film — digital
ARTISTIC & EMOTIVE STORYTELLING
Film & digital destination photographer based in Charlotte, NC.
Kelsey’s discerning eye, strong intuition and calming energy all translate directly into her photographs and imbue them with an ethereally transcendent quality. Her work is photojournalistic, and she creates meaningful images that are true reflections of the humans behind her lens and the relationships that weave them together. She edits using true-to-life tones to create work that is timeless and tasteful.
Featured
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The Lane
“Kelsey brings an artful and subtle eye to wedding photography that is unique and refreshing. The atmosphere she achieves in her photography is soft with moments of high drama and elegance. Her work is artistic and editorial.”
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Wed Vibes
“Kelsey Mard highlighted elements of the day beautifully, using the interplay of light and shadow to accentuate the romantic mood of the venue and the intimate moments shared by the bride & groom”
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Together Journal
“Kelsey’s photos have so much heart and warmth, and she has an excellent eye for capturing all the best moments of the occasion in the most beautiful way. We also love the fact that she shot a combination of film & digital photos.”
Artist Statement
I am inspired by small acts of kindness, effortless displays of emotion, intentional design details and beautiful objects that are pieces of a greater story. I believe that photography is used to remember, or remind ourselves of, the greatest gift we have as humans: connection.
My nature is to be quietly curious and observant, and I seek to document my clients as they are and provide guidance as needed. My empathy is my superpower, and it enables me to ebb and flow throughout the day, picking up queues from my client as to when to art direct, and when to take a step back and allow things to unfold naturally.
When my clients look at their galleries, I want them to see narratives unfolding between not only themselves, but also the people they chose to bear witness to their marriage. The flower girl who kicked her tiny shoes off to go dance with her grandfather, the friend who spent a moment fixing the bridal bouquet because she wanted it to be perfect. These are all moments that not only encapsulate the day, but they deepen our understanding and appreciation of those around us.
My artistic decision making is grounded in my understanding of light, and how it influences my cameras and the images that they produce. I am drawn to simplicity, and have a deep understanding of strong composition and visual balance.
An incredible amount of thoughtful detail and intention go into planning and designing a wedding — I am endlessly grateful to the families who trust me to tell their story.
Recent Work
Intimate Wedding in The Highlands of North Carolina
A Wedding on Lake Norman
A Spring Wedding at The VanLandingham Estate in Plaza Midwood
Meg & Carsten at The VanLandingham Estate
An Intimate Wedding at a Lighthouse in Cape Cod
Rose Garden Engagement Photos in Charlotte, NC
Jackson Hole Elopement in Teton National Forest
Summer Family Portraits at the Park
Newborn Portraits in Charlotte, NC
Kind Words
“If you're looking for photography that evokes emotion while also capturing the essence of the special day, or the human-ness of your friends and family, Kelsey is the person to book. We booked Kelsey for our engagement shoot and wedding and it's the best decision we made throughout our wedding planning journey.
Our engagement photos were deliciously moody while light and we had so much fun during the session. Like most couples, we had never gotten professional photos done before but Kelsey's direction and guidance put us at ease and let us have fun together during the shoot. Most importantly, we looked and felt like ourselves! We left the shoot even more confident that she would do an amazing job for our wedding.
Leading up to the wedding, Kelsey was communicative whenever we had questions and helped us build a realistic timeline that also didn't feel like it took over the whole wedding day. As a fellow wedding professional, I had encountered photography teams that took large chunks of reception time for photography which was not ideal for us, who wanted to actively enjoy our wedding day.
On our wedding day, Kelsey was amazing! She found beauty in moments that we didn't even notice and captured them for us. She knew when to have us take a deep breath and calm down (as wedding days can be quite hectic!) and again, allowed us to be ourselves without feeling too staged or posed.
Besides her talent and artistry, Kelsey herself is a lovely human being. I'm convinced only a person as kind, patient and empathetic as she is can produce such beautiful images.”
— Elena & Michael
“I can’t even explain how beautiful Kelsey’s photography is! She is truly a expert at her craft. I first hired Kelsey to photograph my mother’s intimate second wedding. I loved what she did so much I hired her to take my maternity and newborn photos. She made me feel so comfortable and caught the absolute BEST images of me, my family, and my new son. Her work with lighting, capturing perfect candid moments, and help with posing is just beyond perfect. I cried when she (quickly) got the sneak peek and photos back to me. In a perfect world she’d come and photograph every life event for me and my family(—is that too much to ask??)!”
— The Grey Family
“WOW! Kelsey did such an amazing job with my bridal photos and our wedding. I was so nervous for both (how do I pose?!) and Kelsey was immediately comforting and calming. My bridal shoot was done at Rough Ridge in the mountains and even though I saw how beautiful it was in person, I was still shocked to see what she had captured. We will always ask Kelsey to photograph our future special moments!"
— Allie & Adam
“We loved working with Kelsey for our maternity and newborn photos. She was accommodating with the time and location and made us feel comfortable while taking the photos. She gave us easy to follow instructions and was able to spot great places our home to take photos. The photos turned out beautifully... I’m so grateful for the memories she captured that we’ll enjoy for years to come!”