wedding guide
01 | The Philosophy:
Observation Over Production
My creative process is an act of observation, not production. I am a curator of the "lived-in" experience. The frames that aren't practiced, but simply felt. I lean into the raw, unpolished heart of the 70s and the warm nostalgia of a 90s rom-com, all wrapped in a warm, earthy, and moody palette.
I describe my style as Documentary-Cinematic. This means I don’t "pose" you into stiff, breathless statues. Instead, I prompt you into movement and then step back, allowing the scene to direct itself through the lens of your love. I am chasing the genuine connection—the messy hair, the tear-stained cheeks, and the heavy, honest emotions that a "perfect" photo could never capture.
My Top Tips for the Day
To ensure your story is preserved with intention, keep these three pillars in mind. I go into much deeper detail on how to master these in Section 04: The Wedding Day Guide.
I. Movement is Magic: Static is the enemy of authenticity. If it feels silly, you’re doing it right. Sway, twirl, and walk. Movement creates the cinematic blur and the raw soul that makes a photo feel alive.
II. The Tether Principle: Stay close to your partner. Genuine, unposed artifacts only happen if you are physically together. Navigate the day as one unit to catch those small, quiet hand gestures and shared glances.
III. Radical Presence: Forget I am there. Look at your partner, your family, and your friends. I am here to document your life as it happens, not to interrupt it. Your only job is to exist within the ritual.
02 | The Road to the Archive:
What to Expect once you're booked
the engagement session
This session is where we break the ice and find our rhythm. It’s a vital part of the process, which is why it’s included in every wedding collection. We arrive at your wedding day not as strangers, but as collaborators who already know how to vibe and be ourselves.
The Connection
I don't believe in being a stranger who just shows up on the big day. We stay in touch. I am here for the dreaming, the planning, and the questions. I want to be a familiar, calming face in your whirlwind.
The Questionnaire
A few months before the day, I’ll send a deep dive into the "soul" of your day. This is where you tell me about the people who matter most and the specific, moody details you’ve poured your heart into.
The Wedding Day
I arrive to blend into the room, starting with the quiet details and the nervous ritual of getting ready. Throughout the day, I am a silent observer of the raw heartbeats of your union, scanning for unposed moments: a hand found under a table or a parent’s quiet tear. I move with the flow of the day rather than forcing it into a mold. Whether navigating rain or a chaotic dance floor, I am there to anchor the memory, ensuring the art reflects the actual energy you felt.
The Permanent Archive
Once the day is done, the work of preserving it begins. You will receive a curated gallery of high-resolution images that tell the full, unscripted story of your day. These are your digital heirlooms, delivered in an online space where you can download, print, and share your legacy. This is where the fleeting moments become permanent, living on as a testament to the love and the chaos that made your day yours.
03 | The Engagement Session:
A Date with a third wheel
Forget everything you think you know about "getting photos taken." I want you to look at this session as a mini-date or a deliberate adventure. We aren't here to check boxes or get the "standard" portrait for a save-the-date; we are here to document how you exist together in this season of life.
The Setting
Choose a location that carries weight. Maybe it’s a spot that means something deeply to your history, or maybe it's just a place that feels like "you". A sun-drenched field, a local record shop, or a trail in the woods. I have a curated list of beautiful, earthy locations that I love, but I’m always chasing a new horizon if you have a place in mind. The goal is a backdrop that lets you relax and be yourselves.
The Wardrobe
Coordinate, don’t match, we want your clothing to feel like an extension of the environment. Instead, lean into textures that catch the light and add depth: lived-in denim, thick knits, flowing silks, or corduroy. Stick to earthy, moody tones that ground the image. I want you to look like the most radiant version of yourselves, but still recognizable. Above all, choose something you are fully comfortable in and makes you feel as confident as possible.
The Mindset
Relax. Flirt. Whisper things only they can hear. The goal is for you to forget the lens and remember why you’re doing this in the first place. Forget the camera, forget the "poses," and forget the pressure to look a certain way. If you arrive with the mindset that this is just a day to hike a trail, have your favorite drink at your favorite spot, or slow-dance in a field, the art will happen on its own. The more you lean into the adventure and less into the "photoshoot," the more we capture those raw, unposed artifacts of your love.
04 | The Wedding Day Commandments
live by this on your special day
Movement is Magic
In my work, static is the enemy. I am chasing the cinematic blur of a dress, the wind catching a veil, and the way bodies naturally shift when they are close. I want you to embrace the "silly." If I ask you to walk, don't just walk but stroll, bump shoulders, and laugh. If you’re standing together, don’t lock your knees; sway as if there’s music playing that only you two can hear.
When you move, you stop thinking about the camera and start thinking about your body and your partner. That transition is where the energy comes from. Movement creates the grain, the soul, and the life in a still image. Even if it feels a little goofy in the moment, trust the process, it looks like magic through the lens.
The Tether Principle
This is the most crucial piece of advice I can offer: Navigate the day as one unit. It is incredibly easy to get pulled apart during the reception. One person is at the bar, the other is talking to a long distant aunt. While those separate moments are fine, the true "candid artifacts" happen in the space between you.
The small hand gestures on the small of your back, the brief, knowing smile shared across a table, the way you lean into each other while a guest is talking to you. These are the intimate details that define your connection. To capture the "lived-in" love you want, you have to be physically near each other. Make a pact to keep your partner within arm’s reach as much as possible. When you stay together, the story tells itself.
Be Radically Present
Your wedding day is a ritual, not a photoshoot. My goal is to be a quiet observer, not a director. To do this, I need you to commit to being radically present with your people and each other. I know it’s difficult when there’s a camera nearby, but try your absolute best to pretend I’m not there.
Don’t look at me for cues. Don't worry about if your "good side" is showing. Just belly laugh with your bridesmaids and cry during your vows. (And don't be alarmed if you see my camera glued to my face during the big moments. I’m a crier, too. If the tears are flowing, it just means I’m right there in the ritual with you.) The more you ignore the lens and sink into the celebration, the more authentic and raw your gallery will be.
05 | The Narrative Flow:
A Loose, Cinematic Timeline
The Quiet Morning
The day begins with the slow ritual of getting ready. These are the moody, nostalgic moments of anticipation. I’m looking for the tiny details: the way your dress hangs in the light, the ritual of putting on jewelry, and the quiet, nervous laughter with your closest people. It’s an earthy, intimate start to the story, captured with a focus on the mood and the "lived-in" feeling of the room.
The Private Meeting
If you choose to do a first look, first touch, or a private vow exchange, this is our moment of calm. It’s an intentional choice to create a pocket of stillness before the whirlwind of the day begins. We’ll find a quiet corner of the location where you can simply see or feel each other. No audience, no pressure, just a raw, intimate encounter. This often provides some of the most nostalgic and romantic frames of the entire day because the emotion is entirely for you, not for the guests.
The Ceremony
This is the soul of the day. I stay back, acting as a witness to the ritual as it unfolds naturally. I am chasing the raw emotions, the trembling hands, the deep exhales, and the intimate bliss of your vows. I don't interrupt; I document. My goal is to capture the atmosphere of the room so that when you look back, you don't just see the altar, you feel the gravity of the promises you made to each other.
The Portrait Study
This is a vital pocket of time, the weight of the ceremony is behind you, the nerves have settled, and you are finally The Newlyweds. We’ll spend 30 minutes together capturing you in this specific energy while keeping it on the shorter side for you to actually be present on your special day. I need this space to let you breathe and find your rhythm again after the chaos of family photos. There’s no stiff posing here; it’s about you two vibing, feeling, and being yourselves before you join the celebration. Whether the sun is setting or the clouds have rolled in, we use the honesty of the light we have to document the intimate bliss of your first moments as one. This is where we capture the movement, the small touches, and the genuine connection that defines your love.
The Celebration
When the ritual ends, the energy takes over. I am there for the heavy, honest emotions of the speeches and the blurry joy of the dance floor, hunting for the feeling of the room rather than "perfect" photos. Whether it is a quiet dinner over candlelight or a crowded floor, I move with the crowd to document the celebration as it naturally unfolds. My goal is to anchor the night so the final gallery feels as alive and electric as the moment itself.
Trust the movement. Lean into the chaos. Stay in each other’s orbit and don't look for the camera. look for each other. Let the scene direct itself; I’m just here to archive the raw heartbeats in between.
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