We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jaimie Krause. Check out our conversation below.
Jaimie, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Travel was always something I aspired to, but it’s not something that’s come easy for me. I didn’t grow up traveling — travel is something other people did. People who weren’t struggling to keep the lights on. Broke people don’t hike in the mountains; broke people go to work. You can do fun things when you’re retired. There’s also a lot of discouragement of travel – particularly solo travel – from loved ones; they have safety concerns, when in reality, it’s a projection of their fear of the unknown.
And it’s that idea — the idea that I wasn’t worthy of travel; or I wouldn’t be safe traveling by myself — that held me back for so long. I think that’s why Hustle Culture has prevailed like it has: we live in a culture that prioritizes work and career, the image of being productive.
There are always reasons not to travel; I had to change my mindset. Instead of coming up with reasons why I can’t do something, I started asking myself, “Why not me?”
I want my daughter to grow up exploring the outdoors and having an appreciation and an understanding of how magnificent the landscapes are in this country.
So I bought a teardrop camper to go camping in.
And I drove it across the country.
And then I did it again. And again.
And yes I was terrified and anxious about all the things that could go wrong. But I’ve learned to tell myself that I’ll cross that bridge when I get there. It’s okay to have a plan, to know what to do, but it’s not okay to limit your life in fear of what if.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Jaimie Nicole Krause, a documentary-style wedding, elopement, and portrait photographer based between Joshua Tree, California and St. Louis, Missouri. I’ve spent over 20 years behind the camera. I have an educational background in both fine art photography and photojournalism. My work has always been about finding beauty in the everyday things. In the messy, sweet, hilarious, and fleeting moments that make life actually worth remembering.
My brand lives at the intersection of photojournalism and human connection. I’m not here to prompt or pose people, or to recreate a trend — I’m here to document what it felt like to be there. That means your dog crashing your vows, your grandma sniffing the flowers in your bouquet, the little in-between glances you don’t even realize you’re giving each other.
What makes my work unique is that I approach every wedding, elopement, or portrait session like a story unfolding, not a photoshoot to stage. Weddings aren’t photoshoots. Somewhere along the line, we lost our way. We forgot what weddings were actually supposed to be about, and it’s not about doin’ it for the ‘gram.
I help couples and clients plan experiences that feel intentional, grounded, and true to them—and then I disappear into the background to capture it all with a mix of digital and film photography.
Right now, I’m especially excited about pushing back against the over-consumption of the wedding industry and showing couples how their day can be meaningful without all the noise. Whether it’s a full wedding weekend in the Midwest or an intimate desert elopement, my goal is the same: create honest, cinematic images that help you relive not just what it looked like, but how it felt.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Well, I don’t think I’ve ever been who the world has wanted me to be, but the difference is, now I know that that is okay.
There have been times in my life where I’ve tried to play by the rules, but the rules didn’t get me very far. When I stopped playing by the rules — that’s when I made progress. And if that doesn’t tell you that the rules were made to keep women in place, then I don’t know what does.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
I change my mind all the time. I change my mind about important things, small things… anything that feels wrong. I don’t care. I’ve learned to go with my gut. I do right by me. My younger self put other people first and didn’t trust her gut. And every time I went against my gut (usually because I changed my mind but felt like I needed to stay on the decision I had previously made due to external factors, like spending a huge amount of time or money on something and thinking I needed to stick with it) every time I went against it, the outcome was not favorable.
I also figured out somewhere along the way that the only person who can advocate for me is me. I need to a) speak up for myself, b) go with my gut and c) not let fear stop me from not backing down.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There are so many lies in the wedding industry. The fat-phobia, the racism, the body shaming. The over-the-top bachelorette weekends and endless pre-wedding showers. The sexist, heteronormative language that’s still everywhere—“bridal party,” “Mr. and Mrs. everything”—we can do better than this.
And then there’s the lie that your wedding day is supposed to be “the best day of your life,” as if marriage is the only milestone women are supposed to care about. I fucking haaaaate that narrative.
But the biggest lie? Over-consumption. Pinterest and social media have warped weddings into styled shoots instead of lived experiences. Couples are told they need stationery suites with 47 pieces, massive bouquets, customized everything, over-the-top welcome bags, and bachelorette parties that cost as much as a down payment. And when the day finally comes, it’s spent recreating trends and staged poses instead of actually being present.
Plan the big things, sure—but leave room for the small things, the genuine moments you can’t prompt or stage. Because that’s what you’ll actually remember.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply that most people don’t is how quickly life can change—whether we want it to or not, whether we’re ready or not. Humans hate change, so we cling to comfort zones: the same town, the same people, the same job. And if that’s what truly lights you up, cool. But too often it’s fear, not love, that keeps us rooted in place.
The truth is, life will shake itself up for you anyway—probably more than once. So why not take the leap on your own terms? Growth requires movement. Exploring new worlds doesn’t always mean booking a plane ticket; sometimes it’s just stepping into the unknown in your own backyard. But you can’t stop moving. You can’t let fear of change calcify you.
Life is like ivy on a building: twisty, unpredictable, sometimes growing sideways or tangled with other vines. But it keeps climbing — and so should you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaimienicolekrause.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/jaimienicolekrause
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/jaimienicolekrausephoto
Image Credits
All Photos Copyright Jaimie Nicole Krause
