That’s a GREAT question!

First, I value moments above poses. Don’t get me wrong, those posed family shots are important - but at the end of the day you are going to cherish the hugs, laughter, and tears that you shared with your loved ones above all else. I’m great at predicting moments, and I’ve learned to step back and let moments naturally unfold versus trying to create them.

Second, I have great problem-solving skills and creativity. My engineering and teaching background has helped prepare me for practically any technical or awkward social situation that could surprise us on your wedding day.

Thirdly, I know what it’s like to feel awkward in front of the camera, and I approach my photography with an empathy and lightheartedness that (I’ve been told) puts the most camera-shy couples at ease!

Finally, I offer FULL DAY coverage for my non-elopement packages. That means I’ll be there to capture every moment of your wedding day celebration, from mimosas to the last dance. Your story deserves to be told in it’s entirety!

I have photographed over 500 weddings since I officially registered my business back in 2012. I have photographed church weddings, backyard weddings, country club weddings, barn weddings, beach weddings, city hall weddings, intimate elopements, ginormous celebrations, weddings in the rain and snow, weddings in the sunshine, and weddings by candlelight. Regardless of the location, size, weather, or lighting - I got you.

Good question! Regardless of my answer, it truly doesn’t matter. Every year I document weddings at places I have never been before. Or, I may have been there, but at a completely different season or in different lighting conditions than those that will exist on your wedding day. I am not photographing your venue, I am capturing you, your family, and your friends on YOUR day. What other photographers have captured there honestly does not matter. You are what matters. Of course, if there are the classic/popular spots you would like us to use as backdrops, no problem, we’ll be sure to get those.

NOT AT ALL! Being a recommended vendor used to mean that venues had a good experience with that vendor. Couples raved about the work and tagged the venue in our photos. Venues would then ask for photos from us to use on their websites and marketing. We would gladly share them, free of charge. Our photos help attract new couples to their venue and in turn they recommend us to those new couples.

There are plenty of venues that I work with that still use this business model. Unfortunately, though, things have started to change. Several venues have a recommended vendor list that’s not based on talent or experience, but is based on a pay-to-play system. Some require an annual fee to be on that list, while others ask for a percentage of any couple’s package that they refer to me. These practices seem inauthentic and don’t sit well with me, so I refuse to participate in them. But it’s worth noting, not being on a recommended vendor list does not mean I’m not a good vendor or that I can’t work at your venue. It just means that I work there based on merit and demand, not because I pay for referrals.

I have booked weddings as far out as 2.5 years, and as close as 1 week. In general, couples tend to book me 10-15 months prior to their wedding date. If you think you might be interested in working with me, please reach out as soon as possible, and we will begin the booking process.

I would love to photograph your proposal! I am only available for portrait sessions on Mondays through Thursdays, and my calendar usually books up 6-8 weeks out. I reserve my weekends for weddings (and family time on my very rare weekend day off). Plan ahead, and reach out asap if you are planning a proposal that you would like me to photograph!

Absolutely! Love is love is love. I’ll shoot it with the same passion and creativity that I pour into any other wedding day.

I do! For traditional ceremonies in places of worship, just be sure to touch base with your officiant to see if they have any photography or flash restrictions that I should be aware of ahead of time.

I try to send a number of sneak peeks within 24 hours of every portrait session and wedding. In the event that I have back-to-back weddings, sneak peeks could take up to 72 hours. If you haven’t seen new work posted on my social media accounts lately, it’s because I’m placing a priority on delivering full galleries (while maintaining a healthy balance with my own personal well-being). Sneak peeks are often delivered behind-the-scenes and shared on my socials (with client permission) when my schedule allows.

This answer varies throughout the year. The editing process takes exponentially longer than the number of hours I spend photographing your wedding. If your wedding takes place earlier in the year, it will generally take less time than weddings happening in the fall. Generally speaking, I try to return engagement sessions within 2-4 weeks and weddings within 8-12 weeks. (During my slower months, that time is often cut in half.) I always aim to get galleries delivered as quickly as possible without sacrificing the quality or quantity of the images - or my sanity.

If you really, really, REALLY have to have your images back in record time, I do offer an expedited editing service at an additional charge.

Not every image that I take will make it into your final gallery - including duplicates, test shots, and images that are very unflattering. (Do you really want that accidental photo we snapped of Aunt Martha cramming a chicken wing into her mouth? If you do - I’ll 100% include it!) Regardless, you will get all of the images that meet my “keeper” criteria, and I personally edit every single image that gets uploaded into your gallery. (Note: Editing takes a lot of time and is a large chunk of what you are paying me for!)

Every single image that I deliver gets color corrected and cleaned up, and some selected images turned into black-and-white copies. Do I go through and touch up every single skin imperfection and make you look like a magazine cover model? No. You wouldn’t get your photos back for over a year, and I would absolutely lose my mind. No one wants that. If you wake up on your wedding day with a giant pimple on your nose, don’t sweat it - I’ll edit it out of the photos where it is obvious. If I missed one that you love, just let me know and I’ll happily go back and re-edit it for you.

In a wedding gallery, I typically deliver between 800-1200 images on average. If you have a giant wedding with every tradition imaginable, you might get more. If you have a simple, intimate elopement, you might receive less. The image count will also vary with the number of photographers included in your package.

In an engagement gallery, I deliver between 75 and 125 images. The image count varies according to the session length, number of outfit changes, and number of locations.

It is my policy to NOT give out unedited (aka RAW) files. Simply put, you don't ask a professional photographer to give you their RAW photos because that would be giving you only half of an unfinished work of art. The editing process is part of what makes my work MY work, and I wouldn’t want to deliver anything less. That being said, if you absolutely must have the RAW files, I will never say never - but please understand that they will only be sold at a hefty price.

Everyone receives digital downloads with the reproduction rights for personal use. I retain the legal “ownership” and copyright of the images, which only means that you cannot sell your wedding photos without my consent — but who really does that anyway?

I do! I don’t currently offer videography/content creation services myself, but I am happy to recommend some incredible colleagues who I have worked well with over the years.

PRO TIP: Regardless of who you decide to hire as your photographer and videographer, I think it’s SUPER important to hire artists who have similar approaches to documenting a wedding day (capturing candid moments versus staging poses). The same is true for hiring a content creator! I work best with CCs who sit back and let moments naturally unfold versus creating inauthentic moments for social media views.

Heck yeah, that’s okay! I love working with planners, because they understand the intricacies of the day, what’s important, what isn’t important, and are usually timeline ninjas. If you need a recommendation, I am happy to refer some planners to you.

I haven’t had to miss a wedding day yet, but I have a system in place in case it happens one day. Most of my packages include second photographers, and in addition to getting additional angles and candids, they are a form of insurance on your wedding day, in the event I get injured or sick. Everyone who I hire as a second photographer is very experienced and could take the lead if needed. In addition, I have a strong network of photographers that I am happy to call friends. They have been there for me in a pinch, and I have done the same for them. The second the unthinkable happens, I would get on the phone and start calling my friends, coming up with a suitable replacement. We all know that we cannot predict the future, so in the event that I was not able to source a backup photographer in the event of a personal disaster, I can guarantee that you would receive a full refund of the amount you paid me (every single cent) and my heartfelt apologies for causing you any additional stress on your wedding day.

The majority of my couples express this sentiment, and I promise you - I got you. I’m sensitive to your insecurities and to your anxieties about them. I’ll try to make your portrait experience as painless as possible - and maybe even (GASP!) a little bit fun.

First of all, making sure you look good in your photos is my job, and I will NOT do you wrong. Second, my secret to capturing photographs that are natural and carefree while still looking gorgeous is through prompting over posing. I guide you using fun, interactive suggestions that will bring your photos to life! With every gorgeous photo, there are always 20 hysterically awkward and unflattering images to go with it. My shutter buttons are usually grabbing about 5 photos per second or more. But don't worry, no embarrassing cross-eyed or ugly-laugh photos will make it to your final gallery... well, maybe just a few to give you a chuckle or two (which you are able to hide from public view in your gallery).

100% heck yes to the engagement session! I LOVE animals!!! I do recommend bringing along someone to chaperone your pet(s) during your session so that we can capture a few images that don’t include them, as well.

Your venue would have to make the final call regarding any wedding day plans with your pets.

The only shot list that I work from on your wedding day is a list of your desired family formal portraits (which I help you create while I’m working on your photography timeline). Because I take a predominantly hands-off approach, most of the images captured throughout the day are done so naturally and organically. That being said, I absolutely want to make sure you get all the photos you want. If you or a guest want a picture taken at a certain moment, come and find me or the second photographer and we’ll make it happen!

Yup! I have liability insurance and am happy to send a COI to your venue if it requires one. It’s not a problem at all, but please give me at least 1 month’s notice to get that delivered to your venue.

Keeping your images safe is a top priority of mine. I never, ever, EVER want to have to break the news to a couple that I lost their images from their wedding day. I shoot on dual camera bodies, each one recording to two memory cards at once. As soon as I get home from your wedding, I back up all of the images in multiple locations, and I do not write over the memory cards until your final gallery has been delivered.

Honestly, there are two things that get me fired up on wedding days…

1) Vendors/guests/family members who try to force the couple into doing anything that they don’t want to do. Your wedding day is about your own personal, unique love story. Don’t let anyone else write that story for you. Embrace what makes you YOU!

2) Venues/caterers who feed the photography/videography team AFTER all the guests have been fed. Photographers and videographers should always be fed when the couple eats. This is not a power trip, and in no way do I think I am more important than you, your wedding party, your family, or your friends. It’s just that when your photo/video team is able to eat when you eat, it ensures that we will all be ready to photograph the action again as soon as you are ready to go. It’s really awkward (and frustrating) when the caterer brings our meals out just as the dance floor opens up or right when the cake is about to be cut, and then we have to choose between not eating after working a super long day or having your schedule run behind while we inhale our dinner. Vendor teamwork makes the dream work!

I love all kinds of weddings - from intimate self-uniting ceremonies in the mountains where it’s just me and the couple and I have signed their marriage license as their witness, to elaborate city weddings with 30+ wedding party members. My favorite weddings are those where my couples are present in the moment, having a great time, spending time with their loved ones, embracing all of the emotions of the day, and respecting everyone who came together to make their wedding day vision come alive. Those are the best weddings.

I personally love first looks, but I also value couples who choose to wait to see each other until their ceremony begins. The decision to have or forego a first look does impact the timeline for the day, so I’m happy to chat about what the schedule might look like in either scenario, if you are on the fence.

That being said… if you choose to have a “first look” or “first reveal”, it allows you both to have that special time for just each other on your wedding day. We get all the portrait photos done of you both, your wedding party, and your family before the ceremony. That way you can completely enjoy your wedding including the full cocktail hour.

Basically, this goes back to my answer to the previous question - my ideal wedding is one what reflects my couple’s wishes and their vision for how they want to celebrate their love story.

I am happy to stretch my legs outside of my homebase! I keep my gas tank full and my passport current. Each package has an included travel radius originating from zip code 19608. Anything in excess of that distance may incur a fee based on the current IRS mileage rate. I might request that a hotel be provided for weddings located over 2.5 hours away, starting super early in the morning, or ending very late at night. Does your wedding require flights and hotel stays? Not a problem, as long as those fees are covered for me.

After you reach out to me via my contact form, I’ll respond via email and we can set up a Zoom chat. If we live local to each other -and our schedules magically align- I’m happy to schedule an in-person meeting at my studio or at a local place with a bit more character (and caffeine)! After we figure out the best coverage for you, you’ll electronically sign your contract and pay your retainer ($1500) via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or check/money order. Half of your remaining balance will be due 4 months before your wedding, and your final balance will be due 1 month before your wedding. Leading up to your wedding day, I’ll help you create your timeline (or will work with your planner on that), I’ll answer any questions you might have, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you get the most out of your wedding day. Let’s get this party started!