A complete guide into A Wedding with KDP
Wedding Guide
We are a husband and wife outdoor destination wedding photography duo!
Phew, try to say that three times fast!
We love natural light, all the colors, all the pretty flowers and our pups Finn & Koa! We’re happy to call Charleston, SC home and love traveling to new places.
we're tim + kailee Shields
On any given day you can find us working in our office, walking around the streets of downtown Charleston or binge-watching something on one of the (too many) streaming services we have! We met in high school and tied the knot ourselves in 2017. We’re parents to our doodle puppies and friends to all of our clients. We each help you out on your wedding day as if we’re part of your bridal party and the one’s with the cameras in the middle of the dance floor making sure to not miss anyone’s awesome dance moves.
So let’s introduce ourselves: Kai here! I’m the founder of KDP and have been photographing couple’s love stories for over a decade. I’ve been on three sides of this industry with a background in wedding planning, a bride myself and (of course) a wedding photographer! I’m known for not correcting people when they mispronounce my name and my very loud laugh, that I inherited from my father! I love putting couples into flattering poses and then taking a step back to let y’all interact while we capture those genuine pure giggles that always seem to come next! We aren’t fans of overly posed photographs which is why it’s safe to say that the majority of your wedding gallery will be filled with candid images.
Tim joined KDP when we started dating. At first, he would come to every portrait session and help carry all my equipment. Fast forward to today and he’s now the other half of KDP! He’s known for busting a move on the dance floor & yes, he has literally ripped his pants while doing so! Some of his favorite photos to take are ones that showcase the overall beauty of each wedding location and capturing the in-between moments that you might miss during your wedding day- like Mom & Dad tearing up during your vows or your Grandparent's laughter during the ceremony.
We are outdoor wedding photographers that love capturing each couple’s unique love story! All love is celebrated and welcomed here!We believe that smiles & laughter are contagious and we always have both while we’re working. We will provide you with photographs that allow you to revisit those memories years later. These are your first family heirlooms and we want you to choose photographers that will treasure them as much as you will! For us, it doesn’t get much better than being able to capture a brand new love story and genuinely enjoy doing so!
Once you say your “I Do’s”, eaten all of the cake and danced to the band’s last song, your photographs will be one of the only things here to remind you of just how beautiful your wedding day was.
I’m the girl who would prefer to stand in the background than ever be the center of attention. Tim’s the opposite, he has no problem jumping up and singing karaoke in front of a room full of strangers! However, if this is the only chance I get to make an impression on you, then I might as well take it!
We care about our clients. Almost all of our clients have turned into friends that we still keep in touch with regularly! We have photographed them throughout their major life events from getting engaged, becoming newlyweds and as they continue to grow as a family.
During your wedding day, we are flies on the wall. Watching, observing and photographing the moments that you might not have seen, but will cherish as the years pass. Personally, I have been on three sides of this industry: wedding planner, bride, and photographer. I know the behind the scene details that goes into making your wedding day what it is.
Tim and I have known each other for over two decades (whoa, that’s weird to say out loud!) and have been married since 2017. We’re able to read each other’s subtle cues from across a room within seconds.
I’ve said this on the other page and I’m going to say it here again:
We truly believe that smiles & laughter are contagious and we always have both while we’re working.
What makes us different
One of the best compliments we’ve ever gotten was from a wedding guest during a reception. He walked right up to us and said:“Y’all the happiest camera couple I’ve ever seen!” I think getting that compliment goes back to the fact that we genuinely love capturing your unique love stories!
We are living your wedding day through our camera lenses and capturing the moments that will allow you to relive it for years to come. We’re scouting out all the tears, smiles, surprises and laughter throughout the entire day. You’ll receive hundreds of these shots because every detail, no matter how small, makes up your love story.
Let us tell your unique love story through images that evoke emotion the moment you glance at them.
01. schedule strategically
Your ceremony time will direct how the day will unfold. If it’s early, great, you can do your photos in between that and cocktail hour, but if your ceremony flows into your cocktails, well, you should probably consider a first look. Our goal? To have everyone present for as much of cocktail hour as possible. Why? You are paying for it, so you might as well enjoy it. It’s one of the only times you get to greet and be present with your guests. Work with your photographer, find out how long they need for certain things, schedule in travel time, and add a little extra cushion (because it’s better to be safe than sorry!)
5 Tips for a relaxed wedding day
Let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day!
After witnessing and taking part in A LOT of weddings, we feel like we have truly seen it all. Let us be honest in sharing that our clients are amazing. They are the best of the best and the people we feel fortunate to know! In working with the best, we know that we need to be the best. It’s all about guiding our couples through the complicated, stressful, crazy process of planning the biggest, most important day of your life. No biggie, right? LOL. So, let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day, shall we?
02. prep ahead of time
When your photographer shows up, you want them to get right to work. How do you do this? By preparing ahead of time. What should you prepare? Anything you want photographed. For our couples, we tell them to have their: dress, all rings, shoes, cuff links, full invitation suite, jewelry, any family heirlooms, and any other personalized details they want photographed set aside for our arrival. When we start shooting, we begin with styling these details that help tell your wedding story. If you don’t have things ready, we’ll be wasting time tracking them down (when we could be photographing them!) The more prepared you are, the better for all of us!
5 Tips for a relaxed wedding day
Let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day!
After witnessing and taking part in A LOT of weddings, we feel like we have truly seen it all. Let us be honest in sharing that our clients are amazing. They are the best of the best and the people we feel fortunate to know! In working with the best, we know that we need to be the best. It’s all about guiding our couples through the complicated, stressful, crazy process of planning the biggest, most important day of your life. No biggie, right? LOL. So, let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day, shall we?
03. communicate clearly
Do you want your wedding party to hang around after the ceremony? Tell them! Make sure you communicate the schedule clearly and that everyone who needs it has it. This helps us not waste time tracking key family members down or grabbing them from the bar. Photos move much faster when everyone is present and ready. You’ll be less stressed if everyone knows ahead of time, we promise. Send out a friendly schedule reminder to everyone who needs it the day before the wedding just incase!
5 Tips for a relaxed wedding day
Let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day!
After witnessing and taking part in A LOT of weddings, we feel like we have truly seen it all. Let us be honest in sharing that our clients are amazing. They are the best of the best and the people we feel fortunate to know! In working with the best, we know that we need to be the best. It’s all about guiding our couples through the complicated, stressful, crazy process of planning the biggest, most important day of your life. No biggie, right? LOL. So, let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day, shall we?
04. make time for photos
Now, we never force anyone to do a first look. It’s your day, not ours. But we do urge our couples to do one for multiple reasons. First, it gives you the chance to soak it all in and embrace all your emotions without an audience. Second, it allows us time to venture around your awesome venue with you for newlywed portraits and if we get those knocked out than we can cruise through the remaining festivities with candid shots. Third, it allows your bridal party and family to enjoy cocktail hour immediately after the ceremony! Yes, that means, your friends and family won’t need to hang around after the ceremony and wait to get their photos taken! Lastly, it allows us time to photograph your reception details before guests arrive. From flowers to seating charts, gift tables to cakes, when you give us some uninterrupted time, all of the work and money you’ve spent making your vision come to life is documented and preserved!
5 Tips for a relaxed wedding day
Let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day!
After witnessing and taking part in A LOT of weddings, we feel like we have truly seen it all. Let us be honest in sharing that our clients are amazing. They are the best of the best and the people we feel fortunate to know! In working with the best, we know that we need to be the best. It’s all about guiding our couples through the complicated, stressful, crazy process of planning the biggest, most important day of your life. No biggie, right? LOL. So, let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day, shall we?
05. just be present
Let us be the tenth person to tell you that it is: your wedding day is a whirlwind!Take moments where you stop, hold each other’s hands, and intentionally take it all in. Throughout the day, set aside little breaks in your schedule where you can pull away from the party and just simply “be.” You won’t regret it, we promise! We truly believe that wedding days are a living, moving, breathing phenomena. They are here and gone in the blink of an eye. It’s important to set yourself up for success and to ease any stress ahead of time so that as you float through your day. This is why we require all of our couples to hire a wedding planner. This way, you aren’t focused on the details or the flowers, not on the cake or the music, but you’re focused on the fact that marriage is a beginning. We want you to experience a marriage more beautiful than your wedding day!
5 Tips for a relaxed wedding day
Let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day!
After witnessing and taking part in A LOT of weddings, we feel like we have truly seen it all. Let us be honest in sharing that our clients are amazing. They are the best of the best and the people we feel fortunate to know! In working with the best, we know that we need to be the best. It’s all about guiding our couples through the complicated, stressful, crazy process of planning the biggest, most important day of your life. No biggie, right? LOL. So, let’s talk through five tips to help facilitate a stress-free wedding day, shall we?
Pricing
Every wedding is unique, just like every couple. Being your wedding photographers is a job we take seriously and let’s face it, hire us and you’ll have an extra bridal party member on each side who happens to be holding a camera!
We’ve created a base 8 hour package for you to start, while allowing you the flexibility to select add-on items to customize your wedding day package even further. There is something for everyone, and no worries here - we will be sure to capture your wedding day just the way you want!
Your wedding photographer is most definitely an investment; your printed photographs and heirloom albums will live on for future family generations to enjoy. After the cake is eaten, the dresses and suits are hung, the last song is danced to and your guests head back home...your photographs are what will be viewed time and time again!
So, are you ready to make the most important investment in your wedding day planning?
Planning consultation to confirm photo timeline & family photo list
8 hours of wedding day coverage from 2 photographers
Edited images via an online gallery
High resolution digital images for downloading & printing
Aerial drone images *weather & venue permitting
Online posting of Kai & Tim’s favorite images
KDP Weddings
$7,000.00
These images will be your first family heirloom, living on for many generations to enjoy!
Base rate includes travel within one hour of zip code 29412.
For travel outside of this area, ask us for details.
Charleston, SC
$7,000
East Coast
$8,500
$9,000
West Coast & International
Digital Portrait Session $750
Hybrid Portrait Session $975
Additional Hour of Coverage $750
*maximum of 10 hours
Film Photography Rolls $60/roll
*minimum of 5 rolls
à la carte
Add-ons:
We offer a various selection of sizes, fabrics, colors, and customization for your wedding album.
Albums:
Lite Album
8x8 $500
10x10 $620
12x12 $708
8x10 $620
9x12 $708
11x14 $798
Red Tree Album
8x8 $700
10x10 $760
12x12 $850
8x10 $740
9x12 $800
11x14 $990
Fine Art Album
8x8 $720
10x10 $840
12x12 $980
8x10 $840
9x12 $940
11x14 $1020
*Pricing listed above is based on 20 spreads with a linen cover choice.
Various upgrade options are available
For a detailed guide into the wedding albums we offer: KDP Wedding Album Guide
01. set the scene
When you first thought of your engagement session, what did you see? Are you downtown with a cute bouquet? Popping champagne? Or did you not really picture anything yet? If not, that’s totally fine! These photos are really about who you’re with, not where you’re at. However, if there’s a uniquely special place for the two of you or something that’s meaningful then we’re here to help you incorporate those into your images! Ironically, get off Pinterest. It’s easy to get caught up in seeing the Eiffel Tower, but if you aren’t bringing us to Paris then those images won’t happen. However.... that doesn’t mean you can’t have a Paris-themed engagement session! Let’s set up a French styled picnic and grab a box of locally made macaroons. See what we did there?
6 Tips for a gorgeous engagement session
Let’s take some fun, fresh pictures that capture your unique love story!
Your significant other asked, you said “yes!” and now you’re engaged! Congratulations to both of you and your families! Now, let’s start your wedding planning by taking some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story (oh, and of course of that ring too!) Your engagement photos are a celebration of your love for each other, taken in a safe place without all of the pressure! We think one of the most important things for the two of us to be able to capture your big day to the best of our ability is for both of you to be comfortable with us!
This is why we think engagement sessions are such an important part of wedding photography. Our engagement session is where you learn how we work behind our cameras and how it feels for you to be in front of our lenses. So when we show up on wedding day, there aren’t any surprises for either of us! You’ll already be familiar with how we operate! With that said, here are a few tips to help ensure that you have the perfect engagement session with your fiancé!
02. compliment each other
The days of the matching white t-shirts & jeans are long gone. Our couples typically bring two outfits: one fancy and one casual. Embellished, sparkly and textured fabrics are so much fun to play with! Keep complimentary colors in mind. Our favorite colors to photograph are: pinks, blues, yellows, and well, all of them! Dress as if you are going to the same place (ie. stilettos and cargo shorts don’t go well together). If you love patterns, great! But there is no need for both of you to be in a bold pattern. Keep in mind the location should set the tone! We want you to look at these images and LOVE them! Wear the right outfit for your comfort levels. Don’t go too short, tight or baggy if you aren’t going to feel comfortable for the full session time. The more confident you both feel, the more likely you are going to love the final product!
6 Tips for a gorgeous engagement session
Let’s take some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story!
Your significant other asked, you said “yes!” and now you’re engaged! Congratulations to both of you and your families! Now, let’s start your wedding planning by taking some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story (oh, and of course of that ring too!) Your engagement photos are a celebration of your love for each other, taken in a safe place without all of the pressure! We think one of the most important things for the two of us to be able to capture your big day to the best of our ability is for both of you to be comfortable with us!
This is why we think engagement sessions are such an important part of wedding photography. Our engagement session is where you learn how we work behind our cameras and how it feels for you to be in front of our lenses. So when we show up on wedding day, there aren’t any surprises for either of us! You’ll already be familiar with how we operate! With that said, here are a few tips to help ensure that you have the perfect engagement session with your fiancé!
03. do what makes you feel great
When you feel good, you’re confident... and confidence translates into great photographs! For some people, getting their hair and make-up done does just that! A lot of our couples choose to schedule their wedding hair & make up trial on the same day as our engagement session. There’s no need to waste all that getting dolled up! We tell all of our couples, these are YOUR images and we want you to feel the best that you ever have!
6 Tips for a gorgeous engagement session
Let’s take some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story!
Your significant other asked, you said “yes!” and now you’re engaged! Congratulations to both of you and your families! Now, let’s start your wedding planning by taking some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story (oh, and of course of that ring too!) Your engagement photos are a celebration of your love for each other, taken in a safe place without all of the pressure! We think one of the most important things for the two of us to be able to capture your big day to the best of our ability is for both of you to be comfortable with us!
This is why we think engagement sessions are such an important part of wedding photography. Our engagement session is where you learn how we work behind our cameras and how it feels for you to be in front of our lenses. So when we show up on wedding day, there aren’t any surprises for either of us! You’ll already be familiar with how we operate! With that said, here are a few tips to help ensure that you have the perfect engagement session with your fiancé!
04. give us all the details
What is your favorite thing to do, eat or drink together? Let that help with your engagement session planning. A simple elegant bouquet goes a long way! Reach out to your wedding day florist and see if they can put together a simple bundle for your engagement session. Do either of you play an instrument? Bring it. Do you have a fur-baby? Bring your pet! There is no detail too small that won’t help make your engagement session unique to your personal love story. Plus anything out of the box is so much fun for us!
6 Tips for a gorgeous engagement session
Let’s take some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story!
Your significant other asked, you said “yes!” and now you’re engaged! Congratulations to both of you and your families! Now, let’s start your wedding planning by taking some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story (oh, and of course of that ring too!) Your engagement photos are a celebration of your love for each other, taken in a safe place without all of the pressure! We think one of the most important things for the two of us to be able to capture your big day to the best of our ability is for both of you to be comfortable with us!
This is why we think engagement sessions are such an important part of wedding photography. Our engagement session is where you learn how we work behind our cameras and how it feels for you to be in front of our lenses. So when we show up on wedding day, there aren’t any surprises for either of us! You’ll already be familiar with how we operate! With that said, here are a few tips to help ensure that you have the perfect engagement session with your fiancé!
05. trust us
This is the whole reason you chose your photographer. They know the best lighting, flattering poses, and techniques to make you two look & feel the best you ever have. Now it’s time for you to take a deep breath and trust the people you chose. The more trust you place in us, the more freedom we will have to create the types of images that you’ll love the most. You’re going to feel uncomfortable, awkward, all the things! But in-between those little moments of awkwardness come beautiful, authentic interactions that can only happen when two people are in love. You’ll hear us say over and over again, “feels weird, looks great!” so, just go with it! As a natural light photographer, we plan our engagement sessions around the lighting of the day. We usually begin them two hours before sunset, which will allow for an outfit change while shooting during the golden hour. Being on time ensures that we do not cut into your session time, so showing up on time and ready will help with that! Once the sun goes down, there isn’t much we can do, so staying on track with timing and lighting is the best way to ensure gorgeous images. This also means that at times we may have to keep an eye on the weather and start earlier in the day. You only get to do this once, so ensuring the environment is perfect will allow us to give you beautiful images!
6 Tips for a gorgeous engagement session
Let’s take some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story!
Your significant other asked, you said “yes!” and now you’re engaged! Congratulations to both of you and your families! Now, let’s start your wedding planning by taking some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story (oh, and of course of that ring too!) Your engagement photos are a celebration of your love for each other, taken in a safe place without all of the pressure! We think one of the most important things for the two of us to be able to capture your big day to the best of our ability is for both of you to be comfortable with us!
This is why we think engagement sessions are such an important part of wedding photography. Our engagement session is where you learn how we work behind our cameras and how it feels for you to be in front of our lenses. So when we show up on wedding day, there aren’t any surprises for either of us! You’ll already be familiar with how we operate! With that said, here are a few tips to help ensure that you have the perfect engagement session with your fiancé!
06. have fun!
These images are meant to be a keepsake for a special, short-time in your life! You won’t be engaged for long so let’s have fun with it! Be ready to laugh, smile, giggle, kiss and flirt your way through our session! We want you to focus on each other, there won’t be time for you to be concerned if you’re doing something “right”. Let us guide you and worry about all the other stuff! Your only job is to snuggle in close and laugh until your belly aches. It’s going to be fun! Engagement sessions are the perfect time to hang out with us, get comfortable in front of our camera, and flirt with your soon-to-be
hubby/wife! What more could someone ask for?
6 Tips for a gorgeous engagement session
Let’s take some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story!
Your significant other asked, you said “yes!” and now you’re engaged! Congratulations to both of you and your families! Now, let’s start your wedding planning by taking some fun, fresh & whimsical pictures that capture your unique love story (oh, and of course of that ring too!) Your engagement photos are a celebration of your love for each other, taken in a safe place without all of the pressure! We think one of the most important things for the two of us to be able to capture your big day to the best of our ability is for both of you to be comfortable with us!
This is why we think engagement sessions are such an important part of wedding photography. Our engagement session is where you learn how we work behind our cameras and how it feels for you to be in front of our lenses. So when we show up on wedding day, there aren’t any surprises for either of us! You’ll already be familiar with how we operate! With that said, here are a few tips to help ensure that you have the perfect engagement session with your fiancé!
Kind Words
from our incredible clients
A few testimonials from real clients who have allowed us to be a part of the most important time of their lives. We would not be all that we are without our amazing clients. Many of the couples we work with end up keeping in touch long after the wedding day and for that, we are incredibly grateful. We know we’ve talked a lot in this wedding guide about who we are and what we do, but now it’s time to let others do some of the talking!
Working with so many wonderful, awesome people with beautiful love stories to tell has been one of the greatest gifts of our job. It has brought meaning to our work in a way we couldn’t have dreamt possible. Here are just a few testimonials from real clients who have allowed us to be a part of the most important time in their lives.
Rachel & Cody
Wedding planning is an extremely stressful time, so being confident in your vendors is crucial. From the moment we met them, we knew they were the perfect match for us. The fact that they are husband and wife makes them the perfect option for a wedding photographer because they were able to make both of us feel comfortable. They are organized, prompt, comforting, calming, fun, just all around great people. Even my Dad commented on how awesome they are. Highly highly recommend booking them for your wedding! They are truly the best.
“Kailee and Tim are AMAZING!!!!!!”
Becca & Phil
Not just because they’re insanely talented but because they are also the greatest people. Kailee and Tim shot our engagement photos last year and I LOVED them - I knew instantly we had to book them for our wedding. Well let me tell you - I knew our wedding photos would be great but I never imagined how great. They are beyond gorgeous! Every single shot exceeded my expectations. These beautiful memories will last a lifetime and every time I look at them I have all those wedding feelings come flooding back - their photos create magic. I can’t thank these two enough for capturing my day so perfectly!”
“It’s hard to put into words how amazing Kailee and Tim are...”
Rachel & Josh
There is a level of comfort and fun that they bring to you while shooting that is very much appreciated amongst your wedding day emotions. I love their style of keeping things natural, colorful and in the moment. We used them for our engagement shoot as well and that was a fantastic time to prove that they were going to be an amazing couple to work with for how well they handled the chaos of getting our dogs to pose for the photos as well! Their patience and organization goes a loooong way. They were a dream in making us feel comfortable in just being photographed and having fun around them which is important!
“I couldn’t be happier that we chose Kai and Tim for our Wedding Photography.”
Bri & Austin
We used them for both our engagement photos and wedding day photos and they were absolutely amazing. They somehow are able to make us look so at ease and effortless in the photos. The photos are just stunning that I still struggle to decide which ones to frame. These two toughed out Charleston heat to grab amazing detail photos, ceremony photos, around downtown photos, and reception ones, too! We also made the decision to add on film, and it is completely worth the cost. Kailee and Tim's talent shines through!! Aside from their amazing photography skills and eye for capturing beautiful Charleston backgrounds (which can be see easily on instagram), these two have infectious personalities. They are so positive and bubbly and feel like old friends.
“Talk about dream wedding photographers!!”
Lea & Grant
Hiring them was the best decision we made and I could not be more thankful that we had them on our vendor list. These two are the real deal! They are attentive, hilarious, and beyond talented. Our wedding was the first time we met and they could not have made us feel more comfortable and well taken care of. All of our family and friends spoke so highly of how seamless they made the whole day. Not only did we receive our gallery back quickly but every single photo is stunning. We are SO thankful for Kailee & Tim and are continuously blown away by their creative talent and kind hearts.
“Kailee and Tim are THE best.”
We are so incredibly honored and humbled that you are interested in us as your wedding day photographers!
It’s always so great to personally connect before booking your date, regardless of how we meet: whether it be over the phone or video call. Shoot us an e-mail so we can set up a time to chat & get to know each other a bit more!
All dates are available on a first come, first served basis. An inquiry does not reserve a specific date.
Dates are reserved by submitting a signed contract and a $2,500.00 retainer. Payments can be made securely through our online system.
We can’t wait to hear from you!
xox Kai & Tim
Almost any wine is good so long as it’s open.
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