I know what it’s like to want a wedding that feels small, meaningful, and true to who you are—a day built on intention instead of others' expectations. That’s where I come in. I’m here to help you trust your instincts, tune out the noise, and make space for the moments that feel good, grounded, and real.
St. Louis Micro-Wedding + Elopement Photographer
I'M HEATHER--
here to help you create a wedding day that feels like yours, not a performance.
i love
honest moments
YOU MIGHT LOVE ME FOR MY
Calm energy
I HAVE An
intuitive approach
MY WORK IS
Deeply personal
"I literally cannot recommend Shadow + Fern Photo enough! Heather is seriously incredible. She made our engagement session so fun that it felt like a date and assisted us in making a wedding timeline. Everyone in the family and wedding party adored her, and she brought a sense of ease to me as the bride. She went above and beyond for us AND got us the most beautiful pictures to commemorate our wedding day."
Beth, 2024 Bride
Back in the mid-2010s—when burlap, lace, and cheesy poses were the norm—I had a micro-wedding before the term even existed. After realizing I was planning a wedding for everyone but ourselves, I cut our 150-person guest list down to thirty-eight and chose our venue based on what we wanted, unrestricted by a guest count. Choosing something small and intentional changed everything. We hired two brand-new photographers whose work felt alive and honest, and for the first time I understood how powerful it was to have a day that felt true and photographs that reflected that.
My Why | Micro-Weddings Rooted in Intention
How my small wedding shaped my future career
“And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good."
– John Steinbeck, East of Eden
my fam
homesteading + foraging
singing + music
my cats, including
Shadow and Fern themselves
Years later, my husband bought me my first professional camera for my 30th birthday, and what started as a hobby became a career almost overnight. As I photographed more weddings, I kept seeing the same heartbreaking patterns—couples having big, performative weddings they didn’t actually want, or giving up control after too much pushback from loved ones. I knew what it felt like to almost hand my own wedding to everyone else.
I couldn't stand watching couples lose the joy they deserved.
Life eventually forced me to slow down and reevaluate everything—my time, my energy, and the kind of work that matters. It led me back to the heart of why I started: creating space for couples to have weddings that feel grounded, intimate, and deeply personal. Now I take on a limited number of micro-weddings and elopements each year so I can show up fully for my couples, help them tune out the noise, and document the quiet, cinematic moments they’ll want to relive again and again. Shadow + Fern exists because your wedding should feel like yours—and your photos should help you remember exactly how it felt.
Photos by Cedar & Pines
Photo by Rebecca Stephenson Photography
