Great Gatsby Glam in North Carolina, by Hartman Outdoor Photography [RF Wedding of the Week]

Josh and Shelley Hartman are a husband and wife team (high school sweethearts, actually!) who live in “a tiny fiberglass egg camper and travel the country following the weddings” they book, they say, through their photo business, Hartman Outdoor Photography. Their clients are as outdoorsy as the Hartmans, who photographed around Washington State, Oregon, South Carolina, Michigan and Iceland this year.

All photos © Hartman Outdoor Photography

The Hartmans also went to North Carolina, where they photographed the wedding of Kate and Adam. “Adam is studying physics and Kate is a talented illustrative artist,” the duo explains. “Their wedding plans at the Carolina Inn were going to be a blend of tradition and artistic glamour, and we just loved the sound of it. We photographed their engagement session in Charlotte, North Carolina, then went out for a few drinks afterward. It was a great way to get to know each other a bit before the wedding day in a very informal way.”

Josh and Shelley had plenty of inspiration to work with on the big day, especially considering that the couple chose a glamorous Great Gatsby-inspired theme for their winter wedding. “We love shooting winter weddings because the light is soft and dreamy,” they say, “and the stark trees add dramatic contours to the background.”

After the ceremony, the couple rode away in an antique car, and Shelley hopped in the front seat to get some shots. “People on the streets waved and honked,” they say. “It was a lot of fun! After, Kate and Adam played big band versions of all the top hits, and everyone just partied. Overall, just a really beautiful day.”

The Hartmans did not have any glaring challenges come their way that day, though the couple had hired a videographer as well, which required a little extra communication on both sides. “As a husband and wife team, we shoot all of our weddings together,” Josh and Shelley say. “Having two photographers plus a videographer can sometimes be challenging—especially when there are small spaces to work in and fleeting spontaneous moments. The best thing we can do is communicate with other vendors from the very beginning. That is the only way we can be sure that everyone is able to fulfill their role in the day and work together harmoniously.”

One thing that stuck out about this wedding was that the couple was able to fully enjoy themselves, instead of stressing about the unfolding of events and details. “They hired a planner and put their full trust in her to run the day,” the Hartmans say. “Meanwhile, Kate and Adam were fully present to enjoy every little moment that happened on their wedding day. There were no worries. Just laughter, kisses, and some epic dancing. As people who love to capture moments and stories, that is the sort of thing that really make us tick.”

IN THE GEAR BAG

Cameras: Canon 5D Mark IIIs (two each) 
Lenses: 35mm and 85mm prime (Josh), 24-70mm and 70-200mm (Shelley)
Lighting: 600EX-RT flash (during reception), on-camera and external Flashpoint BP 160 lights

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Libby Peterson or Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.