Step 4
Next is the booking process! A 50% non-refundable retainer fee is required to secure your date. Once a contract is signed and the retainer fee is paid, I'll send over an invoice with instructions on how to pay for your session along with a contract. Once a contract is signed and the session fee is paid, you're all set!
Step 5
Session day!! On the day of your session, please arrive early. Remember to review the Portrait Guide I sent over for reminders of what to pack. You're going to have a wonderful time making memories with your family!
Step 6
After your session, any stress is gone!! Go out and do a fun activity with your family or friends to celebrate. I'll be hard at work getting your photos back to you within 3 weeks or less! You're always welcome to contact me with questions; before, during and after your session.
Step 4
An engagement session follows. You can pick out the location or I can send you some suggested locations. Engagement sessions are the perfect opportunity for you and your partner to get comfortable with me and be in front of the camera.
Step 5
From here, we can meet and I can help construct your day-of timeline to ensure that we have plenty of time to meet all of your photography needs. If you're working with a day-of or wedding coordinator they are welcome to join in too!
Step 6
A month before your wedding I'll send over a final questionnaire for you and your fiancé to complete. This will let me know your finalized plans so that I can provide you with all you photography needs on your big day!
As You Wish - Couple's Guide
I am SO EXCITED to be going on this journey with you!! Thank you for entrusting me to photograph your special day. I've put together this portal just for "As You Wish" couples. You'll get exclusive access to my engagement session guide, find a sample timeline for an 8 hour wedding, additional information that'll be helpful to planning your day and some vendors I'd recommend to work with.
sample Wedding Photography timeline | 8 hours
Bridal Details
2:30-3:15
Every bride loves having these detail photos. I include your shoes, the rings, jewelry, stationary, bouquet and any other small personal items you may have. These photos are so precious to look back on for years to come.
Bridal Prep
3:15-3:45
After all the details have been photographed, it's time to get into your dress!! You've obviously tried it on before, but this is the real deal. I'll capture everything from your mom helping you into your dress, to your bridesmaid helping you put your shoes on.
First Look
4:00
If you choose to do a first look with your fiancé, we'll make it an intimate moment for the two of you when they see you for the first time. Or if you chose to forgo a first look with you intended, this could be the moment when your father sees your for the first time as a bride.
Portraits
4:15-450
After that special moment of a first look, this is the time to take additional photos with just the two of you. Just like your engagement session, I'll have your be present in the moment where no one else exists except for the two of you.
Bridal Party Portraits
4:50-5:20
This is the fun photo time with your bridal party! We can take some traditional photos but we can also celebrate and take some fun and silly photos as well. It's a great way to spend some time all together and make more memories with your closest family and friends.
Bride in Hiding
5:30-6:00
This is the 30 minutes you never knew you needed as a bride or groom. Use this time to grab a snack to eat, some water and do a final visit to the restroom. It's also a great time to touch up your hair and makeup while relaxing with you crew.
Reception Details
5:30-5:50
While you're tucked away, I'll be taking snapping photos of all your details. This includes your welcome sign, guestbook, reception tables, and cake, I'll even get some photos of your guests as they arrive and begin to experience your special day.
Ceremony Begins
6:00-6:30
Take a deep breath. This is where the magic truly happens. All your planning is coming to light and you start to walk down the isle to the love of your life. We'll all laugh, and probably cry but most importantly, you'll be marrying your true love.
Family Portraits
6:40-7:10
Once the ceremony is over, we'll move into family portraits. We'll steal away different groupings of your loved ones so they can also share in the special day. These photos are great keepsakes and are great to look at in a wedding album.
"Just Married" Portraits
7:15-7:30
The pressure is officially off! You've been married for almost an hour and now you can spend some alone time together. Golden hour portrait photos are some of my all time favorite!
Reception Beings!
7:30
Now the fun begins! Bring on the dinner and dancing! While you and your family eat, I'll sneak away to eat as well. But I'll be back just in time for the bringing of the toasts and formal speeches, Then you can dance with your new spouse and enjoy the night away with family and friends.
The Grand Exit
10:30
When the time comes for the night to come to close, your family and friends will be there to send you off right! It can be grand with sparklers and glowsticks or something more simple. Which ever option you chose, be sure to pause for a final big kiss. Trust me, you'll want these photos to look back on to remember your night.
Additional Information
The Details
What to bring:
dress
vail/hair piece
rings (all three)
shoes
bouquet & bout.
jewelry
perfume
invitation suite
something borrowed & blue,
old & new
First Looks
This is ultimately your decision. But if you ask me for my option, I love a first look - but I will support you no matter your choice!
Here are some of the Pros for a first look:
-It allows you to have a private intimate moment with your partner before the ceremony.
-You will get almost all of the artistic photography done before the ceremony.
-You will enjoy more time on your wedding day alongside your partner.
-It may help you get rid of those pre-wedding jitters.
Here are some of the Pros for a more traditional "first look":
-It can be quite a magical moment where all your loved ones see both your reactions at the same time
-Everyone attending your wedding ceremony will get the opportunity to see the moment you first see your partner.
-You have more time to get ready.
Washington Rain
"Rain is good luck on your wedding day" is a very common phrase. To some, it's comforting. But for others it's very stressful. Even the best laid plans can get slammed by Mother Nature, but rainy-day weddings don't have to be a bummer! As long as you've got a solid contingency plan in place, your wedding will be fabulous.
We're going to live in the moment. So if we get blessed with rain on your wedding, let's enjoy the moment and take some cool rainy wedding photos. If you can plan ahead, maybe get some cute umbrellas or invest in some cute white rainboots?
But really, all I need is some good lighting and we can still take fantastic outdoor wedding portraits.
The Ceremony
Here it is! The moment you and everyone has been waiting for! Your fiancé is waiting at the alter. Your bridal party has just walked down. You take a big breath in and begin to walk down the isle. WOW there they are! Everyone can feel the love and emotion. THIS IS THE MOMENT! Live in this moment. I'll be there capturing it all.
Family Formals
We'll be sure to set aside time to take some formal family photos. Before your wedding, I'll send you questionnaire so we can both know which family members will be included and if there are any specific groupings you'd like.
A few photo grouping examples:
-couple with all parents
-couple with siblings & sibling's spouses
-partner 1 with their parents
-partner 2 with their parents
-full bridal party
-couple with partner one's wedding party
-couple with partner two's wedding party
-candid, silly or relaxed shots
-generation photos
Bridal Portraits
All couples are different, but I highly encourage that we set aside 30 minutes during sunset to take photos. Golden hour is always magical, but this time not only allows you to have a magic moment with your new spouse, we also get to capture it in photographs!
Reception Details
While you're taking some time to relax with family, friends and your new spouse, I'll be running around snapping photos of all your wedding-day details.
These will include:
-the centerpieces
-flowers
-your cake or other sweets
-all the small details you've included
-wedding signs
When you're ready to continue on with the day, I'll be ready to capture:
-your first dance
-the cake cutting
-money dance
-father-daughter dance
-mother-son dance
-toasts
-bouquet and guarder toss
-open dancing
-and so much more!
Grand Exits
You're exit should match your style. If you want it to be grand with sparklers or fireworks, let's go big! But some couples might do a "final song" and dance it out with their family and friends before individually saying goodbye to everyone. You can't go wrong with either choice.
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