Michaella Jelin-Till (Yellow Bird Visuals)

Atlanta-based photographer Michaella Jelin-Till named her business Yellow Bird Visuals because she wanted it to reflect “what it feels like to work with me.” Yellow Bird represents, among other things, “peace and calmness,” she says, an allusion to her approach: “present but not intrusive, like a calming, comforting friend who knows you best.”

Jelin-Till’s background in design and the inspiration she draws from “the rich colors of film” are evident in the composition and tone of her images, whether they’re shot on film or digital cameras. She’s after images that “feel personal and spontaneous and are full of energy and life,” she says, like they were taken by a best friend. The introduction into her workflow of analogue cameras a couple of years ago forced Jelin-Till to slow down, be present and trust her eye, she recalls, and spurred her biggest creative growth. Choosing the film camera at key moments can be risky, she notes, “but with bigger risk usually comes a bigger reward.”

Check out the official announcement of this year’s 30 Rising Stars of Wedding Photography, along with the editors’ observations on the list of 2020.