If you’re looking for a Montana wedding photographer, I’m guessing you currently have approximately one million tabs open.
You’ve looked through galleries and compared editing styles. Read About pages and stalked Instagram feeds. And I’m guessing you’ve found at least a few portfolios that impress you.
So how the heck do you actually choose?
Obviously, you should LOVE a photographer’s work. But you’re also choosing someone who will be with you your entire wedding day. Your photographer will be there for the nervous getting-ready moments, the vows, the family dynamics, the unforeseen mishaps bound to happen, the portraits, and all of the moments you didn’t notice, too.
Because of that, I think you should like the human behind the camera, too.
That's a big reason I do consultation calls before you book wedding or elopement photography. They're not sales calls where I try to convince you I'm the best Montana wedding photographer for every couple ever. I actually don’t even do them for portrait clients! But for something as important as your wedding, I think it’s important to learn about you, answer your questions, and make sure we’re on the same page before booking.
So, I figured we could do a little bit of that right here!
Consider this your chance to get to know Jenn the human, Jenn the photographer, how I work, what my photos actually look and feel like, and what it’s like to invite me along for your wedding day.
Let’s get into it!
Meet Your Potential Montana Wedding Photographer: Hi, I’m Jenn!
Here’s a very quick Jenn the Human overview:
I’m a wife and dog mom of 3.
I got married to my husband, Dana, in a small DIY backyard wedding in 2016 (more than ten years already?!) and since then we’ve added our pups (Tucker, Smokey, and Ellie) to the family. When I'm not photographing people, there's a good chance you'll find me with my nose in a book, taking a road trip, camping somewhere in our travel trailer, or exploring a national park.
I’m based in Kalispell, MT.
Just a stone’s throw from the West Entrance of Glacier National Park! And after 23 years of living here, I'm still obsessed with this place. Which is funny because, after growing up in a busy Washington town, the quiet of Montana actually took some getting used to. Now, give me a chance to frolic through the mountains, look out for wildlife, admire the clouds or one of our ridiculous Big Sky sunsets, and I'm a very happy girl.
I'm a people person through and through.
Which comes in incredibly handy as a wedding photographer!
I can carry a conversation with nearly anyone. I'm pretty good at reading a room and picking up on the vibes of a couple and their families. I like to think I bring a calm and reassuring presence when it’s what you need, but will happily dish out a joke or two to Uncle Bob when he starts his classic joking around.
Above all, I believe, at the end of the day, we’re all human.
We're weird in our own ways. Our bodies are different. Nobody is perfect. As someone who has struggled with her own insecurities, I want everyone around me to feel like they belong and have their time to shine. What you see from me on my website, Instagram, or consultation call is very much me.
And apparently I do a decent job of bringing that Jenn with me to work:
“What we didn’t expect, but are so grateful for, was how instantly comfortable we felt with her. She made us laugh and feel at ease, like we were spending the day with an old friend.” - Grace
As for Jenn, the Montana Wedding Photographer, Here’s My Resume:
- Photographing professionally since 2018: What started as a fascination with landscapes and a starter DSLR eventually turned into getting to photograph people in some of my favorite places for a living. Not a bad career pivot, if I do say so myself!
- Serving all of Northwest Montana: My most common locations are Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Somers, and Glacier National Park. But if you're getting married in another place nearby, I take a very limited number of weddings around the state!
- A decade as a Glacier National Park Wedding Photographer: I've spent a LOT of time learning the locations, roads, seasons, light, weather quirks, and logistics of photographing people here. Fair warning: I am a GEEK over Glacier. So I may casually explain the Continental Divide or tell you some random Glacier fact I learned recently. I can't help myself.
- Specializing in elopements & intimate weddings: Most of my couples either elope just the two of them or bring along their closest loved ones. But you don't have to be eloping to work with me! I take on a limited number of larger weddings (50+ guests) each year, too.
- Blending landscape photography into portraits: The Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest were my first photography inspiration, and they're still a huge part of how I photograph people today. If you’re getting married somewhere this beautiful, I want your photos to honor your love and place you chose to make it forever.
- Leave No Trace photographer: Because my work usually happens in natural spaces, I’m a huge advocate for the Leave No Trace principles. We only get to keep enjoying these beautiful places if we protect and respect them while we're here.
And if you're traveling here from somewhere else, I LOVE helping with that part, too.
Because I'm a traveler myself, I know how different it feels exploring somewhere when you have a local in your corner. So ask me where to stay in Glacier National Park, my favorite restaurants around, or my recommended small wedding venues in Montana.
A lot of my couples are visiting Northwest Montana for the first time, and honestly, playing local tour guide is one of my favorite parts of the job.
“We booked with her because we knew that she would have invaluable knowledge of the park, and we were right! We had never visited GNP before, and while we did plenty of research, nothing compares to someone who's done it before.” - Anna
How I Got Started as a Montana Wedding Photographer
I spent most of my career as a nurse, actually! So if you stumble and scrape your knee on a rock while exploring, don’t worry – I’ve got you!
Photography started as the thing that brought me joy after long days of studying and clinicals. I'd come home and photograph the sunset. And far too many shots of the dandelions in the weeds across from my mailbox.
I fell in love with landscapes first. I loved being able to preserve a place I’d traveled to or a view I'd experienced and look back years later and remember what it felt like to be there. It was addicting!
Eventually, I realized I could combine that with another thing I love: people.
I photographed friends and family first, eventually working my way up to 100+ guest weddings. But I discovered elopements in 2021, it was my a-ha moment. I loved the intimacy of just a few people gathering somewhere stunning, hearing personally written vows (something I wish I'd done at my own wedding!), and the idea that my couples were choosing to get married on their own terms.
My Style as a Wedding Photographer
Okay, now for the reason you’re probably here in the first place…the photos!
I want you to see the moment as it truly felt.
If your wedding day is rainy and moody, I want your photos to feel rainy and moody. If the grass is green and Lake McDonald is showing off that ridiculously blue water, I want you to remember it that way! Overall, my style is traditional with a fun twist! I keep things natural, true-to-life, and focused on moments that happen naturally.
My focus is on capturing the scenery AND the story.
My landscape photography roots definitely show up in my work, but the experiences of your day matter just as much. I want the epic Montana views and the little human moments happening as you explore them.
My photographs reflect you, just as you are.
Wedding photography can sometimes feel a little...modelesque. Perfect skin, perfect bodies, perfectly styled everything.
I’m more interested in capturing you just as you are. I want my work to celebrate the real people who step in front of my camera — different bodies, skin colors, genders, sexualities, styles, and everything else that makes us human. That’s what makes wedding photos beautiful to me!
The same goes for editing. Sure, I'll remove a pimple if needed (I’m not an a-hole!!!) But I love natural skin texture! I think aging is a gift. I believe these are the things that make us interesting and unique. And I'm not interested in excessively Photoshopping you into somebody else.
→ Check out my full wedding and elopement portfolio for more examples of my work!
What Happens If You Choose Me as Your Montana Wedding Photographer?
Ooooh, so you liked the photos?! If you’ve made it this far, then I’m hoping that means you’re jiving with me and my work. So now on to the next important topic to discuss: your experience!
Let’s talk through what you can expect when we work together:
The Introduction and Booking Process
First, you’ll fill out my inquiry form and tell me a little about yourselves and what you’re planning. I'll send over my full pricing and package information and invite you to hop on a consultation call.
I want to hear about the two of you, your vision for the day, what you have planned so far, and what you're looking for in a photographer. We'll talk through elopement and wedding photography package options, I'll answer allllll of your questions, and most importantly, we'll be able to do a little vibe check to see if we click personality-wise!
If we hit it off, we’ll make things official!
The Planning Details
Now that the admin is out of the way, it’s on to the fun part! Once you're officially booked, we can start piecing together what your wedding day will look like. Depending on what you already have figured out, I can help with location recommendations, permit guidance, local vendors, timing and lighting, and creating a timeline!
Part of my job is taking everything I've learned from photographing weddings around Northwest Montana and Glacier National Park and helping you apply it to your day. That could look like:
- figuring out which Glacier ceremony location makes sense for your guest count
- connecting you to vendors for food, florals, videography, officiants, and more
- discussing places we can stop for portrait photos
- creating Plan Bs for weather
And if you’re already in research mode, I've got plenty of resources to get you started! From my Glacier National Park wedding location guide to Montana marriage license walkthrough, you can find so much good info on the blog!
Your Wedding Day
By the time your wedding rolls around, my goal is for you to feel like you’re in good hands and can just enjoy the freaking day.
Being photographed can feel vulnerable, especially if you've never done it before or haven't loved being photographed in the past. I'll give you direction when you need it, but I don't want your wedding to feel like one giant photoshoot.
In fact, while a wedding technically kind of is a photoshoot that takes place all day, I like for the photos to feel more like an added bonus! I'm not going to be in your face or interrupt every real moment happening around me. I want to photograph those moments as they're happening. The nervous giggles, the unscripted inside joke, the excitement of a moose sighting — you know, the good stuff!
Now, if I spot five minutes of PERFECT golden-hour light? Okay, I might tactfully interrupt. That’s my job, after all!
And when it is time for portraits, I use what I call “posing with permission.” I'll give you plenty of direction and prompts, but if something doesn't feel comfortable, tell me! We'll move on to something that feels most natural to you.
This is your wedding day first and a photoshoot second.
“From the very first message, Jenn made us feel so cared for and at ease. She was so friendly, quick to respond, and made everything so easy! On our wedding day, her calm and joyful energy made the whole experience feel effortless.” - Sheyanne
The Wedding Photo Gallery Delivery
After your wedding, I personally go through and edit your images before delivering your final high-resolution online gallery.
I don't use AI to sort or edit your wedding photography. So my delivery times reflect that!
Wedding and elopement couples get sneak peeks within 7 days of your day! For the full gallery, the contract allows 10–12 weeks for delivery. But depending on the season, some couples receive their photos within 4-7 weeks.
Not mandatory but highly recommended: Pouring up your favorite drink, snuggling up on the couch, and reliving the whole epic day as you swipe through your photos for the first time together!
Montana Wedding Photography FAQs
How many wedding photos will we receive?
I give average image counts based on your package and hours of coverage, but I don't promise an exact number because two weddings are exactly the same! A six-hour wedding with multiple locations, activities, and family members will photograph differently than a six-hour elopement with just the two of you. But I’m happy to discuss the photo count for certain packages on our consultation call!
What if we're awkward in front of the camera?
Congratulations, you're human!!! This is one of the most common things I hear (if not, the most common). You don't need to know how to pose. I'll give you plenty of direction, prompts, encouragement, and reassurance throughout the day. And if something doesn't feel comfortable, we forget it and move on — no biggie!
Do we need our wedding completely planned before contacting you?
Nope! If you're planning a Montana wedding or elopement, you don't need a permit, vendors, an exact timeline, or even necessarily an exact date before reaching out.
In fact, getting me involved earlier can make decisions like ceremony location and timing easier because we can account for things like season, lighting, travel time, and accessibility from the beginning. Plus, as I mentioned, I am happy to spill all the local knowledge I’ve got!
Do you photograph weddings outside Glacier National Park?
Yes! While most of my weddings and elopements are in Glacier National Park, I photograph all over Northwest Montana. Some other places I frequently work are: Flathead Lake, Montana State Parks, and wedding venues like Somers Mansion and Jewel Basin — just to name a few!
Do you only photograph weddings and elopements?
Nope! You can also book couples sessions, surprise proposals, engagement photoshoots, anniversary photos, and family sessions. Sometimes I throw in the occasional senior portrait or maternity session, too!
So, am I the right Montana wedding photographer for you?
I might not be the right Montana wedding photographer for everyone, but if you care about:
- having beautiful photos that feel true to your day
- putting thought into the little details that make your wedding feel personal
- soaking up the beauty of where you are
- spending quality time with the people you love
- finding someone you trust to guide you through it
- letting your day unfold naturally, without worrying about perfection
Then I think we’re already off to a good start! Bonus points if you love animals, get excited about being outside, care about protecting the places we explore, and generally try to be a kind human. Then you are FOR SURE my people!
And if you looked through my portfolio and liked what you saw, felt like our values match up, and giggled at least once reading this, I have a feeling we’re going to get along pretty dang well.
→ Reach out here and let’s find out!
