A Conversation with Alaskan Wedding Photographer, Lauren Roberts
I had the greatest pleasure to sit down and to talk to one of my favorite people in the wedding industry: Alaskan wedding photographer, Lauren Roberts.
I first came across Lauren at the end of the 2020 wedding season after she took photos for a couple I worked with. There was one photo that I couldn’t stop looking at in her collection of photos that day - it was of two people in an embrace. I’m guessing it was the father of the bride. The raw emotion she captured in his face blew me away and I knew I wanted to know and follow Lauren.
Since then I’ve hired her to do two photo shoots for me. I have not only been over the moon about my photos but working with her behind the camera was a powerful experience. I felt seen and accepted and completely taken care of.
Alaskan Wedding Photographer, Lauren Roberts Photography
On being photographed
The fear of being a little shy and awkward in front of a lens makes me nervous. But in Lauren’s hands the task of getting photographed becomes an absolute joy.
We talked at length about this aspect of wedding photography. Do you have to innately feel comfortable in front of a camera? Or is it the photographer’s job to help you create ease and thus natural and relaxed looking photos? Definitely the latter, says Lauren. In fact she teaches other photographers this skill. It is a skill that the photographer brings to the table.
I get to look at a lot of wedding photographs. Photographers are so generous in sharing their work with me so I can add photos of my floral work to my portfolio.
I can see in the photos what couples are coached on feeling comfortable and which ones are left to their own devices.
Lauren Roberts Photography
Why hire Lauren or any professional photographer?
Although Lauren uses more of a documentary style when she shoots - meaning she likes to capture people in a wedding just doing their thing, she does do posed shots for the wedding album.
The gift of a highly skilled photographer is so important in making these posed shots look natural and relaxed and almost candid. Another side of Lauren’s business is boudoir (aka nude photographs posed in a studio). If there’s a photographer who is practiced in helping people get comfortable in their own skin it has to be someone who takes nude photos of people who aren't models.
Lauren emphasizes that it’s the professional that helps open people up. It really doesn’t matter what the couple brings to the table. She is there to know you and fall in love with every single couple and find out what makes YOU lovely and beautiful.
Lauren loves to get to the essence of her clients. This is evident when booking a discovery call with her. She avoids most of the standard questions about wedding details and focuses more on just chatting and getting to know each other. Her calls she says are “75% shoot the shit and 25% about booking a shoot”.
She loves creating a connection and feeling a sense of vibrancy in her clients.
It is important you feel comfortable with your photographer - you will spend more time with this person than any other person on your wedding day. They will see you getting dressed. They will see you before the first look.
I wanted to know why someone should hire a professional photographer for their wedding?
Why not let a family member or friend take the photos?
We both agree that couples need to put their money towards what matters most to them. For me, that was food. I wanted the best food available! I can’t believe I’m saying this now but photos and flowers weren't as important to me.
When planning for your wedding, know that your photographs have the most longevity of anything else that day. They will be held and looked at by your grandkids and your great grandkids. They will be a family heirloom.
I love telling this to my clients because more than likely, your flowers will also be in those pictures. If photos matter to you, then invest in them.
Weddings are also inherently chaotic and multidimensional. There are so many decisions for a couple to make.
Decision fatigue can be a reality so it’s best to hand off tasks to professionals whenever possible. Lauren knows all the shots to take. She can even help with your day-of timeline.
When you hire a professional it will ease your load which allows you to enjoy the moments with your most beloved people on your wedding day.
Lauren Roberts Photography
How to book Alaskan Wedding Photographer, Lauren Roberts
Booking Lauren usually happens 6-9 months in advance, but let me say that if you want to work with Lauren don’t delay. To miss out on having her shoot your wedding would be a huge mistake if she was already booked out.
She breaks down her booking process so people can choose from different standard packages. I’d recommend checking out her website so you can get a feel for exactly what each package entails. After booking a package, she allows all sorts of add ons if you need to customize a little more.
Included in each package is a consultation, digital photos, a photo reveal and an actual tangible product. She wants to make sure you leave with something in your hand and not just “a usb drive that will gather dust on your desk”.
My favorite part of her photo experience is her photo reveal. I felt like an absolute movie star, sitting in her hip studio, looking through all the pictures she edited for me. What a fun time!
Lauren Roberts Photography with a signature Turnstone Farm bouquet
Going above and beyond for your wedding guests
I love giving my clients cool ways to wow their guests, and transform their event.
I wanted to know if Lauren had any “wow” moments at weddings where the couples went above and beyond.
Two things stuck out for her.
At one wedding every guest had a hand-written note from the couple at their seat telling each guest the important role that they played in their life.
I was lucky enough to receive such a note from a couple whose wedding I attended. It is a touch I will forever remember and I often share it with my couples who book with me. It can be a lot to take on but if you split the task with your soon-to-be-spouse and take on 2-3 notes per day, you’ll be through it in no time.
What I love about this exercise is that it puts you in a serious mood of gratitude as well. And although I have not asked couples how this practice transforms their event for themselves I can imagine it creates a sense of immediate gratitude that extends into their wedding day.
Lauren had another favorite idea for couples. She is unsure the origins to this practice but it goes like this: behind the head table is a small two-seater table with two chairs. Guests are invited to come sit at that table during the dining experience to get some one on one time with the couple.
This allows everyone to have a seat with the couple. I know from experience that guests cannot get enough time with the newlyweds. Plus, Lauren thinks that there is something extra special about sitting together and visiting that is more meaningful and more intimate than standing and talking.
Another more common practice is to have a receiving line. After the ceremony, the couple can wait and greet each guest as they walk by.
Toasts are also a great way to call attention to everyone present. Calling out and saying everyone’s name can be a powerful experience. While this could get long if the guest list is long, be creative. Figure out a way to break this up. Saying people's names is powerful - they will remember.
Lauren wants to emphasize that while a wedding is for the couple and should honor what is important to them, it is also important to honor the loving community that surrounds and supports them.
As I celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary I know this to be so true. A relationship does not exist in a vacuum. It is because of our quality outside relationships that we are successful in our marriages. It does take a village to partner two fully-realized people.
Lauren Roberts Photography
Alaskan Wedding Vendor Recommendations
If you’re still building out your wedding team, Lauren has some recommendations for vendors that she loves to work with.
For planners, Rebecca from LaBoum is a favorite to work with. As Lauren says she is “on her shit”. I have heard this from other wedding pros in the area. And if I was pulling off a large wedding, that’s who I would want on my team.
For beauty (hair and makeup), Mary Alice is the stylist she works with most. Stay tuned, as I’m interviewing Mary Alice soon and will have an in depth blog all about her.
For music and MC, Jared Woods and Woodrow.
For wedding venues, she thinks At The Barn in the Palmer/Wasilla area is super cute. She also loves shooting weddings at the Forget-me-not Nursery in Indian, AK. It is a magical place and the people there are super friendly.
Lauren Roberts Photography & Turnstone Farm flowers
Final Wedding Day Advice
Any final advice from Lauren, who has attended countless weddings documenting them from behind the lens?
She encourages couples to “sink your feet into the experience and enjoy every single moment.”
View a wedding Lauren and I worked on together at Raven Glacier Lodge in Girdwood, Alaska here: Fall Wedding at Raven Glacier Lodge
Inquire about wedding photography with Lauren here: https://laurenroberts.com/contact