Hi, Im Kelly
I'm Kelly, the photographer behind Together & Unscripted. Based in Gainesville, Florida, I believe your wedding should feel like a wedding—not a photoshoot. My approach blends candid storytelling with thoughtful guidance, creating images that are both meaningful and beautiful. Here you'll find real weddings, planning resources, venue guides, and stories from behind the lens.
I Thought I Had My Life Planned Out
When I moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida, I thought I knew exactly what came next. I completed my undergraduate degree at 19 and began a master's program in healthcare administration.
On paper, everything looked like it was going according to plan.
But the truth was, I felt completely lost.
At 20 years old, I wasn't excited about the path I was on, and I wasn't sure what I wanted my life to look like. After my first year of graduate school, I made a decision that surprised a lot of people.
I left.
Gainesville has always been part of my story.
Long before I became a wedding photographer, it was the place where I studied, celebrated milestones, and eventually learned that sometimes the best decisions are the ones that completely change your plans.
From Gainesville to a Tiny Island in Australia
What followed was a journey that took me farther from Gainesville than I ever imagined.
I found myself living on a tiny island off the east coast of Australia. The island was only about a mile long and half a mile wide. There were no roads, no phone reception, and very little connection to the outside world.
I spent my days outdoors, learned how to scuba dive, and slowly started figuring out who I was outside of school, expectations, and plans.
During my six months on the island, I only left once. I took a seaplane back to the mainland before returning to what had become a tiny community in the middle of the ocean.
Eventually, I met a family who invited me to stay with them in Byron Bay for a week. I loved the area so much that I ended up staying in Australia for years.
The Best Memories Were Never Planned
During those years, I lived in hostels, worked weddings, catered events, bartended, served tables, and met people from all over the world.
When COVID hit and work became difficult to find, a manager I had worked for offered me a room in exchange for helping around the property. That simple act of generosity became one of the many reminders of how much people can impact our lives.
Looking back, my favorite memories weren't the big milestones.
They were the moments in between.
The nights someone pulled out a guitar and a group of strangers started singing.
The birthdays celebrated together.
The dinners that lasted long after the food was gone.
Gathering at the jetty when someone was leaving the island.
Kayaking out to snorkel with friends.
The conversations that stretched for hours.
The friendships I never expected to make.
None of those moments were planned.
And yet they're the memories I treasure most.
Photography Was Always There
Photography had been part of my life long before Australia.
As a student, I won first place nationally through the Technology Student Association for photography.
Even when it wasn't my career, it was always something I loved.
I carried a camera with me almost everywhere I went.
In Australia, I started photographing couples and documenting everyday life. What began as a creative outlet slowly became something much more meaningful.
Photography gave me a reason to slow down and pay attention.
More Places, More People, More Stories
After Australia, I returned home before moving to Utah. I'd never seen snow before and wanted to learn how to snowboard.
I spent more than two years exploring the mountains, meeting new people, and continuing to photograph the people and places around me.
Later, I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, wanting to experience life in a growing southeastern city.
It was there that everything finally came full circle.
After years of carrying a camera everywhere I went, I decided to pursue photography full-time.
Why I Named My Business Together & Unscripted
People often ask where the name Together & Unscripted came from.
The answer is simple.
Looking back, I realized something.
I always had a camera in my hand, but what I was really documenting wasn't the island.
It wasn't the scuba diving.
It wasn't the seaplanes.
It wasn't the places.
It was the people.
It was gathering at the jetty when someone was leaving.
It was celebrating birthdays together.
It was kayaking out to snorkel with friends.
It was strangers becoming family.
It was the conversations, the laughter, and the moments nobody planned.
Those are the memories that stayed with me.
That's where Together & Unscripted comes from.
Because the best moments in life are rarely scripted.
They're the moments that happen when we're fully present with the people around us.
It's also why I photograph weddings the way I do.
I want my couples to have beautiful photographs, of course. But I also believe your wedding should feel like a wedding, not a photoshoot.
The images that matter most years from now aren't just the portraits. They're the hugs, the laughter, the tears, the stories shared during speeches, and the moments you didn't even realize were happening at the time.
Those are the moments that become memories.
Coming Back to Gainesville
After years of living in Australia, Utah, and North Carolina, I eventually found my way back to Gainesville.
Today, I'm based in Gainesville, Florida, serving couples throughout Florida and beyond.
What makes being back here so special isn't just the location. It's being close to family again.
My brother, sister-in-law, and niece live across the street, and my parents and sister are all nearby.
After years of moving around the world, I've come to appreciate the people we share life with more than ever.
And that's exactly what I hope to give my couples.
Not just beautiful photographs, but honest reminders of what it felt like to be surrounded by the people they love.
Because at the end of the day, the best memories aren't the perfectly planned ones.
They're the ones we experience together.
About Together & Unscripted
Together & Unscripted is a Gainesville, Florida wedding photography inspired by the belief that the best memories are made when we're fully present with the people we love. Through a documentary approach and intentional guidance, I help couples preserve their wedding day as it felt, not just as it looked. Serving Gainesville, Florida, and wherever your story takes you.
