Coterie Spotlight: Get to Know Neville Simpson Photography -Munaluchi Bride

When a door opened in 2000 for Neville Simpson, he stepped out on faith and entered into serving his church community through photography. With a warm welcome and strong desire to take this service to a higher level, Neville knew that he was ready to grow in this newfound craft and bless others.

“We love God, we love people, and we love photography!” are words you often hear among Neville and his staff. To learn more about how it all began and what inspires Neville Simpson Photography, check out what Neville has to say below!

Pictured: Temisha and Cedric

1) Tell us a little about your background and how you got started in the wedding and events industry?

Growing up, I had both passion and talent for drawing and painting. However, as I shifted my focus in pursuit of a career in engineering, I found little time to explore and cultivate this talent. All of that changed in 2000 when I made the decision to accept Christ as my Lord and personal Savior and be baptized at a local church.

Shortly after I joined the church, I overheard a conversation in Bible study class. Someone was commenting on how the church “used to have a photographer” and the idea came to me to purchase a camera and give it a try. Within a few months, I was appointed church photographer which lead to the birth of my ministry.

In the beginning, I volunteered to take some practice shots at a friend’s wedding and loved the experience but even more, the photographs were well received and they offered to purchase them. Since then, I have continued to develop my profession each year by joining and obtaining certifications through educational organizations such as Professional Photographers of America and Texas School of Photography. I also attend countless wedding photography conferences and workshops each year.

2) What do you love most about your job?

I enjoy watching my clients’ reactions to their images. But even more, I love the people I get to serve and the amazing relationships I have formed with them over the years. For example, Cedric and Temisha… since meeting them over 8 years ago, I have photographed their engagement session, wedding, anniversary photos, business headshots, maternity, birthday parties, and family photos… they even attended my recent wedding.

3) What would you encourage for the risk takers out there?

Well, truth be told… 15 years later, I am still holding down my job as a software engineer while building my wedding photography business at lunch, after work and on the weekends. I think everyone’s situation is different but I have always taken my responsibilities very seriously and as a result, I seem to only take well calculated risks. I do however look forward to making the transition to full time in the near future but it will be when my numbers and my heart lines up. My advice to any risk taker is, take time to develop your craft, but just as important, learn to master the art of business. Working in a business and running a business is not the same. The sooner one understands that and learns how to manage the two, the better his/her chances of success will be.

4) What is your favorite moment during a wedding and engagement session?

My favorite moments during the engagement sessions are the times when they forget I am there and are totally into each other. I find that taking the time to learn about the couple and suggesting locations and activities that they enjoy and are meaningful to them tends to make those moments more frequent.

On the wedding day, it’s always the times when people see each other for the first time… whether it is friends and family seeing each other for the first time in years, dad seeing his baby girl on that day for the first time in her dress, or a groom seeing his bride during the first look or when the doors open and he sees her for the first time. It is raw, pure emotional joy… I love it.. click!

5) What’s something that recently left you inspired?

I recently got married but before then, my 3 main sources of creative inspirations were 1) fashion magazines, because they aren’t as conservative as wedding magazines and they tend to be more out of the box, 2) movies, because every scene is usually designed to tell the story and 3) music videos, especially love songs. But now I find myself constantly making mental selfies of my wife and it has opened my eyes to seeing and capturing love in a whole new light.