Tell me a little about yourself.

Eli:  I’m a wedding photographer originally from Massachusetts but now based in the DC area, where I live with my wife, two kids and two dogs.

What is your approach to photographing a wedding?

Eli: I got my start in filmmaking. On a movie set, there is a different hierarchy — the director has the vision, and all the members of the team work together to execute on that vision.

I view weddings in a similar way, though I view the clients as the directors. We’re there to execute their vision, and I am a craftsperson making their vision come to life.

It’s the same approach as making a film — I am capturing a story and preserving it for you and your loved ones. In the end, we’re creating an album that captures the energy of your wedding and tells the story of that day.

We use different pieces to tell that story —  portraits, candid moments, all those awesome details. I’m documenting the moments. And I’m making sure we’re doing it all in a fun atmosphere.

What are you focused on when working with clients?

Eli: My first and primary goal is to make sure I don’t detract in any way from your wedding. One thing that people don’t acknowledge when looking at wedding photographers is their fear. A fear that the photos won’t turn out right, or the experience will be bad, or they will look silly. I had that experience. My wedding photographer, it was actually a terrible experience. I had that sad story. And my first goal is making sure that you look back on your day with joy.

As much as a photography business this is, it’s just as much a people business. You’re asking me to spend one of the most important days of your life, to share some truly intimate moments, with you. It doesn’t matter how pretty the pictures are, if you’re spending the day with someone who’s unpleasant, that’s what you’re going to remember.

Why are wedding photos important to you?

Eli: It’s never been easier to share photos with other people, via social media, the internet, but there is something also really permanent and timeless about photos. These are heirlooms.

In the past year, the aunt on my dad’s side passed away, and my grandmother on my mom’s side had to move to assisted living. So almost overnight, I inherited a ton of photos from the family. And both women were meticulous keepers of family memories.

I dove into these photos, and it was amazing. It was such a treat to look through these old pictures, and rediscover these moments. Through these photos, these moments are going to live on. I’m looking at photos from 100 years ago, people I’ve never met, but who are part of my family and my history. It was so amazing.

And that’s something that’s so special about what I get to do. I get to be around happy people for my job, but I’m also giving them this incredible gift that’s going to live on forever. I get to be a part of people’s lives, to embed with their families, and then craft a little bit of art that they will be able to carry on throughout their lives, to pass on to their kids.

That brings me a lot of joy. One hundred years from now, a great grandchild is going to open up a book, and see a bride, and think: “Wow, she looks beautiful.” As cheesy as that sounds, that really is what’s so cool about what I do.