We here at Tahoe Unveiled recently had the pleasure of speaking with Catherine Hall about her work as a destination wedding photographer. Dynamic and passionate, Catherine has a background that allows her to photograph weddings in a truly beautiful and unique way. To view more of Catherine’s work please visit her blog, website, or vendor page within Tahoe Unveiled.
Who is Catherine Hall?
I am an adventurer. I feel most alive when I’m meeting new people, visiting new places, and learning new things. I derive inspiration from diverse environments–my photography has taken me to 30 countries to date. I find beauty and excitement in the metropolitan chaos of New York and the groovy dreaminess of San Francisco–both of these cities are home to me.
What is the best part of your job?
As a destination wedding photographer, my dream career allows me to travel and explore all year long! There’s something roundly satisfying about a profession that satisfies my identity as an artist and also my impulse to live, move, see.
What is your favorite subject to photograph?
While wedding photography is my primary passion, I also find fuel in editorial fine-art photography. Whether I’m touring rural Appalachia crafting images for John Deere or traipsing about Tasmania seeking the perfect shot of a small, barefoot boy wading in a shallow pool of muddy water, I feel the same creative thrill as when I’m on-site at a gorgeous, raucous wedding.
Are there any events, trips, or weddings your looking forward to shooting?
In this vein, for the past five years I have participated in Burning Man. Every September, nearly 50,000 people from all over the world make the pilgrimage to the remote Nevada Black Rock desert to participate in Burning Man, a weeklong arts and culture festival. A unique social experiment in intentional community-building and en masse collective-camping, Burning Man attracts metallurgists, curiosity seekers from America’s heartland, fire artists, corporate lawyers eager to shed their suits, belly dancers, and Silicon Valley execs–in short, anybody willing to approach the distinctive experience with an open heart and mind.
A gritty, money-free event, Burning Man’s celebratory atmosphere, stark landscape, and eclectic attendees are a photographer’s field day. While there, I snapped thousands of pictures to document the wildness and beauty of a white-sand desert landscape teeming with art, culture, and freedom of expression.
Will there be a chance to see the some of your work anytime soon?
This summer, I will debut eight large-scale, metal-print images culled from my 2009 Burning Man Album, which Wedding and Portrait Photographers International recently honored with a second-place award in its Album Category. Metal-printing is an innovative process in which coated metal sheets are infused with dye, creating a durable (and desert-resistant!) product.
What inspires you?
Adventuring in new environments feeds my vision, cultivating a deeper sense of connection to people and place. Burning Man is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that enables me to approach my wedding photography with a fresh perspective and invigorated artistic eye.
