My name is Glen and I've been a full time wedding photographer for the past twelve years.

I live in a beautiful place called the Willamette Valley, in Central Oregon. From that home base, I travel the world shooting weddings for clients that care deeply about having their wedding day captured as a story, told by an artist. I just recently completed my 57th wedding outside the continental US.

I absolutely LOVE what I do. I love meeting new people, making beautiful art with cameras and computers, and traveling around the world.

I often find myself in some beautiful or exotic location and I'll stop, take a long look around, and think to myself, "I'm the luckiest person in the universe for having found this profession."

My style is to shoot quietly and unobtrusively in the background throughout most of the day, and then work with you to create unusual portraits when we've got a few minutes alone. My greatest compliment is when a bride looks through the photos and says, "I didn't even know you were there when that happened."

Your style is bold, fun loving, adventurous and totally in love with your new partner. You appreciate photography as an art and you want an outgoing, friendly photographer that you feel comfortable hanging out with. You don't want to worry about being embarrased by an egotistical photographer who tries to take over your day. You're not looking for the cheapest photographer - you're look for quality and expect it to cost more because it's the best. Finding a photographer who can tell a story with a camera is of the highest priority to you. You shudder at the thought of seeing your own faces in the cheesy wedding photos that are so typical these days. You want natural, unstaged moments that tell the story of your day.

 

As a new bride shopping photographers, do I have some advice for you!

First of all, when you interview a photographer, perhaps the single most important thing to know is that it's very easy for new or moderate quality photographers to buy a website that makes them look as good as the really great photographers - at first glance.

The thing to remember is that most photographers will pick out their favorite 20 images from each wedding and show those on their website, but that should leave you wondering what the heck they were doing for the rest of the wedding day.

You need to know that any beginner can get 20 good shots during a 10 hour day.

So don't ask a photographer to "Show me your best picture."

What you should be asking them to do, is.... "Tell me a story." And believe me, there is a HUGE difference between the photographers that can get 20 decent shots, and those that can get the hundreds of great images it takes to tell the whole story of your day.

 

Here are some other things you should know about shopping photographers... 1 2 3 4


The slideshows below tell stories. Each show is but a small collection of the images taken at that wedding, and I hope you'll agree that each show tells the story of the day.

I hope I have the pleasure of working with you, to capture your story.

 

Slideshows from past weddings

For best viewing... Click the button at the bottom right side of each video.
This will take you to a full screen. Hit
PLAY, then PAUSE, then change the resolution from 480 to 1080p.
This is HD video so you may need to wait and let the show load for a while before watching - otherwise it may stop frequently.

To see all my slideshows, check out my YouTube Channel.


Maui, Hawaii

This is a very small selection of the images I shot for Antara & Kingsuk at their two day wedding ceremony on Maui. This lavishly decorated ceremony was mostly in the Hindu tradition - although perhaps not quite so long as what I understand some traditional Hindu weddings last. I think this was easily the most colorful wedding I've ever attended and it was an absolute delight to photograph.

Oregon, USA

Kira & Beau got married at the Thyme Garden, a beautiful little farm tucked away in the coastal mountains of Oregon near the town of Alsea. Their love for each other was so apparent in everything they did, from the minute details of the wedding, to the way they seemed to melt every time they looked at each other..... more.

Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas

Jaclyn & Greg chose the Pelican Resort in Port Lucaya on Grand Bahama island.

The Bahamas are so amazingly beautiful but many couples look right over this nearby gem in the search for an exotic location.

I've shot weddings on Nassau Island, Crooked Island, Grand Bahama Island and Great Exuma. Every time, the Bahamian people ave been extremely friendly and accomodating.... more.

Oregon, USA

King Estate Winery was the setting for Phil & Shoshana's beautiful wedding in the Oregon countryside.

This is a good example of the storytelling work we do at a more traditional American style wedding here in the US.... more.

Jamaica

This (my 10th) Jamaican wedding was a total blast!

The ceremony was at the beautiful Rock House Resort at the west end of Negril.

The next day, we took a relaxing drive out through the Jamaican countryside and visited some of the locals near the town of Roaring River.... more.

Amalfi, Italy

This is the story of Dee & Jim.

The ceremony was at a beautiful little Villa just to the north of the town of Amalfi on the coast of Italy.

The day after the wedding, we took a drive up into the mountains to the town of Ravello were we wandered the streets for a couple hours shooting more pictures. ...more

Santorini, Greece

What can you say about a place like Santorini?

I've shot 4 weddings on this beautiful island (so far) and every one has been an absolutely magical experience. The couples have been so much fun and the place is stunning beyond belief.

Each time I go I discover little nooks and crannies that all seem more beautiful than the last..... more.

Mexico

This slideshow is from a wedding near Costa Careyes and Manzanillo, Mexico. A cliffside villa in a tiny village set the stage for quite a party..... more

 

 

My Book - 2nd edition

Whew! After a full year of making myself sit in front of the computer, I've recently finished the second edition of my book on Digital Wedding Photography. The first version sold to roughly 50,000 new wedding photographers.

The new version is about 80% new text and 90% new images, so if you have a copy of the previous book, you'll like the new version even more. Here's what readers had to say about it....

Hi Glen,

I’ve been “doing” photography for many years, and I started selling prints last year.  I’ve mainly taken candid people shots, nature shots, architecture, and animals; basically anything in which I find interest in the subject.  I had thought many times about wedding photography, but I never wanted to be “that guy” that photographed my wedding and so many others:  stood out due to his lack of clothing sense; bossed people around; took not much more than staged photographs; took a few during the ceremony of people standing and not doing much else; and took a few of the reception (cutting cake and garter toss); then gives a proof book and tries to sell lots of prints later.

When Borders was going out of business, I bought two books on wedding photography on the spur of the moment.  One really was just about the shots that should be taken.  I found myself thinking “duh” through the entire book.  I read your book and found the type of wedding photography I could actually do and the type that has meaning to people beyond just “here is the whole family standing on a lawn in rows,” one that actually captures who people are and their personalities on this most special of days.

I have since gone through your book approximately three times, and it has been no less valuable the third time than it was the first.  It matches my style of wanting to capture people, their activities, and their emotions; not just pictures of people who are present.

Dan

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Hi Glen,

A few days ago I finished reading your book Digital Wedding Photography (2nd edition) and I have to say it is awsome, I read it almost with one breath. I have been in wedding photography business for five years (in the Czech Republic, EU) and so far I have photographed more then hundred weddings and yet I still learned a lot from your book. It was also very nice to see that somebody on the other side of the planet is doing it the same way I am :). If you ever come to the Czech Republic, I can be your guide / translator ;)

Yours sincerely,

Tomas Dolejsi
Czech Republic

 

 

I've been a full time wedding photographer, shooting only weddings, since 2000.

During that time I've shot over 300 weddings.

My name, and my work is well known among other professional photographers around the globe.

In 2010 I was invited to become a founding member of an association called
Best of Wedding Photography. This is a gathering of the best wedding photographers on the planet. Membership is free, but it is by invitation only and there are less than 500 members worldwide. I was also invited to be an official board member for this organization. So now I am one of 8 Internationally know photographers on the board who are responsible for providing guidance about the formation of the organization, and also for actually interviewing other photographers around the world to decide who gets invited into the organization.

 

In 2009 I entered an album into the annual competition for the Professional Photographers of Oregon.
Not only did the album win several honors in the Wedding category, but it also won "Best Of Show" for that year.

To be honest, my favorite and most cherished award comes every time a new bride
trusts me with the creation of her own wedding story.

 

 

Articles about Glen:  Cosmo Bride   American Photo   Nikon2004   SPD2004

 

 

Glen's Destination Wedding Travels

Over the past 11 years I’ve photographed hundreds of weddings in the US and 57 destination weddings (as of 2011) outside the US, in locations such as Jamaica, Mexico, the Bahamas, Aruba, Hawaii, Barbados, Tortola, St. John, St. Thomas, St. Lucia, the Dominican Republic, Greece, Italy, Fiji, Tahiti, Mauritius and Hong Kong.... Whew! (see the map below) And the list keeps growing as couples surprise me with new destinations I’ve never even heard of. You brides never cease to amaze me with your cool choices of locations.


View Glen's Wedding Travels in a larger map.

 

A note about Destination Weddings....

Since 2005 my wedding work has evolved into about 75% destination weddings and 25% local Oregon weddings.

In 2011 I shot my 57th wedding outside the continental US. As far as I know, there are only a couple photographers in the world who can say they've done that.

If you happen to be planning a Destination Wedding, the experience I've gained through shooting so many destination weddings could prove to be a valuable asset. Not only does it increase my chances of successfully negotiating the many possible pitfalls associated with long distance travel, but it also allows me to assist in your planning and preparation phase by supplying valuable information and ideas.

Shooting a destination wedding is very different from shooting a wedding in the US. Having lots of travel experience is priceless, and with all the travel restrictions and visa requirements necessary today, that experience can easily be the difference between a photographer that shows up on time, and one that doesn't make it there at all.

Destination wedding photography is a combination of great photography, and working as your own travel agent / driver / navigator / enterpreter / doctor / etc, on the road less traveled...

 

For 2012 I will be limiting the number of Destination Weddings to roughly 5 per year.

Make your reservation soon.

 

 

Interested in checking prices and other details?

Download my Contract and Price Sheet here.

Next, Tell me about your wedding.


(Destination weddings start at about $4200 USD)

How did you find me:

 

 

What items/services are you interested getting from your photographer? For example, do you want albums, an online slideshow, prints for the wall, or maybe just the images on disk.


 

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All text and images copyright Glen Johnson - Aperture Photographics

 

 

 

 

 

 

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