When I first met Jorga (prounounced “Georgia”, like the state), her lighthearted laugh and contagious energy immediately filled the room. We first met at Starbucks when she reached out to me about photographing her elopement in July. I could see she was excited and her eyes sparkled with anticipation. I was thrilled for her and so happy for her, and of course, honored that she chose me to document such a joyous season of life.

As a wedding and portrait photographer, I spend a lot of time behind the lens capturing everyone’s special moments. But when it’s my turn to be in front of the camera or just feel my best on the job, I have a few go-to beauty products that I can’t live without. I know how important it is to make sure that your hair and makeup are on point all day long, especially on your wedding day!

Last month, my husband and I celebrated seven years of marriage! In honor of that milestone, I thought it was the perfect time to share our love story. I planned to post this last month, but, well… life happened. We decided to homeschool our kids (which is a whole other blog post for another day!), and I’m still figuring out a routine that works for all of us. But anyway, on to our story!

Congratulations on your engagement! This is a beautiful chapter in your love story, filled with excitement, joy, and the promise of a wonderful future together. While planning a wedding can feel overwhelming, it’s important to savor every moment of this special time. As a wedding photographer, I’ve witnessed countless couples navigate their engagement journey, and I’m here to share some tips on how to enjoy being engaged and make the most of planning your dream wedding.

I first “met” Michaela back in January to talk with her about her wedding. I like to do a video call or in person meet up with potential brides so we can get to know each other a little better, and I just find that is easier to do when we can actually look at each other and chat! I also really want and love to hear about people’s love stories –