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!

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.

Mr and Mrs Fish - A Lawton wedding

The moment Stephanie and Ryan started describing their wedding plans to me, I knew it was going to be completely stunning. 
Stephanie's sisters had their own weddings at the Lawton Community Center, and it held a special place in her heart. She wanted to preserve the tradition, but with her own personal twists, which were executed perfectly.  
This wedding is exactly why encourage doing a first look so much!
First of all, Ryan's face! I melted!
Second, we had so much time to do portraits that we were able to work with the most ideal lighting, get plenty of photos for everyone, and still have time to sneak out for a few more at sunset. 
Third, they actually got to spend their special day together instead of being cooped up in separate rooms, and that was amazing to watch. They both have so much love for each other, and I can't imagine a better celebration. 

Also, fireworks, 
Yes. 

Congratulations Ryan and Stephanie! Looks like there is one less fish in the sea. 

Mr and Mrs Babcock - A Knob Hill Bed and Breakfast wedding

It was obvious from the moment I arrived that Sara and Bobby were so in love, but the care they had for their family was nothing short of moving. The day was full of genuine moments, dogs with bow ties and the most picture perfect details of all time.

Mr and Mrs Osetek - A Henderson Castle wedding

Megan and Jesse have been together for years and years, and when they invited all their friends and family to celebrate with them, it was literally the party of the decade. 
The wedding took place at the beautiful Henderson castle in Kalamazoo, MI, and every detail was fit for royalty. 

Mr and Mrs Ramsay - A Hitching Post wedding

What an incredible honor it was to be the one to capture the day of these phenomenal people. Every detail was as perfect as could be.