Rising Stars: Meet Bryan Terschan of Marietta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bryan Terschan.

Hi Bryan, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Sure, I never really grew up wanting to be a photographer, but I always knew I had a creative side to me. I graduated with an engineering degree and did that for 7 years before I fell in love with photography. It all started on a trip to Banff National Park in Canada where I decided to buy my first “real” camera to document some of the beautiful landscapes my wife and I would see on the trip. I initially just wanted a few pretty pictures of Banff, but it quickly turned into an obsession! I started watching YouTube videos on how to take good landscape photos, waking up at sunrise to capture landscapes, and learning how to edit on the fly. I never intended for it to be a job, but eventually someone asked to purchase one of my landscape prints and it started to feel like a possibility. Then people started reaching out to me about shooting their portraits or engagement photos and I loved working with people on the creative process! So, I decided I wanted to combine my love for connection and my love for landscapes by getting into the world of adventure elopements. Fast forward to today and I have been a full time adventure elopement photographer serving North Georgia and beyond for almost 2 years now! I love it more and more every single day!! The people I meet and the places I go are the absolute best parts about the job!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road! There have been many ups and many downs. I didn’t get to being a full time photographer overnight. I worked hard at it while working a full time engineering job for 4 years before finally going full time. Having never owned a business before or even going to business school, I’ve had to teach myself so many things and learn many lessons the hard way! The biggest struggle I have had to overcome is imposter syndrome and feeling like my work is not good enough. I have mostly gotten over this, but there are still some days where I struggle with it! It’s hard not to compare yourself to others in your industry, but you just have to keep going and remember that you are the only person like you. That’s what you have to offer the world, the uniqueness of yourself and your experiences.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an elopement and intimate wedding photographer and I work almost exclusively with couples who feel most like themselves outside (on trails, in the mountains, near water), places where things slow down and presence comes naturally.

What I specialize in is hiking-focused elopements and intentional wedding experiences. Not just beautiful locations, but days that are built around movement, ease, and connection instead of performance or pressure. A lot of the couples I work with love the outdoors, even if they’re not “hardcore hikers,” and they want their wedding day to feel grounded, unrushed, and honest.

I’m probably best known for creating experiences that feel calm and deeply personal. I’m not just showing up to take photos, but also help couples shape the entire flow of the day so it actually feels good to live through. From planning timelines that don’t revolve around the clock, to helping them choose locations that match their comfort level and values, to being a steady presence on the day itself. I hear all the time that couples felt like they could finally breathe!

What I’m most proud of is the trust my couples give me and how that shows up in my reviews. A lot of people come to me feeling overwhelmed by traditional wedding expectations or unsure how to plan something different without it becoming chaotic. Being able to take that weight off their shoulders and then give them photos that reflect who they really are in those moments—that’s the part that matters most to me!

What sets me apart is that I design the experience first, and the photos come from that. I don’t work in rigid hourly blocks, because I don’t think presence fits inside a number. I approach elopements with a mix of planning-forward thinking and a very human, intuitive approach. I’m deeply intentional about Leave No Trace, accessibility, and making sure couples feel supported every step of the way, not just on the wedding day.

At the end of the day, my work is for people who want their wedding to feel like them: quiet, adventurous, meaningful.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
The best way to work with me is honestly just to start a conversation! Most of the couples I work with don’t come in with everything figured out. They just know they want something simpler, more intentional, and more connected to the outdoors. From there, we build the day together in a way that feels right for them.

Collaboration is a big part of how I work. I love partnering with other vendors who care deeply about experience and people – officiants, florists, venues, and creatives who value presence over perfection. I’m especially drawn to working with people who are thoughtful about the land, inclusive in their approach, and genuinely invested in the couples they serve. Those relationships tend to feel less transactional and more like shared stewardship of a really meaningful moment.

Supporting my work can be as simple as sharing it! A lot of what I do grows through word of mouth. Past couples telling their friends, other vendors passing my name along, or someone seeing a story and feeling like it finally reflects what they want. That kind of support means everything, because it’s rooted in trust!

Contact Info:

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