Through My Lens


Hi there! I’m Krista Scarlavai—mom of two amazing boys, wife, Star Wars nerd, board game enthusiast, antique collector, gardener, and hopelessly obsessed with photography. I live for all the little things that make life feel magical, and I want to capture that for you on your wedding day.


A photographer wearing a blue button-down shirt takes a mirror selfie with a professional camera.

Wedding Background


I started shooting weddings at 16, and photography has always been more than a hobby for me. I studied Studio Art and Art History at Indiana University with a concentration in photography, which taught me how to see through both a creative and analytical lens. I learned light, composition, storytelling, and the history of art that quietly informs every frame I capture. That education, paired with years of experience, shaped the foundation for work that feels timeless and full of feeling.


In 2009 I married the love of my life and we eloped among the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. Soon after, we moved to Chicago, where I spent 13 years photographing love stories across the city and growing into the photographer I am today. We’ve since moved back to Indianapolis, where I’m excited to explore weddings here and spend time gardening in my dahlia-filled courtyard, cultivating beauty both at home and behind the camera.

A black and white artistic portrait shows a close-up shot with bangs against a blurred outdoor background.

My Approach & Style


My love for photography started young, sitting with my great-grandmother as she pulled out boxes of old black-and-white photos and tintypes. We’d flip through them for hours, sharing stories and laughing at moments long gone. Those photographs weren’t just images. They were proof of love, family, and life actually being lived. That’s the feeling I want your wedding photos to carry too.


Cameras were always part of my world. My grandfather and dad were hobbyists, constantly shooting and tinkering, and I caught the bug early. When I was 11, I got my first point-and-shoot film camera and turned my neighborhood into my subject. Kids playing street hockey, backyard dancing, bikes racing down the street. I’d rush to the photo lab and wait for my prints like it was Christmas morning. That excitement of seeing real moments preserved is what shaped my documentary approach today.


I shoot weddings digitally, but film deeply influences how I see and edit. I gravitate toward images that feel classic, timeless, and slightly dreamy, like a memory instead of a moment frozen stiff. I’m not chasing perfection or staged moments. I’m watching for the way you look at each other when no one else is paying attention. The squeeze of a hand. The laugh that catches you off guard. The beautiful, messy, emotional pieces of the day that make it yours.


My goal is simple. I want you to look back at your photos years from now and feel something. Not just remember what your wedding looked like, but remember how it felt to be there, surrounded by the people you love, starting the next chapter together.

Black and white artistic portrait series showing close-up shots with dramatic lighting and contemplative expressions.

Life Beyond Weddings


When I’m not photographing weddings, my world revolves around my kids. They’re funny, thoughtful, endlessly curious, and they keep me grounded in what actually matters. Being their mom reminds me to slow down, notice the small moments, and stay present, which is something I carry with me on every wedding day.


In my quieter moments, you’ll usually find me shooting film or Polaroids. Film has a way of softening time. It’s imperfect, emotional, and a little unpredictable, which is exactly why I love it. While I don’t currently offer film for weddings, it continues to shape how I see moments and how I approach storytelling. Maybe one day it will make its way into my wedding work, but for now it’s a personal passion I treasure.


I’m also deeply at home in nature and always itching to explore somewhere new. Hiking trails, digging in the dirt, soaking up the sun, wandering unfamiliar cities, and tending to my little dahlia-filled courtyard all keep me connected to the world around me. That sense of curiosity and calm fuels my creativity. It helps me show up to your wedding grounded, observant, and ready to notice the beauty unfolding in real time.

Let’s Make Memories


When it comes to weddings, my goal is simple. I want you to experience your day fully, without stressing over a rigid photography schedule. I’m there to catch the real stuff, the laughter, the tears, the quiet looks that make your story yours. I chase light, lines, framing, and contrast, sure, but the real magic is in the feeling. Every hug, every glance, every happy, chaotic moment.


I love capturing love stories that feel authentic, emotional, and full of life. If my style resonates with you, I would be so honored to document your wedding day. Let’s make some timeless memories.


A photographer in a blue shirt takes a mirror selfie with a professional camera from three different angles.
A polaroid camera sits on a wooden surface with text reading "Polaroid Moments" in cursive handwriting.
A collection of vintage black and white photographs arranged in a horizontal row showing various scenes and moments.
A series of small thumbnail images showing a person posing against a bright yellow wall in different positions.
A collection of vintage polaroid-style photographs showing outdoor adventures and scenic mountain landscapes.
A collection of small thumbnail images arranged in a horizontal row showing various outdoor scenes and floral elements.
A person in dark clothing sits curled up against a terracotta-colored wall on a gray concrete floor.
A striped shirt and jeans next to vibrant pink tulips in a garden setting.
A young child in overalls stands next to a draft horse and vintage tractor in a wooded setting.
People enjoying a sunny day outdoors on a grassy hillside during what appears to be a community gathering.
A collection of black and white photographs showing a wooden ladder, daisies in bloom, and dreamy outdoor scenes.
Two people enjoying time together outdoors on a sunny day, captured in a vintage-style photograph.
Two children in casual clothing stand together in front of a tent while camping outdoors.
Person in blue jeans and black shoes performs a dynamic dance move against an orange wall background.
Vintage black and white photographs displayed against a textured wall.
Artistic portrait series showing red-haired figure in moody lighting with fur-trimmed garment.
A person in sunglasses and black top poses in front of a Ferris wheel on a sunny day in an urban park.
Vibrant peach-colored dahlia flowers with layered petals blooming in a garden against a soft blurred background.
A sequence of black and white photographs showing someone in casual attire posing in an arid desert landscape.
Abstract white feather floating against dark blue background creates ethereal artistic composition.
A person relaxes in a blue and white patterned lounge chair on a sunny patio.