Texas Hill Country Wedding Photographer / Austin Documentary Wedding Photographer

Hello!

My name is Malia Spellman.

Currently documenting stories in the Midwest while booking select 2027 dates for the Texas Hill Country and Austin area!

I have a BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art + Design and a minor in Art Management. I’ve been shooting weddings for 10 years now! I love meeting new clients + working with them to create life long memories. My style is light and airy and I really love to capture movement. I specialize in candid images but enjoy the occasional formal portrait. Please reach out to me for inquiries, I’m available for all things love! Engagements, weddings, family, + boudoir sessions!

I’m a freelance photographer based in Milwaukee, WI!

video by Dallas Kilpatrick

I love being able to connect with the couple and create long lasting images for the them and their family. When it gets to the couple portraits, my favorite part of the day is reminding the bride and groom that the moment we are in is the most important moment. It’s the first moment that the bride and groom get to be together, alone, outside of the hustle and bustle of the chaotic day. This is where their love really shows through and I get to capture the magic!

+ I have a plant obsession.. I have over 50 in my home!

+ I have a sweet cat named Fern and a spicy cat named Frank.

+ I’m a slight coffee addict, my go to is a lavender latte or a dirty chai!

+ I love an adventure!

+ I love to travel! If you’re eloping be sure to ask me for my bucket list shooting locations, you might just get a discount!

+ And I love my job! It’s an honor to photograph someone’s special memories and make good friends along the way!

Some fun facts about me:

Samantha + Daniel

06.29.2024

A bouquet of white and blue flowers placed on the armrest of a pink upholstered chair.

An elderly man with gray hair and a beard, wearing a blue checkered shirt, sitting outdoors on a white chair, wiping his eyes with a tissue, surrounded by smiling people at what appears to be a joyful event.

A wedding dress hanging on a hanger in front of a large arched window with a scenic outdoor view, with two armchairs positioned on either side of the dress and overhead lighting.

A young man in a blue suit adjusting his tie outdoors, with a white boutonniere on his lapel, smiling and looking to the side.

“Malia is a gem! She captured our style perfectly, and we love the way our photos turned out. My now husband HATES photos, but she was so chill, gave us clear direction, yet let the natural moments happen. Despite much protest from the hubby, our photos turned out great. Literally my whole family commented “wow she was everywhere all night long!” I’m not sure how she captured so many wonderful shots, but she did! Truly, we feel so lucky to have found her - she made an exciting day filled with lots of nervous energy much calmer. 10/10 would recommend!

A couple dressed in wedding attire embracing outdoors during daytime, with lush greenery and trees in the background. The woman is smiling with her eyes closed, and the man is holding a bouquet of flowers.

Lexy + Coltton

05.20.2023

”I would 100% recommend Malia! She did our engagement photos and wedding photos. She was very attentive to details, not only with my husband and I, but with background detail. She listens to what your ideas are and brings them to life along with adding poses in that you will end up loving. She is very personable and is actually interested in learning about you as a person. She makes sure that you get all the photos you want on your wedding day and doesn’t leave until you do (and when she does leave, she actually says goodbye). I do not regret anything with Malia and so happy that we chose her to do our photos that we will look back at forever!”

A man in a U.S. Marine Corps dress uniform smiling at a woman in a white wedding dress. They are outdoors with sunlight and green foliage in the background, at a wedding ceremony.

A man in a U.S. Marine dress uniform standing outdoors with others, possibly at a formal event, with green trees in the background.

Two white cards with handwritten calligraphy reading 'his vows' and 'her vows', placed on a reflective surface, with a blurred background of hanging string lights.

A woman in a white wedding dress and veil holding a bouquet of flowers, standing outdoors on green grass with trees in the background.

Close-up of a bride wearing a wedding dress with lace floral embroidery, holding a bouquet of roses and other flowers, next to a groom in the U.S. Marine Corps dress uniform, outside during daytime.

A man in a military uniform and a woman in a wedding dress sharing a kiss outdoors during daytime.

A couple dancing closely, smiling at each other. The man wears a black uniform with red piping and patches, and the woman wears a white lace dress with jewelry. The woman's left hand is on the man's right shoulder, and she is wearing an engagement ring and a bracelet.

Black and white photo of a snowy outdoor scene viewed through a window with a wet and foggy glass, showing trees covered in snow and a playground in the background.

Let’s get in touch!

Connect!