How one woman found herself behind a camera lens, photographing happy couples
Amber Bauer was fascinated with photography as a child, frequently taking turns with her best friend to play “model” with disposable cameras.
Flash forward a few years and today the native Texan is a professional photographer at The Wildflower Barn, a popular wedding venue in Dripping Springs.
“My husband was in the military, so we moved around a bit. But now we are settled back in the Austin metro area, and we love it,” Bauer said via an email interview. “We are native Texans and so glad to be back.”
After the birth of her son four years ago, Bauer began searching for a part-time job, landing a position as The Wildflower Barn’s on-site manager.
She soon found herself falling again for photography.
“Being around so many people in love was very inspiring to me and I enjoyed watching other photographers work,” said Bauer. “Since the owner . . . is a photographer I would pick his brain about what other photographers were doing to achieve their shots and he recognized my interest in photography and offered me a position as his second shooter for weddings. I haven’t looked back since. It’s a profession where I can always learn and grow and I’m working with the most amazing people and getting to have a small part in a huge time in their lives.”
Over time and with practice, Bauer has come to appreciate that a great wedding shot is about something more than lighting, timing, and staging.
“Even when you have all of those things in place, photos are always much better when you can tell the story of the couple. Being able to capture the emotion and passion they have as a couple in a single image is more than just a pose. You have to take the time to know the couple and what makes them tick. From there you can get them to be fully comfortable and present in front of the lens and really show who they are.”
She’s also come to appreciate the demands of the job.
“I think people don’t understand just how hard we work. The job isn’t just taking photos, it’s creating art and telling a story. All of that while also being on your feet for 8 hours and feeling the pressure of capturing these moments that go by so quickly.”
Understandably, Bauer believes that wedding day portraits and candid shots are an essential expense for couples planning their nuptials.
“Don’t skimp on your photography, it’s truly one of the best investments you can make in your wedding. Everyone on their wedding day is so overwhelmed and so much of the detail will go unnoticed. The photos are the way they will relive the day and see everything that took place. Also, photos last forever where so much other stuff around weddings is disposable and temporary. And have a good list for when it is time to take family photos so that you aren’t taken away from the party for too long.”
Similar to the newlywed couples she shoots each weekend, Bauer thinks she’s found her professional “happily ever after.”’
“I think I’ve always been a professional photographer in my own head and now I’m getting to live my dream.”
Explore More
• For a look at wedding photographs made by Bauer and her colleagues, see Wildflower Barn Photography on Instagram.
• This winter we shared a story about The Wildflower Barn’s off-season floral arranging classes.
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