The Fourniers: Capturing Timeless Wedding Moments with Heart and Precision

The world of wedding photography is filled with talented artists, but few have a story as unique as Josh and Leidy Fournier, the couple behind The Fourniers. What began as a shared passion between two medical students quickly evolved into a successful photography business that captures some of life’s most unforgettable moments.

The Story Behind The Fourniers

It all began during their first year of medical school when they met under unexpected circumstances. “A day we both recall vividly,” they recall. Josh, eager to excel, sat in the front row when he heard the clicking of heels and noticed someone sitting beside him—it was Leidy. “That serendipitous seating arrangement marked the beginning of our friendship, which deepened over the years and eventually blossomed into love,” they share.

Their friendship blossomed into love, and along the way, Josh noticed something special about Leidy. “Everywhere we went, Leidy saw an opportunity for a photoshoot,” he explains. Recognizing Leidy’s growing passion for photography, Josh took a leap of faith and bought her her first camera. Leidy immediately began photographing friends, family, and events, uncovering a natural talent behind the lens. 

The couple’s love for storytelling soon became the foundation of their new career. Together, they launched The Fourniers Photography after their own wedding, and despite no formal experience in photography or business, they booked over 20 weddings in their first year. “Drawing on our ability to absorb knowledge from our medical school days, we studied everything we could about photography and business,” they recall. 

“By our third year in wedding photography, we fully transitioned out of medicine to dedicate all our time to our craft. This journey has been life-defining for us, bringing continual growth and joy each year. As we approach the end of our sixth year, we take immense pride in the satisfaction our clients derive from their experiences and the art we create. We are passionate about crafting unforgettable moments for our couples and look forward to continuing to capture their special days,” The Fourniers proudly share.

A Passion Turned Profession: How The Fourniers Found Their Style

As their business grew, so did their understanding of the art of wedding photography. “We create more than just photos,” Leidy explains. “We describe our photography style as editorial, celebratory, and sophisticated. Our wedding photography style is driven by our love and passion for the art, allowing us to capture genuine emotions and unique details in every wedding.”

Their style is a blend of elegance and spontaneity, reflecting their shared passion for creating timeless memories. “We craft elegant, emotional, and spontaneous stories that stand out,” says Leidy. “Our dedication to artistry means we go beyond traditional photography to offer captivating experiences. We specialize in preserving precious moments like joyful laughter, silent vows, and stolen kisses, creating timeless and authentic memories that will be cherished for generations.”

From Behind the Camera to Behind the Screen

Leidy’s technical prowess shines through her choice of equipment. She captures photographs using different equipment for low-light scenarios. Her preference is to use her Contax 645 and the GFX 50R for their film-like look. What she loves the most about the GFX 50R is how closely it resembles her Contax 645. During low-light situations, she will use her Canon R6. Her lens selection consists of the Fujinon GF80mm 1.7 RWR, Canon 35 mm f/1.4, and 85 mm f/1.2 for digital photography. For film, Leidy relies on a Contax 645 camera paired with an 80 mm Carl Zeiss lens. She uses a combination of Fujifilm Pro 400H and Kodak Porta 400 and 800 120 mm film.

Meanwhile, Josh handles his gear with equal care and expertise. He utilizes a Fujifilm GFX 50R and a Canon R6, employing a Canon R6 lens adaptor mount to make use of all Canon lenses throughout the day. His go-to lens is the beloved 50 mm f/1.2, which he uses for the majority of the wedding day, benefiting from its compression. For wider perspectives, he occasionally relies on a Canon 35 mm f/1.2, but only when necessary. Additionally, during specific moments like the first look, he utilizes a Canon 70-200 mm f/2.8. Josh also takes advantage of a DJI Mavic Mini 4 Pro drone for captivating aerial shots, considering it one of his favorite pieces of equipment. He constantly challenges himself to create unique drone portraits at every wedding.

Post-Production Magic

Over the years, The Fourniers has completely transformed their approach to post-production, making it one of the most crucial aspects of their service. As Josh and Leidy explain, “It is now an area where we pride ourselves in offering exceptional service to our couples - one that we consider to be among the most important aspects of our job.”

The Fourniers focus on three key elements during this stage: efficiency, quality, and effective communication. Their aim is to deliver the final gallery within just two weeks, a remarkable feat in the wedding photography industry. The process begins immediately after the wedding. “We promptly back up the images and assemble a catalog,” Leidy explains. The following day, it's Josh's responsibility to meticulously narrow down the entire wedding collection, which is then handed over to Leidy.

Leidy’s role in the post-production process is vital to the artistry they deliver. Leidy diligently curates the wedding day previews based on specific criteria. Her aim is to encapsulate the entire story of the wedding day through a carefully selected set of 20-30 images. This includes capturing not only the most significant moments but also showcasing the intricate details of the vendor team's remarkable work. “However, above all, our utmost priority is to capture and immortalize the defining moments of our couples' extraordinary day,” they add.

Their utmost priority is to immortalize the defining moments of each couple’s extraordinary day. At the core of their artistic approach is their commitment to storytelling. “We take great care in selecting images that truly reflect their essence and convey their love story,” Leidy adds. “Throughout our journey with them, we gain a deep understanding of what makes them special, constantly asking ourselves if these images are the best representation of their unique bond. As artists, we hold the responsibility of crafting a narrative that remains true to their identity.”

Once the initial selections are made, the editing process begins. Every image is photographed in RAW format and edited in Lightroom using a custom-made preset. But there’s an intentional pause before the gallery is delivered. “Rather than delivering it immediately, we wait at least two weeks,” Josh says. “This intentional delay serves to build anticipation, as we understand that most couples are immersed in their honeymoon during this time. We want them to eagerly anticipate receiving their fully edited gallery, creating a sense of excitement and joy as they relive the precious moments captured.”

The Fourniers’ Approach to Client Relationships

For The Fourniers, the journey of working with a couple begins long before the wedding day. Their first step is always to deeply understand the couple they are working with. "From the first consultation to minute we meet them in person, we are watching and listening to them," Josh explains. "Our goal is to see them fully as people in love, and then showcase that love in a way that is truly unique to them."

Leidy emphasizes that their approach is rooted in a blend of both editorial and candid moments. “We aim to create wedding photography that combines both editorial and candid moments,” she says. “We create images that evoke deep emotions and have an editorial touch. We capture the essence of the day, freeze-framing it at its peak, while maintaining a natural and organic feel.” The result is a collection of images that tell a compelling love story while allowing authentic moments to shine.

In their photography sessions, The Fourniers take care not to micromanage their clients. “Rather than micromanaging every movement, we pose the frame as a whole, allowing the authentic expressions of our clients to shine through,” Leidy explains. “By providing gentle guidance, we empower our clients to feel confident and stay present in the moment, resulting in portraits that are both polished and flattering.”

One of the most important aspects of their approach is capturing images that will deeply resonate with the couple long after the wedding day. "Our goal is to create images that deeply resonate with our couples, images that will remain in their hearts for a lifetime," Josh shares. "We strive to capture the spirit of the day, suspending it in time, so it can live on eternally within our photographs. Weddings offer the unique opportunity to combine the best of documentary and fashion photography, serving as endless inspiration for our work. We cherish the candid moments as well as the chance to curate epic fashion-inspired poses. From the spontaneous unfolding of events to the carefully orchestrated shots, we capture every facet of the wedding day."

Planning ahead is another critical element in their approach. While they are always ready to capture moments as they unfold naturally, they also take a proactive role in creating opportunities for perfect shots. “Prior to each wedding, we value thorough communication with our clients and their planners/designers,” they explain. "This allows us to understand their priorities, how they envision their wedding day, and how the overall look and feel should be. We pay attention to every detail, enabling us to plan in advance and ensure we capture the best possible photos for them."

The Fourniers’ Philosophy on Weddings

Josh and Leidy Fournier have developed a philosophy that centers on their deep connection with each couple and their shared goal of transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary memories. "Our journey in photography has been encouraged us to develop our artistic voice," Josh shares. "This has been both enjoyable and transformative."

As a married couple themselves, Josh and Leidy bring distinct perspectives to their work. “We bring distinct perspectives to the same situations, fostering collaboration that yields fresh and unique results,” Leidy explains. Together, they navigate a path of self-discovery, always staying true to their artistic vision and the story of the couple they are photographing. This deep collaboration fosters creativity and innovation in every wedding they capture.

Their goal is to adopt a refreshing, tailored approach to each wedding, capturing the essence of the day in a way that showcases their distinctive style. "By adopting an editorial look that our clients have raved about, we aim to enter more publications," Josh says. Their work is not just about photographing beautiful events but about transforming seemingly ordinary moments—like a shared glance or a soft touch—into extraordinary memories that live on in their clients’ hearts forever.

As they reflect on their own relationship, Josh and Leidy realize that their journey has been shaped by their desire to celebrate their love for one another. "As a married couple, we vowed to celebrate our love from the day we were wed and cherish the blessing of our love for one another," Josh shares. "However, we soon realized that we are not alone in this sentiment." As they encountered more couples, they discovered a shared desire among them: a longing to celebrate love not just on the wedding day but throughout their entire lives.

A Personalized Experience

The Fourniers believe in offering a tailored experience for every couple. “We do not have a set list of collections,” Josh explains. “All of our collections are tailored proposals crafted to our couple's needs.”

Whether it’s a local wedding or a destination event in Europe, The Fourniers are ready to create something unforgettable. “ Paris and Amalfi are among our favorites,” Leidy says. “We travel to Europe frequently. Some of our couples enjoy their weddings here in the United States among friends and family, but travel to Europe with us to do a week-long photography tour across Italy or another iconic location.”

Josh and Leidy believe that no two couples are alike, and that understanding each couple’s unique relationship is the foundation of their approach. "We like to spend some time with our clients before their photography session of event to understand who they are, their personalities, and their vision for their photography," Leidy explains.

For The Fourniers, this pre-shoot time is crucial to building trust and ensuring that they are able to capture the couple in their most genuine moments. "We look for things that really define our couples," Leidy adds. "If they are interested in fashion, that might be an element of their shoot that we emphasis and incorporate a bit of a fashion photography. If they are more sentimental, we will focus in on the quiet moments between them."

The goal, according to Josh, is never to rehash a series of poses. "It's our goal to capture the couple as they truly are, not to rehash a series of poses," he says.