Your Wedding Day Timeline and Why Lighting Matters for Your Portraits

Your wedding day is one of the most special and memorable moments of your life, and having beautiful photographs to cherish those memories is essential. When it comes to wedding photography, two critical factors can make or break the quality of your photos: your wedding day timeline and the lighting. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of your wedding day timeline for a photographer and why lighting matters for your portraits.

The Wedding Day Timeline:

A well-planned wedding day timeline is crucial for both you and your photographer. It ensures that the day runs smoothly, reduces stress, and allows your photographer to capture the most important moments. Here’s why it’s so important:

1. Maximizing Time for Creativity:
A well-structured timeline allows your photographer to allocate time for creative and artistic shots. It’s essential to schedule moments for candid shots, getting-ready photos, and outdoor portraits. Without a proper timeline, your photographer may miss these opportunities.

2. Reducing Stress:
A well-organized schedule minimizes stress for everyone involved. It ensures that you have sufficient time for each part of the day, from getting ready to the reception. Reducing stress helps you look more relaxed and happy in your photos.

3. Capturing Key Moments:
Your wedding day timeline ensures that all the key moments are captured. This includes the first look, the exchange of vows, the first dance, and more. A well-thought-out timeline ensures your photographer doesn’t miss any of these significant moments.

Lighting and Its Impact on Portraits:

Lighting is a fundamental element in photography, and when it comes to your wedding portraits, it’s crucial. Here’s why lighting matters so much:

1. Natural Light vs. Artificial Light:
The type of lighting you choose can significantly impact the mood and quality of your portraits. Natural light, such as the soft, warm glow of sunset, is often preferred for outdoor shots. Artificial lighting, like flash or strobes, can create a more dramatic effect but should be used carefully.

2. Time of Day:
The time of day plays a crucial role in the quality of your wedding portraits. The “golden hour,” which occurs during the first hour after sunrise and the last hour before sunset, offers soft, flattering, and warm light. It’s often the best time for outdoor portraits.

3. Indoor Lighting:
If your wedding venue is indoors, the quality of lighting varies. Harsh overhead lighting can create unflattering shadows and highlights. Professional photographers know how to work with these conditions, but good lighting design in your venue can make a significant difference.

4. Light Direction:
The direction of light is equally important. Frontlighting (where the light source is behind the photographer) is ideal for even, flattering illumination. However, sidelighting and backlighting can create dramatic effects if used skillfully.

Your wedding day timeline and the quality of lighting are vital elements that can make or break your wedding portraits. A well-structured timeline ensures that your photographer has enough time to capture the essential moments creatively and reduces stress on your special day. Lighting, whether natural or artificial, plays a significant role in setting the mood and creating stunning portraits. Work closely with your photographer to plan your timeline and consider the lighting conditions to ensure that your wedding day memories are beautifully captured for years to come.

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An anniversary trip to Acadia National Park

Scott and I celebrated 10 years of marriage this past July and to celebrate, we saved up to travel to Maine without the kids. We spent the whole week on the coast, hiking and sightseeing. It was an amazing trip and the first vacation kid-free. Highly recommend if you can. I am forever grateful for loving grandparents that are willing to sacrifice their week to care for our munchkins.

I have never been to that part of the east coast and it did not disappoint. I teared up many times like a weirdo because of how beautiful it is. It is like no other place in the country. I couldn’t get enough of the views and colors and sounds. I know everyone says they love the coast but I actually really do love the coast. And when it meets the mountains? DREAMY. It reminded me of my time I spent in Big Sur on the west coast. I took a trip in college and we spent the month on the coast. (biked the coast I should say – 1100 miles of it lol).

I rented a 28-70mm RF lens and I took a bunch of pictures. I took too many of course but taking the big camera helps me decide is this moment worth documenting or should I just enjoy it and move on. I would love to print many of these but maybe someday I’ll print a few to remember our time here. I included phone pics at the end because selfies are easier with that.

We didn’t do many touristy things because that’s not our jam but on our way to the park from Boston, we stopped in Portland, to visit the lighthouse. Those are the first few photos you’ll see below. That and a few other spots were the only crowded things we encountered. The park was in peak season so it was very crowded. We would do a few hikes in the early morning and then miss the crowds of people later in the day. Our Airbnb was in a town called Hancock so it took us 45 mins or so to get to the island. There was also a rinky dink gas station on our way to the park that had the most amazing breakfast options. Like fresh English muffins with eggs and bacon made with love. And bowls with potato hash and scrambled eggs. No idea how we found this place but stopped every morning to get breakfast before our hikes. I also enjoyed as much lobster as I possibly could. Lobster rolls are beyond delicious.

I would for sure go back to Acadia National Park. It was a wonderful trip and I’m so glad Scott planned our days so well. He knew I wanted to hike and just enjoy the scenery. I literally would just sit there at an overlook annoyingly long. It was refreshing to take the needed break, but also to be in a posture of thankfulness to God. The beauty and grandness of his creation makes me weepy. I’m thankful I had the space to be weepy and to praise him while we hiked. It also made me thankful for able bodies to enjoy things like this. Just stuff I don’t want to take for granted when I’m too old to do things.

10 years was a fun milestone to celebrate. Scott is way better at loving me and he is such a gift to me. Praise God. What should we do for our 20th?!

 

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Grove City College June Wedding

Trisha and I got to be a part of Molly and Chad’s wedding day on the beautiful Grove City College campus. Molly’s parents and grandparents both were married on campus in the same Harbison Chapel. It was a gorgeous, warm day with lots of smiles and laughs. Chad kept us entertained the whole day!

I’ll refrain from storytelling but to keep it short, I’ve never had a groom eat the cake at the reception before doing the traditional cake cutting and sharing a bite with one another. Chad just went right for a bite as soon as they got it on the plate. Must have been good cake! 😉

I really love these photos. The Slater family is near and dear to me and my whole family. I did Molly’s sister’s wedding (Abby + Matt) a few years ago and I gotta say…those Slater gals know how to make all things wedding happen. Every detail matters and I hope I captured much of them for Molly and Chad.

We had enough time before the reception to get pictures on campus at a willow tree. Those shots are some of my absolute favorites. Keep scrolling to view. It was a treat for me to see so many church friends, hear a great sermon from Marty as he officiated, and honor the Lord together with the Slater and Grundy families.

Dress: Doreen Leaf Designs

Florist: Kraynak’s

Ceremony: Harbison Chapel, Grove City College

Venue: The Corinthian

DJ: Jeremy Cole

Second photographer: Trisha McCarthy Photo

Cake: Melinda Cogley, friend

Bridesmaid dresses: Kennedy Blue

Groomsmen attire: Haggar

wedding invitation suite with bridal gownkennedy blue bridesmaid dresses with bouquetsgrove city college june wedding portraits on campusgrove city college june wedding portraits on campusbride and groom inside harbison chapel grove city collegereception at The Corinthian Sharon PA

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Ten years of business and how you can help me celebrate

The last few weeks of 2021 I had in the back of my mind that 2022 would be my TENTH year in business. I started this business on a whim with a friend who loves taking pictures as much as I do. Kristina and I did our friend Jacqui’s wedding in June 2012 –one month before my own wedding. From there we just went with it and we were welcomed with lots of people wanting us to photograph them. I made a ton of mistakes and wish I could have done some things differently, but I am grateful for how this little business has grown. I have always prayed that God would give me wisdom as I navigate being a creative small business owner. Graciously, he has kept me from putting my identity in my business. My photography has allowed me to interact with so many people and that is one of the best parts. It is a privilege that I am invited into homes and families to capture intimate moments.

It has been ten years of good and hard work. This business has always been God’s and to celebrate my tenth year, I want to give back a percentage of my income to a ministry that is near and dear to me – The Pregnancy Help Center of Mahoning Valley. I have done various jobs for them throughout the last few years and I have seen firsthand the work they are doing in this community. Friends, it is a special place. PHC is a medical facility offering services at no cost to women and men considering abortion from Mahoning, Columbiana, and Trumbull counties in Ohio and Mercer and Lawrence counties in PA. Their medical services include pregnancy testing and limited ultrasound to determine a viable intrauterine pregnancy. Within their facility, information is shared on abortion procedures, parenting, and adoption so clients can make informed decisions. And it’s ALL FREE. It is completely donor run. 

So join me in celebrating!! Donate directly on their website or if you send me money via Venmo (@lindseyyeagley), I will include it in my monthly giving (if all of my followers gave $5 we’d have $5K!!). I will be sharing updates throughout the year as people give. If you donate directly on their site, send me a screenshot so I can keep track! Can we raise $10K together?? 

I dug up some old photos because I thought it would be fun to share some memories. Thank you sweet clients from the very beginning for trusting me. Who knows what the next ten years will hold but I’m excited, grateful and pumped!

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Gorgeous wedding at the Medici Art Museum in Howland

Lauren + Nick’s beautiful wedding day was one for the books. This was my first time seeing the new gallery at the Medici Art Museum in Howland. They recently added on to their facility and it is an amazing ceremony spot. If you like clean lines, lots of white and simplicity, this place is for you! The coordinator was lovely and everything was wonderfully organized. I hope to be back for more weddings at this gorgeous location in Howland. 

Dress: Lavender Bridal

Flowers: Mitolo’s Flower Shoppe – Niles, Ohio

Ceremony: Medici Art Museum

Reception: Leo’s Ristorante

Hair: Julie Cook

Makeup: Kali Harple

DJ: Damon LaRiviere

Cake: Rachel Ulam

bride holding dress at the grand resort warren ohiobrides shoesbride and sistergirls in robes with champagnesparkly earringstoast to the bridegroom in black and whitemitolo's flower shoppe bouquetbridal portrait at medici museumgroom holding coatgroom and dad smilinggirls at medici museumflower girl and bouquetbridesmaids at medici museumbridal partybridal partyceremony at medici museumbride with grandfatherceremony at medicigrandparents at ceremonybride and groom in art museumbridal party black and white

bridal partycouple in front of sculpturewedding cakemr and mrs signsdancing and lightssharing a kiss at receptioncouples dancing at leo's

 

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Layne Hope’s Birth Story

Our family welcomed our third baby into the world on Feb 16th 2021 at 12:06pm. For the third time we did not know if we were meeting a girl or a boy. Not knowing the gender seems to be harder for everyone else who isn’t pregnant but I enjoyed not knowing again. It made labor and delivery that much more sweet. I’d like you to meet Layne Hope Yeagley. ‘Layne’ being one syllable, rhymes with ‘rain’. She weighed 8lbs 9oz and was 20in long. I had her at St Elizabeth’s in Boardman since Northside is closed. We had a wonderful experience there and all of my worries about a new to me place were extinguished as soon as we arrived. I’m writing this about a month later and I’m so glad I wrote down a few memories on a scrap piece of paper when we first got home from the hospital. Otherwise I would forget to mention things here. I went back and read through Gwen and Nolan’s birth stories which proves my point of writing things down for my own sake. I don’t remember half of the things that happened!

Layne’s arrival was different than my other two. I spent the last few weeks of pregnancy really worried about a fast labor, mentally preparing and researching about a home birth just in case, and worried about all of the logistics that surround a baby’s arrival. My other two kids being the biggest detail to worry about. I’m not generally anxious and every time I would cloud my mind with worries, I would pray the same prayer, tell myself that I planned all that I could, and that everything would be fine. I know the Lord has everything in his hands so I am able to yield my desires to want to control everything. My prayer every night and every time I was in the shower was Lord, I submit to you with whatever happens, I ask for a safe and easy delivery, that all things would fall into place with the arrival of a healthy baby.

My babies tend to favor snowy conditions and so while the entire US (yikes Texas) was dealing with a massive snowstorm, we were on our way to welcoming baby Layne. The day before (Monday) I was torn on sending our kids to Scott’s parents house early because it had already started to snow. I had been having random contractions for a few days, I was two days past my due date and I just had a gut feeling. So in the afternoon we sent the kid’s to Grandma’s for a sleepover. Gwen and Nolan were thrilled for a fun night and I was relieved no one would have to drive in the snow storm if I did end up having the baby Monday night. I could tell the plan of what to do with the big kids was bothering Scott too so why not opt for a peaceful evening even if nothing happened. So that night, we got wings for dinner and hung out like usual. My contractions were about 15 mins apart so I thought for sure we would be going in late that night. But the pattern to the contractions ended up being sporadic so we went to bed and I tried to focus on resting. The times that I did get up I remember Scott sitting up in bed like the fire alarm was going off. I’d snap at him every time, “I’m just going pee, calm down!” Haha! Surprisingly, I slept well and woke up early the next morning about 6am. My contractions were about 5-7mins apart so I was trying to decide when the best time to leave was and call the doctor. With my other two labors, it was very fast so I was so nervous to wait too long at home and create a less than ideal situation for Scott and myself.

I ended up waiting until 7:30 to call Dr. Patel. I wasn’t sure about the roads with the weather and I wanted her advice on what to do. I loved that I could hear her kids eating breakfast in the background when I talked with her. Somehow it was comforting. At this point contractions were uncomfortable so she advised going to the hospital, taking our time with the roads, and then sit in the parking lot until I was ready to go in. I didn’t want to be in the hospital too early and be hooked up to the monitors. It was more comfortable to manage things in the car. We got to the hospital at 8:20, listened to a podcast for a bit, breathed through the pains, then went inside at 8:40. Contractions are 3-4mins apart at this point. They let me pace in the room while I answered check-in questions and then I got checked (6cm woohoo!) and hooked up to monitor and IV at 9am. The L&D nurse that was with us was named Angelina. God bless her. She was so sweet and easy to talk to, totally encouraging and made me feel like superwoman. I remember saying I was frustrated that nothing was happening (as far as contractions and progress towards the finish line) and she looked at me, then looked at her watch, then back at me. She replies in the most sarcastic and hilarious way, “okay, yeah so you’ve been here for a total of 30 mins.” Then we all just laughed together. Big ol’ piece of humble pie for me, thank ya!

I wasn’t expecting my labor to be slower but I’m grateful for it now. The nurse told me to tell her when it felt like I needed to push so that’s what I focused on. I ended up dealing with contractions 2-3mins apart for 3 hours, ate a popsicle (Gwen thought that was fun), attempted the peanut ball, walking some more in the room, then finally my OB broke my water (was 8cm at this point) at 11:50. Layne’s head needed to come down some more so they suggested I sit on the birthing ball and lean my arms and head on the bed. Kinda like a squat. Those contractions really hurt, I remember grunting and crying quietly in pain through one of them and Scott goes “you okay?” from the couch he was sitting on behind me. I don’t think I actually answered him out loud…probably best. I breathed through one more contraction then the next one was the big one. I stood up, felt a rush of fluids and belted out a motherly roar in agony. Angelina needed me back in the bed but also needed to get my OB so she juggled with trying to help me until another nurse heard my howling and grabbed Dr Patel. Once on the bed I leaned back ready to push and a nurse goes “there’s the butt!” I look at my belly and realize she’s talking about the protruding bump of Layne’s bottom half ready to come out! I remember setting my head back down and giggling a bit. What a fun job L&D would be. I could tell the nurses really love what they do. Two pushes later and Layne was here. They set her on my chest and I was so excited it was a girl. She stayed on my chest for the longest time. She was beautiful. And lots of hair yay!! I looked at Scott and his soft eyes met mine. I said I can’t believe it’s a girl. He did his usual thing during my labors which is don’t be in the way and just quietly wait/watch. What a trooper. Much more calm this time around I would say 🙂

Layne arrive at 12:06pm so to say I was hungry afterward is an understatement. The nurse so thoughtfully got a menu so I could order lunch. I chose a cheeseburger and fries haha! “Coming right up,” she said. My well-deserved meal arrived in the L&D room and I finished it once we got moved to the overnight room. Once we got settled, Scott had to move the car and grab my stuff. He also decided to grab lunch with a friend at his fav taco place. Third child alert.

So my third baby’s arrival was not what I expected but everything I prayed for. God has been so gracious to our family and I’ll praise him the rest of my days for it. Children are a joy and such a gift. A lesson I’ve deeply learned and remembered each time I’ve delivered a baby.

If you’ve made it this far and your name isn’t Cyndi, Kelli or Dana…congratulations ha! You are deeply committed now.

A lot of people have asked why we chose Layne Hope as a name. I am not one to read into the meaning behind names but Layne we liked from the beginning. I’ve always admired the name and it went well with our other N sounding names (Gwen, Nolan).

As for Hope, initially we picked it because it went well with Layne. I don’t think I really put much thought to the “why” behind our choices until we actually met Layne. Since I didn’t know it was a girl I didn’t have 40 weeks to think about the meaning. We picked the name Hope quite simply because we have it! Praise God we have hope!!

As much as I’d like to deny the fact that Layne was born during a pandemic and it is something I had wanted to withhold from her story, I can’t. We have lived in a world where the last year has been so focused on death. Her name serves as a reminder that because of Jesus, I have hope in a better life to come. I  My sin’s punishment has been paid by Christ himself and I get to experience life with him NOW. He’s my living hope! Even during a terrible pandemic, his promises for his people never ended. Babies were born as a reminder of new life and people committed their lives to follow Jesus – even in the midst of society’s darkest days.

When our focus is on what God has promised to do and has done, it doesn’t matter what our current circumstances are. He is the God of hope. Eternal life for me has already been paid for. Praise God. I don’t have to live in fear that all I have on this earth is all I have. Friends, even when faced with death, I have hope.

God is unchanging and his love and grace never wavered in 2020. He is constant and sure. All that God promised through Jesus is still true. This is why we have hope in him. The world will always fall short of lasting hope. And man and vaccines and leaders and movements will always fall short and fail us.

So my little Layne Hope is a daily reminder of what Christ has done for me. And I look forward to the days when I can share with her how much God loves her and explain what her name means to us as Christians.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. –Hebrews 10:22-23

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. –Romans 15:13

Below are pictures I’ve taken sporadically over the first month or so of Layne’s life. She has already changed so much and I’m so emotional about it all. Gwen and Nolan have been so great with her and they are eager helpers. It’s been easier going from 2 to 3 compared to 1 to 2. She has been an easy baby so far and reminds me so much of how chill Gwen was. I’m so grateful for everyone that helped, reached out, made or sent food, and prayed. We felt really loved and blessed to be surrounded by such great people. I’m sure most moms don’t like to admit it, but the meals people brought were a lifesaver. Big surprise not really but it is hard to admit sometimes that I don’t have it all together. The shopping, prepping, cooking and planning are my least favorite thing to do ever so having friends bless us with meals was amazing. Thank you so much.

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  • Dar McNiel - Beautiful birth story and testimony!  I laughed at the paragraph about if you’re name’s not Cyndi, Kelli or Dana!  Love you all!  

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  • Betsy Tiger - Loved reading Layne’s birth story!! Thanks for sharing this! We’re so happy for your family!ReplyCancel

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