10 Random Questions for WPPI Triple Master Susan Stripling

Susan Stripling is a wedding photographer, Triple Master at WPPI and frequent educator. She co-founded The Wedding School this year, a haven for “real, honest” education available to wedding photographers worldwide.

1. What’s one thing you might try or do differently this year as a wedding photographer?  

I don’t want to change too much, since my style and the work that I have shown to prospective clients is part of why they hired me. I save experimenting for my off times and my personal work, not the wedding day. I am always working on strengthening my skills and improving my creativity, so that is something I will be concentrating on this year, as with all years.

2. We read you got a BFA in theatre—which role have you identified with most?  

It’s been so long since I last performed, I’ve lost touch with all of those roles, and what they meant to me at the time doesn’t really apply to me now. These days I (like everyone else) am obsessed with Hamilton, and I really do identify with the man himself quite a bit. That guy just worked himself into the ground with an obsessive nature and did everything at top speed and top intensity. I relate to that way more than I probably should.

3. What are three things photographers should be doing to improve their social media marketing?  

Consistency, authenticity, and a bit of humor can’t hurt!

4. How did you and your husband, Cliff Mautner, meet?  

At WPPI! I was headed somewhere with friends of mine and he was standing just inside his room talking to some people. I remember being introduced to him and shaking his hand. I think that was 2005?

Photo © Susan Stripling

5. How did you light and shoot that photo that won the Grand award (pictured above) in the Wedding Division at WPPI’s 16 x 20 Competition this year?  

It’s all natural light! It’s a half-open set of doors, and the only Photoshop on the image is a simple conversion to black and white, and a touch of dodging in the whites to keep them clear at the bottom of the frame. Because I was originally going to enter it into the Photojournalism category, nothing was done to it except that.

6. What’s one of your biggest pet peeves?  

I can’t handle people chewing. At all. Just thinking about it makes my skin itchy!

7. What’s something you wish you had known when you were starting out as a wedding photographer?  

That wedding photography is 95 percent business and 5 percent photography skills. Okay, I might be exaggerating, but it’s so much more about the business side than I ever thought.

8. What’s one of the craziest things you did as a kid?  

I was a phenomenally boring child. I’ve been sitting here thinking about this question for about 20 minutes, and nothing comes to mind.

Photo © Susan Stripling

9. What’s something few people know about you?  

I am utterly obsessed with horror movies and the paranormal, yet terrified to sleep without some light on. Hallway light, bathroom light, whatever. It just can’t be dark. Because of, you know, the ghosts.

10. What’s one photo trend you wish would go away?  

Vacant, expressionless subjects in front of pretty places. I’m looking at you, bored-looking bride and groom standing side by side on the top of a mountain in Iceland! I want to see something about how the people feel, and I want to see interaction that would stand up just as well in front of a plain backdrop.

Related: Susan Stripling on the Eight Pitfalls of Wedding Photography [RF Video of the Week]

Wedding Photographer Susan Stripling Unpacks Her Gear Bag [RF Video of the Week]