Meet Someone New: Jason Aten Photography

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I had an opportunity to meet Jason this past October at the Engage!09Encore intensive in Las Vegas (you read my recap here ).  The trip was super cool and educational, but the best part was that I got to meet awesome people from my own backyard!

Tell me the basics – who are you, what do you do, and why do you do it

I’m Jason Aten, owner and principal photographer with Jason Aten Photography.  I photograph 20 weddings a year, and accept a limited number of lifestyle portrait sessions.  I’ve been photographing weddings for a little over 7 years, and I continue to love helping people tell their story.

When did you decide that photography was the industry you wanted to work in?

I’ve been drawn to the ability to tell a story through photography for a long time.  In fact, during college, I was a part of a number of international mission and relief organizations, and I was always the photographer.  It was through those documentary photography experiences, that I really became passionate about helping people tell their story.

What is your favorite part about your job?

I absolutely adore our clients.  So many of our couples end up becoming people I call friends.  I love learning about who they are, how they fell in love, and where they’re headed on this journey together.  Learning people’s stories is what really draws me to photographing weddings, and it’s always exciting because each couple – and each story – is different.

How far in advance do most of your clients secure your services?

Most of our clients book us from 6-9 months in advance, although destination weddings are often less time.  Photographers tend to be one of the first vendors booked, and we find that clients book us early because they know we only accept a limited number of wedding commissions each year.

Why do you think photography should be a high priority for brides and grooms?

I think that clearly, photography is important because it ties everything else together.  After your wedding, it’s the story – told through the photographs – that will bring you back to that moment.  Capturing the details, the moments, and the people – that are such an important part of your story – is something you can’t recreate.  Couples spend so much time and energy planning this amazing celebration.  They invest so much in this incredible event that they share with these people that have been a part of their life, and photography is what allows you to remember that experience forever.

How are you unique or different than all the other photographer’s out there?

I think that there is a photographer out there for everyone.  I don’t think my style – or my studio – is for everyone.  In a lot of ways, my photography is a reflection of my clients – not of me.  My job is to stay out of the way, and just tell the story.   A lot of times you see images from photographers – that are beautiful – but because of the processing and everything that’s been done to the image, you kind of loose who the couple really is.  So our photography is simple, elegant, and most importantly – it’s authentic to your story.

When you’re not working what do you enjoy doing?

Well, Beth and I have an 18 month old daughter – and the two of them are my two absolute favorite things in the whole world!  We love to travel, spend time with our families, and we’re pretty active at our church.  Between all of that – we stay pretty busy!

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

I’m definitely a mint-chocolate chip kind of guy!

Anything else cool you want potential clients to know about you?

I think it’s important for clients to know that it’s important to make sure your photographer is a good fit.  We often suggest other photographers to couple’s we meet with because we want to be sure that we’re really the best photographer to capture their wedding.  I encourage people to call or email to set up some time for us to talk more about their wedding – and what they’re looking for in photography.

Most of the potential clients we meet with have viewed our portfolio and are familiar with our work – so the consultation is really about whether we’re a good fit.  You’re going to spend a lot of time with your photographer – and you’re hiring them to document your wedding, and your story.  I think that’s worth spending some time making sure that you both love their work, and are comfortable with them personally.

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So, pretty fun interview, right?  Anyone who loves mint-chocolate chip ice cream is a winner in my book (good thing he’s a rock star photographer too!)  You can check out more of Jason’s recent work on his blog – www.JasonAtenPhotography.net

And – this is a bonus for anyone interested in a little sound business advice….  Jason also owns and writes a cool blog called Starting Out Right.  Although it’s geared toward photographers, I think that everyone can benefit from his writing.

Now, go visit his website and ENJOY!