This month, we’re profiling a diverse set of wedding photographers across the ONA community. Today: longtime friend-of-ONA Jon Taylor Sweet (@jontaylorsweet), who is based in Seattle but travels the world for his weddings and commercial work. Read our full Q&A and see selections from his portfolio below.
Jon carries the Black Leather Clifton backpack.
Name: Jon Taylor Sweet
Hometown: Tacoma, Washington, currently living in Seattle, Washington
Go-to gear: I use 2 Canon 5D Mark II's! One carries a Sigma 35mm 1.4 and the other carries a Canon 85mm 1.2 and then I rotate in my Sigma 24mm 1.4 and my Canon 50mm 1.4.
ONAs you use: I have the Black Leather Clifton and the Camps Bay backpack.
Describe your aesthetic in five words or less: A Moment Catcher!
Biggest creative influence: My biggest creative influence right now is cinema. I've been so enthralled by how frames come together in movies and I have been trying my best to start articulating that in my images.
What motivates you: Well I have to eat everyday so that helps keep me motivated! Opportunities to be apart of sharing people's moments actually has been my biggest motivation. I want people to best remember the biggest day of their lives!
Biggest challenge: Staying on top of all the backend of my business. Making sure my books are square and my website is updated and that I stay on top of posting on my wedding accounts on social and other forms of marketing. You get it! Haha!
Mistake you’ve learned from: Not sleeping enough the night before a wedding! Real example: I missed my flight in the middle-of-nowhere China where I was doing a project, which pushed my flights to where I landed back in Seattle three hours before I had to arrive at a wedding, and I felt so exhausted and not my normal self. So the mistake was not sleeping on the plane... never doing that again!
One piece of advice that stuck with you: Remembering that weddings are never about the photographer. Ever. Our goal is getting the couple married and that they have the best day of their life! However you can do that, be available to do it!
Time of day are you most creative: 2pm-2am!
One thing most people wouldn’t expect about you? That I am hooper. Basketball has been a passion of mine my whole life! I'm that dude that walks into a gym that never gets picked on a team 'cause I wear skinny jeans and a long tee when I walk in then I typically always get asked to come back! Haha!
Thing you can’t live without: Peanut butter and basketball!
One piece of work you are most proud of: I took a photo of a older lady while on the floating market in Thailand and it's one of those raw moments of her life I felt like I got to be a part of. Still to this day I get inspired by her!
In terms of weddings: I did a wedding for a friend and literally everything was just too perfect. When it came to doing their photos together all I had to say was just keep loving each other and the photos where magic. Being apart of that day was special and an honor!
Most recent “a-ha” moment: When I wore running shoes to one of the last receptions I was shooting at! That was an a-ha moment FORSURE! Saving grace for the knees!
Dream project: Non-wedding–be a director of photography for a movie. Wedding–shoot a traditional tribal African wedding.
Goal for this year: Be the most available I can be for my clients. To also try and push my creative cells more in the 8-16 hours I am at a wedding. Even if it is just in the details.
Lightning round:
Cats or dogs: Dogs
Sweet or savory: Sweet
Childhood celebrity crush: I was a sport junkie so forsure Michael Jordan and Kobe!
Favorite album: I have 5! Can't help it!
1. Get Lifted John Legend
2. Continuum John Mayer
3. Allen Stone Allen Stone
4. The 1975 The 1975
5. Empires Hillsong United
Most used phrase
"LIKE A CHAMP!"
"LOVE THAT!"
"DEAR GAWD!"
Favorite book: BIBLE!
Biggest fear: Missing out! Haha!
Earliest memory: Y'all know those little metal fire trucks that kids would have back in the day?! My brother thought it would be funny to try and throw it over the swing set so he was like, "Jon, go to other side and try and catch it!" Me being the dummy I am I walk on over the other side of the swing set and look up and put my hands out and wait for it! My brother being a KID, literally a child, not strong enough to actually throw this thing over the swing set throws it straight through the swing set and hits me square in the face! 1 hospital visit later and multiple stitches to keep my nose on my face I know to not try and catch a metal truck flying through the air!
Hidden talent: I am a great barista and mixologist! I know they are both two different type of beverages but I pride myself in my abilities to create excellent coffee and cocktails! I also know how to clean like a champ!
Jon carries the Black Leather Clifton backpack.
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