Digital and film wedding photographer in Austin, Texas
About Harper Blankenship
Austin Wedding Photographer | Digital and 35mm Film
MY APPROACH
No two weddings are the same, and every couple has a different story, but the people I connect with most all want the same thing, to actually feel their day while it’s happening, and to have it documented in a way that brings them right back into it.
They’re not just thinking about the big, obvious moments. They’re thinking about their grandma arriving with a big beaming smile on her face, dad catching up with his old college buddies who flew in for the first time in a decade, the way their friends are laughing together before the ceremony, the in-between parts that really need to be intentionally noticed, observed and captured without ever being written on a shot-list. The parts that are completely unscripted, where everything feels real, joyful, and alive.
Of course we’ll still make time for the classic portraits, the ones you’ll frame and feel so beautiful in, but I have a passion for intentionally capturing everything happening around those moments too. I’m not just there for the “okay, now we take the photo” parts. I’m paying attention to what’s unfolding in between, the walk to the first look, the nerves, the excitement, the quick glances and little reactions that aren't always captured before the photographer traditionally calls "action."
In recent years, my approach has shifted away from trying to perfectly curate every second, and more toward documenting what your day actually felt like. The color, the movement, the energy, the imperfect, beautiful pieces that make it yours.
This is where I thrive most, both as an artist and as someone trusted to provide a service that you only get one shot at experiencing, and I love working with people who feel the same way.
"Her playful and inviting personality will have you instantly smiling your best smiles."
- Victoria & Conrad
ABOUT ME
I live in Central Texas with my sweet perfect wonderful husband Curtis and our 3 sweet perfect wonderful adorable kids. I can't even explain how much I adore my life with these 4 goobers, and for me there is absolutely nothing better than quality time with them.
Our days are usually spent at home, relaxing, working, playing, laughing and a lot of time doing our own things but in close proximity to each other. Sometimes we head out for Tex-Mex at our favorite local spot, munch on chips and salsa, watch my two oldest run and play, and juggle our toddler as he figures out a quesadilla, and I think, this is the dream.
Of course, I take a thousand photos. At this point, it would be weird if I didn’t. My iPhone's camera roll is always full of candid moments from our life, and I keep a little point-and-shoot 35mm film camera in my diaper bag, slowly capturing the pieces that feel like us right now, even the seemingly mundane, one roll of 36 exposures at a time. I rarely ask them to pose and smile. I already know those aren’t the photos we treasure most anyway.
HOW IT FEELS WORKING WITH ME
Most people aren’t used to being photographed all day, and that’s completely normal. Honestly, almost everyone tells me some version of “we’re awkward in photos” at some point, and it’s my job to prove you wrong. My goal is to make the whole experience feel easy and relaxed so you can focus on actually enjoying your wedding instead of worrying about the camera. I’ll give direction when it’s helpful, especially during portraits, but most of the day I’m simply paying attention to what’s unfolding around us and capturing it as it happens.
You won’t be performing for the camera all day. You’ll just be having your wedding, and I’ll be there making sure you have beautiful photos to remember it by.
My Love for 35mm Film
I photograph weddings using a thoughtful blend of digital cameras and 35mm film. Modern digital cameras are incredible tools. They produce high resolution, crisp images that are beautiful for large prints and allow me to work confidently through the constantly changing and often complicated lighting of a real wedding day. But, digital also has a tendency to render images in a way that can feel a little too clinical straight out of the camera.
Film feels different.
Film has an undeniably classic look. The colors, the textures, the way it renders light and transitions between tones all feel more natural and more real. The subtle grain adds a nostalgic character, and because film is captured more slowly, with one careful click of the shutter rather than a rapid burst of images, those photographs often carry an extra sense of importance and artistry.
Of course, a real wedding day is full of fast-moving, unpredictable moments, and that’s where digital cameras shine. The ability to work quickly and capture fleeting reactions as they unfold is invaluable. But there are also moments that benefit from slowing down just a little, when a single thoughtful frame on film can preserve the feeling of the scene in a way that feels especially timeless.
By shooting even a few rolls of film alongside my digital work, I’m able to blend the two together in a way that feels cohesive and timeless. During my editing process, my digital images are shaped to complement the look and feel of the film, resulting in galleries that feel more classic, less clinical, and beautifully nostalgic.
For couples who value feeling over perfection, that artful mix of digital and film creates images that feel less like files from a camera and more like memories from the moment they were captured.
KIND WORDS
"Harper is extremely talented, honest, and reliable. I knew from the beginning we were in wonderful hands."
- Kelly & Rob
"She effortlessly captures joy and light with the perfect amount of tradition and editorial flare."
- Samantha & Cameron
"During our wedding day, her calm and reassuring presence made my fiance and I feel so at home in front of the camera."
- Mary Grace & Josh
