Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Le Gassick
Hi Mary, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been photographing couples since 2017, and my journey began long before that. In elementary school, my best friend and I created satirist, homemade stop-action videos for fun. In high school where we had a darkroom, I took photography courses that encouraged me to document every day life. I began capturing the mundane on a daily basis- walking to school, the nature that surrounded our home, my friends and family.
Out of college, I began a career in social media marketing for a beauty brand. What I loved most about the job was creating content of our beautiful products. In 2016 I decided to expand my craft by photographing fellow yoga instructors, friends, and family. A dear friend noticed my work and asked me to capture her engagement session and wedding. That’s when I fell in love with wedding photography.
My work is greatly influenced by my spiritual outlook on life. In 2007 when I was 17, my best friend passed away and my awakening to life began. It came after years of depression and anxiety. What was a deeply sad, traumatic event sparked within me a deep respect and reverence for life. I began to truly appreciate life as a precious, finite and fragile gift. This outlook continues to drive my passion for photography. It’s not just about taking photos, it’s about savoring every passing moment as one that we’ll only ever experience again in our memories and images. This is the why I have a primarily documentary approach to weddings.
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?
This has definitely been a bumpy road! But fulfilling and worth it nonetheless.
I began my career in wedding photography in 2017, and slowly I booked more and more work by advertising on different platforms. I booked enough work to shift from a full time to a part time job.
I had a whole lineup of clients in early 2020. Covid hit, all my work got cancelled, and I stepped back into a full time job in social media and influencer marketing.
Finally in early 2023, I left my 9-5 job and dove head first into photography full time. It’s the first time I’ve ever done a career switch like this, and it was effing scary. I booked a ton of work for the first month, and then hardly anything for months after that. The wedding photography industry is competitive, and work is not consistent when you’re first starting out.
The road ahead is long, but I know that perseverance and staying connected to my “why” is what will get me through!
As you know, we’re big fans of Wrenn Photography. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
My specialty is documenting photography with an editorial and cinematic flare. I love how this hands-off approach produces images that show true emotion and authentic connection, while keeping light and composition in mind. What is captured is not interfered with… it is revered as imperfect, messy, and beautiful.
I also specialize in experiential engagement sessions. Rather than having couples pose for the camera for an hour, I work with them to plan their session around an activity that is meaningful to them, usually in a location that has meaning to them. This creates more of an experience which helps them feel at ease in front of the camera, helps them connect with their partner, and keeps sessions fun and engaging.
Recently, I’ve started incorporating film into all of my shoots. I love the nostalgic, imperfect-ness of film. That natural grain and color profile is irreplaceable. Shooting with an analog camera also helps me slow down and really take in what is unfolding before me.
I’ve also started incorporating boudoir into my packages. Truthfully, I started doing boudoir before I even dove into weddings. My first portfolio building session was a nudes-in-nature shoot with a friend. Our bodies are sacred. They are a gift, regardless of shape or form. We would not be alive without them!! Boudoir is a celebration of this, and the experience can be profoundly empowering and healing for many. I’m proud to be offering this to current and future clients.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years, I see AI having a huge impact on the photography industry. The photographers who keep up with new technology will be the ones who thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wrennphotography.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/wrennphoto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrennphoto/
