Check Out David Weflen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Weflen

Hi David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I moved to Nashville in 2016 for university and found that photographing weddings was the perfect side job for a full-time student. I could photograph weddings on the weekend and then edit or take meetings in between classes or in the evening. I was able to build up my business over 4 years to a point where transitioning from part-time to full-time after graduation was pretty seamless. I’ve been photographing weddings ever since!

I’ve always been fascinated by people, and specifically, how they interact when unprompted. Humans are actually fascinating creatures when left to their own devices and weddings are the ultimate place to observe. Once I realized that weddings bring together people of different places, ages, cultures, socioeconomic statuses etc. for one a single reason, every thing changed. Weddings are so much more than a pretty dress, some flowers and a party afterwards. Where you find celebration and euphoria from a community coming together, you might also find grief and sorrow for those who might’ve passed. There may be excitement and hope in a future together for a bride and groom, but there’s loss and mourning for the parents who must say goodbye to their children.

Weddings bring the full gamut of emotion and what it means to be human, and I, as the photographer, get a backstage pass into the inner circle to document it.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
At the beginning of 2023, my wife and I sold almost everything we owned, uprooted our lives, and spent all of 2023 living in Central America. We had lived in Nashville for 6 years before and were ready for a change of scenery. We wanted to have an adventure, learn a new language, and experience a new culture. And while we achieved what we set out to do and, overall, had an amazing year, balancing living in a foreign country and flying back and forth between the states for weddings was very challenging. Beyond the obvious financial expenses and language barrier, having to constantly adjust to different cultures every few weeks was difficult. It was hard to feel settled in one place. Overall, it was an unforgettable experience, and we are so grateful to be able to spend time in such a beautiful part of the world. As I’m writing this, we actually just got back yesterday from a month-long trip to visit where we lived.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in wedding photography, with an emphasis on long-form weekend coverage for smaller and more intimate gatherings. My goal is to come to the start of a wedding weekend on a Thursday as a stranger and leave on Sunday feeling like a part of the family.

We moved to Central America wanting to learn, understand, and experience the culture fully. But, to truly immerse ourselves, we had to set aside what we thought we “knew” about the world we had grown up in and instead approach this new place with a sense of wonder and curiosity. What resulted were conversations, new relationships, and unbelievable places that we wouldn’t have seen if we hadn’t been open to new possibilities. It was one of the most influential years of my life, full of learning and growth.

It was through this experience that I learned that I could approach weddings in the same manner: To set aside any expectations of what your wedding day “should be” from a photographer’s perspective and to allow for something better to come along and fill its space. To let go of the expectation that a wedding should be about the photos, and instead, allow people to experience the day fully for themselves.

During a wedding weekend, you’ll find two versions of me. The first version is involved in the day. I might have conversations with the parents, meet some aunts and uncles, and learn more about my couple’s childhood through stories from old friends and distant cousins. Along the way, I’ll be snapping photos. The second version you’ll find is a bit more reserved. You’ll find me clutching my camera close to my eye while quietly surveying and observing the different events, ready to photograph those quick little moments. This is where my favorite photos tend to come from. Each wedding brings a different group of people and stories, so trying to get intuned with the rhythm of the day feels like a bit of a dance.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There’s a big list of different mentors in this journey that I’ll forever be thankful for, but I’m the most grateful to have a healthy photography community here in Nashville that truly puts community over competition. When everyone realizes that there’s plenty of room at the table, it brings the overall standard of photography to a higher level without leaving anyone behind. And while all of my friends are also my competition, there’s more of a collaborative and supportive feel to the photo community here. Between helping each other out on shoots, referring work to one another, and even borrowing gear, I can’t imagine where I’d be without our community here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://davidweflen.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/davidweflen