Zoe and Owen: Ohio Christmas Themed wedding in Wayne County
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.
