let's get to know each other
My name is Lauren
Hello friends! My name is Lauren. I'm a 37 year old mom of 2 children, 3 fur babies and 40 house plants :) I love the simple things in life. The smell of fresh lilacs. The sound of the rain hitting a tin roof. The light warm breeze on a summer evening. I am quiet and reserved but also fun and spontaneous. I love nature, space and music. And as a gemini, I love having photography as a creative outlet.
Life is all about people, moments & emotions that we want to hold on to..
Without connection, what is there really in life? In this day and age, it is so easy to lose that connection. Which is why I'm here! to remind you of your love. And to keep these memories alive for years to come.
I'm not a posey photographer. I use prompts more than anything to help you let out true raw emotion. I will never make you do anything you are not comfortable with.
What I shoot with.........
My new Nikon Z6II is absolutely amazing. With my touch screen, I can easily touch to focus making sure I don't miss any of the special moments. I love my prime lenses. These things are FAST, sharp and are amazing in low light. I generally bring a Sigma Art 35mm, Nikkor 50mm and my Nikkor 85mm to all my sessions creating a good mix of close up and wide angle shots.
You will also see those little things that look like brass knuckles :) these are my prisms! Just something I like to use to add a little zing to your images. I may also bring lace or sheer fabric to shoot through as well or even find random flowers or leaves while out in our session.
WEDDING DAY PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE
Getting Ready and GR details:
This part of the day is often overlooked, however, this is a time you don't want to skip out on. I would allot at least an hour for detail shots of the dress, bouquets, rings etc. During this time we will do some light posing with the bridal party and the bride getting dressed while in the hotel or bridal suite. This is where all the pretty detail shots are taken, so adding personal touches are important. I will let you know what type of things to have on hand for this part of the day.
first look:
Not everyone does this, but I HIGHLY suggest it. The first look is when the bride and groom see each other for the first time PRIOR to the ceremony. I know it sounds crazy and totally against tradition but it works out so well. This is the perfect time to capture the bride and groom before all the hustle and bustle after the ceremony ends. Because, let's face it, everyone wants to say their congratulations ( and I don't blame them), but it can be extremely chaotic, which is why allotting time for the First Look ensures we capture the bride and groom just in case we run short on time after the ceremony. Ideally, I would allot at least 1 hour for First Look and Bride and Groom portraits.
bridal party/family portraits:
I would suggest getting bridal party portraits and any special family portraits prior to the ceremony. If you prefer to keep them after, that is totally ok too! Generally, after the ceremony, the bride and groom are bombarded with people wanting to congratulate them and take pictures with them. Next thing you know, it's been an hour and the DJ is rushing to get you to the reception for your grand entrance. That basically leaves no time for professional shots. Getting all the important pictures done prior to the ceremony, means you can relax and mingle with your people. If you are doing a first look, I would do bridal and family photos immediately following. If you are not doing a first look, please allow at least one hour immediately following the ceremony for bridal/family portraits and bride and groom photos. Split 50/50.
The ceremony:
This is pretty straight forward. Most ceremonies last around 30 minutes or so. During the ceremony, I am as respectful and quiet as possible, but do move around a lot to switch up my angles. I do ask that people not stand in the isle and if they are sitting on the ends of the isle closest to the center, to please have their phones put away. (trust me on this). I would even suggest having an unplugged ceremony if possible. I know all your friends and family would love nothing more than to live stream your wedding, but trust me when I say, I've seen cell phones ruin some pretty amazing pictures. I also may get right up close to the bride and groom to get detail shots of rings etc, but am always very respectful when doing so.
After Ceremony/Cocktail Hour:
If you opt out of doing a first look, then this is the time to get your bridal and bride/groom shots. Before everyone heads down to the reception for cocktail hour, ensure your immediate family stays behind for family portraits. I try to get them done and out of the way first. Then we work on bridal party shots while the family heads down to cocktail hour. Once we are finished with the bridal party, we work on just the Bride and Groom for intimate shots. During this time we ask that the bridal party and all family is away from where the session is taking place to ensure the bride and groom can relax and not be distracted. We will use this entire hour to get all of these shots in. Please ensure your guests are aware that you are doing portraits immediately following the ceremony and to hold all congratulations for when you arrive at your reception to ensure we have ample time to get the shots we need.
Grand Entrance/Reception:
The rest is pretty easy peasy. We will shoot the grand entrance, first dances, toasts, cake cutting and watching everyone boogie on the dance floor!
Sample Timeline
- 12:00 Getting Ready & GR Details
- 12:45 All Hair and Makeup Finished
- 1:00 Dress On; Final Touches
- 1:30 First Look; Bride and Groom Portraits
- 2:30 Wedding Party
- 3:00 Family Portraits
- 3:30 Break and Details
- 4:00 Ceremony Begins
- 4:30 Ceremony Ends
- 4:40 The Couple
- 5:10 Couple Joins the Cocktail Hour
- 5:30 Grand Entrance to Reception
