Julie and Stephen | Scottsdale Engagement Session

This was such a unique session and we had SO. MUCH. FUN! I mean hello I got to ice skate while working! Who gets to do that?! And for anyone that hasn't got to meet both Julie and Stephen, they are such a blast! Seriously, like I want to be friends and hang out with them they are so inviting, kind and just make you feel like you've known them forever! 

So for their engagement shoot Stephen was able to rent out an ice skating rink!! (pretty awesome huh?!) I've only ice skated once before while shooting a hockey team and even though its a bit of a challenge as the movement is a little different,  I actually love the fresh perspective to get fun shots at such a unique location! I'm going to let them tell their story and the significance of the ice to them, so I won't give you any spoilers except to say the rink is where it all started!! From there it was a quick shift in temperature as we headed out to Papago for the second half. Here we used the mountains where Stephen surprised Julie with the million dollar question as a backdrop for their sunset photos! Julie's red dress was so gorgeous and you can just see how comfortable they are with each other. This makes for the perfect setting! 

From the chilly ice at the skating rink, to the blazing summer desert, both played such a vital role in this couples story to get them to where they are now,  we just had to do both! 

Okaky so, for fear of ruining their story, I'm going to let them finish telling it, cause boy is it a sweet one! Julie and Stephen I cannot wait for your beautiful wedding day. You guys are legit perfect for each other and I'm so happy for you guys! 

See you soon!  - Jenn

"Stephen and I first met face to face in February of 2015, however, there is photo evidence that we had actually been within inches of each other in September of 2012!  One of my best friends, Shannon, had known Stephen and his friends forever and her and I ran into them on our way to a tailgate for an ASU football game.  We took a quick photo (attached) and went on our way, not realizing until later that Stephen had photobombed us.  I don't ever remember seeing him or talking to him that day, but when Stephen saw the picture he decided to stalk me on Facebook." - Julie   

"When Stephen found out that I loved hockey, he was immediately intrigued, and tried to get Shannon to set us up for about a year and half, to which I continued to say no thanks. However, when Stephen decided to friend-request me on Facebook (although I was convinced we had never met) I accepted, because why not? All I ever saw Stephen post about was hockey, and never thought much of it until the Red Wings were coming into town which was about a year or so later.  Of course, the game was sold out and I NEEDED tickets, so I figured I would awkwardly reach out to him since he seemed to know a lot of people in the hockey world. I thought he would be beyond pumped that I finally contacted him, but after sending the longest most awkward message ever, he simply responded with "How many?" Many more awkward messages were exchanged until Stephen pulled the ultimate move of, "I can only get two tickets..." So we went together, had an amazing time (Red Wings won, obviously) and we had 2 more dates lined up before the week was over. "- Julie

"Our first kiss..... It was the night of our first date after going to the hockey game. I didn't want the night to end so early, so we went out to meet up with what I thought was a few of my friends, but ended up being almost the entire squad, probably a bit overwhelming for Julie. I was eagerly waiting for the right opportunity to "make my move." I finally had a chance to do so at the end of the night, and needless to say, it must have been a good one, because look at us now." - Stephen

"Hockey is a huge part of our lives. I can safely say, if it wasn't for hockey, we probably would not have met. Julie grew up a Detroit Red Wings fan, watching games on TV, and going to games with her family. They still have season tickets and her parents still travel around North America to watch them play. I grew up loving the sport (weird being from Arizona), but I played hockey, grew up working at a hockey shop, taught private lessons, and still play to this day. One thing I am thankful for is to have found a girl that loves the sport as much as I do. It was our first date and we were watching the game and something happened that only someone who truly understands the game would have noticed, and there was Julie, screaming at the top of her lungs about it. At that moment, I knew I found a keeper. The rivalry between the Red Wings and Coyotes will live on with us!"- Stephen

"I realized that I was in love with Stephen pretty quickly.  On our second date we went to play tennis and I'll never forget his smile and laugh from across the court because we were both being so stupid and silly.  I had never been able to feel so like myself and relaxed with someone so quickly.  Within a few weeks Stephen was staying over on the weekends more and more and I remember dreading Sunday nights when he would leave.  I had always really loved living on my own and having my own space, but now I just wanted Stephen there every night.  I can't pinpoint an exact moment but within a few short months I knew I wanted Stephen in my life for a very long time." - Julie

"The one thing I love about Julie the most is her passion. Everything she does, she does 100%. She strives to be great, and will do absolutely everything she can to succeed. I learned this very early on in our relationship, and it is something I admire the most about her." - Stephen

"The thing I am looking forward to the most about our wedding is walking down the aisle with my parents and seeing Stephen waiting for me. I can't wait for that first look between him and I right before we say "I do."  Hopefully I'll have some really good waterproof mascara on because it already makes me emotional just thinking about it.  I just can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him." - Julie

www.jenn-wagner.com

How to be an awesome second shooter!

Last month I was able to do something I haven't done in years... second shoot! With my schedule this year I had some availability in June and an opportunity to second shoot arose and I took it! I was a little nervous I would be rusty, but actually walked away with open eyes on how much a second shooter is really able to do and how creative you can be! I thought I would compile some tips for anyone looking to get into wedding photography; starting as a helpful second shooter is a great way to start and here is how you can be of best service to your main shooter! 

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DETAILS! As a second shooter you have more time on your hands to get creative with details. Hold on to the invitation and if the opportunity presents itself, take two minutes by grabbing a bridesmaids bouquet and set up a cool invitation shot.  Or angle yourself during portraits to get the bouquet, or bracelet on the bride. As a first I can never take enough detail shots and especially incorporate pieces throughout the day so please do it for me! I will love you for it! 

Here is an invitation I grabbed along with the bridesmaids bouquet and I took the baby's breath out of a jar on the table (and put it back when I was done : ) 

Take photos that help tell the story. It may just be some quick group photos at the cocktail hour  or candids of guests arriving to the wedding. They are all pieces of the couples' story and the more of these you can provide to help tell a better story of who was there and what was happening the better! Take initiative and get great shots while there is 'downtime' like before the wedding starts. 

Bridesmaids!! You guys, there is always that time of the day where there are a few bridesmaids just standing around looking cute while we take the bride portraits or family shots or whatever. Take the initiative to set up a 3 minute 'mini shoot' with the bridesmaids right where you are. Trust me they love it too! Shoot them with their flowers, them as a group or even individually. The first shooter rarely has time to do this and it really adds to the overall detail shots of the day! DO IT! 

Capture the people and moments that are candid and of 'secondary people in the wedding"! The first shooter is usually focused on the bride, groom, bridal party and family throughout the day... but there are so many other people and things happening. Take the opportunity to shoot "behind the scenes' of the people doing things around what is happening. People signing guest books, or flowers girls being cute. Take the shot! 

For Portraits of the bride and groom, chances are the first is focused on faces and the direct shot of the couple. Step to the side and get a different angle, or focus on the details up close. Your first photog will thank you for the originals! 

Get the main shooter water- often! Man, you get so thirsty shooting and TALKING all day! Directing family photos, asking for people to stand places, you really work up a thirst! I don't think I've ever turned down water when my second shooter offers so be cognizant and on a secondary note, let them eat first if there isn't much time to eat, as tired and hungry as you are, the first is always more wore down so offer to get the a plate or offer to keep shooting table shots while they eat and then you can switch off! 

Take reception shots while the light is good indoors! If the schedule allows, take some time during the family photos to go to the reception site ahead of time and take photos of the details during the day time. This makes for better light and will not make your first shooter stressed when they are trying to get every detail before they seat guests for the reception! Here are some details shots I took while the first was doing family photos and I wasn't needed. The room was empty and I could fire away in great light without being rushed by guests who want to grab their seat!

 Again! details details! These two cute Kate Spade glasses below weren't together in front of cute flowers, I grabbed them, arranged them and then took the shot. Take the extra minute to really set up your detail shots and get better results! 

Really think outside the box to get creative angles that your first isn't! The nice thing about not having to get the direct shot, is that you can really take a step back and get a cool angle and take a chance on shooting some original stuff. When you are first shooting you are really focusing on nailing a good shot, so you can't always take the liberty to venture around too much. But the second can! Give your first shooter something original when they are culling your photos! In the first shot I got " the shot" of what was happening, however in this second shot, I just took a minute to step behind all the guests toasting and it layered the photo beautifully. 

Then I stepped behind and got this below. 

Hoped that helped!!

Book your session at www.jenn-wagner.com

Pink and Navy Scottsdale Arizona Wedding| Blair and Tim

I remember the first time I met Blair and her mom, we were at the very location they got married, sipping on tea and munching on salads and after about an hour and a half of chit chat we finally got to talkign about their actual wedding day! They were both just so sweet, easy to talk to and said they couldn't wait for me to meet Tim! He was just as great and the rest of the family followed suit. That whole day was just amazing, and I can honestly say I would have paid money to be a bridesmaid!! Does that sound weird? Its true!! No only did they keep things light and fun throughout the day, but they are all amazing dancers! So by default I would be an amazing dancer too right? : ) Their choreographed dance to Uptown Funk during the reception was seriously amazing and had Tim and Blair laughing from their seats! 

Speaking of the bride and groom... there something so fun about watching the dynamics of a couple on their wedding day. You get to see how they love and watch it unfold naturally in front of you. This relationship that Tim has with Blair, its a bold but delicate love. Its the kind that sweeps her off her feet, but holds her gently after a long day. She loves him deeply and without reserve and their commitment to each other was made known on this most perfect day. Tim and Blair you guys are adorable. I want to love better and you have set such a great example. I always ask brides and groom questions after their weddings to get a take, and Tim's response is by far the most animated and generous in detail. It shows how dedicated he is to this marriage and the excitement he has to be married to the girl of his dreams! I thought it was so endearling, I had to share it first and in full! (just below)

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting us capture such an important day. It was breathtaking. 

Much love, 

Jenn and the studio girls

Their story: 
"August 2014, we took a trip to Phoenix to visit some of my family. Blair's parents (Don and Jennifer) joined us on the trip to meet me and because they have always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon and finally had an excuse to make the trip. After finally meeting me and spending a day with me, they returned to the hotel and said to Blair, "We are exhausted." They were exhausted from my outgoing and talkative personality that especially comes out when I am nervous. I was so nervous because I was going to ask their permission to marry Blair.

The next day, Blair and Jennifer went to get their nails done and her dad and I went to play golf. I planned on asking Don if I could marry his daughter. I was so nervous, that played the worst game of his life, a game that I spent all summer working on. Unfortunately, we played with two other gentlemen and there was not really a chance for me to ask for Blair's hand. We went back to the hotel and just as I was building up the courage to ask, Blair called to let me know that she and Mom were ready to be picked up. She had ruined my moment! When Blair later found out she felt terribly!

That night we all had dinner at my grandparents' house. I went to pick up Blair's parents from the hotel and in the car finally got my chance to ask permission to propose to Blair. Thankfully they said yes.

The following morning, we all went to the Grand Canyon. While Blair and Jennifer were in the store, I told Don his plans of proposing at Yavapai Point, our next stop. When we got there, Don told Blair to look around the corner. She did and said, "I don't know what I'm looking at over here, there is just more rock." Meanwhile, I got down on one knee and as I opened the ring box, the ring came flying out of the box and bounced toward the edge of the Grand Canyon. Don watched the whole thing, and his heart stopped along with mine. Luckily, I reached out and about 6 inches from the edge of the canyon, stopped the ring from falling. I quickly put the ring back in the box and tapped Blair on the shoulder. I, very quickly, asked "Will you marry me?" For a man notorious for talking too much, this was one time I was short on words. Blair peeked at her dad, fearing he might throw me off the cliff, because in an attempt to surprise Blair, I had told Blair the night before that Don had said he wanted to wait to get to know me better before he gave his permission for marriage. Much to her surprise, Don gave Blair a nod, indicating his approval and Blair immediately said yes.

That whole day, I ran around telling everyone I could, that Blair had said yes! Most people at the Grand Canyon were tourists, many from abroad, and spoke little to no English, so merely smiled at me as if I were a crazy man. Finally, I found a family that spoke English and the woman brought her whole family over to meet us. There were champagne toasts at lunch, lots of phone calls and texts to tell family and friends, and a wonderful day that neither of us will forget." -Tim

The Lovely Vendors that created this day

Venue: Camelback Inn

Florals: Jan Dekker

Dress:Madison James

Videography: Simply Cinema

Shoes: Betsey Johnson

Linens: La Tavola

Groomswear: J. Crew

Makeup and Hair: Ruca Bowman, Ashley Nicole 

Invitations: Celebrations in Paper

DJ: Got you Covered

"My ring has a very cool story. I have to go back a bit to explain. For every child my Mom had, my Dad would buy her a piece of jewelry. When I was born she got a pair of beautiful diamond earrings from him. At some point, one of the earrings was lost and never found. My mom kept the other earring in the safe for years. Last summer, my mom told Tim that she had a stone for him to give to me, and to ask for it whenever he would like it. Later that summer Tim and I went to my family jewelers in Michigan to buy his wedding ring. When I was there, I looked at engagement rings just for fun, because that is what girls do, even though he had already proposed with another ring. I found a setting that I loved and showed it to Tim. He loved it just as much as I did, and he decided I had to have it. At that time he asked my mom for that stone because family means so much to me, and it is a great way to showcase that. He had the stone put in the setting, and now, I will always have a part of my family with me whenever I wear it. " -Blair

"We met working at J.Crew. We worked a few closing shifts together and got to know each other a little better through many hours of folding clothes. We became friends while working there, but nothing more. He left J.Crew a year later and we didn't really talk after that. He would message me on Facebook (because he didn't have my phone number) and I would never respond. He probably said "hey" at least 20 times before I responded. One night I was at home after a long day at ballet just sitting with my laptop, and for some reason decided to respond. We talked that whole night and finally exchanged phone numbers. We had our first date at my apartment, and I made him dinner. I have never been so nervous cooking. We had such a great time, and I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time. That summer I went back to my hight school 'Walnut Hill School for the Arts' to be an RA. That summer is when I decided he was the one. I hated not seeing him everyday. Even though we talked over FaceTime and the phone it was not the same. I realized I never wanted to spend a day without him. I started crying (no surprise there) and walked over to one of my best friends room (Evangeline, one of my bridesmaids) and told her. She was so excited for me! A few days later Tim called telling me how much he loved me and asked if I would ever want to get married? He told me how he hated not seeing me everyday and never wanted to spend another day without me. It was perfect! Once I got home from Walnut Hill, he met my parents and asked my dad for my hand in marriage." -Blair

The wedding!

         "It may not have been a full hour, but it felt like a lifetime waiting for her to come down the aisle with her dad. If I could relive that over and over again, I would. I have never been more excited in my life to see anyone. That short time is going to be remembered forever.forchristWhen Blair came walking down the aisle, I was shocked. Everything about her was perfect. Her dress, her hair, the way the light hit her, I tell people that the sun was in my eyes, but the truth is, nothing was more perfect. In that moment, my life was complete." -Tim

"My favorite thing about Tim... that's a tough one. He would joke and say it's our dog George. In all serious though, my favorite thing about him is his ability to make me laugh and his ability to love me through everything. No matter how bad of a mood I am in, he can make me burst out laughing and it always turns my day around. Sometimes it requires him to be utterly ridiculous and use his German accent, but he will do anything to make me smile. He loves me through everything, every crying meltdown, every tough day at work. He is always at home waiting to give me a hug. There is so much to love about him and I just feel so lucky to have him by my side for the rest of my life." -Blair

Oh my gosh they are so cute!!

Love love all of their details!

UPTOWN FUNK underway by the bridal party and close friends! I wanted to do it with them so bad! The entire room was having a blast watching this number. This is what happens when a bridal party has a bunch of amazing dance!

Oh my gosh you guys! What a day! I am so so happy for you guys and wish you all the happiness as you begin your first year of marriage together. Its the best!

All our best, 

Jenn Wagner and the Studio Girls

Book your session at www.jenn-wagner.com