Choose your wedding photographer based on experience and your priorities, not cost.

People often ask me how my photography journey started, but I don't think it can be pinpointed to one specific moment. Perhaps it was growing up in my childhood home, looking at the big, beautiful black and white Ansel Adams landscape prints on our walls. Or maybe it was when I was gifted a camera for Christmas and went through a whole roll of film that night. Or maybe it was when I was in college and I had completed the Intro to Photography course, but I wasn't sure if it was for me until the professor who taught the remaining black and white and digital photography courses convinced me that I had found my home.

Allison and Trevor are such a fun, amazing couple. I happened to meet them adventuring out in Zion National Park on the day they got engaged, where I offered to document their engagement with a spontaneous session up in the canyon. They are super adventurous, and Allison and Trevor’s lives crossed paths so many times in the past, weaving their journeys together starting at Virginia Tech where they actually had a class together, all the way to Madison, WI where they worked for the same company. It was in Madison where Allison and Trevor knew that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together.

Immerse yourself in some of the tallest trees on the continent in a National Park praised on their naturally diverse ecosystem and their commitment to preserving this amazing strip of coastline in California. Redwood National Park offers the perfect majestic forest backdrop for eloping. With mystical scenery, the California sun, and a location not too far from San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, Redwood National and State Parks could be the perfect elopement destination for you. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park. 

The weather may not have been what Brittany and Evan envisioned for their wedding day, but the tornadoes didn’t stop them from saying I do. Every moment was a combined effort of two great families coming together to make sure Brittany and Evan’s wedding would happen. While the family determined the final wedding location due to the extreme weather, Brittany and her bridesmaids prepared for the ceremony. Brittany wore a stunning and simple dress with the most epic bow on the back. 

On an exceptionally warm July summer day, Heidi and Frank’s closest family and friends gathered at the Green Bay Botanical Garden to witness them say I do. An intimate group consisting of Heidi’s mom and sister excitedly helped Heidi into her beautifully beaded, warm grey gown with lace detailing. Frank looked exceptionally dapper in his dark suit as he waited outside the Kaftan Lusthaus Gazebo in the gardens. The small, Scandinavian themed house was filled with joyful guests drawn together amongst the flowers from Schroeder's Flowers which provided touches of pinks and reds, and saturated the air with a wonderfully sweet aroma. 

The early morning sky awaited us with pink and orange clouds as TJ and Chantel stepped out of their RV and headed into Rocky Mountain National Park for their engagement session. Clad in their hiking boots, jeans, and outdoor gear from Patagonia and The North Face, these two looked as though they had just stepped out of an outdoor magazine. The sun was just kissing the mountaintops as Chantel and TJ made their way along a stream in the meadow of the park. Taking in the beauty that was around them, they were fully present to their surroundings and the journey that has led them to this point in their relationship. 

On a beautifully warm and sunny summer day, the excitement in Katelyn and Lucas eyes and smiles was eminent as their anticipation grew to say I do. Starting their day at 6:00am, the ladies gathered at Salon Forte in preparation for Katelyn and Lucas’s Sunday lunch wedding. The bridesmaids wore light purple dresses, which was perfect for the summer day and their setting at the Green Bay Botanical Garden. Katelyn prepped in one of the bridal areas at the Botanical Gardens, and did a first look with her dad before walking down the aisle. Katelyn’s beauty moved him to tears.

The skies might have been overcast, but that did not stop Alex and Corey from taking flight on their wedding day. Close family and friends gathered together to witness Alex and Corey say I do. Corey and his best man knew each other from the military, and made the ceremony all the more special by organizing it in an airplane hangar! Clothed in a smile and her stunning wedding dress, Alex said I do hand in hand with Corey, a flight of planes providing quite the backdrop underneath a high ceiling. A sand ceremony and a joyous kiss sealed Alex and Corey’s union, as their family and friends applauded. 

Just a ferry ride, and a short drive along the island, family and friends arrived at Drummond Island Resort to celebrate Laura and John’s special day. A cherished, life-long vacation spot for Laura’s family, and a favorite get-away location for Laura and John ever since they first started dating, the Drummond Island Resort served as the perfect, sentimental spot for their vows to be taken. With a traditional log cabin feel, the resort was very homey, the staff was super friendly, and their food was to die for! During the rehearsal dinner, the mouthwatering aroma of the best pizza on the island filled the room.

On an overcast, drizzling day, Klair and Troy welcomed KLEM Studios’ associate photographer, Sara, into their apartment. Klair and Troy met at a plastic bag factory, where she asked Troy out first. Although Troy remembers a mutual connection leading towards their first date! Sara captured their silly side, as they recalled Troy picking the movie for their date at the theaters: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! 

Klair and Troy made each other laugh with no problems. They were silly together, and clearly showed their love towards one another, excited to document this amazing time in their lives.

The perfect spot for a hike in the woods or a climb to a mountain peak can also be the perfect spot for your wedding. Yosemite National Park’s captivating landscape offers waterfalls, mighty California trees, and snow-capped mountains. Yosemite’s inspirational scenery is a beautiful place to elope. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park. 

To elope in Yosemite National Park, a special use permit must be secured first.

For an epic view that will take your breath away, look no further than the Grand Canyon National Park for a massive backdrop for your elopement. This vast setting has inspired many with its natural beauty that can be seen from a space shuttle; but this place is quite peaceful despite all the publicity, and could be the perfect majestic location for your elopement. Most of the National Parks allow elopements and ceremonies to take place within their boundaries, but many of them have rules/suggestions when it comes to getting married in their specific park. 

The Grand Canyon is no exception.

After a rainy morning, Olivia and Laura started their engagement session with KLEM Studios. Olivia and Laura knew they wanted to have their engagement photos taken in an outdoor space that had a wonderful water feature. I suggested the ever-beautiful Fonferek’s Glen just on the outskirts of Green Bay. The park has fields, a lovely waterfall, a creek that runs through it, and it’s a picturesque place to explore, especially on a warm sunny day. Olivia and Laura happened to pick the very first day of Pride Month for their engagement session. We were so happy to celebrate their love and freedom to love one another. The sun began poking through the clouds and gave way to a beautiful warm and glowing late afternoon.

A lot of people contribute to an unforgettable wedding day. When yours is over, you can show your appreciation by taking time to write personal thank you notes. Far from an obsolete tradition, this gesture communicates love and gratitude to the many individuals who played a party in your celebration. To create meaningful thank you cards, follow the tips below.

Your wedding day should be about what you want to experience. It is a chance for you to be selfish and put your thoughts, your desires, and your needs first. Because your wedding day is truly a reflection of what you and your significant other share.

I invite you to create a day that’s centered on your relationship. This can incorporate different things you and your fiancé are interested in, such as my fellow craft beer lovers! Your ceremony could be at a brewery or incorporate special beers at your wedding; things like that. Or, if you’re a little more alternative, you could incorporate non-traditional wedding colors.

Eloping is beautiful for a wedding day that focuses on the two of you, what’s important to you, and what makes the two of you special. Rather than focus on tradition and big wedding plans, eloping can incorporate things you really want and enjoy, whether you love hiking, being outside, or have family land. Often, the wedding is tailored towards family or friends, rather than what’s important to you. That’s why I encourage eloping: an opportunity to actually create a wedding day that means something to you. Just because you want to elope, doesn’t mean you have to go really far away—especially on a limited budget.

When you get engaged, you may think that you know everything about your partner (spoiler, you probably don’t). You may have had a lot of important conversations already while you were dating, but there are some key conversations that I believe should be had before you get married. These conversations will make sure that you’re both on the same page, and address any areas that you have differing thoughts on ahead of time. They’re supportive, they’re thought-provoking, and they’re meant to make sure you have a long, healthy, and happy relationship.

I recommend approaching these conversations in a comfortable, non-threatening manner.

You know the gist of how your wedding day is going to go. Bride walks down the aisle, possibly guided by her father. Vows are exchanged, a reading or two thrown into the mix, then they kiss and walk back down the aisle as husband and wife. Most of us can even recite the vows by heart. For better or worse, richer or poorer, etc. While there’s nothing wrong with the normal ceremony and all its cherished traditions, some couples want to mix it up a bit. We’ve put together some ideas to take your ceremony from a bit personalized to one your guests will never forget!

Glacier National Park is often called the Crown of the Continent, and for good reason: it’s one of the most stunning parks in the National Park System. With rugged mountains, alpine lakes, forests, and wildlife abound, Glacier National Park is on many people’s bucket lists. There’s beauty around every corner that effortlessly captivates her visitors. Just ask Andy–his first experience with any mountain landscape was in Glacier National Park, and his forehead was practically glued to the windshield as we drove through. Because of it’s endless beauty, Glacier National Park makes for a gorgeous elopement backdrop.