Let’s Begin.

Welcome to your wedding day! I like to arrive when hair & makeup are almost done and be a fly on the wall at this point, not overly directing and taking candid shots of you and your people. If both sides of the couple are getting ready in the same location I’ll bounce between you.

TIP: I always suggest planning an activity the morning of your wedding that makes you feel like YOU. Something that will set the vibe for the day. For me this was a yoga class with my friends before we got ready.

The details.

I’ll ask you to have the special things you’ve bought for the day handy when I arrive. This includes all the little touches that you spent time thinking about. I try really hard to make these detail shots unique to your personality and to avoid these feeling like stock images.

FUN FACT: If you want to submit your wedding to a blog, they want these kind of photos. Ideas to include: your outfit, accessories, florals, letters to each other, vows, printed invites or family mementos like your grandma’s broach.

Getting Ready.

Time to put on your best looks and do this thing. Take things slow and stretch the moments. Know in advance who you want in the room - a family member, your wedding party etc. Sometimes couples write each other letters to read at this time too which can be real emotional. I am a little more directive here to make sure you’re in the best light and I’ll take some portraits of you too when you’re all set.

TIP: Get ready in a room that has the best natural light possible. I turn off all the indoor lights and like to work with as much natural light as possible.

Portraits.

Portraits are my jam. I love to take them throughout your day. I’ll take a bunch when you’re first dressed and then a few more during couple photo time.

First Look.

For your first look photography I will scout a location that will work well and help bring you together for this electric moment. If you want to wait to see each other until the ceremony, I totally get that too!

WHY HAVE A FIRST LOOK? First looks are a great way to be efficient with your time and energy. You can go right into your group photos or couple portraits, then onto the ceremony and then cocktails without stopping. Plus, depending on your guest list, it’s one of the only times you’ll be alone together.

Ceremony.

During your ceremony I try to take as many candid shots as possible of your guests and of both partners without getting in the way of the action. I find this part of the day really shines when we have a second shooter because then you get multiple perspectives of the same moment.

Couple Portraits.

I love portraits and I hate cheesy poses. I set the stage so you can interact and just be in love. We take about 30-45 minutes for portraits earlier in the day and then I like to pull you back out for a few more right when the light is perfect at magic hour, about 15 minutes before sunset. I give prompts, but I find happy people in love don’t need too much direction.

TIP: The most important thing for portraits is light. Let’s schedule this part of the day together so we don’t put portrait time when the light is unflattering.

Group Photos.

This is the point of the day where I direct the most. It’s the part of the day that needs the most wrangling. Ahead of time I get you to fill out a list of all the groupings we want to capture and then I go into camp counsellor mode, calling out names and arranging people into place. I try to keep this to no more than 30-60 minutes because it can be really hard to hold a smile for that long!

SIDE NOTE: Formal group photos don’t have to be…formal. If the idea of standing and smiling for a bunch of posed photos isn’t for you then we can do something different. Also tell anyone needed for group photos that they need to be present and assign a wedding party member to help wrangle them!

Cocktails & Candids.

Cocktail hour is usually where things start to relax and here I take a combination of candid, group shots and details shots. If we are off taking family photos during cocktail hour I like to have a second shooter handy who can capture the shenanigans at cocktail hour so you still get to experience this part of the day.

Reception, Traditions & Details.

I’ve shot receptions in a castle and receptions in a campground, both with the same approach. You chose what traditions to embrace and don’t think twice about the ones that make you feel awkward.

Party. Party. Party.

When the music starts I can’t help but move, snapping away as the beat drops. I like to shoot until things start to get messy and I always use discretion in what photos I share of this time because not everyone wants to remember every tequila shot or shirtless breakdance. At a certain point I’ll check in with you and sign off for the night!