How to Plan a Wedding That's True to You: Wedding Planning Tips From a Documentary Wedding Photographer
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How to Plan a Wedding That's True to You: Wedding Planning Tips From a Documentary Wedding Photographer

There’s no one-size-fits-all dream wedding—and Courtney and Bud proved that in the most intentional, unforgettable way. They skipped the performance, leaned into personality, and planned a day rooted in meaning. From walking down the aisle solo to dancing with lightsabers on Star Wars Day, every detail felt like them. This isn’t just a wedding story—it’s a reminder that the best celebrations come from the heart, not a checklist. Dive into their soulful, espresso martini-soaked Memphis wedding and get inspired to plan your own day your way.

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Why Wedding Rehearsal Pictures Matter: The Importance of Having Your Rehearsal Dinner Documented
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Why Wedding Rehearsal Pictures Matter: The Importance of Having Your Rehearsal Dinner Documented

Your wedding day sweeps by in a rush of embraces and promises, the music carrying you long into the night,  but the evening before holds its own kind of beauty. Wedding rehearsal pictures capture the first hellos, the heartfelt toasts, and the quiet conversations you won’t have time for tomorrow. Here’s why I always recommend documenting it.

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You Don't Need a Wedding Shot List, You Need Trust! A Wedding Photography Guide
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You Don't Need a Wedding Shot List, You Need Trust! A Wedding Photography Guide

The best photos from your wedding day won’t be the ones you planned—they’ll be the ones that just happened. The teary-eyed glances, the belly laughs in feather pajamas, the quiet moments laced with legacy. This isn’t a call to ditch your wedding shot list entirely—it’s a reminder that real magic lives in the in-between. This guide is for the couples who value truth over trends, who want a photographer that sees with heart.

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How to Make Your Backyard Wedding Feel Like Home
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How to Make Your Backyard Wedding Feel Like Home

Jenny and Leif’s backyard wedding was the kind of day that didn’t need staging—it was already sacred. Think: mismatched chairs, homemade pasta, their dog stealing the show, and a dad in his Navy uniform crying like that was his whole job. It wasn’t about cutting corners—it was about pouring love into every part of the day.

That’s the magic of a backyard wedding. It’s not curated, it’s connected. It’s comfort over convention, people over Pinterest, meaning over perfection. And when you lean into that? That’s when home becomes holy.

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Why Your Travel Wedding Photographer and Vendors Should Feel Like Family
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Why Your Travel Wedding Photographer and Vendors Should Feel Like Family

Your travel wedding photographer isn’t just someone behind the camera—they’re the one fixing your hair, passing you tissues, sneaking you a drink, and cheering you on like your day-one. You spend more time with them than almost anyone else on your wedding day. So yeah, it should be someone who feels like home.

Because when your vendors know your story, not just your timeline? That’s when the magic happens.

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What It’s Like to Have Me Photograph Your Entire Wedding Weekend
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What It’s Like to Have Me Photograph Your Entire Wedding Weekend

Claire and Colby didn’t just plan a wedding day—they planned a whole weekend, and I got to live it with them. From barefoot dock dances in the rain to Animal Kingdom mimosas, every moment was soaked in soul and spontaneity. That’s what happens when I’m there for the whole ride—not just snapping photos, but catching memories mid-laugh, mid-chaos, mid-love. Because the best stories aren’t just told—they’re lived.

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New York Couples Photography on Film: Melissa & Ryan’s Candid Honeymoon Session
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New York Couples Photography on Film: Melissa & Ryan’s Candid Honeymoon Session

Melissa and Ryan’s New York couples photography session wasn’t planned—it just clicked. One spontaneous trip, a few DMs, and suddenly we’re sharing ice cream in DUMBO, letting the city wrap itself around their honeymoon glow. No pressure, no posing—just the soft, in-between moments that make a new beginning feel like magic. This is why I love shooting couples in NYC on film: it’s messy, nostalgic, and real as hell.

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