THE FIT IS SO IMPORTANT
If this is your first time hiring a photographer or you’ve done this many times before,
EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY
"This is what you receive and more from Ali when she is the photographer for your special day or event. In her most graceful and unassuming way, she becomes part of your family, your world, your journey....from beginning to end....she captures it all! Her passion, her keen and creative eye, her love of a good love story, her dedication to deliver the most impressive and beautiful photos, all of which exceeded our expectations way beyond just the day of the event. You will work with a professional who will want to know every detail about what is important to you. She is not there to just take pictures....she is with you every step of the way to help tell a story....your story. And no one could have done it better than Ali. She'll be your friend for life. Thank you Ali for giving us a lifetime of memories to cherish with your amazing photography."
Susan, Mother of the Bride
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THE TANGIBLE
I’m not a show up and shoot type of girl. This is a two way relationship and I don’t just create a story for you. We are telling your story together.
When we create together, your photos are more meaningful and have more emotional depth.
I am a hybrid photographer, shooting a mix of film and digital.
The tangible quality of film is timeless and classic, and something you will love for years to come.
All of my couples receive a hand crafted, custom designed album with their wedding collection.
It is so important to cherish your wedding photos in a tangible way- on your coffee table, on your bookshelf, sharing your favorite moments with your loved ones and passing on those memories to future generations.It’s a true heirloom.
TRUST ME
As we approach the most important day of your life, I’m sure lots of photo ops and ideas are rushing through your mind like crazy! This moment, that bridal portrait, this detail and so on. It’s a lot to trust me with! But that’s what I am asking you to do — trust me!
We will talk LOTS leading up to your wedding day! Remember, I get excited when you get excited. I cry when you cry. I laugh when you laugh. I tell your story best when I feel what you feel. I will ask you which moments you are dreaming of and again how you envision your wedding as a whole. These comments and key words help me approach your day with a fresh vision for your wedding in particular.
Tell me who and what is most important to you that day… and also tell me about any potential stressors that you are feeling. That way I can hone in on those personal and emotional moments with the people who matter most. We will also work on your timeline from day one to ensure that we have time for the photos you have been dreaming of.
Are you wearing a wedding dress passed down from generation to generation? Are you wearing a family heirloom ring or piece of jewelry? Are you reading your own vows? Are you surprising your loved one with something during your ceremony? Are you doing a choreographed first dance? Will there be fireworks as a surprise? Tell me everything so I have no surprises that day and can capture your story as it happens naturally. If we are celebrating your day by crossing off photo after photo from a shot list, it takes away the spontaneity and emotion. So, trust me! You will end up with a personal story of your day filled with gorgeous details, natural light-filled portraits, and candids of all of the emotional moments.
IDEAL WEDDING TIMELINE
I’ve always been the girl totally in love with weddings. I’m not an expert wedding planner, but I thought it might be helpful to share, from a photographer’s point of view, what I’ve experienced to be an ideal wedding day timeline.
I schedule wedding day timelines with a chunk of time for each major event so nothing is passed over too quickly. Light plays a huge factor– I want to make sure that all important portraits and details of your day are photographed in natural light. There are so many factors when developing your wedding timeline, so this is just a rough guide. Your timeline takes into consideration family traditions, location, weather, time for portraits, distance between locations if more than one, cocktail reception vs. formal sit down dinner reception, and so much more. After you book your wedding with me, we will create a timeline that works best for you!
Most couples typically contract around 10 hours of wedding day coverage. The timeline below is designed around having a first look before your ceremony. Choosing to do a first look or not to do a first look is totally up to you. Below is what I think an ideal wedding day timeline looks like where there is one photographer, a first look, and one location (during the Summer where there is a ton of gorgeous natural light)…
11:30 GROOM GETTING READY
12:00 BRIDE GETTING READY CANDIDS & DETAILS
1:00 BRIDE GET IN WEDDING DRESS | FIRST LOOK WITH DAD & BRIDESMAIDS
1:30 FIRST LOOK | BRIDE & GROOM PORTRAITS
2:30 WEDDING PARTY PORTRAITS
3:30 FAMILY PORTRAITS
4:15 DONE WITH PORTRAITS | FRESHEN UP FOR CEREMONY | PHOTOGRAPH CEREMONY DETAILS
5:00 CEREMONY
5:30 COCKTAIL HOUR | PHOTOGRAPH RECEPTION DETAILS
6:30 RECEPTION
6:45 INTROS |FIRST DANCE | TOASTS & BLESSING
7:15 SEATED DINNER
8:00 SUNSET SESSION WITH BRIDE & GROOM
8:45 CAKE CUTTING | FORMAL DANCES
9:00 OPEN DANCING | CANDIDS
9:30 END
The key to enjoying your day is creating a great timeline from day one– a timeline that all of your vendors know about. The most important part of your wedding is that you enjoy yourself and take everything in!
WEATHER
You and your vendors work so hard to plan an absolutely amazing wedding day. You are most likely envisioning a gorgeous Summer day with bright blue skies, colorful Fall foliage, fresh Winter powder, or beautiful Spring wildflowers. Weather is one of those things that we absolutely cannot control on your wedding day. However, if we prepare and have a good mindset that your day will still be amazing rain or shine, everyone else will follow in your footsteps. I have photographed tons of weddings with interesting weather– weddings over 100 degrees, December weddings with 2 feet of fresh powder that morning and December weddings that are 60 degrees, weddings with ridiculous wind, and weddings where it has poured all day.
I can speak to this from personal experience. My husband and I got married in June and the day started out gorgeous & sunny, with a slight breeze. Then the breeze died down and it was stifling hot and muggy for our first look and bridal portraits. Right before our ceremony, the skies grew very dark, high winds rolled in, and it started to sprinkle. It rained lightly during family portraits and the sun came out with muggy vengeance for the start of our reception before it began down pouring during my husband’s dance with his mom. So, yes guys, I totally understand! The thing that helped me through our own wedding day, and the message that I send to all of my couples, is that the weather of your wedding day is part of your story. It’s a huge factor in your images and it’s going to show– so why not make the most of it!
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
It’s no myth that it takes a village! When you are choosing your vendors, you are creating your wedding dream team–a group of vendors who’s style you love, people you trust, and a group of creatives who will work seamlessly together to create your dream. That being said, I also know how daunting this task can be! Here is a list of my favs to get you started!
WEDDING PLANNER & DESIGNER
Bella & Co.
Black Label Events & Design
Celebrated Events
Events By Jen
Olive Fine Weddings & Events
Pauleenanne Design
Simply Beautiful Events
Verve Event Co.
FLORIST
Arena’s
Fern Croft
Flowerwell
In Bloom
Kittelberger Florist & Gifts
Pistil & Pollen
Stacy K Floral
BAND/DJ/MUSICIANS
Breakthrough Entertainment
Encore
Silver Arrow Band
MAKEUP ARTIST & HAIR STYLIST
Eva Jewel
Jared Kane Salon
Rock Paper Scissors Salon & Spa
Scott Miller
Sonja George
Special Occasion Hair Design
Tiffany Loveless MUA
BAKERY
Boxcar
Premier Pastry
Scratch Bakeshop
The Village Bakery
VIDEOGRAPHY
Filmwell
Gabrielle Fordham
Jacquelyn Daley
Julia Hart
Live Oak Films
Palette Films
WEDDING INVITATIONS & PAPER GOODS
Louelle Design Studio
Stone Fruit Studio
The Wells Makery
BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
Emma & Grace
Lovely Bride
Silk
RENTALS
Hank Parker
McCarthy Tents & Events
Petunia Rose China
Pretty Little Vintage Co.
Warehouse 127
