Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Phelps.
Hi Naomi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for photography honestly started before I even understood what photography was. When I was about two years old, I was obsessed with my dad’s camera. I was always fascinated by it and wanted to hold it.
By high school, that fascination had turned into a genuine passion. I pretty much always had a camera in my hand, documenting my friends, our lives, and all of those little moments and people that I knew I wanted to remember. I think that’s really where my love for storytelling through photography began.
When it came time for college, I knew I wanted to pursue photography seriously. I attended George Mason University and earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in photography. That gave me the technical and artistic foundation I needed, but I also knew that there was so much about actually working as a professional photographer that you can only learn by doing.
The summer before I started my internship, I had the opportunity to work under a wedding photographer in Virginia Beach. That was my first real introduction to the wedding industry, and it gave me a taste of what it was like to photograph a wedding day where things don’t always go according to plan.
From there, I landed an internship and eventually a role working with a wedding documentary photographer in Washington, D.C. I learned not only the technical side of photographing weddings, but also how to anticipate moments, work with couples and families, handle the pressure of a wedding day, and tell a complete story through images.
After college, I continued building on that experience and eventually spent several years working alongside a professional wedding photographer, where I learned the business side of photography just as much as the creative side. I was doing everything from photographing weddings to managing the office, so I got to see what it really takes to run a photography business from the inside out.
Eventually, all of those experiences led me to start my own business. What began as Sweet Memories Photography in 2012 eventually evolved into Naomi Phelps Photography.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but I think that’s part of owning a business. Photography, like so many industries, has its ebbs and flows, and a lot of that can be influenced by the economy. There are seasons where business is incredibly busy and seasons where things slow down, and you have to learn how to adapt.
One of the biggest learning curves has been figuring out exactly who my ideal couple is. When I first started, I wanted to photograph anyone who wanted to hire me. Over time, I’ve learned that being more intentional about who I’m trying to reach makes a huge difference. That has meant continually fine-tuning my marketing, my messaging, and even my shooting and editing style so that the couples who connect with my work are the couples who are truly the right fit for me.
And then there’s the business side of running a business—which, honestly, has never been my forte! Taxes, pricing, bookkeeping, marketing, and all of those behind-the-scenes things are constantly a learning experience. I went to school for photography, not business, so I’ve had to learn a lot of that along the way.
But I think that’s also what has made me grow the most. I’ve had to become not only a better photographer, but a better business owner. There’s always something new to learn, and I think being willing to adapt and keep learning has been a huge part of getting Naomi Phelps Photography to where it is today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a wedding and portrait photographer based in Austin, Texas, specializing in weddings, elopements, engagements, and boudoir, with a focus on couples who want their photographs to feel authentic, colorful, joyful, and true to who they are. I also photograph destination weddings, so I get to combine two of the things I love most: photography and traveling.
I think what I’m really known for is capturing the in-between moments—the genuine laughter, the happy tears, the crazy dance-floor moments, the little interactions between couples and their families, and all of the things that happen throughout a wedding day that you might not even realize are happening. I want my couples to look at their photographs years later and be transported right back to how they felt that day.
My photography is a mix of documentary storytelling and a little bit of fine-art influence. I absolutely want to create beautiful portraits, but I never want a wedding gallery to feel like a collection of stiff, overly posed photographs. I want it to feel like *them*. Every couple is different, and I love finding the things that make each wedding personal and unique.
What I’m probably most proud of is that I’ve been able to build a business and a career around something I’ve loved since I was a kid. I’ve photographed more than 300 weddings, and after all of those years, I still genuinely love being there. I’m proud that I’ve created a business where my clients can feel comfortable being themselves and trust me to document their day honestly.
I also think my personality is a big part of what sets me apart. I’m there to make the experience fun. Weddings can be stressful, and I want to be the person who helps keep things moving while also making my couples feel comfortable and excited. I’m not trying to turn every wedding into the same Pinterest-perfect production. I want to photograph the wedding they actually had.
And finally, I’m a big believer in true-to-life photography. I love color, and I love vibrant, beautiful images, but I don’t want to overly manipulate someone’s appearance or turn them into someone they’re not. I want my couples to recognize themselves in their photographs. To me, that’s one of the most important parts of creating photographs that will still feel meaningful decades from now.
At the end of the day, I think what sets Naomi Phelps Photography apart is that I’m not just trying to create pretty pictures. I’m trying to tell the complete story of my couples—their personalities, their relationships, their people, and all the little moments that make their wedding uniquely theirs.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories is riding my bike with my dad and stopping along the side of the road to pick honeysuckles. It’s such a simple memory, but I remember those little moments of just being outside together and enjoying the day.
I think what makes it so special to me is that it wasn’t anything extravagant—it was just time with my dad. Those simple, everyday moments are often the ones that stick with you the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://naomiphelps.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naomiphelpsphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naomiphelpsphotography
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-phelps-a7b02571/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@naomiphelpsphoto
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/naomiphelpsphotography/
