Well, maybe not compared to the kind of summers the incredible lead photographers I've worked with have had.
Before I say another word, I have to thank the following professionals (and friends!) for trusting me enough with such a responsibility:
Tessa Tillett
Kaitlyn Meeks
Kelley Jordan Heneveld
One topic of conversation that seems to come up quite often when I've spent time with any of these girls this summer, is this:
Everyone, it seems, is a photographer these days.
Need wedding photography? Anymore, you won't be hard pressed to find someone with an expensive camera willing to have at it for cheap or free. Craigslist is awash with them. And you probably know a friend of a friend or a cousin or something who would "only" charge $300 or so to shoot your day.
And I get that. Everyone has to start somewhere.
But if I've learned anything this summer, not just from shooting the weddings, but from having the opportunity to shoot them consistently, is that the real key to being able to call yourself a professional is being there.
You have to be there. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Physically and mentally, you have to be quick on the draw with that camera. That should be a no-brainer. You need to understand your light: incandescent, tungsten, natural, sunlit, shade, what's too harsh and what isn't, etc, ad infinitum. And you have to know it as quickly as possible. Beyond simply the basics of composition, you should try and develop your style, and be ready to be incredibly sore the next day.
However, I've found that it's the emotional aspect that really makes wedding photography, in particular, such an art.
For years, I thought I wanted to be a counselor. I even got accepted into graduate school for social work, and never actually ended up going. I've always been interested in emotions and feelings. I'm drawn to expressions of emotion, and I always insist that others feel comfortable when expressing themselves around me.
I've found that my particular style of wedding photography involves seeking out expressions of emotion while being sure to document the traditional events of the day as they unfold. I like to tuck myself away behind barely-shut doors or floral arrangements and immerse myself in the day like one might immerse themselves in a film.
What results, I think, is a moving archive of this particularly momentous day the likes of which you may not have expected!
The following 70+ photographs are photos taken in the months of June and July, photos that have moved me and that I feel capture my personal photojournalistic style. I hope you enjoy them! There will be more to come!
Not a cold foot in sight. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
When it feels real. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
Father of the bride pins a boutonniere on the man he is about to give his daughter away to. [Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
I don't always buy new shoes to get married in, but when I do, they're sparkly. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Golf was on that day. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Vow writing. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
"It wouldn't be my wedding if I weren't doing something last minute!" [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
A buzzing little bungalow. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
A guide. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
[Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Zip me! [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
When you can't quit smiling. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
[Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Perfect. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
"You're getting married!" [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
The dress goes on for the last time. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Mom. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Dad. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Such words on simple paper. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
[Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
[Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
Not such a long wait with friends. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
My favorite moment. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
That "this is it" look. [Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
[Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
Ceremony giggles. [Niccole & Todd // Yorktown, IN]
Fits just right! [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Prim and proper. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
[Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Just a man in love. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Adorable. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
That "omg we're married!" look. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
I can almost hear this photo! [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
A bubble send off. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
But first... [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Just a party bus. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
For some of us, being cute is easy. [Niccole & Todd // Yorktown, IN]
[Niccole & Todd // Yorktown, IN]
Classic. [Niccole & Todd // Yorktown, IN]
[Niccole & Todd // Yorktown, IN]
[Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Cadillac. "It's been in our family since it was driven off the lot." [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Sun and yellow and sweetness. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Got the girl! [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Genuine smiles. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
[Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
[Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
Aw, yeah. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Pretty tables. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Cake. It's common knowledge: I go to weddings for the pictures and the cake. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Duck, duck, goose. [Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
Is it cake time yet? [Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
Mom and Dad. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Toast. [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Tears. [Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
Friends are everything. [Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
[Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Comforting his wife as she remembers her mother. (A favorite. This definitely captures my heart.) [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Future wedding photographer! [Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
Friends. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Mother and son. [Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
Sweetness. [Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
[Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
A favorite: a special dance for his little girl. [Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
[Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
This cute Dad/Daughter dance got me so misty-eyed! [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
Sitting around. [Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
Here we go! [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
It was "Dancing With Myself," and that he did. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
Girls. [Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
[Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
The smell of cigars and celebration. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
A favorite. [Zoe & Colin // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Emily Weis]
[Jen & Evan // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Kelley Jordan Heneveld]
Making the Electric Slide pretty. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
Forever young. [Jess & Scott // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
I never miss a little one on the dance floor! [Brooke & David // Crown Point, IN: Lead, Kaitlyn Meeks]
It cost her a flip-flop. [Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
Getting the kids in on it! [Rachael & Nick // Indianapolis, IN: Lead, Tessa Tillett]
In closing, allow me to share with you my favorite wedding photo of all time.
Can you guess? It's my husband and I, just over two years ago.
I know where to find emotion because I've lived it. Every time I shoot a wedding, I'm reminded of that day where I was pretty sure the entire world had stopped just for us. I was surprised to learn that May 15, 2010 wasn't a bank holiday.
I am so excited to see what the rest of the summer (and beginning of fall!) have in store for me and my incredibly talented friends.
Be sure to message me for wedding photography rates, but also check out my friends. Find something that suits all your needs. Shop carefully: these aren't shots you want to leave to just anyone.
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