We’re Doing This!

Cue the confetti, because you just checked a major thing off your wedding planning list — your photographer is officially booked! I’m beyond honored to be by your side for such a meaningful day. Yeah, I'm your photographer, but I'm also part guide, part hype-woman, and part calm-keeper. My goal? To create timeless, romantic, joy-filled images that tell the story of your day and your love in the most artful, authentic way.

This guide will walk you through what happens next, how to prepare, and little tips I’ve learned over the years photographing weddings. Let’s dive in!

The Journey Ahead

• Booking: ✔ Done!
• Engagement Session (if applicable): A chance to practice being in front of the camera, get comfortable with me, and create some gorgeous photos for save-the-dates.
• Bridal Session (if applicable): A bridal session is such a treat — a chance to slip into your gown, try out hair and makeup, and feel completely radiant in front of the camera. Best of all, you’ll already have stunning solo portraits before the wedding day even arrives. When the big day comes, we’ll still capture a few more (of course!), but without the pressure or time crunch. It’s truly the best of both worlds: gorgeous portraits and the freedom to be fully present on your wedding day.
• Planning Support: I’ll check in with tips, timeline guidance, and vendor recs, if needed, along the way.
• Final Details Call: About 4 weeks before your wedding, we’ll hop on a call to finalize your photo timeline. We’ll include your planner or wedding coordinator so everyone is on the same page and your day flows smoothly.
• Wedding Day Magic: I’ll be everywhere I need to be (and invisible when I should be) capturing your story.
• Gallery Delivery: One of my favorite parts of the whole process is getting to share a sneak peek within 48 hours! It’s SO fun to know you get to relive the magic right away, and my couples absolutely love it. Your full gallery will be delivered online within 8 weeks (for ease of sharing with everyone), and if applicable, a custom USB will be mailed to you at that time.

Engagement Session Guide

• Why engagement sessions matter: get comfortable with me as your photographer (don't worry, you'll get comfortable fast), practice in front of the camera, and gorgeous images for invitations and save-the-dates!
• Outfit tips: Neutrals and muted colors photograph beautifully, patterns and prints can be so cute, but I tend to avoid anything that feels super bold or distracting! Wear something you can move in, I always suggest one formal outfit and one casual outfit, coordinating complementary colors is the goal over matching, unless matching is your vibe!
• Location ideas: dreamy fields, city corners, cozy cafés, coastal sunsets, rooftop bar, art museum, in-home coziness, the list is endless!
• Photographer bestie tip: Treat it like a fancy date night — go out for dinner after!
• Important tip: You need to feel comfortable and feel like yourself in whatever you wear! If you love glam makeup, do it! If you don't, go natural! If you love heels and dresses, rock them. If you love jeans and sneakers, show them off! If a full suit is your vibe, I'm here for it! This is your session, and the more comfortable and confident you feel going into it, the more you will love the final product!
• Mindset Magic: In the weeks leading up to your session, try using daily affirmations. Look in the mirror and remind yourself: “I trust the process, I will look beautiful and confident, and I know my photos will be amazing.” It may feel a little silly at first, but repeating it every day truly makes a difference. The more you believe it, the more relaxed and confident you’ll feel in front of the camera—and that glow will show in your photos.

Bridal Session Guide

• Why a bridal session matters: A bridal session is a special chance to slip into your gown, try out hair and makeup, and feel completely radiant in front of the camera. It’s a fun, pressure-free way to celebrate this season of your life, get comfortable in front of the camera, and create gorgeous solo portraits before the wedding day. Bonus: having these portraits ahead of time makes your wedding-day timeline feel a little lighter!
• Outfit & styling tips: Your gown is the star — pick your favorite veil, jewelry, or shoes to highlight your style. Hair and makeup can be a trial run for your wedding day, so go glam if that’s your vibe or keep it natural if that’s what makes you feel like you. Get your nails done, neutral is always gorgeous! Accessories, shoes, and little personal touches add extra magic in photos! If you've got a stellar florist, tell them you are doing a bridal session before the wedding day and see what they can whip up for you!
• Location ideas: Your chosen venue, dreamy gardens, sunlit fields, elegant city streets, cozy in-home corners, in-studio, or any spot that makes your heart happy.
• Photographer bestie tip: Treat it like a special bride's day out — enjoy the moment, sip a coffee or champagne, and soak in the excitement.
• Important: This session is all about celebrating YOU in your *bridal era*. You are insanely gorgeous and I cannot wait to show you just how stunning you are.
• Optional Couple’s Session: Some couples like to use part or all of the bridal session as a first look and couple’s session, which can help cut down on portrait time on the wedding day, opening up more time for relaxed family time. Most of the time, however, the session focuses on the bride herself — the gown, hair and makeup, and those gorgeous solo portraits. If you’d like to include your partner, we can!

The Secret to Stress-Free Photos

1. Getting Ready Space

• Choose a room with lots of natural light — those soft window beams are magic.
• Keep clutter in one corner (or a closet) so the background of your photos feels clean and elegant.
• Have your dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, perfume, and rings gathered before I arrive — it saves time and makes detail shots smoother.

2. Timeline is Everything

• Pad every part of your timeline with an extra 15 minutes. Hair and makeup almost always run a little behind, add a BIG buffer for hair and makeup, to ensure you don’t feel rushed.
• Aim to be completely ready 30 minutes before you think you need to be — that way you can breathe, sip champagne, and enjoy the moment.

3. First Looks (Optional, But Wonderful)

• Whether with your partner, your dad, or your bridal party, a first look is such a sweet way to calm nerves and create space for emotional, candid photos.
• A couple’s first look also gives us more portrait time earlier in the day (which means you get to cocktail hour faster later!).

4. Golden Hour Glow

• The 30–40 minutes before sunset are pure photo magic — soft, flattering, golden light.
• I always recommend sneaking out for 10 minutes of golden hour portraits. It’s romantic, private, and usually your favorite photos of the day.

5. Family Formals

• I’ll send you a questionnaire to build a must-have list. Keep it streamlined so family formals move quickly, leaving you free to party.
• Pro tip: I highly recommend choosing someone in the bridal party who can get loud and knows everyone to be the name caller! I can do it, but it's easier when someone who knows everyone is in charge. Assign someone else so you’re not the one hunting for Uncle Bob!

6. Ceremony Tips

• Ask guests to stay seated until the recessional so your aisle exit photos aren’t blocked.
• Consider an “unplugged ceremony” (signs or an announcement) so everyone is present, and your photos are free of phones in the aisle.

7. Reception Details

• If possible, let me sneak into your reception space before guests enter — that way I can capture the tables, florals, and candlelight untouched.
• Uplighting, twinkle lights, or candles add dimension and make your photos feel extra romantic.

8. First Dance & Party Vibes

• If you’re nervous about your first dance, pick a song that makes you feel like you and practice a little spin or dip. Those natural moves photograph beautifully.
• When the dance floor opens — stay in the center! People naturally gather around you, and the photos are so full of life. Be prepared to invite people onto the dance floor if they don't come on their own!
• If you or your partner are not big dancers, that's okay, but I beg you to get a least one fast song in together, because those smiley, high-energy, laughing, dance motion shots are SO MUCH FUN and really add to your gallery.

9. End of the Night

• Sparkler exits are classic, but you can also consider confetti, bubbles, flower petals, paper airplanes, streamers or a million other creative ideas!
• A private last dance is AMAZING and gives time for your crowd to get ready for the exit!
• If you’re planning a grand exit but don’t want coverage until midnight, we can stage it earlier with your bridal party and close family — no one will know, and you’ll love having those photos.

Bestie Tips from a Pro

• Trust the process (even if you feel awkward, I promise you look amazing).
• Embrace movement: walk, twirl, laugh. The candid moments are everything.
• Don’t stress about perfection — real > posed.
• Plan for portrait time, your gallery will be dreamier.
• If you create a timeline with lots of buffer time, you will feel more relaxed. If somethings goes over, it's no big deal because we planned for it, and if everything runs totally on time (a miracle lol) it means there is extra time to relax or extra time for a few more portraits. It's a win-win.

After the Wedding

• Sneak peek: within 2 days.
• Full gallery: within 8 weeks.
• Prints & Albums: heirlooms that last beyond Instagram will be available through my online store! Ordering through me ensures the truest colors and best quality! However, you are welcome to print wherever you'd like, but keep in mind that not all printers are created equal!!
• Backup tip: I keep your images safe for our contracted amount of time, so please download & double back-up. I recommend backing up to a physical space like a USB or external hard drive AND to a cloud based storage system! (Bonus tip:If you have Amazon Prime, they include unlimited cloud photo storage!)

I Can’t Wait to Celebrate You!

Your wedding is going to be incredible, and I’m so grateful I get to be the one preserving it. This is more than just photos — it’s your legacy, your story, your once-in-a-lifetime day. Thank you for trusting me with it. I’ll be with you every step of the way — cheering you on, calming your nerves, and making sure you feel as radiant as you are.