Your Wedding Day

It’s your wedding day, and you’ll have a million things on your mind—but photography won’t be one of them. You can relax knowing I’ve got it all covered.

Every wedding is different, and there’s no single right way to celebrate. Maybe getting-ready photos aren’t a priority for you, or your group isn’t big on dancing. Maybe you’re skipping speeches, or don’t have a wedding party. The outline below reflects a typical wedding day, but I’m here to capture whatever your unique celebration looks like!

In general, coverage starts about 30 minutes before you begin getting dressed and continues through the first 20–30 minutes of dancing. Alongside portraits and formal images (where plenty of guidance will be provided!), I’ll spend much of the day capturing candid, story-driven photos—scenic shots, details, and fleeting moments. My goal is for you to be able to look back and remember not just how your day looked, but how it felt.

When I arrive for getting ready photos, I’ll begin with your detail items before moving on to candid moments as hair and makeup wrap up. We may also take a few group shots before you step into your wedding attire. From there, I’ll capture any special moments you’ve planned—like exchanging letters or a first look with your parents—and, if time allows, we’ll also fit in some formal portraits.

At this point, you may choose to do a first look. A first look (seeing each other before the ceremony) is a popular choice because it lets us take many of your wedding party and family photos ahead of time. That way, you can enjoy cocktail hour with your guests instead of slipping away for photos (a huge win) and you also get to spend more of the day together, which is really what it’s all about!

Some couples choose to share private vows during their first look, making it an intimate and meaningful moment just for the two of you. To keep it special, we’ll ask friends and family to hang back while I quietly capture it. This is also a perfect time for a few couple portraits while you’re looking your freshest.

From there, we’ll move into wedding party photos and then group portraits with family. I’ll guide you through these to make sure everything feels easy and natural.

Before the ceremony begins, I’ll capture candid shots as your guests arrive and settle in. During the ceremony itself, I focus entirely on the real moments as they unfold. I move around quietly to capture different angles while staying out of the way of your guests’ view.

If we didn’t do wedding party and family portraits beforehand, we typically take those immediately after the ceremony. If you chose to do a first look, you’ll be free to head straight to cocktail hour! While you mingle, I’ll capture candid interactions as well as detail shots of the venue, drinks, and food.

Depending on the time of year, sunset may fall before or during dinner. I always encourage couples to step away for at least 20 minutes at this time. The light is unbeatable, and it’s the most romantic part of the day for portraits.

My approach to portraits is to keep them fun and organic. I’ll gently set the scene with a prompt, then let the natural moments unfold. Of course, I’ll offer direction when needed (like adjusting a hand or guiding your gaze) but the best images usually come when you’re simply being yourselves.

During dinner, I ask to be seated somewhere out of the way so I have a spot for my gear and can easily pop up to capture impromptu moments. I typically avoid photographing guests while they’re eating (no one loves that!) but I do take wide shots of the dining space, details of the food, and of course, the speeches and reactions.

Once dinner wraps up, it’s time to celebrate! I usually stay for about 20–30 minutes of dancing (and I do love a good dance floor!) before wrapping up coverage and saying goodnight.