The start of something new.
When Maddie reached out asking me to photograph her wedding, I can admit I was incredibly nervous. I hadn't done a wedding before, in fact I specifically said that I wouldn't ever be a "wedding photographer." However, I love trying new things.. so I told her a price, got on Youtube and started learning. It also really helped that I've known Maddie since I was 13, so I knew she would be the perfect person to be my first wedding. I felt comfortable with her family, my family would be there, it was the ideal scenario to dip my toes in and try something new.
A few months before her wedding, I did my first wedding as a second shooter. This was a great learning experience to see how a wedding day goes, and ask as many questions as I could. I felt so much more prepared!! Shoutout to Casey Miller, Citybeat's 3X Best Cincinnati Photographer, for taking me on and teaching me so many things. I'm so grateful to have that connection + for such a talented, amazing human to see the potential in me.
The day of Maddie's wedding arrived, & she told me her friend Rachel would also be coming to help with pictures. Rachel is an experienced wedding photographer and originally had a wedding the same day as Maddie's, otherwise she would've been the photographer to begin with. To be completely real, I was a little salty. I'll admit it hahahaha. BUT- not for real..... just for like two seconds, because I just felt inadequate. But MAN. Little did I know, that was the BEST thing that could've ever happened for my career. Rachel & I clicked immediately. She was hilarious, kind, helpful, and honestly having her take the lead on certain things was so nice. I would've totally been able to do it on my own, but having her there just made it a million times better. She helped with the ceremony, family portraits, and the bride and groom portraits, then I tackled the reception on my own. Making the connection (and friendship) was so incredibly important to me! Rachel has since brought me along to multiple weddings, one of those being in California. She's taught me so much, seen the potential of my work and never been shy about letting me know it, and basically guided me along this first year of making wedding photography a real thing for me. The value of collaboration and support in this industry is SO REAL!!!
But enough about me..... Maddie + Cole. Cole + Maddie. What a beautiful couple, and a beautiful day. Seeing Maddie as a bride was so special to me, getting to capture it was even more special. She has been like a big sister to me, and watching her become the woman she is makes me so proud! They had a small family-only ceremony outside at Mulhauser Barn in West Chester, Ohio. Following the ceremony and family photos, Rachel & I scouted out locations for the bridal portraits. We only had about an hour and a half so we were searching google maps like our lives depended on it. Cole's dad had an old mustang that we were using for photos, so we wanted it to be a reaalllllyyyy good spot. We found a church in Springdale about 15 minutes from the venue, so we had them meet us there, and we did the damn thing! Rachel brought the stuff for a champagne tower (see what I mean, absolute G.O.A.T behavior) so we did that on the back of the car & took so many other beautiful portraits. I loved every minute of it.
Following the portraits, Maddie, her mom April and I rode together back to the venue as guests were arriving. I was on my own for the rest of the day so I was a bit nervous, but not really. Just a smidge. I saw my parents, sat with them for awhile and waited for Maddie + Cole to make their grand entrance. Their reception was so much fun, following dinner & the dances, everyone mingled and filled up the dance floor. It was such a good time, and it made me realize that I actually REALLY like this kind of photography. I miiiiiight do this again...... fast forward to now i've got 12 weddings for 2025 and 2 so far for 2026. Starting my wedding photography journey has allowed me to make this my full time job. I am forever grateful to Maddie for trusting in me to capture her wedding day.
