Capturing moments in time, creating art, and redefining the photography experience.
While I specialize in elopements, intimate weddings, and portraits, I really just love photographing people. Whether it's marriage, friendship, or a family with 100 kids, I love it all. I’m originally from California, but have been living in and loving Memphis for the last 12 years. Kenya has a special place in my heart as well, so this basically means I'm consistently ready to hop on a plane.
I'm enthralled by the real life, documentary aspect of photos. I want to capture you in real time- that's the wild thing about photography...we can literally freeze time and save it forever. But let me also say, that if you're coming armed with disco balls and florals, or want to recreate one of your favorite photos, I am all about the drama. Music is the reason I moved to Memphis, and I'm an artist through and through, so I've got your back if you want to go all out. Social justice and human rights are also a huge part of my life- I want everyone to know their worth.
This is me! Wild, nomadic, a heart for people, culture, social justice, and art. And I'm ready when you are :)
Documentary photographer + Artist
Laramie Renae
Here's a snapshot into my world.
A Little Behind The Scenes
I moved to Memphis, TN in 2011 and immediately fell in love. I'm honestly not sure what it is about Memphis that makes you crave coming back-- it just feels like home. Originally, I moved here to study music. I have my Bachelor's in Modern Music and wrote, lead, and performed with my own band around town for almost 10 years. Photography was a complete accident, but I am so grateful it happened to me. If I could be anywhere in the world, it would be Africa, traveling...just being anywhere :) I love photographing elopements and portraits- the artistry and the gift of capturing people as they are is my absolute favorite thing about this business. 99% of the time I walk away from a wedding or session with new friends. It's my honor to be a part of people's lives and to document memories for them.
My very first wedding was in Connecticut of all places. The fall of 2019...and I was so terrified. But I remember texting my husband a few hours into the day and saying "I love this. I could do this for a long time." I just really love people. And being an elopement photographer, travel photographer, portrait photographer, photographer of life-- it's the best! All I ask is to be friends during our time together. I want my clients to be able to trust me, and if you can't, then I'm probably not the one for you and that's okay. These moments don't happen twice-- you have to have a photographer that has your back.
Every wedding and couples shoot makes me love my husband Dylan more. There's something about helping to cultivate love and feeling while I work with a couple, that just makes me fall in love with my own husband more than I thought I could.
I married my absolute best friend. We fell in love overnight after years of playing music together, traveling for shows, and just being artists in Memphis. I can't believe I get to be his wife and go on all of these crazy adventures with him. He's my person, so I strive to encourage everyone out there to find theirs.
dylan + I on our wedding day | Rock island state park, tN
My husband
I am a world traveler to the CORE. I'm still working on a long list of places I want to go, but some of my favorites have been Sydney AU, Istanbul, Greece, and of course, my second home: Kenya. Dylan and I also played a gig at a pub in Dublin once...and it was the BEST.
Every August (pre-COVID), I spend time in Nairobi with some of my favorite people who I am honored to call family.
So if I'm not taking photos here in the states, I'm doing photo and video on another continent, and I wouldn't have it any other way :)
Nairobi, Kenya
Travel + Culture
My Favorite Things
Laramie was our wedding photographer for our Chicago wedding last summer along with her husband Dylan as her second-photographer, and the whole process was a dream! Where do I even begin?!
The planning process was smooth and stress-free. Laramie helped us organize family photo groups, portrait location spots, and recommended a schedule that made the entire day run like a well-oiled machine. She couldn't have made the process easier!
When the wedding day came, Laramie was the BEST to work with. She kept to her timeline, and organized our very large wedding party and family without a hitch. We loved how the photos felt organic, too. She really made sure we felt comfortable and the photos represented us as a couple. Best of all, we had so much fun! My husband hates taking pictures, and five minutes into the process he smiled at me and said, "Wow, this is the best experience. Laramie and Dylan are the best!" I could repeat the day over and over again and wouldn't change a single second or photo that was taken.
Now, onto the wedding photos... we were completely speechless when we received the sneak peaks, and then the full album came along. There are no words to describe how beautiful the images were. They were absolutely breathtaking. We receive compliments constantly on how good they turned out. Laramie and Dylan could not have captured the day more perfectly. We are forever grateful to have these memories for the rest of our lives!
Chicago, IL
Lauren & Matthew
Laramie is absolutely amazing! She graciously took us on as clients last minute after our original photographer canceled. From the very start she was our ally and so helpful during the process. We loved being able to spend the day with her and will treasure the photos forever. Cannot over recommend!!!!
Bond Chapel | Chicago, IL
Jessica & Jeremy
Laramie is such a beautiful and kind spirit who captures the most gorgeous images. I couldn’t be more grateful that we snagged her for our wedding photography and videography. She and her husband, who tag-teamed the photo and video, were so lovely to work with and helped make our day be about us. They kept us on schedule, gave us breaks, and made us laugh, all while creating magic with their cameras. Truly an amazing experience!
Seelbach Hotel | Louisville, KY
Amy & David
Besides the actual getting married part, working with Laramie and Dylan at Wandering Creative was the highlight of our wedding day. My husband and I are not naturals when it comes to getting photos taken, but you'd never know it from the photos that Laramie took. If you're looking for a documentary style with gorgeous light, and if you want those sweet, secret moments captured with you and all your loved ones, you can't pick a better team. On top of Laramie's technical skill, she's also an absolute delight to work with. Great communicator, great advocate for me, and helped wrangle family and bridal party with grace. I couldn't be happier with our experience.
Pink Palace Museum | Memphis, TN
Caitlyn & Scott
Laramie photographed our wedding this past July, and we can't say enough good things! We absolutely LOVE our photos! Neither of us are super comfortable in front of a camera, but Laramie made it so fun, easy, and made us look natural and not awkward! She captured the essence of all of the moments- the joy, the love, and all of the excitement of our wedding day! We love that she captured so many pictures of us in the moment and not just posed pictures. Her photography and editing is so artistic and beautiful. Before our big day, Laramie talked us through everything and met with us a couple times to make sure everything would go smoothly and answered all of our questions. We recommend A Wandering Creative to anyone looking for gorgeous, artistic, beautiful photos!!
Woodruff Fontaine House
Anwen & Steven
Best experience ever! Laramie was so fun and professional, she made my husband and I feel comfortable and the shoot turned out amazing! She was so flexible with our dates and details of the shoot, super easy to work with and just a dream come true! In love with our photos and the memories we made!
Elopement Session | Memphis Botanic Gardens
Kim & Jeff
You absolutely fucking nailed it and maybe I’m just going to wallpaper my house with these pictures. You were so easy to work with and rolled perfectly with our ideas. The first thing my mom said when she saw these was “wow she really captured exactly who you two are” and we both feel the same way.
Harbortown | Memphis, TN
Neely & Ryan
Laramie was the perfect photographer—and she even went above and beyond photography! She was so kind and generous to us from our first communication, and the photos she took were stunning. When our florist fell through, she even jumped in and did our flowers too! Our wedding wouldn't have been the same without Laramie. We're so happy to have found her, and we can't recommend her enough!
NYC Memphis, TN Elopement
Katherine + Pete
Laramie is a phenomenal photographer! She made the whole process easy from start to finish. Excellent communicator, extremely professional, if I could give her 10 stars, I would. Not only did she produce gorgeous photos for my wedding, but she is also a very sweet person and made our photo session a blast. While she photographed our ceremony, she was so quiet that I forgot she was there, and I didn't feel nervous at all. For your next event, hire her. I couldn't have asked for a better photographer or wedding album.
Harbortown | Memphis, TN
Nicole & Andrew
You were such a dream to us yesterday. Safe, steady, directed and fun to have there. It felt so natural and right to have you there. I’m annoyed for you that you took so many great shots you’ll have to cull and edit now but I’m so dang happy, because these have been elevated to such a level of magic. No one else could have made my heart explode quite this way. Thank you so much for giving so much of yourselves to us yesterday. What a gift.
Basecamp Coffee Shop | Fayetteville, AR
Aerin & Ben
