Tom Paule of Tom Paule Photography

Coffee Talk with Tom Paule of Tom Paule Photography

WC: How did you get started in photography?

TP: I remember getting my first Polaroid camera when I was ten years old. I loved taking pictures. I still have boxes full of my old pictures. I continued with my photography through high school and was accepted to attend Pratt Institute in New York City to study photography in college.

WC: What inspired you to get into the field of wedding photography?

TP: When I was working at a photography studio during summers off school, I got the chance to assist one of the wedding photographers. At one wedding, I got the chance to take some photos and was hooked. I have now been photographing weddings in St. Louis for 14 years.

WC: What kind of photographic style are you known for?

TP: I would call my style of photography a mix of candid and traditional.

WC: Do you photograph in black-and-white, color, or both? Out of the two, which one is your favorite?

TP: I can do both black and white and color. Since going to digital photography, I can offer both to my clients and even do black and white with a mix of color if they like.

WC: What advice do you offer to couples searching for a wedding photographer?

TP: The best advice I could convey to couples searching for a photographer is make sure that you like both the style of photography and the personality of your photographer. There are a lot of great photographers out there, but remember -- your photographer is the one vendor who will be with you the longest on your day.

WC: In your opinion, while planning their wedding, what can the couple do to help maximize the value of the photographer at the wedding?

TP: I like to find out what are the most important things they want on their wedding day. It does not have to do with photography. Once I hear and see them talk about their day, I get a better idea of how they imagine their day taking place. This gives me a starting point to make their vision come to the pages of their album.

WC: Do you photograph weddings outside of Missouri?

TP: Yes I do photograph weddings outside of Missouri.

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