Blog
Love stories and more
Look for my favorite wedding planning tips and tricks, behind the scenes tidbits about my life, and, of course, features of many of the beautiful couples who spend time in front of my camera.
I promise it’s worth your while.
Candid and Documentary Style Wedding Photography
Candid and documentary wedding photography are having a moment right now. Many couples want to look through their wedding gallery and feel like they’re reliving their day all over again through images that aren’t heavily posed. Instead, they want them portray the truth of each moment. And honestly? I’m totally here for it.
Should My Photographer Shoot on Dual Cards?
What does it mean for a photographer to shoot on dual cards?
You’ll see this included on just about every What questions should I ask my photographer? list out there: “Do you shoot on dual cards?”
Honestly, this may not make much sense to all the non-photographers out there. What in the heck does “dual cards” mean?
How to Store Your Wedding Photos
It's SO not glamorous. It's kind of annoying. And it's probably the last thing you want to think about, especially after you've gotten back from your honeymoon and are settling into married life.
But it's CRUCIAL that you take the time to properly store your wedding photos.
Your photos are one of the few things that you keep with you once your wedding day is over. You put so much of your heart and soul into planning a beautiful day that celebrated your love story; hold onto those feelings and memories forever by properly storing your images so they'll always be accessible. You might want to find a particular photo in three months or thirty years so do your future self a favor and take care of it now!
Guide to Getting Married in Door County
It’s MUCH more than just a popular summer vacation destination and, in my opinion, is just about one of the most unique and beautiful areas for a wedding here in the Midwest.
Whether you’re local or want to plan a Door County destination wedding, selecting your location and vendors can be a daunting process! To save you a boatload of time - and a heck of a lot of stress - I’ve compiled this guide to getting married in Door County!
How to Plan a Bridgerton-Inspired Wedding
If you’re like me, you are eagerly anticipating the release of season 3 (part 2) of Bridgerton on Netflix; not only because the classic friends-to-lovers trope is *chef’s kiss*, but also because it’s just so gosh darn beautiful to watch! The set, costumes, hair and makeup, music…every element has a rather posh and slightly extra vibe and I am LIVING for it.
Madi and Raven’s day at The Lowlands in St. Paul is a perfect example of how to infuse a little Regency era flair into your own wedding. Let the planning commence!
Late Night Wedding Photography
One of the challenging things about choosing a wedding photographer is deciding which wedding package makes the most sense for you. Every photographer offers something a little bit different, so it’s no surprise that it can be a confusing journey to figure out exactly what you’re looking for, especially if you aren’t sure how long you want them to stay into your dance for late night photos.
How to Plan the Perfect Sunset Photos
Have you ever noticed how golden, glowy sunset lighting is often used to set the scene in movies when those two characters that you just KNOW are supposed to be together finally realize it for themselves? They might be sitting in front of a window in a Paris cafe when it suddenly hits them, or perhaps they’ve realized they can’t bear to be apart any longer and are running to each other on the beach, but lighting in the film is an intentional choice to enhance the warm glow in your heart that they’ve finally realized they’re meant to be.
Does it Matter if Your Wedding Photographer Hasn’t Worked at Your Venue Before?
I’m going to share a controversial opinion:
It doesn’t matter if a wedding photographer has worked at your venue before or not.
It’s a question I see on many checklists of things you should ask when you’re hiring your wedding photographer, but it’s one that I don’t think is actually all that important. While there are certainly benefits to your wedding vendors having experience at the venue you’ve selected, there are also benefits to a photographer coming in with fresh eyes for the first time.
How to Look Good in Wedding Photos
By investing in quality wedding photography, you’re ensuring that the moments and memories from one of your most important days are documented and will stand the test of time. But it’s fair to say that if you want to display your favorite images on your walls and get out your wedding album when your grandkids ask you to tell them about the day you got married, you want to feel like you looked your absolute best in those pictures!
How can you make sure that happens? Well, I’m going to let you in on the secret.
Why Choosing the Right Venue Matters So Much
There’s a saying that we wedding photographers are QUITE familiar with, but I don’t know that it’s something that most couples hear while they’re wedding planning.
Your venue becomes your photos.
To some it may be obvious. But it’s honestly so easy to overlook (and I almost missed it while planning my own wedding!) that I want to make sure you put some thought into it, friend.
The First 4 Wedding Planning Decisions to Make
Wedding planning checklists can get craaazy long, so it’s no surprise that many of my couples tell me they feel overwhelmed even as they’re just starting the planning process!
It can be hard to know where to begin, so here are four of the big ones that I have found to be key to making my wedding clients feel like they’ve got a handle on things.
Your Wedding Shouldn’t Feel Like a Photo Shoot
There is a statement going around social media these days that I’d like to chat about. It’s pretty simple: “Your wedding shouldn’t feel like a photo shoot.”
And I agree. To a certain extent.
(You knew there had to be a catch if I’m writing about it, right?)
3 Wedding Traditions to Skip
We’re living in an incredible time. We’re finallllly seeing this incredible shift in the wedding industry that allows couples to THRIVE and create a wedding experience that truly reflects the day that they want to share…not one that was born out of the pressure to do everything in a certain way or to please the people around them. This is honestly the best time for you to be planning, because we’re all rooting for you and are ready to jump on board and support the uniqueness of your relationship - and therefore the uniqueness of your wedding!
What is Golden Hour?
Wedding planning often involves hours of research, countless decisions, and more than one moment which makes you go, “Wait. Am I supposed to know something about that?!”
As a wedding photographer, it can be all-too-easy to talk to my clients about their photography experience and forget that, while I am capturing special moments all year long, you’re not being photographed every weekend. It’s important for me to to remember that things I’m excited to share with you might not make much sense without a bit of extra context!
Planning Your Walk Down the Aisle
In my experience, if there’s something about weddings that lives up to the hype (well, okay, there are actually quite a few things that do, but this is a big one), it’s your walk down the aisle.
A truly magical moment that you’ll never forget.
It’s not a moment I realized I needed to plan anything special for when Kevin and I were making arrangements for our own wedding, but now I know better - and want to make sure you’re prepared too!
Choosing Where You Propose
To quote Billy Crystal in When Harry Met Sally, “…when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”
When you’re lucky enough to find your person and want to make your proposal extra special, here are four suggestions for choosing the perfect location.
How to Use Lanterns in Your Photos
There are two things to keep in mind if you want to use lanterns during your engagement session or on your wedding day:
Selecting Lanterns
Using Lanterns
Let’s dig in a little deeper…
What Your Wedding Photographer Needs to Know
As a wedding photographer, it’s my job to capture the moments - big and small - that make up your wedding day. No two weddings are the same and, while I do love the variety, there are a few things you can tell me ahead of time that will help me be prepared to make sure your wedding is documented exactly how you hope it will be.
Storing Your Wedding Photos
Gallery delivery day is the best day.
A little time has passed since your wedding and you’re able to sit down with your partner, pop a bottle of bubbly, and relive all the incredible moments that made up your big day…what’s not to love?
Wedding Cake Alternatives
Traditionally, weddings feature a cake that the couple cuts together before it is shared with the guests. But if cake isn’t your jam, there are plenty of other options to consider! Here are just a few of my favorites to get you started…