It’s that time of year! “Best of” posts from photographers where they showcase their favorite pictures from the year AND “behind the scenes” posts that include somewhat embarrassing pictures of them actually shooting. This is my Behind The Scenes post for 2016. 🙂 

All of these pictures were taken at the 20-some weddings I photographed this year, and all were photographed by my lovely second shooters. And boy, this year would not have been as great as it was without them. I’ve had some challenging days and some stressful weddings, but knowing I had them with me always made it better. They parked my car, carried my bags, grabbed me a Coke (or half Diet, half regular in my case 🙂 ), found family members, distracted the kids, fluffed the dresses, listened to me vent, made me laugh, took beautiful pictures, and so much more! Thank you Chelsey, Carrie, Kristin, Laurel, Jodi, Jamie, and Mom for working hard for me in 2016. You all were so valuable to me this year and I hope we can do it again in 2017!

On another note, I put this post in both the “weddings” and “photog tips” categories of my blog because I think there’s some advice I can share with fellow photogs here. 

1. Hire reliable, friendly, professional second shooters. They’ll physically and mentally help you, which is so important during a long, hard wedding day. They’ll also help make you look good. 🙂
2. Ask your second shooters to take pictures of you in action (or even quick videos on your phone!). Not only did I realize that I have some odd tendencies and bad haircuts while looking at these pictures, but also that I may have some mannerisms that don’t always communicate positively to others. I can now be more conscious of this and possibly handle myself better at weddings.
3. Having pictures of yourself in action allows you to do a “Behind The Scenes” post (just like this!) at the end of the year…and if there’s one thing I know to be true amongst people universally, it’s that they’re nosey. They want to know what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, and what you look like when you’re doing it. Whether it’s business-related or not, if I share a picture of me or my family on social media, it absolutely will get more likes and more engagement than the pretty bridal portrait I posted before. I learned early to put myself into my business and share personally through my business, and that would in turn benefit my business. There’s some definite truth in that and this post allows me to continue to share personally. Maybe you can do the same? 🙂

So here’s what JFP looks like in action…

I love this capture I snuck in of Jodi! 🙂

Testing out my flashes in a yellow church…

My mom likes to pose with people when she helps test out my lights. Usually it’s someone she knows, like Scott. 🙂

Sometimes wedding photographers get to play with bobble head dolls!

Oh Carrie, you’re so fun. 🙂

It was raining…excuse my mom’s appearance…

Running while also directing?? 

Don’t like this haircut. 

I always win over the littles! 🙂

Do not zoom in on my face. 🙂

I see Leo Gonzalez, videographer extraordinaire! 🙂

Talking with bride Carrie…she was hiding in the car.

Wedding coordinator Tawnya! She’s the sweetest! My mom and I photographed her wedding eight years ago??

My mom was using me as a test subject…

That’s a Lularoe skirt, by the way. 🙂

Laurel snapped this while distracting the ring bearer. Well, actually, she let the ring bearer take pictures with her camera and it was the best diversion of the day!

If you know Laurel Hill, you understand the next two pictures… 🙂

 

Kristin is always a good time. We can have some pretty serious talks. 🙂

Second shooters: When your primary shooter asks you to be a test subject, this is how you should pose. 🙂

Sweet Chelsey. 🙂

Sometimes we take pictures of the awesome videographers, too!

My mom ALWAYS finds a friend or two at the weddings…

Lauren at Lakeview in Morgantown is awesome! She drove us to this lovely spot for pictures and even offered to fluff the dress. 🙂

Thanks again to all my second shooters and all the wonderful venues who hosted us! You all really do help the world go round. 🙂