VICTORIA G
 PHOTOGRAPHY

I had photographed a wedding at Hale Farm once before, so getting the chance to come back again was incredible. There’s something so fun about returning to a venue already knowing some of its best little corners while still getting to see it completely differently through another couple’s wedding day.

As a Cleveland and Chicago wedding photographer, I’ve photographed both, and they each create completely different—but equally meaningful—moments. Your decision can also affect your wedding photography timeline, how much time you have for portraits, and how your cocktail hour flows.

One of the biggest questions couples have when choosing their wedding photography package is surprisingly simple: How many hours of wedding photography do we actually need?

a Cleveland wedding photographer (and historian!), I’m always keeping a running list of Northeast Ohio wedding venues I’m dreaming of getting behind my camera at. These are the places that immediately make me start imagining the photographs I could create there—from timeless portraits and candid moments to a little editorial flash magic.

One of my favorite parts of portrait time is slowing everything down. Wedding days can fly by, and these moments give couples a chance to step away from the excitement, soak it all in, and simply enjoy being newly married together.

Stephan and Gabby’s engagement session at the Wisconsin State Capitol felt like stepping right into a classic love story. From the moment we started, there was such an easy connection between them—nothing forced, nothing overly posed, just the kind of natural comfort that makes photographing couples like this so meaningful.

Before you dive headfirst into planning spreadsheets and Pinterest boards, take a moment to simply enjoy being engaged. This season is short, sweet, and incredibly meaningful. That said, once the excitement settles, most couples find themselves asking the same question:“Okay… now what?”