Today we’d like to introduce you to Carody Franklin Captured By Carody.
Hi Carody Franklin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When my husband and I got engaged, I completely fell in love with the bridal world. From pinning dream dresses to experiencing the process myself, I was all in. Creativity has always been a big part of who I am, and I graduated from Morningside University with a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design, so being drawn to the visual beauty and storytelling within weddings felt very natural. I never expected that excitement to turn into something more, but working at a bridal shop showed me just how special this industry really is. Helping brides step into their dream dress wasn’t just about the gown. It was about the confidence, the emotion, and the moment everything finally felt real.
I stepped away from that role when my husband’s job took us to Sioux City, Iowa, but my love for weddings came with me. After our own wedding in October of 2024, I started working in social media for Haus of Ivory Bridal Co., and I will always be grateful to the owners for taking a chance on me. That experience helped me realize I had a real passion for capturing weddings and telling stories through the little moments that often go unnoticed.
Not long after, Captured by Carody began to grow. What started as a creative outlet quickly turned into a business I was pouring my heart into. By August of 2025, as we prepared to move back to Kansas City, I stepped away from filming for the shop and began focusing on growing Captured by Carody while continuing my full-time career.
Now I spend wedding days behind the scenes capturing the candid, in-between moments that make each celebration feel so personal and alive. It’s truly an honor to help couples relive the joy, emotion, and excitement of their day while they’re still in that just-married glow. That same love for storytelling has also led me to work with small businesses, helping them create content and build a social media presence that reflects who they are and what they do.
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?
Looking back on my first year in this business, I can confidently say the road has been meaningful, but not always smooth. I went into it thinking things might come together a little more easily, but the truth is that content creation is incredibly time-consuming and full of trial and error. It takes time to find your rhythm, refine your eye, and build a workflow that feels natural. The work I created when I started in March of 2025 looks completely different from what I create now, and that growth has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey.
Another reality of starting out is building your portfolio. In the beginning, that often means saying yes to free or lower-paid opportunities so you can gain experience, develop your style, and start making connections within the wedding industry. It is not always glamorous, but it is an important part of building something that lasts.
Balancing everything has also been a challenge at times. Alongside Captured by Carody, I work full-time and have begun helping businesses with their social media, so learning how to manage my time and protect my creative energy has been a big part of the process.
But even with the challenges, I truly love what I do. Being invited into someone’s wedding day is a gift and a responsibility I never take lightly. Every experience has helped shape me into the creator I am becoming, and I am incredibly grateful for the journey so far.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work primarily on my iPhone as a wedding day content creator, which has always felt like a natural fit for me. Coming from the bridal world and growing up during the rise of social media, storytelling through a small lens has always felt intuitive. While weddings are at the heart of my work, I also love supporting other vendors, small businesses, and meaningful life events. If something matters to someone, I want to help capture it in a way that feels true to them.
I’m drawn to the quiet in-between moments, like glances, fleeting details, and emotion that often goes unnoticed, because they are often what make a love story feel the most alive. I’m proud when couples and vendors tell me I blend seamlessly into their day, making everyone feel comfortable and present. Recently, a bridesmaid from a wedding I captured shared that “the ease and how welcome and comfortable you made the whole bridal party feel was amazing.” That kind of feedback is exactly why I love what I do.
Couples sometimes ask how my work fits alongside their photographer and videographer. My role isn’t to replace them, but to work alongside them, capturing short, candid clips and photos that often happen in between the bigger moments. While photographers and videographers capture the polished images and films you’ll treasure forever, I focus on the fleeting, emotional moments that unfold naturally, turning them into short, share-ready stories. Together, these elements create a fuller, well-rounded story of the day.
At the heart of it all, my work is about joy and love. I feel incredibly grateful that I get to capture both.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My husband deserves the biggest share of the credit. When we made the decision to move from Sioux City back to Kansas City, we had a lot of conversations about the future of my business. He believed in me long before I fully believed in myself and had complete faith that I would thrive once we made the move. There were many factors that went into that transition, but knowing he saw that potential in me gave me the confidence to take the leap and continue growing Captured by Carody.
I also owe so much to Haus of Ivory Bridal Co. I always knew I enjoyed social media, but they were the ones who took a chance on me. That opportunity helped shape my career in ways I never expected. They gave me the space to learn, experiment, and grow, and their trust played a huge role in helping me discover the path I’m on today.
My parents also deserve a lot of credit for the way they shaped how I see work and opportunity. My dad owned his own business for most of my life, so I grew up watching firsthand what it looks like to build something of your own through dedication and persistence. And my mom has always been the person encouraging me to go after what I want in life and trust myself along the way. Having that kind of support system has meant everything to me.
Pricing:
- Pricing can be found on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.capturedbycarody.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturedbycarody/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/capturedbycarody
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@capturedbycarody
