I cannot say enough about Alison's tremendous talent and terrific personality. She is a dream to work with, and her breathtaking photos are the talk of my Facebook feed, office, and family dinner table.
My husband and I were operating on an average-ish budget, but we knew that we wanted to have beautiful photos of our day to capture our families and friends gathered in one place, the many lovingly-crafted DIY elements, and our gorgeous outdoor/indoor space. We looked at a lot of photographers' websites, but few of those pictures had that special spark, the one that makes you feel something when you look at them. I don't recall the exact words I threw into Google's maw, but fate pointed them toward Alison. After taking in her lovely portfolio and blog and talking to her over Skype, we never looked back.
Alison made everything exceptionally easy. When we arrived late and panicked to our engagement shoot after a few wrong turns, she was sweet, easygoing, and understanding. She had allowed more than enough time to take the pictures and came brimming with creative ideas. My husband and I made for two rather awkward subjects, but Alison did a great job of putting us at ease as we chatted about her daughter, our families, and her move to Michigan. And the photos were lovely--they made good use of the surrounding area and the early evening light. I was touched when she reached out to hug us at the end of the shoot. She was so kind and friendly and reassuring and fun, and I knew we were in good hands.
As the wedding approached, Alison suggested that I make a timeline for the day, which was excellent (and much needed) advice: It made ALL the difference in knowing what to expect on our day. She helpfully sent samples of shot lists and timelines, and gave me a few rounds of prompt and gracious feedback. She encouraged us to take a little time to ourselves after the ceremony so that we could absorb what we had done, a space for which I was grateful.
On the day of the wedding, I was a little late to the hotel where we were meeting, and she was very relaxed and understanding. She had allowed plenty of time for everything. I didn't have to worry about when I needed to get dressed or get ready to leave. She had it down pat.
When we arrived at the site, Alison did a terrific job of corralling all the necessary people for various family photos, and made the time fun and efficient. Her super second shooter, Jen, was already there taking pictures of the landscape, the groom and groomsmen, and the event room where the reception was to be held.
During the ceremony, Alison was completely unobtrusive. I don't know how she got the shots, but she captured all the poignant, tender little moments--laughter, jokes, people's expressions, the wiping of tears... not just ours, but those of our guests, too, which was so important to us.
She was equally in all the right places for the reception: she caught my sister's Vulcan salute during her toast, the embrace of our grandparents after the anniversary dance, and the look on my dad's face as we whirled around on the dance floor. And she got the details, too: close-ups of the wedding cake my husband made, my grandfather's veteran pin, the lace on my peacock blue shoes, the tissue paper dahlias that over the course of the evening found their way into button holes, onto wrists, and around hair.
The photos came about three months after the wedding. They were SO worth the wait. I'm not really a crier, but as I went through them, I was moved to tears--it was incredible to see how the happiness I felt inside that day could be reflected so beautifully in Alison's images. And we get to relive all these special memories every time we look at them.
If you're looking for a photographer, you can trust Alison not only to help you navigate your day but to take the kind of pictures that you will cherish for the rest of your life. read more
