Sean Reel Photography

Sean Reel Photography

Photographer Sean Reel finds joy in his artful business. One likely reason is that weddings, both ceremonies and receptions, comprise 80 percent of Sean Reel Photography’s work.

“Long story short, being able to document people on one of their happiest and most important days is something that’s really special to me,” Reel said. “Don’t judge me too hard if you catch me wiping tears from my eyes during a father-daughter dance … I think becoming a dad myself has made me a little soft (but I’m not complaining). “It’s sweet to witness that kind of stuff.”

Many contemporary couples opt for a nontraditional elopement, Reel said. “That’s one of my favorite things. It’s so much fun to go somewhere scenic and intimate – just the two of them plus a witness, an officiant, and me, the photographer who will document their time together.”

He keeps the “focus on how the couple wants their special day to look like – not necessarily what it is supposed to look like.”

Ideally, Reel meets with a couple as soon as the planning begins – when they have set a date – to ensure his availability. “I ask them to tell me what is important to them. Since most of my job is documenting, I need to know more about them, and what gets them excited,” he says. “I want to take photographs that tell your stories the way you’d tell your stories.”

Genetics may well be a factor in Reel’s talents. “My whole family is artistic,” he said. His father and grandmother are musicians, and both his grandfather and aunt were photographers, a professional, and a hobbyist, respectively.

Reel’s first two cameras were gifts. “Mom got me a DSLR at about age 15 (2009), and Dad gave me my grandfather’s Yashica FX 2 35mm film camera when I was 18,” he recalled. Those cameras, especially the 1970s-era Yashica, were responsible for “getting me going. I was becoming more and more interested, and learned a lot really fast.”

Reel started his business officially in 2014. While working a few “unrelated day jobs” after high school, Reel used photography for fun and as a way to earn extra money. He did mostly family photographs and “awesome” band tours. “I was picking up more and more little photography jobs here and there. It was snowballing every year. It got to the point where I was very confident about my skills,” he said. “That’s when I started calling it my business, and pursuing it 100 percent.”

“Becoming a wedding photographer was the most unexpected but important thing I’ve ever done in my photography career. I’m lucky enough to meet some of the coolest people and use the one thing I can confidently say I’m good at to help them remember huge moments and milestones,” Reel said.

As for the future, he added, “I’m open to new opportunities in this ever-evolving business, but at the same time, very happy with exactly what I am doing.”