Ceremony Photo Tips by Kelli Conley

The Diary Barn, Mint To Be Weddings, Gather Flower Studio, Cali Stott Artistry

While your wedding ceremony is really about finally tying the knot with your significant other, there are many photo ops to remember during it! You hired a photographer for a reason right? Of course you did, so let’s get started over some ceremony pictures that I know and love for my clients to do.

The first tip is when you and whoever is walking you down the aisle reach the first row of guests, stop and take a look at your partner at the other end. This not only gives you a second to breathe and take it in, but let’s us have a second for reaction photos and pictures of you from behind with your dress and veil displayed behind you with your guests looking at you.

The Ivy Place

The Ivy Place

The Diary Barn, Mint To Be Weddings, Gather Flower Studio, Cali Stott Artistry

When you make it up to your partner at the end of the aisle, hold hands and pause for a second while both of you look out into the crowd to see all your best family and friends there celebrating this huge moment in your life. The raw emotions in these pictures are so cute to capture!

Tell your officiant to step away before they announce the first kiss!!!! Lots of people forget this, and I will die on this hill. Don’t let there be someone awkwardly standing behind you while you are kissing as a married couple for the first time!

After officially tying the knot, when you begin your walk down the aisle as newlyweds, stop halfway through and kiss! Make it a good one, maybe with a dip or twirl! Bonus points if you give your guests flower petals to throw in the air as you’re doing so!

The Ivy Place

The Diary Barn, Mint To Be Weddings, Gather Flower Studio, Cali Stott Artistry

What Being A Lifetime Photographer Means by Kelli Conley

As a photographer, it is important to me to create long lasting and authentic relationships with my clients. I am there with them through their most precious and exciting life moments, so creating and nurturing a relationship is a huge priority to me. Because of this is why I love to be a life time photographer! Following my clients through all of their major life moments and capturing them in tangible photos is such an honor to me!

Tiffany and Paul were no exception from this. I first started their photography journey around 10 years ago when we did their engagement session before their wedding. I got to know them and their personalities during this session! Also pay attention to their amazing car because it will pop back up again! (Just like me, following through all major life moments!)

Next up, their wedding! A beautiful day spent at the Dairy Barn with their amazing friends and family celebrating them tying the knot together!

After their beautiful wedding day, I had the honor of photographing Tiffany and Paul when they were expecting their son, Kenneth! Seeing them grow to this point was so much fun, and I felt special to be a part of it.

Finally the much anticipated day had come and baby Kenneth is here! Newborn sessions are so precious and pure! I love photographing my clients in their home as a newly expanded family.

And lastly, I also got to go back and see baby Kenneth as a 1 year old! I know what you’re thinking, he is the cutest little baby ever. This family is just one of the dozens of reasons why I love my job. Where else would you be able to celebrate with different people through their different areas of life, and be able to give them tangible pieces of these celebrations through photos?!

An Intimate Winter Wedding | Geoff and Nicole by Kelli Conley

There is just something about winter weddings! Maybe its the colors of love and light shining bright amongst the dormant winter trees, or maybe it’s the cold weather bringing couples closer together making for more intimate pictures. Whatever it is, I love a good winter wedding and this micro wedding was a perfect reminder of why I love winter weddings! Also check out the beautiful fur from Nicole's grandmother that she wore after the ceremony!

Vendor Love - Venue: Camp Canaan, Florals: Evergreen Bride, Cake: The Whisk It Shoppe, Dress: Anthropologie, Caterer: Casa Tequila

Wedding Exit Ideas by Kelli Conley

Over the course of the last 10 years and the introduction of Pinterest there have been so many amazing ideas for exits at a wedding. My brides have come up with some great ideas and I wanted to put a post together of all the options and alternatives to sparklers (as some venues don’t allow them). So below is everything from lavender to glow sticks to fairy lights… and no matter what you choose to exit to it will be picture perfect!

Sunshine or a Cloudy Day | How to Choose When to reschedule with a chance of rain by Kelli Conley

I often get asked, what do we do if it rains. In the Carolina’s our weather is so unpredictable, I typically say lets go for it unless our forecast show 75-100% chance of rain a couple hours out from the time of our photo session. I have taken pictures is all kind of weather and I am here to tell you that no matter what the photos come out looking beautiful. But I am here to show you the difference in photos on a cloudy day and on a sunny day so you can make the judgement call for your session and which look you like best!