Choosing Your Wedding Photographer // PART ONE

I’ll give you a little secret… this is all the information I send out when someone inquires about my wedding photography services. So now you’ll have it before you even reach out or if you just need a little extra help in choosing your wedding photographer!

WELCOME TO LIGHT AND LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!

So, you just got engaged and you're planning a wedding?!

This is so exciting! But I also know how completely overwhelming it can be which is why I'm going to give you everything you need to know about choosing the right wedding photographer!

Fair warning... I use a lot of exclamation marks because I feel like I sound too mean if I use periods. Plus, I'm a pretty emphatic speaker so if I had word bubbles over my head when I talk, they would all end with a big !

I'll give you the best piece of advice first before we get into the other little things. 

Choose the photographer who you get along with the most! 

Basing your decision solely off of price, and even aesthetic, can sometimes turn out to be a huge mistake. Not because the photographer isn't good, you could have the best photographer in the world but if your personalities don't mesh well and if you don't feel comfortable, it will show in the images. Your photographer will have a hard time feeling inspired and you will leave feeling unsatisfied. 

Personality is THE most important part of choosing your photographer! 

So what will you get if you book with me? 

Personal

I'm a half extrovert, half introvert. I love a good party, and I am okay with being in the spotlight. Unlike some of my fellow photographers, I'm also pretty comfortable infront of the camera, almost as much as I am behind it! I also love staying at home for weeks at a time just spending time with my husband and our kids!

I'm a pretty easy going person, I don't get stressed out easily, and I am of the mentailty that "everything will work out." Staying positive is a huge asset in the wedding industry!

I'm going to be silly! Somestimes I might make fun of you but in an endearingly joking way. It's how I show affection, you can blame my family for that! The more comfortable I am with you, the more jabs I might throw! I hope that's okay!

As Your Photographer

My shooting style is a mix between documentary and lifestyle. I love to capture real moments so sometimes I'll stay quiet because I don't want to break the spell, and other times I'll give an action instead of a stiff pose to do, accompanied with a joke or something because laughing pictures are my favourite.

It is my goal of every session to get a huge laughing picture. No pressure. 

When it comes to your wedding day, I am commanding and confident. I can direct a crowd and use my charm to get your family members to listen to me! 

I am not a fly on the wall photographer. I love to interact with people and get to know your family and guests. I'll be the first one on the dance floor and I love chatting with the people at my dinner table. I think this gives me a more personal perspective to your day!

CONCLUSION

Why do I feel like I’m back in high school and I’m following the “hamburger” outline of an essay?

In conclusion, while budget and aesthetic are very important, being comfortable with your wedding photographer is always going to be the most important part of the decision. So if you are going back and forth between two similar photographs, choose the one that made you feel the most confident in their ability and the one you vibe with the most. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they have to have the same personality as you. As much as I’m an extrovert, I’ve booked many introvert couples because they want someone who will be able to bring extra fun and be very vocal about directing them, so keep that in mind!

Your wedding photographer will be with you in your most important and intimate moments of your wedding day so it is so important to feel very comfortable with them!

Follow along with PART TWO and PART THREE!

A Year in the Life of a Photograhper

One of the biggest blessings in my life is being able to do what I love for a living. While there are definitely areas of my job that I would rather not do, I LOVE being a photographer. Being able to celebrate life’s major milestones over and over again is indeed a blessing.

Being a photographer in Ontario has it’s own challenges. We have less impressive landscapes than other areas of Ontario but after travelling quite a bit this year, I’ve realized that without the distraction of mountains and canyons, oceans, and the focus of photography can actually be on people. I can focus on capturing those moments, creating those moments that you’ll remember and that you will be the focus of those memories.

Plus we get all the best seasons, especially those glorious fall colours! In spring we can go to the Guelph Arboretum for cherry blossoms in your engagement or family session. In the summer we can head to Burlington beach for some super fun beach sessions, In the fall, everywhere you look has the most beautiful reds and oranges and yellow. Then those winter sessions which are few and far between are so magical! We are so luck to have the array of different seasons here and being able to capture everything from engagements to weddings to maternity sessions, and family sessions, and solo sessions. I have the best job in the world.

And I could not do what I love without the support of all of the local wedding vendors in the areas. This year every wedding was incredible and so special shout outs go to Cellar52, Cambridge Mill, and Langdon Hall, thank you for having such incredible venues in the Kitchener-Waterloo Region!

Thank you to all my couples, families, and entrepreneurs for supporting my business. For trusting me with capturing your life and you as you are, thank you!

Ready for a Wedding Adventure? Here are 5 Reasons Why You Should Elope.

You’re engaged! Yay!! Congratulations! If you’re here, maybe wedding planning has gotten a bit overwhelming and you’re looking for reasons why you should elope. Or maybe it’s what you’ve been hoping to do all along. Either way, you’ve come to the right place. Are you a couple who is super adventurous? Not-so-traditional? Not a people-pleaser (or trying to not be)? Eloping is the perfect way to celebrate your love for each other and be authentically you. Put all the pressures aside. All you need is your love (and an amazing photographer to capture it). Check out these 5 reasons why you should elope.

You can do what you want

When you plan a wedding, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE has an opinion. Even though family and friends are usually well-meaning, let’s be honest for a second… you couldn’t possibly please them all. Maybe you have that ultra-conservative relative who will definitely notice (and judge) that you’re not wearing white (which, by the way, isn’t even all that long-standing of a tradition!). Or maybe your in-laws (gotta love ‘em) are just a tad overbearing and insist you invite a bunch of their friends that you’ve never met and will never see again. All the conversations can become incredibly uncomfortable. How do you say no, right? That’s why you should elope! Eloping removes all of that pressure and other people’s expectations of your day so that you can just be you and celebrate your love for each other. At the end of the day, that’s what matters most. 

You can plan your own adventure!

Maybe your dream for a wedding is to hike up a mountain and share your vows surrounded by a panoramic view of the mountains. Perhaps you’ve pictured your special day underwater, in an ice castle, floating in an air balloon, or at an iconic landmark that just can’t accommodate a long list of guests. That’s why you should elope. Eloping gives you the freedom to do something amazingly adventurous. No need to worry about your friends not being keen on hiking for hours or taking scuba lessons for your big day - you can savour the moment together (and I’ll be there to capture those lasting moments for you!)

You’re not a fan of tradition

You might not be one of those “cookie-cutter” couples. The mention of a traditional religious ceremony and classic banquet hall make your eyes roll so far back they fall out the back of your head. There isn’t an emoji or GIF that could even begin to express your disdain for all the traditions and rules that come with a wedding. So if tradition isn’t your thing, it’s definitely another reason why you should elope. When you elope, no one is telling you to follow traditions X, Y and Z. Who needs tradition when you have each other?

Use that budget for an adventure

Another reason why you should elope? Have you seen how expensive weddings are? The venue, the caterer, the dress, the cake, the flowers, the tux, the band, the photographer… need I go on? It adds up so quickly and let’s just take a minute to remember that you don’t have to spend it on those things if you don’t want to! Perhaps you’ve dreamed up something outrageously exciting for your wedding - now you can do it! Or maybe you would prefer to spend it on a longer honeymoon or destination ceremony. Or there’s always the responsible thing of using the money for a house down payment or home renos. When you elope, you can use your wedding budget for an amazing adventure rather than spending it on all the wedding things out of sheer compulsion. 

Why You Should Elope: It’s authentic to you

If you’re imagining your wedding and just dreading having to put on a show for all your friends and family… is it really about you? Sure, it’s the happiest day of your life, but is it authentic to who you are as a couple? You might be a more introverted couple and just want the day with each other. Your wedding day should reflect your personality as a couple, your beautiful love story; not everyone else’s. When you elope, your wedding can be exactly how you want it to be. 

If you do decide to elope, you will definitely want an adventurous photographer to be there to capture all the beautiful moments together. And that’s what I do! I bring the energy, the spunk, the silliness that helps you relax as a couple and get the perfect photos that tell your love story. Whether you travel to another country, hike up a mountain, or you have a meaningful location nearby, I just might be your girl! I absolutely LOVE talking to new couples to help get a feel for their day. If you have an elopement planned, I would love to chat! Contact me here.