They were friends before they started dating.

Over the past three years they’ve become best friends.

And in two short month they’ll vow to be best friends FOREVER!! (and husband + wife, ’til death do they part… :-))

Laura, you make me so proud to share my first name with you. You’re so gorgeous!!

I LOVE the seriousness that Laura pulled off for this image…

…but this is totally way more ‘them!’

Brent + Laura – thanks so much for being so lovable!! I am so proud to know you and I’m SUPER excited for your wedding in July!!!

I am SO excited to finally share this newlywed session with you! I can’t call it a ‘day after’ session because Chris + Amy have been married for almost a year. And I can’t call it a ‘trash the dress’ session because the dress was not harmed in the making of these images. :-)

What I can tell you about the newlywed session is that we had fun!! It is always my goal as a wedding photographer to allow couples to relax and have fun during the portraits on their wedding day, but sometimes there is so much going on that relaxing and having fun is easier said than done.

The best way to get great photos from your wedding is to start with great lighting.

The majority of the day’s events are indoors and the best way to get great light indoors is to let in as much natural light as possible.

You’ll need to consider the time of day, time of year, and the amount of windows in each particular building you’ll be in on your wedding day to determine when you can utilize natural light and when you’ll need to bring in artificial light.

p.s. ‘natural light’ means the sun, ‘artificial light’ means anything else. :-)

Getting ready:

Have you ever been outside on a bright, sunny day and tried to look through a window or a glass door? You almost have to press your nose against the glass and cup your hands around your face to see inside, right?

Remember this when you’re inside putting on your wedding gown – when you open the shades to let in that wonderful natural light, no one outside can see you unless they press their nose up to the glass and cup their hands around their face. :-)

Natural light coming in from a window to your side is much more flattering than harsh fluorescent lights or anything above your head.

First look:

If the weather doesn’t allow you to start photos outside, have your first look inside next to some really big windows!

Ceremony:

This is when you need to start thinking about the available light and when it’s going to start to disappear.

If you’re having a 4:00 wedding in the winter, (the sun sets around 5pm) you’ll need to consider additional lighting options for your indoor ceremony.

If you’re having a 4:00 wedding in the summer, (the sun sets around 9pm) it will still be light out when you start your first dances.

Reception:

Again, this all depends on the time of year, time of day, and the amount of windows at your venue.

For summer weddings you will hardly need additional lighting if there are plenty of windows at your reception venue.

For winter weddings (or venues with few windows) you get to come up with creative ways to decorate with light!

Dance:

Party lights have a time and place at wedding dances…

…but I think a simple white spotlight (for dark venues) or a few large windows (for light venues) is more suitable for the oh-so-romantic first dances.

Exit:

Sparklers. ’nuff said.

Isn’t it funny how when I was in college I couldn’t wait to be done with school? I even picked a major that allowed me to graduate in three years instead of four. But now that I have my own business and I am solely responsible for my success (or lack thereof), I have this (almost obsessive) urge to do anything and everything better and now I can’t STOP learning new things!!

I am constantly working on my web presence, relationships with my clients, workflow enhancements, shooting techniques and everything in between.

I recently went to my very first workshop and it was so. much. FUN!! It was like college, but way more exciting. Not only did I learn lots of new tips and tricks, but I got to know my two favorite photographers on a more personal level (instead of just following their blog). That’s right, I finally got to meet bobbi+mike!! I think I laughed just as much as I learned. They both have amazing strengths that compliment each other and their business, and they are so energetic and so much fun to be around!

What’s strange about this experience is that I didn’t take a single photo while I was in Indianapolis for the workshop!! Apparently I was too busy learning and chatting with my new photographer friends. :-)

But I’m guessing you’re more interested in seeing photos than reading about my excitement to learn… so here’s a photo of me and Lance from Easter (it would be in color but our outfits clashed…so black and white it is! :-))

This weekend I was in on a little secret. Okay, a BIG secret. I was asked to photograph a PROPOSAL!!!

Brent was planning to propose to his girlfriend at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park and he wanted photos of him, down on one knee, asking Kelcey to MARRY him!!!

I told Brent I would be walking around the lake, and I would be taking photos of the nature and the scenery….

… and how beautiful Sylvan Lake looks…

…and I would be in just the right position when they walked up…

(…and I SO wish I could have recorded Kelcey’s uncontrollable giggles!!!)

…and with a little wave from Brent I came over to photograph the VERY newly engaged couple!!!

As they were driving up, and I was taking photos of the lake, they said “ooh, that would be a pretty place to take some pictures!”

Little did Kelsey know, she was going to get photos of Brent proposing to her!!! :-D

Plus a few extra portraits around the area…

Thanks, Brent for including me in such a special and exciting moment of your relationship!! Congrats again to you and Kelcey!!