Paige Young
Artist. Photographer. Professor.
My Style
I see myself as an artist, not just a photographer. Creating is at the core of who I am—but beyond that, I’m a storyteller. To me, there’s a meaningful difference between simply taking a picture and truly capturing a photograph.
I’m drawn to both the beauty of fine art-styled imagery and the raw authenticity of real-life moments. Whether I’m staging a carefully composed portrait or documenting the unfiltered emotions of a wedding day, I’m always chasing the story—those moments of laughter, the final hugs, quiet joy, or even sorrow. That’s what fuels my passion.
When it comes to editing, I aim to preserve the way each moment felt. I enhance light, color, and mood—but I never alter bodies or manipulate reality. I believe it’s deeply unfair to hold ourselves to a version that never existed. My goal is to honor who we truly are, just as we are.
“Hold onto every photograph. Even if at first it bothers you, relook at it in a month or a year and most likely your mind will think about it differently.”
Who am I as a person?
The answer to this question isn’t a huge deal—because at the end of the day, I’m adaptable and able to work professionally with anyone. That said, I’m a very organized and often high-energy person when it comes to my day-to-day life and running my business. But as a photographer, I take a much more laid-back approach. The more relaxed I am, the more relaxed my clients feel—and that mutual comfort is essential. A successful session, especially in portraiture or weddings, often depends on the trust and ease between myself and those I’m photographing. Creating that environment is something I’m truly proud of.
Outside of my client work, I exhibit fine art photography centered on themes of equality, social justice, eating disorders, and body dysmorphia. These are deeply personal subjects for me, and my past experiences have shaped the way I approach photography with empathy and care—especially when it comes to issues of representation and inclusivity. The wedding industry, in particular, has long catered to a narrow, often heteronormative and white-centered aesthetic. I actively work to challenge that by representing a diverse range of bodies, races, genders, and sexual identities in my work.
I’ve photographed over 350 weddings and have been published more than 200 times in wedding blogs and magazines. I’ve also traveled and exhibited my fine-art work internationally, and shown all around the world while being featured in multiple fine-art magazines which you can see on my CV page.
I teach photography, video and art at Kendall College of Art and Design, which allows me to stay deeply connected to the academic and conceptual sides of my craft. Balancing teaching and weekly photography sessions keeps me grounded in both the creative process and the purpose behind it.
