As a wedding photographer, it’s part of the job to be able to show up to new venues and quickly acclimate before getting started. This means adjusting to new layouts, lighting, and locations time and time again. While it can be challenging, it’s also what keeps things interesting, keeps me on my toes, and forces my creative juices to keep flowing. How can I recreate the look brides and grooms see in my portfolio, and the reason they sought me out in the first place, at the place they’ve chosen to celebrate their relationship? It’s easy to look at other photographers blogs and portfolios in advance of shooting a wedding, or even wedding prep, to see how they’ve used the light and space, but I find that sometimes this holds me back. I then spend more time thinking of how to recreate what’s already been done, instead of using what I see and creating my own shots. It’s about creating your own art with the given space, weather, lighting.. and whatever else the day throws at you.

So when Emily and Greg booked their wedding with me, I was excited to learn that they had chosen a venue that I had shot before… but another location. Their Speak Easy Downtown wedding was my second time shooting a Speak Easy Indy wedding (and almost exactly a year apart to date!), but my first time shooting at their downtown location. Similar feel to their space, but a whole new canvas to work with. Plus, this time I had a chance to shoot Emily and her bridesmaids at the beautiful Omni Severin Hotel before starting at Speak Easy.

Since most of Emily and Greg’s guests came in from out of town for their celebrations, everything was centrally located in downtown Indy with easy access to the surroundings. This worked out wonderfully as the day of their wedding was also the day of the Taylor Swift concert, meaning the city was packed! Emily and Greg had originally requested we shoot outdoor portraits somewhere nearby to Speak Easy before the ceremony. Their only request was that it was somewhere green. September weddings are perfect for warm, green backgrounds, so the plan was to shoot wedding party and family photos at Obelisk Square pre-ceremony. On my drive down to meet them on the day of their wedding I was surprised to see the War Memorial covered in scaffolding! I don’t get downtown too often aside from shooting weddings, so this caught me off-guard, though I’m sure everyone else in Indy knew about it ahead of time. With some quick-thinking and a drive by location scouting, we adjusted our location to University Square and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. It’s gorgeous, secluded, has far better lighting for mid-afternoon portraits, and we were the only wedding crew there that afternoon. It has quickly become my new favorite and I just used it again this past weekend. I look forward to the construction on the memorial being done in the spring, but I’m not mad about the forced change in the meantime!

Another new favorite? Bridal entrances down a majestic flight of stairs. 😍You’ll have to keep reading to see that one. To Emily and Greg, I hope you had a magnificent time in Italy celebrating each other. You are wonderful together and it was such a pleasure listening to you praise one another during your opening speeches. Never have I heard kinder words shared between brides and grooms on their wedding day. Congratulations to you both!

VENDORS & GOODS

Venue | Speak Easy

Wedding Coordinator | Christy Burton

Bridal Prep | Omni Severin Hotel

Gown | Marie Gabriel Couture

Suit | J Benzal Menswear

Florist | Lilly Lane

Hair & Makeup | Something Blue Stylists (Brittney Lear)

Cake | Heavenly Sweets

Catering | Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering

DJ | Grapevine DJs (Keith Cameron)

casey and her camera is an Indianapolis Wedding Photographer specializing in family, couple, lifestyle, elopement, and wedding photography for Indianapolis, Indiana and the surrounding areas.