Traditional Wedding Photography Doesn’t Work For Everybody… Here’s Why:

Weddings are supposed to be a celebration of love, right? Then why does so much of the wedding industry feel like a factory line, cranking out the same old thing over and over? The white dress, the perfect bouquet, the stiff poses, the staged smiles, the pristine decorations—it’s all designed for a very specific kind of couple.

But what if that’s not you?

If the idea of traditional wedding photography makes you cringe, you’re not alone. Plenty of couples—especially alternative, artsy, and LGBTQ+ couples—feel like the industry wasn’t built with them in mind.

And, well… it wasn’t.

As a Springfield, Missouri alternative wedding photographer, I’ve spent years working with couples who don’t fit the “classic” mold. They’re the tattooed, the quirky, the madly in love weirdos who just want their wedding photos to feel like them. They’re the ones who don’t need a ballroom to feel like they had a real wedding or a cookie-cutter photographer to tell them how to love. And they deserve photos that reflect that.

So, if you’re wondering why traditional wedding photography just doesn’t hit right for couples like you—let’s talk about it.

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1. Traditional Wedding Photography is Built for Traditional Weddings

Most wedding photography is structured around a standard timeline:

• Getting ready photos
• First look (or not, depending on how “traditional” you are)
• Ceremony
• Posed family portraits
• Reception with cake cutting, bouquet toss, and first dance

And sure, this setup works fine for some couples. But if you’re doing things differently—maybe eloping, getting married at a dive bar, or skipping the ceremony entirely—this formula just doesn’t fit.

When you’re planning a non-traditional wedding in Missouri, the last thing you need is a photographer who can’t adjust to that. You need someone who thrives in the unconventional—who can shoot in a neon-lit tattoo shop just as well as in golden-hour fields. Someone who won’t flinch when your wedding reception turns into a karaoke battle instead of a slow dance.

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2. It Prioritizes Stiff, Staged Poses Over Real Connection

You know those classic wedding photos where everyone is lined up in perfect little rows, smiling politely at the camera? Yeah, those don’t tell a love story.

Traditional wedding photography relies on stiff, outdated posing—where every moment feels more like a checklist than an actual experience. And for couples who thrive on realness, weirdness, and spontaneity, that’s a problem.

I believe wedding photography should capture you exactly as you are. I want to catch that split second of eye contact across the dance floor, the way your partner pulls you closer when they think no one’s looking, the moment your best friend grabs your hand and screams, “Holy sht, you’re married!”*

It should feel like a movie montage of your love—not like a stock photo from a bridal magazine.

How I Do It Differently:

• Candid, unposed moments that feel natural and true to you
• Movement-driven photos that capture real energy and connection
• Editorial-style shots that make you feel like you’re in a music video, not a wedding ad
• Flash photography & double exposures for that gritty, nostalgic, high-energy vibe

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3. It Assumes You Want a Fairytale, Not a Fucking Party

For so long, wedding photography has been designed to feel “romantic” in a very specific way—soft, dreamy, and straight out of a Pinterest board. And listen, if that’s your thing? No judgment. But for a lot of us, love doesn’t look like a delicate pastel fairytale.

Sometimes, love looks like:
A punk-rock basement wedding with a DIY backdrop
Shots of whiskey instead of champagne toasts
An elopement at sunrise with no one but your partner and your dog
A black dress, combat boots, and a cake that says ‘Til Death’ instead of Happily Ever After

Love is loud. It’s messy. It’s yours. And your wedding photos should reflect that.

If you’re searching for a Springfield, MO wedding photographer who won’t try to force you into a wedding aesthetic that isn’t yours, you’re in the right place.

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4. It’s Often Unintentionally Exclusionary

This one is important, folks.

A lot of traditional wedding photographers say they’re inclusive, but what they really mean is, We’ll photograph anyone, but we won’t change how we do things.

That’s not real inclusivity.

For LGBTQ+ couples, traditional wedding photography can feel awkward—because so many photographers default to heteronormative posing, language, and expectations. I can’t tell you how many times queer couples have told me they had to correct their wedding photographer about which partner was wearing the dress or who was leading a pose. As a queer person, I’ve struggled with the exact same thing when I’ve been on the client side.

That’s exhausting. Your wedding day should be about love, not explaining your love.

As a queer-friendly wedding photographer in Missouri, I get it. I know that queer love doesn’t always fit into expected gender roles. I know that your love story is yours—not some photographer’s Pinterest board version of it.

So, instead of:
“Okay, groom, stand behind your bride and put your arms around her waist.”
You get:
“What feels natural for you two? Who usually initiates the cuddles? Let’s do that.”

And that makes all the difference.

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5. It Can’t Keep Up with Your Energy

If you’re an artsy, alternative, or non-traditional couple, chances are, you want your photos to feel alive.

Traditional wedding photography is often too safe—clean, polished, and lacking personality. It’s the equivalent of a perfectly curated Instagram feed that doesn’t actually tell you anything about the person behind it.

But I don’t shoot “safe” weddings. I shoot:
Weddings that feel like a sweaty, joy-filled concert
Elopements that feel like an adventure
Portraits that feel like they belong on the cover of a punk-rock album

I use bold colors, true-to-life editing, and high-energy compositions to make sure your wedding photos feel just as electric as your actual wedding day. Whether you’re eloping in the middle of a Missouri forest or throwing an offbeat wedding in downtown Springfield, I’m there for all the chaos, all the love, and all the moments that make your wedding yours.

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So, What’s the Alternative?

If you’ve made it this far, chances are, you’re not looking for just another wedding photographer. You’re looking for someone who gets you.

You deserve wedding photos that:
Actually reflect your love—not someone else’s idea of what it should look like
Feel like art, not an obligation
Capture the loud, the quiet, the weird, the wild—the real

If that’s what you’re after, let’s talk.

I specialize in alternative wedding photography in Missouri—for weirdos, artists, punks, introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between. Whether you’re planning an intimate elopement or a full-blown rager, I want to make sure you have photos that feel like you.

So if you’re searching for a Springfield, MO LGBTQ+ wedding photographer who won’t force you into outdated traditions—hit me up.

Because your wedding deserves to be as badass, as loud, and as unapologetic as your love.