some love for winter weddings!
Wedding season can be year round, I love winter weddings in Columbus, Ohio because they’re usually more intimate, allow for interesting, unique, and awesome warm clothing. I love finding ways to get creative with locations, and also love the very directional light that comes with the season.
Winter weddings are HIGHLY underrated, in my opinion! Probably in a whole lot of people’s opinions (the wedding industry: lol). But truly let me give you my open + honest reasons that you should consider a winter wedding and probably save yourself a lot of time and hire me!
save! YOUR! money!
if you’re on your wedding search, it’s likely you already know this: but many venues will include discounts for winter weddings. Which leads me to my next point:
indoor photo options do not suck
Everything that is a little bit hard is always a little bit more rewarding when it’s successful, correct? So I look at summer weddings as gimmes: it’s easy to work with a 14 hour sun filled day…when you have to get creative with where to go and how to maximize daylight time, it’s a collaboration that feels really good to work through! And the really great part: I’ve done it all. I’ve done days that are optimized for photo time, and I’ve worked on strict schedules where we had to make our own magic (and light!)….some examples of my favorite indoor takes on a winter wedding!
3.WINTER LIGHT
(this needs no explanation: only photos)
how to pick a venue that best suits you in Central Ohio
tips and how to on selecting a venue for your wedding in Central Ohio, just in time for engagement season!
I get that it can feel daunting to even start viewing - let alone narrowing down - wedding venues! But, having photographed over 300 weddings, I’d love to share with you what I see couples prioritizing when it comes to location. And, pepper in a little of what makes my job - therefore your experience - a whole lot smoother + delightful.
my number one:
make sure weather plan b isn’t actually a “plan B”
you have to expect that what can go wrong, it will go wrong. So visualize your wedding day with rain, sleet, snow, hail, anything that you’d prefer to ward off (then sage the shit out of that? or something along those lines?)….then think. If I have to follow that plan, will I be happy with 1. the experience and 2. the photos? I am your photographer, but I will always encourage you to prioritize your EXPERIENCE over photos.
think about how travel on your wedding day will look
maybe I’m writing this as number 2, but this is a huge one. So many variables to take into consideration. Do you have a huge bridal party? If yes, and if you’re planning to travel around an area by bus/limo, this adds a considerable amount of time and coordination. The alternative to traveling around the city / area is choosing a venue that is more of an all in one. Somewhere that has both getting ready rooms (please let’s have those with natural light, such a small and large request), photo locations that feel unique and varied, and a ceremony location that is ideal for both good and bad weather. Plus if you can be secluded for some photos without guests present.
invest as much time visiting sites as much as you’re willing!
you might be surprised where you find yourself drawn to - and definitely take into consideration how you feel + the staff as you’re touring!
winter weddings and first looks
a match made in heaven.
In my experience with weddings, August goes quickly into September that leads to early sunsets right into October where we’re trying to fit everything in before 6pm. And, every year it hits me like - how did I forget how early it gets dark “all of a sudden.” Every year, I’m absolutely thrilled with my ability to work with my couples to make the most out of our time together AND their wedding day experience by - YES - “getting the photos done before the ceremony”…but more importantly (!) extending the amount of time they spend together, and lowering the amount of stress that comes with fighting Mother Nature and Sunset!!
So while, of course, I won’t FORCE you to do a first look, but I will highly encourage it. I’ll ask you to talk to people you know who’ve been married recently and ask them what they did + what their opinion is about timing.
When I have a couple who does want to do a first look, we’ll usually work the timeline to do that about 2 hours before ceremony time, as long as there isn’t a lot of travel time involved. Of course this is variable to each couple, but generally if I have 2 hours + an agreeable crowd (and if they’re unagreeable, that’s my job to work with them!!) we can get through the meat of the photos then! And, voila! you’re done with photos once you’re refreshed and ready to walk down the aisle. Free for the night to enjoy + mingle + have zero stress about when you’re going to have time to sneak away!
it's the most wonderful time of the year
….booking season!
I do believe I say this yearly - because there is nothing quite like - let’s be honest - JOB SECURITY! Being self employed is not for the weak. I depend completely on you guys to find meaning in my work, see that we’ll be a good connection with each other, and hire me for your wedding day photography! Woof.
SO this time of year brings a slew of engagements as people pick the holidays to decide they’re ready to take the leap into marriage + wedding planning.
For those of you on a time budget, AND also ready to inquire immediately, I’ll make it easy on you. Here’s the contact form to use to get in touch. This time of year I like to offer incentive to couples who are ready to take the leap and know we’re a good fit for each other. This is as much to benefit you as it is to fill my calendar and make sure I have enough work for the year!
use the contact form below and your wedding pricing proposal from me will include a free hour of coverage.
Easy! Let’s do this and make magic together!
I’ll take this blog post to be a quick hello + meet who I am + how I work!
THE number one thing I can tell you about how it will be working together on your wedding day is that my only goal is to keep you happy, comfortable, present, and enjoying your time together.
I have been a photographer so long that working your timeline into the most sensible + efficient way comes so easily to me. I will work hard to help you plan your day to be as calm as possible.
building trust with your vendors
This year has brought to me MANY amazing experience working with my beloved clients. But, I want to highlight two of them, in particular, that stand out in my mind as absolute gems of the year.
when it comes to your wedding, you’re IN IT for a long time before your wedding day. If I remember anything, it’s that when the wedding day finally arrives, you finally feel like you can let out a big exhale + relax! This is a great thing, and a great feeling to get to have with the people you love the most. I believe I can help you get a little bit of the exhale started weeks, maybe months, before your wedding day with this little bit of how to.
I’ve never been a big social media guy. I think that it’s just a glimpse, and I don’t have my phone out for reel-ing or BTS because what’s more important to me is being present with you. BUUUUUT. (ooof, did you expect that!?) this year I’ve found that the people who are the first likes on my insta…their weddings were extraordinary experiences for me, and for them.
What does it mean?! It means that what you can do to help build your own confidence in how smoothly your day will go is follow along on some level: Facebook, Instagram, Blogging, email, text…with the vendors you’ve chosen. Be invested in them. See the work that they do on a consistent basis leading up to your wedding…and then be confident in your choice to have them be a part of your day. Trust yourself to know you did your job + made a wise choice. Do not micromanage ;) Be the couple getting married, and fully immerse yourself in your wedding, while you let the things around you unfold beautifully!
does this resonate with you!? are you in your planning process? get in touch today, I’d love to serve you!
those start of winter feels
find your perfect photographer here if you: enjoy free engagement sessions, love spending time with your partner, enjoy a stress free wedding day. Book your wedding photography now and get a free engagement session, with a photographer who prioritizes photojournalistic wedding photography.
I met lots of you at Jorgensen Farms most recent Open House + it was so great talking about how my services could fit into your wedding day to do one thing: Make your day as smooth as possible WHILE capturing the memories you desire to become heirlooms for your family for generations to come. This year I’ve noticed a huge shift in couples wanting to be fully present + really valuing the candid moments of their day. YES. I love this - you know why? It means you’re not prioritizing leaving your event for long periods of time, but you’re together, enjoying the love that’s there to celebrate YOU! OF course, I need to make sure you know there WILL be time I’ll ask you to step away and do some official portraits, but otherwise, I’ll gladly encourage you to be together, be present, and enjoy your day.
I wanted to give you all who are looking for close dates + even into 2024/5 a chance for a great deal by using the contact form at the end of this post. You don’t need to be a Jorgensen Farms couple to secure this deal! Just let me know a little about your wedding + if you book before the end of 2023, I’ll gladly throw in an engagement session for you for. Engagement sessions are a great way to get comfy in front of the camera and for us to get to know each other. Did I totally convince you? Let’s do it!