Bright, Airy, and True

Tonia Noe's passion for photography stretches back to childhood, but as a young adult, she did not at first see it as a career path. So, she dutifully completed two degrees and found herself toiling away in a basement office as a graduate assistant studying public health.

During breaks in work and studies, Noe still found an artistic outlet in photography, taking pictures of anything and everything—bugs, landscapes, people. “My poor family endured countless beginner photo shoots,” she says with a laugh. 

In 2017, Noe began to consider photography as something other than a hobby. After the birth of her first daughter, she decided to step away from her full-time job. A local professional photographer served as a mentor, and helped her hone her portraiture skills and practice working with clients. When an opportunity to photograph a wedding presented itself, Noe says she was unsure. Her mentor assured her she was ready. “I dove in headfirst and took on the wedding on my own,” she recalls. “It’s not how I would recommend getting into the wedding business, but it worked out. I’m still proud of that first wedding.”

That experience launched a career that has lead Noe to prominence in the northwest Ohio wedding photography market. Today, she runs Tonia Noe Photography, a studio near Toledo that draws clients from around the region, all seeking her signature style of bright, colorful, joyous imagery. 

FLIPPING A SWITCH

Anyone who’s photographed a wedding (or attended one), knows that working these events requires leadership, adaptability, and a level of extroversion that may not come naturally. What about all those talented photographers who are more introverted? Noe counts herself among them and admits that stepping up to direct a large group can be a challenge. “But when it comes to wedding days, you have to flip a switch and become a take-charge person,” she says. That gets easier with practice. Noe recommends building confidence through second shooting or assisting. She also says observation is important, both paying attention to how weddings progress and where the events can derail. For example, there are many different personalities and family dynamics at play, as well as various times where certain activities like the ring exchange and cake-cutting take place. It is key that the wedding photographer balance being assertive to get the best images and staying relaxed and flexible in anticipation of  the inevitable bumps in the road, she says. “Wedding days are unpredictable,” she explains. “Something is going to happen that throws everything off the original timeline. You need to go with the flow without losing sight of the big picture.”

BUILDING BONDS

For Noe, the key to a successful wedding day lies in good planning and strong personal connections with her clients. She goes into every wedding with a timeline that she prints out and saves on the lock screen of her phone. That plan is part of her sense of quiet confidence, expressed as a calm but positive energy that evens out any stress generated during the day.

Almost all of Noe’s clients have an engagement photo session prior to their wedding, where she builds rapport and establishes trust. “I want my clients to feel comfortable and trust me completely,” she says. “If they’re relaxed, it shows in the photos.” 

The engagement sessions also help clients work through any apprehension about being photographed. “It’s normal to feel awkward in front of a camera, and I let them know that,” Noe says. “But during a session, I guide them every step of the way so they never feel lost.” That dynamic between Noe and her clients carries into the wedding day and helps create a trusting, productive working relationship.

CRAFTING THE AESTHETIC

Noe’s hallmark is a bright, airy, and true-to-color aesthetic. “I aim for a look that feels both modern and timeless,” she explains. This approach prioritizes natural tones and clean, vibrant imagery that reflects the day authentically, without being overly saturated or full of trendy effects. The idea is to produce an idealized keepsake that is still genuine, so someone viewing the images later can be brought back to the day and feel like they are there. Natural light plays a pivotal role. Noe makes portraits during the golden hour as often as possible or uses a combination of open shade and window light to maximize the natural light throughout the day. Flash is reserved for fast-moving, dark receptions or other difficult lighting situations.

To achieve her signature look, Noe uses a balanced exposure triangle:

Aperture: She sets aperture first to establish the look, typically using as low an aperture as possible while keeping everything in focus.

Shutter speed: After establishing the desired aperture, Noe adjusts shutter speed to avoid motion blur and to capture crisp details.

ISO: This is the final variable. Noe adjusts the ISO to take advantage of available light and avoid flash in as many circumstances as possible.

With these settings in place, Noe sets white balance and focus to auto, and lets her camera handle the necessary micro adjustments. She keeps her 24-70mm f/2.8 lens attached for most of the wedding reception, opting for a longer telephoto during ceremonies where she needs to photograph from a distance, or switching to one of her prime lenses when she wants to get creative during the portraits. 

CHANGING TRENDS

The wedding industry’s shift toward informal, personalized celebrations has been evident across the country, and Noe’s market is no different. Increasingly, couples are moving away from regimented timelines in favor of more free-flowing, uninterrupted celebrations. “They want to knock out the formalities and spend the rest of the night on the dance floor,” says Noe. “They want to have the dance with their parents and the cake cutting. But that’s it. They don’t want to be interrupted with all these other things. I love that. I love when people are on the dance floor having the time of their lives, because those are the best photos of the night.”

The more fluid nature of today’s weddings leads to different types of informal image creation, such as digital content like behind-the-scenes Reels, TikTok videos, and same-day digital albums. While some photographers view these trends as a threat, Noe sees them as a complementary service, one that could be offered by professional photographers or integrated into the wedding coverage by a different vendor. However, it’s important to clarify that they are different services. “Professional photography provides the timeless images people hang on their walls and treasure in albums,” she explains. “Content creation is a completely separate product that provides more instant gratification. Photographers who want to offer this type of service do have an advantage because they can capture both types of images at the same time, or they can work with a second shooter or assistant to get those types of images. The key is to set clear expectations about what is being provided.”

THE ENDURING VALUE OF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Despite shifting trends, photography remains an essential part of the milestone. Noe believes its lasting value lies in the ability to preserve memories for generations, and photographers who adapt to client expectations while staying true to their artistry can ensure their relevance within this dynamic. “People hire us for what they’ll frame, share, and look back on,” she says. “As photographers, we need to continue to show the importance of being able to display memories outside of a screen. For that, you absolutely need a professional photographer. You need somebody who knows how to preserve and celebrate these moments for our clients’ kids and grandkids. Photographers who keep that priority in focus, while continuing to adapt to the changing requests from their clients, will always have a place in this field.” 

Jeff Kent is editor-at-large.