Behind the Scenes of the 2018 Wedding + Portrait Season!
You guyssssss! Last year was the first time I put together a post like this, and it ended up being one of my post popular blog posts to date! I can’t say I really blame you guys, these are some of my favorite posts each year from other photographers I follow! And let’s be honest, all for good reason - Who doesn’t want to see the TRUTH, the REALITY and the HILARITY of what really happens behind the scenes??
Let’s kick things off with the type of shot I end up with multiple times a year - the accidental one.
How do my couples get to awesome and epic locations for photos? LIKE THIS…..and they’re all the more wonderful because of their willingness to do so!!
Me: “Plant one on him!”
Kim:
When a piggyback ride is oh so suddenly….going south.
When the doggy catches me, I take his picture!
Very important step on your wedding day!
When your groomsmen just cannot keep it together
When the flower girl momentarily steals the show….aka: what happens at every wedding when there’s a flower girl!
TIDE PEN TO THE RESCUE!
One of the many ways flower girls get down the aisle
Ya know what I’m most definitely not above?? Having your bridesmaids be our veil floofer!
Anddddd she rocked it!!
What happens when I spot a mirror on a wedding day??
Crushing that garlic bread like a BOSS
Easily the best stink eye I’ve ever, ever caught on camera!
When your best man has a loootttttt to say in his toast!
When a quick family session turns…unexpectedly….into a dance lesson
Quick intermission of wedding days to showcase this gem right here. Updated headshot day and me…..and the bug that you can’t see but that was most definitely there!!!
THISSSSSSSSSSSSSS PHOTO………..without question sums up all the behind the scenes. It totally also sums up what it means to be a wedding photographer - hahaha. That hilarious flower girl is going places in life, mark my words.
Do you think they knew I was taking this photo??
How bride and groom portraits sometimes go
Sometimes the alignment of my off-cam flash, a guest, and myself…are…EPIC
These two here, recreating a photo that happened at the woman in blue’s wedding - when our bride here, Sarah, was just a tot. Clearly the tables have turned!
The type of competition on a wedding day that I can’t compete with!
Keeping the bride cool on like, the hottest day ever
Heyyyy remember those random accidental shots I told you I always manage to get??
When the doggy really wants in on the bride dress photos
When the bride is away…..the bridesmaids will play
The sweet doggy is back again, really wanting in on photo time!
Spying on the bride like
Let’s face it, signing the marriage license is nerve racking
Take note….if you hire a wedding singer, he will try to embarrass you
Amber here….testing out her “bridal buddy” in prep for all restroom visits later in the day. Oh and then - the hard reality of going barefoot.
Furthermore…..Amber had the single best timeline I’ve everrrrr seen, ha!
When your groom has no idea how to work around the dress when coming in for a hug
And then circles you like a helicopter to get the full viewing experience
If Amber could offer future brides a tip…. I think she would say a portable fan is a genius idea for May weddings!
Pretty sure this got mentioned in last years Behind the Scenes post - golf carts are a real big part of wedding days, and these two here were all about it!
Bride and Groom real life portraits
When Mama is going for that perfect shot!!
Popping wine corks……surprising the heck out of everyone since who knows how long
Selfies….major priority on your wedding day!
Something that makes me oh so nervous - steaming dresses when dresses are ON!
Bridesmaids are gonna get you with hairspray, it’s like a right of passage
How groomsmen wait their turn for group photos
When your doggy arrives to join in for portraits, but gets and stays distracted and hyper focused onnnn……pine cones.
Avoiding goose poop like a real bride boss!
How groomsmen actually pose for their half of bridal party photos
When the bride…the beautiful Bailey, rocksss at spinning in her gorgeous wedding gown….and then….
Her now husband Ben needs his own turn :)
Dad’s who know how to dance……and dab
How’s that age old saying go again?? Oh yes, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em
This kid here…..both hands + two forks = more cake……….also equals: GENIUS.
Mom and daughter legit dance moves right here
When cute little grandpa teaches the boys how to properly smoke cigars
When the deliciousness of your wedding cake surprises you
Bridesmaid gets emotional at the sight of her bestie in her wedding gown……..Brides’s mom scolds said bridesmaid.
Fairly often, there’s someone who can’t be at your wedding - so Skype calls must happen!
Once again, the real reality of bride and groom portraits
Speaking of real realities….
Another one of the ways flower girls get down the aisle
Heyyyyy…. #VannaWhite
No words needed…
The next series of images is proof of what happens when BEETLES ATTACK
SO I went over to my camera bag to switch lenses, looked up and caught these two lovebirds practicing their first dance….and that’s when I melted.
One of my favorite prompts to give my couples is that I want the guy to SNEAK ATTACK his girl - and this right here, is what happens…nearly every.single.time.
Andddd it’s awesome, every.single.time.
Look how presh that sneak attack turned out!
To this day I’m not sure what was going on here, but wow is it ever perfect hahaha
Engagement session intermission for pics of ducks!
Hotel room pre-wedding dance party break outs!
Doggies always want in on photos and I am always oh so happy to oblige!
What happens when mimosas have been flowing….can you spot the the grab??
When your bridesmaids walk back into your hotel room and spot you in your dress….emotions run high, folks!
Sometimes grooms haven’t a clue how to maneuver his brides dress and then things like this happen
Headlocks and cuddles - posing with your besties!
Groomsmen can’t help themselves when treats are involved
If you thought bridesmaids and groomsmen exit ceremonies all prim and proper, think again!
And here I thought I had caught this groomsmen in a very compromising position, … and then he flipped the script on me.
When the poor Mom of the groom gets emotional during the mother/son dance, and he helps to wipe those tears by hiding her whole face
Wedding cake cutting complications, yo
When the grooms cake, Dallas Cowboys themed….is apparently a “choking hazard”
Next few shots…………One word: INTERCEPTION!
Another series for ya, and this one we will call - BUG TRAP. Fun fact: most bridesmaid and bride dresses are basically like a mosquito net…and do trust + believe that bugs get stuck all up in them at nearly every single wedding. This bridesmaid, the poor dear, hit the panic button on her unwanted visitor!
Groomsmen photo reality strikes yet again and these guys really didn’t hold back
Sometimes I wear the garter!
Sneak attack BRILLIANCE yet again!
Bro love right here
One of the things that happens when I get caught circling the room at receptions
When your new husband smashes cake in your face (obviously you smash back) but then….
He tries to keep the napkin away….tsk tsk.
His Mom I believe, wanted a “nice portrait” of her son
The actual kiss that sealed the real deal
WHEN SPIDERWEBS ATTACK OUT OF NOWHERE
Me: “Slow motion run towards each other and then pick that girl up all romantic movie like!”
Molly + Ryan:
Don’t worry, second attempt was a total success!
GIFT ENTHUSIASM is a real thing
Important prep step - deodorant.
Checking for lipstick transfers
The victory walk of a bridesmaid who retrieved the brides bouquet
Your new brother-in-law? He’s there for ya, babe
Actual footage of me in my happy place!
Me…. the photographer. The dress carrier extraordinaire.
Little brother making sure big brother doesn’t tank on us by offering a wee snack
Veils y’all, they sometimes come riiiight on out, unexpectedly, in perfect timing….right in the middle of the ceremony
Oh and when that happens, your girls are always there for ya!
That veil floofing job… I assign it to bridesmaids, groomsmen, coordinators….even videographers :) Thanks Brian!
Excellent freakin’ veil floofing job, Brian!!
Sometimes the bride needs the whole bottle!
Getting photos with my couples is my faveeeee! Love these guys!
Robert here, would like to show you all how grooms should actually get treated on their wedding day
We’ll call this one, what Robert gets for the previous
Meanwhile
This will forever crack me up. Jessica explained that her daughter, Millie… seems like she “identifies” their family dog by first looking at his paw, all the time haha, kids do the funniest things
When wedding days and game days collide
Sometimes the only way to get the little ones to cooperate is to give them someone else’s bouquet
Even officiants want their group selfie shots
Welcoming the new guy into the fam like
First married selfie status
When kiddos catch me taking photos
When the garter retrieval process surprises everyone, including the bride herself
Grandpa Jim here, at his granddaughter’s wedding, said he had something he wanted to show me. Turns out, Gpa Jim used to take photos a lot, “from the east coast to the west coast” he said, and of course he had his own light meter :) :) :)
We’ve got a bridesmaid down folks, splinter in foot - I repeat, SPLINTER IN FOOT
Bridesmaid going above and beyond, as per usual
This is not the Runaway Bride scene, but it is the truth about wedding day sweat :)
Bridal party photos get EXTRA sometimes
More of that “extra” can be seen here if you look for the red-head
It’s her wedding and she’ll do what she wants!
Videographer Bailey aka: my light tester!
More of me getting updated headshots….fun ones, like hopping in a rain puddle…which, NEWSFLASH…CAN HURT.
When two very professional photographers attempt to take pics together :)
Failed attempts turned into a giggle fest :)
When it takes nearly every groomsmen to fix the grooms pocket square….
….and then they high-five about a job well done!
Getting chilly on your wedding day, it happens!
Our next series here shows what happened when Lacey’s garter slipped off and David found a creative way to pick it up
Giggle fits break out at any ol’ time - including the second you put the ring on your bride’s finger
When you hug your new father-in-law and said hug turns into a quick spin across the dance floor
Part time flower girl….part time confused flower delivery girl
I got caught yet again!
Speaking of me getting caught, here I go…getting caught by the BRIDE - who, I might add, threw me this unexpected gem of a reaction
This sorta thing has never happened, and it was AWESOME. Here’s me with Travis + Lorraine (left of me) who were a 2017 couple of mine! Laura and Blake in the middle - their wedding of mine in 2018. And on the right, Rachel and Chanse, who are a 2019 couple of mine!! A TRIFECTA OF ELP COUPLES!!!!
Ever wondered what wedding guests do? This, they do this
Pre wedding prep coming atcha from MickeyD’s
Proof that more often that not, as guests begin arriving….the bride is being snuck around in some location so as to avoid being seen too soon!
Ways to help the bride:
1. Hold her bouquet
2. Help her change shoes
Remember when I mentioned what happens when I spot a mirror??
This kid here is tired of all the wedding day hooplah
Lauren here…..shocked and appalled at how her new husband Andrew is handling the garter retrieval part of their reception…
…….which is like this of course, hard-hat and all
I think she was convinced that their DJ friend had been in on the whole thing :)
That moment you realize basically everyone has been staring at you through the window, witnessing your first look
Bridal party photo time on a quick pause as the ceremony chairs come through! Hi Alex!
When everybody’s high-fiving it up and the groom himself feels completely left out
When dancing guests catch me creeping on their dance moves…they turn things up a notch
Here we have another progression series of the sneak attack!
How cuteeee are they at the grand finale of the sneak attack!?
We switched things up with a reversed sneak attack, and Anthony’s LOOK OF SURPRISE is absolutely hilarious
Once again, that end result of sneak attacks gets me every time!
Some couples have an extra dose of awesome….some couples have - a secret handshake
Same couple….and that fun loving secret handshake is out the window….in its place, college rivalry choke-holds of course
Proof once again that my couples go to great lengths for cool as heck locations
Which result in cool as heck photos!
If they climb down, they gotta climb back up!
When you find a lion statue…. you sit on it. Those are the rules.
As if posing on a lion statue didn’t prove how awesome Katie + Matt are…. there’s always this. They brought a BROOM to their engagement session, you know, in case they needed to sweep some leaves off the steps of our location - hahaha I’m obsessed!
Me: “You guys ready to take some portraits??”
Stefanie:
What actually happens during family portraits
Even the brides daughter can step in as the veil floofer!
She can also wear the veil :)
Me: “Hey guys, just one sec, I’m gonna test my light!”
Callie + Brandon:
Sometimes I catch my couples playing in the leaves
Of all things that crash engagement sessions….a crawdad (or as the Aussies call ‘em, “yabbies”) might be the most surprising!
Did you know I have a close knit relationship with a storm trooper and Princess Leia?? FACT.
WHEN SCARVES ATTACK
I asked them to go to opposite corners and run toward each other - and Brett here, took that prompt verrryyy seriously, ha!
When he goes high and you thought he was going low
Second time’s a charm!
And THAT my friends…. is it. There’s a whole lot that happens behind the scenes as a wedding photographer, and truly this massive post was just a glimpse of it all! If you made it til this part of the story, I’m impressed big time, and I’m gonna hope you thoroughly enjoyed it all!!
If this just wasn’t enough goodness for you, you can go check out the 2017 Behind the Scenes post by clicking here!
