One Frame Friday | Country Engagements| Tomah Wisconsin Wedding Photographer

There is only one happiness in life, to love and to be loved.
Happy Weekend All!

David + Dani's Wisconsin Themed Barn Wedding | Wisconsin Barn Wedding | The Enchanted Barn, Hillsdale WI | Dani Stephenson Photography | Wisconsin Barn Photographer

May 18- My first wedding of the 2013 season. I was SO excited to start it off back at The Enchanted Barn, with my friend and second shooter Theresa. On the way to the barn it was sunny and warm and then came the sprinkles and then came the downpour of cats and dogs. All I could think of was I sure hope #1 Weather won't get this couple down and #2 they are up for anything as far as photos. Luckily when I arrived and ran into them (seperately) they were both all smiles and happy and didn't even comment on the rain. Dani was ready for photos in the grass rain or shine. 

Then the clouds parted and warm sun poked through, it ended up being a beautiful day. I couldn't have been happier with my first wedding of the year. I loved the Wisconsin-themed details this Illinois (soon to be Minnesota) couple had and all the moments of happy tears from their families. Enjoy!



Seriously the bouquets by Allure are ALWAYS A-mazing!

Random downpour before the first look... Then as David put it, the clouds opened up, sunshine shined through, birds chirped and it was a perfect day! Dani embraced the rain when she said lets go for it (pictures outside) and put on a pair of rain boots! I love when a couple surrounded by large families and groups of friends decides to go with one witness on each side. What an honor. I LOVE these! The Ceremony was beautifully written by the couple. This is why I LOVE barn weddings- mingling and yard games All the best to the Happy Couple!

Rustic Romance Wedding // Style Shoot at the bluffs // Mentor Session // Wisconsin Wedding Photographer// Dani Stephenson Photography

When I started Photography I was like 11 and every since then I have been in love with photographs of any kind. I was the kid with the camera, then the teenager with a camera, then the college-age friend who always had photos of "that one time". It just grew and grew but it's been a long journey, sometimes draining, sometimes wonderful, sometimes frustrating. I don't claim to know everything about photography, in fact I swear I learn something new with every shoot so my journey is far from over.

Why do I offer mentor sessions? I found I love to teach when I started at Western Tech a few semesters before baby # 2 arrived teaching a camera & composition class. Teaching others was really fulfilling and simply fun. I paved a shortcut for some beginning in photography. It will always be a long journey for anyone in the industry but I want to help, I love to network, I love to share what I have learned and what I found works and doesn't work. And honestly, I had very little help along the way, so I want to be there for the beginners and give the help I wish I had got years ago. If I had this opportunity 5 years ago I would have jumped on it. Any interest in mentor sessions please Facebook or email me :)

Basically a mentor session is a day of talking shop, anything and everything photography from camera modes to logos to blogging to comparing yourself with others, to finding who you are to post processing. Abby and I talked and talked and I had a style shoot set up to get her out and shooting. It was a perfect day and I couldn't have been happier to spend it with Abby. 

Special Thanks to Shannon & David our models, and Wild Apples for the jaw-dropping bouquet and headpiece, they always go above and beyond for me and I highly recommend them for any occasion, tell them Dani sent you! 


So here's some from our shoot.... My sis is cute, and as stated above, (little more background) she has been modeling for me since she was 7...yes 7 years old when I used to make dresses out of white sheets (our grandparents owned a motel) and I would pose her and my cousins and snap shots with my Kodak 110, needless to say Grandma isn't surprised I do this today. She also was my first model when I decided to get real about photography again 5 years ago. Her support has gotten me a long way.  Oh Abby, my only hold back with you is I think your too pretty to be behind the camera! My take on photography is you can have money to buy equipment, or you can read every manual/book on Amazon, you can take every camera class, composition class, online class or workshops you can find but in the end you also have to *have something special* to succeed. You have to have more than money for equipment or read up on the latest this or that. You have to have more than skill, you need vision, strong convictions and an inner talent, craft or *eye* for photography.I think Abby has that something special inside her, keep up with her work here : ABBY CLEMENTS LOVE