DYING over these! This dream session at the Glamis Dunes in Southern California was everything I love in a session. A breathtaking location ( bucket list spot for me as a photographer), a connected and intentional couple and the most stunning light.

I am so honored that Stephanie and John chose me to shoot their wedding later this year on the Oregon Coast. During my travels for a San Diego Wedding in January I had some time to meet up with them and photograph this shoot at the gorgeous desert - The Hugh T. Osbourne Lookout had all the spots and the light was so varied.

We started our session when the sun was still fairly high and captured some dynamic, playful shots. As there evening came on we experienced the loveliest sunset and the softness of the sand was highlighted as the sun poured over it.

One way to make your session genuine to you is to be willing to really enter into that togetherness in front of the camera. These two needed very little help and were such naturals.

Congratulations S & J - I am so excited for you both!!

Tayler & Ethan reached out to me to photograph their wedding for next year & I instantly knew we’d have so much fun together. This gorgeous spot in the hills of Ashland, Oregon is one of my favorites for its diversity and beauty.

One of my favorite things about this session was the fun these two had! They came ready to laugh and have fun & I can’t tell you how much that changes an entire session.

Twelve years ago I started my journey as a photographer and a few years after dove into wedding photography. It’s been a love affair from the beginning and it’s been an absolute joy to capture and be a part of countless wedding days over the years.

Photography, for me is an expression of my joy, love and vision for my couples and clients. The longer I have done this job the more I’ve fallen in love with the beautiful emotion that is poured out to create what I truly see and feel at wedding days. It’s my truest desire to create heirloom pieces that can be passed down from family to family. Timeless fine art works that are not “on trend” but rather are a real expression of the day and the people I am seeing.

Years and years go into photography training and growth. Behind each professional wedding photographer is hours upon hours of work to get them to a place of artistic expression and genuinely authentic work. Training under other photographers, classes, styled shoots, reading books, studying other forms of art, are just a few things we can use to grow our craft. It’s an expression of love and truly never stops. I don’t ever “arrive” instead I am always growing, learning & bettering myself.

Inevitably, one of the biggest conversations in wedding photography is money and individual budget. It’s something all photographers have to be willing to talk about and my thoughts and opinions have come into focus over the years. For some reason there is often a misunderstanding about the cost of photography and what you are receiving when you hire a wedding photographer. What used to be a less common profession has now become commonplace with the emergence many years ago of the digital camera. The market for wedding photography is saturated and full of a whole range of prices and practices.

Over the years I’ve seen a unique thought process some people have about photography when discussing budgets. I’m often hearing a lack of understanding of just what it entails to be a truly professional wedding photographer. I could go on and on about the costs of running a business ( which are many), the thousands of dollars spent on professional equipment ( which we all have spent) or even, * gasp * , taxes. However this article is not looking to do that. Instead I want to focus on what you are truly receiving and investing in when you hire a professional wedding photographer with the experience to capture your day with excellence. I want to make a case for photography as heirloom pieces that can and should be passed down, printed out, hung on the walls of our homes and treasured for all time.

So what makes an heirloom. Heirloom is defined as “ a valuable object that has belonged to a family for several generations.” I genuinely believe that true story telling can create work that can be defined in this way. We can pass down these tangible testimonies of love to our children and grandchildren and allow them to be a witness to our lives. My truest satisfaction with my job as a wedding photographer is knowing my work can be shared.

The longer I have been doing this beautiful job, the more I truly see emotion and story. I have so much left to learn but I truly can say I love what I do and what I do, I do with excellence.

My heart here is to say, invest in your story.

It doesn’t have to be with me but with any creative you feel can best preserve your wedding day. Spread the cost of quality photography over your life and think about how little you are really spending to have these once in a lifetime images. Professional photographers are not just charging so much more than beginners or hobby photographers just because they can, they are doing it because they are trained, they put time and investment into becoming what they are. You would not walk into a high end furniture store that creates one of a kind pieces born out of years of hard work, trying and skill and expect to pay the cost of furniture from a chain store. Respect the craft and time put into this profession, understand the costs of running a business and realize that for every hour you are with your photographer countless hours are spent on their own working and growing.

Consider investing in your wedding photographs and truly seeing them for what they are.

Heirlooms.

This beautiful wedding took place in the gorgeous Ashland, Oregon! I am always so honored to be a part of these wedding days and it was my joy to be able to be the photographer for these two, Julia and Graham! We started our day at our Lady of the Mountain in Ashland, Oregon and then headed over to the beautiful Lithia Springs Resort for the reception. There were so many amazing places to take pictures of this beautiful couple at Lithia Springs. It’s always so fun as a photographer when you get a combination of a fun and loving couple and a beautiful venue. Congratulations J & G, wishing you guys a life of genuine joy and happiness as you begin your days together.

getting married? I would love to talk to you if you’re still looking for a photographer to capture your special day!

This lovely wedding day at the amazing Hillcrest Orchards was such an honor to be the photographer at. Even though it was a hot Southern Oregon day, the bride and groom still had such a beautiful day. I’m always so honored to be a photographer here in Southern Oregon and this day was no exception. Congratulations B&S!

-Looking for a wedding photographer in Southern Oregon or in the Pacific Northwest? Reach out! I’d love to hear from you!

Oh my goodness! This wedding day was such a profound pleasure to be apart of. From the minute I met Hannah and Daniel I just enjoyed them so much. Their apparent love for each other was so much fun to photograph at their engagement session and I knew the wedding would be no different. Surrounded by their kind, loving, supportive family this day was perfection. Being a wedding photographer in Oregon is such a treat!

This was my first time shooting at the gorgoeus Hummingbird Estates in Southern Oregon and it did not disappoint. The staff, venue and weather were perfection! Its always a team effort to put together a wedding day and this one was full of the loveliest of humans all wanting to make Hannah and Daniel’s day fabulous!

Hannah and Daniel, You two are the greatest and wish you joy and peace as you start your lives together.

In the midst of this crazy world these two decided to say their vows amongst close family and friends. It was such a pleasure to be there and I look forward to the big celebration next year!

What a joy it was so be apart of this amazing wedding in Oregon Wine Country! The gorgeous Parrett Mountain Cellars was the perfect intimate location for this beautiful summer wedding and it was my pleasure to their wedding photographer. Thank you K&K for letting me be apart of your day, it was a true pleasure.

This gorgoues wedding day was one for the books! This sweet couple was such a joy and this day was so amazing. In the midst of a pandemic with completely crazy weather this couple kept their joy and perspective. I’ll admit, I was a bit concerned about shooting a wedding in full on, pouring rain but the rain only added to the fun and beauty for this wedding day.

Thank you M&J for allowing me to be a part of your day! And a huge shoutout to Freckled Fleurs for these amazing florals!

We had such a beautiful evening celebrating love with M and J in the beautiful Eagle Point, Oregon area. Spring is here and it was so fun to explore and play in the warmer weather! I cannot wait for these two to be able to get married and be there to witness it all :)

Congratulations to A&B! Such a joy to capture your day!

Many couples wonder if having an engagement session with their wedding photographer is really necessary, especially if they have already had some photos shot by a friend or if the wedding is coming up shortly after they booked their photographer. Today I want to talk about why it is in fact really important and will actually make your wedding day a smoother, more relaxed day.

Your wedding day is a super exciting day, filled with joy and excitement, however, it can also be a day of stress and busyness ( is that even a word?) . Any good wedding photographer’s goal is to make this day as easy as possible so that you as a couple can enjoy the day and relax. The more qualified vendors you hire, the more the details will be off your plate and in the hands of experienced professionals. What does this have to do with an engagement session you might ask? Everything!

Engagement sessions have many purposes and I want to highlight a few wonderful benefits of what can be a really fun time with your photographer.

1. Comfort

On your wedding day you will be spending a lot of time with your photographer, and I mean a lot! From getting ready all the way to the reception, your photographer will be with you for most of the day!  A huge benefit of an engagement session is that you are meeting, getting comfortable with, and building a friendship with your photographer ahead of time. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve walked into an engagement session with a couple that has a good bit of apprehension on their side about taking photos, only to leave laughing and completely at ease. When this happens, it gets carried over to the wedding day. You now know your photographer a little bit and have established comfort. As a photographer I love showing up to the wedding day already feeling I know the bride and groom well and that’s good news for everyone!

2. Posing

Each photographer and couple approach posing differently. As a wedding professionals, it’s our job to learn how to pose and encourage natural interactions with each couple. Sometimes this is easy and sometimes a challenge depending on the ease that each person feels in front of the camera. During an engagement session some of this can be figured out and by wedding time you both feel comfortable settling into posing or candid moments because you’ve done it already!

3. Wedding Decor

Most every wedding where I’ve shot an engagement session prior has the images from the session displayed at the wedding. You can use your engagement session images for save the dates, invitations, or wedding decor ( most commonly a guest book or canvas to sign). This is a great way to show the fun and joy of your relationship and you can even display them alongside other snapshots you’ve taken throughout the course of your relationship together!

4. Because it’s SO fun!

Last but NOT least, engagement sessions are fun! Creativity can abound here and that brings so much joy. If your wedding is at an upscale venue try an engagement session at the coast or up in the mountains. If your wedding will be in the woods, why not do your engagement session somewhere with dynamic structures or an old building. So much planning and detail goes into wedding planning. let your engagement session just be fun. Laugh, make jokes, enjoy each other and just let that glow go straight on in to your wedding day.

I hope these four reasons why engagement sessions are so important before your wedding day were helpful to you! Even if your camera shy, all the more reason to warm your way into photos by doing an engagement session before your big day.

Congratulations, and I wish each and every couple a joy filled wedding and a beautiful love story as you start your journey together. 

xoxo

Rachel 

I had so much fun putting together this before and after editing video for you guys! As I mention in the video, I love editing videos and poured over them when I first started with photography . While I ultimately had to tweak and figure out my own editing style, watching videos like this really helped me on my journey. I love giving back and offering education to other photographers so I am more than happy to put this out there for anyone who would benefit from it.

Enjoy!

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Before and After:

This Balboa Park engagement session was a true delight. When I was first contacted by Nicolle, I felt like we instantly connected. Her sweet spirit and attention to detail was evident even in our first emails and when it was decided we would work together I was SO excited! 

Their session at Balboa Park was lovely and we had such a good time walking around the park and than finally ending up in the rose and cactus gardens! The night was cloudy at first but as the evening went on we got a beautiful sky as the sun set. It was effortless to get these two laughing and having fun and the very first images I snapped at the water fountain made it look like we had bee shooting all evening. Its was so much fun to watch their love for each other unfold and to capture their sweet personalities together. 

I am so looking forward to their wonderful fall wedding coming up and I can’t wait to spend more time with these two soon!

Congratulations you two, wishing you a lifetime of joy as you begin this new part of your journey together!

How to Choose a Wedding Photographer

Choosing your wedding photographer can be a somewhat challenging process and one that brings about a lot of questions. When all is said and done and your wedding is over, pictures are some of the most important heirlooms you have to treasure and pass down. In the current market it can be very overwhelming to see all the wedding photographers and you may wonder just how to go about choosing one. Let’s look at a few simple things that can help you narrow it down to the right choice.

Body of Work:

Obviously, one of the first things you need to consider when your looking is the portfolio and actual photographic work that a photographer produces. As you start to look online or through recommendations spend a lot of time pouring over websites, Instagram and other social media. Does the work speak to you when you see it? Can you picture yourself in the images? Do you notice consistency in editing and quality of work? Does it seem like there is a wide range of uses of light?

In an industry flooded with many photographers it’s important to look for a few things in a photographers work.

- Use of light ( low light, ability to use light to tell a story, use of off camera and on camera flash, consistent light in tough situations)

- Consistency of work throughout portfolio

- Ability to tell a story within the images

- Ability to capture “in between” moments and real emotion

These are just some of many things to look at as you look at someone’s body of work. Ask questions and ask some more and make sure your wedding photographer has a good understanding of how to make an image.

Experience:

It can’t be said enough that your wedding is one of the most important days in your life. When I first started shooting weddings I refused to do them on my own so I would only second shoot for other photographers. Why? Because I knew that you only have one shot to capture these moments and to miss out or make a careless mistake is something to take very seriously. The more I shot in the industry the more confidence I got, but the attitude of the importance of what I am doing has never left. When you are looking at a photographer make sure to look into their experience and expertise. Ask about education, amount of weddings they have shot and how comfortable they are in their knowledge of things such as: posing family groupings and organizing them, couples posing, difficult lighting situations, owning back up gear, replacements in case of sickness of the photographer on the wedding day, business insurance, etc. 

Someone with enough experience will be able to answer those questions with confidence and can put your mind at ease that they know what they are doing.

Personality:

After all is said and done and you have looked at the portfolio and asked questions about experience, it’s important to feel like you fit with the person you will spend so much time with at your wedding. Each person is a unique individual and will connect with certain personalities. It can be a good idea to start with a phone chat or Skype session and than meet in person if possible. No matter how good someones work is, if you don’t enjoy being around them, you probably want to continue to look elsewhere. Make sure that they mesh well with you as a couple and be sure they are professional yet kind and will be a calm presence for you on your day. Your wedding photographer will quite literally be by your side for most of the day and through very intimate and emotionally charged moments, be sure they will help you and not hinder you on the day of.

Budget:

Last but not least, the subject of budget. It’s important to get lots of informations on your photographers pricing, not just a static number but also what’s included and compare that to others that you are considering. 

I would be remiss if I did not mention again, photography has become a highly saturated market with the invention of the digital camera, making it much easier to break into this business. Do not settle for a low price photographer and not take in to consideration all the things mentioned above. Consider your budget for wedding photography to be of high importance on your list and recognize those that are practically giving it away likely are not in the place to even shoot your wedding. Ask many questions about the process of pricing, deposits, payment plans, what exactly you receive and so forth. Your budget is your decision and a good wedding photographer will guide you through that process and make it as painless as possible.

I hope these tips and tricks will help you on your journey to find a wedding photographer. Whomever you are considering, do it with patience and don’t rush the process, the right fit will find you. Wherever you are, I wish you happiness on your journey to documenting your most special day, and a lifetime of joy together.

xoxo

Rachel 

Congratulations Amanda and George! Wishing you a beautiful life together and joy on your journey!