KATIE AND BRET'S WEDDING DAY - Indiana and Michigan Wedding Photographer

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Ahh, another rainy day wedding! Thankfully, we got the best of both worlds and the rain held off long enough for us to squeeze out some bridal portraits before the torrential downpour started during the ceremony!

When I first met with Katie and Bret, I was excited to be working with two teachers (because I'm a former and hopefully future teacher down the road). They were so down-to-earth and easy-going, I knew that this would be a great couple to work alongside and document their love story. We were able to chat and plan like we'd known each other for years. 

From the time I arrived on the wedding day, the bridal suite was filled with laughter from everyone there. With beautiful bridesmaids and adorable flower girls running around, there was no shortage of fun and chaos in the prep time. The guys were not to be outdone of course, and they offered their own smiles and jokes during the prep.

When I stepped away to do the detail shots, I also go to photograph some very meaningful cufflinks dedicated to the groom's late brother. I love when people incorporate such special and sentimental details into their wedding days. Even when people can't be there, its so beautiful when they're still included and honored. 

The reception that followed the beautiful, traditional church ceremony was packed with a wide variety of classic rock and modern hits which packed the dance floor (especially with kids)! No one was left without some fun memories on this beautiful June 21st wedding and I am so grateful that Katie and Bret chose me to capture their day for them. 

Vendor list can be found at the bottom of this post.

Ceremony: Pine Creek Church of the Brethren

Reception Venue: Holy Family Parish Hall

Hair Artist: Ashley Ditmer, Salon Rouge

Dress: Brides by Young

Groom/Groomsmen: Louie's Tux Shop

Florist: The Speckled Fox Flowers and Gifts

Photobooth: All About the Selfie

DJ/Band: Scott Bovenkerk, "Bov Knows Music"

Cake: Over the Top Bakery Cafe

Popcorn bar: The Savory Kernal

LEXI & AUSTIN'S WEDDING - South Bend, Indiana Wedding Photographer

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Every wedding is unique. Every wedding is special. There is no arguing that! But for me, this wedding was kind of extra special. Why? Because I've known the bride since she was a toddler!

Growing up, her cousin was my best friend whose family salon also did my hair. I remember Lexi running around while I got my awesome, chunky platinum blonde highlights (thank you 2000's hair trends). Fast forward to my very first year of teaching high school English and guess who happened to be in my Freshmen Honors class? None other than Lexi! If that wasn't enough, the way the schedule fell each year, I ended up having her for all four years of her high school career (sorry, Lexi, but thanks for putting up with me). In those four years, I got to know her beyond just a student and my friend's little cousin; I got to know what an awesome person she was. 

Once she graduated, she was one of those students who I kept in touch with. I followed her journey into real estate and happened to reach out to her when I stumbled across our dream home online. So she sold us our forever home two months later! During all our many encounters while buying and selling homes, she decided to hire me as her wedding photographer. 

Although I know Lexi better than Austin (obviously), I knew right away they were made for each other. They were one of the most fun and relaxed couples I've had the pleasure of working with and it is without a doubt that they have a lifetime of adventure and excitement ahead of them. Their Sunday wedding was filled with joy and laughs (not to mention her bridal party was made up of other old students of mine) and genuine love and fun. I was so honored to be a part of their wedding and I can't wait to follow the rest of their journey in the years to come.

Congrats Lexi and Austin!  

KRISTYN & CHRISTIAN'S BERRY FARM WEDDING - South Bend, Indiana Wedding Photographer

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This wedding had it all: perfect weather, a gorgeous venue, a beautiful and loving couple and so many unique and diverse elements! 

When I first met Kristyn, it was at The Bridal Spectacular at the Century Center. While I meet many brides there, Kristyn was actually there as a vendor, too! She is a manager at the amazing Granger boutique Simply Yours Bridal and Formalwear. I was flattered and excited that out of all of the photographers there, she was drawn to my humble booth and work. After chatting and then meeting up with the couple a few weeks later, it was pretty obvious that we were a great fit! 

Kristyn and Christian had chosen to get married at The Blue Barn Berry Farm in Syracuse, Indiana. This venue is stunning on its own but with Kristyn's simple rustic touches, she transformed it even beyond it's original beauty. Another thing that added to the truly unique nature of this wedding was Christian's family, many of whom traveled from outside the country to attend! The ceremony was even translated into Spanish as it was happening. Oh, and they also shared two first dances: one in English and one in Spanish. How cool is that? 

Needless to say, this was a wedding to remember. The genuine smiles and love that was shared between families made the night fly by and watching everyone dance together to a wide array of music was just the cherry on top!

Congratulations to Kristyn and Christian. You are a beautiful couple with a beautiful life ahead of you. Thank you sincerely for letting me document your day.

See bottom of post for vendor lists!

 

Photographer: Borne Back Photography

Venue: Blue Barn Berry Farm in Syracuse, Indiana

Bridal Hair: Alaina from The Cutting Edge Salon

Makeup: McKenna from The Cutting Edge Salon

Dress: Simply Yours Bridal and Formalwear

Groom's Attire: Jim's Formalwear

Manicures/Pedicures: Creative Touch

Flowers: Martin's Super Market and South Bend Farmer's Market

DJ: Connor Beckwith

SOUTH BEND MICHIANA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER - TRIBBEY WINTER WEDDING

the allure
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This wedding was special in so many ways. This couple has been together for a long time and they have been through so many life experiences so when they reached out and asked me to document their wedding, I was so excited to do it! Seeing their wedding plans and hearing their love story had me so ready for this winter wedding.

This couple was so easy going from the get-go. They were a perfect mix of traditional and unique; choosing to skip out on some of the more old-school traditions but also mixing in the important parts (like including her grandmother's ring and not seeing each other before the wedding). From the moment I got to the venue and went upstairs to the beautiful bridal suite at The Allure in Laporte, I knew this would be a fun day. 

The bride was so laid back and calm and she and all of her bridesmaids were just having a genuinely good time chatting and getting their hair and makeup done. When Chelsea gave out her bridesmaids gifts and some hand written letters, the tears and laughter flowed freely. And the groom and groomsmen were about as chill as they come! 

When the beautiful ceremony started, there wasn't a dry eye in the house as Chelsea recited vows not just to Shaun, but to his daughter, too. It was a truly special wedding ceremony that went perfectly! The reception that followed was upbeat and fun with lots of family making priceless memories with the newly married couple. I was so honored to have captured the photos of the biggest day of this new family's life so far.

Venue: The Allure in Laporte, IN

Dress: Here Comes the Dress

Hair: Maitraya
Makeup: Meg at the Mane Attraction

 

South Bend Wedding Photographer / Michiana Wedding Photographer - What IS Documentary Wedding Photography

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First, let me explain what documentary photography is in a broad sense: documentary photography tells an honest story through photos. It does not pose. It does not direct. It does not "say cheese." It simply documents the moments, the details, the emotions and the interactions. It tells the story as it happens with nothing posed or fake. One motto I regularly like to tell people is that it places the value in the real rather than the ideal. 

When we apply this concept to wedding photography, it manifests into a few key points:

- It tells YOUR love story.

So often, we see wedding images that are stunning. Beautiful. Breathtaking. And uniform. I hate to say it, but go look at Pinterest's wedding photos and they all kind of blend in together; they are so, so similar! You and your partner's love story is unique and your photos should reflect that. Maybe you are a country couple who loves the outdoors and who wears cowboy boots on a daily basis who show their love for each other subtly and softly. That is what your images should showcase. Or maybe, you're a super quirky couple who loves all things original who demonstrate your love for each other loudly and unashamedly. That is what you want to see in your photos. Documentary wedding photography doesn't pose or modify your love story; it simply captures it in its purest form.

- It shows REAL emotion.

Ironically, seeing as I'm a photographer, I hate being in photos. When someone points a camera at me and says "stop what you're doing and now do this!" I not only feel wildly uncomfortable but kind of annoyed. Now, not everyone has that feeling, but some do. Documentary photography takes most of that away. Rather than trying to force love into an image through traditional wedding poses, documentary wedding photographers simply wait for the love to be shown naturally and then capture it. I know my favorite pictures of my husband and I are the ones where we are laughing and being natural, totally unaware that our picture was even being taken. This is the same experience that documentary photography offers to you. 

- You get the BEAUTY without the effort. 

One of the main concerns from people interested in documentary wedding photography is that they won't get those stunning images. I beg to differ. In fact, I will just let these completely candid images above speak for themselves. 

- It preserves the DETAILS.

michiana wedding photographer

When planning a wedding, you harp on even the smallest of details. Why let those details get lost? You put all of this time and effort into perfecting everything, it deserves to be preserved. Whether it is the groom's grandfather's watch or the bride's "something blue" or even a fun detail like goofy glasses or pre-wedding festivities, these are all HUGE points in your story and need to be shared and remembered. Documentary photography not only captures these details, but makes them a priority.

While documentary wedding photography may not be for everyone, it is definitely something to consider. If you value candor; if you know your love story is worth telling; if you want more time to focus on your wedding day and your new spouse rather than spending hours in front of a camera, then documentary photography is worth pondering. 

SOUTH BEND + MICHIANA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER - A NEW ADVENTURE

borne back photography
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When I started my photography journey, I went into it with the hopes of providing candid, documentary images to families and to birth moms. I wanted to offer something beyond the "baby in a bucket" studio portraits that saturate our area. I wanted to help spread love for the beauty in the everyday and to help capture families how they really are and place the value in the real and not the ideal. And I had no intention or interest in photographing weddings. I don't like posing people and I definitely don't like over edited images, so in my mind... 

...wedding photography was just not for me.

Enter Katie Lynae Photography. A long time friend from our 4H days, Katie reached out to see if I had any interest in being her second shooter (assistant photographer at weddings). I figured, "Sure! Why not? A fun chance to hang out with an old friend." And that's when I got my first look at the behind the scenes moments of a wedding. The candid, beautiful moments that happen so naturally and effortlessly. The amazing relationships that are displayed between family and friends. The hilarious antics and interactions between people. And most of all, the overwhelming love story that is told in just a few short hours. 

I. Was. Hooked.

Why had I not seen this sooner?! Michiana wedding photography was just as in need of a candid, documentary photographer as the families were! And so, with the start of 2018, I am so excited to announce...

BBP is officially booking weddings!

If you have followed my work up until now, you have a good feel for my "style." This style will translate into weddings as well. I want to offer minimally posed and primarily candid wedding photography to the amazing couples in the South Bend and Michiana area. If you value your love story in it's most natural, purest form, BBP is a great option. If you don't feel the need for hundreds of posed, "say cheese" images and otherwise scripted moments, I'd love to talk with you. If you love modest editing with high contrast, film based finishes, BBP can provide that.

I want to capture your wedding day exactly as it is and document the love you experience with friends and family as it happens organically. By booking a wedding with BBP, you will be able to look back on your photos in the years to come and recall memories exactly as they happened, not how they were posed. There are few things in this world more beautiful than the start of a life-long love story and your photos should represent that!

If you want to know more, don't hesitate to CONTACT ME for 2018's discounted portfolio building pricing.