Meet Bailey Fillmore | Wedding + Elopement Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Bailey Fillmore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bailey, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I say this often, but my business chose me. I had no intent to start my own business. When I started photography I was in school studying to become a Dental Hygienist. My aunt was selling her cheap, little camera, and I decided to buy it for fun. I kept shooting photos often and decided to start taking on clients to help pay for my college. Eventually the love for it, and the skills grew, and I decided to change my major and graduate with a degree in Photography and Digital Imagery. I grew my business while finishing my degree, and by the time I was graduating I was a full time wedding and elopement photographer. I’ve loved every minute of being a photographer and really get to be me. There is no way Dental Hygiene would’ve fulfilled me in this way. I get to capture the most important day of someone’s life, and document their history.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a wedding photographer, I am tasked with capture everything from a wedding day, even those things you don’t see. Every detail and moment. I focus on colorful, authentic imagery and showing love through my art. I don’t want it to just be a picture. I want you to feel something when you see it. Like you didn’t have to be there, but you already know what they day was like. I love all of my weddings, but I have a special place in my heart for elopements and micro weddings. Running around the red rocks of Southern Utah, spending an entire day exploring in Bora Bora with someone’s family and friends, or spending the day in a little cabin while they drink beers together laughing and reminiscing on their relationship, that’s what I love capturing. Not only am I there to capture it, but I get to connect with these people on a personal level. I have so much love for every person I have worked with. So many of my best friends have come from being hired to take their photos.
It took a lot of work to get to this point of bliss. I worked so hard shooting as much as I could to sharped my skills and abilities. A lot of free work. A lot of frustration when my photos weren’t turning out like I hoped or envisioned. I didn’t quit. I worked other jobs to get by. I worked at a drug rehab and a veteran’s home to get by while I perused this dream. And as luck would have it, I was laid off during 2020 and decided to go big. I went full time photo and put all of my time, energy and effort into being able to do this without other income. I was scared, but I knew I could do it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am newer to Arizona, so I’m definitely not an expert. But occasionally, I find myself at Ernie’s bar singing karaoke with my family. My friends and I love Night Owl Pizza for good vibes and pin ball machines. But usually, I’m out in the desert. The Salt River is one of my favorite places in Arizona.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My aunt Alli definitely deserves some credit for all of my success. When we were growing up she was the family photographer. She took photos of everything, and would always let me “model”. I probably wasn’t much of a model, but either way it made me feel special. That’s where my love for photos began. When I was 14, my dad passed away. So many of the photos we have of him were taken by her. Losing him helped me understand the importance of having good photos. They preserve memories. I don’t know if she knows how truly important her role was in setting me on this path.

Website: https://www.baileyfillmorephotos.com/

Instagram: baileyfillmorephotos

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Image Credits
Jessie Hafen
Brad + Kenzie Sego
Kassie + Adam
Lucilene + Yen
Grace + Red
Whitney + Christian
Natalia + Tasimba
Deven + Halle
Alyx + Trevor
Kaylei Birrell