LET’S GO ON AN ADVENTURE

the experience for the joyful, crazy-in-love couple

Midwest-Wedding-Engagement-Photographer-2023-Elizabeth-Ladean-Photography-photo-_6711.jpg

the ELP experience for the joyful, crazy-in-love couple

When I say, “lets go on an adventure”, I totally mean it!
That’s what I think photography should feel like and be about! It’s just us, going on a little adventure! This is also a no pressure situation! You don’t have to know “how to pose” — this isn’t about posing at all! This is 100% about us 3 out and about together, having fun, laughing a ton, and me giving you guys prompts and direction all in the effort of eliciting a natural reaction. After your session — you’ll walk away having learned all you need to know about being natural in front of a camera. It’s that simple! I believe photography should be less about where to put your hands (just touch each other a lot!), not worrying about every hair in place (let that wind toss it around!), barely concerned about dirt on your dress (just look at this epic location we’re in!) and more about the look of pure joy on your faces that shout holy heck I love my person so so so much!

Here’s what I know about your wedding day: it’s going to be amazing!!
And if I’m your photographer, I also know that photos are going to be stress-free and filled with fun! Yay! Let me tell ya…when your Mama helps you into your dress and quietly tears up, I’ll be there to document it. When your nerves get the best of you right before your first look — I’ll be there reminding you to breathe. When you walk down the aisle and it all hits the two of you — I’ll be there getting both reactions. When your best friend chokes up during her toast — I’ll be there, albeit choking up too, but I’ll be there to document it. All the moments of your big day — I’ll photograph them the best way possible — as they happen naturally. We’ll get those traditional smile-for-the-camera shots that every Grandma wants. But ultimately, the mindset of -lets go on an adventure- still rings true… and what greater adventure than your wedding day, the start of your marriage!?

the process

FTB - The Process for Brides

step 1 // we get to know one another!

Once I receive your initial wedding inquiry via email, I will reply back with a PDF guide that has all the information you need on the experience, collections, pricing etc. At that time, I’ll also ask you a few questions about your wedding plans and your love story! From there, we’ll plan a video-call or a coffee date to get to know one another better and ensure we are a perfect fit! I wholeheartedly believe the best, most genuine images of you guys are a direct result from working with a photographer that you share a bond with!

step 2 // we make it official!

You love all things authentic, classic, candid, and beautifully created in natural light! You know that while you want beautiful images, you also want to have a really awesome photography experience. We are undoubtedly a match made in heaven! We'll make things official with a signed contract and paid retainer.

step 3 // welcome welcome!

You are officially a new #ELPCOUPLE and I am SO excited! As a welcome gift, I have something special for you! Each of my couples receive access to my online exclusive nearly 100-page Wedding Guide! Designed and created by me with all of my absolute best advice, tips + tricks, do’s + don’ts, plus so much more! This was created with you, my new friend, in mind — to help you have the best possible photography experience, as well as help you navigate the wonderful world of planning your wedding! Kansas City + nearby couples will also benefit from a location directory to help decide where you want to do your engagement session, and also a vendor suggestion list for local wedding pros!! No matter where you are located though, I am here to help you every step of the way! Another great resource for all is my Pinterest page, so check that out!

step 4 // your engagement session (aka: our group adventure!)

Ohhh the fun we are going to have! We will work together to find the perfect location that fits you two best! Then we will spend about two hours together getting to know one another better, and documenting your love story! All you need to know how to do is have fun, love each other best, and touch each other as much as possible :) I’ll spend our first few minutes breaking down my “posing” system, and movement based prompts, and before you know it, you’ll be rocking what it means to be natural in front of the camera!

step 5 // your engagement images

Soon after your fun engagement session, a little sneak peek of your images will hit social media! Get excited! From there, pending my schedule — I typically try to blog my favorites from your session within a week or so after — which means you get to see even more! When blogging is behind, it just means I’m busy editing away and ensuring each image in your final image collection is perfect — delivering your full gallery in approx 3 weeks or less!!

step 6 // your engagement album

If you’ll be getting an engagement album (woooo!) then I’ll be in touch about a week after your engagement images are delivered with info for choosing which photos you want in the album! Once I have that list, I’ll get going on a custom design for you and send that to you for your approval! Once all this is done, the lovely album is ordered and you’ll have it in your hands soon after! An important note is that this album checks something else off your to-do list — your wedding day guest book! This album is designed with a paper type which can be written on, meaning it can double as both a keepsake, and your guest book on your big day!

step 7 // wedding planning

Let’s be honest, planning a wedding can be a lot of work! As you swim through the sea of wedding planning, you’ll have your nearly 100-page Wedding Guide to help you! In addition to that, you’ll find numerous informational blog posts on the ELP Blog as well as the ELP Pinterest page to help you navigate the world of wedding planning! As always, I’m a quick email or text away should you need help or advice on anything!

step 8 // day of details + your customized photography timeline

Around the 4-month out mark, I’ll be in touch with you to chat about your day-of wedding details! This info sets me up for success with all info I’ll need in order to create a perfect customized wedding photography timeline for you! This is a huge help to mapping out each section of your day and ensuring that you, your wedding party, your families and even your other vendors are all on the same page. If you choose to hire a wedding planner/coordinator (great choice to do so!!) — they too will create a timeline for you, though theirs isn’t only about photography and generally covers your entire day start to finish. I will absolutely work with your planner/coordinator to ensure that my photography timeline and their master timeline align well — resulting in a stress-free day for you and your love!! You guys get to just enjoy every moment instead of worrying about all these little details, leave that up to us pros!

step 9 // you tie the knot!

Your wedding day arrives, and it's the best day ever! Your wedding is documented in a storytelling way, and it'll be your best story yet!!

step 10 // your wedding images

Soon after your wedding, a little sneak peek of your images will hit social media! From there I typically try to blog my favorites from your whole day within a week or so after — this allows you to see even more! If once again, blogging is behind — just know that I’ll be busy editing instead and working to ensure every image in your final image collection is perfect — delivering your full gallery in approx 8 weeks or less!!

step 11 // your wedding album

If you’ll be getting a wedding album (yay!) then I’ll be in touch about a week after your wedding images are delivered with info for choosing which photos you want in the album! Once I have that list, I’ll get going on a custom design for you and send that to you for your approval! Once all this is done, the gorgeous album is ordered and you’ll have it in your hands soon after!

step 12 // we say goodbye....for now!

After our time together comes to a close — you have lovely images that tell your story, albums that beautifully chronicle all those happy moments — it'll be time to share a bittersweet goodbye. I’m always a bit sad about this part! But that’s why I love love love seeing my couples again in the future for anniversary photos or as your family grows! Either way, we must keep in touch my new friends!

FTB - Testimonials w/ pics

from Laken & Jake

Planning your wedding and all the decisions that need to be made can be overwhelming. Choosing Elizabeth to be our photographer was the easiest and best decision we made! Elizabeth is the greatest! She did more than just take beautiful pictures. She made us feel so comfortable in front of the camera and helped our day run smoothly. Anytime I had a question or request she was quick to respond and always open to new ideas. With Elizabeth as your photographer your have nothing to worry about. I can't wait to work with her again!!

from Kathryn & Andy

If you need a photographer then LOOK NO FURTHER! Elizabeth is the most incredible person to capture your special moments to cherish forever. Working with her was absolutely the best decision we made for our wedding and maternity photos!! She puts so much heart into her work and truly makes you feel special. She has a brilliant eye for capturing your special occasions and really she makes you feel at such ease with the level of comfort she brings. She wants to be more than your photographer, she wants to truly be your friend!! She will forever be a friend of ours. We look forward to using her for family photos in the future. You cannot go wrong if you choose Elizabeth. She is AMAZING inside and out.

from Emily & Joel

Elizabeth is hands down the best photographer out there! From our first meeting a little over a year before the wedding we knew immediately we had to hire her. During the planning process Elizabeth made us feel super comfortable and eased our stresses during the pandemic. Our engagement session was perfect and she even helped us include our pups into the photos. The day of our wedding she was the calm that guided us throughout the day. She made us feel super comfortable in front of the camera and ensured we had fun taking them. We have gotten so many compliments on our engagement and wedding photos. We received our wedding gallery 7 weeks after the big day and couldn’t be happier! I am lucky to say Elizabeth has become a friend.

from Jill & Pietro

Working with Elizabeth is one of the best decisions we made for our wedding. Not only is she an incredibly talented photographer, but she’s also a remarkable businesswoman and has the most uplifting and fun personality. From the initial consultation meeting to the final delivery of our wedding photos, and every step in between, Elizabeth helps make your engagement/wedding photography process as fun and stress free as possible. We were one of many couples who had their wedding plans impacted by COVID-19, and Elizabeth went above and beyond what I could have expected from a wedding vendor. She was always there to offer support and advice and was flexible and gracious in working with us and our changed plans. On the day of our wedding, she helped make taking pictures feel fun and natural, and all of our guests commented on what a fun addition she was to the day. You can tell she truly loves and is passionate about what she does which shows through in the quality of her work. I cannot recommend Elizabeth highly enough; you will not regret working with her!

from Yuki & Anton

Elizabeth is not only amazing as a professional photographer, but also as a sweet person she is! Just like other people have mentioned, we also knew that she was a perfect match for us the day we met. She is very friendly, charming and funny, and she will make you feel comfortable and help you enjoy every photo session. We became good friends and I was so excited every time I got to see her. It was our first time having a professional photographer capture the moments of the two of us and naturally I was nervous at first, but thanks to Elizabeth, I was able to have fun and look super natural in all the photos. I love her work and can literally look at them all day because they bring back all the good memories of the wedding day. I had a lot of our families and friends comment on how beautiful and perfect her work is as well. If you are looking for a skilled, professional photographer who is also very fun to work with, Elizabeth is the one!!

from Annie & Josh

Elizabeth Ladean Photography was exactly what we were looking for in our wedding photos- elegant, authentic and professional. In every interaction we had with Elizabeth, it was clear that she was so excited for us and wanted to make sure our wedding photos were everything we dreamed of. The final portraits were absolutely gorgeous and exactly what we were looking for. She is definitely and pro, and was incredibly organized with every part of our day, making the experience fun and stress free for us! Overall, we could not be happier with the service we received from Elizabeth Ladean Photography. From the gorgeous portraits, Elizabeth's authentic joy for us as a couple, and her incredible professionalism she ensured an experience that was stress free and exactly what we dreamed of. We highly recommend that you book Elizabeth Ladean Photography for your wedding, you will not regret it!

from Kaylie & Cameron

Elizabeth was such a treat to have as our photographer! She made the photo sessions stress free with such natural looking pictures. She is so organized and created a wedding day timeline to optimize the lighting based on the season we got married. I look forward to working with her again for future anniversary and family photo shoots!

from Molly & Scott

I can not tell you how much I adored working with Elizabeth! I really don't like getting my pictures taken so I wanted to make sure I picked someone who would make it a fun experience and Elizabeth did just that! She is so sweet and enthusiastic. And of course, her photos are absolutely beautiful.

from Jessica & Jeff

Elizabeth was simply AMAZING. My fiancé and I were both super nervous about our engagement session...it was our first time having our photos taken professionally in a photo shoot setting. But Elizabeth was SO great. She encouraged us and we had a blast, the entire shoot was full of jokes and laughs and we just had a great time. The wedding was the same way! Even though we had only met her once before (for the engagement session), having Elizabeth capture our wedding was like working with a good friend we had known forever. It made the big day so much more fun. Not to mention, the photos = amazing! We keep getting compliments about how perfect they are and we couldn't agree more. I'd recommend Elizabeth to EVERY bride. She's sweet, fun, and so incredibly great at what she does!

from Emily & Jon

Elizabeth Ladean Photography is, simply put, absolutely amazing!! Elizabeth did both our engagement and wedding photos, and we couldn’t have asked for anything more!! Elizabeth was personable, easy to work with, super responsive, and got our perfect images back to us quickly. She captured each moment perfectly and seemed like a friend when it was all said and done. . What Elizabeth has provided us is something that we will cherish forever! She far exceeded all of our expectations! We are already trying to figure out how we can use her as a photographer again.

from Staci & Caleb

Elizabeth is AMAZING!! I can not say enough good things about her. She made the planning process so enjoyable from beginning to end. She is organized, professional, and punctual. She is also very experienced with weddings and it shows! On top of being a dream to work with - her work is breath-taking! She perfectly captured the spirit of our venue and our day. She is so fun to be around and put us at ease when we would have otherwise been nervous standing in front of a camera. After the engagement session and the wedding, she had a sneak peak ready within 48 hours! Aside from that, the magazine she provides to all couples along with her periodic check-ins were so helpful and appreciated! I could not have asked for a more talented and professional photographer to capture one of the most important days of our lives. I would recommend her to everyone I know!

from Sarah & Austin

Elizabeth is the definition of a perfect wedding day photographer. She was so professional but made my husband and I super comfortable while taking our photos and let us be ourselves. We loved every minute of working with her. From her opening up her home to meet with us to calming our last minute wedding jitters, she has been amazing the entire time! I would recommend Elizabeth to absolutely anyone I know who is getting married soon. Even our bridesmaids held onto her card! Elizabeth is the one and only person I would recommend sharing your special day with!

from Hannah & Tyler

I can't say enough about Elizabeth, she was FANTASTIC! She was also our photographer for our engagement pictures! She is so sweet and kind and easy to work with. She made us feel comfortable during our engagement session, she told us how to pose and what to do, which was great because it made the wedding pictures easier because we knew what we were doing! Her photos turned out fantastic! They were so beautiful, I cant stop looking at them. We met Elizabeth at a Bridal Expo and loved her work and her personality! My wedding photos were very important to me and she went above and beyond my expectations!! I am obsessed with all the pictures! And I am so happy we chose Elizabeth! Thanks for everything Elizabeth!

from Brynn & Jordan

Elizabeth was absolutely incredible. From the very first phone call to getting our wedding album, she's been so amazing and made us feel so comfortable. We wanted a photographer who had the ability to guide us into the perfect positions/poses for both our engagement and wedding photos that looked natural & she nailed that aspect. Not only are her photos beautiful, but Elizabeth helped create a wedding day timeline, managed our big groups of friends & family, and worked seamlessly with our other vendors - especially our videographer. She truly felt like another wedding planner to help our day go as smooth as possible. I couldn't recommend Elizabeth enough. She's 100% worth the investment. Booking ELP was one of the best decisions we made during our wedding planning!

from Libby & Brian

Elizabeth is amazing and does such an incredible job! Our wedding photos turned out beautifully. We also purchased the wedding album and I can't stop looking at it. She did an amazing job pulling all our favorite photos together in such a seamless way. Not only is she a photographer, but she is a sounding board for a lot of your wedding day questions. We had our florist back out and I immediately went to her for suggestions on who she would use. She periodically checked in with us to see how we were doing, if we had any questions, and just to say how excited she was that our wedding day was getting closer. My husband and I will definitely be using her in the future and recommending her to whoever needs a photographer.

investment information

intimate weddings, elopements, full wedding days up to full weekend collections

Full day local weddings begin at $5000
All-inclusive full wedding weekends begin at $9000
Destination + intimate wedding collections also available

get more info >>

FTB - FAQ's for Brides

where are you located, and do you travel?

I'm located in the River Market of Kansas City, Missouri. Though I cover primarily all of the Midwest — Missouri, Kansas, North Carolina and South Carolina as my focused areas — you can bet your butt I’ll travel just about anywhere for two things — great love, and great light!!

do you only shoot full-day weddings?

Heck no!! Full wedding days are the primary, but I LOVE a good elopement, or small intimate wedding. Full wedding days have specific package/pricing, but I do offer special pricing for elopements and small weddings!

do you offer coverage for an entire weekend?

YES! I have a special package called the all inclusive Wedding Weekend! It offers coverage for the rehearsal, the wedding day, AND the day after — set up to where you can use it as a super fun newlywed session, or coverage of seeing off friends + family as they leave from their overnight and you say farewell. Endless options, sooo much coverage, and a lot more included!

do you work from a shot list?

I pride myself on being a wedding photographer who documents real moments — in the moment. Working from a shot list is a guarantee that while I'm busy consulting a shot-list, real moments will be missed. We work together to create a list for your family portraits only, but outside of that, let’s just document your day naturally!

do we have to do an engagement session?

You certainly don't have to, but if possible, I suggest you try to! That time together allows us to get to know one another better, it helps you guys to grow comfortable in front of my camera, and it helps me to understand how much, or how little direction you guys need. Plus, bonus! — You'll end up with a gorgeous collection of images!

do you have suggestions on where we could do our engagement session?

Definitely, yes! I love when my couples have a unique place in mind, but I can absolutely offer up suggestions too! If you are a Midwest couple, you’ll have access to a location directory I have created! This directory is geared primarily toward Kansas City and nearby locations — however, if you are based elsewhere, not to worry!! I know several spots in other places and have connections across the country to offer input, either way, I won’t leave ya hanging!

can I have or see the unedited or RAW files?

It is part of my job to sort through and pick the very best of the best with your images! Any images that don't make the final cut are not edited, saved, or delivered. At no time are those, or any RAW files available for viewing!

when will we get to see our photos?

For all sessions and weddings alike, I utilize social media like Instagram and Facebook to post sneak peeks soon after our time together! Final image collections are delivered in approximately 8 weeks or less for weddings, and in approximately 3 weeks or less for your engagement or anniversary session!

have another question for me?

email me at hello@elizabethladean.com! I’d love to chat with you!