Jessica Sands, photographer of the human experience

05/08/2022

Happy Mother's Day! I'm a firm believer that having a child is not what makes a woman a mother. It's having a mother's heart that does. Hug your mom and all the women who spend their days loving everyone around them deeply and unconditionally!

04/20/2022

Year #13 of shooting weddings started with a bride in a black wedding dress. I loved every detail of Taylor's bridal look 🖤

11/01/2021

There's nothing more beautiful than November light 🖤

07/27/2021

Is the sun rising or setting?

07/26/2021

This is how Mondays feel to me!

07/23/2021

Happy Friday! For my wedding photographer colleagues shooting this weekend, soak up the love AND the water! It's going to be a hot one!

I've had a fun little question come up in conversation quite a few times in the past couple weeks, and I thought I'd share some insight here with you. I've been asked where is my favorite location to shoot a wedding. I do have a list of favorites (and to be honest, I don't think I've ever had a bad experience at any venue I've shot at in 11 years), but the hands-down winner is personal property, and here's why:
– there is a comfort level with the bride and groom (and their families) right off the bat
– nobody knows this location better than the couple, and typically, they have ties to certain areas where we end up photographing family/wedding/bridal portraits
– those ties to certain areas I mentioned are magical in the couple's eyes because of lighting at a certain time, whether they realize it or not! Pretty light makes everything magical, right?! YES!
– I rarely visit a property before I photograph there. I love having fresh eyes and a fresh perspective to chase the light!

So, there you have it, guys! I love shooting on private property, like I did for Dwight and Kelcey's wedding. As we were motoring back to a location on their family farm, we passed Kelcey's tree stand and she shared her memory of shooting a buck there. Guess what? The light was incredible right at that location, so we stopped and this is what I caught

07/07/2021

I couldn't have asked for a better Independence Day weekend – two weddings at two of my favorite venues! First up, Olyviah and Zach tied the knot at Bittersweet Flower Market in La Crosse Friday afternoon. This venue truly has it all – a bridal suite and groom's quarters, an incredible greenhouse full of light, and stunning grounds at all times of the day, but especially at golden hour. If you are on the hunt for a venue, look no further! Congrats, Olyviah + Zach!!

06/20/2021

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! You don't have to have children to be a father, just the love of a father's heart will do

06/19/2021

Julia's dress was a showstopper! I've photographed a lot of weddings over the past 11 years and this dress is one of my very favorites.

06/11/2021

I met Andrew and Julia nearly two years ago at the closing table when they purchased our very first home. I'm so happy they loved our house enough to make it their own and that frequent walks with our pups past each others' homes has led to a friendship of sharing plants, puppy stories, and now their wedding at the very stunning High Point Retreats! Congrats, Andrew & Julia, what an honor it has been to share a path in this life with you both (and Lois:)

06/09/2021

I had the opportunity to shoot a wedding at Horstmann Homestead last weekend. What a GORGEOUS venue! If you're looking for a laid back experience with great service, you need to check out what they have to offer!

***Open Date this October***

Due to a cancellation we now have October 9th 2021 Weekend available! Call today to reserve this last fall date!

Horstmann Homestead
608.786.3567
[email protected]

05/28/2021

I need you! Who would love to be a model for me Tuesday, June 1 between 5 and 8 p.m. at High Point Retreats in Mindoro? I will be shooting branding photography for the retreats and need a couple great humans to relax among the tree tops while I shoot! DM me for more info. :)