"Our wedding photos truly felt like real life..."

We can still feel the emotion when we look at them. We had expressed that we didn't want overly brightened, posed photos, but rather an authentic account of our special day. We wanted to feel the essence of our wedding. To revisit the prints and feel how magnificent the day was, she captured the hands that had held us our whole lives, the people who had known us and loved each version, and the generations of love that led to our marriage. We had many stops, childhood home, church, favorite bar, and the venue. Val was eager to tackle the next venue with the same diligence to capture feelings rather than just produce photos. The photos are somehow polished and raw at the same time. Val captured the day exactly as it unfolded. Her incredible eye recorded every emotion through thoughtful exchanges, quick passes and the quiet in-between moments - all of it was there. Looking through our gallery feels like reliving the best day of our lives rather than flipping through staged portraits. When our gallery was delivered, we sat there looking through each tab remarking "these are perfect," "oh my gosh we love this" or "maybe this one is actually my favorite." They truly FEEL like us. 

Val brought so much heart into her work and genuinely felt like part of the bridal party. She seemly blended in while capturing everything beautifully. We also appreciated how open she was to our own creative ideas. She listened, collaborated, and was completely flexible - especially when weather changes shifted our timeline. She adapted without stress, made us feel calm that we would still get all the photos we wanted, and pivoted effortlessly. 

We are so grateful for how authentically Val documented our day. If you're looking for someone who captures emotion, connection, and real moments - she is truly exceptional!

The Wards, 2025