Meet Dana

What is it like having your wedding photographed by me . . .

A Little about Me

Photography has been a creative outlet and passion of mine for more than twenty years.  I started with film and learning on a 35mm how to "paint with light" and it took off from there.  After shooting for friends and family as a hobbyist for ten years I decided it was time to go into business after the birth of my youngest.  I have always had a sweet spot for weddings, they still make me tear up inside to believe in love and witness two people devote their lives to one another.  My goal for your wedding is to capture everything as you remember it and the stuff you may have overlooked.  Wedding days are here and gone after a few short hours together but I want to put something in your hands that will last a lifetime. I do bring a non-shooting lighting assistant (usually my husband) and you do get two photographers for the ceremony in most cases for weddings lasting more than an hour

A Little about My Style as a Photographer

I approach each wedding as a blank canvas, no two weddings are the same. Before your wedding we will go over a photography timeline to give you an idea of how long things take and what to plan for to get the most out of your wedding photography package. On the day of I am about as laid back as they come, it is your day and I am just along for the ride. I am good with keeping things running on time or making up time when needed during portraits but outside of that part of the day, I am documenting things as they happen with as little interference as possible.

If you want a big production for photos on your wedding day we can certainly do that but as a whole I try and keep portrait times down to a minimum. This is your wedding day and you invested a mint on this party. My goal is to keep you at your party as much as possible and we can talk about ways to make that happen. The more we plan and prepare ahead of time the smoother things go on wedding day. For example - our sunset sneak out for portraits is generally about 5-8 minutes for couples wanting a sunset photo during their reception.

Family dynamics differ from one side to the next, sometimes even in the same wedding and my approach is to capture the images you love and work to downplay any family discomforts during family portraits. We can take as many or as little as you wish for this part and I can talk to you more about how we run this smooth and effortlessly for your part.

Posing

I take a posed and candid approach to my wedding photography. There are times that posed photos are essential to maximize time and keep everyone looking their best during family portraits and a time for fun relaxed and less posed photos during things like bridal party and photos of the two of you. I like getting a good mix of candid and posed photos for couples but it never feels like you are staring at my camera lens for a lengthy amount of time once we are passed the family portion.

Lighting

I love working with natural and artificial light - both options have their time and place.  I prefer not to be at the sun's mercy when it comes to lighting which also gives me the benefit of not being restricted to a certain time of day or place to take photos outside.  While all photographers have preferences, enhancing with artificial light gives me the ability to be more flexible with my photography and light my clients in a way that it still looks very natural and not in the dark on shadows on bright sunny days.  I would describe my style as timeless and traditional, I like my whites to be white in my photographs to make the colors rich and non-dated by a fad in years to come.  Natural light also has its own time to shine. Getting pops of warm sunlight for your portraits or the natural light coming in from a window while you are getting ready is *chef’s kiss.

Editing

My editing style is clean. I like keeping colors true and unfiltered - no “sepia-gate” brides in my portfolio but you are welcome to filter your own photos as you wish for personal use. I do edit my own work and it is pretty consistent with what you see me post online.

and Just for Fun . . .

We are going to be spending a lot of time together on your wedding day. Next to your coordinator I will be the person you see most so here is a little about me. Aside from photography being an artistic outlet and hobby of mine, I also enjoy spending time with my family - being a good mom and wife is of the highest priority in my personal life. I love collecting tattoos, sitting on the beach, and listening to Dave Matthews Band or Blue October. I am musically inclined and taught myself how to play the piano - I love live music and dancing but you probably won’t see that part of me on your wedding day with two cameras strapped to me. I am a math nerd and college graduate and started my business shortly after I graduated. My degree is in legal studies and I love talking about law and studying all things legal or religion though I tend to be pretty quiet when working.