The release of this website marks an important milestone in both my business and personal life .   It was three years ago on April 2nd, 2008 that I left my full time position in finance at a global pharmaceutical company to venture into following a life long passion of forming my own photography business.  With that change came the vision of R Wagner Photography, and along with all the couples, families and professional’s I have worked with thus far, this website is the incarnation and reflection of that vision.

Taking on the challenge of starting R Wagner Photography has not always been easy and there were and are continuing growing pains.  When I decided to make the career switch, I was spoiled with my first three weddings being in Southern France, India and Hawaii.  At the beginning, I did not realize the level of commitment and investment of creativity, time and effort that it would require to get me where I wanted to go.  Slowly, photo by photo, inspired by the couples I am very fortunate enough to work with everyday, my dream is being hammered out into reality.

When I first started out as a photographer I was hesitant to let people know my recent background was a career in corporate finance.  Who wants an accountant photographing their wedding?  Accountants aren’t typically known for their creativity, right?   What I came to understand is that my natural, creative self, paired with the years of experience and training in management in the corporate world, gave me a unique set of skills.  I came to not fear my background but embrace my strengths while continuing to work on my weaknesses.   I learned that my unique background (for a photographer) allowed me to excel in communication, decision making and organization, which all served me well in my new business venture.  My background also helps me connect more deeply and meaningful to the couples that I work with, many of whom are professionals working in a similar environment as my previous background.  Transitioning between careers made me quickly learn that there are many transferable skills and none more valuable than how to be flexible.

From the beginning of my venture as a photographer I have not been alone.  Many couples experiencing their own journey have trusted me with responsibility of taking part and documenting their stories.   There have also been numerous wedding professionals that have inspired and have entrusted me with their projects or were patiently there to support and listen.  Above all, my wife, Chrystal, has always been there.  She was the first to encourage me to follow this path.   Many of you have meet her at meetings and various events and, watched her smile while tireless running around doing all that is necessary to get a small business off the ground.  Through these three world wind years, we got engaged, became husband and wife, moved into a new home and started a business!  It is through these struggles and triumphs that I am better able to relate and serve the community to which I am apart of.

2011 will bring me as close as a few blocks out the front door, to varied corners of Manhattan, Los Angeles, North Carolina, Vermont, Italy and to places and people I have not yet envisioned…the chance to meet new people, have varied experiences and to embrace the uncertain is what drives me each day!

An image from one of my first weddings, Donna and David in Provence, France, 2007.  I love the expression on Donna’s face and David’s positive body language with hand in air.

One of my first published images, Effel Tower, published in Black and White Magazine, 2004.  In 2008 a Italian painter from Italy whom studied at the Accademia in Florence saw this image in the publication and used it as inspiration for one of his master works.  Interestingly, I had lived and studied in Florence just steps from the Accademia!

Chrystal and I on our wedding day, July 2009, Greensboro, North Carolina.  Image by my brother Tim Wagner.

Me working at the Bristol-Meyers Squibb office in Rueil-Malmaison (just outside Paris) in 2006.  Photograph by Chrystal who was visiting me.

My wife’s twin niece’s in North Carolina, 2007.  Many of my first clients where family and friends.

Women in rice market, Mumbai, India, 2007.   One of the many portraits I took while working and traveling to more than 30 countries in 3 years.

Mangosteen Fruit (‘The Queen of all Fruit’), Bangkok, Thailand, 2006.  One my early follies in over using photoshop when editing.   As Denis Reggie (an early inspiration to my practice) recently said in the New York Times: “Photoshop is the Salt and Pepper, not the steak”, see his thoughts on great wedding photography here.