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!
Sara + Cameron | engaged!
SARA + CAMERON
If I write a goal to blog oh, let’s say, 20 of the recent weddings I’ve shot in the past two years here, does that count as accountability? hello? anyone out there?
For many a long time I’ve treated this blog as a place to show photos, and stick to the photos. I kind of want to go back to talking more about all the things I want to share with you. About why. About me. So here we go! As we approach this change of seasons, I find myself lamenting as I do with every change of seasons. The months go by too quickly to quantify the change that happens, but looking back over a whole season feels much more complete. Back in May!? How was that such a flash, when the world was fresh and everything feeling new and anticipatory with what summer would bring? And now here we are, and instead of feeling the optimism that comes with spring, I find myself looking at fall like a placeholder for the dread of winter to come. dramatic much? SOOOO as the eternal optimist would do, I’m challenging myself to look at things with fresh eyes + see the beauty beyond being stuck on IT IS GOING TO BE SO COLD AND DARK FOR SO LONG.
One of those things, from my business standpoint, is engagement season! I LOOOOVE that so many people get engaged over the holidays and jump right into selecting a venue + date + reaching out to vendors. I love emails that chronicle, in our very first meeting, love stories, and wishes for wedding days, and just simple hellos and connections over the internet.
Here’s an engagement from one of my 2020 weddings - I can’t wait to celebrate with Sara + Cameron. Like, when you are so awesome on just a random weekday, your wedding is going to be filled with greatness! Shot mostly film, canon 1V
Marie + Derek | Married at Strongwater
I have ZERO good reason why this 2017 wedding has never seen the light of day besides a social media share here and there. I will say, it likely should’ve been picked up by some blog somewhere along the way buuuut, that’s just not why I do this job. Besides to highlight the kick ass job that Orchard Lane Flowers + the Bliss planning team did, I don’t need anyone else to give me accolades for doing a bomb job. …. it’s MY JOB to do that week in and week out, soooo. Here ya go! Love this couple, loved this day!
Venue: Strongwater Events
gown: Ivy Bridal Studio
planning: Bliss Wedding & Event Design
Hair: Shannon Goode
Liz + Michael | Married at Strongwater!
Love when I get a chance to shoot at venues that, on their own, inspire me. Liz + Michael were married in September (I know, seriously, blogging is clearly not on my priority list: if you're waiting to see your wedding on here, dear clients, someday...someday I will get all caught up!), on a day that started out HOT and gorgeous. As you'll see, that weather quickly changed (as in, Mike and I wondered if the people we were in the tent with, before the ceremony, would be a good group to stick together during a natural disaster! the winds! the rain!). They had planned to not do a first look, and as the clouds came rolling in, I realized I had the difficult job of questioning their original schedule, to make sure they didn't want a chance to get the urban portraits around Franklinton they did want - but wouldn't be available with the impending forecast. Why's this relevant? Because I see my job as so much more than just photographer. I saw it as my job to think ahead, and help with anything that they might regret. We had this window of opportunity to create the portraits they had imagined, but it meant going against what they thought they wanted. Ultimately, they stuck with their decision, and it's because they trusted me. They knew that, regardless of where we did the portraits, they'd get the experience and outcome they desired.
It all ended up perfect. A (hot) trek around the art space allowed us to get the bridal party photos. And, they braved the rain for a few awesome umbrella photos.
Enjoy a glimpse into their day!
(Floral design: Eco Flora , planning: Something Blue Designs , venue: Strongwater)
