I, like many of you, took advantage of the pandemic and those insanely low interest rates to refinance my home. While going through the paperwork with Envista Credit Union, my loan advisor looked up from my paperwork. It kind of made me stop for a moment, because that’s never a good sign when you’re asking for money from a bank. But then he said, “You’re a photographer? Do you by chance shoot weddings?” Turns out, he had recently asked his girlfriend to marry him and he was looking for a photographer. Fast forward several months and the next thing I know, I’m at their gorgeous Topeka, KS wedding—at the Topeka Zoo!. I’m practically sobbing over how perfect Bryan and Breyanna are together. And since I know you’re wondering, yes, I did get approved for that loan.

As it turns out, Bryan and Bre are this wonderful couple who look so cute! Bre is this tiny, petite woman (though, just gonna say, her boudoir photos were ooh-la-la, so don’t let her size fool you!). And Bryan might as well be a football player. He towers over her, yet as he smiles at her and his eyes get all gooey when he looks at her, she looks so safe and content in his arms. You’ll see… Keep scrolling!

The celebration begins

You guys, Bre is seriously the cutest, plus this girl is such a sweetheart. I asked her to trust me with this champagne shot, where I wanted her to shake the bottle hard then let it spray everywhere. Guys, I knew the shot would turn out this beautifully. She had one moment where she was concerned the venue take issue with the champagne spray. But then she jumped right it. Just a simple shake, and we were able to capture such a fun shot of her and her friends celebrating!

Bre also shared a story about how her wedding dress caused a major meltdown. During her last fitting, she said she was in tears, telling Bryan how much she hated her wedding dress. I couldn’t believe what she is saying. This dress looks like it was made for her. She got it from Bride KC, and it’s obvious they made her realize how perfect she looked. She was absolutely stunning.

Bryan similarly rolled with the punches, and after finding their hotel room had been given away to someone else, he chose to get ready at home instead of the hotel. It ended up being a great spot that had plenty of space to give me the journalistic lifestyle photography I wanted to capture.

A lot of my grooms tend to get ready in hotel rooms, but this gave the luxury of more space to work with, and obviously, Bryan felt right at home. It was the perfect space for pre-wedding photos.

These two read each others’ letters to each other before they had the opportunity to see each other. Both Bryan and Bre teared up while reading them. These are such beautiful moments that I always encourage my brides and grooms to take this on as a piece of their day because it photographs so well.

I live for this kind of emotion in my photos! I love thinking back on these moments as I’m editing. It takes my breath away every time!

The Topeka, KS wedding begins

I am a big advocate for the first look. This is such an important moment that you want your photographer to capture. I always like to have a second shooter during moments like this, because I always want to capture the perspectives of both the bride and groom.

Seriously, how cute are these two? I just stood there with my camera ready and was able to capture some of the most adorable photos of them together.

When the wedding began, the emotions continued. Breyanna was absolutely glowing and ready to marry her best friend. Bryan wiped away tear after tear. Everything about it was beautiful. When I shoot, I literally take thousands of photos. The reason is to capture shots just like this. When I edit and find perfect shots like this, I get goosebumps every time. There’s nothing more satisfying to me than finding moments like this. The groom getting emotional about his soon-to-be father-in-law giving away his bride? This will be a photo their family cherishes for a lifetime.

I’m always thrilled when I get to capture the first kiss as husband and wife. We only have a couple of seconds to get that shot, so it’s typically one of the biggest things I prep for during the ceremony. I absolutely cannot miss this shot!

Shooting the venue

I often like to capture the overall details of a wedding, too. The Topeka Zoo’s Kay McFarland Japanese Garden and Venue has quickly become one of my favorite locations for a Topeka KS wedding. It’s a modern venue with incredible lighting, and it’s a beautiful spot to say, “I do.”

Let’s capture your story

I’m already booking for 2023, and only taking a limited amount of weddings. Get in touch if you want to discuss your big day! I’m also focusing on boudoir and family sessions and I’d love to get you on my books. Let’s talk about your goals and objectives, then schedule your session. I can’t wait to work with you!