Looking for a wedding photographer? I might be the one for you if...

Selecting vendors is one of the hardest parts of wedding planning. There are so many options out there! It doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a florist, baker, or photographer, you’re going to find a lot of choices. While at first glance, it may look like everyone offers the same services, upon closer inspection you’ll begin to notice a lot of differences. While budget can be a factor in your decision making, and aesthetics may be another, it shouldn’t be the only thing that helps you finalize your choice. When it comes to photography specifically, you’re going to be spending your entire wedding day with this person (where you go, they will follow). Photography is also one of the only things that leaves you with a tangible good that isn’t just purely physical….its emotional and captures your memories of the day so that you won’t ever forget those big and little moments that made it special. Picking your photographer will be one of the biggest decisions you make, and I’m not just saying that because I am one. After talking with many married women over the years, the one thing I think I hear all too frequently is how they wish had a different photographer, or had “budgeted for a better one.”

So, I might be the photographer for you, if….

• You want a stress free day. Not only do people continually tell me I’m a calming presence, I’m also super experienced when it comes to wedding day timelines. I work with all of my couples prior to their big day to help them figure out a schedule that is going to work. Do little things still go wrong, do people still run late? Of course! But I’m skilled at getting you back on track. I also have an assistant that is there to not only lend me a helping hand, but you as well. We are more than happy to help you however we can to make sure things go smoothly. We (usually) can help you bustle or button a dress, find that missing shoe, track down Uncle Bob who likes to disappear for family photos, or make up a half hour of time that somehow mysteriously went “missing”.

• You like true to life photos. Not only does my color lean toward more true to life than “light and airy” or “dark and moody”, but my captures do as well. I believe in letting moments unfold naturally and capturing the real moments of the day, not staged ones.

• You don’t just like a “say cheese” experience. While yes, we will capture what I affectionately call the “Mom Shots”, aka looking at the camera and smiling, I also will give you prompts to engage you in nature interactions and moments to get the more candid feeling, genuine expressions.

• You want someone to be as invested in your day as you are. Oftentimes I end up becoming friends with my brides because we work so closely to make the biggest day of their life the best day. Nobody else at your wedding wants everything to be as perfect as you, except for maybe me. And I don’t say that lightly, I truly mean it.

• You don’t want a photographer in your face all day. I get it, you like your personal space, and so do I. Officiants love me and often call me a “photo ninja” because they don’t know how I get the shots I do when they never even see me. I like to blend into the crowd and “work the outer edges” so that people aren’t always just smiling for the camera, as this allows me to capture all those great candids that nobody saw me get. I oftentimes have guests come up to me during the wedding and say, “oh you should go get that shot over there,” and I smile when I get to reply, “I already did.” I feel like one of the things that makes me good at what I do is because you don’t notice me, unless I want you to. I can command attention when I need to, like formal portrait time, but otherwise I promise, you won’t know I’m there.

• You want great photos, but you also don’t want to spend your wedding day feeling like that is all you did. I know a lot of couples, and families, dread formal photo time. I promise you, I’m quick and it will be painless. The one compliment I always get from everyone, is how they appreciate how quickly family formals go. “Most efficient photographer I’ve seen,” often are the words people use to describe me.

• You prefer a more laid back affair. I have shot weddings from 650 guests to just 4 being present, but it isn’t just about size. If becoming Mr. and Mrs. is the most important thing to you, and you’re not going to sweat the little stuff, and you just want everyone to have a good time, then that’s the style of wedding I like to be a part of. More often than not, my weddings are at a more casual, country venue or “small town” atmosphere - I rarely shoot weddings in downtown large city venues.

If this sounds like we are a match, message me and we can chat about your wedding day. I look forward to talking with you.

Dates available are limited each year - when you hire me, you get me, not an associate photographer, so I only 1-2 weddings per weekend and a max of 4 weddings per month.

How to Make Your Wedding More Photogenic

No matter what your budget or venue, you can always make your wedding more photogenic by getting a little creative with the space you have to work with. Here are simple tips to help make the most out of what you have to work with…..

Tidy up. This is the most important tip I can give. Especially when it comes to the getting ready area, simply keeping the space organized and clean makes a huge difference. Designate a corner or specific area for bags to be stored and keep the rest of the space free of garments, empty cups, trash, etc. If something is particularly distracting or unsightly and can be removed and then put back, do it. Again, getting ready spaces are the worst for this. If there is a large poster on the wall that can come down, take it down and put it in the designated corner. Just be sure to put everything back where it came from. Start your day by going through and removing anything you don’t want to be seen in your photos. Look out for trashcans and if they can be moved to a corner or somewhere less prominent, move them.

Consider the space you have and work with it, not against it. You may love mustard and gray for your color scheme, but when the carpet at your venue is red, it isn’t going to do anything for creating a photogenic environment. Consider the colors that are already present in the space when choosing your color scheme. If you’re getting married outside, be sure to pick florals without an abundance of green - the green will just fade into the greens of the background and get lost. Sometimes letting the natural landscape be the main focus is best outside, while indoor spaces benefit from larger florals to create a more lush environment.

Choose your time wisely. Especially if you have a venue without any shade, this one is very important. Lighting makes or breaks a photo. The closer to noon you take photos outside, the more harsh the light will be (it softens as the day goes on). If you can set a schedule that allows you to take photos later in the afternoon or evening, your photographer will appreciate it (and you won’t sweat in the summer heat, either!) Work with your photographer to set a schedule that will allow for formal photos to be taken at the best time of day. When it comes to picking a ceremony site, or where to put the head table, lighting is also important. You never want a window directly behind a main photo op spot - harsh backlighting is extremely difficult to work with. Avoid putting the head table or cake cutting area in front of a window. If you get married outside, pick a spot where the sunlight will be behind the officiant to help soften shadows if you can’t find a shady spot (also avoid areas with spotty light cast from trees. Stand under the tree in full sun and see if you get sunspots hitting your skin).

Add string lights or candles. A great way to liven up a space and give it depth without breaking the bank is by adding lights. It softens the atmosphere and creates a more appealing space.

Be in the moment. Don’t spend your day worried about where the photographer is and smiling at them. Your natural reactions and emotions showing through will be your guaranteed favorite shots. During the ceremony, it is understandable to be nervous, but try to remember to stand closely together and not feet apart. Also, look at each other, not the officiant! If you’re looking at each other, that means the photographer can see your face and capture your expressions, and not just the back of your head.

Don’t skip on the fitting. If your straps are too long, your waist too big, bust too tight - it all shows. A properly fitted dress makes a huge difference in being happy with your own appearance. This is one thing to not skip out on to budget money elsewhere.

Its all in the details. An interesting space is always more photogenic than a basic one. Even on a budget, you can add simple touches to make a space more interesting, and therefore more photogenic. Add a table with your parents/grandparents wedding photos or photos of the two of you throughout your relationship - this is cheap to do and guests will love it. Buy tulle, lace, or other textured fabric and use it to create draping (it may even be a good way to cover up something you don’t particularly like or want in your backgrounds). Bring in things from your home and use them to decorate - sometimes adding little personal touches about who you are as a couple work just as well as decor purchased specifically to decorate for the wedding. Buy/sell sites can also be a great place to pick up decor at a big discount if you’re on a budget.

10 Biggest Mistakes I See When Preparing for Your Wedding Day

Hard to believe it, but this year marks 15 years I have been a wedding photographer. After over a decade working in the industry, I’ve seen and heard a lot. And if I haven’t experienced it firsthand, I have definitely heard about it from another wedding professional. I have so many stories I could share, but maybe we will save that for a different day. As a whole, wedding vendors have a lot of knowledge to offer to brides and grooms, who may not be so well versed in all things wedding related. That leads me straight to the first and biggest mistake I see….

1. YOU DON’T UTILIZE THE KNOWLEDGE OF VENDORS. You hire a team of professionals to be a part of your Big Day - a coordinator, florist, baker, dj, photographer, etc. The wedding industry is competitive, and many individuals offer the same services, but you hand selected YOUR TEAM because you loved what they offer and you trust them. Yet time and time again, I see brides who choose to not listen to their team after they ask for advice, or maybe they don’t even ask for advice at all. I get it, you know what you like and want. As wedding professionals, we WANT to make your dreams come true and it is our job to do so, but understand there are limitations and trust the professional when they tell you that. If your florist tells you a certain flower is not going to hold up in your bouquet, trust them, or you’ll end up with a brown bouquet of suppose to be white flowers. If your baker tells you the six tier buttercream frosted cake isn’t going to hold up in a 90 degree barn venue, trust him. If your photographer says pictures are going to take an hour but you only want to set aside 15 minutes, trust her, she knows how long it takes for her to capture what you’re asking for. It isn’t because they don’t want to help make your vision come to life, it is because they know you’re setting yourself up for failure and want to offer you a solution that will make your day go flawlessly instead. Trust the professionals.

   2. YOU DON’T CONSIDER YOUR GUESTS’ NEEDS. I’ve had guests sit for an hour in full sun and 90 degrees temps without water at a ceremony site waiting for a late bride to arrive. I’ve seen guests who all travelled from out of state get fed nothing but a side salad for dinner. I’ve seen guests stand at an outdoor winter ceremony while snow came down around them and the temp barely topped 20 degrees. In fact, I’ve seen quite a few inconsiderate things over the years and could make quite a long list probably. That is how this ends up as #2. Put your guests first and don’t ask something of them you wouldn’t want to do yourself. And please, consider your vendors as well. From a photographer’s point of view, we often get overlooked at dinner - it isn’t that the couple wants us to be hungry or not have a place to sit, it is that it never even crossed their mind to provide vendors with a seat or dinner. By the time dinner rolls around, I’ve usually been on my feet 4-6 hours, and a break and place to sit is just what I need. Take care of those who showed up because they love you or have dedicated their time to your day. Which also leads into #3…..

   3. YOU DON’T COMMUNICATE A SCHEDULE TO THE GUESTS. I often get asked how long photos will take after the ceremony and when the reception should start. The standard idea is that an hour is an acceptable amount of time and what most guests naturally expect. But I have a lot of couples with large gaps between the ceremony and reception because maybe the ceremony had to be early afternoon but they want a nighttime reception, or they have four places and “lots of pictures” they want to take and need extra time to do photos. Truth is, as long as you communicate an expectation to your guests and think of their needs, it doesn’t matter how long of a break there is. I’ll probably get some backlash for this opinion. But if you want a break for any reason, just make sure your guests know when to arrive at the reception by telling them on their invitation…it is that simple, really. If they know there is a break, they expect it, and they will plan accordingly. If you want to, provide them with a list of attractions to visit nearby, snacks or heavy appetizers, etc. If you don’t want angry guests, or an angry reception manager (when people show up two hours early), make sure to communicate the plan to them and all will be forgiven.

   4. YOU DO TOO MUCH YOURSELF. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. I see a lot of DIY weddings these days - Pinterest inspires them, or budget restricts them, and they just take too much on. It is so tempting, I get it. But you don’t want to overwhelm yourself with last minute baking, crafting, etc. when you’ll already be super busy with last minute tasks and setup. When you decide to be your own florist, that means the morning of your wedding you will be assembling bouquets, and you really should be resting up for the long day ahead. You don’t want to be baking cakes for three weeks prior to the wedding, or putting together centerpieces the night before. Brides overestimate what they can accomplish without getting rundown emotionally and physically. And the last thing you want to be on your wedding day is rundown, because you’ll look it. If budget is an issue, be smart about what you cut down on and what you should hire someone to do. And also be careful to not ask too much of your friends. While they may want to help, they also don’t want to feel like an unpaid vendor.

   5. THERE IS NO SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY. I see so many brides who ignore #1 and don’t ask for help setting a schedule. Your photographer is around you ALL DAY LONG, so ask them for help if you do not have a coordinator or planner. They see it all and can guide you with schedule creation. You are better off overbudgeting on time, than under estimating. Many times the bride is scheduled last for hair/makeup and many times I see the bride (of all people!) get rushed because of this. And as a photographer, I can tell you the person that always has to make up time because of everyone being behind….is the photographer. If you don’t want your photos to be rushed, and you want to capture your day while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, set a relaxed schedule because you won’t have a hard time sticking to it. It will be worth the minimal extra money you spend to have vendors there for more hours of coverage over being rushed or not being able to do something you planned and will forever regret not getting to do, trust me.

   6. YOU LET OTHERS TELL YOU WHAT IS BEST . Nothing is worse than planning for months, only to hate everything on your wedding day. I can’t tell you how many times I hear, “I wish I hadn’t worn that necklace, I am more of a minimalistic person but my Maid of Honor talked me into it.” Or, “I didn’t like my lipstick. The makeup artist picked it out and I knew I didn’t like it, but I didn’t tell her.” Or worse yet, “I hate my photos. I knew I liked the other photographer better, but my Mom couldn’t see spending that much money. Now I hate the only memories we have captured.” I hear a lot of regrets, and it makes me truly sad. Brides get drug aboard the “Trendy Train” and regret this most - they plan a wedding that has nothing to do with who they are or what she and the groom like, but it was the popular “look” at the time to do. Do yourself a favor and advocate for yourself. If you feel strongly about something, don’t be afraid to say so. Nobody is going to label you a Bridezilla just because you have an opinion.

   7. YOU PRIORITIZE STYLE OVER COMFORT. This isn’t one just for the bride! I have even learned this one the hard way, so let me tell you a story….I use to always wear high heels. I’m talking 3-4”. And I did what I always do and wore them to the first wedding I shot. By the end of the night, by feet were bleeding and I could barely walk. They were so swollen I couldn’t even take off my shoes. Many brides wear heels and don’t even bring a back up pair to switch into. Let me tell you, rarely ever do you see a bride’s shoes once she puts them on (also, if you need to cut budget somewhere, remember this!) If you love to dance and plan on partying it up on the dance floor all night long, but you also like princess style dresses, remember how hard it is to dance in a ball gown or wear a gown that weighs an extra 20+ pounds all day long. Wedding days are long… fun, but long. Don’t forget that! Wear proper footwear, or bring a spare (guys, this is often a complaint I hear from the groom). And pick a dress appropriate for your venue and needs.

   8. YOU DON’T TRY YOUR DRESS ON ONE LAST TIME. I truly hate to have to bring this one up…but I have a lot of brides who get their dress many months prior to the wedding, and don’t try it back on. Or sometimes they are super focused on dieting, or stressed and eat the whole kitchen, and the inevitable happens. When you get your dress fitted, it doesn’t leave wiggle room…that is what a fitting is for. Which means you should pop it on one last time before your Big Day. Have someone make sure all the button and closures are there and well sewn on, look for missing pieces to your bustle (this one happens a lot), and just make sure it isn’t too big or too small (you need to be able to sit, and you shouldn’t have to rely on your photographer to provide you a nip/tuck PhotoShop operation). And if you didn’t plan on getting your dress altered because it is “close to perfect”, reconsider and make sure it is perfect. Another one of the biggest regrets I hear is from a bride not liking dress fit.

   9. YOU GET TOO DRUNK. This is another one I hate to have to bring up. But I’ve had weddings where the groom was too drunk to stand for the ceremony, or laughed through the vows. I’ve seen a groom kiss an ex girlfriend on the dancefloor. I’ve seen a bride throw up on her own dress. I’ve seen couple’s passed out side by side on the bathroom floor. I even once had a reception get shut down because the groom kept lighting cigarettes inside the venue and didn’t know what he was doing. You don’t want to not remember the biggest day of your life (so far) or get it cut short.

   10. YOU FORGET WHY YOU’RE THERE. Your wedding day isn’t about having everything go perfectly. It isn’t about having a magazine worthy venue setup, or the most beautiful centerpieces anyone has ever seen. It is about celebrating you and the person you love most in the world being united as one. The one piece of advice I offer every bride, especially if you know you are a perfectionist, is that , only you know what was planned. Not one guest knows what was “suppose to happen”. So don’t stress over the little things. Nobody will even know if something goes “wrong”, and sometimes the mishaps make for the most memorable moments anyway! Take time to take a deep breath and enjoy each other on your wedding day.