Posts tagged northwest arkansas wedding photographer
Laura+Blake | Missouri Wedding

Laura and Blake got married on at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Joplin. They are just the sweetest couple imaginable and it was an absolutely joy to photograph them and their wedding party, friends, and family. These sweethearts met while attending The University of Kansas pharmacy school. When Covid hit, instead of returning home to Washington state, where she’s from, Laura decided to move in with Blake and his family in Scammon, Kansas. The rest as they say, is history. The thing I love most about this couple is how they look at each other, and interact with each other. How much Laura is always smiling when she’s around Blake. At the end of a long day of picture taking, Blake says to Laura, “here, let me take a mental picture”, as he holds up an invisible camera and creates a snapshot for just him to remember the moment and the best day. It’s days like this that remind me why I do what I do. Here’s a couple hundred of our early favorites from Laura and Blake’s wedding day:)

Katrina+Brandon | Engagement Session | Garden City, Bentonville, Arkansas

I met my new friends Katrina and Brandon at the Garden City Nursery in Bentonville, Arkansas. I was so excited to get to do this session. I’ve been photographing couples for 12 years, and somehow never done a greenhouse photo shoot. This place was such an awesome place to take engagement photos. It had so many indoor and outdoor options surrounded by different colorful floral scenery. The ferns were my favorite if you couldn’t tell. Enjoy a few of our favorite frames from this engagement session:)

Kendall+Brody | Wedding

Kendall & Brody got married in Ft. Scott, Kansas in an intimate ceremony surrounded by their closest friends and family. We explored the downtown brick streets for portraits of the bridal party and they did not disappoint. Ft. Scott has a very rich history and it’s downtown provides a very unique backdrop for bridal party pictures. Crooner’s was our location for ceremony and reception, and they were absolutely perfect from start to finish. I’ve done almost 500 weddings and tbh, most of the time the food is just kinda ok (don’t kill me in the comments), but the spread that Crooners laid out was immaculate. Definitely a top 3 wedding food all time for me!! I can’t wait to go back there. Kendall and Brody were amazing to work with, but the real star of the show was their girl Swayze. Swayze was absolutely in her element all day long. She danced the night away and we’ve got the pictures to prove it. In the made of honor speech given by the brides sister, we learned that Swayze is going to be a big sister, and we even got a gender reveal when they cut the cake. It’s a girl!! Congratulations Kendall and Brody!!! Here’s a couple hundred of our favorite’s so far from their wedding day!

Hannah+Ryker | Missouri Wedding

Hannah and Ryker got married at the Belvedere in Carthage, Missouri. Actually they surprised all of their guests who arrived for the wedding, that they had already gotten married the night before and it was time to party! So, we went straight into the wedding celebration. Here’s a few of our favorites from their wedding day!

Kaiti+Colan | Engagement

Kaiti & Colan are getting married this coming November, so we headed out to the lake for their ugust engagement session. It was a record heat day outside but these two together are much MUCH hotter! Loving all of these beautiful frames from their lakeside engagement! Enjoy!

Chelsea | Bridal Portrait Session

BRIDES! This is Chelsea... in her wedding dress, but NOT on her wedding day. This is a bridal session Maybe you just want a trial run at your dress, or didn't get enough photos of you on your wedding day, or didn't like your wedding photos? Whatever the reason, we are HERE FOR IT! On your wedding day, we usually only get about ten minutes with just you by yourself to do your portraits. Unlike the hustle and bustle of your wedding day, a bridal session is ALL ABOUT YOU for an hour. And instead of just a few pictures of her in dress, now Chelsea has a couple hundred cool and unique bridal portraits because we had the time during her session to just focus on her and be creative. Be like Chelsea!!! We are running a SWEET DEAL on this type of session for any of our current or former brides. Message us for details!

Ann+Parker | Missouri Wedding

Here’s a few of our favorite frames from Ann and Parker’s beautiful wedding day at Under the Woods in Jane, Missouri. Enjoy…

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

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…

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:)

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

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!

Kinede+Damon | Maternity

This beautiful growing family of five is expanding by one, with a baby boy! We used this wide open field as the gorgeous backdrop for their maternity session as well as a few studio backdrops and some dreamy window light frame ones too. I was so excited to capture these beautiful portraits in such unique locations and encapsulate this moment in time right before the new addition arrives. We got the most perfect overcast diffused lighting for this session. Cloudy day maternity sessions are some of my absolute favorites. Kinede and Damon were so easy to work with and so natural in front of the camera. They were so comfortable being themselves and being with each other, and their love for each other really comes through in this collection. This entire collection was photographed on a Canon 5D Mark IV with a 50 mm lens.

Brent & Lauren | Table Rock Lake Proposal

Often times throughout the year, I’m editing so much that my focus is to plow through the edits and get them back to clients as quickly as I can. That doesn’t usually leave me with much time to realize how truly perfect an album or photo collection is, until I have time to reflect on it, or in this case stumble back across it years later.

Brent has been one of my best friends for a number of years. He’s the type of guy that would give anyone the shirt off his back. He’s the first one I would talk to if I was going through something in my life and he’s the most likely to call on a random Tuesday to see how I’m doing and catch up or just shoot the breeze for a bit. When he met Lauren and started bringing her around more and more, I think we all knew that they were going to be something special, that this super sweet, beautiful girl with an infectious laugh, and well above average comedic timing was going to be the missing piece to Brent’s puzzle of life. So when he told me his plan for proposing at the Patterson Family Lake House, I wasn’t surprised, and I did not hesitate in wanting to capture the moment for them.

So if we’re being totally honest, Lauren definitely knew something was going on. I don’t know if it was when she was putting on her high heels in Shell Knob, Missouri, or until Brent pulled out his pre-proposal letter, but she was onto him a little bit :) Nevertheless, the moment, the couple, the letter, the lighting, the ring, it couldn’t have been more perfect. After the dock proposal, Brent had planned for all of their friends and family to be back at the lake house to help them celebrate.

I’ve had the great pleasure of watching these two get married, grow as a family, and enter into business with each other and it has been nothing short of amazing to see what they’ve accomplished in such a short time. We could all learn a thing or two from them, and I’m so proud to call them my friends.

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!