If there was any piece of advice that was drilled into me at the beginning wedding planning, it was to choose the right photographer. It’s the one piece of advice I would pass on to any couple getting married: invest time and money in a trustworthy, talented professional. You can fudge the flowers, the food, but the photography is something that cannot be fudged, and will have lasting repercussions beyond the big day; in the end, it’s either done right, or it’s not. I unfortunately know many couples who have had disastrous situations arise regarding their wedding photography – from a photographer who went bankrupt shortly after the wedding (and has refused to release the photos), to one that straight up disappeared post-reception. So though I have been pretty easygoing in regards to most details pertaining to the wedding, finding the right photographer was actually something I stressed about and did some serious research on.

Isn’t it wonderful when the universe hears your needs, and fulfills them? In the midst of my hunt, Kim was plunked right under my nose. Kimberly Craven and I met via one of my bridesmaids, who brought her to the surprise birthday party I threw Fiance Kaboom this year. She was a true gem, and noticing my SLR on the coffee table, asked if I would mind if she took a few pics. Considering I was completely busy being hostess extraordinaire, I eagerly encouraged her to go nuts. And go nuts she did. By the next morning, I discovered some absolutely beautiful photos waiting for me in my camera – and I had found my girl.

It is always a delight when I meet someone with a special talent, but it is an additional gift that Kim has become a close friend of both myself and Fiance Kaboom’s over the last few months. She is a smart, funny, beautiful individual, and FK and I feel truly lucky to have met her. She is also any girl’s dream of a perfect wedding photographer. Not only has she lent invaluable help and support in scheduling the day, but she has offered all of her knowledge to both of us when it comes to having a stress-free, ideal wedding (I can honestly say she is a contributing reason as to why I am not running around like a maniacal Bridezilla).

A few weeks ago, Kim asked John and I if we would like to do an engagement session. Considering FK and I didn’t want something super mushy and romantic, we decided on Coney Island: it’s fun-loving, quirky, and positively ridiculous – just like us. These pictures are the results, and I am absolutely staggered and awed by the power of Kim and her camera. Simply put, they are gorgeous.

Though FK and I were first hesitant to do one, I now see the invaluable opportunity an engagement session can be. Not only does it offer a photo montage that is much more casual and fun as opposed to the formal shoot on the wedding day, but the face time it provides between photographer and subject is a great warm up to the larger event. The session really allowed me and FK to get used to being photographed by a third party (something most of us just aren’t super comfortable with), and I am sure it gave Kim some insights as to what to expect from us as well. Not to mention giving all of us the opportunity to curb some of our less appealing photo habits: for instance, we noticed FK has a creepy habit of kissing me with his eyes open. Yeesh! In conclusion, I think all of us will be going into the wedding day more confident and prepared on the photo end of things, and with a stunning set of photos to boot.

You can see more of Kimberly’s beautiful photography here. She also keeps a great little photo blog. Thanks, Kim. We’ll treasure these forever.