Windy Hill Barn Wedding Photography
Simpsonville Wedding Photographer
Kacey + Greg
Simpsonville, South Carolina
I’ve always believed that the best way to tell a story is to get right up in the middle and experience it for yourself. Kacey and Greg’s wedding was the epitome of that belief for me. Something I have had to learn over the years is how to break out of my comfort zone and fight the urge to photograph from the sidelines, like a bystander. As a naturally introverted person, the idea of getting in the middle of a wedding instead of staying in the shadows was not a pleasant one. But I also learned a simple, easy way to make this avoid this feeling: Get to know my couples so that instead of feeling like an outsider, I would feel more like a guest, along for the ride.
So why is any of this important to mention? I would say Kacey and Greg are a couple I I’ve gotten to know a bit better than most others…and I believe that made a huge difference in the way I was able to photograph their wedding. Of course it helps that Kacey and Greg are a remarkably interesting couple. We were able to bond over a mutual interest in Chemistry for one thing…Well, as much as bonding as two exceedingly talented doctoral level Chemists (them) can have with someone who was a chemistry major for less than a year in undergrad (me). I also enjoyed hearing about their world travels (Honeymoon in Peru, anyone?) and experiencing their adventurous spirit. We got stormed on during their engagement photos, while our dogs decided to photobomb them while playing together in the lake once it cleared up. We’ve seen some stuff.
But what this familiarity translated into was a better photography experience all around. With candid wedding photography, the more comfortable a couple is around me, the better their photos will be. It really is that simple. When I can blend in like a guest instead of some random stranger, amazing things happen. And as a result, I feel like Kacey and Greg’s wedding is a great example of when everything goes oh so right from a wedding photography perspective.
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Kacey and Greg chose Windy Hill Wedding and Event Barn for their Summer wedding, and this was my first photographing a wedding there. It turned out to be a great experience! Barn weddings can be hit or miss out here in the sticky heat of a South Carolina Summer, but Windy Hill Barn has my new favorite barn wedding feature: air conditioning! Most people take air conditioning for granted here, until they’ve spend any time in one during mid day in the humidity that this area is famous for, so this was a rare treat for me.
It also really came in handy when the real feel temperatures soared into the 100+ range and the decision needed to be made to move the outdoor ceremony indoors. All-in-all, it was a great experience photographing a wedding here as a naturally sweaty wedding photographer.
Summer, sunsets, and adventurous couples…Kacey and Greg’s Windy Hill Barn wedding really had it all. I had a great experience photographing here, and had a great experience getting to know these two in the process. Congratulations to the happy couple and their new, adventurous lives together!
Special thanks to the vendors that helped make this wedding happen:
Wedding venue: Windy Hill Wedding and Event Barn
Bridal getting ready location: Sixpence Salon
Officiant: Professor Steve Craig
Coordinator: Weddings by Kimberly
Catering: Automatic Taco, The Chuck Truck, and Henry’s Smokehouse
Cake: Baking Sweet Scents
Photography: Matthew Pautz Photography