Barrett Photography {Life}

Imagine having incredibly talented photojournalists capturing your wedding:  one boasting a Professional Photographers of America New Faces award, and the other sharing a Pulitzer Prize with the Kansas City Star.  Their photographs have graced the cover of Mississippi Magazine’s Wedding Registry edition four times.  Michael and Dianne Barrett of Barrett Photography are not only award-winning journalists, but also a faithful married couple dedicated to their craft. 

Both Michael and Dianne have degrees in photojournalism from the University of Southern Mississippi.  Michael says, “Dianne was the beautiful little Italian girl in photojournalism 341 class that sat on the second row!  We had an assignment to shoot 20 faces and I used it to take her portrait and talk to her.  A year into our marriage I learned she was not impressed with what I thought was my great introduction! We spent years sharing a passion for photography and photojournalism and developing a friendship before we realized it was more than that and were both hired as staff photographers at the Clarion Ledger fresh out of school.”

The two eventually moved to Atlanta and married, where Dianne worked as a staff photographer at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Michael worked for various news outlets, including newspapers, magazines and corporations.  Dianne quit the paper when their son, Joseph, turned two, because she didn’t want to miss all of the precious moments with him.  Michael and Dianne decided to move home to Mississippi and start their own business, Barrett Photography. 

“As a photojournalist, you are not allowed to set up photos or influence them in any way unless you are shooting a portrait.  We had to walk into different situations everyday and cover assignments – many times battling other photographers – and get the story-telling picture.  There was no excuse!” says Dianne.  “We had to think on our feet and watch and anticipate moments so the transition to weddings was pretty easy! We have both covered presidents, world leaders, major spot news events, celebrities…so that same energy translates well into a wedding day. You can plan all you want and visit venues beforehand but no matter how many times you photograph in the same place, it will always be different – it could be the weather or the light or the subjects- so you have to react to what’s before you and make it work! That is my favorite kind of shooting!”

Barrett Photography is known for capturing extraordinary wedding photos, and they simply love each and every moment they shoot.  Michael says, “My favorite images are those that reflect the client’s faith, which is important to me.”   Dianne adds, “I love reaction shots and small, quiet moments.  Sometimes unless you know the story behind it, it may not look like such a great image, but it’s something that is important and meaningful to our clients. And that’s what is important to us.”

When choosing your wedding photographer, Michael and Dianne suggest that a bride and groom visit several photographers and choose the ones they like and whose work they love, then trust them to do what they do best!  Dianne says, “The best thing our clients can do is say we love your work and we trust you!  That is very freeing for any creative person and I guarantee you will then have someone do an extraordinary job for you.” 

Michael and Dianne are a team in every sense:  husband and wife, business owners and the parents of two children.  They continually inspire one another, and the results are breathtaking.

Dianne says, “I think having two professional photographers – and two that have worked together as long as we have – is a great benefit.  One of us did not teach the other how to shoot; photography is our mutual passion.”

Thank you, Michael and Dianne, for sharing your beautiful photographs and your story!  For more information on Barrett Photography, please visit their website here. 

{Blog by Mitchell Walters}