Behind The Scenes – Photographing In 2017

First blog post of 2018! YAY!

So, I made a lot of minor changes & tweaks in my business in both 2016 & 2017. Micro adjustments that altogether added up to some pretty macro revolution. You probably can’t see most of them from your end, but I truly streamlined so much of the “back-end” of my business. It’s been fabulous & freeing!

One of the tiny tweaks I made was being super organized as far as planning out blog posts. I have already sat down and planned out what I will be posting on my blog for the next few months! It’s awesome & definitely the key to consistently blogging (which I love to do!). I used to sit down at my computer & stare at the blank screen, wondering what I should write, but now (and over the entirety of 2017), I blog 3 times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, like clockwork. And planning it out in advance is the key to that!

Whew – all that to say! January is going to be an awesome month! It’s my favorite actually because January is when I look back at the previous year. I’m kicking it off today with my behind-the-scenes post – and coming up soon will be my favorite wedding, engagement, portrait, and roller coaster images, as well as Abby Saturday bloopers, and more! It’s so much fun to comb back over the entire year & compile it all in one place! I promise, you definitely don’t want to miss a single thing! So, make things easy on yourself & subscribe to my blog via BlogLovin’ – it’s the easiest way to keep up to date anytime I post anything! If you’d like a step-by-step tutorial for setting that up, you can check out this post I wrote here! It’s super quick & easy and you’ll never miss another blog post I write again!

2017 was so so good. I photographed & celebrated with 14 KAP Couples (as well as a handful of Lasting Memories by Ellen Couples as well!) The following images are a compilation of “behind-the-scenes” moments. The images of me were mostly taken by my amazing second-shooters: Ellen & Derrick (and you’ll see their pictures pop up in this post too). If you can’t tell, we have FUN. Like, so much fun! Photographing weddings is seriously the dream job – we celebrate with couples, who have become our friends, on the happiest & most memorable day of their lives. It’s the best!

I never mind warming up the dance floor!

Randyland was definitely the most unique location I’ve ever photographed an engagement session! So much fun – I’d love to do another there!!

Ever curious how I captured those epic night engagement photos of Mike & Jess? Ellen came along & we carried that flash/umbrella around all over the South Side of Pittsburgh – so good!

Speaking of Ellen: she’s seriously magic with the guys!

Discussing cake cutting tactics..

And this is the part of the day when I ask the bridal party to do the Hokey Pokey with me: “You put your right hand in..”

Those legs though!

Look at these adorable little guys! It’s so crazy that Vernon is just a few weeks away from being ONE now!

I found you!

That one time Ellen & I parked in a parking garage, I took a picture of where we parked, and we still couldn’t find the car at the end of the night!

Sometimes, we chauffer bridesmaids & flower girls around!

My friend Tiffany & I attended the Captured::Pittsburgh Gala as “first year artists”!

Definitely the most embarrassing photo in the lot! Let’s count my double-chins, shall we?

I am a professional reflection photographer & wedding dress bustler – I’ve got the skills.

I have no idea..

That time Amy, Lydia, and I hid behind trees & bushes to capture Zeb proposing to Emilie!!

Testing out the wireless remote!

Deep discussions with Chrissy – we were probably debating how soon it would be proper to eat the wedding cake upon entering the reception!

Umm, Ell? I promise folks, she was photographing something very very important. Bug lives matter too.

Oh look! My favorite DJ in the Twin Tiers slipped into my behind-the-scenes post! Hi Ryan!

Don’t mind me, just getting comfortable here!

Engagement photos at Deep Creek Lake (aka heaven)!

Okay, okay, these are some of my favorite behind-the-scenes ever! While Ellen was out photographing Zeb & Emilie‘s receiving line, I was in the sanctuary setting up for a “big” family photo (that Ellen & I needed to be in). Wireless shutter release remote for the win! I’ve never needed to set something up on a wedding day quite like this before, so obviously it required many test shots!

For serious though: this was the end result!! SO GOOD!

The one and only wedding we shot in the rain this year! I’m knocking on all the wood that the luck carries into next year!!

Deep discussions with Mallory: “Do you think anyone would notice if we snuck some wedding cupcakes up to the getting-ready room?”

Love this family! I’ve been taking their pictures for 8 years!!

More cutie pies! My KAP Couples make the most adorable babies!

Remember when Derrick & I went to Kennywood to photograph the coasters? Definitely a highlight of 2017!

“Ehh, we can probably leave the rent-a-groomsmen in the limo, I haven’t lost any bridal party members yet!”

A wild dancing Ellen! (along with a wild dancing Debbie & Kevin!)

He kind of drives me crazy, but I truly love having him along on wedding days!

“If I creep along behind her, she’ll never notice me & won’t be able to take my picture.”

The face I make when getting caught trying to steal a cupcake.

Yep – we’ll do just about anything for an amazing photo! Last year, I stood in a waterfall, this year, Ellen stood in the Lake!

It’s all totally worth it though, because we’ll go eat Chick-Fil-A when it’s all over!

It’s a bird? It’s a plane? It’s the Pittsburgh Steelers?

I’m really pro at finding your most dirty mirrors to take selfies in!

I’m also a professional door-opener. I’ve got all the skills folks!

Practicing the waltz with myself.

Kennywood! I’m standing in the middle of the Jack Rabbit!

These definitely give me the major winter blues – and the major is-it-time-to-go-back-to-the-lake feels!

Surveying the room: main mission – where are the cookies set up?

Dancing! Because, weddings are for having FUN!

Speaking of fun: shooting my cousin Zeb’s wedding in August was a major highlight – it was so so so good!

And, if we’re friends & I find you at a wedding I’m photographing, I will snag you for a selfie!

(She just might kill me for this one.)

Don’t mind me as I walk into your frame.

Has anyone seen my hand? I seem to have misplaced it.

The day I was taking Mike & Miranda’s engagement photos & found Derrick’s old bestie Adam hanging out at the park!

We LOVE photobooths!
PS- Ellen’s having a GIRL!

This is my “get-out-the-way” run.

Ellen – smooching random wedding guests (it’s okay, that’s her husband).

Gotta watch out for this girl though – she’s wild.

We’re definitely discussing if it would be okay to serve dessert first.

You can’t see it, but I’m slyly sticking my finger in the cake to taste-test it before Mike & Jess cut into it. Safety first everyone!

I’ve taken this exact mirror selfie at the Shoresbrook Inn every year for the last 3 years!

Make way: photographer coming through!

She’s wearing green so she can blend in.

Debating whether to tell the bride that she just stepped in dog poop (totally kidding!)

Laying down the law: “The next groomsmen who gets out of line, won’t get any wedding cake.”

Breaking it down.

Am I fluffing her dress? Pulling bugs out of her train? Simply smiling because I know there’s going to be good cake at the reception? You decide.

My newest assistant! He might be a little too short to see what he’s doing, but he’s got the talent!

Thank you all – I seriously am living the dream and it’s because of you all! Cheers to an amazing 2018!

If you can’t get enough behind-the-scenes, check out:
2016’s version, 2015’s version, 2014’s version, and 2013’s version!