Meet Your Photographer

Wedding and lifestyle photography for people who don’t want to be the centre of attention.

Proudly queer and disability owned.

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Proudly queer and disability owned. 〰️

A young woman with shoulder-length brown hair, glasses, and light skin sitting on a beige couch in a bright room, holding a camera, wearing a black tank top, ripped jeans, and tan boots.

I’m Katie Nelson

Professional third wheel, Stratford local, and your wedding photographer.

she/her

Specializing in 
hometown elopements. micro-weddings. small and intimate ceremonies. backyard weddings.

As a trained full-spectrum doula, I started my photography career in the maternity and newborn space back in 2018 and soon found another love - elopements and intimate weddings! 

I noticed that smaller weddings felt like a more authentic day– people are enjoying themselves, socializing, and actually getting to enjoy their wedding day. No mile-long list of family formals to pose for, no missing out on cocktail hour, and most importantly - no feeling overwhelmed by a demanding timeline!

As someone who is and works with disabled and/or chronically ill people, I found that shorter days were more accessible to both myself and my clients. Since shifting to focus on more intimate celebrations, it’s been an absolute joy to help couples document their gorgeous wedding, all while helping them meet their own needs and prioritizing their comfort.

If you’re looking for a photographer who takes a neutral approach– that’s not the vibe here.

Black lives matter. Science is real. Trans lives matter. Reproductive justice for all.

This is a space to celebrate all love, all bodies, all abilities and all backgrounds.

My favourite things I’ve photographed recently:

  • A wedding reception drag performance

  • An 89th birthday party

  • A post-elopement buffalo wing stop (dress stains and all)

  • A cribbage date in the park

  • wedding portraits on a swing set

Let’s add yours to the list

Working with queer, neurodiverse and disabled folks is where my heart is (literally and figuratively)! 

Affirmation and accessibility are at the core of my work - I’m a firm believer that you should feel safe on camera and always make a point to ask how I can best meet your unique needs.

As an introvert, I know how stressful it can be to get in front of a camera - that’s why my approach is always to move at your pace and ease into your session. Photos can feel high-pressure and uncomfortable, so my top priority is finding a way to have fun with it and make the experience enjoyable!

  • We can always count on Scott Helman, boygenius and Noah Kahan to grace the top 5 in no particular order! Honorable mentions to One Direction and the Hamilton soundtrack for making appearances recently…

  • Stratford is my home-base, but anywhere in the surrounding area is fair game! I’ve been lucky enough to photograph weddings from Niagara-On-The-Lake to Bruce County, and typically work within a 1.5 hour radius of Stratford.

  • If the sun is out, I’m probably at Angela’s Gelato or sitting by the river (gelato in-hand, usually). In the colder months, I’m either at a thrift store or in front of a fireplace - we’re homebodies around here.

Let's get you booked in!