leisurely , and then for me , as part of my job , it's been great .
Speaker 2Yeah , I can't believe it's been that long already . I mean , I remember when you first landed in Euray and you're a young go-getter and you wanted to pick on weddings and I was like holy cow , this girl's got nerves of steel to do that . I've shot a couple of weddings . Yeah , I've shot a couple of weddings and I know what . What you have , you have to have the patience of a saint and you know , that's just , that's just amazing . So for all the other photographers out there , tell us the platform that you like to shoot with .
Speaker 3Yeah , so I am a Nikon shooter . My primarily go-tos are Nikon D850s , love them , which I know we're in the stage and age of mirrorless cameras now , which I do have one of those in my regimen . So I do shoot the Nikon Z7 II as well , but my go-to's are my D850s . I just love them . And as far as lenses go , I can get technical with that if you want , but my go-to is my 24 to 70 . I like the range of motion I can get with that and then mainly for wedding ceremonies I love that 70 to 200 . Just that compression is beautiful . And then I just mainly shoot with a 35 on my Z7 II .
Speaker 2Okay , yeah , the 24-70 is such a versatile lens and you know it's got with a I'm assuming you probably had a 2.8 on the stop on that and the rich bokeh you can get . And then the low light shots , which are super important , yeah , for the brides out there . Yeah , so you know , I noticed when I looked at your website today and it looks beautiful , by the way I mean you really come a long way with that and you don't really shoot weddings per se , it's mostly elopements , Is that correct ?
Speaker 3So I mainly focus on the adventure elopements , but I do enjoy shooting weddings when I'm involved with a planner .
Speaker 3Okay , I do so . I will shoot weddings as well , but I mainly shoot those over in Telluride . There's more of a wedding industry over there that can accompany larger weddings , but in recent years we're starting to get more venues here in Ouray and so weddings here are becoming more popular and I definitely love shooting those . Here are becoming more popular and I definitely love shooting those . But the adventure out in the mountains is where my heart really loves and just enjoy so much .
Speaker 2Yeah , I can totally see that . You know you probably shoot a gazillion of them this season . What are you finding out ? What attracts people to want to come here and do an adventure ? Elopement , Like . What kind of client are you seeing ? A demographic wise ? What are they interested ? What do they all have in common ?
Speaker 3For sure and that's a great question I will say that none of my couples are exactly the same . Everybody is all unique and I attract couples from all over . But I feel like when people are wanting to come out here and get married , they are attracted to the gorgeous landscapes that we have here in Ouray . And most of my couples , when I ask them what is a priority for you when we are shooting your day , when we are trying to plan out your day , and they want those breathtaking , just jaw dropping views . And when I get Yurei specific couples , they want iconic Yurei mountains , and so there's several awesome locations that are definitely iconic Yurei , but I would say the couples that I attract want that adventure aspect .
Speaker 2They want to be out in the mountains , they just want to spend the day with each other in a beautiful landscape and just enjoy their time together yeah , yeah , I can totally see that and we'll give out locations , even though you know the locals that have seen your work know where that those shots are taken . To try to protect that .
Speaker 3Exactly .
Speaker 2Yeah . So what kind of attire ? I mean , you know , an adventure wedding . You think of a lot of things with adventure . What kind of clothing attire are they ? Are they dressing more period style to what the Ouray used to be ? And and have they the ones that are seeking you out ? Have they been here before and they know what Youray looks like and they're like I want to be married in the mountains or at this location , or or are they new to the area , never been here before ?
Speaker 3Good questions . So for the majority of my clients I would say , well , maybe around 75 percent have never been to the Western Slope before , have never been to the Western Slope before . So I do get people that have . Maybe they've never heard of Ouray or even Telluride or Silverton , they've never heard of areas in the Western Slope . They have maybe been on the Denver side , the Front Range area , but most of them have not been here specifically . So they are just blown away by the mountains , of course , and love it .
Speaker 3And then , as far as attire goes , I would say most of my couples are pretty like up-to-date , modernized , with their wedding attire . I do see some really fun like Western influences thrown in , like maybe a bolo tie or cowboy boots or a cowboy hat , which I think is really fun , and I love those as well . But I love that when couples have their own flair on things . Sometimes I will have my grooms with custom jackets , with kind of like . I've had one that had like the topography of the Sneffles mountain range around there inside his jacket , and I always think that unique elements are very fun and they're wonderful to photograph .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah , I can totally see that , and I assume a nice pair of comfortable shoes or a nice pair of boots is probably number two , right ?
Speaker 3Definitely Most of my brides will wear hiking shoes so you can't necessarily see that in their , their shots of their , but I always get a shoe shot . We love to get that beautiful white dress with a really hiking shoe shot .
Speaker 2Yeah , that's kind of iconic , and I follow you on your social media , on Instagram , and you even had like a late season adventure one where you had some inclement weather , didn't you ?
Speaker 3Yes , so that does happen from time to time . We're in the mountains , of course , and we've been snowshoeing in to you know , kind of waiting out a thunderstorm up high in the mountains with hail and even snow in July . So I never shy away from weather . I feel like when we have mountain weather , which is going to happen , I like to embrace it , just because the clouds that come before and after are just out of this world and really set a beautiful scene . And I always like to say you know , your photos are not going to look like anybody else's .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah , that's for sure . I mean , as photographers , we're always taught never shoot in the middle of the day or on a bluebird day , and sometimes you really don't have a choice with that I can about imagine .
Speaker 3That is true . Yeah , when I do have those really harsh days , I do like to find maybe more of a treed area so we kind of break up some of that really bright bluebird sky . But you know , in the mountains it's all beautiful . So it's really great to just work with what we have too .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah , I can totally see that .
Preparing for Adventure Elopements
Speaker 2And how do you help the couples and I'm sure you get involved in this long before they even arrive for the wedding , for their shoot ? How do you help them get prepared for coming out and having an elopement with you ?
Speaker 3prepared for coming out and having an elopement with you ? Yes , that's a great question as well . So when I am booking a client , once we go through that booking process , we're all squared away and all of that . I send out an elopement guide and so it is chock full of information that will guide them through like weather , attire , seasons , what to expect as far as crowds during certain times of the year , and so that guide is really chock full of lots of good information for my couples .
Speaker 3But I really like to touch base with them multiple times before our date . Of course , get everything , make sure everybody's on the same page . Times before our date of course , get everything , make sure everybody's on the same page . Um . But big reminders that I always love to share is good foot attire . Drink lots of water . If you are not from the area , we don't want any altitude sickness happening , um . And then you know , of course , our checklists of you know , do you have your rings , do you have your wedding attire ? Um , do we have your vow books and marriage license , all of that kind of things . Just double checking with them .
Speaker 3But I really , when I am onboarding a couple , I go overboard with the information . So I'm sending them all the nitty gritty , like even where to go and get their marriage license . Send them , send them the link for that . I send them all the wonderful places to eat in town , wonderful places to lodge in town , fun activities to do while they're here as well , besides their elopement day . So I really like to front load them with lots of information about your ray and all the fun things to do and how to be prepared for all of the weather and trail conditions and all of that .
Speaker 2Yeah , and when does that process usually start ? I know your calendar fills up really quickly and you're probably starting to see that already going into next year , and how long does that process that you work with these clients on front loading them ? When does it usually start ?
Speaker 3When does it usually start ? Yes , so I would say for weddings specifically , I am looking at 18 months to 12 months out from their wedding is typically when I'm booking those . But elopements , a lot of them , I'm looking at from a 12 month range . Some people will plan their elopement out a year in advance , but a lot of them are six to nine months ahead I'm finding so right now I am typically booking my July August elopements . So elopements are a little more lenient , whereas weddings there's a little more planning to that , of course .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah , I can totally see that . And do you see , do anything in the wintertime , like ?
Speaker 3you know we're we have such a rich season in the winter for ice climbing and skiing and all thaturide , um , but I do have four on the books for this winter season and I'm I'm good with that number , um , so I have three here in December getting ready to come up and then one in February , um , and so , yeah , I like to keep it around that number for my winter time , just because I hit it really hard . June through October .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 3I like to keep that winter season a little sleepy .
Speaker 2Yeah , and that is kind of our season out here for about anything you want to get into , and I mean we get , we'll see snow . I mean , as you know , we've probably been at music at the park in June , at Follin Park , and it snowed , yes , and I don't think a lot of people really realize that . And then we roll into monsoon season and then you've got your challenges with that as well .
Speaker 3Exactly yes .
Speaker 2Now , for everybody that's listening to this , aubrey is going to put together a photo essay of some of her weddings and we'll have that linked into her splash page on uramagazinecom for this podcast , so you'll be able to reach out to Aubrey , get a hold of her , see her work and hopefully choose her for your elopement or whatever you choose . To Aubrey photograph you , because it's quite amazing out here to say that you were married and had this experience out here .
Speaker 3Yes , One of a kind really .
Speaker 2Now , does anyone ever come to you with like a creative idea ? They're like , hey , we're , we want to do this for our elopement . And you're like , oh hell , no , we're not , I'm not touching that . Or I mean , do you get that other side of that with the business that you're like you know I'm not your photographer for that . Or or you know , that's just too out there or too crazy .
Speaker 3I'm trying to even think of a scenario that I have had like that , but honestly , if it is anything adventure related , I'm game . So another I will like a short story here . Another wedding professional , and you're a , krista Cossett , who's a wedding planner , reached out to me and wanted to do a via ferrata shoot with a couple . And I am not a climber personally myself , um , but we we did it . So we um worked with the guys there at base camp Logan and um got it all set up . We did a little um a day of shooting and it was a lot of fun . Um , it was interesting . I'm not scared of heights per se , but I'm not a climber . So it was . It had its own challenges , but I'm game for anything , at least once you know .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah . That's really cool that you do that adventure side , cause I imagine people want to do as much of a unique experience as they can . And for the listeners out there , an adventure photographer is about the only photographer that is actually participating in what they're shooting and that can be really , really tricky to do . And on assignments because really a commercial elopement or a wedding is really an assignment you can shoot thousands and thousands and thousands of images . What do you like to pare down to for a gallery when you show your client ? Do you have a number in mind , or how does that work for you ?
Speaker 3Yeah . So it kind of depends on how much time I spend with the client . So I have various packages , of course . So I'll just use an example of a full day elopement . So I consider a full day elopement eight hours , and I'm going to get anywhere from 500 to 800 images for that day . I like to keep it around that number , but we can fill that day with so many wonderful images . So it depends on how many activities we're doing in that day . I might get closer to that more 800 range and sometimes we're just kind of soaking in the scenery , soaking in the moments with like picnics and by the lake , and so you might look at more like that 500 image range . But I like to tell a story with those images is what I'm really trying to to do with those . So whether we got it full of adventure or we're more a little laid back , it's all just a wonderful story to tell yeah , it certainly is , and I bet social media has had an impact on that .
Speaker 2I mean , the challenge for photographers back in the day was telling a story in exactly one frame , and now , with social media and the way that everybody's kind of organizing their images , you've got a little bit more wiggle room with their in what you can , how you tell your story .
Speaker 3Yes , so true .
Speaker 2Do you ever get any approaches for doing videography ?
Speaker 3So , yes , I have been approached in the past for videography and I did try it out a couple of years ago to do like a dual . So I took on five photo and video clients so they booked photo package and a video package with me . Together combined it was very challenging , to say the least . I was running four cameras for the day and it was just quite challenging . I did love shooting video . I found it very like a very good creative outlet for me , so I loved that aspect of it . The editing part of video wasn't my favorite . I'll just be honest with you there . It was a little more challenging than and sitting inside . That was a challenge for me . I like to be outdoors and doing things . Yeah , so not to say I won't try to tackle video in the future . I just might approach it a little differently than I tried last time .
Speaker 2Yeah , it's definitely a whole nother ball of wax and I took a kind of a hiatus for my video or my photography , to do videography for about two years and and it's a lot of time I don't think people really realize what it takes .
Speaker 3Yes , that's so true . It's a lot of time .
Speaker 2You know my experience has been you need about an hour of video for every one minute produced .
Speaker 3Oh , for sure .
Speaker 2That's such a big ratio and then where do you store it all and everything that goes involved in that ?
Speaker 3Yes .
Speaker 2When you describe your editing style and I've looked at your style and it's really consistent across your offering . How would you describe your editing style like your presets ? What do you like to bring out in an image ? What do you like to crush as far as like highlights or shadows ? What do you like to do ?
Speaker 3For sure . So when a couple is asking me this , like when they're inquiring with me , I like to tell them I like to be more kind of true to color , but with earthy tones . I like to really highlight the landscape as it is and bring them out in it as well . So for me , when I am sitting down to edit , I like to bring highlights way down . That's one of my little things that I really like . I don't like exaggerated highlights , and then I do like things to be not overly contrasted but just enough there to just bring out the landscaping features and the couple . But yeah , those , those highlights , I like to slide those down .
Speaker 2Yeah , that's really common .
Speaker 2And then you know manipulating that tone curve and you know that's , that's so , so important and and I , I would , if I had to look at I would describe your style as light and airy and okay , yeah and I I think it's really nice because you get to bring out all those details and and I think that's not being a wedding photographer , but I would imagine I'm a lifestyle photographer that that's what people are interested in , and not seeing dark shadows in their images or part of their wedding day dress covered up or their outfit .
Speaker 3Right and I feel like when I first started out , I was a little more dark , a little more moody and , as I have been in this industry six years now , I found that people wanted their wedding photos to feel a little more lighter , a little more truer to color , a little less moody . Um is more of what the clients that I guess I'm attracting , um , I love both , all styles . I think it's all very fun and it can be very creative to get in there and change styles and everything , but I really like where I am at right now . I feel like it just brings out the scenery as well as a couple .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah , it does . You do a really good job with it , aubrey , and I can always tell . When I'm looking at a wedding picture around here , I can usually tell that it's yours that you've shot , and I think that's what photographers are looking for . You know , and and you know a lot of them out there just try to edit their way to success and I just don't see that that working , especially in your industry .
Speaker 3Yeah , I like to be true to what I like and then I , the clients that like my style , are going to come to me because they like what I do and how how I edit things , and I feel like that's , that's a good thing . I like to attract the people that like it .
Speaker 2Yeah , do you use a preset or do you kind of just whatever it is for shooting in and you just kind of dial it in for that particular shoot .
Speaker 3So I do use a preset . I have several that I have customized for my liking . Um , it's a range of four to five presets that . I have kind of tweaked over the years to be my style and um , I do use , for I like to always include some black and white images . I know everyone's not a fan of those , but I just love the classic , timeless feel of black and white , and so I do have a black and white preset as well . That is just just I love it .
Speaker 2Yeah , they take a long time to perfect they do years ?
Speaker 3Yes , yeah .
Speaker 2And it can be just the slightest adjustment , you know .
Speaker 3Oh yes .
Speaker 2You know , then , if you throw in any kind of masking or anything like that on top of the image , that can completely change it as well . You know , some of these locations you go to are pretty epic , and how do you guys get up there ? I mean , do you shuttle them up ? Do they meet you there ? Are there any requirements that your guests have to have as far as getting themselves to these places , or how does that work ?
Speaker 3Yeah , so I'm a little unique with that . A lot of the time , if it is just a couple and myself , my couples will actually hop in with me and I will take them up there and we're just kind of cruising and enjoying the scenery . When we have guests involved , I usually suggest that they use one of the tour companies in town so that their guests can just ride along and enjoy . I have had several where family members either had their own off-roading vehicles or they rented and kind of followed us on up . So there's many ways that we can play it . But it's a lot of fun just to be able to get to chat with my couples as we're going up and , you know , really get to know them and just see all the beautiful scenery as we go .
Speaker 2Yeah , I can imagine , and probably for some of them that have never been here before , there's a little bit of a pucker factor .
Wedding Trends
Speaker 2Do you find that's kind of the ride up as a way to get everybody kind ?
Speaker 3of loose and in the mood to shoot , it does help . Yes , I always love the conversations that I can have when they're they're with me . Just , I feel like getting to know somebody always helps loosen them up a little bit , and a lot of the times they do get loosened up . So , since they are not driving themselves , I've been driving these trails since 2013 . And so I very comfortable driving . I love the challenge of driving these trails there's some really good trails up here and I just love it and the more challenging the better .
Speaker 2Yeah , they certainly are beautiful . Where do you see you've been in this business now for six years . Where do you see it going in the next five years ? Do you see it still on the same level that you're doing it now , or do you see it progressing down a different path ?
Speaker 3The wedding elopements in general you know , big events were not able to happen and so there was a big shift and elopements two people elopements became huge , very huge , and so I really became very well known during that time in the area .
Speaker 3And so lately the last couple I'd say one to two years we are seeing a shift back to those large gatherings again , which I think is really great .
Speaker 3But I also feel like people are discovering maybe that's not the right fit for them . And just because that is more of a traditional route , I think people are discovering that they can choose , you know , to do a wedding day the way they want it . You know they don't necessarily have to have a 300 person wedding . They can even have more of a micro wedding , which I am seeing be more popular . So I I consider a micro wedding to be 30 to 40 people . And so what I'm seeing with that , when people book with me , is they want to do kind of a hybrid situation . They want to spend the time just the two of them maybe out adventuring getting some gorgeous photos , but then they also want to come back with a close knit group of family and friends and have a ceremony , a small reception . So I really feel like where I'm sitting , I am seeing more of that kind of a hybrid situation .
Speaker 2Okay . Okay , that's interesting and we've been talking a little bit about what your ray elopements look like as weddings . But you also shoot in Telluride and for those listening to know that , technically your ray is seven miles from Telluride as a raven flies in over two mountains . But how do you see the differences in the way that your clients approach the wedding process as opposed to your ray and telluride ?
Speaker 3Yes , so here in Euray it's usually smaller , smaller get togethers . We're usually just have a planner book . So either the planner has referred me to them or they have found me through the planners work or a situation like that . But when I'm getting telluride clients , they have the planner , they already have their venue booked . They're wanting it to be a wedding in a beautiful place , but they kind of want to have those traditional elements as well . As far as you know , a large guest count . They're wanting a beautiful place , but they kind of want to have those traditional elements as well . As far as you know , a large guest count . They're wanting a large dinner .
Speaker 3They're wanting a beautiful venue more traditional elements I'm seeing , not that I don't get those clients in your ray as well . I'm starting to see more of that now that we do have more wedding venues here in your ray .
Capturing Adventure and Intimacy in Elopements
Speaker 3But the array side is , I would say , more on the adventure yeah , which do you find more from your perspective ?
Speaker 2which , uh , do you find more rewarding to shoot ?
Speaker 3so they both are rewarding in their own ways . I love shooting the large telluride weddings with all the beautiful details and all the fun key elements that they have . The party scene is very fun and energetic . Then for the adventure , elopements with kind of a small family knit scene is also just really special . I love seeing the intimacy of those moments that I can really capture with a smaller crowd . If , even if it's just me myself and the couple , that's very rewarding too . So it's two different sides of the spectrum and I love , I love them both .
Speaker 2Yeah , I can see where one of them may be over in your way is a little bit more on the freewheeling creative side , where the Telluride seems to be a little more structured . Yes , I've been over in Telluride when there's been weddings and they seem like they all want the shot on Colorado Avenue . You know , yes , you know , like right where the Sheraton is right .
Speaker 3Yes , for sure .
Speaker 2The ones that I've seen were the the platform up by chair seven you know , overlook in the Valley with a gazillion hours .
Speaker 3Beautiful .
Speaker 2Yeah , just amazing . And , um , you know , tell your rights , weddings are are a big business over there . I know that for sure , and rightfully so . It's a beautiful place to get married .
Speaker 3For sure .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 2Well , if you had any tips to share with someone that was listening to this podcast and was like , hey , I want Aubrey to shoot my elopement or my wedding , what would you share with them ? What tips would you give them ahead of time or things that they need to be thinking about before they choose you ?
Speaker 3Yeah , great , great , great questions . So something that I always try to tell people is let's narrow down what time of year you would like to elope . So is that during wildflower season , do you want to be in a beautiful meadow with wildflowers ? Do you prefer to have that gorgeous fall color , um , or do you prefer to have the snow ? So those are , those are . That's like the main number one thing that I always like to point people to cause . That really helps narrow down one , our location . And then to our timing Um , so that's one of the big , big factors , um , and my favorite time to shoot .
Speaker 3That's the big , big factors and my favorite time to shoot . I love every season , but I would say that end of July , early August , when those wildflowers are just out of this world , is probably one of my favorite times . So that's probably one of the big things is , first figure out when you want to elope , and then my second thing would be thinking do you want family and friends to be involved ? Do you want to focus just on the two of you , or would you rather it be kind of a hybrid situation where you kind of get the best of both worlds ? That kind of comes down to how much time we want to spend together and how many locations we want to go to . So that's another big factor as well .
Speaker 2Yeah , how do you deal with the changing lighting conditions ? I'm sure some people really would like to do a sunset , you know , which is a completely different way of doing that or even an early morning , right , and then the harshness of the day . You kind of touched on a little bit by finding some , but how do you deal with that ? As far as your approach goes , do you have like a system that you follow ? That , ok , today is going to be crap , I know it's going to be overcast , the light's going to be flat , and this is how I deal with it .
Speaker 3Right . So when I am building a timeline with an elopement couple , I like to know what their priority is . So are we shooting through sunset or are we doing a sunrise ? And then , once I know their priorities , most common is people do want sunset , so we want to shoot through sunset , and so I kind of work our timeline backwards from there .
Speaker 3So sometimes that does include middle of the day harsh lighting . Sometimes that does not kind of just depends , um , but during um midday I I like to put a filter like a UV filter on my cameras there , so that does help . That lighting makes it a little easier in post . Um , but definitely I I always like to shoot two stops under , so that definitely helps with . I don't like blown out skies , and so that definitely helps with that . Um , when I have cloudy days , I don't have to deal with that as much . It makes it a little easier for me . Um , but yeah , definitely , whenever I get those harsh days , I'm I'm shooting at least two stops under just to make sure I don't blow out skies . Yeah , yeah , I can imagine , and you , I'm shooting at least two stops under just to make sure I don't blow out skies .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah , I can imagine , and you , I'm , I'm sure you shoot raw so you can manipulate that in Lightroom and all the fun stuff . And and I know some photographers and I'm , I'm one of them I use a , a Polar Pro polarizer , a circular polarizer , and I use a black mist one to create kind of a signature look , and you like to do most everything in camera if you're setting your two stops below on a blown out day . So that begs the question do you shoot fully manual ? Do you shoot aperture priority or auto ISO ? How do you like to shoot ?
Speaker 3So I am fully manual and I as so as the day progresses . So say , it's just a gnarly sunny day . I'm starting at two o'clock , so I'm going to have my UV filter on for one . I'm going to double check , make sure I'm two stops under , and then I definitely test out , make sure , um , that is to my liking .
Speaker 2And then I am adjusting ISO as the day progresses yeah annually yeah yeah , I can see that the 850 is such a great camera , that Nikon D850 um just a beautiful , beautiful camera , so it's getting a lot of flexibility and wiggle room .
Speaker 3There for sure , I've been very happy with them and I know they're starting to become older technology , but I'm having a hard time wanting to switch to that mirrorless yeah , it was a big jump when I I was shooting forever and and then switch , switch to sony .
Speaker 2Yeah , I've been real happy with Sony .
Speaker 3Sony does beautiful as well . Very good yeah .
Speaker 2Their their color profiles , what , what I really , really love . So you know , with your adventure side of it , I it begs the question have you lost any gear ? Have you had anything ruined Like oh my gosh ? I mean , it seems like photographers all the time are beating their stuff up and I can imagine , with you or your shooting , that you probably get a lot of like oh my gosh moments .
Speaker 3Yes , so the way I carry my cameras is I do have a dual harness , so I am carrying both bodies at the same time and they do get dinged around if I'm , you know , bending down to get a low angle . Sometimes , you know , it kind of hits a little too rough on a rock . But probably the story I'll share is I was shooting an engagement session and we wanted to go across the river and I'm all for going across the river , I'll stand in the river whatever I'll do it . And it was a beautiful , fun fall day and I was in the river getting this really cool shot . They were kind of standing above a waterfall .
Speaker 3I needed to get in the river to get the shot . Well , I slipped and one of my cameras did go down and I held one up , but one did go down . I did have to send it off to Nikon . It was a little bit expensive to get it repaired , but it's all good now . But that was that's probably the worst one I've had . But that was definitely a my error . Probably shouldn't have gone in the river with my shoes . I could have done it barefoot and been fine .
Speaker 2OK , gotcha , what ? And I guess I'd ask . We've only got a couple more questions because we are running out of time but what's the wildest one you've done ? Like it like you walked away from the shoot and you're like , oh my God , I do that again . I never want to do that again . What was the wildest one you've done ?
Speaker 3Oh well , one that just immediately pops in my head was this summer . Actually , I did a sunrise elopement up at courthouse mountain , so near Ridgeway . Absolutely gorgeous the couple , it was amazing .
Advice for Wedding and Elopement Photography
Speaker 3So we started our day at 3 am oh my god , we could hit the mountain just right at sunrise and it wasn't that one's not too hard of a crazy hike , um , but we made it in time to spare , and just the sunrise . I'm actually including , um , some of those photos for my photo essay , but the sunrise was just unforgettable , probably one of my most all-time favorite favorite shoots , just because lighting was perfect , couple was so fun , we had the best time , and just one of those moments where , when I got done with that day , I just thought I love what I do yeah so not a crazy wild story , but just one that just makes me love what I do , you know , and I've
Speaker 2had several of those yeah , and as artists , those are important to have because they're what's inspirational , you know , to keep us going and and actually get the brain thinking , because it's so easy to get stuck in the same groove all the time .
Speaker 3Yes .
Speaker 2You know , and protecting that creativity and feeding that creativity is so important , right ? So , as a parting Aubrey , it's a two part question . And before we wrap this up today , for anyone out there and I know and we won't mention any names , of course , but I know you have been a lot of people have tried to imitate you and you know , and they say that's the highest form of flattery . I don't know if that's debatable in my mind . Flattery , I don't know if that is that's debatable in my mind . But what ? What for a new young go-getter out there that was , you know , probably living , not here ? What would , what advice would you have for a young photographer that was thinking about getting involved in wedding photography ? What would you ? What would you tell them ?
Speaker 3For sure . So my biggest piece of advice that I feel like if somebody would have kind of pointed me in this direction , it would have helped me get where I'm going a little faster . But second shoot . Second shoot for people who've been in the industry . Follow them around , you know , see how they do things Not that everyone does things exactly how you would want to do things . But second shoot for other people get involved with weddings , get involved with elopements , kind of see what you like shooting , see what you don't like shooting and kind of go from there .
Speaker 3And I feel like for me , something that took me a few years to understand is it's OK to niche down , like when I first started shooting . I shot everything . Anything that came my way I would shoot it , and it was fun . I learned a lot , but I also learned what I really loved shooting , and that's elopements , that's weddings and that's couples , anything you know proposals , engagement sessions that's where my bread and butter is , that's where my heart lies , that's where I love to shoot . And so for a new photographer , I feel like you know , shoot everything , that's good , but then get a feel for what you like . Hit that head on .
Speaker 2Yeah , yeah . One of my my photography heroes has always said that photographers tend to shoot the things that they fear losing the most , and I think there's a lot of truth in that and and sometimes that can be really confusing as an artist , what it is that you really want to shoot . You know , I remember when I first started , I was carrying a camera to the grocery store and it's like OK , this has got to stop . You know , because at some point it becomes a business , this has got to stop . You know , because at some point it becomes a business . And when you pick that camera up and that switch goes on , you're like I'm working now and then putting it down and not taking it with you everywhere is so important .
Speaker 3That's hard .
Speaker 2It is hard and it's hard . I think you know everything is so niche oriented these days and it's really hard to cover a lot of bases and with the internet never sleeps and so it's constantly this machine you have to feed with content , and it can be a real challenge . What would be your one piece of advice for someone out there that's that's looking to come to your right to to have an elopement or a wedding ? I mean , what would you tell them ?
Speaker 3an elopement or a wedding ? I mean , what would you tell them ? Yeah , so if they're wanting to come out to your aid and get married , definitely do a little bit of research on where you would like to stay . We have so many wonderful lodging places to stay . Get a feel for what your guest count is going to be , because lodging can be limiting , especially during peak season and vendors book up very quickly here locally . So if you're looking to elope or have a wedding here , I would probably start that process at least a year in advance . If you're needing to find lodging Other vendors , if you're wanting a venue , start that process sooner rather than later , especially during busy season . July is probably one of the busiest months that we have here as far as people coming here not even to get married , just to experience the outdoors here . But then my busiest month is usually July and September , so those months with other vendors book up quickly .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 3Don't wait .
Speaker 2Yeah , and that's . That's a pair in makeup which .
Speaker 3Oh yes .
Speaker 2It's hard and they're high in demand . I mean I could use a local gal here and you're ready to cut my hair and and Jessica does a great job and and you know if I go in there and they're trying to maintain a locals as to your wedding .
Speaker 2And so when I know when I'm in there in the summertime , her and Donna are just like , oh my gosh , it's crazy . And you know they're doing five sets of hair at five o'clock in the morning and it's nuts . So that planning definitely , definitely helps . Aubrey , share what your website address is and we'll have it on You're Right Magazine on the splash page for this podcast . But for the listeners out of there , how do they get ahold of you ? What's what do you prefer ? Phone call , text , email ? What do you like ?
Speaker 3I definitely like email . So I have two kids at home and so I got to kind of plan around my calls so we don't have kids in the background , and so I got to kind of plan around my calls so we don't have kids in the background . But definitely email is great If you are a couple looking to get married here in the area . I have a contact form on my website and my website is AubreyBethPhotographycom so you can check all of that out . I've got a lot of information on there , good information , even like a how to elope in your way . That's chock full of really good information that helps get you started . But yeah , definitely email . I like to be able to keep track , yeah .
Speaker 2I can see that and that's probably a lot for you to do to be in a one person show and you've got a family , like you said , and then vacations and your husband works , and so you're really juggling a lot of things there when you're dealing with this , and it's admirable . Your website is beautiful .
Speaker 3Oh , thank you yeah .
Speaker 2Yeah , it always does .
Speaker 2You know , it's like the house that's never finished and kind of tweaking at it a little bit here and there , and I can't thank you enough for joining us on this podcast and for the listeners out there . Listen to what Aubrey has to say in this podcast , take it to heart , come out , get married in your ray . It's a great place to be . Hire Aubrey , she's amazing and you'll have images that will last you a lifetime and memories and probably a friend along the way too . I'm sure you probably have a lot of people that come back and want to revisit where they got married and probably drop you a line . So for sure everyone . This has been the Ouray County Lions Local Series podcast with elopement and wedding photographer Aubrey Fletcher , who I am proud to say is a friend of mine and a colleague in the photography world and she's just amazing . So check her out , look her up . It'll be right below this podcast on EurayMagazinecom and we'll see you next time right here in Euray .
Speaker 1Thanks for tuning in to the County Lines Locals podcast series , with your host , Marcus Van Meter , reminding you to stay connected , support your community and keep celebrating the stories that make our county special . Until next time , take care and stay local .