In the comfort of her home in Winnipeg, Bree-Ann Merritt sits at her desk, poring over a gallery of images with the same patience and passion she’s brought to her craft for more than a decade. Every frame is meticulously edited in Photoshop—by hand—because for Bree-Ann, this isn’t just photography. It’s art.
Her path into wedding photography wasn’t born of a trend or social media ambition. It started in childhood, surrounded by creativity. Her father paints and creates carvings out of wood. Her sister paints as well and traveled for school in the arts. Bree-Ann herself pursued fine arts at the University of Manitoba before discovering photography through a film class. It wasn’t long before she shifted focus, enrolling in the Professional Photography program at Red River College and beginning the journey that would become her life’s work.
From Fine Arts to Full Galleries
Bree-Ann’s early career followed a path familiar to many emerging creatives—balancing passion with practicality. After graduating in 2012, she worked a full-time job while building her photography business from the ground up. Her first wedding? A friend’s mom. Midday sun, no experience, and all nerves. But what Bree-Ann lacked in experience, she made up for in instinct. She brought along a fellow student to second shoot, and together, they made it work.
That experience sparked something deeper. Over time, with every event she shot, every second-shooting opportunity she took, Bree-Ann’s confidence grew. So did her understanding of what she wanted her work to look and feel like. She tested trends—light and airy editing, for instance—but always found herself returning to a style that felt more authentic: moody but still bright, colourful but true-to-life. A style that reflects both her artistry and her personality.
“I’m more introverted, so I take a fly-on-the-wall approach,” she says. “I’m always observing the in-between moments. That’s where the emotion lives.”
The Process is the Point
While some photographers streamline their workflow with outsourcing and AI, Bree-Ann embraces the slow art of manual editing. Every wedding she delivers has been touched by her eye—not just during capture, but in post-production too. She edits every photo in Photoshop, removing distractions, enhancing tones, and bringing out the full emotional weight of each frame.
Her go-to lenses—the 70-200mm f/2.8 and 85mm f/1.4—help shape the cinematic quality of her work. The weight of the gear might take a physical toll, but for Bree-Ann, it’s worth it. “That depth is what I love,” she says. “It’s hard on the shoulders, but it’s part of the look I’m drawn to.”
Her approach to the day is similarly intentional. Whether she’s quietly documenting a chaotic bridal suite or gently directing portraits, Bree-Ann works with empathy and awareness. She avoids commanding a room but knows how to create space for beauty. The result is imagery that feels honest and emotionally resonant—crafted, not manufactured.
For the Quiet Romantics
Bree-Ann’s clients tend to share her sensibilities: kind, a little more introverted, and looking for connection over spectacle. Most discover her through social media or word of mouth, drawn to her use of colour and the genuine emotion in her galleries.
She typically photographs around ten weddings per year, all across Manitoba, with one destination wedding each winter—often in Mexico. Travel is a growing passion, and one she hopes to incorporate more into her future. “Destination weddings are my absolute favourite,” she says. “I’d love to be doing this full time, all over the world.”
For now, she balances it all with a full-time office job, using vacation days not for rest but to catch up on editing. “It’s not easy,” she admits. “But I’m proud of how far I’ve come.
The Artist at Work
For Bree-Ann, being a wedding photographer isn’t just about documenting a day—it’s about interpreting it. She takes inspiration from artists around the world, challenging herself to push past routine and try new posing or lighting techniques. When burnout creeps in during summer’s busy season, she fuels her creativity with strong iced coffee, a good playlist, and a scroll through the work of photographers she admires.
But even in those moments of exhaustion, the responsibility she feels to her couples keeps her going. “They deserve my best,” she says. “Every client deserves to have their story told beautifully.”
Website: breeannmerrittphotography.com
Instagram: @breeannmerrittphotography
