welcome!
Welcome, friend! If you made it here, that means you must be trusting me with your photos! I can’t wait. Showing up to your venue at an agreed-upon time is just not enough to create photos that you’re going to swoon over!
So get comfy and take 10 minutes to intentionally walk through this guide! I promise you, it will be every bit worth it!
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Your wedding day is so much more than a timeline of events. It is the little things you may not even realize are happening in the moment that I love to capture.
My approach to wedding photography is rooted in intention, emotion, and story.
Of course, we will create beautiful portraits of you two. We will make time for the family photos, bridal party photos, and all of the images you know you want to have. But I also want to leave room for everything that happens in between.
I want your gallery to feel like you can step back into your wedding day.
Before your wedding day, I want to get to know you. Your relationship, what matters most to you, the people you love, the details you've spent months choosing, and the moments you are most looking forward to.
Because the goal isn't just to create a gallery of pretty wedding photos, it's to create photographs that tell the story of your wedding day so honestly and beautifully that years from now, they still feel like you.
what you can expect
- A detailed questionnaire leading up to your wedding so I can understand what matters most to you
- A full sneak peek gallery within 24 hours of your wedding
- A professionally edited gallery filled with artful, intentional, story-driven images that allow you to relive your day for years to come
planning guidance
Everything you’ll see throughout this guide is meant to give you an idea of what your wedding experience with me could look like. Your wedding day is completely unique to you, so not every detail, timeline, photo, or suggestion in this guide will apply to your day!
vendor checklist/ideas
Venue
Wedding Planner / Coordinator
Florist
Hair & Makeup Artist
Dress Boutique / Bridal Gown
Suit / Tux Shop
DJ / Band
Catering
Cake / Desserts
Stationery / Invitations
Signage
Rentals / Décor
Transportation
Officiant
Videographer
Live Painter
Calligrapher
Guest Book / Guest Log
Rehearsal Dinner
Wedding Favors / Gifts
Ring Security
Ceremony Musicians
Lighting
Sparklers / Send-off item
timeline tips
The key to a smooth wedding day is building in extra time. A well-paced timeline allows everything to feel relaxed, natural, and stress-free, even when the unexpected happens.
I've photographed weddings with timelines that didn't allow enough time for every part of the day, and it can completely change how the day feels. When everything is rushed, there's less time to be present and enjoy each moment. Building in enough coverage creates space for a more relaxed experience, allowing you to soak in the day while ensuring all of the meaningful moments are documented beautifully. Make sure to plan for things that may take longer than expected, so that way, everyone feels relaxed and not rushed/stressed.
Below is a sample 8-hour timeline I’ve created to help guide you. There is one with a first-look, and the other is without a first-look.
**Each unique timeline will vary
timeline examples
12:00 PM – Photographer Arrives
Details (dress, rings, shoes, invitations), getting ready candids
1:00 PM – Getting Ready Photos
Hair/makeup finishing touches, bride + bridesmaids, groom prep
2:00 PM – First Look + Portraits
First look, bride & groom portraits, wedding party photos (primary)
3:30 PM – Hide Away / Freshen Up
Touch-ups before ceremony, guests begin arriving
4:00 PM – Ceremony
Full ceremony coverage
4:30 PM – Family Photos
Immediate family + extended family
4:50 PM – Wedding Party Photos (if needed)
Any remaining full wedding party photos
5:15 PM – Cocktail Hour / Reception Details
Reception space, guest candids
5:45 PM – Reception Begins
Grand entrance, first dance, welcome toast
6:15 PM – Dinner + Toasts
Candid moments, speeches
7:00 PM – Golden Hour Photos
Quick sunset portraits
7:20 PM – Open Dancing + Events
Cake cutting, bouquet toss, full dance floor coverage
8:00 PM – Photographer Departs
12:30 PM – Photographer Arrives
Details (dress, rings, shoes, invitations), getting ready candids
1:30 PM – Getting Ready Photos
Bride + bridesmaids, groom prep
2:30 PM – Bridal Party Photos (Separate)
Bride with bridesmaids, groom with groomsmen
4:00 PM – Ceremony
Full ceremony coverage
4:30 PM – Family Photos
Immediate family + extended family
4:50 PM – Wedding Party Photos
Full wedding party together
5:10 PM – Bride & Groom Portraits
Couple portraits
5:30 PM – Reception Begins
Grand entrance, first dance, welcome toast
6:00 PM – Dinner + Toasts
Candid moments, speeches
7:00 PM – Golden Hour Photos
Quick sunset portraits
7:20 PM – Open Dancing + Events
Cake cutting, bouquet toss, full dance floor coverage
8:30 PM – Photographer Departs
details
I know you've put so much thought into every detail of your wedding day, and I love taking the time to preserve those meaningful pieces of your story.
NOTE: Please have these items together in one place (For example: a shoebox or tote bag). Your items in one box and your groom's in another. Do not forget to put your engagement ring in here!
I love to incorporate florals in my detail shots. If at all possible, I will grab the bride's bouquet and incorporate it. If the bouquet can be arranged to be there along with the other bridal details, that would be awesome! I would also highly recommend arranging with your florist to have some loose florals ready to include in your detail shots!
Items to have prepared and ready for me to photograph (all may not apply):
HIS : shoes, ring, ring box, bowtie or tie, tie clip, pocket square, watch, cuff links, vow book, etc.
HERS: Invitation suite, loose florals, shoes, ring(s), ring box, bracelets, earrings, necklace, hair pieces, vow book, perfume etc.
IN ADDITION
Feel free to include any sentimental or textured items (lace, fabric, heirlooms) to add depth to your detail photos.
Please have your dress on a cute hanger. If you didn’t buy one specifically for it, that’s okay! Any nice wooden hanger will do just fine!
The getting-ready space can become quite messy over time, trust me! Consider asking a bridesmaid to help clean up before I arrive for pictures. This will help tremendously with photos!
Make sure to be intentional about your getting-ready location if possible. For example, if you decide to get ready in a stuffy hotel bathroom with bad lighting and no windows, you might feel stressed and claustrophobic.
Instead… consider getting ready in an open, clean room with soft natural light coming through the windows, a place that will make you feel more at peace!
the ceremony
The best time to start your ceremony is 2 hours before sunset! You can search what time the sunset is on your wedding day on google. The reason, why you want to start your ceremony 2 hours before sunset is because this gives us time to capture all formal photos. Which include the family photos, bridesmaids photos, groomsmen photos, and bride and groom photos!
Family Photos “Formals”
Family formals come immediately after the ceremony, so making sure family members stay put after the ceremony ends is so important.
Letting the wedding officiant know to make this announcement is a great idea.
Since I usually only have a limited time to photograph the “family photo portion” of the day:
I will ask for a detailed family photo list before the wedding in your pre-wedding questionnaire!
List the groupings of family photos you would like taken after the ceremony.
EX: BRIDE & GROOM WITH GROOM'S PARENTS (ACTUAL NAMES).
Having a list will save so much time & make the process so simple! The reason I ask for names of family members is that it saves from any family dynamic awkwardness! So instead of saying "bride with dad & step-mom," I can just say, "Sarah with Tom & Sally." It’s much more professional & family members are more likely to respond to hearing their actual name called.
F U L L - W E D D I N G P A R T Y P H O T O S
Once we finish up with family photos, we will bring in the whole wedding party (Bridesmaids and Groomsmen) for group photos! If you’re having a first look, full wedding party photos might happen before the ceremony to leave more time for couple portraits.
C O U P L E P O R T R A I T S
I’ll sneak the two of you away for fun sunset photos!
the reception
This is when I’ll be shooting candid photos of you walking in the reception! I’ll also be shooting reception details.
Please ask your planner or DJ to turn off colored or strobe lighting during key moments (entrance, first dance, parent dances, cake cutting). Clean, warm lighting ensures your photos look timeless and true-to-color.
Since no one wants photos of open mouths full of food, my second shooter and I will be eating at the same time as you. Also, make sure to coordinate this with your caterer, they sometimes will put us in a back room, which is not ideal, since I won’t be able to see any important events happening, if i’m in a random room haha!
I will be taking all the fun dancing photos of your wedding party, family + friends!
Make sure to see if your venue allows this if you’re doing a sparkler exit if that is what you are planning to do! I’ll probably make you run up and down twice to get a variety of sparkler exit shots.
As a small business, word of mouth is everything! If you love your experience, I'd be incredibly grateful if you'd share my name with friends and family, or even just tag me in your pictures. I photograph weddings, engagements, grads, families, events, and more.
