Out of the Shop is our chance to move outside our four walls and into our friends’ lives for just a moment, highlighting the work of the amazing photographers, planners, musicians, artists, and rapscallions that inspire us.

Today I have the honor of sharing with you the work of a very good friend and amazing photographer.  Tina Sargeant is not only one of the finest photographers I know, she’s also been a great inspiration for our work at a fine press.  I was fortunate enough to stumble on Tina’s work right at the time when I was looking for some promotional photos for my music.  We were also blesses to have Tina shoot maternity shots for my beautiful wife (look for a cameo) and some wonderful baby pictures, too!

I particularly love Tina’s answer to question 9; it’s clear that this is more than just a business for her.  I know it’s cheesy, but I think a happy marriage (or dreams of one) help make for a better wedding vendor (check out Tina’s better half in a cameo here).

if you’d like to see the whole shoot, click through the photo – there’s tons to see!

1} Who are you and what do you do?

I am Tina Sargeant, wedding and portrait photographer.

2} How and why did you start?

I started my photography business around 2007.  After teaching secondary English and Journalism for 5 years, I was ready for something new, something that I could really pour myself into.  Don’t get me wrong, I loved my students and had a blast in the classroom, but I knew I wasn’t going to stay there when I started out.  Teaching journalism (which includes quite a bit of photojournalism) led me to explore photography more on my own and I fell in love!  And my path just kind of started unfolding in front of me.  My first wedding was just awful (in that it was 100% a red neck wedding, haha) But it was all up from there!

3} Name three things {or places or people or eras or..or…or….} that inspire you.

Ooooh!  I draw inspiration from all over!  I don’t know if I can limit it to 3!  I definitely draw inspiration from wedding photographers, Susan Stripling and Jose Villa.  Her work is dark and moody and intriguing, and his is so light, organic, and ethereal.  I’m still discovering myself somwhere in between these two extremes, but I adore them both!  And I definitely draw inspiration from all things vintage, southern, and beautiful.  If my life could just be a southern garden party on the river…

4} How would your friends describe you?

I often wonder this actually!  I think my friends would say that I’m silly, I laugh a lot and loudly.  My best friends know that I’m a romantic and a dreamer.  I hope they would call me motivated.  Most of my good friends would know that I’m very open about what I think or how I feel. And if I’m being realistic they would call me irritable and absent minded too, and they would be right about that 🙂

5} How would they describe your style?

I think I’d have to create a new term for this….I’m thinking vintage-southern-contemporary would sum it up…sure its a contradiction, but it works for me in fashion, decor, and photography!

6} What are you reading/watching this week?

Just finished reading The Time Traveler’s Wife last night.  It was an easy read, and a very compelling story, but not my favorite.  I have mixed feelings about it.   Not sure what I’m onto next, I have a copy of The Namesake that I haven’t read yet, but we’ll see what kind of literary mood I’m in tonight!

7} What {besides the obvious – we know you need a camera!} are your three workday must-haves?

Lightroom, Gmail (I just switched and I’m so obsessed with how easy it makes my life!), and when I’m when I’m shooting my 70-200 2.8 lens.  I love that lens!

8} What is your biggest challenge?

My biggest challenge is trying to maintain a normal functional personal life.  I make lots of time of for my husband and our church, but its hard to balance it all with running a business and keeping my stress low, and I don’t always feel very organized…probably because I’m not, but thank goodness for my friend and one and only employee, Rachel!!!

9} What do you wish every bride and groom knew?

I wish every bride and groom understood that honest communication and thinking about your partner above yourself are huge components of still being able to feel the butterflies.  (Yes that was a shameless Jimmy Eat World reference.)  But its  true.

And maybe its cheating for me to have 2 answers, but I also wish that all B&G’s knew that seeing each other before the ceremony is AMAZING!  And not only because it makes my photo schedule easier.  That actually has very little to do with why I love it so much.  Its because it gives them an incredible, special, private moment to share with one another before the craziness of the day encompasses them!  Ive seen these moments over and over and never once has a couple regretted it, never once has the moment of the Bride walking down the aisle been less dramatic because of it.  And every single time they are more relaxed and happier going into the ceremony.  Quite honestly, I regret not doing it at my own wedding six years ago and I could go on and on with the reasons why!   In reality, I dont pressure my brides to do it this way if they really don’t want to, because I respect and value tradition, but I completely 100% support this new tradition because its simply beautiful.  every. single. time.

10} What’s next?

Actually, I’m moving to Ireland!  Yay!  But only for a year, and I’ll still be booking in the states as well!  I’m playing around with medium format film photography a bit,  I just love the look and feel of film…And from there, who knows.  Right now, I just love taking pictures of happy people in love and I plan to keep doing that as much as I can!

Tina’s work certainly speaks for itself.  To see more, head over to her website.  Not only will you walk away with great pictures, you’ll have a great time getting them.  You can email her at tina@sargeantstudios.com, too!