SARAH + SHANE'S SWEET DIY FARM WEDDING | FAMILY FARM WEDDING | STRUM, WI WEDDING

There's really nothing like a farm wedding, all the DIY touches, the easy going day, the space to roam aimlessly and the freedom to do whatever you wantit's seriously one of my very favorite kind of weddings. 

Sarah and Shane really pulled out all the stops to make this their own. The amazing homemade wooden signs, the white tent with rustic details, the red barn backdrop. Simply perfect day and the weather was amazing! Sarah's family is so welcoming and wonderful too. Erin and I were putting the dress up and a branch was in our way and she jokingly said "don't ask for help they are so nice they would come with a chainsaw and cut down the tree for you" and that is exactly true, they were beyond supportive, helpful and most of all happy. 

The day was filled with sunshine, smiles, amazing friends and family and a gorgeous bride and groom. Enjoy the preview.

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

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 ;)

One Frame Friday | Photography for Happy People

I read a blog the other day, "Photography for Adults" I thought, that's pretty cool, it's not exactly my style but I get it and I am sure that photographer draws in the right clients who also get it. 

Then I thought, what word would I use to describe my kind of photography-clients? Photography for fun, cool people? Photography for the anti-bridezilla? Photography for the fun-loving couple? Photography for laid back couples? Photography for hip people getting married in the great outdoors? Photography for couples who dance to the beat of their own drum?.... Kind of wordy. 

So then it hit me, its simple.  Photography for Happy People. Yes, that's what it would be. Stylish, classic, rustic, hippie doesn't matter, what matters is that my clients are Happy People.

Happy to get married, Happy to be alive, Happy to gather with their friends and family, Happy for the imperfect, Happy to have genuine photos of their day, Happy People.

So far in my 5 years of photographing weddings, I have had some of the Happiest People in the world. Let's keep it that way eh?

Here's some happy 2013 couples....