Susie Q Events had the opportunity to get up close and personal with one of our favorite wedding photography duos. Merrissa Hill Photography and Amanda Hoyle Photography partner to shoot all their wedding photo sessions. They truly complement each other in every aspect to create the most breath taking images. You can absolutely tell they love what they do and do it well. Apart from weddings Merrissa and Mandie each own their own photography business and love to photograph senior portraits, maternity and family photographs.
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| Merrissa & Mandie |
Photography credit: Sam Puc Power of Passion Tour
Susie Q Events: Tell us about Merrissa & Mandie. Who are you? Where did you come from? What inspires you?
Merrissa: Merrissa Lynne Hill. As a child I had the opportunity to grow up in many different places from Iowa, Tennessee, Alaska, North Carolina, to the panhandle of West Virginia, where I currently reside with my husband and soon to be 4 year old son. Gosh what doesn't inspire me... I love photographing people and finding that something special in each of them.
Mandie: Amanda Michelle Hoyle, mother, soon to be wife, sister, daughter.. I was born and raised in Front Royal, VA. There are so many things that inspire me... Just looking out the window and seeing the beautiful skyline makes me want to run and get my camera. I also love watching and learning from other photographers, including Merrissa of course.
Susie Q Events: How did you both get started with photography?
Merrissa: I recall at the age of 4 my mother telling me, "... put down that camera before you break it!" I have had a love affair with it ever since. My first real job doing photography was in Harpers Ferry taking old time portraits using a late 1800's era 8x10 camera. I loved it then and am still in love with it today even with all the technological breakthroughs.
Mandie: I started taking pictures at a very young age, I just always knew that that's what I wanted to do. Even when I was a senior in high school I was taking my friends senior portraits. I did my 1st wedding when I was only 17. After that first wedding when I saw the reaction the couple gave me when they came to see their pictures, I knew that I would never stop. It makes people happy, and I love making people happy.
Susie Q Events: How did you two meet and why did you decide to start a partnership in photographing weddings?
Merrissa: I met Mandie when I photographed her senior portraits. She expressed to me then that she was planning on continuing her education and studying photography. She contacted me when she graduated college and began working with me before she ventured out on her own. From the first time we met, we clicked and our friendship has continued to grow throughout the years. After photographing quite a few weddings together, we both discovered how well we complement one another. It was just a gradual transition and as the time passed we both realized that we preferred to photograph weddings together. At times we have still done weddings apart though it feels like there's just something missing.
Susie Q Events: How long have Merrissa Hill and Amanda Hoyle Wedding Photography been in business?
Mandie: We decided to officially merge the wedding part of our businesses in March of 2010, but we have been photographing weddings together since May 2008.
Susie Q Events: How many weddings per year do you all shoot?
Merrissa: Every year it varies but usually anywhere from 15 to 25.
Susie Q Events: What has been the most memorable wedding to shoot and why?
Mandie: I really have to think on this one because there are sooo many. One of my favorites/most memorable was a destination wedding I photographed May 2010. Sadly Merrissa was already booked so she didn't get to come along, but it was on the beach in Corolla, NC. It was a very intimate wedding, the whole family was very welcoming and sweet. It was awesome to be apart of the amazing celebration.
Susie Q Events: Have you ever had anything go wrong at a wedding, and if so how did you handle it?
Merrissa: Thanks for asking me this one, Susie. Okay, so not every wedding is going to be perfect but you have to learn to maintain a sense of calmness despite whatever situation may arise. Of course I have had my share of hiccups. One that comes to mind would be when my lights would not operate correctly so I just opened the main doors to the chapel and used ambient lighting which ended up still creating some beautiful portraits. Sometimes you just got to go with the flow.
Susie Q Events: What is your advice to brides when choosing a photographer?
Mandie: The most important thing is to make sure she picks someone she clicks with. We spend a lot of time with our brides, we are with them the entire day and then of course after when we are going through all of the images and picking favorites for their album. So it's important to like who you are working with. Another important thing to consider is the quality of someone’s work. Once the big day passes the pictures are what you have to look back on, so you want to make sure you pick someone who really knows what they are doing and delivers quality images and products.
Susie Q Events: Which five words would your friends choose to describe you?
Merrissa: Mandie describing Merrissa....... Reliable, caring, sweet, beautiful & talented.
Mandie: Merrissa describing Mandie..... Funny, Driven, Caring, Compassionate & Passionate
Susie Q Events: Finish this sentence… I’ve learned the most from…
Merrissa: Trial and Error. Every experience teaches you something, whether good or bad. You just have to open your eyes and learn from it.
Mandie: Experience. Even through all the years of school and all the books I have read- the number one thing I have learned the most from just getting out there and taking pictures.
Susie Q Events: What is your advice for Brides on their wedding day in relation to their photographs?
Merrissa: Have fun, be natural, enjoy the day and let us do the rest.
Mandie: Don't worry about them- we have it all under control :) Right Riss?
Susie Q Events: Where do you see your business five years from now?
Merrissa: I can only see it being even better than it is now. We are both excellent at staying on top of trends and technology to enable us to take our business to new heights.
Mandie: Even more awesome........ Just kidding............................maybe. ;) Seriously though- we really want to be much better known as Merrissa Hill & Amanda Hoyle Wedding Photography and really establish our partnership. You never know what the future brings but I certainly hope for big things.
Merrissa & Mandie, thank you for sharing so much about your business with us.
Photography credits given to Merrissa Hill and Amanda Hoyle Wedding Photography.
