Episode 5: Grace Rolfes

In this episode of Nested, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich sits down with West Michigan wedding and portrait photographer Kellie Hetler to discuss creating a more inclusive wedding experience for individuals with disabilities.Drawing from both her professional experience and personal journey as the mother of a child with disabilities, Kellie shares how advocacy became a central part of her work and why accessibility deserves a larger place in conversations about weddings and events.Together, Brent and Kellie explore the evolving expectations of today's couples, the importance of communication and accommodation, and how wedding professionals can create experiences that allow every guest, family member, and couple to feel fully seen, valued, and included.This thoughtful conversation challenges traditional assumptions about weddings and offers practical insight into building a more welcoming industry for everyone.Topics discussed include:• Creating inclusive wedding experiences• Disability advocacy in the wedding industry• Communication tools and accessibility accommodations• Working with deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals• The role of empathy in client relationships• Personalization and evolving wedding trends• Family, caregiving, and entrepreneurship• How vendors can better serve diverse communities• The future of accessibility in weddingsWhether you're a wedding professional, a couple planning your celebration, or simply someone interested in creating more inclusive spaces, this episode offers valuable perspective and actionable insights.Visit The White Wren at https://whitewren.com

In this episode, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich sits down with Madison McMahon, an Ontario-based wedding photographer known for blending fine art and documentary storytelling. Together, they explore how wedding photography - and weddings themselves - have evolved over the past decade.Madison shares her journey from initially avoiding weddings to finding deep purpose in documenting life's most meaningful moments. The conversation dives into the growing shift toward smaller, more intentional celebrations, the lasting impact of COVID-19 on wedding culture, and why today's couples are increasingly drawn to authenticity over perfection.Along the way, Madison reflects on building a sustainable photography business, fostering long-term relationships with clients, her unforgettable elopement in Ireland, family life, outdoor adventures, and the evolving role of social media in the wedding industry.This episode is a thoughtful look at the changing landscape of weddings, the power of emotional storytelling, and why meaningful experiences continue to matter most.Topics include:The evolution of wedding photographySmaller and more intentional weddingsFine art vs. documentary storytellingBuilding lasting client relationshipsMadison's Ireland elopement and travel adventuresBalancing motherhood and entrepreneurshipWedding trends and cultural influencesSocial media and marketing for photographersThe future of authentic wedding storytellingMadison McMahon Photography: https://www.madisonmcmahon.com The White Wren https://whitewren.com/

In this episode, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich hosts a roundtable conversation on the state of the wedding industry as it looks ahead to 2026. He is joined by Clara Gilleland of Be Inspired PR, along with White Wren Collaborative members Jasmine Ortiz of Jasmine Marie Photography and Kimberly Sisti of Sisit & Co. Together, they discuss how the industry is shifting, what feels increasingly unsustainable, the pressure of constant visibility, and what creatives are prioritizing as they build businesses designed to last.Be Inspired PRhttps://www.beinspiredpr.com/Jasmine Marie Photographyhttps://jasminemarie.meSisti & Cohttps://www.sistiandco.com/Visit The White Wren athttps://whitewren.com

In this episode, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich sits down with Grace Rolfes of Graceful Moments Media. Grace is a photographer and videographer who pivoted from a career in PR into capturing organic lifestyle moments for weddings and people. We discuss Charleston weddings, frequent flyer miles, VHC wedding videos, authenticity, and crying. Graceful Moments Mediahttps://www.gracefulmomentsmedia.com/Visit The White Wren at https://whitewren.com

In this episode, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich sits down with Kristen Green of Published and Pretty. Kristen is a wedding publicist and frequently sends features and submissions to The White Wren. We discuss viral wedding moments, the slow death of many wedding publications, and adapting to the future of wedding marketing and media. Published and Prettyhttps://publishedandpretty.com/Visit The White Wren at https://whitewren.com

In this episode, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich sits down with Kiley Williams of Kiley Ann Photography. Pink Barbie film cameras, the digital dark ages, and weddings are all discussed!Kiley Ann Photographyhttps://www.kileyannphotography.comVisit The White Wren at https://whitewren.com

In this episode, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich sits down with Sarena Oudthone of Nouvel Photo & Film who photographed the magazine cover for The White Wren Volume 6: The Real, Real Life Issue last year. We loved her style of capturing life in the moments as it happens and making what often feels like chaos into beautiful memories. Big blended families, core memories, kids licking windows, and how to capture life in a documentary style are all discussed!  Nouvel Photo & Film https://www.nouvel.co/ Visit The White Wren at https://whitewren.com

In this episode, White Wren Publisher Brent Deitrich sits down with Adrianne Shelton of Beatific Visions Photography for a chat about her business, her online community focused on family and motherhood called The Kindred Path, and how the heart and mission behind her business has evolved over the years. Church directories, how her business name came about from a first date gift, and more are all discussed! Beatific Visions Photography https://beatificvisionsphotography.com The Kindred Path https://www.thekindredpath.com Visit The White Wren at https://whitewren.com