🎵 It’s the most wonderful time of the year. 🎵

Last year, I wrote:

2018 was an incredible year but I won’t lie… I’m thrilled for this fresh start. Personally, professionally, politically, environmentally and spiritually ‘18 had challenging moments.

In a lot of ways, I’m feeling ready for a new DECADE. I think at the end of each year I’m just ready for the personal reset because last year’s me and this year’s me seem to be the same person with the same feelings.

In 2019, I shot 25 weddings between my own SSP couples and working for Caity along with helping out 2 other fabulous photographers for 4 additional weddings. The only venue that I visited twice this year was Historic Acres of Hershey and I worked in 6 different states!

Come with me on a tour of some really embarrassing photos captured throughout the year! Welcome to the most honest and humbling blog post of the year!

In 2019, I felt like I really got into a good groove with detail styling. This was one of the parts of the day where I think I’ve grown exponentially and come to be really confident. If you want to see some of the resulting shots from these behind the scenes images, I did a whole blog post about my favorite detail photos of the year! Head over HERE to see a lot of gorgeous inanimate objects!

If there’s one thing that every wedding has in common it’s that I spread out and make a mess during detail photos every, single, time.

2019 was also the year of the same-day slideshow! I was able to gift a slideshow to every single one of my couples this year and I ADORE their reactions to seeing a few of their photos before their reception has even ended! It makes the extra work totally worth it.

How do I do these? A strong second shooter and the ability to shovel food in my mouth, check my texts and finally respond for the first time since coverage started and edit all at the same time.

I’ll keep the humble brags rolling by telling you… if you need a boutonnière pinned on, I am your girl.
Any bout, any type, one pin, 2.2 seconds flat.

Dress fluffing is also of course top on the menu of wedding photographers’ specialties! I’m so thankful for all of the gorgeous women who let me be their honorary bridesmaid this year and gave me the privilege of making sure their gorgeous gowns were perfect!

I also played the stand-in role of “mom” several times to help with buttons and tight zippers. I always cherish being trusted with buttoning up those gorgeous silk buttons.

Time out for a quick game of “Where’s Savannah?”.

Caity joined me for most of my weddings this year and gosh, I am so grateful! I don’t have words to explain how thankful I am that she’s with me weekend after weekend and that I get the opportunity to return the favor and work with her too! Having a regular second shooter is such a rarity to be cherished.

You may not know, but most second photographers actually have their own businesses too (just like Caity and I) and pick up weddings working for other photographers to help out, earn some extra money, network and learn! Every photographer works so differently so you’re guaranteed to learn something (even if it’s just how to handle a crappy situation) when you work with someone new.

But there is a comfort in being able to work with Caity because we are somewhat similar, she gets me, we can anticipate each other’s needs and I trust her wholly. From light landscaping for the perfect picture to testing light with me to save time to making my brides feel so special to nailing the best images - she’s a gem!

Oooookay and then there was this time that Caity had a teeny little accident and freaked out about it. TOTAL PANIC.

At Brigid and Steve’s wedding, we were styling details in a hallway at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia and I asked Caity to please photograph one of Brigid’s special pins for her bouquet. When Caity took the back off of the pin in order to style it, the back popped off and flew behind the radiator. Cue the desperate freak out.

I was NOT that worried and I knew we’d get it back some way or another. So while she was leaning over trying to figure out how to get her arm between the window sill and the radiator cover, it was quite the hilarious show.

I was able to move the radiator cover gently and safely, reach around and pick up the pin back and then we had a good laugh.

All is safe and fine, Brigid!

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Sometimes I look down during the day and realize, we do NOT travel light.
And then other times I look around and just have to laugh! From dogs to Mario (golf) Carts, we always have fun!

Caity has just as many really embarrassing photos of me because I also worked a handful of weddings for her this year - including one in DISNEY WORLD. Thank you, thank you for that incredible memory, Caity. It’s always a big honor for me to be asked to serve her clients with her! This year we visited some of my favorite venues and also some really unique ones!

Caity isn’t my only vendor friend, I promise!

This year it was such a joy to work with Adam of Soundfactor Entertainment several times (he was my wedding DJ and is simply the best!!).
Emily Pottiger was my second photographer for a wedding and I loved meeting her and hope to work with her again soon!
It was so cool to watch Ben Papa film his first wedding and I can’t wait to see where his future takes him.
Of course, Amanda of Everyone Deserves Flowers doing her thing is fun to watch. She’s such an amazing florist, coordinator and designer and I wish I could work with her every weekend!
My sweet friend, Meg, was a guest at a wedding that Caity and I captured for our close friends Anna and Darian and Meg got to witness our little pre-reception panic when the timeline got tight and the reception space wasn’t set up on yet. She was SUCH a champ and jumped right into assembling flashes and triggers. THANKS MEG!
Simone Jaramillo joined me for one of my Philadelphia weddings and truly took such good care of me and my clients throughout the day. She’s a doll!

Wedding photography is not for the faint of heart. The days are long and exhausting, there is so much travel involved, you basically live in your car from April through November and your diet consists of whatever snacks you can eat in one bite and that coveted reception Coca-Cola.

It can be very difficult to balance being professional, sweet and patient with keeping well meaning but bossy family members at bay. There are the occasional infuriating interactions that stick with you and make you wonder if you can continue to do this job. Weddings are stressful - bottom line. Everyone is on edge hoping that the day goes absolutely perfectly.

Keeping your head on straight and remaining true to your mission to serve your clients above and beyond what they ever expected is HARD. But it’s such a blessing. I can count the difficult moments of my season on one hand and while I remember every single one of those interactions, I could never bottle up all of the joy in one post or even attempt quantify it.

My job is stressful and hard.

BUT IT IS FUN.

I am truly so, so lucky to be able to walk beside so many special couples and document their love.

I have the best time professionally third wheeling!

No wedding season would be complete without spending the day with some of my favorite former clients and friends! This is community marketing at work! These people are why and how I’m able to do this job!

And finally… here are the faces of some of the best, sweetest, most fun and generous couples! Every year I think I’ll get a picture with all of my couples and we never seem to remember all of them. Ooops! Maybe in 2020.

Thank you all for such an amazing year! I can’t wait to see what happens next!