Meet Nate Dove of Raleigh-Durham, NC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Dove.

Hi Nate, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We started indie Bird in 2021 while living in Charlotte, North Carolina. From the beginning, our goal has always been to create authentic, honest imagery without pressuring our couples to fit into a certain mold. We genuinely wanted to document weddings as they truly unfolded, highlighting genuine moments and real connections. Starting during COVID presented unique challenges—but we found that the pandemic sparked a deeper desire for real human connection, new wedding traditions, and intentional, meaningful imagery.

At the end of 2021, we relocated to the Triangle region, and since then we’ve had the privilege of photographing dozens of incredible weddings. Along this journey, we’ve had the great fortune of connecting with inspiring couples and amazing fellow wedding vendors who continue to make our work both enjoyable and meaningful.

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?
Running a small business is rewarding but rarely smooth sailing. You have to get comfortable wearing many hats—artist, marketer, administrator, accountant, and more.

The biggest challenge for us was navigating the transition from balancing indie Bird alongside our full-time jobs to turning photography into a sustainable full-time career. It was certainly difficult at times, managing long days, late nights, and weekend shoots. But through persistence, adaptation, and continuous learning, we eventually reached a place where indie Bird became our primary focus. Now, we’re incredibly grateful to dedicate ourselves fully to our passion for photography and serving our couples.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At indie Bird, weddings are our primary focus. Our specialty is documentary-style photography—we capture candid, genuine moments without interfering with the natural flow of the day. Our philosophy is that couples should be fully present at their wedding, soaking up every moment rather than worrying about the camera. We believe the most meaningful photos happen when people are genuinely in the moment.

We’re especially proud of our commitment to shooting both film and digital photography. This year, we took that commitment even further by building a home darkroom. This allows us to personally handle film development and create handmade, enlarged prints. Engaging with analog processes grounds us in the artistic fundamentals of photography and brings an authentic, tactile dimension to the memories we deliver.

What really sets us apart is our genuine care for our couples, our blend of modern and classic photographic techniques, and our desire to make images that feel truly authentic to their stories.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Nate Dove: I’ve always been drawn to photography and film, even as a child. Many of my favorite childhood memories revolve around creating projects at school, experimenting with cameras, editing software, and storytelling. I loved capturing moments, piecing stories together, and exploring different forms of visual creativity. Photography and filmmaking felt natural, and I’m grateful to now have a career rooted deeply in those passions.

Emma Dove: Growing up, my primary creative outlets were ballet and painting. Expressing myself through movement and visual arts built a strong foundation for appreciating composition and storytelling. This eventually led me down a path toward pursuing a PhD in art history. Today, I still draw inspiration from those early passions, bringing an artful and thoughtful perspective into everything we do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://indiebird.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indiebirdphoto/