Bio

Becoming a professional photographer was not something I chose. Photography more or less chose me.

Many years ago, on a day like any other, I witnessed a very touching, intimate moment between a mother and son. The moment had a profound affect on me as I felt this sudden urge to capture it, to freeze the moment in time, so I could return to it, hopefully share it with the young child some day and keep it alive and within us over the years to come. I picked up my camera, clicked the shutter and what developed transformed my life.

As the image revealed itself to me, I suddenly grasped the inherent value and enormous power within the photograph as well as the infinite possibilities for me as a photographer. The ability to stop time, to preserve a memory and to share an experience with someone else was so priceless. I was struck by this feeling of honor for being present and a part of such a significant experience in these two individual's lives and I had this sudden and consuming desire to fill my life with these rare and precious moments. In an instant, I became aware of this passion for photography building inside me.

I began photographing weddings shortly thereafter primarily because I was drawn to the open and honest display of emotions. I consider myself a 'seeker of truth' at weddings - searching intently for those rare and intimate moments between loved ones. This search has not only defined my style of photography, but has also guided my passion and become the driving force behind what I consider my greatest obsession.

I've had the extreme honor of photographing weddings for couples from all over the world and each one of them proves for me time and time again what a wonderful gift this has been. Each and every wedding I've photographed has given me the opportunity to bear witness and play a part in the most near and dear moments in a couple's life together. The depth of that realization still overwhelms me today.

I have often times been asked how I find, these rare and special moments between a man and a woman. The answer is simple, I am not content to see with just my eyes. I see with my heart because that is where I find connection. That is where I find truth. And that is where I find love.

photographer

Joe Buissink began his professional photographic career in 1995 and has become one of the most sought after and praised wedding photographers in the world. His work is both revered in the photographic community and admired in the wedding industry. He is a favorite among many celebrity couples, having been commissioned to photograph the weddings of:

Alyson Hannigan
Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn
Antoine Fuqua
Ashley Young - Manchester United & Inter Milan Soccer Team
Barry Bonds
Brad Delson of Linkin Park
Brendan Fraser
Brooke Burke
Caleb Followill of Kings Of Leon and Lily Aldridge of Victoria Secrets
Christian Slater
Christina Aguilera
Christina Applegate
Christopher Lambert
David Boreanaz
Dave Kushner of Velvet Revolver
Fred Savage
Gary Sheffield
Hillary Scott (Lady Antebellum)
Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe
Jaime Pressly
Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Jennifer Lopez
Jenny Garth and Peter Facinelli
Jenny McCarthy
Jerry O'Connell and Rebecca Romijn
Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey
Joel Silver
Joey Lawrence
Jonathan Davis of Korn
Katharine McPhee
Kellie Pickler
Kelsey Grammer
Kevin De Bruyne - Manchester United Soccer Team
Kevin Sorbo
Keyshia Cole and Daniel Gibson
Kyle McLachlan and Desiree Gruber
L.A. Reid
Lauren Holly
Leah Remini
LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian
Leila Roshen
Leslie Bibb
Lucy Lawless
Marc Albrighton - Leicester City Soccer Team
Meghan Trainor and Daryl Sabara
Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto
Richard Schiff and Sheila Kelly
Robert Zemekis
Sharon Lawrence
Shawn Stockman of Boys II Men
Sophina Brown and Henry Simmons
Stacy Dash
T-Boz
Thomas Cavanagh
Tiffany Thiessen and Brady Smith
Yasmeen Bleeth

Joe's photography is about capturing the moments, and the essence of the person in those moments. His work redefines wedding photography, and has been described as "Fine Art" by his most notable celebrity clients. Joe has also been commissioned by a number of prominent celebrities to photograph family portraits and other important events in their lives, including:

Simon Cowell
Martin Luther King III
Ozzy Osbourne
Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw
Stevie Nicks
Bishop T.D. Jakes
Christina Aguilera
David Hyde Pierce
Fran Drescher
Greg Kinnear
Joel Silver
Kelsey Grammer
LeAnn Rimes
Martin Lawrence
Robert Downey Jr.
Tom Arnold

Joe's exceptional craftsmanship in the art of photography has led to several recent television interviews on programs such as; Entertainment Tonight, E! Entertainment News, Good Morning NY, Extra, Lifetime's "Wedding of a Lifetime" and a very special Good Morning America interview by Diane Sawyer.

educator

Joe dedicates a great deal of his time educating up-and-coming photographers on the skills, techniques and craft he has become so known for over the years. As one of the most in-demand speakers on the International photography circuit, Joe has made appearances in Brazil, Peru, Taiwan, China, Canada, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Holland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, England, Russia, Ukraine, Ireland, Scotland, Mexico and across the United States.

In the USA, Joe is asked to speak at various workshops and photographic schools across the country including the Santa Fe workshops, MARS (Mid Atlantic Regional School), the Long Island Photographic workshop, Golden Gate School and the California Photographic workshop. He also hosts his own workshops throughout the year in Russia, Ukraine, Vienna, Vermont, California and Oregon.

author

In 2009, Joe published his first book along with co-author Skip Cohen, entitled, Wedding Photography from the Heart. His images have been featured in several other wedding books including, The Wedding Box, which was published in 2000 and, Jessica Simpson: I Do, Achieving your Dream Wedding, published in 2003.

Although a wedding photographer at heart, Joe is also committed to several personal causes and utilizes his talent in the photographic field to help increase the awareness level for various events. In 2007, with Joe's assistance, The Help Group published the book Autism Heroes, a wonderful collection of images and interviews of families who have been touched by autism. Joe is very connected to and supportive of the Autism community and spent the better part of two years working on this book.

awards

Joe Buissink has been the recipient of several admirable awards and accolades over the years including the International Leadership Award in Photography by the International Photographic Council at the United Nations in 2003. In 2004 Joe was commissioned to photograph the International ad campaign for Kodak's Portra film line. In 2005, he was selected as Apple's spokesperson for their new software program Aperture which was designed to enhance the digital workflow for the professional photographer. In 2006, Joe was officially announced as the newest inductee to Canon's exclusive Explorers of Light. In 2007, American Photo magazine nominated Joe Buissink as one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world and in 2009, a BBC television special selected Joe as one of the Top 5 Wedding Photographers in the World. His images have received countless awards from the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) annual print and album competitions including several Grand Awards. In 2013 Joe received the Lifetime Achievement Award from WPPI and in 2017 he received the Triple Scoop Music "Vision Award".

His work continues to grace the covers and inside pages of several news, entertainment and industry magazines including People, OK, Hello, In Touch, Us Weekly, InStyle Weddings, Grace Ormonde's Wedding Style, Photo District News, American Photo, Popular Photography and Rangefinder.