Roland’s Photography: Experienced Pro Captures the Beauty of Black Nashville Brides and Grooms
Friday, June 7, 2013
In 2005 when I was engaged, my then fiance and I met with a wedding planning company and will never forget my experience. The couple was nice but completely ignorant when it came to photographing, or even communicating with African-Americans. They meant well but the comments that they made were so insulting that we were left speechless. (I really wish I remembered the name of that company!) Of course we didnt hire them but it was the beginning of my experiences trying to find African-American wedding pros when such mattered to me.
Don't get me wrong, in most cases, race doesn't matter but in some cases, it does. Take photography. Even today, I ask photographers - are you experienced with photographing the various hues of black people? I've had times when photographers knew their stuff and did an excellent job and others where the project went horribly wrong and I was left with useless photos.
That's why Roland's Photography has been so successful with African-American couples. He not only has the technical skill to photograph the complexion range of the black community but is also culturally aware. With this as his specialty, Roland's Photography is able to consistently deliver images of beautiful black couples.
Learn more about Roland's Photography via my in-depth interview below. All photos by Roland's Photography.
Tell me about your service offering.
Roland’s Photography offers a standard package for all couples which includes an engagement photo session, full wedding day coverage captured by Roland and assistant and a beautiful 38-Page 10x10 storybook album. Most photographer's don't include an engagement session but I am a huge fan of the engagement session, during this session I can get to know the couple a little better. This helps us have a more awesome wedding day together.
In addition, couples can add a bridal portrait session, in either “Rock the Dress” (before the wedding) or “Trash the Dress” (after the wedding).
How many years have you been in business?
Roland’s Photography has been in business for 13 years.
How did you get started in weddings?
My entrance into wedding photography came after my own wedding. I had been working as a photographer in other areas for a couple of years. For our special day, we chose our photographer based on budget. Our number one priority at the time was not necessarily to find the most stunning and creative photographer, but the one who could do the job for our price. We had a beautiful day and I have the woman of my dreams, so, hands down, that was the best part! I did, however, learn some valuable lessons that helped prepare me for where I am today. I discovered the importance of getting to know our clients and building a relationship.
Wedding photography is about so much more than just taking pictures. In order to provide stunning imagery, I need to know what is most important to my clients. I need to know what makes them laugh and what would make them cry! After making the decision to add wedding photography to my services, I explored and researched the industry and found a specific void in the area of photography for and by African-Americans. The lessons from my wedding combined with the findings in my research, inspired me to provide the skill, the product and the service of a professional wedding photography.
What do you like most about weddings?
The thing that I like most about weddings is the experience! Weddings mark a major transition in a couple’s life filled with once in a lifetime moments. As a wedding photographer, I get to be a part of that. I get to share in that joy, all the while helping them savor and treasure those memories for the rest of their lives. Dad may not have cried throughout most of his life, but on that wedding day, as he leads his baby girl down the aisle, he often has a hard time keeping the tears inside. Often, the groom has promised me that he will not cry, but, when he sees his beautiful bride, his breath is taken away…and so is his composure. The laughter & joy from the bride and groom, the smiles of a proud parent and grandparent, the excitement of their closest friends…I get to capture those precious moments!
What’s your favorite pic/wedding video and why?
One of my favorite images is of a couple during their engagement session. I had already been photographing them for a while. They were such a fun and lovable couple and it was easy to get carried away with shooting more and more images. The session was coming to a close, and a serendipitous moment took place. As they embraced, the setting sun glowed between them and “snap” I caught it. It was a moment that was not planned…It just happened, and it was beautiful.
What is your service philosophy?
My service philosophy is to please the client. I endeavor to provide quality service from the very beginning. If, for any reason, a client is not satisfied with their images, then I am not satisfied. I want to make that bride (and the family) smile. Brides trust me for a very important day in their lives and I want to provide the best service possible. My service philosophy is to make the client feel relaxed and comfortable. The more comfortable they are while taking photos, the easier it is for them to forget about the camera and just enjoy their moments together. As a result, the atmosphere is ideal for awesome images. The best photos are those that come naturally.
What are your strengths compared others in your category?
One of my strengths is my experience and ability to adapt. Having been in the wedding industry for this long, I am aware of many of the possible emergencies that arise on a wedding day and I make preparations for those. For any new emergencies, I am able to apply my previous knowledge and photography skills to the situation at hand and switch gears when necessary so that the images arent impacted, even if their schedule changes or the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Another strength is my observation. I have a laid back personality and I tend to spend more time observing what is going on around me. That allows me to capture moments that someone else might not notice.
Describe the bride/couple that is most attracted to your service/company?
The bride that is most attracted to my company is the one who desires to try something new. Even if she says that she doesn’t like taking pictures, she is ready to be stretched a little out of her comfort zone in order to see herself in a whole new light. My brides are often surprised and excited once they see how good they can look in pictures. My grooms are also taken off guard because they are able to see that they, too, can have images that accurately reflect their personality, their manhood and their love for their bride.
It is also my ability to capture the various hues of the African-American woman with beauty and authenticity. Many black brides contact me because they see how I can, not only, capture, but also celebrate their beauty and that excites them. For example, a wedding planning company from Chattanooga called me to consult with their bride that lives in Maryland. She had seen many bridal images, but she desired a photographer that would appreciate her own shade and beauty. She chose me out of all the planner’s recommendations and I was honored!
What attracts brides to your service/company?What would previous couples say was the main reason they selected your company?
Previous clients have said that we made them feel relaxed. They recognized that we cared more about them as a individuals than about how much money they were planning to spend. We took the time to ask and learn about their relationship and their story. In addition, our clients have appreciated that we shoot some traditional imagery with a creative twist, yet we are also willing to take photographs to new levels.
What is the most “now” innovative new product, service, style or other aspect of your industry that brides and grooms might appreciate?
One-on-one personalized service, that caters to the whole person…
It is not just about images anymore. Wedding photography will always be about creating an atmosphere for stunning photography, but even more so, it is also about pouring into and encouraging the couple. I care about the individual persons, so I use things like questionnaires to help me get to know them. I want to find out how to serve them through images, but I also enjoy serving them with a special something, just for them…reminding them that, once this day is over, you have the gift of marriage. That is a lifetime celebration.
How should brides and grooms contact to learn about your wedding services?
Main contact: Emanuel O. Roland, II, owner
Visit our website: weddingsbyroland.com
Call us: 615.242.7907
Email us: [email protected]
Tweet us: @RolandsPhotos
About the Author:
Ashley King
Hey - I'm Ashley! I started AshleysBrideGuide.com to give Nashville brides, or folks planning a Nashville wedding, a local resource for inspiration and resources. Hope to see you at a bridal show soon! Until then, Find me on Google+.
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Posted on June 7, 2013 |
Filed under: Helpful Vendor Interviews!, Multicultural, African-American weddings, Photography,
1 Response to This Post
Posted on June 24, 2013 @ 11:08am