I met Emina on a photoshoot as a fellow photographer. She asked me about maternity photos, and we had a blast photographing her and her family at Lake Louisa last year. Now that her little one is getting bigger it was time to do updated family photos! We met up at Cypress Grove Park and had fun exploring the walkways and greenery that the park offers. Bonus points for having a playground for the kids!

Some fun facts of Porchfest 2023: 17 porches - over 70 bands | 13 of CFL's best food vendors | Pet-friendly | Art auction

Their love story taken from their wedding website reads: "Nick + Katelyn met through a mutual friend, Krista. Krista worked out with Katelyn at her CrossFit gym, and Nick got his tattoos from Krista at her shop, The Lovely Pearl. One day while at the gym. Krista came up to Katelyn and said, "I'm sick of you dating bad guys. I have a client whom I think you'd hit it off pretty well with. I gave him your number and he's going to call you later." Needless to say, Katelyn was dumbfounded. Nick called Katelyn and they decided to meet to have dinner at Prohibition Kitchen. When arriving, Nick met Katelyn at her car in the parking lot, giving her a bottle of her favorite tequila (he clearly did his homework on her favorite drink). Two and a half months after dating, Nick introduced his son Jackson to Katelyn. The rest is history. The three of them have been a family unit ever since!"

Fast forward an entire year, and we made it to their wedding day! One of the main goals was to get photos with all the lights in front of the Lightner Museum, and we worried about crowds and timing, but low and behold the day came and there was no traffic and no crowds. It was perfect! Fun fact - Krista officiated their wedding!

Now, onto the photos!

VENUES:

Getting Ready & First Look: Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel

Ceremony & Reception: Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth (Magnolia Room)

Videography: Audie John

Planner: Robert Capers

Taken from their wedding website, the story of how Jess and Patrick met is one for the ages: Jess and Patrick met for the first time to play a board game. But forget any preconceived notions of casual, friendly board game night featuring classic, easy-to-play games like Monopoly or Clue. No, the first game they played together was the Game of Thrones board game: an intense strategy-based wargame with a thirty-two-page rule book, that is basically guaranteed to last a minimum of six hours, test the bonds of friendship, and ensure by the game’s end that at least half of the assembled players will vow to never play again.

Naturally, the complexity of the game scared off a lot of new players, which meant Jess always had a hard time finding anyone to play it with her. Imagine her delight when a friend suggested he knew someone willing to play, bringing their usual group of four players to *five*. The coveted fifth player meant they could play an expanded version of the game that utilized more of the board, a feat previously unachieved since her time in Scotland with her college friends. Because of this, Patrick, as a fully willing fifth player, was already held in high esteem before he even arrived.

But little did Jess know, her esteem of Patrick would soar to unimaginable heights when an unexpected and whacky scheme to fix a broken cell phone led to Jess being over an hour late to their scheduled board game session held at her own apartment, and without a working cell phone to let anyone know about it.

So picture this: Patrick arrives at the gates of an apartment complex he’s never been to before. He uses the call box outside the gate in the hopes of being let in by people he’s never met before. No answer. He calls the number of the mutual friend who set this whole thing up to double-check he has the right place. No answer. Patrick waits, uncertain if he has the right place and time, wondering if there has been a mistake, or if this has all been an elaborate prank and there really ISN’T anyone willing to play a six-hour strategy-based board game with a thirty-two-page rule book themed after the once beloved then subsequently reviled series of Game of Thrones. Oh, and also picture that it’s raining.

By some miracle, Patrick doesn’t immediately leave. Instead, he decides to wait for over an hour, sitting in his car in the parking lot outside of the complex, in the rain, until a profusely apologetic Jess finally arrived. The first words Jess ever spoke to Patrick were several anxious declarations of “I’m so so so so sorry”, that eventually turned into declarations of war once everyone was settled and they began to play the game. Patrick knew better than to rise to the call of war—he decided instead to propose an alliance with Jess.

Then, eight years and so many wonderful memories together later, Patrick decided to propose again.

He used an antique typewriter (a family heirloom!) set up in her office with the words “Will you marry me?” typed out for her to discover. He wanted Jess to be able to help pick out her own ring, so when she leaned in to read what he had typed, Patrick got down on one knee, ready with a tiny piece of velcro to secure around her finger. Overwhelmed with love and joy (and excitement because TYPEWRITER!), Jess did not initially say “Yes!” Instead, she tearfully declared “THIS COUNTS!”

Now, onto the wedding photos :)

When talking about her theme and if she did any DIY projects, Jess says, "My theme was kinda confusing if you ask anyone in my family before they actually saw it all laid out: my wedding planner did SUCH a good job! It was a celestial theme with a vintage twist, that still felt uniquely us. I DIY'd my veil as well as all the personal flowers for my bouquet, the bridesmaid bouquets, and the groomsmen's boutonnières. I also designed the Save the Dates, Invitations, and rehearsal dinner place cards."

When talking to Jess about inspiration, she told me, "More than anything else I used Pinterest to get inspiration and tips and tricks, although I definitely visited Offbeat Wed too to see some non-traditional types of weddings, which helped me widen my scope of ideas. I had a very specific image in mind, but there was so much about weddings I just didn't know, which the internet helped me figure out."
 

When asked why they chose Howey Mansion as their wedding venue, Jess answered, "There was so much about the Howey Mansion to love, but honestly the part that most appealed to us was its history and the fact that it had once laid abandoned for nearly 20 years before being restored to its original glory. It has a secret passageway into a hidden speakeasy, and has so many interesting elements to its design and so much cool and unique history within its walls that we couldn't pass it up! Not to mention how *gorgeous* it is! Those doors, that staircase, I mean come on!"

When recalling their ceremony, the couple stated, "We went a little nontraditional with our ceremony. We borrowed bits and pieces from a humanist ceremony as well as crafted our own bits for our officiant to read. We incorporated our unique version of a handfasting ceremony into it, and provided a reading from Neil Gaiman called "What I know about Love". We also quoted our favorite podcast host, Griffin McElroy, "You're going to be Amazing", as our final blessing." For their handfasting ceremony, they had 5 different ribbons, one given to them by Jess' mother, one given to them by Patrick's mother, one from the Maid of Honor, one from the Best man, and the final one from the officiant, Yinelli, who is a family friend.

When asked about their favorite part of the day, Jess wrote: "My favorite part was absolutely marrying my best friend and the love of my life, and seeing him get emotional during our ceremony. Patrick also said the same, and then I poked him to specify something else and he jokingly said, "The food". Honestly, just seeing EVERYTHING we've been planning come together so perfectly was the best thing, and working with all our fabulous vendors who all went above and beyond... I couldn't ask for a more perfect wedding."

When I asked Jess what the most difficult part of wedding planning was, she responded, "Meeting deadlines! Patrick and I are really, really bad when it comes to procrastinating, and a lot of stuff we should have gotten done super in advance we let wait until the last minute. I only had *one* mental breakdown while finishing up the bouquets a few days before the wedding though, which I consider a real win. Thankfully though, despite all our procrastinating, our wedding planner really had our backs and got so much done for us and made sure everything we wanted, we got, and my bridesmaids helped me with the DIY projects I insisted upon (even my nervewracking need to make a veil 1 hour before leaving for our venue). Our wedding would not have been what it was without our wedding planner, our wedding party, and all the vendors who teamed up to make it truly perfect."

I asked the couple what advice they would give couples planning their weddings. Jess answered, "Don't wait until the last minute to do everything! Especially those DIY projects! Give yourself more time than you think you'll need so you can actually enjoy the week before your wedding instead of panicking about all the stuff you haven't finished. But also find vendors who you vibe with, who you feel connected to, and who you can be a little silly with! You'll know the difference when you're meeting with them, and you'll absolutely be grateful for it on the day of your wedding and you're not at all stressed because your team is cracking jokes and making you feel comfortable and taking care of everything without making you worry for a second. I'm an extremely anxious person who had the best, least-anxious day of my life for an event that everyone says is supposed to be an extremely stressful experience. I fully and completely believe it was because of our vendors who made it all so easy."

THANK YOU TO ALL THE AMAZING VENDORS WHO HELPED THIS DREAM WEDDING BECOME A REALITY

Planner: Rêverie Events by Jessica Reneé @reve.events

Venue: The Howey Mansion @thehoweymansion

Photographer: Koontz Photography @koontzphotography

Second Photographer: Jenn Ross @jennrossphotography

Videographer: Mogue Films @moguefilms

Catering: Arthur’s Catering @arthurscatering

Cake: Sugar Sugar Cake Boutique @sugarsugarcakeboutique

Florals: Alyssa Maldonado Design @alyssamaldonadodesign

Rentals: Ocean Hawks Rentals @oceanhawksrentals

Pipe/Drape: Bryant Productions @bryantproductionevents

Tent: Party Plus @partyplustentsandeventsfl

Signage + Stationery: Bowtie & Brush @bowtieandbrush

Linens: Over the Top Rentals @overthetoprentallinens

Chargers: Echo Event Rentals @echoeventrentals

Entertainment: Metropolis Productions @metropolisusa

Live Band: Sound Society Radio @soundsocietyradio

Photobooth: Photobooth Rocks @photoboothrocks

Audio Guestbook: After the Tone @afterthetone.co

Hair Color: Liced Elias @hairmakeupby_liced

HMUA: LaMoon Beauty Agency @lamoonbeautyagency

Bridal Styling: Definition Bridal @definitionbridal

Dress: Enchanted Bride @enchantedbride.lakemary

Dress Alterations: Thread and Needle @threadandneedlealterations

Suit: Men's Wearhouse @menswearhouse

Bridesmaid Dresses: JJ House @jjshouseofficial

Transportation: VIP Wedding Transportation @vipweddingtransportation

Bride's Handmade Robe: Orlando Sewing Studio  @seamstress_lena

Rings: Brilliant Earth @brilliantearth

Favors: Art of Play @artofplay

Photos are a great way to make your wedding stationery more personal and memorable. Whether you choose to use engagement photos, holiday photos, or just casual shots, incorporating photos into your stationery is a great way to show off your personality as individuals and as a couple.

When it comes to using photos throughout your wedding stationery, there are lots of options available. For example, photo save-the-date cards are becoming increasingly popular for announcing the big day. These are an important part of your wedding planning, and they should be sent out 6-8 months before the wedding date. This is to give guests plenty of time to plan for the big day and make sure that they can attend. Save-the-date cards are typically much less formal than traditional wedding stationery, so couples have a lot of freedom when it comes to designing them.

When designing your save-the-date cards, you may want to include a link to your wedding website so that guests can easily access more detailed information about your big day. Your website should include all pertinent details such as dress code, registry information, and other helpful tips for attending your wedding. By including all this information on your save-the-dates, you can ensure that everyone has enough time to plan ahead and be prepared for what will surely be an unforgettable day!

You can also use photos on invitations for an engagement party or bridal shower. Or if you’re looking for something more subtle, consider adding a photo to thank you cards, programs, or even number cards on the table at the reception. Don't forget to order place cards for the reception to match! To create a cohesive look in your stationary suite, make sure that all design elements match up in terms of color palette and overall aesthetic. With these tips in mind, you can easily create an inviting atmosphere for your guests on your special day.

You can even include your favorite engagement photo on your wedding invitations. You can even find invitations that feature multiple photos if it's just too hard to narrow it down to one. Once you've narrowed down your photo choice, you get to work on the design!

Creating wedding invitations shouldn't be a daunting task. With Basic Invite it doesn't have to be. With almost unlimited color options, custom samples, over 40 different colors of envelopes, address capturing service, and foil options, you can create the perfect wedding invitation using your engagement photos. Basic Invite offers a wide variety of designs to choose from and allows you to customize each element.

• Almost Unlimited Colors- Basic Invite is one of the few websites allowing customers almost unlimited color options with instant previews online. Once they select a design, customers can change the color of each element on the card. With over 180 colors to choose from, the invite is sure to be exactly how they want it. This is what sets us apart from almost any other online stationery company.
• Custom Samples- Basic Invite is one of the few websites that allows customers to order a printed sample of their actual invitation before they place their final order. They can see the paper quality and how it will print, and make sure the card is perfect. 
• Matching Envelopes- Basic Invite has over 40 different envelope colors to choose from. With so many options, customers can make their envelope match the invitation. All of the envelopes are peel and seal so they can be closed quickly and securely.
• Address Capturing Service- Basic Invite offers an address-capturing service that allows customers to share a link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or any other social media to request their friend's and family’s addresses. The addresses are stored in the customer’s account and can be selected during the design process. Basic Invite offers recipient address printing at no cost on all card orders.
• Foil- Foil cards are available in gold, silver, and rose gold. Customers can choose flat or raised foil on all of Basic Invite’s foil designs.

Right now Basic Invite is offering 15% off with coupon code: 15FF51 

Stephanie and Daniel found me through my associate Jenn Ross Photography, who wasn't available on their wedding date. As friends of Jenn, I knew they were going to be a fun couple from the start. You may remember their fun engagement session photos that we took in the rain! You read that right, we had to reschedule the engagement session due to bad weather, and then again due to covid. Finally, on the third date change, it rained again. Stephanie and Daniel were like, "Oh well, let's just do it!" I grabbed my clear umbrellas and headed to downtown DeLand. Their photos came out spectacularly unique! 

On the wedding day, Stephanie got ready at the gorgeous Riverview Hotel. If you are planning your wedding in the area and looking for an adorable getting-ready room - check them out. As fate would have it, it also rained on their wedding day, and we had to move the wedding inside. But before the storm could ruin our photos, the couple decided to do a first look at the hotel, and we were able to get some great bridal party photos. Priscilla from Priscilla Rose Events was on top of everything. Even with the rain changes, everything went smoothly and was on time. 

The rain clouds parted long enough for us to utilize the overhang on the back side of the Brannon Center to get family photos as well as the rest of the bridal party photos. The reception started right on time, and DJ Jay, from Liquid Entertainment, kept the party going all night! We hope you have as much fun checking out the photos as we had taking them!

VENDORS:

Wedding Coordinator: Priscilla Rose Events

Officiant - Chaplain David Jolly 

Catering - Chef Papa’s Cafe & Catering

Bar Catering - Drunk in Love 

Florist - Rachel Kaise Designs

DJ - Jay Edwards Liquid Entertainment

Hair & Makeup - Before the Aisle

Cake - Sweets and Treats

Rentals - Special Event Services 

Getting Ready Location - RiverView Hotel 

Venue- Brannon Center 

Second Photographer: Mike Perez

Since Jasmine and Sean had a nighttime wedding, the couple opted for a first look so that we could make sure to get as many photos taken before the sunset. Jasmine got ready at a friend's house in a gorgeous old Hollywood-style feather robe, which gave every photo that vintage glamourous feel. Jasmine and Sean booked me via George Street Photo.

Venue: Crystal Ballroom - Lake Mary

Caterer: Miracle Cuisine

Florist: Callaraes Floral Events

DJ: iRock Your Party

Wedding Dress: One & Only Bridal

Photo & Video: George Street

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Figuring out how many hours you need a wedding photographer for your wedding day is an essential step in deciding which package to choose from your wedding photographer. Not sure how to figure this out? Keep reading as I share with you the information that I give all couples who inquire with me.

When deciding how many hours you'd like to book your wedding photographer, there are several things to consider. I normally start with the ending and work my way back because the first thing I ask is always, "Are you having a grand exit?"

I've included a list of questions to consider. It's okay if you don't have all the answers to these questions. These will all help you while planning your timeline. 

• What time are you planning to leave?

• Is there a grand exit?

• Have you considered doing a mock exit so that your photographer can end earlier?

• How many traditions need coverage at the reception?

• How long are the toasts going to be?

• How long is the ceremony?

• How many adults and children are in your entire bridal party?

• Is there a drive between getting ready, ceremony, and reception sites?

• Are you planning any first looks? 

• How important are details and getting ready photos? 

I've created a timeline as an example of how a traditional Central Florida wedding day goes from the photographer's point of view. Each wedding is unique, and different religions and cultures might have more or less than listed here. This guide is meant to give you a basic general idea of where we typically are every step of the way.

2023 Wedding Timeline 2023 Wedding Timeline

Some other things to keep in mind while planning your wedding timeline:

• The hours listed are continuous. They include travel between locations as well as the photographer's dinner break. 

• The packages listed might not be exactly what you need for your specific wedding. Most photographers can make a custom package to fit your needs.

• Sometimes weddings run behind schedule. Most photographers offer an emergency option for adding time the day of. Find out what your photographer offers in case of needing to extend their time. 

• The more people in your wedding party, the longer your photos will take, so the larger your wedding party, the more time you'll want to add to your wedding timeline, and the more time you should book with your photographer.

• Your photographer should eat when you eat. This way they are ready to get back to work capturing the toasts or photos of you socializing with your guests as soon as you are finished eating.

• When planning your family groupings, assume each group will take 2-3 minutes. This is why we recommend trying to keep your formal family photos to around 10 groupings.

• In leu of "table shots" where the photographer grabs a photo of all the wedding guests at each table, or the couple with each table, consider adding in the "Five minute photo game". During this game the couple stands in front of the head table, a fast song is played, and the guests from each table run up and get a group photo with the couple. It's a fun, and fast way to make sure you get photos with all of your guests. 

• Your photographer won't need a shot list of every photo that you want, we know the basic photos to capture. You might want to write a list anyway just so that you can see all the photos that you'd like captured, and approximate how long it will take to get each of those photos. The more time you give your photographer, the more creative photos they can capture.

Venue: Estate on the Halifax

Wedding Coordinator: Katie with Katherine Bloom & Company

Hair & Makeup: Selina Murray

Caterer: Arthurs Catering

Music: Weddings Only DJ

Cake/Dessert: Sprinkles Custom Cakes

I'm really loving the smaller weddings where families come together and spend a weekend or week together on vacation leading up to the wedding. Something about it is just so much more relaxed through the entire thing, even through little mishaps like the best man splitting his pants (oh yes, I took photos). If you are planning an intimate wedding, have you thought about a destination vacation wedding?

While it was a busy Sunday evening, we were able to get some gorgeous shots with the oak trees, tall grass, and sandy beaches of the lake. I loved being able to help a fellow photographer capture photos with her in them. As a photographer who is also a mother, 90% of my photos are of my family, with me not in them because I'm always the one taking the photo. It is super important for mothers to make sure that we are IN photos besides selfies. So if you are a partner of a photographer, I implore you to take photos of your partner, even when they aren't looking, or even if they are shy. Just take the photo. It doesn't have to be perfect, we appreciate those who capture the little moments of everyday life.

Please enjoy the maternity and family photos of Emina and Juan, and I cannot wait to meet the little guy when he arrives!

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Christine and Erik found me through a coworker whose wedding I photographed last year. The two met years ago when Christine worked as a waitress. After a while, they started talking and their personalities just clicked. They had their first date at a fancy seafood restaurant with another couple. In April of 2010 Erik got down on one knee in front of Cinderella's Castle in Magic Kingdom with a ring that he designed and made himself!

The couple spent the next few years building a life together and growing their family. In 2020 they decided to start planning the wedding. Shawna at Bridle Oaks helped the couple meet up with some incredible vendors to bring their wedding day to life.

When asked about what inspired their wedding decor, Christine says, "I always liked the ocean color blue which was a form of turquoise and a grey blended into it." When you take a look at her jewelry you will see she was highly inspired by Titanic's "Heart of the Ocean" diamond necklace. 

The two chose Bridle Oaks to host their special day. Bridle Oaks is a five-acre farm with two barns, an outdoor altar, a getting-ready house, and lots of plants and animals which make a perfect backdrop for beautiful wedding photos. The venue can host up to 150 people, with an open-air barn for cocktail hour and a 3,500 square foot barn for the reception. Tables, chairs, and some of the decor is even included with the property rental! Want to know more about renting Bridle Oaks? Check out their FAQ here!

When asked about the planning that went into making their dream a reality, they said their biggest challenge was having to move their original date 3 times due to life and covid and making sure all of their vendors were on the same page and schedule. Christine said using a folder to print out all of her information and keep all her expenses on track and on time really helped. She says that no matter how stressful planning a wedding might be, just trust in a higher power to guide you with the best timing of how everything should go. 

When talking about their favorite parts of the day, the couple said they felt as though they, "Walked into a dream" when they first saw the reception area and all of the details. Erik particularly had fun playing the shoe game with his new bride.

Onto the photos!

Vendors:

Venue: Bridle Oaks

Wedding Planner: Heartwood Events - Desiree & Kim

Officiant: Nabila Garcia - Tie the Knot Florida

Hair and Makeup: Mimada Beauty Studio, Sanford

Videographer: Samson Videography - Jose

Cake: Chace's Cakes - Tricia

DJ: Phil Joeckel

Caterer: Ricky

Bartender: Tony Tucci - J and T Bartending

Nails: Nail Art & Salon

Florist: Amazon Silk Flowers

Groomsmen Suits: It Suits Me

Jewelry: Etsy

Shoes: Ross

Stationary: Zazzle

The theme of this alternative styled session was "Flora and Fauna". The headpieces were all hand-made by Becca. Her styling was then matched with hair and makeup by Bella Balanced Beauty and Wellness. Jewelry was also hand-made by Danielle at Pandski Labs.

We were joined by several other photographers ranging from just starting out to several years in business. It was great to talk shop with like-minded women while sharing tips and tricks about how we balance our work and home lives. Running and business, while continuing our education, and trying to keep our creative minds alive all while having families or even other jobs! This was a safe space where we could share ideas and create new friendships.

As the sun started to dip below the treeline at Lake Louisa, our models Kat and Tabetha braved 58-degree weather (ya'll that is cold for Florida). We planned for them to take breaks to warm up, but they just powered through pose after pose, nailing every one of them. We started off with Flora, then while she took a break we photographed Fauna, and then put both women together for a combined photo. Every shot was perfect. I ended up taking over 700 images and trying to choose the best was a difficult decision! 

For myself, I was trying out a different sort of lighting. Generally, when I'm outdoors I shoot natural light, but recently I've been bringing more strobes on location when allowed (some parks do not allow you to bring light stands etc). I was playing around with high-speed sync, which I had never done before (my photographer friends will understand this, and I'm ashamed it's taken me this long to learn it). This is just another reason why styled shoots are so great, it gave me time and space to try something new and not be afraid of "messing it up". Guess what? I didn't mess it up!

Okay, enough about me - although is this blog over 1,000 words for better SEO? hahaha... on to the photos!

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Some behind the scenes!

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Behind the scenes alternative styled shoot   Behind the scenes alternative styled shoot Rock Your Rebellion Alternative Styled Shoot
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VENDORS:

Concept, Planning, Headpieces, Dresses: Becca @becca_rockyourrebellion

HAMU: @bb.brides

Jewelry: @pandskilabs

Flora Model: @kat_chase_

Fauna Model: @lady.jadeyy
 

Photographers (make sure to check out their awesome work!)

Daniella Koontz (me!) @koontzphotography

Nicole Oterro @n.oterophotography

Jennifer Fletcher @jennlynphotography21

Emina Vasquez: @eminavasquezphotography

Becca Bašić @becca_rockyourrebellion

Your engagement photos shouldn't be a stressful part of planning your wedding. We know you probably aren't comfortable in front of a camera, you may feel like you don't know how to pose, and you might feel strange being affectionate in public, especially in front of a stranger.

I promise you that by the end of your session we will be laughing, having fun, and you will have some beautiful images. Engagement sessions with your wedding photographer are very important even if you already have photos of the two of you. Why?

1. Getting to know your photographer

Your engagement session gives us time to get to know each other in a more relaxed environment. It’s all about getting comfortable and having fun! So many people feel awkward in front of a camera or they worry about not knowing what to do with their hands.

It makes the wedding day MUCH easier because you already know what to expect, you already know what your wedding photographer's prompts mean, and are used to working with your photographer. When your wedding day arrives, you’ll be more focused on having fun than worrying about what to do in photos!

Your engagement session will give you time to build trust and repore with your photographer. Because of this, Koontz Photography offers a 60-minute engagement session in most of our wedding packages. That way when you see the end result, you will be even more excited about the wedding day portraits!

2. Finding your best angle

If you view your engagement photos as a practice session before your wedding day, it gives your photographer a chance to find the most flattering angles. Not all poses work for every couple!

Your engagement session gives you and your partner a chance to get used to engaging each other in front of the camera. During your session, your photographer can find out if you need a lot of posing direction, or just a little.

Then on your wedding day when your photographer says something like, "Start off in prom pose", you'll know exactly what they mean!

3. Learn posing tricks to use later

By the end of the session, you are going to feel like a professional model with extensive knowledge of poses and the reasons why. If you are working with me, when I am posing you or asking you to move your hand a certain way, I also will be explaining why!

This will help you gain confidence and feel beautiful in front of the camera. I have so many people that pose themselves on their wedding day with a simple prompt because they remember something that I said on the engagement session. All of these tips are useful anytime you are taking photos.

4. More time and locations

On your wedding day, you are going to be sticking to a schedule, which might end up being rushed. You might not have enough time to explore and use multiple locations on the property. There won't be as much time to have fun and be super creative, so the more comfortable with your photographer and familiar with their directions, the faster they can get through a bunch of different shots.

When planning your engagement photos, you can also take advantage of cool seasonal items like holiday lights, or the certain time of year a favorite plant is in bloom.

5. Expressing your unique personalities

Engagement photos are a great way to capture this fleeting moment in time. Engagement sessions are a great time to capture your unique personality, likes, and hobbies. From a unique location, an activity you enjoy doing together, your pets, or even your favorite sports team!

Since Jake and Melanie both love cosplay, they chose to announce their engagement with photos in Adam's Family-inspired outfits.

6. You'll have great photos to use at your wedding

There are so many applications for your engagement photos! You can add them to your wedding website. Use them on your save the dates or wedding invitations. You can create a photo guest book for people to sign at your wedding. You can create canvas prints or collages to display on your wedding day. You can use them for holiday greeting cards.  

Check out how Hannah and Logan incorporated their engagement photos into their wedding day decor and guestbook.

7. Hair and makeup test and/or date night!

If you plan it just right you can use your engagement photos as a true test of your wedding hair and makeup! If you already know who your hair and/or makeup artist is going to be, schedule a test run in the afternoon before your engagement photos.

Even better, turn your engagement session into a date night! You'll be all dolled up, will have spent an hour or two being all cute and cuddly with each other, so why not go out and spend a little more time together one on one doing something you both enjoy?

When should I plan my engagement session?

Engagement sessions can be planned anytime that you’d like. If you are planning to use the images for "save the date" cards, invitations, or as decor for your wedding it is important to make sure that you plan your session at least a month before you need to order products.

If you can, try to schedule engagement sessions on weekdays because your wedding photographer will want to reserve the weekend for weddings.

My favorite time of day to begin your engagement session is two hours before sunset when the lighting is very soft and warm. Depending on your location it may need to be earlier due to a geographic nature, or due to the location closing at a certain time.

How do we decide on the location of our engagement session?

Is there something special in your relationship that you’d like to incorporate into your session? Possibly a favorite park, a favorite date spot, or where you met or got engaged? Anything can be beautiful from a city street to a garden.

The main thing to keep in mind is that the focus will be on you, and you want to be comfortable or else you won't have fun, and it will show in your photos. If you are generally a shy person, you might not want to plan on a location where there will be a lot of people. If you ask your photographer for location ideas, make sure to give them the general idea of what you are looking for and if you want to make sure the session is in a more private setting. 

Don’t forget that props, pets, and vehicles are always welcome! If you are worried about the weather, check out some indoor places like local selfie studios. Some wedding venues allow you to do your engagement session on location as long as there are no other events that day. Some charge a small fee, so make sure to plan in advance!
 

Some things to keep in mind about your location:

• Is there a fee to enter or to have a session on the property?
• Is there another event going on the date your session is booked?
• Is an open-air permit required for your photographer to work there?
• Do you need permission from the property's owner to have your session there?
• If you want to include a pet, are animals allowed on the property?
• Is there a place to change your outfit? 
• Is there easy parking? Does it cost to park?
• What is the terrain like at the location and will that affect what shoes to wear?

Hannah and Logan did half of their engagement session at their favorite restaurant/bar where they had their first date. They even wore the clothes that they were wearing on their first date. It was a fun way to incorporate a moment in their lives that forever changed their future along with a location that has great meaning to them.

What should I wear to my session?

Wear clothes that fit nicely, that you can move around in. Choose solids and simple patterns as well as textures and layers.

When shooting outdoors neutral/natural colors look the best in the environment. Bright neon colors will reflect against the skin.

Too much white can be too bright, and too much black can be too dark. So I recommend picking a favorite neutral color and then accenting with a complimentary color that can be a little bolder.

You can bring in jewelry, belts, accessories, etc that bring that pop of color into your photo. The fun thing about layers is that you can take things off or add things and create completely different looks without having to change your clothes.

If you want to bring different outfits, go ahead! Just keep in mind the time it takes to change, and how long you've booked your photographer.

The above photo was taken in Winter Park's Kraft Azalea Gardens. Currently Kraft Azalea Garden requires an open-air permit.

Ready to book your engagement session? E-mail me at: Daniella@KoontzPhotography.com

Fast forward to December 2020 when mutual friends asked Michelle if she wanted to invite Jose to go see the Xmas lights with them. When Michelle called Jose he said he was interested in going, "Only if it could be our first date." Michelle happily said yes! On Michelle's birthday, at the Ginuwine Bistro, Jose asked Michelle to marry him. She said, "Yes!"

After the engagement they had their good friend take beautiful engagement photos outside a mansion, they were able to use these amazing photos on their wedding website. Later, once they booked me as a photographer, we went to Washington Oaks to do couples portraits before the wedding. These are always good to do with your wedding photographer, even if you've already had photos taken. One huge reason is that it gets you better acquainted with your photographer, who you are going to be spending a lot of time with on your wedding day. When you are going through the poses during the session, you will get a better sense of how your photographer directs, and what prompts they might use on your wedding day. This is great because on your wedding day you won't have as much time as you do on an engagement session, and already knowing what your photographer is directing you to do will save time and make the entire process go smoother. Plus you get sooo many more adorable photos together!

On their wedding day, Michelle chose to start our time at the first look and had her friend take the getting ready photos. This allowed more time for portraits. We did the first look at Stetson Campus and got special permission to take photos in front of the President's residence. Since the wedding was close to sunset and Michelle and Jose had a lot of family and friends that they wanted to take photos with, we did all the bridal party and couple's portraits before the wedding and then used the entire cocktail hour for portraits with family and friends. Their arrivals and exits were extra special since they came and left in vintage sports cars! Forget a limo, I'm loving these muscle cars!

When it came to the bouquet toss tradition, Michelle put a spin on it that I've never seen before. Instead of just throwing it to all the single ladies, she selected three single friends, brought them out to the dance floor and talked to each one of them, read a scripture, and then handed them each a bouquet that had a special charm on it. It was very personal and encouraging, and a great reminder that she will still be there for her single friends even though she is now taking on the title of wife. 

A huge shout out to all the amazing vendors we got to work with on Michelle and Jose's wedding day! Enjoy some of our favorite photos.

VENDORS:

Second photographer: Jenn Ross

Planner: Joe Hearn & Samantha Nemecek

Venue: The Center at Deltona

Hair: Iristza Sat

Makeup: Nicole Kaleel

Wedding Dress: District Bridal

Cake: Fancy Cake Studios by Leysa Candelaria

Gin Creek Georgia Wedding

Being able to capture Melanie and Jake's wedding day was an honor and a privilege. I've known Melanie for over a decade, so I knew that every part of this wedding would be well planned out and special. When it comes to princess fairytale weddings, Mel is the Merida of princesses. Melanie knows what she wants and she takes the lead in making sure it happens! If you haven't read their engagement blog yet, check it out here.
 

How They Met

To recap, Melanie and Jake actually met 875 miles from Orlando, in a totally different country: Belize. Melanie says, "Our meeting is the closest thing to love at first sight that we’ve ever heard of since we were drawn to each other the minute we saw each other in the lobby of the hotel." They spent the rest of the trip hanging out and getting to know each other. Once they returned home they kept in contact with each other thanks to facetime and they traveled back and forth between FL and NC as much as they could. Eventually Jake planned to move to Florida since his job was more flexible, but the pandemic moved up that timeline, and Jake moved right before Florida went into lockdown. 

Courtship During a Pandemic

Melanie says, "We both wonder if perhaps the reason we could never have predicted a love like ours is that circumstances such as these current ones are unprecedented. Many couples would be hard put to quarantine together for months, but it has genuinely brought us closer together. Neither of us feels that we would have weathered this crazy storm as well as we have and are continuing to do so without the other. Having the other to support us on days when our energy is low and to pick us up and bring joy to each other is incredible."

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The Engagement

For their engagement, Jake booked a suite at the Hard Rock Hotel in Daytona. Jake told Melanie to dress in her best... Viking garb, that is! Melanie writes, "He said that since we could not go to Rennaissance faires or Megacon, he still wanted us to be able to cosplay and have fun. So we did! We set up a Viking feast, to enjoy in our fancy room, and dressed in our best garb, and had a lovely dinner. When the sun began to set, he suggested that we go out on the balcony and enjoy it." After a few moments of enjoying the evening air and just being so thankful to be together and in such a lovely place, Jake knelt and asked for Melanie’s hand in marriage... thus fulfilling a prophecy our Belize group had predicted since the beginning! And of course, Melanie said yes!

Melanie continues, "From the pool deck below us erupted cheers and applause, as unbeknownst to either of us, people had noticed what was happening. The cheering went on for a solid minute or two, and afterward, we went inside and Jake suggested we toast to the occasion. Turns out, he had ordered a custom bottle of Johnny Walker Blue Label (that we had always wanted to try!), with the words ‘To my darling Melanie, I love you. Will you marry me?’ With that, we toasted to our engagement and our future together."

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Choosing the Right Venue

Choosing the perfect venue was important to them, they wanted something in between their respective family's location. They traveled to Georgia and simply Googled "Wedding venues" and started searching. They found Gin Creek in Hartsfield and fell in love. Melanie texted me photos and videos from their tour there, and I knew it was going to be the most magical weekend, because not only was their wedding and reception on-site, but they also had the entire wedding party and family staying at cabins right next to the wedding site! Right down the street on the property there was another small building and outdoor deck that held the rehearsal dinner space. Rehearsal dinner was cooked by Melanie's awesome step-father and included duck, which I had never tried before. Gin Creek is a family-owned and operated property that began back in 1988. We met the owner, Doug, as well as other members of the family while we were there, and the entire family is just the sweetest. They really wanted to make sure all of Melanie and Jake's guests had the best weekend. When asked what their number one tip is for couples planning their wedding, Melanie and Jake said, "If you can have the venue to yourself for at least the whole day of the wedding, DO IT. It’s worth the stress-freeness of the day." Having an entire section of Gin Creek made everything easier from decorating, rehearsal, dinner, family breakfast, getting ready, ceremony, and reception. 

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Wedding Planning and DIY Elements

Planning a wedding during the pandemic did have some rough patches, including the couple having to move their original wedding date, but at the same time made it easier for Melanie to take a sabbatical from work to stay at home and focus on all the arrangements and DIY elements. Melanie found her dream dress at Minerva’s Bridal, but made a few alterations to really bring together that Celtic/Viking look. Melanie took out the tan lining of the dress and inserted gold fabric. She added some gold chains across the back as an accent piece. Then she designed and created the watteau cape and attached it to the dress. Melanie's bridal tiara was another DIY project that started off as an $8 tiara from Shein, gold leaves, flowers, and a necklace from Michaels. Using wire wrapping, UV cured resin, and "mild ingenuity" Melanie created her one-of-a-kind tiara. Her foot jewelry started off as shoes from Goodwill, repurposed into "barefoot sandals". 
When it came down to florals, Melanie wasn't sure if a florist would be able to create the vision in her head, so she ordered some silk and real touch flowers and got to work on them all herself. She says that at first she was nervous about having "fake" flowers at her wedding, but when they arrived and she felt them for the first time, she was amazed at how soft and realistic the calla lilies were. When creating the bridesmaid's bouquets Melanie says, "Since our wedding was Celtic/Elven-themed, the groomsmen are the groom’s warriors, and the bridesmaids are my shieldmaidens. Since the groomsmen had swords, I wanted my bridesmaids to have weapons as well. So, for the bridesmaids’ daggers, I took a floral ring and used gold wire wrapping to add calla lilies and greenery to them." 

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The couple wore bracelets with the latitude and longitude of their first kiss in Belize on one side, and the date on the back.

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The Wedding Day

The morning of the wedding, family and wedding party gathered for breakfast at the cabin. Then Melanie got ready in the 1836 Presley Log Cabin with her bridesmaids. Ali from Elements Style Bar put each lady's hair up in a respective Dane (Viking) braids. Jake and his warriors got ready in Dee's cabin. I went over to get some photos and Jake was writing his own vows. He later went out into the woods to practice saying them and said, "I got choked up and had trouble saying them to the trees, I don't know how I'm going to get through them without breaking down during the ceremony!" But he did, and he did an amazing job. Each of their personalized vows included the words inscribed in their rings, "Always & Forever". 

Melanie and Jake chose to do a private first look across the little wooden bridge. I always encourage couples to have a first look, and I'm so glad Melanie and Jake took the time to see each other and snap a few photos before the ceremony. The bridal party walked down the aisle, with their swords and daggers, to Enya's "Wild Child". As Melanie came down the drive in a horse-drawn carriage, "Bag End" from the Lord of the Rings soundtrack played. Melanie walked down the green toward Jake, and was met by her mother who walked her the rest of the way down the aisle. As the two joined hands, Melanie's shieldmaiden, Kayla, ascended the stairs and opened a scroll, and began the celebration speech of Melanie and Jake's adventure. The two shared their handwritten vows, shed a few tears, and sealed their commitment to each other with a kiss. The two rang the bell and walked out to "Augie's Gret Municipal Band" from Star Wars.

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Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Cochrane - Yes, Jake took Melanie's last name! Jake says, "We kept this a surprise to most people until yesterday. While it is a fairly unique thing to have the man take the woman’s name when getting married, this was what both of us wanted. I wanted to honor her and her name, which she holds very dear to her, while still honoring my own and allowing us to share a last name. I’m proud to be Mr. Cochrane now, and I look forward to a beautiful, long life together as Mr. and Mrs."

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The Reception

After the ceremony, family and bridal party portraits, the couple were introduced into the reception. Melanie recalls how she wanted her decor to be unique. She bought reindeer moss, gold chargers, terrariums, glass filler, and white butterflies. Melanie made the lotus candle holders and the geode crystals from resin molds. She attached the moss to the chargers and the butterflies to the terrariums with hot glue. She carved a hole in the bottom of the crystals to insert a battery-powered light into the bottom of each to create that magical glow. Each table setting included a resin heart with a hand-lettered thank you note. Melanie researched a Tolkein inspired font and practiced writing it. 

After toasts and dinner, Melanie and Jake cut their wedding cake with an Elven sword. Afterward, they shared a shot of the Johnny Walker that Jake had given to her on the day of their engagement. After cake everyone made their way outside to the dance floor where Jake and Melanie shared a choreographed first dance to "A Million Dreams" by P!nk off The Greatest Showman Reimagined soundtrack. When I asked if they took lessons, the two said they watched videos online and choreographed the entire dance themselves. Which makes sense, Melanie and her shieldmaiden/officiant Kayla met in Irish dance classes! Melanie and her mother then had their special dance to "Mom" by Meghan Trainor. After an evening filled with dancing the couple ended their night dancing to "I got a Feeling". The couple then had a sparkler exit followed by a fireworks display over the lake. To say it was a fairytale ending to a most magical day is an understatement. Melanie and Jake's wedding weekend is one to go down in the record books. I wish them the best, with many more adventures in their future!

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Photographer: Koontz Photography

Venue: Gin Creek, Georgia

Dress Shop: Minerva's Bridal

Hair: Ali Bullis of Element Style Bar

Bride's Ring: Overnia Ceylon Sapphire from Diamondere

Groom's Ring: Glamira

Cake: Q-Ti Cakes

DJ: Abernathy Entertainment

Caterer: Catering Capers

Wedding Planner: Bride

Stationary: Shutterfly
 

My favorite part of the day was the getting ready photos at The Riverview Hotel. This historic hotel is a cherished Victorian landmark dating back to 1885. The Riverview Hotel began as a two-story hunting and fishing lodge built by Captain S.H. Barber. In 1910 Captain Barber and John Vrooman raised up the existing building to serve as the second and third stories, building a new lobby and dining room underneath. Essentially turning it from a house into a hotel. It has gone through six different owners who have brought different elements to the building over the past 130 years! If you haven't had a chance to stay there, you should take a mini-vacation!

The two met at Publix in 2019 and Rachel recalls that she made two of her friends come with her on the first date because she was nervous. She ended up having a lot of fun! For their proposal, Michael took Rachel to a Painting with a Twist for couples and they each painted a canvas that was supposed to go together and afterward they took a picture holding their canvases and one of the girls behind them was holding one that said “Rachel, will you marry me?” Spoiler: She said yes! We took their engagement photos at Washinton Oaks Garden, and they turned out beautiful! They even had one printed on canvas to display at their reception. Feel free to leave the couple well wishes below!

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2nd Photographer: Jenn Ross

Acoustic Musician: Nicole Equerme

Hair and Makeup: Geri at Fleur De Lis

Dress: Maggie Sottero at Blush Bridal

Earrings, bracelet and tiara: Eden Luxe Bridal

Florist: Ling’s Moment

Officiant: Teresa Johnson

Cake: The Bake Shop

Caterer: The Grille at Riverview

Favors - Trees: Dearly Beeloved

Favors - Chocolates: Angell and Phelps

Rentals - Benches: Goldenbear Events

Rentals - Linens and plates: Special Event Services

Stationary: Zazzle

 

September 18th is Amanda and Luke's 1st anniversary! To celebrate, I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from their wedding day. The two came down from Virginia to have their wedding in DeLand, since both of their families are from Florida. The wedding was held at Sunflower Park near the courthouse. The family decorated the archway with fall leaves and pumpkins. After the ceremony, we walked over to Buttercup Bakery and picked up their wedding cake. We took a few photos with the cake at the bakery and then walked it over to the park where Amanda and Luke cut it and enjoyed some refreshments with friends and family. After everyone had their fill of cake, we walked around downtown DeLand for an hour taking photos with a vintage car. We ended up at Boston Coffeehouse, which holds a special place in their heart. We even sat at "their" table. 

When leaving a review describing their experience that day, Amanda said, "Daniella is amazing!! She was able to direct us throughout our session and never gave up to get the perfect shot. She noticed every detail at our wedding and Captured them beautifully. She’s very professional and creative, We were so happy to have worked with her." Thank you so much, Amanda and Luke, and happy anniversary!

Logan's cousin is Hannah's best friend, so the two ended up meeting at Logan's cousin's 21st birthday party. At the time Hannah was in a long-term relationship, so while she thought Logan was cute, nothing came of it. After another chance encounter the two of them began a friendship. A few months later Hannah was house sitting in Orlando which is where Logan lived at the time, so Logan's cousin asked Hannah if she wanted her to give Logan Hannah's phone number, and Hannah agreed. The two decided to meet up in Orlando at a place called Fish on Fire. Fish on Fire would play an important role in their courtship, and to honor that we decided to take their engagement photos at a nearby park as well as at Fish on Fire wearing the clothes that they wore on their first date! 

Kiara and Andrew's love story began, "Like any good love story in the 21st century", on a dating app. Andrew thought she would be out of his league, but to his surprise they matched and immediately started talking about traveling, family, music, and Game of Thrones. They decided to meet up at Disney Springs for drinks and dinner. Andrew says they met around 7pm and were there until the lights came on, literally. Kiara said when she finally checked her phone (6 hours later) she had 1,000 text messages making sure that she was ok. When she replied they were relieved that she was safe, but also knew that he was a winner! Andrew said their conversation never got awkward, and by the end of the night both of their cheeks hurt from constant smiling. 

When I asked Andrew about how he proposed, you can guess how the story went due to the pandemic. Since they are both Irish, they had scheduled a trip to Ireland in the spring of 2020, but due to Covid, the border closed. They were devastated because it was going to be Andrew's first time traveling to Europe and their first big vacation together. Andrew was especially disappointed because he planned an amazing proposal at the Cliffs of Moher where he even hired a secret photographer to catch the moment he got down on one knee on the cliffs. Having to switch gears, he quickly planned a trip to Epcot because Kiara loves Disney and he knew they had a United Kingdom pavilion so if they couldn’t go to the real country the next best thing was the Disney version. But, you guessed it, they closed down as well. Andrew was not going to let the pandemic cancel his plan to propose, so he booked a private sunset cruise on Saint Patrick's Day. Andrew asked the Captain of the boat to take a picture and then he got down on one knee and asked Kiara to spend forever with him. Kiara says, "It was the easiest yes I have ever said!" When they got off the boat all the restaurants they went to celebrate with drinks and that very day restaurants stopped serving alcohol, so they toasted with sweet tea! Andrew said that even though his original plans got altered several times, the proposal was still as magical as he originally wanted it to be.

When looking at venues, they started casually looking online. They knew they wanted something rustic, with a Florida barn vibe. They found Ever After Farm's website and after watching their video on the Peach barn they both teared up and knew immediately that this was their venue. Their date was available and they booked the barn on the spot! When they went to tour the venue, they said the pictures and videos matched their expectations perfectly! 

Andrew says that their wedding colors and theme spread from their love of that rustic barn theme. From the table runners, to floral choices, to his tan linen suit and boots - they wanted everything to flow seamlessly with the barn. But seriously, aren't those linen suits amazing? They found them at Men's Warehouse!

Being a teacher, Kiara is super detail-oriented and loves planning. With Covid there was an extra layer of difficulty planning a wedding. Her dress was delayed and she didn't get to pick it up until the day before rehearsal. She had to just trust that it would all work out, which can be challenging for a planner! But just take a look at her in these photos, it all worked out beautifully.

Kiara recalls her favorite part of the day being the moment the barn doors opened and she saw Andrew standing there at the end of the aisle. Those 35 seconds were what her entire day was about! Andrew says that the biggest "wow" of the day was seeing Kiara and her beautiful dress. He says her beauty stole the stage.

As a self-proclaimed, "Huge Disney nerd", Kiara was super excited to have a Disney officiant for the ceremony. Since both of them get very emotional, and they both didn't want to cry during the ceremony, they decided to write their vows on cards and exchange them after the wedding. The tradition they did want to keep was the Irish handfasting ceremony. Two of Andrew's sisters tied their hands together while the officiant lead an Irish prayer.