2016 Wedding Photography Favorites and Yearly Wrap Up

Matthew Pautz Photography 2016 Best Wedding Photos / Yearly wrap-up

Greenville SC Wedding Photographers | Best Wedding Photos


Greenville engagement photographer | couple on mountaintop at sunset


Ah 2016…The running gag is that this was the worst year in recent memory for the world as a whole, but for me that statement couldn’t be further from the truth.  2016 was a year of personal and professional growth, new challenges, new ideas, and new couples.  I wouldn’t want it to be any different.

It is no secret that I love what I do.  Photography takes me places I would never be able to see and introduces me to wonderful people I would never have met otherwise.  But being able to photograph a couple’s wedding day from start to finish, telling the entire story with photography while experiencing all these new things is a privilege I am honored to have.  Wedding photography is a tough business.  To succeed, you have to be far more than a competent photographer.  Running a business from the ground up has it’s own distinct challenges, and doing so in one of the most crowded and difficult industries to break into presents an entirely new set of challenges.  Not to mention the need to constantly learn, improve, and experiment with new ideas and techniques to remain relevant; the huge expenses involved with photography equipment; and the difficulty in finding a balance between affordable pricing and being able to earn a living wage.  For these reasons, a staggering 85% of photography businesses fail in the first 3 years…and it is easy to see why.

Ironically, these challenges are what excite me about wedding photography.  I love a good challenge – they drive us to become better people and teach us about who we really are.  I believe we should have a goal to overcome every challenge we face.  Is wedding photography a crowded, competitive industry full of photographers who are so similar that it makes picking one nearly impossible?  Then my goal is to become so good at what I do and make my photos so noticeably different from the rest, that there will no longer even be a question.  85% of photography businesses fail in the first 3 years?  My goal was to learn why, and become one of the 15% that doesn’t.  Although I’ve been photographing weddings as far back as 6 years, 2016 was year 3 of my official, tax-paying, full-time business.  That is one reason why this year was so special to me.

The other reason why 2016 was so special to me is because of you: The couples I have worked with, their families, and the brides-to-be scouting for information.  I met so many amazing people this year, and getting to know them and their stories was an absolute honor.  I have said many times that I am blessed with the best couples around, and that was not me just saying sweet things to make a happy blog.  I have worked with couples from all walks of life, with wildly different backgrounds, and with varying interests and goals.  But they all have one thing in common: They are happy, fun-loving, maybe a bit artistic, and most importantly…totally in love and ready to begin their lives together in the best way possible.  This makes my job easy, and it is a dream come true to be able to work with people like this on a daily basis.

So here’s to 2016 – you were a great year of firsts, a year full of new experiences, and a year full of amazing couples.  I am looking forward to even more of the same in 2017.

Please enjoy some of my favorites this year below:


 

Falls Park Engagement photography groomsmen portrait - groomsmen laughing and having fun  Couple hugging in giant tree in Fall Groomsman smoking at night Greenville wedding photographers | Wedding dress photos Engagement couple on mountain at sunset Greenville SC engagement photographer Downtown greenville sc wedding photos Couple under rainbow | Charleston wedding photographers The Upper Room bridal photos bride getting makeup done | greenville sc wedding photographers Bride and groom smoking cigars at night Wedding photography ring photo bride crying while dancing with father bride walking up steps greenville wedding photographers | silhouetted couple Groom crying at wedding ceremony | greenville wedding photographers bride dancing at reception Silhouetted couple walking at sunset in mountains westin poinsett wedding photos Hotel domestique wedding photos and bridal photos Bride dancing at reception Greenville engagement photography asheville wedding photographers | wedding party group photos Charleston SC wedding photographers | bride and groom outside mansion Asheville wedding photographer | Couple embracing in downtown Asheville NC greenville sc wedding photographers Hotel Domestique wedding photos Greenville Falls Park engagement photos Falls Park bridal photos | Greenville Sc Caesar's Head engagement photos engaged couple kissing | Greenville engagement photographer Greenville wedding photographers bridesmaid getting ready Bride and groom exit reception Greenville engagement photographers | mountain engagement photos greenville engagement photography | couple posing with dog SC Botanical Gardens engagement photos Groom dips bride at wedding reception Bride and groom dancing at sunset Asheville wedding photographers | Matthew Pautz Photography mountain engagement photography Greenville SC wedding photographers Commerce Club wedding photos | Greenville wedding photographers Mountain engagement photographer | engaged couple dancing on mountaintop Bride and groom couple's portrait Atlanta bridal portrait Asheville engagement photographer | engaged couple at sunset Downtown Asheville engagement photography Bridal portrait on Jackson Street Bride, Atlanta Bridal photos at Ryan Nicholas Inn bridal portrait at southern mansion Mountain engagement photographer Mountain engagement photos Victoria Valley Vineyards and Pretty Place wedding photos Downtown greenville sc wedding photographers | wedding dress photo Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral wedding photos Charleston wedding photos at Cooper River Bridge bridal hair and makeup Clemson Botanical Gardens engagement photos Asheville wedding photographers | Couple dancing


I hope you have enjoyed this small sampling of my 2016 favorites!  I am looking forward to another amazing year.

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