Gillian and Stephen - Dayton Ohio wedding photos

There’s so much that was special about Gillian and Stephen’s wedding that I’m not even sure where to start.

First of all, Gillian is mad talented, and so many of their wedding details was hand made by her. I’m not just talking centerpieces here, she made her silk gown (With pockets!), hand knit her veil, and even baked their wedding cake from scratch from her grandmother’s recipe.

Second, these two are so in love and perfect for each other, it was truly moving. They didn’t bother with a formal first look as Stephen was such a help through the dress making process that he had already seen it, but was still blown away by her. We did all of their portraits before the ceremony in the gorgeously low November afternoon sun, and I could’ve easily shot with them for hours.
Their wedding parties were also the sweetest. Nick, the best creative partner and second shooter around, made a cameo in the groomsman portraits at the demand of everyone else in them, and it’s still one of my favorite group shots ever.
The ceremony and reception were nothing but friends and family having an amazing time together and complete laughter from everyone there, and the dance floor constantly showed the swing dancing portion of Stephen and Gillian’s history.
Now, one of my favorite moments.
Gillian and Stephen were so thorough in making sure all their guests were taken care of and had champagne for the toast, that they forgot their own. Thankfully, someone had gifted them a bottle of whiskey, and so they toasted with full champagne flutes of the good stuff.
The whole day was an amazing time, and the best way to finish off the 2019 season. I will 100% be a destination wedding photographer any day.

I adore you sweet people, congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Bloomingdale!

Kerrie and Robert - Greystone Golf Club wedding photos

From the moment I met Kerrie and Robert at their Ludington engagement session earlier this year, I could tell two things:
1. They love their dogs so much (same, I also love their dogs).

2. Their wedding was going to be an incredible day.

Both of these proved to be completely true. They had personalized details all over their wedding day, from the “Meeple” cufflinks that Robert made his groomsmen, to the cutest and ring bearer ever (You could call him a gold retriever) to the stunning floral headpiece Kerrie’s sister made for her, and the beloved classic car her dad prepared to be the perfect transportation for the day. Every detail was so thought out and special.
The weather for an outdoor Greystone Golf Club ceremony was about as beautiful as any day this year, blue skies as far as you could see, and ideal conditions for golden hour portraits right on the golf course.
The party went on late into the night fueled by reception pizza, a s’mores bar, and a cowboy hat that I think graced the head of every single person on the dance floor.

Congratulations Kerrie and Robert, I hope you always smile like you did that day!

Tammy and Paula - Sherman Lake Outdoor Center wedding photos

What can I even say about Tammy and Paula that could possibly do them justice? You can’t help but love them when you first meet, they are both such bright, beautiful l influences on your day, and you can tell their hearts of gold touch everyone they come in contact with. They balance each other perfectly, Tammy is steady and organized to Paula’s enthusiastic and spur-of-the-moment additude. They support and love each other, and it’s genuinely an inspiration.
Their wedding day took place at the stunning Sherman Lake Outdoor Center. Their first look took place at the lakeside fire pit, and ceremony at the outdoor chapel. I absolutely love first looks. We were able to get most of the important photos out of the way beforehand, and you could not beat Paula’s reaction as Tammy walked towards her down the aisle. You could see so much genuine joy in all the faces of the guests for these beautiful humans, and we were honored to be a part of it.

Congratulations Tammy and Paula, you have so many happy years ahead of you!

McKenzie and Brandon - Chicago engagement photos

McKenzie and Brandon moved to Chicago and immediately felt right at home. They embraced both the urban environment and natural parks near their home, and knew they wanted to incorporate the windy city, as well as their furbaby Theo, into their engagement photos. When our first engagement shoot day got rained out (One of the many reasons I trust weather predictions about as much as I trust a 5 year old who tells me my hair looks fine), we picked an early July date and watched the forecast like a hawk. The day finally arrived, and there was hardly a cloud in the sky!
The two of them had one request though: They wanted the essence of Chicago as a resident would see it, not a tourist. Rather than showing attractions or main streets full of people, we walked around their neighborhood and adventured into the Wrigleyville area, looking for great textures and settings. They were up for anything, and we had an incredible time documenting that.

Congratulations McKenzie and Brandon!

Mr and Mrs Bacon - Kalamazoo Country Club Wedding

2018 has been a record year for rainy wedding days, that’s for sure. Molly and Devin planned a stunning wedding at the Kalamazoo country club, and the weather wasn’t about to put a damper on that.
Michigan weather was predicted to rain, hail, and snow at various stages of the day. Who’s about to shy away from the challenge of all-indoor portraits? Not this crew!
Molly was a stunner, personal touches were everywhere, and the florals?? (Dying a little bit, they were all too perfect.)

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Bacon! I hope your life together is every bit as beautiful as your perfect day.

Mr and Mrs Higgs - The Cheney Place wedding

Kristina and Mike’s wedding is special to me for so many reasons.
Not only is Kristina a massively talented individual who creates gorgeous video, but she’s also one of my best friends. This meant juggling the tasks of bridesmaid as well as photographer, which I was all too thrilled to do!
Mike is also wildly talented (He built Kristina a dream editing computer) and they compliment each other in tons of ways, from their love of music, to their sense of humor right down to the shared dedication to their cats.
We have known these two for years, so when they asked David to be the officiate the wedding, it was an easy yes.

The venue was unbelievable, and that made photographing the day incredibly enjoyable! Details as far as the eye could see, and an awesome second shooter made this one of my favorite albums yet.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Higgs, we’ll be celebrating your life together for years to come!

Becky and Thomas - Ludington engagement

Becky and Thomas are not only crazy photogenic and wonderful to work with, but they're a special couple in general. Hearing how he talks about her is already enough to make me happy cry, and the way they enjoy life together is completely beautiful. 
They wanted to do something special for the engagement session (and we're always up for a road-trip), so we adventured out to Thomas's hometown of Ludington, where the session was full of genuine laughter and lake-drenched pant legs, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the photos!
 

Tonya and Rick - South Haven engagement

Tonya and Rick are exactly what I'm talking about when I say the best photos happen when two people are just genuinely interacting with each other. There was so much laughter during the entirety of the engagement session, not to mention the way my heart melted every time I saw the way Rick looked at her. These two are very much in love, and I can't wait to photograph their wedding!

 

7 Ways to get the most out of your wedding photographer

I've had the honor of documenting weddings long enough at this point to know that there are certain things that can make an absolute world of difference in the photography of a couple's special day. There are so many things I've wanted to tell people as they plan and prepare over the years, so I've finally compiled a list of my seven top tips on how to get the absolute best photos for your money! Here they are:

1. Schedule enough time

This point seems obvious, but you have to take into account all the little things that might eat into your portrait time. The hair stylist might have taken longer than expected with updos, or your maid of honor could be stuck in traffic. Scheduling out plenty of time in advance can keep you from stressing when events aren’t quite on schedule knowing there is still time to get the photos you want.

2. Have all the details in one place

There’s nothing more disapointing than missing that genuine moment with your mother as she helps you get ready, or that adorable flower girl jumping on the bed. If I’m running around trying to track down who has what ring, or where the invitation ended up, I may not be with your group when the sweetest moments happen. I recommend having all the details you would like to have photographed (invitations, both rings, jewelry etc.) in the room with the bride so I can document it first thing, and then be able to focus on the ladies or gents getting their swagger on.

3. Do a first look

Tradition leads us to believe the first time you’re supposed to see your bride or groom on your wedding day is when you’re walking down the aisle, but that is so untrue.
If that’s what you choose to do as your big reveal, that’s absolutely fine! But let me drop some benefits of first looks on you real quick:

A. You have all the time in the world to get photos done beforehand

B. You actually get to spend your wedding day with your person instead of having to keep separated

C. You’re both significantly more relaxed, and able to enjoy your day

D. When not surrounded by 200 people, you get to share a beautiful intimate moment and let me tell you, the photos are GORGEOUS.

4. Organize the family

When the ceremony ends, most people immediately switch to the celebration mindset (Which is great for some amazing incriminating dance photos later on!) But, the best way to knock out the family photos, if not done before the ceremony, is to make sure all the family stays in the area. One suggestion is to give those you want included in photos a heads up before the wedding day, but you can also have the officiant give a reminder announcement after the two of you have kissed, and skipped your married selves back down the aisle.

5. Don’t be afraid to get a little dirty

Your dress is perfect, your hair is done, you look amazing. But after the wedding day, are you really going to wear the gown again? What is the actual likelihood that the style will still be in when your daughter gets married? You can stress out about every leaf that gets trapped in the train, or you can take a walk through a field, sit by a waterfall, and laugh with your forever partner as we document every moment.

6. Include a second shooter

I can’t emphasize enough the difference a second shooter makes on a wedding day. It’s so much more than just another person with a camera. More often than not, I will have one my favorite second photographer hang out with the groom while they’re getting ready freeing me up to focus on the girls, watching for candid moments during portraits, and just generally giving the peace of mind that the day is being documented just as it happens. Not only will you receive more photos, but you’ll be able to breathe easy knowing that someone is watching the dance floor as grandma is showing off her break dancing skills.

7. Trust your photographer

This one sounds like a no brainer, right? You took the time to find the person that fits your style and personality, you know exactly what you’re getting. It’s so easy to forget all of this when you’re feeling the pressure to greet all of your guests and make sure the schedule of events is running as it’s supposed to. That’s why when I approach you to sneak outside for ten minutes to grab some golden sunset portraits, it’s because I know these are going to end up being your favorites of the day. They will be worth it!

Most importantly, enjoy your day! It is a celebration of the love you share, and nothing makes for good photos as much as natural smiles.

Most importantly, enjoy your day! It is a celebration of the love you share, and nothing makes for good photos as much as natural smiles.

- Esther

Favorites of 2017 - Weddings

Whew, what a year this has been! 
Loads of travel, adventures, and photographing some of the prettiest weddings my eyes have ever seen. 
I feel beyond blessed, and so happy to have gotten to know all of you. 

As we celebrate the ending of this year, and coming of the next, I wanted to leave you all with a collection of some of my favorite photos from the 2017 wedding season. Some are silly, some are sweet, all make me smile when I see them. It was so hard to bring it down to this few, let me tell you. 

To everyone who was a part of my 2017, thank you! 

Looking forward to another year filled with amazing people.