Rising Stars: Meet Phillip Blume of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Phillip Blume.

Hi Phillip, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Blume Photography officially began in 2008, shortly after we were married, but our story actually started a little earlier. I photographed a wedding for a friend, people loved the images, and word spread. Eileen built our first online portfolio, inquiries took off almost overnight, and within our first year we left our full-time careers to pursue photography together.

Over the past twenty years, we’ve had the privilege of photographing weddings across the country and around the world, and even for celebrities. But as our own family grew, we found ourselves drawn back home to the Athens and Atlanta communities. Looking back, that’s one of the best decisions we ever made. We still photograph weddings, but one of our greatest joys is seeing life come full circle. Many of the couples who trusted us with their wedding day have invited us back to capture their growing families, graduations, and life’s biggest milestones. Today, we’re even photographing weddings for some of their children.

Along the way, our work has been recognized with national and international awards, but those honors have never been what defines us. The greatest blessing has been building an incredibly tight-knit team of artists here in our private Blume Studio, who care deeply about the people they serve. Their creativity inspires us every day, but it’s their heart for our couples and families that truly makes Blume Photography special.

Even after all these years, Eileen and I still work personally with every couple. We believe beautiful photographs begin long before the camera comes out—by helping create a wedding day that’s joyful, relaxed, and centered on what matters most. At the end of the day, our mission has never simply been to take pictures; it’s been to preserve the people, relationships, and stories that families will treasure for generations.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not. Like many young entrepreneurs, we started with far more passion than business experience. We loved photography, but we had a lot to learn about running a sustainable company. There were seasons when we honestly wondered if we’d be able to keep doing what we loved.

About three years into the journey, we made a decision that changed everything. Instead of focusing only on growing our business, we committed to using our photography and filmmaking to serve nonprofits around the world—telling the stories of people fighting human trafficking, caring for vulnerable children, and bringing hope to communities facing incredible challenges.

That experience reshaped our perspective. It reminded us that photography is most powerful when it serves people and tells meaningful stories. Ironically, once our focus shifted away from ourselves, our business began to grow in ways we never expected. We attracted clients who shared those same values and who cared as much about relationships and purpose as they did beautiful photographs.

Looking back, those early struggles were some of our greatest teachers. They shaped not only the way we run our business, but also the kind of people we hope to be.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We specialize in wedding photography and filmmaking, but what we’re really passionate about is helping couples experience one of the best days of their lives. Beautiful photographs matter, of course, but we believe those images begin with creating an atmosphere where people feel relaxed, present, and free to simply enjoy their wedding day.

That’s why we don’t see ourselves as photographers who simply show up with cameras. We become trusted guides throughout the planning process, working closely with couples, families, and vendors to help create a timeline and experience that’s smooth, joyful, and stress-free. When people feel cared for, genuine moments naturally follow—and those are the moments that become timeless photographs.

Artistically, we’ve always loved blending authentic storytelling with a sense of adventure and creativity. Our own love for travel, climbing, and the outdoors has kept us curious and continually pushing ourselves to see familiar moments in fresh ways.

What makes us most proud, though, isn’t an individual photograph or award. It’s the relationships we’ve built over the last twenty years and the incredible team of artists we’ve had the privilege to grow. Many of our couples have become lifelong friends, and today we’re photographing the weddings of some of their children. That’s something no award can match. If there’s one thing that sets Blume Photography apart, it’s that we care just as much about the people in front of the camera as we do the photographs we create for them.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One lesson has shaped almost everything we’ve done: it’s not just the personal and beautiful images that bring joy to people, but much more the experience behind them. When our clients look at the photographs we create from their lives, they remember the authentic moments and the way we helped them feel. Confident and thankful.

Early in our career, we naturally focused on becoming better photographers. Over time, we realized that our greatest impact wasn’t found in better cameras or more creative techniques—it was in caring well for people. Whether we were documenting a wedding, telling the story of a nonprofit halfway around the world, or simply helping calm a nervous bride before she walked down the aisle, we discovered that relationships always come first.

That lesson has influenced every part of our business. It has shaped the team we’ve built, the clients we’ve attracted, and even the way we’ve chosen to invest our lives outside of photography. Beautiful images matter, but they’re really just the lasting reminder of something much deeper: people who felt seen, valued, and loved.

If we’ve learned anything over the last twenty years, it’s that when you genuinely serve people first, success has a way of taking care of itself.

Pricing:

• Starting at $4500
• Most Popular Collections $6500

Contact Info:

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