mountains + moose origin story

I started Mountains + Moose Photography a few years ago (I’ve lost track), sometime after I shot my first wedding in 2017. At the time, I really wanted to move out west, to the mountains. [spoiler alert: i still do]. I love the Mountains, but it might surprise you to hear that I absolutely hate hiking. I’m not the most outdoorsy. I hate bugs, I am terrified of large predators, and I have a newfound obsession with people who go missing in national parks. So, it’s a no from me. However, my family is from the mountains of New Hampshire, I went to elementary school at the foot of a mountain in Maryland, and I would walk to class with the view of a mountain range in high school. The mountains are a part of me; of where I come from and where I want to go. Oh, and Moose is my cat. The worst cat in the history of cats. He destroys everything, walks around my house screaming, and is likely the cause of at least 56% of my gray hair. But since he’s my first fur baby, I guess he’s the equivalent of the password child.

When I was in college, I randomly asked my Mimi for a “nice camera” for Christmas. I can’t remember why I wanted it, or if I even had a reason, but I eventually found myself the owner of a brand new Canon Rebel. If you don’t know much about cameras, those are what we call “kit cameras”, the ones you get at Best Buy that come with two lenses. They’re a great beginner/recreational camera, and can help teach you the ropes of photography. You probably shouldn’t shoot a wedding with them, but we’ll get to that later.

Here’s the thing, though- I didn’t have anything to take photos of. I was an only child, with no kids, no partner, and very few friends (I was extremely studious and introverted in college). I ended up having a few volunteers, mostly girls from the restaurant I worked at, friends from the cheerleading team, or roommates. I had done maybe three “sessions”, but calling them that feels like a stretch, when one of my college professors approached me about doing her wedding.

Now, I don’t want you to be led astray here. When I say I had basically no experience, I mean that. When I say that I barely knew how to shoot in manual, I am not joking. And when I say that the photos I had taken thus far were… less than stellar… I need you to believe me. I didn’t feel ready to do a wedding, because I wasn’t ready to do a wedding. But Hannah told me that it was me or a few iphone photos, and I decided to give it a shot.

I googled which lens to use, and only charged her enough to cover the rental fee. I completely forgot to factor in sunset time, and didn’t rent the correct flash for my camera. I’m honestly not sure if I even shot in manual. When I got home, I cried.

You see, I thought that blind optimism and a little bit of grit was all I needed. I figured I would do a quick google search, and be on my way to publications. And boy was I wrong. I scrolled through pinterest, hid under my covers, and swore I’d never do another wedding.

Side note: Hannah and I are still friends, and I owe my entire career to her.

I can’t tell you why (or how), but over the next few years, inquiries trickled in. People kept asking me to shoot their weddings. And looking back, my only explanation is that it’s what I’m meant to do, and it was the universe at work. Because it sure wasn’t my skill level.

After I got my first law firm job, I realized that corporate America was not for me. I hate 9-5, can’t stand cubicles, and I am just not built for the life of a paralegal. I knew I needed a way out, and I thought “hm, photography looks fun”. I knew it would give me the life I was so desperately craving, and I had already built something of a foundation (though it was definitely a shaky one).

I also knew that I needed to really buckle down. I never understated the importance of photography or wedding photos, I just underestimated the amount of skill I would need. I decided to really throw myself into education, and ended up flying to Utah for a workshop with my queen, Brynlee Paige.

I upgraded my gear. Read books about building a business. Poured myself into educational resources.

And then, Covid happened.

I had six weddings booked, something I was extremely proud of. Three were cancelled immediately. Three were up in the air. I was working from home, living in my 700 sq foot apartment with only Moose, and barely hanging on. But I took everything I had, and poured it into this business.

I shot the three weddings that were able to happen, and found myself completely renewed. They weren’t without challenges, and I still needed to make a lot of improvements, but I walked away from the year completely in love. I knew that I could do it. I was producing quality work that I was proud of. I met one of my best friends that year (Hailey, a 2020 bride).

But here’s the thing that no one told me: building a business is one of the hardest things you can ever do. You see, I kept seeing IG posts about how easy it was. I was following photographers who went full time within weeks of launching. It felt like I was standing in an echo chamber where everyone was telling me how easy it was.

Instead, I spent the next few years hovering right above burnout. I continued to work my office/law jobs full time, shot weddings on the weekends, and was getting up at 5am to edit. I was taking consult calls over dinner, stepping out of date night to talk down a panicked bride, and putting endless hours into making this dream a reality.

I can’t even tell you how many times I almost quit. This business was supposed to give me freedom, and was instead stripping me of every spare second I had. I was booking more, working more, and continuing to improve, but it was never enough. In early 2022, my plan was to continue with the weddings I already had booked, and then close up shop.

Fate, however, had other ideas. Right when I was about to pull the plug, I suddenly started hitting my goal numbers. I woke up one day and realized that it was time. I had made it. I built a business that was ready to go full time. I quit my job in September 2022, and have been a full time wedding photographer since then!

This job is the best thing I’ve ever done. It is the coolest and most meaningful thing I’ve ever done, and I can’t imagine doing anything else. Taking photos of life’s most important moments is truly the greatest honor. Knowing that those photos are turned into family heirlooms, passed down through generations, and cherished forever gives me goosebumps.

It’s been a wild ride, and it was completely unexpected, but I am so thankful that the road led me here.