Married: Shelby and Andrew

Shelby and Andrew's wedding was simple, but had amazing and delicate attention to detail. Seriously, the gorgeous purple color, Converse All Stars, and super-hero theme rocked the party!

It was super fun to photograph the wedding kiss from the front, catching their guests' reaction. How many times do you see wedding photos of the all-important kiss, with a grinning (or frowning) officiant in the center?! This was SO much better!

Congratulations, Andrew and Shelby!

Rebekah

Sweet, sassy, says-it-as-it-is...

Fun, flirty, Friendly-as-ever...

Gentle, grateful, God-lover...

Thoughtful, thrifty, and tender hearted.

Holly and Keith

Holly and Keith had a beautiful little outdoor ceremony near Lake Superior. 

The charming, outdoorsy decorations were a perfect touch!

Holly's daughters sprinkled the pathway with colorful leaves.

A blazing fire kept us warm, although the love radiating from the couple was enough chase away the September chill.

Neva

Neva Grace...a lovely princess I had the privilege of babysitting quite a few times. 

Bond Falls

Bond Falls is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been! I can't believe I had never been there before, although I've driven through Paulding many times and passed the signs. There are well-kept walkways all along the falls (sadly, I missed any photos of them!) and benches at the bottom of the falls. There are several levels of the falls; pictured here are right and left shots of the lowest level.

I'm planning to return to this picturesque place! Hint: It's also a perfect, romantic spot to visit with someone special! :) 

Brooke and Jamie: Wedding

Jamie and Brooke had a lovely ceremony on a warm afternoon in May. In all the weddings I've attended and/or photographed, I have never seen a groom so in awe of his bride as Jamie was when Brooke was escorted up the aisle by her parents. 

Brooke's colors were blue and orange...an incredible combination! I especially like the table centerpieces/party favors. 

Congratulations, Jamie and Brooke! 

Gregory and Kathleen: Before the Wedding

It's so much fun to photograph a wedding party and wedding preparation! The beautiful bride and bridesmaids, the handsome groom and groomsmen, the flowers, the nervous excitement in the air...

I think they were having fun, too. :) 

Gregory and Kathleen: Sneak Peek

The Ceremony:

The Guys:

The Girls:

Greg and Kathy's wedding was beautiful. I have over 1,000 photos to go through, but I couldn't resist posting a couple pictures to preview.

Bethany

Christmas Kids

Five kids and two dogs. I didn't get any perfect poses but I think I captured their personalities.  :)

Andrea & Joel

Photo credit Seth Haley

I met Andrea in 2002 when, through a mutual friend, we ended up on a week-long trip to Colorado and back. 12-hr car rides tend to be a great way to get to know someone, and Andrea and I were immediately friends. We haven't had many opportunities to see each other in the 9 years since, but we've stayed in touch and have always been able to reconnect.

A little over a year ago, Andrea struck up a conversation with a stranger manning a concession booth at a music festival. That conversation led to quite a few more, and a year later Andrea and Joel pledged to love and cherish each other forever. I was privileged to not only attend the wedding, but capture a few memories for Andrea and Joel. 

Until this year, wedding photography was, quite honestly, something I never considered doing. The majority of the wedding ceremonies I attended while growing up began with the officiant announcing that the bride and groom had requested no photography at either the ceremony or reception. When I first was asked to shoot weddings, I felt a certain amount of anxiety: What exactly was "wedding photography" and how did photographers do it?! A highlight of the weekend was observing professional photographer and fellow IPS student Seth Haley at work.

If I had a photo niche...

"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know."

If I would choose one photographic style to pursue, it would be silhouettes. Silhouettes have fascinated me from a very young age. Perhaps it is the aura of mystery the surrounds a back-lit subject, perhaps the limited opportunities for great silhouettes, perhaps the neglect silhouettes receive in the world of professional and amateur photography. 

Natural-light silhouettes at sunrise or sunset are among my favorites. The small details intrigue me, details that would possibly be lost in a full-color shot. 

Sometimes I use poor lighting as an excuse to hide an imperfect photo in a silhouette. The first wedding ceremony I shot this year had one wall composed almost entirely of windows--talk about a challenge! This photo of the bride ended up being one of my favorite shots of the day. 

Greg and Kathy

I've had a camera in hand-or at least within reach- most of my life. I've photographed people of all ages in many situations. This Summer I realized that, in the tens of thousands of pictures I've snapped, one element was missing: an engagement shoot!

A few weeks later, Greg and Kathy asked me to do their engagement photos. I couldn't have been happier! It was an honor to capture their joy. 

Look for wedding photos in March!