my approach to wedding photography

My approach is between documentary wedding photography and intentional editorial direction. I want photographs to feel honest to what actually happened, while still bringing a clear point of view to portraits, light, composition and the overall visual story. To put my vibe more plainly: old money + chic + whimsy

I shoot on 35mm film and digital, working closely with each couple and their planning team before the wedding so I can understand the direction and aesthetic of the weekend.

Film + Digital

I carry both film and digital cameras with me throughout the wedding weekend.

Digital makes up the majority of my coverage because it allows me to photograph the full range of moments happening around me, but I tend to reach for film when something feels especially significant or when I see an opportunity for a more considered, creative frame.

I don't try to make film and digital imitate one another. I prefer letting each medium do what it does best.

My digital work tends to feel clean, timeless and rich in color, while my film photography leans a little more nostalgic, atmospheric and imperfect in the best way. When the two are brought together, the final gallery has variation without feeling disconnected.

Direction Without Over-Posing

Most couples don't want stiff, overly posed wedding pictures. At the same time, being photographed without any direction can feel just as uncomfortable.

During portraits, I take a more active role. I'll guide you toward good light, help with movement and positioning, and give enough direction that you're never left wondering what you're supposed to be doing.

That allows the portrait portion of the day to move smoothly and gives us room to create more intentional, editorial photographs without making the experience feel rigid.

During the rest of the wedding, my approach shifts. I step back, pay attention to what is happening around me and photograph moments as they naturally unfold.

Pre-Production

A large part of my work happens before I step foot at the wedding.

Collaborating with my couples and their planning teams to understand the overall vision for the celebration, the atmosphere they're hoping to create and the details that make the wedding their own niche.

That can mean thinking through portrait locations, architecture, lighting at different times of day, wardrobe, visual concepts, important details and how the photography fits within the timeline.

Multi-Day Wedding Coverage

Welcome parties, rehearsal dinners, wedding days and farewell events give us the opportunity to tell a much broader story while also creating photographs in completely different environments.

I approach each event with its own visual language.

A relaxed welcome party on the coast might call for warmer tones, looser compositions and photographs that feel spontaneous. The following day's formal celebration might be photographed very differently, with stronger architecture, more structured portraits and a completely different color palette.

Instead of making every event look identical, I want each part of the weekend to have its own identity while still feeling cohesive when everything is viewed together.

Multi-day coverage also creates more breathing room. Not every portrait or idea has to happen during an already packed wedding-day timeline, which often leads to better photographs and a more relaxed experience.

Based in Kansas City, Photographing Weddings all over