Katie Z Photography

i’m so happy you’re here

hey!

i’m katie zwicker

Although I am originally from New Hampshire, I’ve loved calling Wilmington, NC, Livingston, MT, and now coastal, South Carolina home. Not only do I cover the coastline from Wilmington, NC, down to Savannah, GA, but I am an adventurer at heart and happy to travel to meet you in your dream location.

After more than five years of documenting couples and their marriages, I am so proud of the business I’ve built, the celebrations I’ve witnessed, and the couples I’ve gotten the privilege to know. My passion for photography started when I was a kid with a “state of the art” digital camera on vacations, and later my mom’s old film camera (which I still have) in high school. I always thought I’d be a landscape photographer or work for National Geographic when I dreamt of my future, but I slowly started photographing people, and after capturing my first wedding, I was hooked.

My photography education started in high school, with the basics on film and digital classes. In college, I took whatever classes I could on art, design, and photography, even though it wasn’t my major. Once I considered entering the wedding world years later, I sought out mentors, workshops, online classes, and any experience I could find. I have never let the growth of my business stop me from pursuing a greater level of knowledge and expertise. There is always something new to be learned or a way to improve. I want to provide the best experience possible, so I continue to take workshops, exchange ideas with colleagues, and research new tools and trends.

A South Carolina wedding photographer is checking her camera while on a trip in Bozeman, MT.

what you can expect working with me

as your South Carolina Wedding photographer

I am there for you from your initial inquiry to your album delivery, providing planning assistance, advice, and an ear to listen. I want to help you over prepare, but have a timeline that allows you to enjoy your day and go with the flow. Allowing things to unfold naturally during your wedding helps me capture truly candid moments and raw emotions. Intentional observation is key in catching these unplanned moments to really tell the story of your entire day. At the same time, I take a more directive approach to posing during group photos and act as a thoughtful guide during your couple’s portraits. Getting to know you and your partner and what your relationship looks like, helps me create natural and comfortable images. I want to feel like long time friends when its all over.

my favorite parts of weddings

Portraits with just the couple AFTER the formalities, when they are relaxed and elated
Personal vows – I cry every time
Styling the curated details that the couple chose to represent their day
A wild dance floor that has the entire wedding on a high – and makes for epic photos
Dessert for the drive home is truly the best way to end the night

get in touch

A couple is dancing in front of mountains in Livingston, Montana, captured by a destination wedding photographer.

A little bit about my own love story

My husband and I grew up a town apart in NH and our paths almost crossed many times, but it wasn’t until the right moment in both of our lives that we finally met. A mutual friend introduced us just as covid hit. I had moved into a place just down the road from them, and we spent the entire summer kayaking and hiking. After several years, lots of trips, and a few career changes, we got engaged! He took me hiking up my favorite trail on a cold November day and when we reached the tree line and had a view, he proposed with the sweetest speech. Not long after, we packed up our life and headed to Montana for a drastic change of scenery.

We planned our dream wedding in Paradise Valley for June 28th, 2024 and had a truly perfect day. Twelve of our closest loved ones spent a week with us enjoying the area at an incredible Airbnb with unreal views. My husband’s best friend officiated, we read vows that had everyone crying, and had dinner so good even our dog had her own piece of bison. Our wedding would not have been the amazing experience it was without our fantastic team of vendors. It does truly matter who you have with you on your day. Experienced professionals who are passionate about their craft and treat your wedding as if it were their own are who you want to book.

Our next chapter in life takes us back east, but this time to the beaches of South Carolina. We are looking forward to settling down real roots, and starting a family of our own in the next few years.

fun facts

I am a huge nerd for Lord of the Rings and Star Wars (except movies 7-9). Check out my camera harness when we work together!
My husband and I make a ridiculous calendar with a different theme every year to give to friends and family
My long-term dream is to own a retreat style wedding venue
I have traveled to (or through) 30 states and 7 countries (we need to bump those numbers up!)
Our dog has been to more National Parks than I have
My favorite movie, and book, is Pride and Prejudice – my husband and I quoted the same line in our vows

A couple and their dog are in front of a Livingston, Montana wedding venue, captured by a destination wedding photographer

Our wedding photos were taken by the amazing Bruna Villagra Photography

“I cannot say how impressed I was with Katie.

My husband and I are not the most comfortable with taking photographs, and we really wanted to enjoy our day and not worry about capturing everything. Katie made the whole day easy. She knew we didn’t want a lot of formal pictures and kept that portion of the day to a minimum. I have never felt more comfortable taking photographs than I did on my wedding day. Even my friends were impressed – many people asked how long I had known her as she felt like a part of our family by the end of the night! If I were to ever need a photographer again, I would call Katie up in a heartbeat and highly recommend anyone who is looking into her to not think twice about scheduling. She is well worth it!”