Meet Wendy Cunningham
Tell us a little about yourself.
Well… I live in Nashville, TN with my husband, three children (Tyler 17, Sidney 14, and Peyton 6), two Great Danes, and a Shih Tzu. I home school my three children because we travel… A LOT! I have been a Nashville and Destination Wedding Photographer for five years and I am constantly in awe of how blessed I am to be living the life I live. God has truly blessed us.
Where is home?
Home is Nashville, TN where I currently live with my family. But I grew up in Louisiana, and I have high hopes of returning there one day with my family. I’m still trying to convince my husband of that one. ☺
What are your favorite foods?
I love love love Mexican food. I could eat Mexican food every single day. I also love Nutella. My favorite snack is Nutella and… well anything. I eat it on bananas, granola bars, apples, graham crackers, waffles, leather shoes… haha! I love Nutella.
A website/blog you frequently visit.
I love The Pioneer Woman’s website because I feel like she and I are kindred spirits. She has lots of home school information as well as photography and cooking… although I’m not a very good cook.
If you could have lunch with one person who would be?
If I could have lunch with one person it would be my Daddy. He lives in Louisiana so I do not get to see him very often and I miss him a lot.
What are five words friends would use to describe you?
Five words that my friends would use to describe me are silly, passionate, fun, loyal, and dedicated. Whew! That was a hard one!
Where do you see yourself five years from now?
In five years I hope to still be shooting tons of weddings each year, but hopefully I will be living on my family’s ranch in Louisiana. We have about 100 acres of land that has been in our family for six generations and I feel drawn to be there one day.
If you had to choose one lens, which one would it be?
If I had to choose one single lens it would be my Canon 85mm lens. I love prime lenses and there is something so crisp and clean about the way that lens shoots. It seriously stays on one of my cameras at all times.
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What’s in your camera bag?
I have two Canon 5D Mark II camera bodies, and my lenses are 24-70 mm. 85 mm, 10 mm, and a 50 mm. I usually borrow or rent a 70-200 mm lens too.
How long have you been doing photography?
I started out in 2007 by second shooting for other photographers for a year or so. And in 2008 I officially launched my own wedding photography business.
What type of photography do you focus on?
I focus on weddings, but every now and then I am able to fit in a few portrait sessions. I absolutely love it when my previous wedding clients contact me to shoot their maternity and baby’s first year photos.
Did you go to photography school?
I did not go to photography school but I did go to college and majored in Business Education. I had actually planned on teaching Accounting and other business related classes to high school students, but I kind of panicked during my student teaching semester. But I am thankful for all of the business classes that I took because it has proven to be a huge benefit to help me run a business successfully.
What advice would you give to your 15 year old self?
HAHA! I would probably tell my 15 year old self to be strong, learn to forgive, and just make the decision to overcome!
How does your relationship with God affect the way you do business?
My relationship with God definitely helps me in running my business. There are actually two parts to this answer. First of all I have worked very hard in order to attract a higher clientele in order to allow me to stay home with my children and home school them. I believe in my heart of hearts that my first priority is being the best mother I possibly can to my children. And God has provided me with the tools to be able to do that. The second part of this answer is that I continue to serve my community a few times per year and I volunteer my services in cases where it is pleasing to Him. I know that God is in control.
Favorite verse?
John 3:30 – He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. (NLT)
I am always prayerful for God to be first and foremost in my life. Sometimes when things get busy, I struggle with this.
Who or what is the greatest love of your life?
Scott is definitely my greatest love! He and I have been together for 16 years and he is so patient with me. Oh and he can cook too! ☺
If you could shoot with another photographer, who would it be?
I would LOVE to shoot with Matt and Katie Ebenezer. I had the pleasure of meeting them and hanging out with them for a couple of hours two years ago in Vegas at WPPI and I fell in love with them. And Katie has recently begun using her photography to help rescue girls in Napal from sex trafficking. I can only pray that one day I would be brave enough to do something bold like this.
website: www.wendy-cunningham.com
blog: www.blog.wendycphotography.com
