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!

Jenny + Will // An Elora Mill Fall Wedding

Jenny and Will got married at the Elora Mill in October! It was a beautiful fall wedding, made even more beautiful by the love this couple shares. The way they support each other in their lives has been so beautiful to watch.

Their wedding was a long time coming, as most weddings in the last two years have had at least one postponement! Jenny and Will pushed through though and we even did a little mini shoot on their original wedding day, I’ll have to do a little post about that too because it was so special.

One of my favourite things about photographing Jenny and Will’s wedding was seeing how they made it their own. They tailored the day around them as a couple. Since they are both a bit shy, they did the standard vows during the ceremony and read their written, personal vows to each other when it was just the two of them (and me!). I loved this because it made it so much more special for them. They wanted to write their own vows to each other but only wanted to share them with each other, so that’s what they did.

This is what I love most about the way the wedding industry is changing, along with wedding photography. There are no rules. I lied, there’s one rule, you have to get married. That’s it. That’s the only rule when it comes to wedding planning, you just have to get married. Everything else is completely up to you. You and your partner should feel like it is a celebration of your special love story. No two relationships are the same, so no two weddings should be the same!

Jenny and Will had a beautiful day that showcased their love for each other in their own way and I couldn’t be more happy and excited for them for the start of their marriage!

The F Family // Lifestyle Bump to Baby Session

One of the best parts of my job is meeting new people and people who have a love for photography. I try to get to know my clients and build that relationship with them for two reasons. First off, my clients are some of the most amazing people, they are fun loving, creative, and kind and have a joy for life that I just love. Second, getting to know my clients helps me capture their lives on a much more personal level, creating a deeper emotion that I could have if I was just a stranger taking their pictures.

Some clients turn into friends and I get to follow along in their lives for the long term. Monica and Stuart are one of those couples. You can view the post about their distillery district wedding here. From their engagement session to their wedding and now I got to be a part of their pregnancy and welcoming baby O into the world. Their lifestyle bump to baby session included an hour maternity session and then about a month or so later a lifestyle newborn session in their home! I love this family so much and they created such a beautiful baby girl together.

From my own experiences with pregnancy and being a new mom I remember those feelings of hating being pregnant but also the excitement of getting to meet my new little one. To that first beautiful snuggle and all the quiet (and not so quiet) late night nursing. That beginning of motherhood is one of the most beautiful moments in life and I’m so blessed to be able to freeze these fleeting moments for some of my favourite people.

**Also side note: it is my firm opinion that every session should end with pizza.

Jacob + Hannah // A Kitchener Backyard Wedding

It is not very often that a groom reaches out to me to inquire about wedding photography, it is usually the bride. However, Jacob was the one who filled out my inquiry form and I knew right then that I wanted to capture this beautiful couple’s wedding day. He spoke about their love for God and their desire to get married in 2020, even with all the wedding restrictions going on. They wanted to start their lives together and I knew they were a very special couple.

Their day came quickly and I was so grateful to witness their beautiful families coming together to celebrate Jacob and Hannah. After spending the morning with the groom and his groomsmen, laughing and dancing it up while getting ready, we all gathered at their home for the ceremony. As a religious person myself, I was touched by these families love for God and the prayers that were said filled my heart. God had brought J+H together and as much as this was a day to celebrate the two of them, it was also to celebrate God’s work and plan for their lives. It was a beautiful day!

After the ceremony and family pictures that had me smiling from ear to ear, we took some time away for the bridal party pictures and of course, photo time for Jacob and Hannah. They selected Rockway gardens for their wedding photos. I had never been before so I went a couple days earlier to check it out. I loved the fountains and the tall trees and all the beautiful flowers that were in perfect bloom in August! We had a blast with the wedding party and then kick them out so I could get some wedding photos for the newlyweds! Another great thing about Rockway gardens for wedding photos is where the sun hits it in August. It’s on higher ground so the sun just glows there and it was the perfect setting. It was pretty magical and J+H were a dream.

As per the COVID restrictions on weddings, they weren’t able to have all of their family and friends celebrate with them directly so they planned a drive-by parade so that everyone could be there to celebrate! There was lots of honking and waving and cars all decorated for the happy couple! I love seeing how couples adjust their wedding plans to fit into 2020 and still celebrate in a big way!

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch, with seriously perfect weather. The food was delicious, the speeches were both funny and touching, and the families were a riot! Everyone was having so much fun and I loved the energy of this crowd. My face hurt from smiling so much. And after a bit of dancing in the starlight I was reluctant to leave such a lively celebration!

I think all those involved in this backyard wedding celebration will look back and remember how much love, fun, and family are in their lives and thank God for it.