Meet Toni Kersting

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Toni Kersting. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Toni, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

As a Catholic, my purpose is to know, love, and serve the Lord in everything I do. I know that He put me here for a reason and gave me these gifts for a purpose and I think that purpose is to share His love with others.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am primarily a wedding photographer who specializes in Catholic weddings. My focus on a wedding day is the Catholic mass. Couples want to work with me because I understand the flow of the mass and the meaning and beauty of the tradition.

I also love to photograph young families, events, and product lifestyles for brands.

I am very excited to bring videography into my business with the help of my husband! We shot our first wedding together in June of this year and already have a couple more lined up! He is a great videographer so I can’t wait to share more of his portfolio.

I also have a new website coming early 2026!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Being a photographer for my college church was what built my skill in photographing the Catholic mass, which I use for most of the weddings I shoot today. I also gained experience photographing events from this job. Weddings are basically a whole day of events!

A quality of mine that has impacted my journey is the ability to observe what’s around me and finding the beauty in the little things. On a wedding day, I am constantly looking for candid moments to capture. The angles and composition I choose for each photo is intentional and accentuates the beauty of that moment.. Whether it’s a bride holding her bouquet while she talks to a friend, or how the groom casually holds her dress. I am on full alert with what’s going on around me so that I don’t miss the moments that most people do.

Lastly, as a previous lifestyle photographer for a jewelry brand, I’ve mastered the skill of photographing the small details. During photoshoots for this brand, I had to make sure that the piece of jewelry was fully in focus throughout every photo. This is harder than it looks, especially if the model is moving around a bit. I use this skill on wedding days, when I need to create a focus for the picture to tell a story: the crucifix in the room, the wedding ring on the couple, or the mixed drink in hand.

If you’re trying to get into wedding photography, yes it helps to experience photographing a wedding, but you can also use other types of shoots and different environments as a way to build comfortability using a camera capturing quick moments. Photographing events like birthday parties and dinners, or just following a couple around town to tell a story can help prepare you, especially with repetition.

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

I joined a business group for photographers online in June 2023. It was the best decision I made for my business. I learned how to be more professional in my consultations, emailing, work flow, and relationships with my clients. Since joining this class, I gained more confidence in what I have to offer as a photographer, and learned how to market that.

I recommend any photographer to join at least one class or coaching group to build confidence and to bring yourself up on a similar level as other professional photographers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tonilynnphoto.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonilynnphoto/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tonilynnphoto

Image Credits

Toni Lynn Photography