The Art of Wedding Photography: Capturing your always and creating legacies

For many photographers, the journey into wedding photography begins with inspiration from other talented professionals in the field. For Amanda Parker, Ivory House’s seasoned Wedding Photographer, that inspiration was "…found Jasmine Star and the late Jessica Claire's blog. I was enamored with their work. I thought if they can do this, I can do this." This initial spark of inspiration lead to a deep desire to learn and master the craft of wedding photography.

The Power of Anticipation and Calmness

Amanda's approach to wedding photography is rooted in a strong foundation of experience and knowledge. She spent two years second shooting with various photographers, learning the ins and outs of wedding day logistics, posing techniques, and problem-solving. Her dedication to understanding every aspect of the wedding day ensures that she is prepared for any situation that may arise.

One of the key qualities that sets Amanda apart as a wedding photographer is her ability to navigate the chaos of a wedding day with grace and calm. She thrives on the challenges and sees them as opportunities to showcase her expertise.

I love having the little things that come up that are like, okay, how do we work through this? How do we push past it? What do we need to do?—Amanda Parker

Amanda understands that her role as a photographer goes beyond capturing beautiful images. She sets the tone for the day and helps to create an atmosphere of calmness and reassurance. Whether it's dealing with a bridesmaid's meltdown or adjusting to unexpected weather conditions, Amanda's presence and professionalism ensures that the couple can relax and enjoy their special day without worry.

The Heart and Soul of Wedding Photography

Weddings are not just about capturing pretty pictures; they are about preserving family history and creating a lasting legacy. Amanda's passion for preserving legacies shines through in her work. She goes above and beyond to ensure that every detail is captured, from pinning boutonnieres to a couple's grand entrance. Her experience and knowledge allow her to handle any situation with ease, making her the least stressful part of the wedding day.

The Ivory House Approach: Holistic and Professional

As an Ivory House standard, our work is grounded in holistic representations, understanding that weddings are not just about the couple but also about their families and the relationships they hold dear. Our goal is always to create an environment where love, support, and kindness are tangible from beginning to end.

This starts from the beginning of our process. From the initial contact to the final delivery of photos, Ivory House prides itself on our attention to detail, clear communication, and promptness. We believe in being a trusted partner to couples who value hiring professionals for both their skills and values.

The Ideal Client: Relationships and Practicality

Ivory House clients are those who value relationships, practicality, and quality over superficiality. Our photographers thrive in environments where families are fully invested in the couple's union and where love and support are palpable. Our clients are not focused on the show or the production; they are focused on the meaningful moments and the legacy they are creating.

Looking To The Future Together

The art of wedding photography is ever-evolving, and photographers like Amanda are at the forefront of this dynamic field. The ability to navigate the chaos, anticipate challenges, and create a legacy through images will remain the cornerstone of successful wedding photography.

By embracing both the technical and emotional aspects of the craft, Ivory Houses creates a truly immersive and meaningful experience for all of our clients. The key to success lies in finding the perfect balance between professionalism, creativity, and a deep understanding of the sentimental value of weddings.

As we move forward, let us celebrate the incredible photographers who dedicate their lives to capturing love, preserving legacies, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Amanda Parker

While technical skills and professionalism are essential, what truly sets Amanda apart is her deep understanding of the sentimental and legacy aspects of weddings. For her, weddings are not just about capturing pretty pictures: they are about preserving family history and creating a lasting legacy. As she reflects on her own family's wedding photos, she understands the importance images have in telling a family's story.

Amanda's passion for preserving legacies shines through in her work. She goes above and beyond to ensure that every detail is captured, from pinning boutonnieres to a couple's grand entrance. Her experience and knowledge allows her to handle any situation with ease, ensuring that your photos will be the least stressful part of your day.

Amanda + Molly: Engagement Session

One of my very first in-person interactions with Amanda and Molly was our drive to Saylorville. They had a particular place in mind so I jump in their vehicle for the journey. That journey included the age old directions battle every couple is familiar with. Both know the best way, neither is conceding, eventually we get to where we're going. Amanda and Molly both apologized for fighting in front of me and I turned to them and said something along the lines of, "Ladies, this is the real stuff. You're a real couple. If you didn't fight over directions, I would think you were robots." When it came time to start shooting, I simply told them to turn towards each other, kiss like you like each other and forget the rest. 

Photoshoots invite stress. From picking the perfect outfits, to getting proper directions, to a misbehaving dog, to realizing your favorite sunset spot is roped off for a political event. They are stressful because they reflect real life. We're not painting impressions of the evening. We're capturing the real deal. The real weather. The real uncooperative dog and that's what makes every moment risky and oh, so magical. 

Here's what Amanda and Molly had to say about their engagement session:

Words from Amanda:

When Molly and I began planning for our engagement shoot, I had only two requirements: (1) at least some of the pictures had to be taken at a specific park south of Saylorville Lake, and (2) the pictures needed to be authentically “us.”

Long before I knew who would be standing next to me, I knew it was the place I wanted my engagement pictures taken. The park/campground that holds the Saylorville spillway was named for my grandpa and has always been a special place for my family. Over the years, we’ve take photos in front of the “Bob Shetler Recreation Area” sign to chart our “growth” from kids clutching teddy bears to angsty teenagers with braces and ratty converse. My grandpa passed away before I was born, but the park always felt created a personal link to him.

The second requirement - ensuring the pictures captured us authentically - would be an obvious expectation of any couple. As a gay couple, however, we knew we couldn’t truly be “us” unless we felt comfortable with our photographer and that they felt comfortable with us. Finding gay-friendly vendors in a progressive city like Des Moines didn’t seem like something we’d struggle with, but it did prove to be a realistic concern. And a photo shoot? That would put us in some pretty intimate, vulnerable positions. We needed someone who could laugh at our jokes and capture us genuinely.

Side note from Whitney: It's super important to me that every couple who walks in my door - gay or straight - experiences tons of fun, comfort and a confidence that I will take care of them. I'm so glad Amanda & Molly trusted that they were in good hands.****

Words from Molly:

Our engagement photoshoot wouldn’t be complete without our pup, Boston. She’s the center of our lives, and I thought it would be cute if she made the official “save the date” announcement. We quickly learned that she’s not the most cooperative, focused, or patient when it comes to getting her picture taken, but we were lucky enough to get one or two good pictures. (I can’t really blame her, though; there were a million new smells, people, and even wild animals roaming around to pique her curiosity.) If anything, our engagement shoot served as the perfect warm-up for our wedding day. We plan to make Boston our ringbearer/flowergal, and we are now aware of her limitations when it comes to having pictures taken. And Whitney now knows how many treats to keep in her pocket.

The First Look: The Positives and Negatives of this New Tradition

There is one moment of the wedding day all brides and grooms look forward to - the moment they see each other for the first time. This moment happens in so many different ways with varying degrees of tears and tradition but one thing remains consistent, there is no replacing the electricity (and the photos) of this once in a lifetime experience. 

The new tradition of seeing each other before the ceremony is called "the first look." Some will say it's bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony and many people look forward with anticipation to the public first look offered by walking down the aisle.  But as wedding days have gotten longer and guests' attention spans have gotten shorter the traditional wedding timeline has undergone some modernization. Now most guests are baffled by a long break between ceremony and reception, especially if your ceremony and reception are held in the same location. I'm not sure who the first brave souls were that bucked tradition and started their wedding day with a private "first look" moment, but I offer them my sincere thanks.  Here are my positives and negatives for this wedding day choice.

Celia and Shawn: October 2014

Positives:
1. You get to experience a real private moment. For most couples, this is the only time they spend together all day. Also, you can cry as much as you want because your stylist is still around and prepared to reapply the mascara. 

2. You actually get two big entrances! The bride still gets to walk down the aisle on the arm of her father. Your guests still get to see her for the first time as you make the walk of commitment towards each other. Double the moments, double the sensation, double the awesome photo opts.

3. You go into your ceremony UNITED. You've talked, gotten out your jitters and calmed down. I can't tell you how many couples were nervous wrecks right up until the moment they saw each other for the first time. I love seeing my brides and grooms exhale and grin like crazy when they final get to be with the one they love. After the first look, the ceremony is a piece of cake. 

4. There is more time for photos! This is a super selfish reason to love a first look, but one I find benefits the couple and their wedding party immensely.  After we capture a beautiful moment between the two of you, I usually head into the "romantics," those weddings photos you're going to hang on your wall, make your Facebook photo and generally adore for the rest of time. Doing these photos ahead of times allows us to take exactly as much time as we need and not be rushed. We also take your bridal party photos during this time,  ensuring that the groomsmen can take off their tie get to the bar as soon as they've exited the ceremony. Everyone wins! 

5. There is no need for a receiving line because you'll be at the cocktail hour! This timeline allows for maximum attention to be paid to your guests on the biggest day of your life together.

Negatives:

I've got to be honest. There are very few negatives to the first look from a photographers perspective, but I will outline some objections I've heard throughout the years.

1. It goes against tradition. For many grooms, that's right, this objection is almost always coming from the groom, seeing their bride walk down the aisle for the first time is the ONLY wedding detail they've imagined. They haven't thought about the dress, the cake or table favors. They have thought about their bride, walking arm and arm with her father towards him. I tell my couples all the time that the first look still feels special and exhilarating, and I've NEVER had a couple regretted their choice to take the more modern route, but some men have their hearts set. And what the heart wants, well you get my meaning.

Ok- so this is the only negative I could come up with, but it is completely legitimate and must be paid attention to. At the end of the day, gut feeling and a bit of scheduling are most likely going to make this decision for you. If a first look seems like the best approach to maximize photo opts and guest mingling time. then lean into it. Think of it as the only time that day you'll get to be alone together. Well, not completely alone. I'm there, but I've got my long lens on and I'm not saying a word. So you go ahead and cry if you want to.

A note from Tim:

"I forgot how totally awesome I look in these pictures. Kristen looked okay too I guess...

Obviously Whitney already knows we loved all of our pictures, and I know we both enjoyed the first look segment - though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a nervous wreck throughout the ordeal. Probably can't see it on my face though because we were just having fun with it. Neither of us were really set on observing most of the normal wedding traditions aside from having a great time (and of course having it arftully documented), and I always thought this one was weird anyway, so no argument or coaxing needed. The most important thing I learned from my own wedding was just that - it's our own wedding. Just do what you feel comfortable doing and let everyone else do the worrying about whether the appropriate niceties and pomp are attended to. *steps off soapbox* Having supremely easygoing and understanding parents on both sides is always a plus, of course.

Anyway, we loved our pictures, had tons of fun with the first look, and I agree with all of the points in the blog post both positive and negative. Thanks again Whitney!

A note from Celia: 

As I am sure you'll recall, I was initially dead set against the idea. I am so eternally grateful that you (ever so gently!) talked us into doing this, and will happily testify to any of your new brides who might be on the fence - this was, without a doubt, one of the most treasured highlights of our entire wedding day experience. But here's a real question for the pro: Will viewing your coverage of our "first look" ever STOP making me cry? To my friends and family who are currently planning their weddings: Please check out this blog post and consider allowing your photographer to capture your "first look!"

Church Ceremonies: The Positives and Negatives of the Classic Choice

I did a little math and I have shot over 150 weddings in my career. As the photographer and trusted advisor for my bride and groom, I am often privy to the best and worst moments of my couple's wedding experience. I get to hear all the dirt leading up to the day of the wedding; the family drama, the vendor drama, the double bookings, the broken deals, the difficulty finding the right undergarments, the awesome cake tastings and the weird DJs they met before finding the perfect fit. I have unparalleled access to what can go right and wrong on a wedding day. On this blog I will offer one photographer's perspective on the wedding industry, wedding day and wedding dream.

Choosing a Church                                                                      
There are so many options now for ceremony sights - backyards, lakeside patios, museums, state parks, the family yacht (lucky you). With so many options, we tend to forget the classic standard - the church wedding. As with any choice, a church wedding has it's positives and negatives. Below I detail my thoughts on the subject from my experience as a photographer. 

Positives
1.) As a general rule churches are air conditioned and climate controlled. This shelter is a huge plus on steamy summer days when backyard wedding guests would normally be melting through their glamorous attire. 

2.) Not all churches are aesthetically created equal but a strong pro is the stunning architectural backdrop a church can provide to a wedding day. The older the better. Some churches really light my artist eye on fire but others look like a board room with a few additional seats. So let me be clear - when I say I like churches - I mean I like GORGEOUS, amazing churches. But even simple churches usually have amazing elements of stained glass and authentic elegance. 

3.) There is plenty of space and your guests know the drill. Most of your guests have practiced walking down a similar aisle every Sunday of their lives, so they are comfortable and know where to sit. It's all very orderly and easy to navigate - a huge plus in my book. 

4.) My favorite moment is when the doors open at the end of the aisle and the light streams in behind the bride. For a second you're blinded while your eyes adjust to the light, and then she comes into focus. Yeah - it's pretty perfect. Even though I'm lucky enough to have seen the bride and I know how wonderful she looks, I still get chills when she walks down the aisle, seeing her groom for the first time.

Negatives

1.) There are rules, and sometimes there are a lot of them. Most frequently there is a "no flash" rule. If you are in the process of booking a church and they say flash photography is strictly prohibited - run. Your photographer is going to be mighty upset when they hear about this condition. While I don't always use flash during a ceremony - and certainly try to get away with not using it, you are running a huge risk not having it at all. Most churches are caves of stained glass and stone and if it's cloudy out, you're going to want to give your photographer the opportunity to use their flash light.

2.) What is classic is also standard. Most church ceremonies are going to look fairly similar. The angles a photographer has access to are limited by the previously mentioned rules and there are only so many places we can stand without interrupting guests. So we do our best. We move around, get both sides and the balcony, but the boundaries set by the church must be respected. 

While I love a good cry during the vows and a passionate first kiss, it's after the ceremony, when it's just me, the bride and the groom when the church fun really begins.

Albums are Forever: The Lachants

I make wedding albums for my couples. The creative and collaborative process it takes to craft an heirloom of this caliber speaks to the heart of who I am as a photographer. It also speaks to the relationships I build with my clients. I am accountable for delivering a memento that will stand the test of time. The Lachants were the perfect couple to share this journey with. Kind, easy going and always up for a laugh. Thank you Jamie and Dan for sharing the story of your best day ever.

- Watch the video of Jamie and Dan's album unveiling! 

"Our wedding album is amazing!!  It is such a wonderful composition of the highlights and incredible photographs from our big day. I am so excited that we will have it always. Our photos captured every moment beautifully and looking through the album reminds me of all the happy memories and fun times. I knew Whitney would produce an artistic, elegant and expertly curated account of our wedding, and I was definitely not disappointed.  She did not miss a single detail and I could not have asked for a better person to guide us through the process.  Everyone who has seen the album absolutely loved it and many have teared up!  It truly is the perfect keepsake of the best day ever and certainly something we will treasure our entire lives!"

- Jamie Lachant, Bride 2015