Today we’d like to introduce you to Toni Kersting
Hi Toni, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey in photography started my senior year of high school in Arizona, where I grew up. My friends and I wanted fun photos that were “Pinterest worthy” so I took the initiative to buy a nice camera. We planned fun photoshoots, just messing around with the camera and sharing them on Instagram. There wasn’t a lot of pressure at the beginning which allowed me to experiment.
From there, I branched into senior portraits. People in college knew I took nice photos so I received a lot of inquiries from seniors at Northern Arizona University. These photoshoots were so much fun and helped me really start to hone my craft as a photographer and editor. Eventually, that led to a job at my campus’ Catholic church as an event photographer.
At the Catholic Newman Center, I took photos of masses and students interacting with each other which they used for their website, newsletters, and social media. Event photography really helped me focus on candid moments, a skill that I lean on a lot today as a wedding photographer.
To be honest, I never really considered becoming a full-time wedding photographer. I just kind of fell into it. My first wedding was for a friend from the Newman Center. She was getting married during COVID and planned to have a small intimate wedding in Colorado. When she asked me to be their wedding photographer, I couldn’t believe it. I said, “Are you sure you want to trust me with this?” Her yes reminded me of my talents and she told me she fully trusted my ability.
The wedding turned out to be a huge success. They loved the photos and I was pleasantly surprised how natural it felt to shoot a wedding day. Which made me realize, “maybe I can do this as a business.” I officially started Toni Lynn Photography in 2021, specializing in Catholic wedding photography. I booked a couple of weddings here and there. Although I had just started my business, I wasn’t 100% ready to go all in.
I got a job as a social media assistant and lead photographer for a Catholic jewelry company called, My Saint My Hero (MSMH). This is where I first dipped my toes in the world of product and lifestyle photography. It was an awesome place for me to work as it allowed me to align my skills in photography with my passion for fashion. I was lucky to work with a few fantastic influencers and set up lots of lifestyle shoots highlighting the brand’s jewelry. The highlight of this job was traveling to Međugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina where I documented the women who make MSMH’s jewelry.
This job really helped me build my confidence as a photographer and train my eye for a more editorial, fashion style. I also learned how social media marketing works which I apply in my own business, Toni Lynn Photography. In 2023, I left MSMH and dove fully into my business.
My husband and I moved to Saint Louis in April 2024 with our 6-month-old. The move was scary since I had already created a business presence in Arizona. However, with some intense marketing and a lot of styled shoots, I’ve been able to build up an audience of engaged Catholic couples in this beautiful historical city.
I’ve fallen in love with St. Louis architecture. There are so many breathtaking churches and beautiful spots to take photos. I’m also so grateful to be able to work with Catholic couples who desire to put the mass at the focus of their big day.
I understand the flow of a Catholic mass, which helps couples who are getting married in the church feel a sense of confidence and relief. I’ve learned that it is really important for Catholic couples to find a photographer who understands their faith and commitment to the church. I want to serve those couples and share my appreciation for the beauty of Catholic tradition while providing timeless, true-to-color photos that capture my couples’ love for each other.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was not easy transitioning my business from Arizona to Saint Louis. Every time a photographer makes a move there’s a period of time where things really drag. I needed to get myself out there more and do a bunch of shoots early on in St. Louis so that couples could find me. It was a pretty last-minute move for me and my family, so I had to work hard for a few months taking on shoots, posting on social media, and updating my website’s SEO.
Thankfully, with the help of a photography business program I invested in, I was able to build my presence online so that Catholic-engaged couples who live in the Saint Louis area find me. The added bonus is that now I’m really clear on who I am trying to serve and as a result, I get many lovely inquiries from Catholic couples whose priority is capturing the reverence of the wedding ceremony.
I’ve also learned that the amount of work I put in to my business directly correlates with the amount I get back. So whenever I find myself slacking, it shows in my business. This motivates me to take control and set a strict work schedule while also balancing being a mom, something that isn’t always easy to do!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a wedding photographer based in Saint Louis, Missouri who specializes in Catholic weddings. I am known for my timeless, true-to-color, candid photography. The focal point of every Catholic wedding I shoot is the mass. I also love to photograph engagements and work with brands on their products and lifestyle images. I’ve worked with mostly woman-owned brands and I would love to work with more in the future!
I am most proud of the wedding guide I recently created. I don’t consider myself a writer, so it took me a few months to outline and write out all of my Catholic wedding advice into a visually beautiful 50+ paged magazine. I wanted to offer something that helps couples plan for their Catholic wedding logistically, mentally, and spiritually. This guide harnesses all my expertise and knowledge in one space and I am so excited to offer this to couples who book my middle and high packages.
What sets me apart as a wedding photographer is my calming personality. I am a fly on the wall who observes the day as it unfolds and captures the beautiful moments that tend to go unnoticed. I am a steady presence for every bride and groom who may feel anxious or stressed. When I see a couple needing some posing direction, I love to offer prompts so that the photos look and feel authentic and effortless, while also creating a carefree environment.
I also have an eye for fashion and fine details that comes from my background in product and lifestyle photography. These skills also come in handy when I photograph the detail and artistic shots of a wedding day.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
By nature I am pretty risk averse, but I’ve learned to push myself through adversity. I consider myself someone who looks for opportunities to grow.
Some “risks” that I’ve taken for my business are:
1. Moving from Arizona to Saint Louis. I had to start from scratch with my business in getting people to find me.
2. Leaving a traditional job to start a photography business! (My parents really didn’t get that one at first)
3. Investing a chunk of my savings into a wedding photography business course that I wasn’t entirely sure would help my business grow. Thankfully, it did and I learned so much about the business side of things from it.
I like to give myself a bit of time to reflect on a decision before taking action. If I feel positive about the idea, I try to listen to my gut and take the risk. If my gut tells me something isn’t right, then I step back, reevaluate, and come back to it later with a fresh set of eyes to see if I’m ready.
It helps to have someone to go to for advice or even just to brainstorm with them and hear their thoughts. I’m lucky I can do this with my husband. He’s also an entrepreneur and understands my business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tonilynnphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonilynnphoto/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonilynnphoto
- Other: https://g.page/r/CZwvY89yazZTEAE/review
