Description: Kurstin Roe never imagined he would EVER become a wedding photographer. While growing up his list of potential careers included being a professional hockey player, a sports agent, a bounty hunter, a stunt double or a painter. In fact he never even picked up a camera until he got out of high school, and even then he used it “for fun.” While attending college to earn a bachelor of arts degree with an emphasis in painting, Kurstin realized that he had a long journey ahead of him if he wanted to become a full-time artist. This triggered Kurstin to explore other areas of art, primarily photography.

In 2001 Kurstin decided to attend a photography school in Massachusetts to pursue a career in an art he was now passionate about. After school Kurstin back home to Washington, DC. In 2004, at the age of 24, Kurstin signed on with an photo agency to direct the photography and imaging for President Bush’s re-election campaign. In the months leading up to the election Kurstin visited virtually every major city in the United States photographing President Bush, the First Lady and the Vice President. Kurstin continued to work closely with the White House until the end of 2006, constantly under pressure to produce outstanding images in the most demanding of situations. It wasn’t until the fall of that year when he ran into a wedding photographer who inspired him to leave the politics behind and give wedding photography a try. After just 1 wedding Kurstin was hooked, he had the bug. There was something appealing about not traveling 200 days a year under constant security, photographing the same person day in and day out, constantly waiting for “the” precise photo moment from some “undiscovered” angle within 20 feet of the most powerful men on earth. Not to mention that Air Force One doesn’t give frequent flier miles!

Kurstin’s first impression of wedding photography was not how he had imagined it, it wasn’t sappy, cheesy or traditional in any way. Sure there are those people who still love to pose every portrait and contort people into (un)natural positions, but that’s just not his cup of tea. To Kurstin, weddings are the pinnacle of emotion, laughter, happiness, passion and awesomeness. He gets goosebumps at almost every wedding he shoots (seriously), that’s how much each couple inspires him to create. He also loves the challenge and pressure of getting it “right” the first time, something his documentary experiences taught him. By combining his love of art and documentary style, Kurstin has been able to push his art in ways he never would’ve dreamed possible.

Kurstin still lives in Washington, DC with his wife. He volunteers his time with the Alzheimers Association, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Hole in the Wall Gang.  While DC is his home, the world is his office.