Vendor Spotlight: Carissa Mennen Photography – A St. Louis Wedding Photographer Who Puts Couples at Ease

When you’re planning a wedding in St. Louis, the photographer you choose is one of the few vendors who’s beside you for almost every emotional moment of the day. In our ongoing Vendor Highlight series, we sit down with the wedding pros we love working with and ask the questions engaged couples should be asking before they book.

This week we’re excited to feature Carissa Mennen, a St. Louis wedding photographer with fifteen years of experience helping couples feel completely at ease in front of the camera. We recently worked a wedding together and loved her calm, joyful energy on the day, so we asked her to share her best advice for couples currently planning their big day.

What common mistakes do you see couples making when planning a wedding?

The most common mistake I see couples make is underestimating how much work it is to pull off a wedding! I often hear couples say, “we just want everyone to have a great time and we don’t want to sweat the small stuff,” but unfortunately there are lots of decisions that need to be made (even about the small stuff) and too often I see couples completely overwhelmed the week before their wedding because they put off decisions or tasks until the last minute.

What’s the best tip you have for couples hiring a wedding photographer?

Make sure you click with your photographer! There’s an endless supply of wedding photographers out there who do beautiful work, and it’s easy to be drawn to the photographer that is currently doing the trendiest work. But keep in mind that your photographer will be with you for most of your day, and it’s essential to hire someone whose personality puts you at ease.

Weddings are highly emotional days, and the people you surround yourself with can either add stress or calm your nerves. When you feel calm and confident, you’ll look your best. The clients I’ve done the best work for are the ones who say, “we feel like we’ve known you forever even though we just met!”

What don’t couples know about your business that they need to know?

Don’t worry about feeling awkward in front of the camera! 75% of my couples warn me ahead of time, “just so you know, we aren’t photogenic,” to which I respond, “let me prove you wrong.” For fifteen years, I’ve been refining the art of making couples feel at ease in front of my camera, gently prompting them in ways that foster connection and help them completely forget about the camera (yes, really!).

What questions should couples be asking that they don’t know to ask?

In the planning process, I wish more couples would ask each other (multiple times throughout the planning process), “what are your non-negotiables for our day?” It’s easy to get caught up in the nitty gritty details very quickly, especially if one person is doing the majority of the planning. But making time to check in with each other regularly and make sure that both of you are feeling heard is so important.

When selecting vendors, couples should ask questions that help them get a better sense of that person’s personality. Questions like:

• “What is your favorite part of a wedding day?”
• “Why do you love your job?”

These questions are a little off the beaten path. If your vendor lights up at the question and answers it with joy, you know they’re passionate about what they do and will pour out their heart for you. If they give a canned answer, you know that they just view this as a job where they clock in and clock out (and they’ll make you feel that way). The people surrounding you will make or break your day, so as much as you can, try to hand-pick vendors who are joyful, personable, and capable.

What is your best piece of advice for couples planning a wedding?

Wow, there are so many things I could say, but probably the most important one is stay off Pinterest! 😅 I’m kind of kidding; Pinterest can be a helpful tool if you use it right. But seriously, turn your focus to designing a day that truly feels authentic to you as a couple and to your people.

If you begin with a very clear vision for how you want your day to feel (I call it your wedding mission statement), it’s much easier to filter all the decisions through that lens. For example, if you want your day to feel like you’re in a Jane Austen novel, all the decor in the world won’t accomplish that vision for you if you get married at a brewery. If you’re edgy and punk, it’s essential to find a photographer who matches your energy, otherwise your photos won’t feel like you. “We just want everyone to have a good time” is only the starting point.

What’s the most unusual wedding you’ve ever photographed?

Speaking of creating a wedding that feels authentic to you and your people, I once shot a wedding in an art museum! The tables were labeled by Pantone colors instead of numbers, the ceremony took place in front of a gorgeous sculpture that reflected the clouds, and the groom wore a bright red suit. You could tell that every detail was hand-chosen to reflect the personality of the couple, and it was one of the coolest days I’ve ever been part of.

What was the most memorable wedding you’ve ever worked, and why?

I photographed a wedding for an Assyrian couple, and everything about it blew my mind. For starters, they had 500 guests, and everyone changed outfits between the ceremony and the reception! I loved getting to capture all of their cultural traditions, from the formalities surrounding the giving of the bride, to the drummer and trumpet player they hired to play while they were getting ready, to the scarves and kopalas they waved during the reception. It was all incredible. I worked from 10am to 1am that day, and I’d do it all over again!

Learn More About Carissa Mennen Photography

If you’re searching for a St. Louis wedding photographer who will help you feel calm, confident, and completely yourself on the most emotional day of your life, you’ll want to connect with Carissa.

Carissa Mennen
Carissa Mennen Photography
🌐 www.carissamennen.com

Planning your St. Louis wedding and still building your vendor team? Reach out to Abell DJ Company. We’d love to help make your reception unforgettable, and we’re always happy to recommend trusted pros like Carissa.