Shutterhead Studios – Columbus Wedding Photographer

Probably the Most Fun Wedding Photographer There Is

Close your eyes and imagine you and your sweetie a couple years after your wedding. You’re chillin’ out max (and relaxin’ all cool), enjoying some much-needed Sunday couch time. You grab your wedding album from the coffee table and turn to a random page (like you always do). As with every viewing before, you revel in the complex joy as emotions come flooding back (like they always do). Your gratitude for these memories is palpable. Comfortable. Almost luxurious. The novelty that once awaited you inside has long since been replaced by familiarity.

Okay you can open your eyes 🤔

Now what if you didn’t have these photos and memories on tap? Would you miss them?

As you sift through this and other portfolios, reflect on what it means to give this gift to your future self.

Ready to Chat?

Finding a wedding photographer in Columbus can be hard! There are what, TEN THOUSAND of us? If you’re trying to figure out what makes me different from the 9,999 other Columbus wedding photographers, the super duper best way to do that is a conversation. I can share some tasty morsels from my 15 years of wedding photography experience, and you can tell me all about your plans, your hopes and dreams, and probably we’ll have to keep reminding ourselves to TALK ABOUT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY. Because if you’re here and thinking about tapping that “Book a Call” button, then chances are we’re going to become fast friends. Just saying.

Book a Call

If you want to skip past all that back and forth “are you available on…” business

Text me

Or call to engage in classic Voice Mode.

Email

The classic. The incomparable.

Book a Call

If you want to skip past all that back and forth “are you available on…” business

Text me

Or call to engage in classic Voice Mode!

Email

The classic. The incomparable.

Featured Columbus Wedding Galleries

Sometimes it’s helpful to see more representation from a single wedding. That way you can get more of an idea of what you’ll receive in your finished set of images. It’s of course nice and awesome to see broad, sweeping portfolios of a million different people doing a million different pretty and creative things. But your wedding photographer will be tasked with capturing a cross section of the entire day. Not just the high-art, portfolio-making moments.

lauren + mike

{strongwater: columbus oh wedding venue}

One of the great joys of this awesome job that I totally lucked into is that from time to time my friends hire me to shoot their weddings. Lauren and Mike got married at Strongwater in Franklinton and were so fun and gracious.

molly + adam

{columbus museum of art: columbus wedding venue}

Few things deliver that sweet sweet hit of validation better than having another (highly respected) wedding professional (Molly) hires you for their wedding.

scott + michaela

{columbus ohio wedding}

Prior to their wedding, we did a session—in full wedding attire—to create pictures for LIFE-SIZE CARDBOARD CUTOUTS to dance with at the wedding. So yeah, that’s my exact brand of weird.

katie + vic

{destination wedding photography}

Such a vibrant and beautiful backdrop would usually be enough for a 👍 from me. But add to that a hospitable and generous couple who felt like old friends? Too much for my little brain.

lauren + mike {strongwater}

One of the great joys of this awesome job that I totally lucked into is that from time to time my friends hire me to shoot their weddings. Lauren and Mike got married at Strongwater in Franklinton and were so fun and gracious.

molly + adam {cma}

Few things deliver that sweet sweet hit of validation better than having another (highly respected) wedding professional (Molly) hires you for their wedding.

scott + michaela {via vecchia}

Prior to their wedding, we did a session—in full wedding attire—to create pictures for LIFE-SIZE CARDBOARD CUTOUTS to dance with at the wedding. So yeah, that’s my exact brand of weird.

katie + vic {new orleans}

Such a vibrant and beautiful backdrop would usually be enough for a 👍 from me. But add to that a hospitable and generous couple who felt like old friends? Too much for my little brain.

You Won’t Believe What Columbus Wedding Couples Say about Me

Columbus Wedding Photography Pricing

Well hello there! Let me get you started with an actual number: my base collection is $2,800. Beyond that, it’s impossible to provide exact pricing, because every collection is customized to each couple’s wants. But no matter how much you spend, you’ll ALWAYS get the full Shutterhead experience, which ALWAYS includes edited digital files, online galleries, printing rights, and a bespoke album design.

But mostly, I just think we should talk. Get that started here.

Talk to Me

You’ve filled out a million of these right? Let your autofill do the clerical work, but for the extended response section, tell me about you. Ask as many questions as you like. I read and respond personally to every email. And I’ve been known to give gifts to people who make me laugh. Also to those who don’t.

What is 7+4?

My name is Mike Stempler, and this company is my baby.

My other baby is a two year old whom I am madly in love with. She is my greatest joy and my greatest pride. This company and this work are important to me in a way that I’ll talk endlessly about if you let me. But as important as “photographer,” “business owner,” and my dozen other identities are, “dad” is numero uno.

I want my daughter to learn from me that being herself and being kind are the highest ideals. I’m not sure if being a photographer helped me develop these values or if having these values helped me develop as a photographer. Regardless, I understand myself and my work better when I examine them through that lens. Also I’m so sorry for these photography puns I CAN’T HELP MYSELF.

My first several years as a photographer saw mostly derivative efforts: basically just looking for inspiration online and trying to recreate it. There’s nothing inherently problematic about that. I think it’s actually a pretty healthy and constructive way of learning, though if you’re a big comparer like I am, it can get messy.

As I started getting more comfortable and confident with my photography and my business, I began to notice a pattern in my reactions to so-called “inspiration.” I’d either become discouraged that I’d never accomplish anything so wonderful or contemptuous at amateurs attempting professional work. Not good looks for me.

So I stopped listening to everyone else and started listening to myself. I gradually realized it wasn’t inspiration I needed; it was practice. Practice at not trying too hard. At not overthinking. At trusting that my eyes and my instincts CAN BE TRUSTED. And what a boon to my work it has been! Not just to my creativity, but to the way I interact with my clients. When I take my brain out of the equation, I have a lot more room for my heart.

If you work with me, you might be surprised at how little actual direction I give and how much I say things like “that light is nice let’s go over there and do something.” Because it DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE DO. We’ll just laugh and talk and be ourselves, and I promise you that you’ll be amazed at your photos. I’m amazed every time, and I literally do this for a living.

You might also be surprised at how “familiar” I am. I’m not doing your taxes or giving you legal advice or renovating your kitchen. I’m making photos for you. OF you. You as you actually are. So I’m going to show you pictures of my daughter and make jokes and probably embarrass myself a little, because who cares. I’ll be me, and you be you. Let’s find some pretty light and make some pictures.

Inclusivity Statement

I’m proud to be an inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly local wedding photographer with years of experience and a history of professional results. As an inclusive business, I want my clients to feel comfortable bringing their authentic lives to every session, shoot, or event. Your life, your love, and your passion deserve to be documented regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect of what makes you unique.

My name is Mike Stempler, and this company is my baby.

My other baby is a two year old whom I am madly in love with. She is my greatest joy and my greatest pride. This company and this work are important to me in a way that I’ll talk endlessly about if you let me. But as important as “photographer,” “business owner,” and my dozen other identities are, “dad” is numero uno.

Read More

I want my daughter to learn from me that being herself and being kind are the highest ideals. I’m not sure if being a photographer helped me develop these values or if having these values helped me develop as a photographer. Regardless, I understand myself and my work better when I examine them through that lens. Also I’m so sorry for these photography puns I CAN’T HELP MYSELF.

My first several years as a photographer saw mostly derivative efforts: basically just looking for inspiration online and trying to recreate it. There’s nothing inherently problematic about that. I think it’s actually a pretty healthy and constructive way of learning, though if you’re a big comparer like I am, it can get messy.

As I started getting more comfortable and confident with my photography and my business, I began to notice a pattern in my reactions to so-called “inspiration.” I’d either become discouraged that I’d never accomplish anything so wonderful or contemptuous at amateurs attempting professional work. Not good looks for me.

So I stopped listening to everyone else and started listening to myself. I gradually realized it wasn’t inspiration I needed; it was practice. Practice at not trying too hard. At not overthinking. At trusting that my eyes and my instincts CAN BE TRUSTED. And what a boon to my work it has been! Not just to my creativity, but to the way I interact with my clients. When I take my brain out of the equation, I have a lot more room for my heart.

If you work with me, you might be surprised at how little actual direction I give and how much I say things like “that light is nice let’s go over there and do something.” Because it DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE DO. We’ll just laugh and talk and be ourselves, and I promise you that you’ll be amazed at your photos. I’m amazed every time, and I literally do this for a living.

You might also be surprised at how “familiar” I am. I’m not doing your taxes or giving you legal advice or renovating your kitchen. I’m making photos for you. OF you. You as you actually are. So I’m going to show you pictures of my daughter and make jokes and probably embarrass myself a little, because who cares. I’ll be me, and you be you. Let’s find some pretty light and make some pictures.

I want my daughter to learn from me that being herself and being kind are the highest ideals. I’m not sure if being a photographer helped me develop these values or if having these values helped me develop as a photographer. Regardless, I understand myself and my work better when I examine them through that lens. Also I’m so sorry for these photography puns I CAN’T HELP MYSELF.

My first several years as a photographer saw mostly derivative efforts: basically just looking for inspiration online and trying to recreate it. There’s nothing inherently problematic about that. I think it’s actually a pretty healthy and constructive way of learning, though if you’re a big comparer like I am, it can get messy.

As I started getting more comfortable and confident with my photography and my business, I began to notice a pattern in my reactions to so-called “inspiration.” I’d either become discouraged that I’d never accomplish anything so wonderful or contemptuous at amateurs attempting professional work. Not good looks for me.

So I stopped listening to everyone else and started listening to myself. I gradually realized it wasn’t inspiration I needed; it was practice. Practice at not trying too hard. At not overthinking. At trusting that my eyes and my instincts CAN BE TRUSTED. And what a boon to my work it has been! Not just to my creativity, but to the way I interact with my clients. When I take my brain out of the equation, I have a lot more room for my heart.

If you work with me, you might be surprised at how little actual direction I give and how much I say things like “that light is nice let’s go over there and do something.” Because it DOESN’T MATTER WHAT WE DO. We’ll just laugh and talk and be ourselves, and I promise you that you’ll be amazed at your photos. I’m amazed every time, and I literally do this for a living.

You might also be surprised at how “familiar” I am. I’m not doing your taxes or giving you legal advice or renovating your kitchen. I’m making photos for you. OF you. You as you actually are. So I’m going to show you pictures of my daughter and make jokes and probably embarrass myself a little, because who cares. I’ll be me, and you be you. Let’s find some pretty light and make some pictures.

Inclusivity Statement

I’m proud to be an inclusive, LGBTQ-friendly local wedding photographer with years of experience and a history of professional results. As an inclusive business, I want my clients to feel comfortable bringing their authentic lives to every session, shoot, or event. Your life, your love, and your passion deserve to be documented regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect of what makes you unique.

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