My 2016 wedding season begins THIS SATURDAY! Ah! You guys, I am SO excited about this year! Every year gets better and better running this small business but my heart is on my sleeve on wedding days. Laughter, tears of joy, bonding, creativity, fast-paced action… it’s all there and I live for it! Here are 5 reasons I am PUMPED for this year:

Seriously. I am so blessed that such amazing couples find me and want me to capture the most special day of their lives. I have the opportunity to build relationships from our first email interaction but we really seal the deal at their engagement sessions! I get to know their love story, find out what makes them laugh and learn what makes them feel comfortable. I adore each and every one of them! I have a few more engagement sessions this month for my summer/fall/winter weddings 🙂

I am excited to shoot at Oyster Farm again for Abi & John‘s wedding and the Lesner Inn for Ciera & Darian‘s wedding. New venues I’m excited about include Yorktown Freight Shed, Hermitage Museum and Gardens, The Founders Inn, Woman’s Club of Portsmouth, Two Rivers Country Club and SO much more! I’ll be hitting the road to Northern Virginia and Clarksville, VA for weddings and also shooting as close as a golf course in our own neighborhood. I’m shooting at the Wren Chapel at William & Mary this weekend! Can you tell I’m pumped?!?!

I have a second shooter at every. single. wedding. Many photographer’s don’t and that’s totally fine! For me, not only does having a second shooter give the couple a ton more images (angles, moments, perspectives) but it enhances the overall experience. I select my second shooters very carefully so they match my style and personality. Not to mention, having one gives me a ‘co-worker/BFF’ all day haha! Running a business can get a bit lonely while your behind the computer editing/blogging/emailing and doing the backend stuff. But on a wedding day, I get to hang out behind the scenes with a fun, professional person who LOVES weddings as much as I do! Win-Win! This year I have one main second shooter for MOST of my weddings (yay!) and then a few other gals who are stepping in when my main is unavailable 🙂

I spent a good chunk of 2015 learning more and more about photography, weddings and business and I’ve been putting everything into practice! New shooting & editing techniques, faster turnaround times, welcome packages including a beautiful custom bridal guide, mobile apps for their galleries… the list goes on! Plus I always have a few surprises up my sleeve 🙂

5. Who doesn’t love a celebration?
Weddings are FUN and I have the best seat in the house! I’m there from when my couples get ready with their best friends to when they exit the reception. Watching two people I consider friends join as one, capturing their first moments as husband & wife, seeing their families tear up during their first dance and watching everyone laugh as they dance to the Wobble is a good time. I count my blessings that this is my JOB! Cheers to the 2016 wedding season!!