Dani Stephenson

“I’m just saying, maybe you should change your perspective”⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Wisest words. Changing my perspective both while shooting weddings and in personal matters really can change everything.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Shooting weddings, I’m close to the couple and then I think to move out and it changes the shot. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ There have been ebbs and flows this August and I decided I can’t change what it is, but I can change my perspective on it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Has this worked for you?

I think I “over -served” myself on weddings next year 🥂 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Way too many amazing couples and inquires coming my way. Finally a good 2020 problem!

Creeping into the weekend like...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Who else is over this week?

Ahhh finally! I’ve been wanting to share Jorja & Matt’s downtown Milwaukee Boho Wedding and it’s is on the blog today! and it has it all. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ +Rooftop vows +Local eats +Fresh florals +Best friends +cafe lights +Packers garage ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ COVID has changed the wedding game and has this way of scaling down to the most important nitty gritty. In a beautiful way, it’s put marriage before the wedding.

Guys, we did family pics yesterday and as we drive up to the state park we were meeting at I had this immediate deep love for tall PINES. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just Booked all of my travels for my 2020 season. Although It’s not California or Traverse City or wherever else I should have been during this craziness. I am suddenly feeling super lucky we’re able to road trip a few times. Social distancing Cabin on the water in Door County, Sheboygan and a double header Up North sounds pretty darn good and hopefully will fulfill my wanderlust and some tall pines 🤞

All in! Whose ready for a change of pace? 🙋‍♀️ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I can honestly say I didn’t think this pandemic would reach so far into this year. I was naive and had high hopes it would fizzle out over time. And I’m also one of those people who sometimes forget it’s happening. Like making travel plans and then thinking “oh no what about covid” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Well, it hasn’t fizzled out. And it’s effected every single one of my 2020 wedding couples in one way or another. August is coming in hot with four weddings and even those have drastically changed vision. I’m so ready for the pace to change though and to get to get out there and make memories for these couples! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ August- I’m ready for ya!

#challengeaccepted proudly! Happily supporting fellow female entrepreneurs and uplifting all women! I feel surrounded by extraordinary women everyday that should be celebrated! Thank you for thinking of me @heidib011 you beautiful woman! Tag a beautiful woman below who should be celebrated!

Friends, Summer is fleeting...

Oh hey 2021 + 2022 inquiries. Thanks for the invite.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Guys, I’ve been on a high of steady stream of inquiries this past two weeks- just when I thought COVID did me in 😝 Currently met my wedding goal for 2021, but when awesome new ones come in I just can’t say no. Should I take on more?

My sessions and editing have been coming in like smooth soft waves. Once one project is completed I have another to start. Rather than the usual rushing tide that I am used to during the summer months. It feels like the balance scales tipped in favor of slow and steady and I’m loving it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I met the happiest, giggliest, sweetest couple on Tuesday night during a probable thunderstorm. I don’t think Jenna + Sam even noticed.

Can love move mountains? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Resilient humans in love can. I mean how many couples have been affected by Covid pandemic ? It’s not like we would have had this on our radar. No one was prepared. And yet, every single couple I have worked with handled it with the upMost grace. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ +Rescheduled dates + Wedding visions altered + Elopements + Micro-Weddings + Having to cut guests list ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ What a huge shift from the original plan and still everyone is happy, in fact some are giddy! And just like that the whole wedding thing turned into a “marriage” thing. Eye on the prize, husband + wife no matter what. And I think that’s really beautiful. I’m not sure how resilient I would have been in that situation honestly. I’m not a fan of changed plans. I think I would have postponed a year or two. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Pure Joy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My favorite wedding accessory.

I recently booked three weddings! 🤯 This is huge to someone like me during a global pandemic. Because most of my weddings moved to 2021 I wasn’t sure about new clients and where 2021 stands. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ One bride shared the top nine photos on a few photographers Instagrams and made her fiancé pick his favorite. Without names or knowing anything else, he chose. And then with her agreement she dipped into my website and learned what she could about me and my style photography, etc.. we FaceTimed and booked. Viola! I thought that was a fun and interesting way to get her fiancés opinion about photographers. How did you get your fiancés opinion? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Also decided a glass of wine before FaceTiming a couple is a new requirement. 🤫

Have I shot a wedding on the 4th of July? Yes of course, But over the years I started to hold weekends more closely. I had a system. Then 2020 shows up and laughs at you like “you thought you knew what you were doing” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Soaking up this year of open weekends in big and small ways (as much as covid allows) We’re headed to Dyersville, IA this weekend. To a farm surrounded by 🌽 My oldest is in a baseball tournament at the Field of Dreams!!! How 4th of July is that 🇺🇸 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 2020 does make me wonder, on a regular season, what would my summer look like? Keeping my perspective while continuing a business I adore is quite the balancing act. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Happy 4th of July America!

Monday 6AM: Whose ready for the long holiday weekend? What? Too soon? 😝