There is a wall in a relative of my husband’s house...covered top to bottom with frames. Modern, ancient, gold leafed and mahogany cover this skinny wall between the linen closet and the bathroom. And every time I am in this house, I can’t help but stand for long periods of time in front of this wall. Getting familiar with the faces staring back at me whose legacies have been bricks in the path we walk. Grandfathers, aunts and great-grandfathers whose shoulders we now stand on. These photographs are bits and moments of lives sewn together on this wall. But I bet if I had a gift of an hour with one of these individuals, they’d tell me these moments were only snippets in their story.
What if we could leave behind tiny testimonies from the moments that tell the story of the person we had been born to become? But in truth, these seconds of our lives get left on our phone or in our memories...wishing and wanting to get out to have their moment in the sun.
Hither & Hold is a key to a door.
A door that when opened, floods over us with memories and moments of people & places we have loved and celebrated and wished to return to.
So as I hand this book to you, I hope you see it as a key to tell your story. Of who you are, and who you are to become. Of stories and moments and cherished places and people that will be important to those far beyond your days.
The photographic heirlooms you’ll find in these pages are not meant entirely for you. They’re for your children, grandchildren, and great-grand children. It’s for them that I have foraged to find the materials that will last for them to cherish just as you have.
MY PHILOSOPHY
I believe there is strength in small numbers. And especially when it comes to weddings, I prefer the small and intimate gatherings. It all started one Indian summer evening when I second shot a wedding in the Catskills of Upstate New York. They had rented a house where they hosted their immediate family and invited 50 of their closest friends for their union in marriage.
The atmosphere was absolutely sacred. No greeting person after person, the bride and group were free to mingle with everyone because, well - they fit on the back patio perfectly for cocktail hour.
But one moment in the ceremony changed how I feel about weddings in community. Before they exchanged rings, they were placed in a little velvet box and passed around to everyone to hold for a moment and give their warmest thoughts, wishes and prayers.
At my own wedding, we both of our parents come up and lay hands on us and pray for us before we were presented as husband & wife. I found myself looking up during the prayer at the faces of these four people who had brought my husband and I into the world, and I thought ‘This would be enough”. If I were to do this all over again, these four people here with the presence of God as we became man and wife would be all I needed.
These are special gatherings I am summoned to document for you and the legacy you leave. Events this size allow me to document your union at the greatest amount of detail, service and love I can give to you on your special day.
My process
One way I ensure that our brides and grooms enjoy the best photographic experience possible is through forming a relationship with our couples. I try our best to make sure that all of our couples are the perfect fit for us before officially booking. A bride and groom should connect with their photographer, trust their photographer and be excited about the whole process with them! After booking, I love getting to know my clients through an engagement session that helps them warm up to the camera so that they are ready to rock and roll on the wedding day! By the time the wedding day arrives, my clients feel more like friends and that creates a safe and relaxed environment for photography.
My Gear
I am a hybrid photographer, which means I shoot film & digital throughout the day. I find that the process of shooting with film brings a natural rhythm to our time together...it’s slower and more present.
I bring the following gear with me on a wedding day:
2 - Contax 645 - Medium Format Film Cameras
Canon EOS 3 - 35mm Format Film Camera
Kodak Portra 35mm & Medium Format Film
Canon 5D Mark I + II Digital DSLR
I do use flash, but very sparingly - mostly for darker hotel rooms for getting ready & evening indoor receptions.
UNBOUND ALBUMS
When you have fine art, you don’t glue and stitch it; rather, you cherish it one moment at a time.
You want to be free to hang it on your walls, gift it to a friend, or re-live it one page at a time. Our Unbound Album contents are completely customized to your preference, and come with your choice of glass or wood.
glass legacy box
Handcrafted by a local artist in southwestern Wisconsin, the glass legacy box is our signature offering. The hinged top opens easily, and is available in multiple sizes that are designed to hold loose prints, matted fine art, even albums.
wood legacy book
Expertly dovetailed and beautifully handcrafted boxes available in Oil Rubbed Walnut or Cherry.
WHY INVEST?
Your first decision as an engaged couple is to set priorities for your wedding planning. You have to decide what you value most. Is it the dress? The food? The Venue? As a bride AND photographer, I believe that couples should make their photography a top priority. After the big day is over, you will leave your reception with a spouse & your pictures.... that’s it! All of that planning and preparation is over in a matter of hours! So if you’re choosing to invest in high quality photography, those images deserve a classy, elegant home a er the wedding. I offer my fine art prints, unbound albums, and even frames to all my clients a la carte. is is the perfect ending to the Wedding Experience and keepsakes that you will be showing your children and grandchildren one day!
FAQ
Proofing
Once the wedding day is complete I ship the film off to The Find Lab. Once I receive those back, I then edit the digital files side by side for a seamless aesthetic. Printed proofs will arrive at your door about 4 weeks a er the wedding date, and the USB card & online gallery information will be in that package. You will have the ability to print, share and download your images as much as you want. I believe in freely sharing my work because that is what we would want if we were in your shoes!
Shooting Style
I love being both interactive and discreet throughout the wedding day. There will be parts of the wedding day when I will need to be in control in order to accomplish everything that needs to be done while staying on schedule. ere will also be moments when you shouldn’t even know that I’m there. (the ceremony, during dances and toasts, etc.)
I believe there is more to portraiture than just being posed for the camera. It’s about the experience of savoring what matters most in your life together. I use a technique that is based in the natural connection you two have through guided interactions that flow into authentic posing. The ‘expression invites’ are prompts I’ll give you that range from playful & belly laugh inducing to recalling sentimental & nostalgic moments from your story together.
Engagements
I am more than willing to travel for engagement sessions! I actually love it when couples ask to photograph them in a location that means something special to them! I book engagement sessions at least two months in advance and 60 miles of travel are included.
Booking
Start by scrolling down to the bottom of this page and filling out an Inquiry Form! We'll meet and once I have answered any questions you may have and you have decided that our Wedding Experience is exactly what you’re looking for on your wedding day, the next step is a booking proposal. I will create an online proposal that will walk you through the package and when you’re ready you can save your date by signing your contract and paying your deposit online.
inquire
Fill out the form below to begin! You'll instantly receive full pricing information, availability, and a questionnaire to begin designing your dream wedding day photos.
