What makes a wedding photo unforgettable isn’t the trend or the preset—it’s the feeling you had when it was made. We sit down with photographer Gabe to trace his path from a $50 portrait to 250-plus weddings, and we unpack how trust, preparation, and a calm presence turn unpredictable days into timeless galleries. Along the way, he shares the lessons he learned by second shooting widely, building a community of mentors, and shaping a client experience that privileges comfort over contrivance.

We dig into the real differences between documentary and editorial styles, and why expectations live or die with full galleries. Gabe explains how he earns genuine moments—letting groomsmen keep the beers for a few frames, talking couples through the nerves, and scouting rain backups before hello. He also opens up about loss and legacy, and why he now prioritizes parents and grandparents with the same care as the couple. For anyone planning a wedding, this is your blueprint for choosing the right photographer: evaluate consistency, ask better questions, and pick someone whose process you actually enjoy.

There’s no fluff around business either. Gabe breaks down the hidden math of destination weddings, how diversifying into commercial work stabilizes income, and why a CRM, separate banking, and an accountant are a creative’s best friends. If you’re a vendor, you’ll find a playbook for sustainable growth. If you’re a couple, you’ll walk away with practical planning tips, clear timeline thinking, and a fresh lens on what really matters: a guide you trust and images that feel like your life.

If this conversation helped you think differently about wedding storytelling, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more couples and creatives find the show.

https://www.gabemcmullen.com/

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