Posts in wedding
Adyson+Drew | Kansas Wedding

I say this a lot, but this day was truly perfect. Everything about it from start to finish was what wedding dreams are made of. We had the most lovely, laid back, beautiful couple in Ady and Drew, with the most fun bridal party who was up for all of our photo shenanigans (and continuously ‘iced’ each other throughout the day), and the most beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception out on Adyson’s parents’ land. As a wedding photographer, this is seriously the 10/10, all I ever hope for in a wedding….awesome people, good energy, beautiful scenery, and optimal lighting conditions. It was an honor and a pleasure to document this entire wedding day for Ady and Drew. Here’s a few of our favorite’s from their wedding. Enjoy…

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Mariah+Richard | KC Wedding

We got to photograph the absolute sweetest couple for their wedding at the Mallinson Vineyard and Winery in Kansas City. Surrounded by a group of their closest friends and family, Mariah and Richard said their vows under an old tree overlooking the vineyard. We couldn’t have picked a better place to have this wedding. The Vineyard has so many options for great portraits, including two separate ceremony sites, so much beautiful foliage, both indoor and outdoor options, and on site overnight rental options. Oh, and do yourself a favor and get yourself a wine slushy:) Yumm. Here’s a few of our favorites from Mariah and Richard’s wedding day. Enjoy!

Want us to photograph your wedding? The conversation starts right here! Drop us a line to get the ball rolling!

Emily+Austin | Missouri Wedding

Truth be told, I wish a lot more weddings were like Emily and Austin’s. Outdoor ceremony out in a beautiful Missouri field by the creek, a couple of tents and some string lights and all your closest friends and family. It seriously makes the best wedding photo albums. I started off at a nearby church with Emily and the girls getting ready. There I began with the details as I always do. Emily had all of the perfect little touches to add to her detail collection. The bride read a little letter that Austin had sent to her and from there it was time to get dressed, do a quick first look with the father of the bride and head over to our ceremony location for portraits of the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately. After portraits, everyone watched as Emily and Austin said their vows under an old tree, sun shining down, perfect weather, all of the stuff your wedding dreams are made of. Afterwards, we did some more bridal party portraits and family photos and then the couple danced the night away under the outdoor lights with their friends and family. We capped the night off with some shotgunned beers and a few games of flip cup. What a perfect day :) Here’s a few of my personal favorites from Emily and Austin’s Missouri Wedding. Enjoy!

Want us to photograph your wedding? The conversation starts right here. Drop us a line to get the ball rolling.

Clarissa+Dalton | Missouri Wedding

Clarissa and Dalton got married on April 21st, 2023 at the Belvedere Wedding and Event Center in Carthage, Missouri. Here are a few of our favorite frames. Enjoy:)

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Janelle+Cody | Kansas Wedding

Spring time weddings are in full effect and they are some of my favorite. All of the foliage is starting to come into bloom and we’re starting to get some nice days coming out of winter. We began this beautiful wedding with Janelle and her bridesmaids getting ready at a family home in Frontenac. Janelle was just finishing up hair and makeup as we arrived so we started photographing all of the wedding details to begin the day. Next we met up with Cody and his groomsmen at the Timmons Chapel on Pittsburg State’s campus. After a few getting ready shots with the guys, Janelle had arrived for the first look with our Bride and Groom. They saw each other for the first time inside the chapel, in a sweet private moment for the two of them, and afterward they were joined by their son in the Chapel for a few family portraits. We then moved outdoors for all of portraits. Here are a few of our favorites….

Want us to photograph your wedding? The conversation starts right here. Drop us a line to get the ball rolling!

Caitlyn+Eric | Wedding

I love getting to photograph weddings for friends and family. Way back in the day, I worked with Caitlyn’s mom Callie and that is how she and I became acquainted. It was so good to see their family again and capture all of these once in a lifetime memories from their wedding day. Caitlyn and Eric got married at The Legacy at MK Ranch in Tahlequah, OK on March 4th, 2023. Even though Tahlequah is pretty close in proximity to me, I somehow have never been there. It is such pretty country down that way. The drive and scenery were absolutely beautiful and I hope I get to go back soon! Here are just a few of my favorite images from Caitlyn and Eric’s beautiful wedding day!

I also love getting to work with vendors and forming those new relationships in this industry. I got to work with Kylea from Ever and Ivy Events and she absolutely killed the planning and all of the decorations and accoutrements, as it were. I hope we get to work together again! The Legacy at MK Ranch is an amazing and versatile venue. There are so many picturesque locations on this property for gorgeous wedding photos and lots and lots of trees from dreamy lighting every time.

Want us to photograph your wedding? The conversation starts right here. Drop us a line to get the ball rolling!

Ashlyn+Grant | Colorado Wedding

I’ve traveled a lot over the years for weddings to different parts of the country, and I’ve found that the older I get, the less enchanted I’ve become with the prospect of a destination wedding. But a Colorado mountain wedding just does something for my soul. It reinvigorates my passion and love for what I do, reminds me why I do it, and pushes me further forward in this journey of wedding photography that I’ve been on for over ten years now. We started back in 2012 and back then, traveling for a wedding wasn’t even a thought in my head. Now I’m headed to far off places a few times a year, and I’m forever grateful for these opportunities to see all the beautiful parts of this country.

breckenridge colorado wedding photographer

When Ashlyn and Grant contacted me about photographing their wedding in Colorado, I jumped at the opportunity. Colorado is a state that I fell in love with in my teenage years and early twenties, traveling out to snowboard and vacation with friends and family over the years. These days I’m in love with Colorado for a different reason. Because it provides the most beautiful backdrop for gorgeous wedding photos, and traveling out for a wedding is an absolutely excellent excuse for a mini vacation. Those two pair really nicely together. Just another reason for me to love this profession that I’ve chosen.

This new small gathering of friends and family in an Air BnB, I’m here for it. I seem to be getting more and more of this style of wedding, and it makes my job so much easier for a lot of reasons. A lot of times it means smaller bridal parties, like in Ashlyn & Grant’s wedding, which means I get to spend so much more time doing portraits with the bride and groom. I’m never mad about that. The small elopements also eliminate a lot of the hustle and bustle and distractions you get with big production weddings. Again, less distraction makes my job so much easier to do.

Being a Dad to a little girl myself, anything Father Daughter related always puts my in my feelings. Dad’s dancing with their daughters at their weddings, walking them down the aisle and giving them away or just a random Toyota commercial, it all hits me that way. So when I heard Bill start to read this letter from his daughter Ashlyn, well I’ll just say it’s nice to have such a big camera to hide my face. It went something like this as Bill emotionally read the tear filled note…“Dad….I hope you know that I am an absolute mess writing this. Not because I’m a girl, but because I have been and always will be a daddy’s girl. I’ve always looked forward to this day with you. It’s hard to come to the realization that you are officially giving me away today. I might have some of your bad genes, health wise, but I most definitely have all of your good ones that make me strong and independent like you, and hardheaded, love you”.

Ashlyn and Grant wrote the most heart felt vows to each other and read them as the snow fell down around them, surrounded by their closest group of friends and all their family. It was a magical site to see and one I won’t soon forget.

Want us to photograph your wedding? The conversation starts right here. Drop us a line to get the ball rolling?

The #1 Question All Brides Should Be Asking Their Wedding Photographer

This article is to help you distinguish between multiple wedding photographers whose cost is in the same ballpark, but you have you have no idea what sets them apart. You don’t know this yet, but even though they cost the same, they have vastly different levels of experience, and to help you avoid a potential negative experience with an inexperienced photographer on your wedding day. The number one question I would ask when interviewing potential wedding photographer is a question that I rarely, if ever get asked when speaking with potential wedding clients. “How many weddings have you photographed?”. If you are getting married and planning to speak with photographers about shooting your wedding, put this phrase in your front pocket. Also, I should say if your goal is to hire an inexperienced photographer for less money due to budget constraints, please do that, the budget is the budget and this post isn’t for you.

I have photographed over 400 weddings in the last ten years, and have the unique perspective of being a photographer who is also a videographer. So the weddings where I’m solely shooting video, I get to work with other photographers, so I’ve got to witness hundreds of other photographers do their thing. Let me tell you, as a bystander shooting video, I’ve seen the ‘oh shit’ look wash over a brides face about midway through their wedding day FAR too many times, when they realize they hired the wrong photographer. Don’t let this be you.

kansas city wedding photographer

Let’s talk about why we want to ask this question. One of the many dirty little secrets is that photographers who are just starting out will take a few pretty pictures, put together a little website and instagram and slap a price on their wedding packages commensurate to professional photographers who have been doing this for years, and voila, they are booking weddings (and tricking brides). For the purposes of this conversation, let’s call this the Under 100 Wedding photographer, or Under 100 for short, and the experienced photographer we’ll call the Over 200 wedding photographer, or 200+ for short. (Disclaimer: if you’re an awesome photographer with under 100 weddings, hell yeah, do your thing. I’m only speaking in generalities based on my experience, so don’t let this be a shot at you). If you are choosing your photographer, solely on instagram posts, these two photographers may be indistinguishable from each other. But I’m here to tell you, and if you take one thing from this post, the difference between Under 100 and 200+ are VASTLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES LEADING UP TO YOUR WEDDING, ON YOUR WEDDING DAY, AND POST WEDDING. Here’s why…

joplin wedding photographer

So let’s talk a bit about the differences in that experience. Here’s all the things Under 100 is going to do that annoy the piss out of you on your wedding day.

  1. Under 100 (because of their insecurities as a photographer) is going to ask you a shit load of questions all day, and 200+ isn’t going to ask any questions. “Where do you want to do first look?, Would you rather do portraits over here, or over here?” and the list goes on and on. Over 200 wedding guy is going to tell you exactly what to do, doesn’t have any questions for you. He’s done this so many times, he knows exactly where everything is supposed to happen. This is like breathing to him. Your photographer is the professional, they shouldn’t be asking you questions on preferences. They should be telling you what to do.

  2. Under 100 is going to short change you on your portrait session (again, insecurities…) . They’ll take ten minutes or so for the bride and groom , ‘ummm’ you to death the whole time, maybe look at their phone for pose ideas, spend a couple minutes just them and their second shooter looking at the gorgeous sun flare they accidentally got , and inevitably they’ll run out of ideas and tell you that they are all done (insert big eye roll). 200+ is going to take pictures of you and your new groom until the sun goes down or cows come home or whatever the saying is LOL, because they want to give you bang for your buck and be happy with your experience of having them as your wedding photographer. They don’t need their phone or Pinterest board for ideas. All the ideas are in their head because they’ve done this so many times.

  3. Ok, this kind of falls under #2, but 200+ is going to be doing rapid fire prompting and poses as their creativity flows quickly, because they want to give you a full bodied, versatile album that lacks in nothing and is worthy of a magazine. Under 100 is going to deliver an album that leaves you wanting so much more, because of the short changing on your portrait sessions. Under 100’s often take forever to get through their poses. I’ve worked with photographers who will have a bride and groom in the same pose for 5-10 minutes. I don’t know if they’re stuck in their head, like they don’t know what the next idea is or what, but this is way too long and your finished album is going to really suffer because of this.

4. Under 100 is going to get confused and frustrated by lighting situations that aren’t exactly what they’re used to, and your pictures are going to suffer in a big way. 200+ has seen it all and is comfortable shooting in any lighting situation. To be really REAL with you right now, there are plenty of photographers over 100 weddings who don’t even know how to work the features of their own camera, let alone a flash if needed. They don’t know how to work in direct sunlight if all they ever do is work in the shade, or vice versa.


I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH, BUT THESE TWO HYPOTHETICAL PHOTOGRAPHERS IN THIS SCENARIO COST THE SAME. THIS IS EXTREMELY COMMON BY THE WAY, A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS DONE 25 WEDDINGS MIGHT COST THE SAME AS A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS PHOTOGRAPHED 200. BY NOW I THINK YOU KIND OF GET THE POINT AS TO WHY THIS IS A BIG DEAL, AND WHY YOU HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION. WHAT WAS IT AGAIN? SAY IT WITH ME….

HOW MANY WEDDINGS HAVE YOU PHOTOGRAPHED?

the roast continues…

5. The 200+ wedding photographer is going to be THROWING full wedding albums at you when you inquire with them. They are proud of their work and every single picture they’ve taken. Under 100 is going to try and steer you toward their portfolio or instagram so you can only see their greatest works. This is a good way to tell right off the bat. Is your photographer sharing full albums with you? If not, ask for them, and not just one. You need to see a few.

6. The inexperienced Under 100 tends to be overly posey, and what I mean by that is they don’t yet have quality prompts to get the reactions that they want (or tbh they may not have even discovered prompts and just love posing) to make good photos, so they are just going to pose you instead of prompting you to get big smiles and natural laughs we all love to see in photos that make them look so candid and beautiful. You might see a couple natural laughs on their instagram feed that they lucked into. Don’t be fooled, and don’t hire your photographer based on an instagram feed while we’re at it, in case I didn’t make that point clear enough earlier on. Instagram is the exact opposite of a meritocracy, where you can increase your popularity and bookings by talking louder (posting more frequently). This is the most ass backwards thing in our galaxy if you ask me, but that’s a conversation for a different day. Instagram is a convoluted crap shoot mess of photographers that tells you almost nothing about the quality of the experience you’ll get on your wedding day and what your album that gets delivered to you will look like.


Let me reiterate, the post is to help you distinguish between two photographers priced the same, with vastly different levels of experience. Don’t get bamboozled by someone with a cool instagram galavanting as a wedding photographer. Hire a professional and don’t forget to ask…

HOW MANY WEDDINGS HAVE YOU PHOTOGRAPHED?

Molly+Jeff | Fayetteville, Arkansas Wedding | Photographer

I put a bow on this year with my final wedding of 2020. Molly and Jeff got married at the Likewise Wedding & Event Space in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This space is so industrial, urban, hip, and an absolute dream to photograph in. Northwest Arkansas is full of dream wedding venues, and this place fits right in. Natural light is leaking through the windows all the way around and Molly and Jeff were the perfect couple to photograph and bring a close to 2020. Molly and Jeff were also the first couple ever to get married in this space so that’s something special that they will always remember. The bride and groom recited vows in a small ceremony, and shortly following the newlyweds tasted some delicious cake and indulged in a glass of champagne before portraits in the event space. Then we headed over to The Inn at Carnal Hall on U of A campus to finish up portraits. I can’t think of a better way to close out 2020 than this absolutely perfect wedding day! Congratulations Molly and Jeff. Here’s a few of my early favorites from their wedding day!

Ashley+Taylor | Whitaker Point Elopement Wedding

I met my new friends Ashley and Taylor down in Northwest Arkansas for their elopement wedding on the Hawksbill Crag at Whitaker Point. I made the long drive through the mountains of Northwest Arkansas to meet up with these sweethearts and their two pups to make the mile and half hike out to Whitaker Point, where they would recite their handwritten vows. The scene from the top of Whitaker Point is absolutely breathtaking, and I can’t think of a better place they could have picked to get married. Here’s a few favorite frames from Ashley and Taylor’s Northwest Arkansas Wedding!

Want us to photograph your wedding or elopement? Drop us a line right here to get the ball rolling!

Elena+Zach | Kansas City Wedding Photographer | The Everly Event Space

Elena and Zach got married at The Everly Event Space in Kansas City, Missouri. We explored the space in and around the beautiful event center for portraits, and took a trip on the trolley down to Loose Park as well. The bride and groom chose such a fun group as bridesmaids and groomsmen so the couple hours we had for portraits did not disappoint. We are absolutely loving all of these frames from their Kansas City Wedding. I’m so glad these two sweethearts chose me as their wedding photographer. Here’s a few favorites from Elena and Zach’s wedding day. Enjoy…

Want us to photograph your wedding? Drop us a line right here to get the ball rolling!

Toni+Cam | Engagement Session | Photographer

I met Toni and Cam at Orchard Park in Bentonville, Arkansas for their engagement session. We did a little walk about and soaked up that last hour of Northwest Arkansas sunlight. They were such good sports to play along with my crazy ideas, getting in the water and playing in the willow trees. I absolutely love the way all of these frames came out.

Want us to take your wedding or engagement photos? Drop us a line right here to get the ball rolling!

Ashley+Joe • Affinity Riverside Estate • Nixa, Mo • Wedding Photographer

Ashley and Joe got married at the Affinity Riverside Estate in Nixa, Missouri. This wedding was perfect in every way and we have been anxiously awaiting getting to edit and share these pictures for our friends Ashley + Joe.

Let’s start with the venue. We have only had the pleasure of capturing weddings at The Affinity Riverside Estate twice, but we can’t wait for the chance to go back. There is a waterfall running through the middle of the property that leads back to one of the most fabulous outdoor wedding spots we ever laid eyes on. Beautifully constructed wooden benches nestled perfectly in the surrounding forest. Directly behind is 3 stories of decking (including an outdoor dance floor) that overlooks the ceremony area, providing the perfect perch to watch the ceremony, take in the air, or get your dance on! Seriously, this is as good a place as any to say ‘i do’.

Now let’s get to Ashley and Joe. I got to meet these sweethearts when we did their engagement shoot a while back down on commercial street in Springfield. There was coffee, there was beer. Enough said! Within minutes I could tell that this couple was truly in love and couldn’t wait to get married, and I was over the moon that they had chosen me to be the one to capture that love. Getting to watch them get married and join their families together, seeing the love for each other and their sweet kiddos was honestly perfect. And just wait until you hear their vows. Not a dry eye in the house.

Here are a few of our favorites from Ashley and Joe’s wedding day at the Affinity Riverside Estate! Enjoy…

Want us to shoot your wedding? Drop us a line right here to get started!

Sarah+Jory • Haseltine Estate • Wedding Photographer • Springfield, Missouri

Sarah and Jory got married at the Hazeltine Estate in Springfield, Missouri. This wedding was basically a favorites list. One of our favorite couples ever at one of our favorite venues during our favorite time of year. The list goes on! The Hazeltine Estate is a photographer’s playground. There is so much to see and do there, from the lush greenery all around the property, spacious and well thought out bride & groom suites, endless options for ceremonies, a chandelier hanging from a tree, a sweet rope swing. OH, and a pool! Sarah & Jory’s wedding was one for the ages and one that won’t soon be forgotten.

We had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Sarah & Jory a little bit back months ago during their engagement session. We knew then that they were so nice and fun to be around that we were going to love their wedding day! Our day started out getting ready with the bride and groom in their separate areas, where we got all of the getting ready and detail shots. Sarah in the bridal loft over the barn and Jory in the basement bar area across the property. After we caught our breath from seeing Sarah in her dress for the first time, it was time for Jory to do the same. The couple met for the first time on their wedding day down a long walk way underneath the trees. The look on Jory’s face was priceless when he turned and saw Sarah for the first time. After a long emotional hug and a few words, it was time for portraits. The bridesmaids stunned in their sage bridesmaid dresses, while the groomsmen looked dapper in grey pants, white shirts, and leather bow ties with matching suspenders and shoes. After exploring all the property had to offer for bridal party portraits, it was time for a quick ceremony, and then on to the reception. The wedding reception took place underneath a tent on the property, where the newlyweds along with friends and family danced the night away. Blacksheep was on hand serving up burgers and fries throughout the night which kept all of the wedding guests happy. About midway through the night, we were all treated to a huge fireworks show put together by Sarah’s dad. We had so much fun with these two on their wedding day and are so excited to share a few of our favorite images. Enjoy!

Want us to photograph your wedding? Drop us a line right here to get started!

Aly+Kyle / / Wedding / / Barn @ Timber Cove

Aly and Kyle got married at The Barn @ Timber Cove in Pittsburg Kansas. Here are a few of our favorite frames….enjoy :)

Want us to photograph your wedding? Drop us a line right here to get started!

Ashley+Josh / / Arkansas Wedding / / Photographer

Ashley and Josh got married at a family home backyard wedding in Northwest Arkansas. Give me ALL the backyard weddings in Northwest Arkansas. This wedding, the setting, the sweet couple, family, everything was perfect! We could not be happier to have been there to capture all the magic from Ashley and Josh's Arkansas Wedding! Here's sixty of our favorite frames from their wedding day...enjoy! 

Want us to photograph your wedding? Drop us a line right here to get started! 

Sydney+George / / Wedding / / Downstream / / Joplin, Missouri / / Photographer

Sydney and George got married this June at Downstream Casino. We are so excited to finally blog this wedding. These sweethearts have been waiting patiently as we edit their photos and they are finally done! 

This day started out capturing all the pre wedding details in the bridal/groom suites at Downstream. Sydney & I then headed down to meet George where he was waiting on the lawn under a beautifully overcast sky waiting for his bride. George has an identical twin so we were in for a little scare when Nick (Geroge's twin) met us as we got off the elevator heading for first look! My heart skipped a beat.....200 or so weddings and not one blown first look and I thought that might have been the end of that streak :/ lol. Sydney approached George slowly and finally he got to see his bride for the first time in her dress. George's emotion as he spun and saw Sydney said it all! This man and woman are deeply in love and I am so thankful I was there to capture it all! This day, this couple, this wedding was perfect! See how their day unfolded in about 120 or so of our favorite frames from Sydney and George's wedding day! Enjoy...

Courtney+Tyler / / Engagement

Courtney and Tyler invited us out to their family farm in Walker, Missouri for their engagement shoot! We explored some beautiful countryside and this is what we came up with :) Can't wait for their wedding next spring at the Silver Spoon Barn. Enjoy a few of our favorites from Courtney and Tyler's engagement session! 

Want us to photograph your wedding or engagement? Drop us a line right here to get started. 

Jill+Chase / / Wedding / / Pierce City, Missouri / / Photographer

Jill and Chase got married last month at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pierce City, Missouri. I can't tell you the amount of joy it brings me to have another photographer ask me to photograph their wedding. What a tremendous honor! This day began with me flying the drone around and location scouting around the venue. The church was surrounded with beautiful green shade trees, and a creek that flowed through the property, making portraits a dream. Jill+Chase were such a great couple to work with. I love the way she looks at him. One look and you know that they are truly deeply connected and in love. His reaction to seeing her in her dress for the first time during their first look was just something that I'm so happy we were able to capture the raw emotion of that moment in a way that they can re-live over and over again throughout their lives. Here's about 100 or so of our favorite frames from Jill and Chase's wedding day. Enjoy :) 

Want us to photograph your wedding? Drop us a line right here to get started! 

Miranda+Bart / / Wedding / / Ironhorse Golf Club / / Overland Park, Kansas

Things we love...Friends, Weddings, and Kansas City! So, when our friends Miranda and Bart asked us to photograph their wedding in Kansas City, we were over the moon! It means so much that this sweet couple put the all important task of awesome wedding photos in our hands, and we couldn't be more thrilled to share a few of our favorites from their wedding day. Miranda and Bart got married at the Ironhorse Golf Club in Overland Park. As you can see, this new venue is absolutely gorgeous and provided some breathtaking backdrops for portraits with the bride and groom. We started off hanging out with the bride for the first part of the day as she put the finishing touches on final wedding details and got hair and makeup. We did first look with bride and groom in the exact spot that they would soon say 'i do', and ventured out into the heat for a few portraits. I promised we would go fast, and they were some troopers. We all sweat a little bit but it was so worth it. We're in love with these few frames from Miranda and Bart's wedding. Enjoy...

Want us to photograph your wedding? Drop us a line right here to get started!