Stefani Larson

Stefani Larson Photographer + entrepreneur. Mostly just very interested in people 🤍
📸: Stefani Ciotti Photography
People, business, travel, curiosity
📍DFW, TX

A little reminder for anyone deep in wedding planning right now:You are still allowed to go on dates where you don't tal...
08/27/2026

A little reminder for anyone deep in wedding planning right now:

You are still allowed to go on dates where you don't talk about the wedding, I swear! 😂

Because somewhere between choosing vendors, answering emails, working through the guest list, making decisions about florals and figuring out where everyone is going to sit, it can become surprisingly easy for wedding planning to become... kind of all you talk about.

And listen, some of that is fun - and obviously necessary! You're planning a giant celebration with all of your favorite people. There are so many things to be excited about.

But as exciting as the wedding is, this season matters, too.

You only get to be engaged for a short window. Don't let the pressure of planning the wedding rush you through the experience of actually being engaged.

Keep dating each other. Keep making memories that have nothing to do with seating charts or vendor emails. Let yourselves enjoy the anticipation of what's ahead without feeling like every free weekend needs to become another opportunity to check something off the list.

Go back to the restaurant where you had your first date.

Have a completely ordinary night on the couch.

Plan something fun that has absolutely nothing to do with your wedding.

Talk about the trip you want to take someday, the house you want to make yours, the traditions you want to create, or what you're most excited about when you think about actually being married.

Your wedding deserves your attention.

But your engagement deserves to be enjoyed, too. 🤍

And sometimes one of the nicest things you can do in the middle of planning your wedding is give yourselves an evening where neither of you has to make a single decision about it.

Since we're getting reacquainted around here... hi, I'm Stefani! 👋🏻A few things you should probably know about me...Yes,...
08/25/2026

Since we're getting reacquainted around here... hi, I'm Stefani! 👋🏻

A few things you should probably know about me...

Yes, I will defend pineapple on pizza.

Yes, hot chocolate is superior to coffee.

And yes, the Mario Kart championship is legitimate and I take my title very seriously. 😏

But the thing that probably matters most if you're going to step in front of my camera is that I genuinely like and am fascinated by people.

I want to know how you met. What you do together on a completely ordinary Saturday. Which one of you is wildly competitive. Who is most likely to cry during the ceremony. Why your grandmother is so important to you. The story your best friend is absolutely going to tell in their toast.

Partly because I'm endlessly curious about people.

But also because all of those little things help me understand *you*.

And the more I understand about the people in front of my camera, the better I can create an environment where you don't feel like you need to perform for it.

You don't have to become "good at pictures."

You don't have to suddenly know how to pose.

You really don't need to become some polished version of yourselves for me.

I'd much rather figure out what makes the two of you laugh, give you enough guidance that you never have to wonder what to do, and then give you the space to settle in and actually enjoy yourselves.

Because something I really do believe:

The best photographs happen when you feel safe enough to be yourself. 🤍

If I were hiring a wedding photographer tomorrow, I'd have a few questions.And none of them would be about cameras.Of co...
08/20/2026

If I were hiring a wedding photographer tomorrow, I'd have a few questions.

And none of them would be about cameras.

Of course, I'd want to understand pricing, coverage, what's included and when I'd receive my photographs. Those things matter.

But what I'd really want to know is what this person is going to be like when it's 20 minutes before the ceremony and we're running behind.

I'd want to know how they're going to help if my fiancé and I have absolutely no idea what to do with our hands.

I'd want to know whether they're going to keep pulling us away from our wedding for photos... or help us create a plan that lets us have beautiful photographs AND actually enjoy the party we spent all this time planning.

And I'd want to know whether they'll take the time to learn that the woman sitting in the second row isn't simply another guest. She's my grandmother, and having her there means everything to me.

Those are the things that are harder to see in a portfolio.

Your photographer will be by your side the entirety of your wedding day. You're trusting them with your memories, yes, but you're also trusting them to guide you through parts of the day you've never experienced before.

So, look at the photographs. Make sure you connect with and LOVE them.

But ask about the experience behind them, too.

I've put some of the questions I'd personally ask in this post. And if you're heading to the Fort Worth Bridal Show next weekend, screenshot them and bring them with you. 🤍

Well... apparently I have some catching up to do. 😂It's been pretty quiet around here for the past few months, but behin...
08/18/2026

Well... apparently I have some catching up to do. 😂

It's been pretty quiet around here for the past few months, but behind the scenes? Anything but.

I took a little step back from social media for a while. Partly because I wanted to be more present in my own life, and partly because I wanted some space to figure out what I actually wanted this little corner of the internet to look like moving forward.

All the while, I've still been photographing so many wonderful people and celebrations... I just haven't been very good about showing you any of it. 😅

Sitting in my archives right now are...
14 proposals
10 engagement sessions
6 weddings
4 family sessions
3 corporate events
2 branding sessions
1 headshot session
1 college graduation
and 1 bridal session..that I've barely shared a thing from.

And there's plenty more ahead. I have another proposal and engagement session this week, plus 8 weddings over the next few weeks that I'm genuinely so excited for.

So yes. It's been a little quiet on Instagram.

Life and work, on the other hand, have been wonderfully full.

I'm excited to start digging through all of these sessions, telling some of these stories, sharing a little more of what I've learned along the way, and letting this space feel like me again.

So, hi. I'm still here. 🤍

And since I clearly have no shortage of options... where should I start??

Weddings? Proposals? Engagement sessions?

For a few weeks this summer, my office looked a little different.It overlooked one of the biggest sporting events in the...
07/30/2026

For a few weeks this summer, my office looked a little different.

It overlooked one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

Working all 9 World Cup matches in the VIP Hospitality Suites here in Dallas is something I’ll never forget.

The tournament spanned across 16 venues and 3 countries, with less than 150 photographers documenting it... and I had the privilege of being one of just 8 photographers covering the event in Dallas.

I don’t think that’s fully sunk in yet.

But as incredible as the World Cup itself was, the soccer isn’t what I’ll remember most.

For nine match days, I had a front-row seat to something much bigger than soccer: an event that brought together people from every corner of the world. Every day I had conversations with people from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds. I watched strangers become friends, share stories, celebrate each other’s traditions, and approach one another with genuine curiosity.

It was a beautiful reminder that, despite everything that can make us seem different, we have far more in common than we often realize.

A huge thank you to my fellow photographers. It was such a privilege to work alongside such a talented group of people. And thank you to the teams at MementoPhoto and On Location for making the entire experience so positive. It was a joy to work alongside people who genuinely cared, not only about creating an exceptional experience for every guest who walked through those suites, but also about supporting one another behind the scenes. Great events happen because of great people, and this team was full of them.

One of the things I’ve always loved most about photography is that it’s never really been just about photography.

It’s the people this career brings into my life.

While I’ll always be grateful to have been part of an event of this magnitude, the real highlight wasn’t the stadium, the crowds, or even the matches.

It was the people.
The conversations.
The friendships.
And the reminder that we actually have a lot more in common than we sometimes remember.

To everyone I had the privilege of meeting and working alongside: thank you.

I’ll be forever grateful for this one. 🤍

12 years in, and I’m still pinching myself. 🤍 Honestly, I could never have predicted the world that photography would op...
06/13/2026

12 years in, and I’m still pinching myself. 🤍

Honestly, I could never have predicted the world that photography would open up for me when I first picked up a camera. The people, the places, the opportunities... it still surprises me in the best possible way sometimes. Today happens to be one of those “wait... is this real life!?” kind of days.

Lately, life has been wonderfully full. The past few months have been some of the busiest I’ve ever had, and while I’ve been a little quieter on social media, it’s because I’ve been pouring my energy into serving my clients, taking on some exciting new projects, and working behind the scenes on what’s next for this little business of mine (we are expanding, baby).

To everyone who has supported me, hired me, cheered me on, or shown up for me in any way over the years, thank you, genuinely. You are a huge part of why I love what I do.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in and say hi, and remind you how grateful I am that you’re here. ☺️

Wedding planning can feel like a lot in the beginning.So many decisions.So many vendors.And sometimes it’s hard to know ...
03/06/2026

Wedding planning can feel like a lot in the beginning.

So many decisions.
So many vendors.
And sometimes it’s hard to know where to start.

That’s one of the reasons I genuinely love bridal shows.

They create a space where couples can slow down for a moment, ask questions, meet vendors face-to-face, and start getting a feel for what kind of experience they really want for their wedding day.

And this weekend, there’s a really good one coming to Dallas!

I’ll be at the Dallas Bridal Show at Dallas Market Hall
📅 Saturday + Sunday
⏰ 10am–4pm

If you’re attending, I’d absolutely love to meet you, hear about your wedding plans, and help answer any questions you might have about photography.

Whether you’re just starting the planning process or already have a vision coming together, it’s always such a joy getting to connect with couples in person. 🥰

Come say hello 👋🏻
I can’t wait to meet you!

As the year wraps up, I’m reflecting on how much of a privilege it is to do this work…to step into people’s lives, if on...
12/31/2025

As the year wraps up, I’m reflecting on how much of a privilege it is to do this work…
to step into people’s lives, if only for a moment, and help preserve what matters most.

I’m deeply grateful. For the families who trusted me. For the love stories I witnessed. For the moments I had the honor of being part of.
For all of it.

Thank you for trusting me with your stories this year.
They’ve shaped my heart more than you know - and they’re why this work continues to mean so much to me.

I can’t wait to see what we create together next.
2026, I’m so ready for you. ✨

What are you most excited to remember this coming year?

Happy New Year!! 🥂🎊
Sending you all so much love!

I cannot believe it’s already been over a year since I watched these cuties get engaged! 😱And now… tomorrow, I get to wa...
12/05/2025

I cannot believe it’s already been over a year since I watched these cuties get engaged! 😱

And now… tomorrow, I get to watch them officially tie the knot with a beautiful church ceremony and a stunning celebration at Montclair Event Venue!

Tomorrow’s wedding officially closes out my 2025 season (for weddings, that is). It always hits me how quickly the year goes… and how lucky I am to spend it witnessing and documenting moments like these. 🥹✨

Here’s to soaking in every moment tomorrow and finishing the year with a bang. Let’s gooo! 🎉✨

✨ Tuesday Traditions: Clinking Glasses for a Kiss ✨You know that moment during a reception when someone starts clinking ...
11/04/2025

✨ Tuesday Traditions: Clinking Glasses for a Kiss ✨

You know that moment during a reception when someone starts clinking their glass… and suddenly all eyes are on the couple? 👀💋

It’s one of those traditions that always gets a laugh (and maybe a blush or two). But unlike some of the older customs we’ve been talking about lately, this one’s actually pretty modern!

From what I could find, this tradition started popping up across North America in the early 1900s as a fun, lighthearted way for guests to show their love and get the couple to share a kiss during dinner. 💛

It isn’t tied to religion or deep symbolism like many of the others - just pure celebration and a fun way to keep the energy high. 🥂

If you’ve been loving these, stick around! I’ll be shining a light on a handful more wedding traditions throughout the rest of the year! ✨

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5500 Swiss Avenue
Dallas, TX
75214

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