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Cody Kurtz Photography

Portfolio
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Jonathan and Tess Williams / Oregon

Jonathan and Tess Williams / Oregon

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Haley and Mitch // Engagement

Haley and Mitch // Engagement

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Jonathan and Tess Williams / Oregon

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Haley and Mitch // Engagement

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Follow along with my journey on Instagram! @codykurtzphoto

Hey y’all. Life update.
I need a severe social media detox. I’ve found myself pretty addicted to it again.
I believe social media can be a really valuable tool but it cal be a life sucking entity that never relents. It’s not the platform that issues but it’s my own heart. The more I’m on here, the more I look for affirmation from the total randos or people I don’t really interact with every day. I miss out on what’s right in front of me and...frankly, that really sucks.
So ima take 2 weeks at least to not be on social media (aka Facebook and Instagram). I won’t have messenger on or anything so you can either message my wife Kayla Kurtz or email me (ckurtzphotography@gmail.com). Yes that’s still a thing.
My goal is to start loving life again rather than trying to escape it. That’s a bit dramatic but that’s my natural bent. I love y’all and if you’re needing photo stuff done, you know where to find me.
C.

Thanks to @indiefilmlab I get to relive moments like these over and over again. I posted a while ago about my first film wedding ever and I’m ridiculously stoked at what @johnwaynew, @_tessentials_ and myself received. I kinda throw myself in there cuz I was SO FREAKING NERVOUS but 80% of things were so rad. I had some camera issues halfway through and just...stuff happens. Whatever. But frick man, I’m so thankful for couples like these and adventures to relive. #longlivefilm (Shot on Hasselblad 500c + 80mm + Portra 160)

Today is what @taran_up_this_world called a “half assed elopement”. He and @bayliebrownco wanted to elope but, because of wanting to include their friends and fam, settled on a courthouse wedding. Let me tell ya what - shortest ceremony in my life. 6 mins tops and we were outie. When we left the courthouse, we wanted to do some fountain photos but jokingly said, “we can just find one after the reception!” I think Taran underestimated how down me and Baylie would be for this magic. Long story short, we partied in the fountains of Ft. Worth. One of my favorite moments was Taren telling us how thankful he was we forced him to get in the fountain.
Anyway. It’s late and my thoughts are scrambled but I’m overwhelmed by these two. Today was nothing but insane fun and lots of great food (shout out to @joetgarcias_). I wish y’all didn’t live in Arkansas but now you finally give me a reason to visit. Until next time 🤘🏼

Getting to hang with @johnwaynew and @_tessentials_ ...how do I begin.
I guess I’ll start with yes - this is an iPhone photo. You may be thinking, “but Cody, why post that doesn’t that go against all you stand for?” And you would be correct. But Johnathan asked me to take their elopement photos on film specifically, which excited and TERRIFIED me but if there was ever a time to YOLO....it was now.
We basically went off the grid with our @airbnb (no reception + no WiFi) which was a huge blessing. We hung out and became like family instead of Netflixing all day long. There’s an absurd amount of inside jokes that just keep piling up. We laughed until we cried at a Chinese food restaurant (🦀🦀🦀) but most importantly...got to play a part in such a gorgeously intimate elopement. Johnathan and Tess spoiled the crap out of everyone who came to the wedding (all 10 of us) and continually showered us with tons of joy, love, and ridiculous amounts of fun.
I have so much more to say but I need to process everything that just happened. What freaking amazing adventure. And now...we wait for film to get developed 🙏🏻

I’ve never been a very good detail person. You can ask my mom, my wife, @jonnyhavens or @tristan.peace probably. They’ll tell you stories of how totally scatterbrained I am or how I didn’t pick up a French fry when it fell under a car seat which led to a heated discussion coming back from @_kaylakurtz_ and my honeymoon. Ask her about it.
But what I lack in detail I love to apply to the bigger picture. The fact of the matter is that on a wedding day, the details will make for cool photos and will help you remember you paid $7 for every candle at every table maybe. But it’s not about the details. It’s about the union between souls. It’s about a lifelong covenant of love, compassion, heated debates and growth with your best friend. This is a rare detail shot that I loved because of the Irish #doggos but...let’s not sweat the details, folks. Love your spouse and love the day for what it’s really meant for. ✌🏼👰🏼

Whitney and Tim Hughes // pt 3

Whitney and Tim Hughes // pt 2

Way back last October, I was taking pictures at @thechristopherh and @thehannahhughes wedding. Chris had all of his brothers as groomsmen and they were pretty fly. I liked them good enough.
A few months later, Chris mentions that his bro Timothy was planning on poppin the question to his girlfriend Whitney. Long story short, they done got engaged and done did reach out to me.
After a wonderful conversation over some coffee and breakfast, I got to know these two wonderful souls and hear more about their life stories. To hear about their hearts for ministry, to help the needy and broken, and to spend their lives together (which is hopefully a given when you're engaged, right?)...it was rad.
Fast forward again to today, June 23rd. Timo and Whit got hitched decently early in the AM at this quaint, adorable old church in Sanger with their closest friends and fam around. Oh and me, a mild stranger but still kinda familiar with me. I loved seeing the community of folks who have been surrounding them all this time. The fact that Tim's parents in law actively and privately welcomed him to the family. The happy tears Whitney's sister kept crying all day long (I see everything, dude). It was magical.
AND TO TOP IT OFF, Whitney told me she had always wanted to do photos in this ABANDONED. MANSION. Like, ok duh we're gonna go take photos there even though it's like 200 degrees out and we gotta walk with tons of bugs on us basically.
Today was a wonderful, laid back adventure. I am thankful for my new friends and I'm even more thankful that they now get to do life together as husband and wife.

Hey @_kaylakurtz_ thanks for giving me 2 beautiful reasons to celebrate today. #FromTheFilmArchives

I don’t know that I’ll ever find the words to describe today. While y’all were sleepin in the States, @chantelle_nelson and Austin were eloping on the Cliffs Of Moher here in Ireland. This is literally a dream come true. It’s one of these moments that even as you’re witnessing it, you need to keep pinching yourself to remember this is reality. Like, it was freaking unreal. I’m so thankful for @elopeireland (pretty sure that’s their social) and their help with all of the coordination, flowers, makeup and babysitting 🙏🏻 but I’m even more thankful for couples who aren’t afraid to just GO FOR IT. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to elope so why not take it? Plus Chantelle has been like a sister to me for the past 8 years and I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Morgan and cheers to Ireland! *takes giant swig Guinness* ⛰🍻

This morning, I got to wake up stupid early and stupid last minute with @lboule and @jack.beanstalk to go take some photos. It was one of them mornings where I woke up with zero clue about what the frick I was supposed to be doing. Like I woke up and was all “hurr durr it’s 6am what am I OH WAIT PHOTOS” *zips into shower and runs outta house*
It was one of them “quick and easy” shoots as per Jack’s request. So we grabbed Chick Fil A, I got to meet their dog Einstein, and we headed out. There were moments where nobody really knew what was going on but then moments like THESE. WHEN WE HAD A SPLASH WAR AND IT WAS AWESOME. I NEED MORE SPLASH WARS IN MY LIFE NOW OK COOL 🏖💦

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - I. Love. The. North. East. But I mainly love being out of my “element”. And today I was DEFINITELY out of my element.
Charlotte and Milton got married in a Jewish Temple surrounded by probably 300 of their friends and family members and I’m not gonna lie…it was nuts. Nothing kept on our timeline (which happens to a solid 94.7% of weddings I shoot) but nobody lost hope when the *insert poop emoji* hit the fan.
But it’s like I say - we’re not here for the details, we’re here for the union. And the union was something to behold. I haven’t been to a wedding with so much straight up ZEAL for the Lord and love for the couple before. There were a few moments where I started tearing up with how much emotion was flooding that temple. The Lord was glorified through their ceremony and I thin that’s exactly what Charlotte and Milton were after when they planned their wedding.
All I know is that the photos we got here at the rocks like 1.4 miles away from the temple were SO SICK and I was so hype all day long planning this part out. I’m so thankful for understanding guests who were patient through the whole day and a bridal party who were so insanely sweet to a photographer as weird as me.
Huge shout out to @tristan.peace Of @estoriaweddingfilms for being my go-to man for video, and @rampaige_k for going above and beyond the call of duty being my 2nd photographer today. But most importantly, thank you Milton and Charlotte for trusting us and for rolling with the punches! SO EXCITED FOR YOU GUYS AND CONGRATS!!!

I'll be super honest - today went nothing like I thought it would go.
For starters, what was a "small backyard wedding" turned into a "hey this is a GIANT house that I totally did NOT expect" coupled with "good Lord it's too hot out for an outdoor wedding". Thankfully, Makenzi and Aaron were such sweet sports with all the craziness around them. Being surrounded by amazing friends and family really rubs off on you in a good way :) So was it totally to the "book" and on schedule? For the most part, sure. But were there lots of belly laughs, adorable smiles, INCREDIBLE moments and a couple getting married? you bet your booty there was. Not only that but I'm pretty sure I've been unofficially adopted into the Roberts family after this is like...my 5th wedding for anyone in their family or friend group ;) But I'm so thrilled for Makenzi and Aaron. They have a slightly unconventional story but they have hearts of gold and minds on track. I've seen them love each other unconditionally and I know they're in it for the long haul. So stoked for you guys and thanks again for the top secret @chickfila that no one knew about 🙌🏻

**LINK IN BIO** Friends - I have a hankering in my soul to do more awesome traveling with amazing couples to capture incredible moments in 2019.
If you or your friends or coworkers are engaged/thinking about being engaged/whatever, tag them below so we can start talking NOW about the places we'll go and see and experience. If they drop your name, there's a sweet little gift card for *insert delicious restaurant here* waiting for you when they book.
Ready. Set. SHARE.

Today I got to spend a lot of time with @velcrokid and @averynelsonn as we dig more and more into the future of @themillsthouse. We met up with the amazing owners of @thetxstudio, got a tour of @thewaxspace, grabbed lunch with @justinclemons and met a ton of the folks over at @floccstudio. Had I been to these AMAZING places a year ago, I would’ve been overwhelmedly envious of what they’re doing. But more than anything, today reminded me about the importance of being ok to be vulnerable.
Over the next few weeks, I’m going to try and be just that: vulnerable. I mean, I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve but like REALLY show it. It’s so easy to glance over someone’s feed and feel like you know their life when in reality everything is falling apart (don’t worry though cuz the Kurtzes are fine!). But instead of trying to put my best foot forward, I’m gonna post more of what I love and share more of what I want to share. And I want to hear from y’all. This is a place to connect and not always be a bystander. So what are some things you’d want to hear more of? I want to hear about your lives too! Let’s use this thing the way it’s meant to be :)