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!
building trust with your vendors
This year has brought to me MANY amazing experience working with my beloved clients. But, I want to highlight two of them, in particular, that stand out in my mind as absolute gems of the year.
when it comes to your wedding, you’re IN IT for a long time before your wedding day. If I remember anything, it’s that when the wedding day finally arrives, you finally feel like you can let out a big exhale + relax! This is a great thing, and a great feeling to get to have with the people you love the most. I believe I can help you get a little bit of the exhale started weeks, maybe months, before your wedding day with this little bit of how to.
I’ve never been a big social media guy. I think that it’s just a glimpse, and I don’t have my phone out for reel-ing or BTS because what’s more important to me is being present with you. BUUUUUT. (ooof, did you expect that!?) this year I’ve found that the people who are the first likes on my insta…their weddings were extraordinary experiences for me, and for them.
What does it mean?! It means that what you can do to help build your own confidence in how smoothly your day will go is follow along on some level: Facebook, Instagram, Blogging, email, text…with the vendors you’ve chosen. Be invested in them. See the work that they do on a consistent basis leading up to your wedding…and then be confident in your choice to have them be a part of your day. Trust yourself to know you did your job + made a wise choice. Do not micromanage ;) Be the couple getting married, and fully immerse yourself in your wedding, while you let the things around you unfold beautifully!
does this resonate with you!? are you in your planning process? get in touch today, I’d love to serve you!
Jorgensen Farms, The Gardens, Engagement session
engagement session taken at Jorgensen Farms The Garden Venue in harvest season. Flower fields and a beautiful couple walk barefoot around the farm for photos
It’s such a fun time getting to know couples during an engagement session. Truth be told it’s as much a get to know you session as it is make photos for an engagement session. I love the slower pace of meandering around, with the couple trusting me to catch pretty locations to stop and make some images that will serve to show this time in their lives. Talking about the wedding, but mostly just learning about their lives, love, and of course PETS. Enjoy a few from Gina + Ryan’s engagement session at Jorgensen Farms Garden venue. A year from today they’ll get married at Oak Grove!
things I'm digging
wedding and engagement images from Jessica Love Photography in Columbus Ohio at Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove. Featuring photography on film and digital shot on Canon R6 and Portrait 400 35mm film
AKA it’s summer and how do I have the brain space to share much more than bits and dabbles in all the stuff in front of my eyeballs!
In the realm of self-portrait photography, there exists a captivating allure in the juxtaposition of a woman and a flower crown, captured on the timeless medium of film. Each frame tells a story of self-discovery, as the woman embraces her own beauty and strength while adorned with delicate blossoms. Through the lens, her introspection is illuminated, petals whispering secrets of confidence and femininity. The soft hues of the film lend an ethereal quality, enhancing the dreamlike atmosphere of the image. With each click of the shutter, these self-portraits become a visual testament to the power of self-love and the magic of embracing one's authentic self.
WOW you guys - are we living in an alternate reality? That last paragraph was generated Ai on this blog, with the prompts: self portrait of woman with flower crown on film. So there you have it. But to actually explain, I think self portraits on film are a bit tricky, and overwhelming for me, but figured I’d like to have some to show of my peonies this spring.
weddings. SO many good weddings + shoots. And not like the typical it’s a wedding it’s going to be gorgeous type of things. Like, during the getting ready time, and the bride’s younger sister not wanting to get her hair done by a hairstylist…so the bridesmaids jumped in and made her feel SO comfortable…Like a groom’s grandmother shaking her cane while sitting at her table to dance….like a couple seeing their engagement photos and proclaiming how excited they are - now - for their wedding photos because they were SURE they were too awkward for photos to look good (LOL).
always rainbow over everything!
images shot on digital + film developed by Midwest Photo Exchange. Thanks for being here!
summertime (+ the livin's easy)
wedding planning advice for how to schedule your summer wedding portraits. Spoiler: if it’s too hot, do them in smaller time frames so nobody melts
The absolute DELIGHT of summer weddings is that you can basically get away with doing photos in short bursts anywhere until about 9pm. Is there anything better than that? Long summer nights make me happy unlike anything else in the world. Not even as a wedding photographer, but as a whole entire human :)
so what, right? WELL! Whenever I get to talking with a couple about their day, we’re, of course, going through the timeline. The hill I’ll die on includes: Make sure you ENJOY your wedding day and don’t just schedule everything around the photos, kay? I say this with the caveat that: your wedding needs to be a summer wedding ;) I know I know, FALL THOUGH! But hear me out.
The freedom that comes with a summer wedding means you can schedule your photo time in a way without getting overwhelmed. If you’d like to do a first look, do that (those photos? they’re the best because you require about ZERO PROMPTING).
What’s great about first looks, and, well, me is that I won’t make you do anything that doesn’t feel right. I can pretty much guarantee my prep will sound like, “ok, you’re in line together, now….take it as it feels right. Do it your way.” There is way too much pressure in how we live now + all the wedding images our eyes consume to be perfect. Guess what? You’re going to see each other, it’s gonna be perfect.
So once that’s done! You get to spend the day with your partner! Such a relief, wow! What I do next is assess the day. Is it hot? How are you feeling? ready to knock out some portraits of one side of the bridal party? Need a drink? SO MANY OPTIONS BECAUSE, you guessed it (!), SO MUCH LIGHT LEFT IN THE DAY!
When it comes to couples portraits, here’s a controversial take: there’s enough time in the day that everything you choose to do is actually your choice. I’ve seen photographers insist on golden light photos…but guess what? I’ll never make you do anything. Don’t want to rush out after dinner? Cool, we’ve gotten enough during the day! (but here’s some goodness that you just have to see!)
what do you think? Is it relieving to get to make your own choices in this digital world of doing all the things we live in!? If you’re here for winter wedding advice, I’ll get ya on that soon, too!
how to enjoy your wedding day
steps to enjoying your wedding day as the couple getting married. Advice from a natural light, photojournalistic photographer in Columbus Ohio.
THE best advice I can give a couple when it comes to wedding planning is:
choose vendors that you trust, and don’t have to micromanage
and to always remember, the number one goal of your wedding shouldn’t be anything but HAVE THE BEST DAY POSSIBLE. When it comes to my job, as your photographer, I know what I’m doing, and I can guarantee that the photos you love the most won’t be all the hours of scouring Pinterest for “perfect wedding photos” or “boho themed wedding photos” …. it’ll be the candids of your most loved people experiencing all the joy you spent months planning for them. So when it comes to you? YOU do the same thing as them. Trust me, I got you!
