The Mile High Leap: What I learned shooting my first backyard wedding in Denver

If you had told me a year ago that I would jump headfirst into the wedding industry by booking a 40+ person backyard celebration in Denver with zero traditional wedding experience, I would have told you that you were out of your mind.

But I did. And honestly? It went great! But the road to getting there taught me some of the biggest, most impactful lessons of my photography career.

The Mistake: The Silent Booking Stress

Let’s start with a little honesty. I booked this wedding entirely over text and email. No consultation call. No FaceTime.

Huge mistake.

When the wedding day actually arrived and I had to drive to the location, imposter syndrome and stress hit me like a train. I was showing up to a brand-new, unseen location to document the biggest day of two people's lives, and I had never even spoken to them on the phone. My anxiety was through the roof. I had gotten too excited to receive a booking that I forgot the most obvious thing.. ACTUALLY SPEAKING TO SOMEONE TO GET THEIR INFO AND THE DETAILS.. its like I grew up in the age of snapchat or something.

That exact day changed my business model forever. Because of that stress, every single wedding inquiry I receive now—big or small—requires a phone consultation (kinda like everyone else in the industry).

Why the Consultation CALL is Non-Negotiable

The wedding world is wild because nowadays, no two celebrations are the same. One weekend, I might be hiking 10 miles into the high country for a rugged alpine elopement. The next weekend, I’m standing in someone’s front yard in Denver with cars honking in the background.

Because every wedding is different, a consultation call matters immensely. I need to know your people. Getting on the phone allows me to help you logistically, build a real friendship, and ensure that your day becomes just as special to me as it is to you. I’m not just a vendor ticking a box; I'm on your team!!

The Mom Mindset (and the "Don't Miss a Thing" Panic)

Walking into a backyard wedding with over 40 guests instantly showed me just how much there is to capture. And if you are an over-shooter like me, the internal panic of “I just can’t miss a single second” is incredibly real.

I’ll blame it on my personal life: I’m a 25-year-old mom, so my brain is hardwired into a specific setting. Every time I see a moment, my internal monologue goes: “OMG I HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS!” or “THIS IS SO CUTE FOR THE SCRAPBOOK!” or “TAKE A PIC WE HAVE TO SEND THIS TO OUR MOMS!”

What do you expect? But that exact sentimental mom-mindset seeps directly into my wedding photography style. While it means I care deeply about every tiny detail, it also creates a massive challenge: the urge to overshoot everything.

Surviving the Overshoot: Quality Over Quantity

Thankfully, my 10 years of capturing fast-moving sports and portraits gave me the split-second reflexes I needed to survive the chaos of that first wedding. I knew my gear inside out, and I knew how to track movement. But shooting a wedding isn't about running and gunning like you're on a sports field.

I had to learn how to actively reduce the stress in the moment by forcing myself to take a physical step back. Instead of just going click, click, click, I now stop and ask myself: What would make this specific photo work and look its absolute best?

In this industry, quality over quantity really matters. At the end of the day, no one is going to post all 600+ photos from their wedding gallery anyway! It is about delivering those intentional, breathtaking, scrapbook-worthy gems that make you feel the emotion of the day all over again.

My first Denver wedding was a trial by fire, but it shaped me into a highly organized, deeply intentional storyteller. Whether your day is in the front yard or on top of a mountain, I can't wait to hop on the phone and help you plan it.