This month’s vendor spotlight features the Central Oregon wedding photographer Kayla Cindy Photo! We are fortunate enough to work with Kayla every year. When a couple says, “I don’t want my wedding to feel like a photo shoot” I know exactly who to recommend. Kayla captures authentic, imperfect moments that feel like real life. She has photographed my family several times over the years and we are so lucky to have her in the Central Oregon wedding community!

Here’s my interview with Kayla so you can learn more about her! Continue reading to see the gallery from one of our weddings together in Sunriver on an unexpectedly stormy day in June. Full vendor credits for Allie + Kevin’s wedding at the bottom of the page!

What’s your favorite thing about photographing weddings?

A wedding is often the biggest party a couple will ever throw - That alone is amazing and truly an honor to be a part of! I really love the idea of gathering everyone you love to celebrate you and this new chapter of your life. I love that while all weddings follow a similar timeline (ceremony, cocktail hour, reception etc.)but each wedding day and couple is unique, I could never get bored!

What are some of your favorite venues in Central Oregon?

I have so many favorites!! I always love coming back to House on Metolius, Loloma Lodge or Lake Creek Lodge. They tend to be places that are further from town and almost feel like a summer camp, relaxing and a little unconventional. I’m also a big fan of couples getting married at a location that’s sentimental to them, like their parents property, the backyard of their home or maybe even the lake where they exchanged “I love you” for the first time.

How did you get started in this industry?

I have always loved photography and started taking photos at a young age, always having a camera in hand at school and taking photos of my friends and family. I took my friends' senior photos and then family photos, until photographing weddings actually fell in my lap naturally! I was a barista at a coffee shop, and my coworker needed a photographer last minute for her wedding. I ended up absolutely loving the experience and went full-time the next year! I still think it’s wild how that played out and I feel so lucky this is my job.

What is memorable about Allie and Kevin‘s wedding specifically?

It started pouring rain the afternoon of the wedding, so when it came time for Allie and Kevin’s first look I was pleasantly surprised when they still wanted to have their first look outside! We thought the rain had let up but right before they saw each other, it started pouring again. There’s a photo I love of them taking shelter under the golf cart storage and taking a second to go in for a kiss. I loved that moment because they were so relaxed and still having the best time, ready for the next thing to happen and not stressing. (Which I would have understood!) When we ended up switching the cocktail hour and ceremony, they had complete trust in Emily and didn’t question it. It always means so much when couples put their full trust in their wedding vendors! We also had the most epic sunset later, thanks to that rain!

What are some of your favorite things you see at weddings?

My favorite thing is when couples unapologetically make the day their own, whether that means following tradition or completely throwing it out the window. I also adore the anticipation of getting ready, the nervousness of it all with family dynamics and seeing everyone you love come together in one place. I adore the emotion of the first look, and the energy after the ceremony when the couple walks up the aisle.

What was it like planning your own wedding as someone in the industry?

I found out quickly that I didn’t really know what I wanted, but I knew exactly what I didn’t want! My husband and I are both introverts so we knew we didn’t want a big wedding and a ton of attention on us. We got married at Rainshadow Organics with 40 of our closest people, had a first look with private vows and some of the best food we’ve ever had. I’ve been told to think of your 3 most important aspects when budgeting your wedding — Our big 3 were food, DJ and photography. Getting to work with vendors that are also friends was the coolest experience!