Djessica’s journey to becoming a top wedding photographer

How Djessica started her journey and became a top wedding photographer

Some stories start small but grow into something big. Djessica’s journey is a beautiful example of that. What began as a simple hobby with a camera has grown into a successful full-time career as a wedding photographer. Djessica told us about her journey, her style, the highlights along the way and how Shootstack now plays an important role in her business.

From passion project to thriving business

“I officially registered with the Chamber of Commerce in 2014,” Djessica shares. “I never expected that 11 years later, I’d be able to say I’ve built a successful business.” Like many other photographers, she started out with a passion for capturing moments, without any big ambitions. But it didn’t stay a hobby for long. More and more people started asking her, and the hobby kind of got out of hand.

And that love for photography and creating beautiful images has never faded. “The passion is still the same, it still doesn’t feel like work, but now it is my full-time job.” she says.

Weddings with a golden touch

What Djessica loves photographing most is weddings. “It’s always a celebration. People put so much effort into looking their best, everyone’s in a great mood, the venues are usually beautifully styled with the most amazing flowers, coolest cars, and the prettiest brides.”

“And of course, working in the middle of all that and capturing the raw emotions, that’s the most beautiful part of the job. You’re giving someone a memory for life,” she says. “Being part of someone’s most important day and capturing those little real moments, that’s what I love." Those photos become memories people hold onto for life.

How inspiration helped shape her style

Like many photographers, Djessica also got inspired by different photographers. She spent hours in Lightroom, trying to replicate their style down to the smallest details. Eventually, that led to her own kind of preset. And over time, she realized one style doesn’t fit all her photos. "Not every situation is the same, so you can’t expect one preset to work on every photo. I always customize my editing to the photo,” Djessica says.

Proud of the personal moments

Even though she’s shot some high-profile weddings, like the wedding of Dutch celebrity Britt Dekker, something she’s proud of and grateful for, it’s the smaller moments that she cherishes most. “I’m actually most proud when clients call me and say, ‘I’ve been following you for years and now I finally get to call you because I’m getting married!’ That’s always such a special moment,” she says.

Staying creative in a rapidly changing industry

Wedding photography evolves fast, but Djessica knows how to stay true to herself. “Photographers are popping up everywhere, and you’re constantly being hit with ads for presets. I think my strength is that I stay true to my own style,” Djessica explains.

She relies on her instinct and isn’t afraid to act on the moment. “I’ll happily pull the couple away from dinner for some golden hour shots or ask the wedding car to stop when I see the sun shining perfectly through the trees.” Djessica is known for these magical shots.

Knowing what you’re good at (and what you’re not)

Running a business also means being honest about your weaknesses. Djessica is open about that. “I’m great behind the camera and in Lightroom, but that’s about it. When it comes to emails and scheduling, I’m a mess. So I asked someone to help me with that, and she’s been supporting me for years.”

Delivering in style with Shootstack

What she might lack in organization, she more than makes up for in how she delivers her work. An important part of her client experience is the way she presents the final images. “I pick the most beautiful images, edit them, upload them to Shootstack, and my client receives a beautiful gallery in their inbox.”

She’s enthusiastic about how Shootstack fits into her workflow. “For me, Shootstack is a huge upgrade in how I serve my clients. Before, I used a system where you’d upload the images, send a link, and the client had to download everything before they could even view the photos.”

Now, things are different Djessica explains. “With Shootstack, I deliver everything in a fully personal website. It’s a beautiful gallery that I can design entirely in my own style. It’s like a mini online album, completely on brand.”

And her enthusiasm doesn’t stop there. “I recommend Shootstack to everyone. And no, I don’t say that just to keep Shootstack happy, I genuinely believe in it. The client responses to the way I deliver my galleries are amazing. It really feels like an extension of my business card.”

Dreaming of more destination weddings

Looking ahead, Djessica is filled with ambition. “Over the last few years, I’ve had the chance to shoot weddings abroad, like in France and Lapland. Italy is already on the calendar for next year, but I’d absolutely love to expand my destination weddings even more.”

Her advice to aspiring photographers

Djessica’s tip for beginners is simple but powerful: “Follow your gut, stay true to yourself, believe in yourself, and don’t worry about what other people say.”

Whether she’s capturing golden hour in the woods or saying yes to another dream destination abroad, one thing is clear: Djessica’s heart is fully in it. With an eye for details and creating pure magic with her images, she continues to inspire both clients and fellow photographers, one unforgettable gallery at a time.