for a couple that prioritizes candids
advice for couples who don’t want to take a lot of time away from wedding day activities to do posed photographs
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.
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!
a post of favorites - film favorites Part 1 of ?
columbus ohio film photographer shares best images of 2022 shot on film: portra400, portra 800, cinestill.
I shared on my Insta how I had over 300 favorite of film photos, and like, who even would want to look at that many images PLUS most of them are my family (I’m biased, but those are my best work!) PLUS why would I make them into a reel. I’m nobody to just do something because the social media world says I have to! SO here’s part 1 of ??? to share my favorite, but not oversized heavy on images favorites of the year.
each roll (ish) I try to take a nice portrait of most kids, because they’ll still let me!
so that batch was within the January - August…what happened in august. Well. We have had the same photographer shoot our family photos since 2016 - because I’m a big enough believer in practicing what I preach: we go the extra mile + do whatever it takes to get Yan Palmer to our house when she travels. If you don’t know Yan, you should. She is a force. She’s part photographer part family therapist part magic! Once that session happened, I had a new found, re-woken NEED to shoot all the beauty and find all the light. Part 2 will come soon with the photos living on the coattails of Yan’s inspiration!
a tale of two seasons!
comparing sunset photos of an early Fall and late Spring sunset at north 4th corridor’s Revery venue for a Columbus, Ohio wedding
This will go down as the shortest blog post of all time, maybe. I’m chatty so I’m sure I’ll say more than I planned.
I spent a late spring night at one of my favorite places in this city: North 4th Corridor’s Revery venue…and then just recently spent an early fall night there, too. Well, leave it to me to be absolutely mesmerized by the change - but similarities - in the absolutely magnificent sunset we witnessed both days.
an almost summer sunset:
an early fall sunset:
Now here we go on my education and absolute promise to do YOU on your wedding day. On Saturday, my dudes were NOT feeling going out for yet another photo session. If you were in Columbus this past Saturday - you’ll remember the absolute glow of the sunset….and think I was crazy not to make them get out there. But do you know what I did? I showed them a photo of Dad giving a speech, and I said, THIS is the moment. This - your most loved people - gathered in this brilliant buttery light while you enjoy your wedding meal together. THIS is your wedding day memory you want to relive!! And that was that.
if you’re here and searching for a photographer for your event, I hope you’re getting all my signals that your wedding day is your day. I’ll be with you each step of the way, helping when I’m needed, but following your lead and giving you the best experience AND photos!
Favorite Friday!
favorite wedding venues in and around greater Columbus, Ohio
IS THIS A THING!! Can I share some knowledge with ya!? We’ll go through as many favorites of favorites I can think of until it’s either 1. garden season or 2. wedding season! Ready for a bold start!? Favorite…….wedding venue in Columbus! Let’s go with a top 5!
5
STRONGWATER
Strongwater Columbus can start this list off strong. It’s basically a blank slate that a couple can do up as much, or as simple, as their vision allows. It’s easy to access - and the space allows for a variety of set ups on a wedding day. With both indoor and outdoor space, you’re set for any weather… and I’ve seen lots of it! THE rainiest wedding I think I’ve ever experienced…and I promise, while you might worry about rain on your wedding day, it always brings a level of emotion for your guests! AND, LET’S NOT EVEN GET STARTED ON THE SPOTS TO FIND FOR PORTRAITS HERE!!
You know you live in Ohio when….almost all of your favorite venues are because they are “safe for many kinds of weather.” And, while this is true for this venue, too, it’s hardly hard to see why there are a bajillion other reasons to love it!
This venue. Let’s just talk about how wonderful it is that Milo’s Catering went ahead and brought it back to life after what we’ve all been through since 2020. It’s simply stunning. And, a wonderful way to celebrate Columbus.
It’s wonderful in all the seasons…and Lord knows you can’t count on anything anymore when it comes to consistency in wedding weather!
**addendum**
I’m sorry, this list is incomplete without pointing out that….BY FAR AND AWAY, my absolute favorite place to shoot is on anyone’s private property. Anyone I’ve worked with, or even written back to an inquiry about a private property wedding knows this. There is something so so special about taking a space, meaningful to YOU, and transforming it to a place to welcome your most loved family + friends, and start your married life together.
Jena + Cody | Married!
the thing about spring weddings is that they bring so much joy + excitement in a world that - in my world, anyways - is just starting to wake up from a long dark winter. The thing about spring weddings - DURING A PANDEMIC - is that the the joy is just the best thing ever. Enjoy a look into Jena + Cody’s wedding day!
