Mackenzie Westphal, a professional photographer from Scottsbluff, provides some suggestions to help couples make sure that all the special moments during their dream wedding are captured in the best way possible.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
SCOTTSBLUFF – Mackenzie Westphal, a 2008 Scottsbluff High School graduate, grew up with a passion for taking photos, and she’s now in her fifth year of working as a professional photographer. She recently opened a new photography studio called Salt Studios, located in downtown Scottsbluff at 19 East 15th Street. She specializes in family portraits, high school senior photos, headshots, events, boudoir, and weddings. During her professional career, she’s been the lead photographer at nearly 40 weddings, and she’s been a secondary photographer at three other weddings. Her website is mackenziewestphalphotography.com. In this Q&A, Mackenzie answers a number of key questions pertaining to wedding photography
Q: Why do you recommend couples hire a professional photographer for their wedding?
MACKENZIE: “Weddings are obviously a very special day, so finding someone who you feel can capture the emotions and moments of the day is important so you don’t miss out on the memories of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. Professional photographers are usually pretty familiar with a variety of lighting situations, so they can ensure nothing is missed, especially since a lot of unexpected things can happen on the wedding day. Hiring someone who has experience with weddings is great because they are used to adjusting to changed plans and big groups and following an itinerary. Also, the day of a wedding can be a crazy time, so having a professional photographer with experience taking photos at weddings can really help make the day go more smoothly and calmly for the wedding party.”
Q: What should couples look for in a wedding photographer?
MACKENZIE: “Finding someone who has experience taking photos at weddings is beneficial. Finding out what their experiences have been like with other brides might be a good idea. You can also ask to see a full wedding gallery from a wedding that a photographer shot. I also think the personality of the wedding photographer is really important. Do they make you feel comfortable? That is an important question to ask, as you will be spending the entire day with them next to you. I also think it is important to ask a photographer how they back up their images and how they take care of their images after a wedding. If they use a dual slot camera, it’s even better in case one SD card fails. I’ve heard of horror stories of people losing wedding photos because a hard drive crashed or a SD card crashed. Also, considering the editing style you want is important because every photographer edits differently. For example, some photographers edit pictures to have more of a light, springy vibe, and others edit photos to make them look a bit more vintage and less saturated. Other photographers, like me, edit photos that are more true to color. I like to accentuate the bold colors that are there on the wedding day.”
You can read the entire story in the “Tying the Knot” special wedding section in the February 2025 issue of Nspire Today! magazine. A one-year subscription (12 issues) is only $20. You may sign up for a subscription by sending $20 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363, or you may pay with a credit card by calling 308-220-8907.
The current issue of Nspire Today! magazine is available at locations listed below.
