Monday faves

It's no secret that when I’m not working, I love not working, and absolutely enjoy my time away…but also that when I AM working, I love it and am so grateful for all that I get to see and capture! Here’s a quick update, because we’re finding ourselves in the “working phase” of my duality ;)

and, finally, an Easter wedding at Oak Grove Jorgensen’s amazing greenhouse venue!

APRIL - WE ALL NEED SOME COLOR

We’re almost to color and blooms. I always marvel at the spring - the world wakes up just as we, in the northern hemisphere, are desperately in need of hope. As I plant my fall bulbs, I always think of the beauty of hope. We plant at the beginning of the dark, the cold and phasing down of nature….knowing that spring will come. And we’re right on the brink - can’t wait to share my blooms with the world.

collecting film favorites from 2024

It’s always one of my favorite things to do in the slower season: Looking back through the year and resharing with fresh eyes + memories about all I got to witness in the previous year. I just really love this job. It’s never lost on me all that I get to be a part of with people who start out as strangers and become buds. Technically I like to slow down, look through all the images that didn’t catch my eye the first time, and figure out how I might be able to crop or adapt them to fit a need I didn’t know I missed. Enjoy some of my favorites, shot on my Canon 1V or Hassleblad medium format camera.

I find that film is something that lots of couples are curious about - is this you? I’d love to chat you through what a wedding day on film (and digital) would look like for you. Wedding day or family session, I love those, too! I have a few more dates I’d love LOVE to fill up this year - let’s chat today if you think that sounds good!

winter weddings and first looks

a match made in heaven.

In my experience with weddings, August goes quickly into September that leads to early sunsets right into October where we’re trying to fit everything in before 6pm. And, every year it hits me like - how did I forget how early it gets dark “all of a sudden.” Every year, I’m absolutely thrilled with my ability to work with my couples to make the most out of our time together AND their wedding day experience by - YES - “getting the photos done before the ceremony”…but more importantly (!) extending the amount of time they spend together, and lowering the amount of stress that comes with fighting Mother Nature and Sunset!!

So while, of course, I won’t FORCE you to do a first look, but I will highly encourage it. I’ll ask you to talk to people you know who’ve been married recently and ask them what they did + what their opinion is about timing.

When I have a couple who does want to do a first look, we’ll usually work the timeline to do that about 2 hours before ceremony time, as long as there isn’t a lot of travel time involved. Of course this is variable to each couple, but generally if I have 2 hours + an agreeable crowd (and if they’re unagreeable, that’s my job to work with them!!) we can get through the meat of the photos then! And, voila! you’re done with photos once you’re refreshed and ready to walk down the aisle. Free for the night to enjoy + mingle + have zero stress about when you’re going to have time to sneak away!

for a couple that prioritizes candids

TLDR / spoiler alert: candids still take thought and time to make a part of your wedding day. Read on to see why we’ll be a good fit if you find yourself saying, “I just don’t want to spend HOURS on my wedding day doing photos".

I totally get it. Maybe you think you’re awkward (you’re probably not as bad as you think, we’re all awkward when a camera is in our faces!), maybe you just want to be unbothered by having to go take photos when you’d rather be with the entire group. I promise, there’s a compromise in the middle that’ll satisfy all of us!

The first step in making this a reality for your wedding day is being sure to communicate it to me. I have the best job. I get to people watch, intently, looking for moments that are meaningful to photograph. What an honor. BUT! When I have a couple who has told me that their priority is to be present, to be surrounded by people they love, it’s EXTRA that I have to look for those moments in which genuine interactions are happening. Additionally, my advice to you will look like:

• stay with your partner - the more you’re together, the more photos you’ll have of the two of you experiencing that joy + love on your wedding day

• be ready for some light prompting by me - if you are being congratulated by important people directly after a ceremony, it might be me saying, “hey over here!” to get a quick smiling photograph with that person. YES! hugs matter, but also seeing a face of a grandparent on your wedding day will always be a photo you cherish, I promise.

• when you’re ready for a break (you will be ready for a break!), let’s take a quick escape with your partner + make some magic hour photographs! This can take as little as 10 minutes, and will give amazing results! Plus, I can almost guarantee you’ll enjoy that little breather together.

Authentic Family Photography

Just bopping in here to remind you: I primarily shoot weddings, but my heart + eyes are trained to capture your family moments in ways that are as authentic + beautiful as they can be. I’d love to get you in front of my camera this fall.

This’ll be the first year I won’t shoot any “mini session” day - but I will make time to get your family on my schedule in a way that works for both of us!