The One Photo I Always Bring to a Bridal Show (And Why It Matters)

Last week, I was at a bridal show at 19 Hawthorne in Lima, Ohio. (View Jessica & Grants 19 Hawthorne Reception Here.)

If you’ve never been, 19 Hawthorne is one of those venues that immediately feels intentional — clean, refined, and thoughtfully designed in a way that allows a wedding to truly take shape around it.

As I typically do, my booth was lined with framed photographs, wedding albums, and a stack of business cards.

But every time I attend a show, I bring one image that always ends up being the center of attention. And honestly… it sparks a lot of opinions.

The Photo That Stops People in Their Tracks

It’s an image from a private estate wedding in Warsaw, Indiana. A beautiful backyard wedding. Thoughtful, relaxed, and full of personality. The couple had rented a bounce house for the kids during the reception. At one point, the kids ran off to eat, and I looked at the couple and said: “Go. Run to the bounce house.”

They climbed in and started jumping. That’s the safe photo. Any photographer can take that image. But then they fell.

And instead of stopping, I told them to stay there — to roll around, to laugh, to just be together in that moment.

That’s when the photo happened. They’re tangled up, laughing, soft, connected… completely unaware of how they look. And it’s become one of my favorite images I’ve ever taken.

What Happens When Brides See It

At every bridal show, it’s the same. Brides walk up, stop immediately, and point to that photo first. They call their fiancé over. They show their mom. They grab their friends. And almost always, they say: “I want a photo like this.” It opens the conversation every single time.

Not about pricing. Not about hours. But about how the photo was created.

Some even joke that their parents would hate it — and I always laugh and tell them: “Then we’ll take it just for you. You don’t have to share everything.” Because at the end of the day, photography is personal. It’s subjective. And not every image is meant for everyone.

Why This Photo Is a Little Polarizing

This image gets mixed reactions — especially from photographers. (I love having photographers and editors review my portfolio yearly.) Some don’t like this image at all. It’s not “safe.” It’s not perfectly composed. It’s a little unpredictable. But others — especially internationally known photographers that I deeply respect.. they love it. Because they see what it actually is: An intimate, unscripted moment that couldn’t be recreated the same way twice. I think that’s the difference. Some see risk. Others see story.

Over the years, I’ve learned that when your work starts to feel a little polarizing, it usually means you’re creating something honest enough to attract the right people.

Anyone Can Take the Safe Photo

There’s something I say often: Anyone can take the safe photo. Not everyone can take the artistic one. The safe photo is important. We take those too. But what happens after the safe photo — that’s where the magic is.

It’s in the in-between. The laugh after the pose. The way someone falls into the other person. The split second where everything softens. That’s not something you can fake. And it’s not something you can capture if you’ve already lowered your camera.

What This Photo Says About My Approach

If you love this image, you’ll love working with me. This is exactly how I photograph a wedding day.

I guide you into a strong, natural starting point — something that feels good, looks good, and gives us a foundation. And then I let the moment breathe.

I don’t over-pose or over-direct. I watch. I adjust. I give just enough direction so you can interact in a way that feels like you.

What that means for you is: You’re not getting one photo per pose. You’re getting a series of moments within it. The polished version. The in-between. The one you didn’t even realize was happening.

Why I Bring This Photo Every Time

This image does something my words can’t.

It shows:

that my couples are comfortable with me
that their experience matters just as much as the outcome
that their photos won’t feel stiff or overly posed
and that I’m not just documenting a wedding. I’m helping create space for something real to happen inside of it

It also quietly attracts a very specific kind of client. The one who trusts the process. The one who’s open to a little movement, a little imperfection, a little art. The one who doesn’t just want to look back at their wedding — but wants to feel it again.

And every time I see a bride light up when she looks at that photo, I know… She’s exactly who I’m meant to photograph.