Wedding photos have come a long way since the one or two stiff poses of generations past. Nowadays, photos don’t just document history, they make moments last forever—moments that can then make our hearts swell for years. When it comes to wedding photos, embracing personal touches can take your images from traditional to authentic, making each memory that much more memorable. Ready to personalize your wedding photos? Here are my favorite three ways to go about it… 

1. Let Your Wedding Photos Tell Your Story

Sure, wedding photos tell the story of your wedding day. But couldn’t they also tell the story of you as a couple? It’s important to remember that honoring tradition is important, but so is honoring your love. 

Do you and your new spouse love to play board games together? Bring your favorite and grab some photos having an epic showdown in your wedding-day best. Do you have a favorite date night restaurant? Have a friend or family member bring your go-to order (branded packaging is a plus!) and take some photos enjoying your favorite feast together. Do you or your spouse love reading, listening to records, going for walks, playing sports, playing an instrument, etc.? You get the idea. Telling your story through wedding photos, rather than just checking a box, creates captivating images that are uniquely yours. They capture the essence of your relationship, in addition to all the great shots that capture your day. 

2. Choose unique locations

We’ve all seen the traditional photos at the ceremony site, getting ready in the bridal suite, etc. And don’t get me wrong, they’re beautiful! They’re also an important part of any wedding album. But we’re talking about personalizing your wedding photos, right? The truth is, YOU’RE in charge when it comes to scheduling your day and staging your photos. Do you and your bridesmaids have a favorite hangout? Meet up between getting ready and all the festivities and grab a few photos together in your natural space. Do you and your mom, dad or siblings have a favorite family tradition? Make it a part of your big day preparation at home, and be sure to capture those images, too. Take your spouse back to the site of your first date, or somewhere you’ve made plenty of memories with your best man or maid of honor. 

I know leaving the grounds can be difficult on your wedding day, especially if you’ve got a full day and a big crowd planned. If the thought of coordinating multiple locations is adding stress to your plate, I’ve got an idea! The popularity of separate first-looks and wedding portrait sessions is on the rise this year, and I can totally see why. Checking some wedding photos off the list before the big day is a huge relief! It also allows for stress-free photos, and a trial run for your hair and makeup team. Even if you don’t want your spouse to see the first look before the aisle, you can still schedule a separate wedding shoot with your family and wedding parties before the big day.

If you’re looking for some traditionally untraditional places around Colorado Springs, check out my favorite places to shoot around the city—that aren’t Garden of the Gods. Even if you’re simply snagging some wedding photos just outside your venue, changing up the background can add the perfect amount of variety and uniqueness to your final wedding album.

3. Get to know your wedding photographer

Feeling comfortable should come naturally, even on your wedding day. With each photo session, my goal is to capture timeless, authentic, and joy-filled moments that let your personality shine, all while putting you at ease. Getting to know your photographer prior to the big day can ease the tension of being in front of a lens, and lets your photographer see your interactions ahead of time. Simply put, the better acquainted your photographer is with your personalities, the more those personalities can be highlighted! 

I love working closely with my clients to achieve their dreams. I’ve been running Sarah Arnold Photography for over a decade, and I truly believe I have the best job in the world! I’d love to unpack your vision, whether it’s traditional or uniquely you. My premium wedding collection even includes a one hour engagement session that lets us get to know each other, in front of the camera and behind it. It’s one of the most exciting times in your life! With every detail you plan, you’re preparing to embark on a lifetime of wedded bliss, building a life full of unimaginable joy. Making your images as unique as your union can be simple. Let’s make it happen together! 

Having images captured by a professional photographer is totally worth it. I know, I know… we can just snap pictures on our phones that are actually pretty great quality these days. But believe me when I say you’ll get what you pay for! Have you ever thought about having a photo session, but don’t know when or why to take the plunge, keep reading. If you’ve ever scrolled past photo session highlights from your friends’ posts and albums, or looked at a home with gorgeous framed prints with envy, keep reading. If you’ve always wanted to schedule a photoshoot and just needed an excuse or reason to justify the occasion, keep reading! This post is for you. These are my top 10 occasions to hire a professional photographer…

Traditional Sessions with a Professional Photographer

Graduation & Senior Year

Graduation photos capture a once-in-a-lifetime moment. They mark a momentous occasion that commemorates years of hard work, and represents the closing of a big chapter, be it high school, college, grad school, law school, medical school—the list goes on. They celebrate your achievements, and preserve the memories of celebration for generations. If you’re a graduate, you’ve done enough work. Relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor! If you’re the parent, guardian or friend of a graduate, this success is yours to enjoy to the fullest, too. It takes a village, and you’re a part of theirs! Let a professional photographer worry about the pictures.

And don’t save it all for pomp and circumstance! Senior year photos can be valuable images, not just as keepsakes for friends and family, but as the personal images that will serve as tools for the professional bios, resumes and portfolios that will start your brand new chapter post-grad. Need some more ideas on when you’ll use senior photos? I’ve got you covered right here. 

Love, Engagement & Weddings

Yes, this one is pretty obvious. What isn’t always obvious is why you should commemorate every step of your relationship—not just the wedding! Besides the fact that a professional photographer likely has discounts that bundle engagement sessions with wedding packages, it also gives you a chance to practice so your wedding isn’t your first experience being in front of a lens together. Did I mention you’ll need some tasteful images for save the date cards, wedding websites, etc.? You’ll use your engagement photos way more often than you might think!

But why wait for an engagement? A couples photoshoot can help you find a photographer you like before the milestone moments, and help you remember that young-and-in-love feeling for years to come. Make it a fun and unique date night! Let a professional photographer capture your love story from the very beginning, at your favorite spots, doing your favorite things to do together. It’s a great excuse to get all dressed up and have some fun, with the best images to show for it afterward!

Hire A Professional Photographer for: Maternity & Newborns

If you’re overwhelmed and thinking about skipping either one of these milestones, I encourage you to think again! The amount of time we get to hold our babies (inside and out) at their absolute tiniest is so limited. I know it sounds cliche, but the only thing that flies by faster than your few month maternity shoot window is the time it takes a baby to become a toddler! By hiring a professional photographer, you take the weight of capturing these ever-so-fleeting moments off of yourself. Believe me, you’ll have enough on your plate! But you’ll also want to look back on these moments forever. I promise! Maternity and newborn photos are totally worth the investment.

Take the stress out of both shoots by having them in the comfort of your own home! Odds are you put a lot of work into your little one’s beautiful new nursery, from the onesies to the toys and the books. A professional photographer will help you remember every detail—the ones that might be a little lost in this era of sleepless nights. 

First Birthday & Milestone Birthdays

There are so many reasons to take photos at your child’s first birthday! Be more present in the celebration by putting the phone down and letting a professional photographer handle the images. Why? You’ll want them to frame, complete the first year in the baby book and so much more. Grandparents, aunts and uncles will definitely want them, too! Remember the theme, the guests who made the whole day special, and most importantly, freeze your child’s age in time, if only just on film. 

The first birthday is a pretty traditional occasion for photos, but did you know you can schedule a shoot for any of the milestone birthdays? And I’m not just talking about the Sweet 16! (Although that’s another great one.) Birthday photography can document your child’s growth and development from adorable infancy to confident teenager. Celebrate the uniqueness of each passing year by making birthday photos (with a professional photographer) a fun and heartwarming tradition. 

Anniversaries 

Your love story didn’t stop with the wedding. Your photo albums shouldn’t, either! I’ve told you my three favorite reasons to take anniversary photos, but I can’t stress enough how much fun it is to reconnect with your partner for the occasion. (Especially if life, careers and kids are usually fighting to pull your attention away from each other.) It all started with you, and that’s a great reason to celebrate! 

A professional photographer can give you an excuse to get dressed up and spend the day together, and have some amazing images you’ll love to walk away with. Let’s face it, you probably haven’t been in front of the camera in a while. But yours is a love story that deserves to be told! 

Less Conventional — But Oh, So Fun! 

Holidays

As a professional photographer, I love taking advantage of holidays. The whole family is traditionally all together for Christmas or Hanukkah, right? That makes it the perfect time to dress up and have some festive fun in front of the camera! The same can be said for Thanksgiving. (And that timeframe gives you the perfect window to design some great custom holiday cards. Or frame those prints as the perfect holiday gift!)

Why stop at tradition? There are plenty of other holidays worth capturing, and can be a whole lot more fun. Remember your kids’ costumes with a safe and spooky Halloween photo session, or let a professional photographer capture a couple’s shoot for an extra special Valentine’s Day. 

Family Shoots with a Professional Photographer

Every family’s story has a multitude of chapters, each one worth remembering exactly as it was. Hiring a professional photographer for family photos keeps your home decor current, surrounds you with the smiles you know and love, and documents your family legacy with quality images. 

Pro tip: Is everyone attending a family wedding, or the nuptials of close family friends? Will multiple generations all be at a graduation ceremony? Why not hire a professional photographer when you’re already together and looking your best? I’m not saying to compromise another event, but scheduling family photos before or after these occasions can be a perfect add-on without having to coordinate multiple schedules for another time. 

A New Pet

This one might sound silly. But if you’re looking for an excuse to take some photos, why leave all the fun to the new babies? Adding a furry (or not so furry!) friend to your family or couples photoshoot can add some joy and comic relief to any session. And celebrate the special bonds, love and happiness our pets bring to our lives. Plus, by working with a professional photographer, you can capture your pet’s unique traits and expressions, creating authentic, personality-filled images that include interactions with you. Our pets are a part of our family, right? It’s time our photo albums reflected it! 

Proposals

I highly recommend hiring a professional photographer for your proposal. I know, you’ve got the ring, you’ve got the time, the place and the words to worry about. But you won’t regret adding just one more thing to plan! If you’re planning a quiet, personal proposal, sharing these photos will invite your family and loved ones into the moment. (After it’s over, of course.) Popping the question at a big event? All the more reason to capture the spectacle! Having a proposal photographer will allow you to focus on each other. (Not whether or not the ring is in focus on your iPhone.) Announce your engagement with gorgeous photos without having to pause the celebration to take them yourselves!

A Professional Photographer… Just Because!

All of these occasions are wonderful excuses to make (and capture!) some memories. But I’m going to let you in on a little secret. Are you ready? You don’t actually need a reason to hire a professional photographer! The bottom line is that photos preserve memories, and hiring a professional preserves them well. So don’t feel like you need to wait for an occasion to mark! Treat yourself to a fun session, or give one to someone else as a gift. Let the photoshoot be the fun memory, then walk away with images that make your heart swell! 

Ready to take the plunge? Let’s get started! I am genuinely fascinated by people. I find such beauty in human connection and the stories that people share! Let’s embrace these seasons together!