I was overjoyed when Spencer + Kate reached out to me to photograph their wedding! I went to Photography school with Spencer and was so excited to see him again. These two were such a blast to work with. Their love is easy, gentle, passionate, and so much fun to be around. <3
We started their session at the beach and ended it up in the mountains!
I had such a blast photographing Dusty + Kiley. I went to school with Dusty at Brooks Institute and was so touched when he reached out to see if I could photograph their engagement pictures and wedding day.
These two absolutely killed it on their shoot. Their easy-going personalities and their love for one another made my job so easy.
“You must love in such a way that the person you love feels free.”
These two live out my favorite quote with their love.
Cheers, Dusty + Kiley! I can’t wait to photograph your Wedding day!
Most of us have dreamed, hoped, and waited for that moment where we would find the man or woman of our dreams. We can’t wait to be engaged to them and get our own “Happily Ever Afters.” In the midst of our dreaming, we may forget to think about all of the logistics, stress, and hustle that goes into planning a Wedding Day. A recent survey done by the wedding registry company, Zola, found that 22% of newlyweds wish they’d spend more on a photographer for their big day. After reading about this I was inspired to make a blog post that I thought would be helpful for newly engaged couples!
I’ve been shooting Weddings for the past three years and have some experience in hearing what people are looking for on their Wedding Days. A lot of couples that have reached out to me almost always share that they’re on a budget. I have student loans, bills, etc. I completely understand what being on a budget is like. However, there is a ton that Wedding Photographer’s get hired to do on your day! (Gear, finding an assistant, travel, editing for hours, etc.) The number one thing I would recommend to newly engaged couples is to make room in your budget for a decent Photographer. If I were honest, I would suggest putting aside $2,500-$4,500.00 to spend on a Photographer’s services. Many moments and investments from your Wedding Day will fade, but you’ll have your pictures forever.
The second thing I would recommend to couples is to find a Photographer who knows what they’re doing. Do they show consistency in their work? Ask to see samples of galleries of prior Weddings they’ve been hired to shoot. The Wedding Photography market is highly saturated, and there are a lot of people out there who have no idea what they’re doing. I went to a Photography School and obtained a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis on Portraiture. We were taught a ton about color balance, exposure, and handling files. Make sure your Photographer knows how to use their gear in all types of lighting.
The final and most important piece of advice I would give is to find a Photographer that you connect with. About 90% of my couples say they feel awkward in front of the camera. I like to use prompts while shooting my couples to get a natural response from them. Helping them interact with one another so that they’re more focused on one another and less focused on nerves! I include engagement sessions in my Wedding Packages as well, which helps them to connect with my shooting style so that they know how they’re Wedding Day will go! When working with a Photographer it’s not just about them creating something, but about all three of you working together to create something. Ask your Photographer what their shooting style is. Take some time to understand how they work during Wedding Days. I like to meet with potential clients for a drink or a cup of coffee! You will appreciate the time you’ve invested if you connect with a Photographer in person.
Congratulations on your engagement, and good luck on your search! :)
