The people behind the photographs matter
You'll spend more time with your photographers on your wedding day than you probably realize. So yes, you should love their work.
You should probably like them, too.
We're Stephen and Alyssa, the husband-and-wife team behind Twenty Six & Modern. We care deeply about making exceptional photographs. But we've never believed your wedding should become a vehicle for our portfolio.
The photographs matter.
The people in them matter more.
We notice different things
After working together for this long, we've realized we tend to notice different things.
I ‘m usually looking at the whole scene — the light, the architecture, the composition, and how everything fits together.
Alyssa tends to notice what's happening inside of it — who's missing from the room, or the little moment happening just outside of everyone's attention.
We don't really plan it that way. It's just how we see things.
We know the beats, we don’t follow a script
After enough weddings, there are things we can anticipate.
We know when family photos need someone to take charge. When the timeline needs a little breathing room. When another five minutes will make the photograph better—and when those five minutes would be better spent with your friends.
we know when to step in
Because underneath the timelines, photographs, flowers and carefully made plans, two people are actually getting married.
Sometimes we'll push for the photograph because we know it's worth it.
Sometimes we'll put the cameras down and tell you to go enjoy your cocktail hour.
Knowing the difference is part of the job
Stephen
I still chase then high of finding that winner in every gallery.
One of my favorite parts of a wedding day is walking into a space and figuring it out.
The craft of photography is important to me and I love seeing what each wedding gives me.
After doing this for years it always excites me to finish a wedding and relive it through the photos. The process, the editing, the delivery all is an experience that connects me to our couples forever. I try not to take that for granted.
I love movies, cooking, coffee and basketball. I have always tried to look at myself as someone who has taste but remembers that I’m basketball shorts and trainers at heart. Lyss and I love trying new restaurants or spending our Friday and/or Saturday nights at the movies. I love what I do and getting to see the pieces of this puzzle come together year by year.
Alyssa
Im learning to blend structure and creativity.
I’m naturally a pretty “left-brained” person, my day-to-day is structured, detail oriented, and usually pretty linear. But weddings and photography unlock this completely different side of me: a creative little fairy who is always waiting to get out. It’s probably the place where I feel most like myself.
And not to mention this job is really cool. We get to travel, meet incredible people, and immerse ourselves in fashion, design, and architecture while documenting some of the best days of people’s lives. Outside of photography, you’ll usually find me at the hospital (being a nurse was my first love), tagging along with Stephen to the movies, hanging out with our daughter, or convincing myself that I absolutely do not need to redecorate every inch of our house.
If you made it this far, hello & thank you. I’m really glad you’re here.
“We met with multiple photographers who felt like they took themselves too seriously, Stephen and Alyssa felt fun and down to earth from the first call”
— Jack & QuinnWe want you to love your photographs.
But first, we want you to love your wedding.
That's why we'll give direction when it helps and leave you alone when it doesn't. We'll push for the photograph when we know it's worth it — and get you back to your people when it's not.
After all these weddings, being trusted with one still feels like a pretty remarkable thing.