Behind The Scenes – Photographing in 2021

I know I always claim the Abbys Saturday Blooper post as my “favorite blog post of the year” – but this one comes in close second place.

Let’s go back in time to 2019 – I made the (ridiculous) decision to grow out my bangs that year & hated every moment of it.
Which led me to 2020 – I was so excited to have updated behind-the-scenes images of me with bangs again! But 2020 tossed another “facial obtrusion” into the mix: masks.
Which simply means: 2021 is the year I finally have behind-the-scene images of me working on wedding days looking like I actually look (no mask, the bangs are back, and short hair!)

Words cannot describe how thankful I was when all the mask mandates began to drop away in early 2021. I mean, I know that masks can be helpful in some instances & as much as I hated wearing them, I considered them to be a professional courtesy to my couples & their guests.
HOWEVER: masks are downright impossible to shoot photos in! Wearing a mask fogs up my viewfinder – meaning I cannot see what I’m photographing. Wearing a mask muffles my voice – so when I’m trying to give directions from behind my camera, my subjects simply cannot hear & understand me. So, when the mask restrictions began to lift, I literally jumped for joy!

2021 was an incredible year for my little business. I exceeded my goals in wedding bookings & other shoots – which simply means I was very busy. But I love being busy! After all, I love being a wedding photographer! Sure, it is stressful & chaotic & a lot of work, but it is also SO MUCH FUN. I get to celebrate with people on one of the biggest days of their lives! What more could a person ask for? And looking back at these behind-the-scenes images brings back so many happy memories from 2021.

If you can’t get enough behind-the-scenes, check out:
2020’s version, 2019’s version, 2018’s version, 2017’s version, 2016’s version, 2015’s version, 2014’s version, and 2013’s version!

And, before we begin: I just have to give a HUGE shout-out to the two amazing photographers who came along with me as second-shooters in 2021!!
Derrick came along with me to a few weddings – some as a second-photographer and some as the videographer for the day!
Darcie has been helping me out whenever Derrick can’t come with me (usually due to a lack of a babysitter) for the last few years & I always love having her along!
All of the photos in this post of me (unless they are mirror-selfies) were taken by one of these 2 amazing photographers!!

So, here we go! A tiny peek into what 2021 looked like as a wedding photographer!

Apparently I was into wedding attire with large floral prints this year! It’s always so funny for me to look back at what I wore on wedding days & realize the patterns: the things I definitely will be wearing again next wedding season, and the things that need to never come out of my closet on a wedding day ever again!

A little “Where’s Waldo” for you..

(Shoutout to the guest at Jason & Janelle’s wedding that snagged this cell phone snap of me [in the middle]!)

Yes Darcie, I can still see you!

I might look decent & put together at the beginning of a wedding day, but by the end, I make no promises about how I look (sweat, spills, humidity, it all takes a toll on my appearance) so don’t judge me by what I look like during a reception!

We loved working with Tyler for Cory & Allie’s wedding day!

I look like I’m trying to steal things off of the head table – what in the world am I doing?!

Just in case you’re curious how those shots where it appears the wind is blowing a bride’s veil are created – dedicated second shooters – that’s how!

You know I thought I was super clever for this shot! I snagged it & then instantly stepped out of the little mirror so I could continue capturing Kristin in the big mirror – but, so clever, right?!

As a wedding photographer – I make good use of every single moment of time I have! So, Cassey‘s dress needed bustled? Fabulous – let’s take some close-ups while the bridesmaids do that.

“So, after you cut your cake, I’m definitely going to steal a piece, okay?”

This is probably my favorite (completely unintentional) photo of Darcie ever.

OH, but wait – there’s more!

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Yes, I am a full-time wedding photographer, but I’m also a roller coaster photographer!! You all know that Derrick runs a popular & growing YouTube channel centered around roller coasters – and I am his little photographer assistant. I snag photos of Derrick shooting video of roller coasters all the time, but this year, I became even better at handing Braelynn my phone & asking her to take photos of me taking photos too!

So, here are a few photos of us looking completely different than we do on wedding days – shooting completely different subjects – ones we don’t have to pose or direct, but ones we are constantly striving for a “different” “more creative” photo of.

Austin! The day we met one of our very best roller coaster enthusiast friends at Six Flags Great Adventure! Who knew that after randomly meeting Austin this day – we would have an awesome new friend for life?

Thank you all so much for your support & love for me & my little business!! I am living the dream and it’s because of you all! Cheers to an amazing 2022!

And if you can’t get enough behind-the-scenes, check out:
2020’s version, 2019’s version, 2018’s version, 2017’s version, 2016’s version, 2015’s version, 2014’s version, and 2013’s version!