Ashley & Frank's Charming Family Farm Wedding | Viroqua Barn Wedding | Farm Wedding Photographer

I think I sound like a broken record when I say "I have the best clients" but I don't care because it's true. The most amazing people find me to document they wedding days and I couldn't be happier about it.

Ashley and Frank are among those amazing people. A forecast of non-stop rain, a muddy dress and wet chairs would normally discourage a couples spirit on their wedding day. Ashley & Frank chose to embrace what they were given and their family and friends followed suit. They even continued their outdoor ceremony, rain or shine. I love their spirit and the positive energy that they put out into our universe. It ended up being one of the most captivating weddings I have ever been a part of.
Ashley is also an amazing Minneapolis photographer check her out! Ashley Miller Photography it's always a huge honor to be hired by a fellow photographer. Thank You Ashley & Frank, for an amazing day and inspiring me to always be positive!

Nate & Whitney Engaged | Enchanted Barn Wedding | Dani Stephenson Photography

Nate & Whitney are so funny and sweet but don't be fooled by them...they are total fibbers. They told me they would look bad in pictures and would be totally awkward and didn't know what to do. I told them, I just do not trust them because they totally rocked it!

Super fun couple and a super fun session, I am so looking forward to November 8th at The Enchanted Barn!

Enchanted Barn Wedding Photographer | One Frame Friday| My Favorite Bride

Friday May 9, Summer hustle, day #1- I have a wedding today, an engagement session tomorrow morning and a wedding tomorrow evening, let the games begin!

You know, I have met a lot of brides over the past 6-7 years. There are all types, (luckily I haven't encountered the bridezilla type.) I believe there are certain personality traits that can make a bride even more (naturally) beautiful in photos on her wedding day. I would know right? Care to know my favorite type of bride?

Here's goes like it or not....

• Laid Back
• Fun-Loving
• Stylish
• Trend-Setter
• Madly in Love
• Not afraid to be Silly
• Happy to be alive
• Established
• Chooses her own vendors
• Thinks outside of the box
• In Control but not a bridezilla
• Thinks of her wedding as a wonderful day, not the foundation of her whole life
• Has a leader-mindset
• Has an equally cool + involved groom
• Has a fun wedding party that will let her dress get dirty ;)
• Keeps momzilla in check (if she has one)
• Knows when to do and not to do DIY wedding projects
• Likes: Coffee, road trips, etsy, live music
• Dislikes: tiaras, shotlists, fake flowers, impersonal details.
• Most of all, more excited to be married than anything else.

Meet Erin, She embodies all of these qualities like most of my wonderful brides do, She married her soul mate Joel at The Enchanted Barn in October 2012

Wisconsin Wedding Photographer | One Frame Friday | Reflecting

May, 2014 already!

Wedding season just days away, I'm feeling really thankful in life lately, Thankful I am organized, thankful I got my gear cleaned and repaired, thankful I have the ability to balance my schedule however I want to, thankful I learned to keep my eyes on my own paper, thankful for a car to drive, a house to live in, a thankful I have an amazing husband, (like superhuman amazing) and thankful for the cutest 2 little boys ever that light my entire world and on top of all of that, I am thankful I have a small world of photography I get to call my own.

Photography has brought me challenges that stood the test of time and the test of change, it fuels my creative side, challenge me and opens doors for me everyday. I feel with each year I grow as a photographer and a person and I couldn't be more thankful for it.  I know someday I won't be a photographer anymore, but until then I am soaking up my time as a photographer with the amazing places it takes me and people I meet and moments I experience.

I'm a firm believer you should do what you love. Like all things, If I didn't love it, I wouldn't make room in my life for it.


Ashley & Scott Andre Married September 15, 2012

Fond Du Lac Wedding | One Frame Friday | The One | Wisconsin Wedding Photographer

So every week I base my One Frame Friday post off of what inspired me this week or what happened or a convo I had with someone. Something always bubbles up by Friday for me to share.

This week I was chatting back and forth with some 2015 brides, one of the emails subject was "Wedding Help" (I love these) so I open it and it reads:

"Hey Dani,

Hope you're doing well! I am having a hard time finding a wedding gown,and I was wondering if you think you'd be able to offer any insight? You seem to be a wedding guru so I thought maybe if we could have a chat it might help me get a clearer picture of what I want ultimately."

Gasp! me?! A wedding Guru?!, {ummm I looooove that}. Mostly because I live THE most unglamorous life ever. Up to my elbows in sippy cups and board books, tip-toeing around toys, diaper change, diaper change, diaper change and the occasional "Mom! I wet the bed". (Do you think I would change trade all that in for a glamorous life? Not a chance I have never been happier!)

So I felt all warm and puffy reading that email, It's no secret I love weddings, and it's no secret I attend no less than 15 a year so yeah...I pick up on a thing or two and I tell all my clients I am an open book, ask away!

So here are some tips I offered her and wanted to share with all of you: (Take them or leave them)

• Go alone or with one friend, not an army of friends/family/ grandmas/aunts/cousins because too may opinions are tough to ignore and you don't want to hurt any ones feelings.
  
  
• Try everything on! I swore I would wear a paper bag before I wore a strapless sweetheart gown, guess what I ended up with? a strapless sweetheart gown. So it's not about the STYLE it's about what looks good on your body. You would be surprised what that ugly dress on the hanger looks like on.
  
  
• Think outside of the box, I had a bride who had a custom gown made for $500...no kidding.
  
  
• Google Once Wed the resell high end gowns for an affordable price, hey if you want Vera Wang that's the way to go!
  
  
• Etsy I have a bride this year who bought her ADORABLE gown for $150
  
  
• Not all bridal shops are the same and carry the same brands, instead of picking a bridal store by city, pick a store by the designers they carry, then go to stores that carry different designers so you can try on those dresses otherwise your just trying on the same dresses at different stores.

Here are some links to my favorite dress designers:

Saja 

Watters

Grace Loves lace

Sarah Seven

BHLDN

J Crew

My Favorite *local* Bridal shop?
Marah's Elegant Bridal in Mount Horeb, WI

Enchanted Barn | One Frame Friday | Time | Enchanted Barn Wedding

This time of year for me consists of lots of emails to and from brides regarding their last few months of preparation for their big day. All sorts of questions and ideas are bounced around; one that remains consistent is timeline. 

This is a huge part of your day and varies from one bride to the next. Everyone has different priorities, some brides really want those special moments before she walks down the aisle and other brides want a full coverage of the reception. Some couples want a first look and some do not. I try to help them decide what is best for their day and how they will get the most out of their wedding photography.  Sometimes I give a visual timeline, this is a big hit because they can see how their day will flow. 

A big question is how can we get time for creative photos? I decided to share that with all of you and whenever your wedding day, wherever you get married and whoever your photographer is maybe this will help gauge your timeline a little.

Here’s 2 examples of the same 8 hour wedding with ceremony starting at 4pm:

First Look:
12:00 photographer arrives
12:00-1:00- getting ready photos (hair/make-up, dress hanging, shoes, jewelry), venue, bouquets
1:00-2:00- First Look (photo-fresh!)& couple portraits
2:00-3:00- Wedding Party & Family Portraits
3:00-4:00-breath, relax, last minute touch-ups
4:00- Ceremony
4:30-Receiving Line
5:00-5:30 cocktail hour mingling
5:30- 6:00 Creative Couples Portraits at dusk
6:00-Dinner
7:00 Dance
8:00-Photographer leaves

Now, here’s a look at no first look timeline, you will notice all of the photos will be taken AFTER the ceremony, in shorter amounts of time and also leaving no time for downtime, mingling or creative photos.

NO First Look:
2:00 pm photographer arrives
2:00-2:30-getting ready photos (hair/make-up, dress hanging, shoes, jewelry) bouquet, venue
2:30-3:30 Depending on time bride w/ maids, groom w/ men (?)
4:00- Ceremony
4:30-Receiving line
5:00- 5:30-Family Formals
5:30-6:00- Wedding party, bride & maids, groom & men
6:00-6:30-Couples Portraits
6:30-7:30 Dinner
8:00pm Dance
10pm- Photographer leaves

Of course, this is just 2 ways to look at it, there are endless ways to map out your wedding day timeline, just make sure to  put your priorities in order and save room for creative photos! you'll thank me later ;)