As soon I started writing this post, I started to get a little nervous. I mean, this is supposed to be my BEST wedding photographs of 2016, no caveats, no trying to dull the impact by saying I could have done something differently… Simply my best. The past few years this post has been my highest viewed post all year, so this is my chance to showcase my photographic approach to a large group of people who may have never seen my work before.
As I started pulling images to figure how/what I was going to post, I soon found myself with almost 60 photographs, which at first I though was way too many. I found myself arguing with all the voices in my head on what to post and what to cut, what to showcase, what to sell, what was steak and what was sizzle. In the end I am just going to wing this post and follow what my gut says, which is truly I have no plan to this, no rhyme or reason. These photographs are just simply the ones that matter to me. To the people in them, thank you for letting me be a small part to your day and letting me in on having some fun with you and also a little fun at your expense.
To the couples whom I may have the possibility of photographing in the coming years, I hope you feel like you know these couples after seeing these photographs. I also hope you know me better. I hope you see what drives me. I hope you can see me causing trouble with your friends on your wedding day. More than anything though, I hope you could see yourself in these photographs at your own wedding. If you can see me photographing your wedding, shoot me a text, send me an email and just say hi. I am a regular guy, a husband and father who is somehow being allowed to live an extraordinary life.
Welcome to my 2016.
I don’t do scratches.
During the Best Man speech for Taylor and Todd’s wedding, Todd’s best man commented on how many times Todd returned Taylor wedding band because after a VERY thorough examination, Todd found some very fine imperfections. He comment was “I don’t do scratches.”. Yeah, that was one of those moments where I had to pause and think that I better have everything on my end perfect. That may be how some people know Todd. What I found though was, not just Todd but Taylor and Todd as a couple, just felt each other deserved the absolute best. They did ask me a lot of questions in our meeting, they did expect me to be at my best on their wedding but it was done because they just cared about each other. I wholly respect that and in turn after they committed to me, they gave me that respect as well. Their wedding day was full of little details and touches that while they were very “pinteresty” they were all done with a focus on who they were and what mattered to them. So when the Triathlon finish line was unrolled or when Todd started laying out all the little things he bought his guys, the photographer in me was overjoyed. All you couples out there, just be you.
Oh, and Todd did not ask for one photograph to be reedited 😉
The Pee Dance.
Yup. I went there, I am keeping it classy in 2017. Early in the getting ready stages of Corinne and Rob’s wedding, while I was with Corrine and all her ladies at the hair salon, Amy her bridesmaid, came out of the bathroom. While washing her hands, she got a little water on her pants and being the sane/rational bridesmaid of the group, tried to use her hands to fan dry. Due to the copious amount of sleep and water (not) people had in the morning, this was one of the funniest things we all had seen. Thus was born the pee dance. The pee dance made many appearances throughout the day, even including Corinne and Rob’s entrance into their reception. Amy, thank you for taking one for the team and making everyone feel better about their mistakes in life.
What matters to you.
This is your wedding, not your well-meaning parent’s, not the internet’s, not Junebug or Style Me Pretty’s but YOURS. So do what you want. Make memories that matter to you. If you want to go along some random cliff at sunset and take photograph, I am in. If you want to go bowling because the both of you made some memories there and you value those memories, I am JUST AS MUCH in. So that is exactly what Ellen and Andrew did on their wedding day, they went bowling. I will photograph all the things that matter to you and be a part of wherever that take me. If that means a groomsman will throw out his back picking you up, I will capture the exact moment his back pops. Just enjoy your wedding day, with whomever, wherever and however and I will be there.
Best Bridal Party Dance. Ever.
Jenna and Kurt’s wedding took place when it was about 168 degrees outside and that made things a little tougher on all of us. When you get married for the right reasons and are surrounded with the people that matter to you, you always find a way to make it work. Jenna and Kurt really wanted to have their dogs make an appearance in the wedding and with Kurt having one extra groomsman, it worked out perfect as that groomsman walked their dogs down the aisle at their ceremony. However it lead to a possibly awkward moment when they opened the dance floor at their reception with a bridal party dance. Typically the bridal party partners up and they share a dance. Somehow, someway Kurt’s groomsman still found his partners to dance with and just owned that moment. Well played.
Dance like no one is watching, or like everyone is watching.
There is always that one photo at a reception that I can show my wife that starts to explain each couple I photograph. For Ashley and Blake it was this moment at her reception where nothing else mattered. After all the planning, all the pre-wedding chaos, after all the prep work… it was just time to party. Way to own that moment Ashley! if my memory serves, this is your Bridesmaid reaction to your dance moves too! (its been a long year, I could be wrong)
Sometimes it Rains.
I tell my couples that if it rains on your wedding day, all that means is that rained on your wedding day. Everything else that it could mean is up to you. For Danielle and Brenden, that meant a significant change to their ceremony location. I watched them both as things were moved and plans were reorganized. They both had that moment of a little justified frustration but it was very quickly followed up with the realization that they were still getting married to their high school sweetheart today, they were still getting married to the most important person in their lives. At the end of everything I want couples who just want to be married and are not too caught up on how that actually happens. Thank you Danielle and Brenden for being that couple.
Cherish the moments of your wedding.
Your wedding is filled moments. If you were ask people what the important ones are you will hear a lot of the same answers. The first kiss as new couple, the first time you see each other, your first dance. Those are the easy ones and any photographer worth their salt needs to have those captured. What makes your wedding special is the moments IN BETWEEN all those moments. Those small moments are different for every couple and unique to you, to your story, to your life and relationships. For Danika and Michael it was a toast with all his guys and their new flasks, it was Danika tasting her frosting in a way the 3 year old version of her would approve, it was her sharing a moment with her dad right before the ceremony, it was them eating tacos the only way they should be eaten – late at night and from truck. It was also a quiet a moment during their reception where I could sneak them away and let them soak in and appreciate every moment they get have on their wedding day.
Winter isn’t just for sitting on the couch.
I have noticed a few photographers say something along the lines of them not wanting to take on weddings during the winter months. They value their down time and also feel that couples may not enjoyed the cold and everything else that goes along with a winter wedding. In 2016 I shot quite a few winter winters and not only did I enjoy them, my couples did too! Sure we were all cold for parts of the day but that does not mean we can not have fun and take some breathtaking photographs! So if winter is your season, you will enjoy these weddings!
The best photo not taken by me or my 2nd photographer.
This is Julie and Jon, an elegant, successful couple that would give you the shirt off their back if it would make your day better. They can roast you with a joke in one breath and take a roasting of themselves with a silly grace. This happened in the ceremony, when their officiant pointed out to Jon just how sad and pathetic his Cubs were to Julie’s Cardinals. Well Jon, here is your gift from me, take this moment and gloat. You earned it. Also at Julie and Jon’s wedding I noticed a little boy running around with a camera taking all kinds of photographs and having a blast doing it. I learned this little man was Wyatt and he really did have an affinity for photography. I took this opportunity to put my camera around his neck and help take a photograph of Julie and Jon. This is his photograph. This is a moment we will all remember and I am grateful to share it with you.
Weddings are formal events that are supposed to be taken seriously and with dignity.
Yeahhhhhhhhhhh no couple of mine should ever say that. If you do deeply feel like that, I totally understand and respect that but I am probably not the photographer for you. Now if you laugh at things that you probably should not, if you sometimes ruin moments by being a human, if you sometimes question your ability to make rational decision when liquor is near and if you wonder how somedays you can chew gun and breathe at the same time, welcome to my world. We should hang out and see whose stories can make each other cringe more and by all means, keep being just as ridiculous and as much in love as Stephanie and Ryan were on their wedding day.
There are always exceptions to the rules.
So if you have made it far in this post, you have heard me say to be you and embrace being you and just have fun your wedding day. Welllllllllllllllllllllll maybe Nancy and Keith pushed that rule to its limits. Let me walk you through these moments that made me question this belief of being you on your wedding day. (Sidenote, I am not posted the photo where I was mooned).
Keith questioning his life decisions OUT LOUD right during the moment they get to see each other for the first time.
Keith verifying with Nancy that she really wants to marry him before he places her ring on her finger (I actually think this was a smart move by Keith).
Keith promising to follow the rules of their venue which is a BREWERY!
Keith giving Nancy a gentle/romantic kiss.
Keith and his mother having a quiet moment while Keith tries to show her the Rock River.
Nancy’s and her bridesmaids showing her flower girl about life.
Nancy’s bridesmaids REALLY showing the flower girl about life.
Keith getting absolutely destroyed in a speech by the most mature person in the room.
After reading this myself, here is my thoughts. I say Keith and Nancy are perfect for each other and I am so thankful I was the one who got to capture these moments! Keep being you Nancy and Keith!!!
I am noticing a trend.
There seems to be a pattern of couples that just want to enjoy their wedding above else finding me (or maybe I am finding them, I have no idea). I love giving couples that one created photograph that is hung above their fireplace or above their bed that people just ohh over. The photograph that is “Instagram worthy”, one that could and sometimes is featured on Bridal blogs and magazines. That is just one moment in the whole day though. Your life, your story as a couple can not be summed up in one photograph, let alone your entire wedding. Look through these photographs of Crystal and Will and try and tell me they can be compartmentalized into one photograph. Do not let your day and your memories be tied to one photograph.
The last dance of the night and sunshine rain.
Sometimes the last dance of the night happens with 5 people on the floor and earlier than expected, sometimes, like with Kim and Mike’s wedding it happens really late with an absolutely packed dance floor. It means for some real long days when I am just dog tired but if you are going to have a final dance like these guys, I want to be there for it. First let me give a shout out to Mike for his fantasy football championship. As a fellow fantasy owner, I know what that championship belt means and you owned that photo. Whoever won this year, let’s see if they can best this photo! Before Kim and Mike made it to that last dance surrounded by all their friends they had a wedding! I know, big surprise. What you do not know is right after the photo of Kim and Mike in the orchard, it rained. Look at the photo, there are a couple of fluffy clouds in the sky but nothing gloomy. But within moments of this photo, me and my 2nd photographer were literally trying be a human shelter for Kim as it just legit rained for about 3 minutes. It was like out of a cartoon, that one cloud that follows you around while all around you it was sunny. This was before the ceremony, early in the day and Kim could have been a little put off by it. Now look at that last dance of the night photo, does it look like it mattered one bit to her?
No, thank you.
This is easily the proudest accomplishment I have a photographer. I have been wanting to share this wall in my studio for a while but I was waiting for the right time. This past week or so I received this in the mail from Kiley and Jimmy (I hope its ok that I share it you two). This thank you and the others I have my wall that I accumulated over the past 8 years are what has made all the hours of grinding so valuable to me. To receive words like this are sometimes tough for me to fully accept because I can always find things to pick apart when I look at them. It was such a perfect reminder of why I choose to photograph weddings and what really matters when I do photograph them. Kiley and Jimmy’s wedding was a great day but Kiley, how could it be perfect when Jimmy does this to his pants?
These fools.
For the past few years I have had the privilege to be accepted into this group of friends and photograph many of their weddings. Some of them have either been a bride/bridesmaid or groom/groomsmen 5 different times for weddings I have photographed. When both Sarah and Frank and also Rosa and Frankie reached out to me, I initially really was thrown off my game. They already knew by firsthand experience how I shoot, what I do, what to expect and saw photographs from weddings they were in. I really didn’t know what to say to them other than it would be my honor to shoot another wedding with all you fools. These relationships are what matters to me more than anything else. Yes, I hone my craft and try to be a better photographer every year, I take a hard look at things that worked and didn’t work for my business every year … but absolutely NONE of that matters if your experience with me is one as just a photographer. I want to be a friend, I want to be let into the moments that are special to you. Moments that you and your friends cherish, moments that make you laugh and sometimes moments that make you cry. I refuse to allow myself to be content with you to be just happy with your photographs. I want hugs from you, I want random visits to my studio from you, I want text messages years after your wedding and above all I want you to tell your friends that I am the person they need to have as a friend and maybe even photograph your wedding.
- You have been a year full of laugh, some tears, some amazing upswings and some gut punches I would like to forget. However after putting this post together I realize just how lucky I truly am. Thank you to each and every couple that chose me to photograph their moments in 2016! If you know a couple that may like this, please share with them! Actually just share this with anyone, I want my 2017 to be filled with couples that I was lucky enough to meet in 2016. So help me get the word out far and wide!
