2025 was a year that stretched me—in the best ways—as a Seattle wedding photographer. From intimate courthouse elopements and surprise proposals to multi-day cultural celebrations and full wedding weekends, this season reflected growth, expansion, and a deeper sense of purpose in both my work and my life.
Rather than a list of highlights, this recap is a reflection on the stories I was trusted to tell, the communities I served, and the evolution of Captured by Candace as I step into the next chapter of this business.
2025 Was a Year of Expansion
For years, I intentionally capped myself at a smaller number of weddings. In 2025, however, I gave myself permission to expand.
That choice led to photographing more weddings than ever before, with August becoming our busiest month. During that time, I served a wide range of clients—from long-time CBC families returning year after year to couples finding me through word of mouth. Alongside weddings, I continued studio work, including portraits, author headshots, and select corporate projects.
What mattered most wasn’t volume. Instead, it was showing up fully for every client while protecting the quality, care, and storytelling that define my work.
A Major Milestone: Our First Two-Day Cultural Wedding
One of the most meaningful highlights of 2025 was photographing our first full two-day cultural wedding celebration.
Multi-day weddings require a different level of preparation, coordination, and storytelling awareness. They ask you to honor tradition, pacing, and emotional nuance over time—not just isolated moments. Because of this, the experience became a turning point for my business and affirmed my readiness to serve layered, complex wedding days with intention and respect.
Expanding the Team & Launching The Captured Collective
With growth came the need for stronger support.
In response, I expanded my team and officially launched The Captured Collective—an extension of Captured by Candace rooted in consistency, collaboration, and care. Expanding the team allowed me to better serve my couples while maintaining the calm, attentive experience I’m known for.
This evolution wasn’t about scaling for the sake of scaling. Instead, it was about sustainability and showing up well, every time.
Seattle Wedding & Elopement Venues We Photographed in 2025
This year brought a diverse range of venues and locations across Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Some of the spaces we worked in included:
Notable Seattle & PNW Wedding Venues
Lotte Hotel Seattle — modern, refined, and timeless
Seattle Art Museum — iconic, architectural, and art-forward
Laurel Creek Manor — romantic estate-style celebrations
The Ruins — intimate, character-rich weddings
The Press Room (Tacoma) — modern industrial charm
Each venue shaped the way stories unfolded, and future blog features will highlight many of these spaces more deeply as they’re published.
Elopements, Courthouse Weddings & Intimate Celebrations
In addition to full wedding days, 2025 was filled with beautiful elopements and courthouse weddings—many of them deeply personal and intentionally planned.
Seattle courthouse rooftop ceremonies continued to be a favorite. In many ways, these smaller celebrations reinforced something I’ve always believed: weddings don’t have to be large to be meaningful. Whether it’s an elopement, a micro-wedding, or a traditional celebration, the heart of the day is always the same—connection.
If you’re considering a courthouse or rooftop ceremony, I’ve put together a helpful guide that walks through what to expect, how to plan, and how to make it feel intentional and personal.
Read the Seattle Courthouse Wedding Guide .
Surprise Proposals Across Seattle
Another unexpected highlight of 2025 was photographing surprise proposals throughout Seattle.
Many of these moments require quiet coordination, flexibility, and trust. Often taking place in public spaces, there is very little room for error. Capturing genuine reactions—the nerves, the joy, and the emotion in real time—is something I truly love. Because of that, proposal photography became an exciting and meaningful part of this year’s work.
Future proposal features will be added as those stories are shared.
Stepping Into Education & Leadership
2025 marked my first full year truly stepping into education, and it became one of the most meaningful expansions of my work.
In April, I was invited to teach at ShutterFest, an internationally attended photography conference focused on hands-on education, technical training, and real-world business development. Being selected to teach there represented a meaningful professional milestone and a recognition of experience and leadership within the industry.
I taught True Tones: Photographing Interracial Couples, a class centered on lighting, color accuracy, and intentional storytelling. This topic is deeply important to me, as many of the couples I serve identify as interracial or multicultural. Teaching this class was about equipping photographers to serve all couples with care, accuracy, and respect..
Later in the year, I traveled to Atlanta to teach at the Bokeh Summit, a respected photography conference known for its focus on both creativity and business education. At Bokeh Summit, I taught on SEO, marketing strategy, and long-term visibility for photographers, sharing practical systems for building sustainable businesses without relying solely on social media or paid advertising.
Teaching at these conferences marked a meaningful shift in my career—from serving clients exclusively to also serving the photography community. It sharpened my own approach, strengthened my voice as an educator, and reinforced the values I bring into every wedding day: preparation, intention, and thoughtful storytelling.
I’m grateful to continue this work and look forward to returning to ShutterFest again in 2026.
Partnerships That Elevated the Experience
This year also brought meaningful partnerships, including becoming an ambassador for DreamBooks, allowing me to offer heirloom-quality albums that reflect the value and longevity of my clients’ stories.
Every partnership I take on is chosen intentionally—with the goal of enhancing the client experience, not distracting from it.
Eight Years of Captured by Candace
In November, I celebrated eight years in business.
With each year, my work becomes more refined—technically, creatively, and emotionally. I continue to learn, explore new lighting techniques, and bring dynamic off-camera lighting into my weddings while staying rooted in authenticity and story.
Experience sharpens your instincts, and 2025 reminded me just how much growth time and intention can bring.
A Year of Growth — Personally and Professionally
2025 was also my first full wedding season navigating this business as a single mom and a single woman—a new chapter that reshaped how I manage my time, energy, and priorities.
What it didn’t change was my commitment to my clients.
I showed up. I served fully. And I protected the experience. And I’m deeply grateful for the grace, trust, and kindness extended to me along the way. This season asked more of me—but it also gave me clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose.
I’m tired in the way that comes from meaningful work—but I’m also empowered, more knowledgeable, and excited for what’s ahead.
Looking Ahead to 2026
As I move into 2026, I’m carrying forward what mattered most this year: intention, presence, and care.
If you’re planning a wedding, elopement, or proposal in Seattle or the Pacific Northwest and are looking for a photographer who values story over spectacle, I’d love to connect.
