the blog
Choosing between mini v. full sessions can be tricky, but don’t worry—I’ve got you covered.
As a photographer, I understand that selecting the right session for your needs can be a challenging decision. Whether you’re planning a family portrait session, a couples’ session, or an individual portrait session, it’s essential to understand the differences between mini and full photography sessions to make an informed choice.
Mini sessions are quick and budget-friendly, perfect for capturing those spontaneous moments without breaking the bank. They are short and sweet, lasting around 15 minutes to an hour. Great for busy schedules! They’re often themed, so you can capture those holiday vibes or celebrate milestones with flair.
Full sessions are like the director’s cut, offering more time and creative freedom for personalized shots. They’re the whole shebang, lasting anywhere from 1 to 4 hours. With full sessions, you can mix it up—multiple outfits, different locations, you name it! They’re perfect for those who want a customized and immersive photography experience. Full sessions require more time and resources, but the personalized attention is worth it. They offer flexibility for both you and the photographer to get creative.
Most importantly, when deciding between mini v. full sessions, find a photographer who understands your needs and has the style you are looking for!
Mini Sessions
Full Session
Last Fall I had the opportunity to travel outside of Kansas City to Effingham, Illinois to capture a good friend’s rehearsal dinner! It was a beautiful afternoon when everyone met at Firefly Grill to rehears for the wedding the following day. Firefly Grill offered a picturesque landscape that photographed wonderfully. I was able to capture some dreamy and romantic moments between Claire and Kyle before the rehearsal began.
As friends and family gathered at the grill I was able to capture couples, family, and friend groups that had made the trip into town for the wedding! The rehearsal dinner is often overlooked when it comes to professional photography. But it is a wonderful opportunity to capture documentary style moments!
They ran through the ceremony as the sun was setting on the lake. Then everyone met at Village Wine and Spirits for the rehearsal dinner!
Village Wine and Spirits is located in a beautiful historic building. The exposed brick walls are complimented by the original crown moldings and gorgeous wooden floors. The tables were decorated with simple and elegant flower arrangements of white roses and baby’s breath. The addition of polaroid photos of Claire and Kyle on each table were a nice personal touch!
Everyone enjoyed dinner and then memories of the bride and groom were shared by family and friends through speeches and toasts. At the end of the evening I was able to sneak away with Claire and Kyle. We captured some fun flash photography moments around the building! I love when my couples are up for some experimenting.
It was a lovely Fall afternoon and evening, spent with incredible friends and family! I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to capture this special moment. Cheers to the happy couple!
The Riffels had a stunning, quaint, and classic wedding in Downtown KC at the very beginning of the year! The bride was a vision in her stunning long-sleeved white dress, which was complimented by her beautiful bouquet of flowers. Her choice of fun brown silky shoes added a playful twist to her ensemble, perfectly complementing her personality.
The ceremony at Holy Trinity Chapel was nothing short of romantic. In the heart of downtown Kansas City the Riffels exchanged their vows surrounded by their closest friends and family.
Following the ceremony, we embarked on a adventure around downtown and at Union Station, capturing intimate moments and candid laughter. The bride’s bouquet was an arrangement of white flowers with vibrant brown and green leaves that perfectly complimented her dress.
As the sun set on their special day, we made our way to Lifted Spirits Distillery for an evening celebrations. The distillery is rustic and chic, with wooden walls and twinkly lights hanging from the ceiling. Surrounded by loved ones, they celebrated the beginning of their forever.
Capturing the love and joy shared on this day was an absolute joy and privilege. This winter wedding was a celebration of love, laughter, and new beginnings, and I feel incredibly grateful to have been a part of it.
Here’s to the Riffels – may your love continue to grow with each passing year. Cheers to a lifetime of happiness and cherished memories!
Creating a well-equipped getting ready space for the wedding party can greatly enhance the experience and help ensure everyone looks and feels their best on the big day. Here’s a list of items that would be beneficial to have:
Essential
- Full-length mirrors: Essential for checking attire from head to toe and ensuring everyone looks their best. Your photographer will likely use this for photographs, too!
- Steaming or ironing station: To remove any wrinkles or creases from clothing.
- Skincare products: Moisturizers, primers, and other skincare essentials to prep the skin before makeup application. Don’t forget the deodorant!
- First aid kit: Band-aids, pain relievers, and any other essentials for minor emergencies.
- Snacks and drinks: Keep everyone energized and hydrated with a selection of snacks and beverages. Maybe some champagne for a toast!
- Chairs and seating area: Comfortable seating for the wedding party to relax between getting ready tasks.
- Emergency kit: Including items like stain remover, sewing kit, safety pins, and fashion tape for any wardrobe malfunctions.
- Phone chargers: Keep everyone’s devices charged so they can capture and share special moments throughout the day.
- Bluetooth speaker: Set the mood with some background music while getting ready. You can have the wedding party create a ‘getting ready’ playlist beforehand!
- Wedding day timeline: Display a schedule of events so everyone knows when they need to be ready. This is helpful and keeps everyone on task!
- Personal touches: Consider adding some personal touches or decorations to the space to make it feel special and memorable for everyone involved. Also think about any props you might want in your getting ready photographs.
Optional
These items will come in handy if you and/or your wedding party are opting to do your own hair and makeup! If you have a hair and makeup artists coming, it may be a good idea to have some of these items anyway, as backups.
- Hair styling tools: Hair dryers, straighteners, curling irons, and brushes for styling hair.
- Makeup station: Equipped with good lighting, mirrors, makeup brushes, and a variety of makeup products suitable for different skin tones and preferences.
- Hair accessories: Hair ties, bobby pins, clips, and any other accessories needed for hairstyles.
By providing these essential items, you can create a comfortable and organized getting ready space. One that will help ensure a smooth and enjoyable wedding day for the entire wedding party!
Located in the artsy district of The Crossroads in Kansas City, UNION was built in 1929 as a film
processing center. Fast-forward 90 years and now UNION is home to a unique 24-hour event space.
Creating the Space
Remodeling of the building began in 2018, and in 2019 UNION hosted its first wedding. Some of
the key features of the event space include the natural, exposed brick walls, wood flooring, and
restrooms and bars located on all three levels. UNION also utilizes market lights to create a romantic
atmosphere for a romantic celebration. Getting ready rooms are also available for both sides of the
party; access starts at the beginning of the rental period, and each room is furnished with all the
essentials for a memorable morning-of experience.
Venue Features
Additional perks of the space include the use and availability of all three levels to host the
ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. The space can comfortably accommodate up to 200 guests but
are open to more depending on the layout and flow of the event. This is to ensure that clients are less
stressed about traveling back and forth from different day-of locations. UNION also has vendor flexibility
and BYOB beverage services to ensure everyone has a great time. The space is fitted with gorgeous
wooden farm tables, auxiliary tables, and metal bistro chairs that are available with a reservation.
Bringing the Building Back to Life
The team at UNION spent significant time and resources to bring back the vibrant and raw
materials to combine modern with industrial and rustic for a truly stunning event. The combination of
those elements forms an ambiance that needs very little, if any, décor. The event space does come with
additional décor options for clients, including ceremony backdrops, pipes and drapes, greenery
installations, market light walls, and more.
Planning and Coordination
The in-house planning services at UNION range from Day-of Coordination to Full-Service
Planning. Though there is an additional cost, the investment is worthwhile since clients receive such a
knowledgeable planning team. UNION also provides a robust list of potential vendors from their Vendor List, but they are more than happy to work with new vendors and add to their fantastic list of talented vendors.
A Quote from Jessica
When asked what their favorite part of working in the wedding industry is, the Venue Manager
at UNION, Jessica, replied:
“Honestly, we just love LOVE! Personally, my favorite part of working in this wedding industry is the constant movement of the job itself. There are never two identical weddings, so I love to take a couple’s visions, budgets, and personal touches and help them create their vision in our space. It’s fun to run a venue like UNION, because it’s truly a different timeline, flow, vendor team, and style with every celebration here. It tests my creativity as a Venue Manager and Planner and gives us our couples the chance to incorporate everything they have been dreaming of together!”
Capturing Special Moments
I’ve had the pleasure of capturing multiple weddings at UNION and love the space! I hope to work with them again in the future.
As we ring in the new year I think it is important to note some 2024 wedding trends for the year ahead. If you, or someone you know, is planning a wedding take a look at some of the upcoming wedding trends below!
Restaurant Receptions
Big and small receptions are starting to move from a venue space into restaurants! This option isn’t right for everyone, but if you are looking for an easy, laid-back, all-inclusive “reception” option it would be something to look into. There are a lot of restaurants that have the space to accommodate large parties. You can work with the restaurant to come up with a menu, and ask if you can put out some decorations in the area you will be sitting. Some restaurants even have the space for a small dance floor!
Private Ceremonies
Are you a little anti-social? For some people the idea of saying intimate vows in front of a group of your family and friends makes their skin crawl. But they still want to have that special moment with their significant other. This is where private ceremonies come into play. Whether it is just you and your SO exchanging vows, or a small ceremony with only the wedding party and immediate family with a larger reception to follow, private ceremonies are growing in popularity.
Bows
Decorations have always played a large role in weddings. One specific kind of decoration that is trending is the use of bows! Bows on dresses, bows in hair, bows tied around candles and glassware; you name it. Bows can be a timeless, classic, and elegant addition to any wedding day!
Wedding Crests/Logos
Gone are the days of wedding hashtags. One of my favorite 2024 wedding trends is the creation of a wedding logo! Being able to brand things like favors for your bridal shower, matching shirts for the bachelorette, whiskey glasses for the bachelor trip, and napkins for the reception help pull everything together. How fun is it to work with your spouse to come up with something special that you can continue to use as a symbol of your marriage in the future?!
Champagne Towers
People always say that trends come back around – this is one that is back with a vengeance! Champagne towers are a fun and very picturesque way to add a little spunk to your wedding reception. Just make sure it will be built well and you are okay with wasting a little champagne before you add it to your reception list.
Friends/Family Officiants
For some people it is hard to decide who will officiate their wedding. Maybe they aren’t religious, or don’t have a great relationship with anyone within their religion. Maybe they do, but they want someone who has known them their whole life to officiate their wedding. Over the past few years it has become easier to become an officiant online, making the trend of family and friends officiating weddings to soar.
Late Night Snacks
Picture this: it’s 11pm and you’ve been dancing your butt off for the past 3 hours. You’re 4 drinks in and you haven’t eaten anything since dinner was served at 6pm; you are starving. The next thing you know, the DJ announces that late night snacks are being set out for the guests to enjoy. How awesome is that?! It can be meat and cheese platters, sliders, or even taco bell. Just a little something to hold your guests over so they can dance the night away!
Candid Family Photographs
As trends start to transition wedding photography from portrait style to documentation style, we will start to see more candids, especially with family members. Couples want authentic memories with their loved ones captured, as well as the portraits. Some couples are even planning a family champagne toast right after the wedding ceremony to help get those authentic candid photographs!
None of these trends 2024 wedding trends are absolute. There are many more that continue to rise and will inevitably fall. But I thought these were popular enough to point out to brides who were in the planning process! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. (:
I had the absolute pleasure of capturing Haleigh and Jesse’s elopement in Seward Alaska this past fall. Jesse is the brother of one of my oldest friends, so this opportunity was super special for me! I love small intimate weddings, and being able to travel for work is one of the HUGE perks of my job.
They got married at Salted Roots in Seward Alaska. It is a beautiful venue, with picturesque landscapes and cozy cabins for guests. Haleigh wanted a venue that would make everyone feel right at home and would accommodate their needs. Seward is a small town, but Haleigh found everyone she reached out to about their elopement to be incredibly helpful! Their party of 17 was well taken care of at Salted Roots, and enjoyed a delicious meal at Ray’s Waterfront after the ceremony.
With the wedding being so intimate, it is only fitting that some of the small details were intimate as well. One of Haleigh’s favorite details of the day was a blue heart shaped patch that both of her grandmother’s hand stitched onto her dress. The heart is embroidered with the wedding date.
All in all, the day was perfect. I couldn’t have asked for a better couple to capture in Alaska! Haleigh highly recommends eloping! She said, “You can always have a reception when you get home!”
Snow on your wedding day can transform the landscape into a magical wonderland, adding a touch of whimsy and charm to your celebration. However, it also brings its own set of challenges. Here are some tips to navigate and make the most of a snowy wedding day:
- Check the Weather Forecast: Stay updated on the weather forecast as your big day approaches. This helps in planning and making necessary arrangements beforehand.
- Dress Accordingly: Embrace the beauty of the snow by dressing appropriately. Consider a shawl, faux fur wrap, or a stylish coat that complements your wedding attire while keeping you warm.
- Footwear Matters: Opt for footwear suitable for snow, such as boots or shoes with good traction. You can even get creative by incorporating stylish boots that blend seamlessly with your outfit.
- Transportation Plans: Arrange for reliable transportation that can navigate through snowy roads. Consider hiring a professional driver or a vehicle equipped to handle winter conditions.
- Winter Accessories: Encourage your guests to dress warmly by suggesting winter accessories like scarves, gloves, or hand warmers. You can even provide blankets or shawls for outdoor ceremonies.
- Photography Opportunities: Embrace the snowy backdrop for stunning wedding photos. Work with your photographer to capture the enchanting beauty of the winter landscape.
- Venue Preparedness: Ensure your wedding venue is well-prepared for the snow. Confirm that walkways are shoveled, salted, and safe for guests to navigate.
- Backup Plans: Have a backup plan in case of extreme weather conditions. Whether it’s moving the ceremony indoors or adjusting the schedule, flexibility is key to ensuring a smooth day.
- Stay Warm and Hydrated: Keep yourselves and your guests warm by offering hot beverages or setting up stations with warm drinks. It’s essential to stay hydrated even in colder temperatures.
- Enjoy the Moment: Despite the weather, focus on the joy and love surrounding your special day. Snow can add a unique touch to your wedding, creating unforgettable memories.
A snowy wedding day can be breathtakingly beautiful with the right preparations and mindset. Embrace the magic of the winter wonderland while ensuring everyone’s comfort and safety, creating a day filled with warmth, love, and enchantment.
In the heart of Kansas City, Courtney and Jensen Knight chose a simple yet beautiful location for their elopement at the Johnson County Courthouse. A handful of cherished family and friends joined together for their intimate ceremony on a bright and sunny day!
Courtney wore a stunning off-the-shoulder gown, in a classic white. Her dress was complemented by a bouquet of beautiful white hydrangeas. Jensen wore a traditional black suit with a white boutonniere to match Courtney’s bouquet.
The couple didn’t have a bridal party. Which is common with elopements and also continues to grow in popularity for weddings of all sizes. With no wedding party, both of their mother’s signed the marriage certificate as witnesses.
It wasn’t about lavishness, but the sincerity of their love. It a brightly lit corner of the glass-walled courthouse, they shared their vows, surrounded by their closest family and friends.
After the ceremony we headed outside to capture some moments of the new bride and groom, as well as family and group photos. The Johnson County Courthouse is as incredibly beautiful building and photographs wonderfully.
I feel blessed to have been asked to capture this special day for Courtney and Jensen and I especially wish them so much love and happiness as they continue on their journey together as husband and wife!
When it comes to proposing the location can be as intimate, special, extravagant, or quaint as you’d like. Whether it is a place that already holds sentimental value, or a place where you are establishing sentimental value, it will be a magical moment! I’ve put together some tips on choosing the perfect proposal location so you can pick a place that’s right for you.
Plan For The Season
Summer, Spring, Winter, and Fall all bring different climates, depending on where you are in the US. Here in KC there will be a big difference in temperature and weather from one season to the next. I recommend planning for the season and always having a back-up plan if you decide on an outdoor proposal! You never know when it may rain, or snow.
Pick A Place You Love
A parent’s house, your favorite coffee shop, a park/trail you frequent, or just a place you love to go together are all great options when it comes to proposal locations. You can deck out a parent’s backyard, or meet at a local park. But picking a place you frequent and/or love going to together makes the moment even more special!
Think About The Afterparty
It is common to have a gathering with friends and family after the proposal. Which is something to take into consideration when deciding on a location. If you pick a location that can serve as a proposal location and an afterparty location you can kill 2 birds with one stone. If you choose an outside location, such as a park, you may have to do some additional planning for the after party!
Regardless of where you decided to pop the question, the day will be one to remember. Just trust your gut and don’t hesitate to ask friends and family for advice and help!
