Remember when I said that I wouldn’t shoot another wedding? Well.. never say never friends. It was still challenging and the day still left me with sore feet and tired eyes, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I know Donna through one of my oldest friends, so when she was looking for a wedding photographer, I jumped at the chance to put myself in the running. I knew it would be a great chance to visit Idaho again. It just felt right, so I was thrilled when they chose me to capture their day.

Donna and David said ‘I do’ in sweet little city outside of Boise called Nampa. Their event venue was in the quaint little downtown area full of shops with a beautiful rose garden just a quick drive away, which was perfect for their first looks pre ceremony.

Here are my favorite shots from the day.

A few short weeks ago I photographed my first (and possibly my last) wedding.

When my dear friend casually asked me to photograph her wedding, I was kinda stunned. I immediately said yes, but the weeks and days leading up to the event had me in an internal panic. I’ve never shot a wedding before and I hadn’t really ever intended to. They seemed so stressful and I thought it was so clearly outside my skill set. I researched and rented new lenses for my camera, I created a shot list and a timeline, and I (in painstakingly great detail) walked myself through the day many times. I was nervous, but thrilled at the same time.

Dawn isn’t the kind of bride who had a whole host of preconceived ideas and monumental expectations. She trusted me to do my thing and I couldn’t be more grateful for that. I set out to do a good job, and while there are a ton of things I wish I would have done differently, I know I accomplished my goal. While I have no intention of becoming a wedding photographer, I feel more confident that I can do it. Here are my favorite captures from their big day.

I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful husband. It was such a pleasure to do something I love with him by my side. He kept me calm, encouraged my ideas, helped me pose, and even took some fantastic shots himself.

I learned a few things, including:

• Large zoom lenses are extremely heavy
• Bring a charged backup battery
• Dad jokes can do wonders on a person who refuses to smile
• Large families and dark spaces are stressful to photograph
• Bring snacks for yourself because you probably won’t get a chance to eat
• Use your surroundings and improvise
• Sandals without a sole probably aren’t a good idea
• Don’t let your props out of your sight
• Sparkler photos take practice

Ultimately, I’m pretty proud of myself and I know that both Dawn and Stefano have pictures they’ll be happy to have in their family for generations to come. I’m honored to have been such a big part of their love story.