Behind the Scenes of the 2021 Wedding + Portrait Season

I feel like this is the recap post that everyone eagerly awaits, and honestly… same lol. Putting this post together is easily the hardest, most daunting and time consuming one of all, but it’s worth it to me!! There are just so many things and moments that happen on shoots and wedding days and I LOVE being able to pull back the curtain and share that stuff with you guys! Plus, it’s fun for me too, to relive it all and have it as a journal of sorts, to go back to for a good giggle, and a good memory!!

Some of these photos need no caption at all, others I tried to give you a little insight into wtf was happening lol — it’s a mixed bag. But, hereeeeee weeee goooo!!

If a cat pops up during photo time of any sort… know that photo time of you will pause and photo time of said cat will commence… also, how ‘bout that meow on a leash!!?

The #WEDDINGDAYMIRRORSELFIE game was strong this year — other photographers began joining in on this fun game of mine and I’m SO glad!! What’s more is that brides started to recognize this and on wedding days were asking me (and the other participating photographers) “hey, did you get your wedding day mirror selfie yet!??” — LOL. I love it!!! And my sweet sweeeeeet bride here, the lovely Amanda, not only asked if I had gotten mine yet on her wedding day, but she wanted to be a part of it — ABSOLUTELY!!

When you’re expecting your bride and get instead, all her best girls

Poor unsuspecting Amanda, maybe that was payback for letting her girls come out at first look time?!?

BRADLEY…. I warned you this day would come. Now is the moment I tell the world what happened here. He farted. In the middle of photos. Just let one rip.

GPA LIVIN HIS BEST LIFE

Random guy… really wanted a selfie

The result of a bridesmaid gone bad

When one is prepared, and one is not

When the guys get the bright idea to climb up on the roof for a photo

Creek time = good time.

One of my favorites!!! Miss Staci Ann!! Helping me like the amazing person she is on a beautiful wedding day!

When you’re mindlessly walking into a Target and someone shouts your name — and it’s one of your sweet couples!!

For Anna and Kameron’s wedding day… they had this curious deer hanging out watching things go down as they got ready at their home.. and THEN, the very best part? When Kam was waiting for Anna to come outside for their first look, and as Anna walked out to meet him, the neighbors dog was peeking over the fence watching every single precious moment like a sweet boy :) :) :)

Just look at that sweet boy!

BUG IN DRESS

When you’re just walking along being a beautiful blushing bride and BAM, someone steps on your veil

NEWLY RELEASED REQUIREMENT TO BE AN #ELPCOUPLE…. MUST BRING A KITTEN TO YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION!!!

SKILLS

No time for a basic knife when it comes to a wedding cake!!

Youngest one at the bar…. Eli’s face in that first shot cracks me up, like WHOA BUDDY, haha

**BOOP!**

Bestie Whitney, second shooter, veil floofer, and the one that keeps me cracking up all day long whether it’s a wedding we’re shooting together, or just us at our own homes blowing up one another’s phone all day. Love her!!

In the picture on the left below, we had just gotten COMPLETELY SOAKED in a rain downpour, thank goodness our bangs somehow still held up lol

Picture of bridesmaids running? THAT SAME RAIN DOWNPOUR lol

The rain forced us indoors for the ceremony, but it was of course, still beautiful!!

Thumbs up in second pic for light testing — preparing for family photos!

Rain stopped temporarily, so back outside for more photos!! Andddd Whitney’s veil floofing skills… and of course the always-happens-result-of-every-veil-floof…. - when the veil comes flying out.

When your girl comes in a little too hot and scares ya just a wee bit

When that June heat gets to the knees

The guys… so fascinated by the sweating of the kneecaps… Same, honestly

Do you think if you spill beer on yourself at a wedding that I’ll just give you an “aw shoot” smile and walk away? INCORRECT BRO.

We all were DYING LAUGHING at this goat screaming his head off — then Paul said to Lauren, “Maybe it’s because you’re holding him by his balls”

A story, in photos:
Jamie — **puts wedding ring on the finger of his best man**
The officiant, seeing an opportunity, says a few vows, and quickly announces them as married

Fun fact: Beetles like flowers as much as bees

Bridesmaids sliding down the hill and this guy just like “Nah, no, don’t do that, no”

When trying to avoid stepping in dog poo suddenly becomes a much bigger issue for one poor unsuspecting bridesmaid….

BLUE STEEL, GO!

Another #weddingdaymirrorselfie !!!!

No sneezing during photos, please

When my bride gave me a beautiful custom necklace as a thank-you gift, AND made sure I got some Chickfila on her wedding day!! Love this girl!

Also my girl Taylor over there from The Perfect Touch, joining in on that days #weddingdaymirrorselfie!

Besties get your eye boogers for you

Airing out the undercarriage be like:

When the brides parents really wanted a photo with the on-site security… I still don’t get it, but I AM all for it ;)

So a small situation happened here… that framed table number got too close to a candle and began to melt — this is what happens when you have NUMBER THIRTEEN

Dancing on the dance floor….. drinking on the dance floor…. singing on the dance floor…… FIXING PANTS ON THE DANCE FLOOR

Hehehe, I never bother telling people what’s actually happening behind them

Partied so hard he gave himself a nosebleed

It’s been a dream of mine for like… ever, to photograph a wedding WITH A CAT… Jodi and Lucas, good lord how I adore them both, they made this dream of mine come true in 2021 with their baby Mac being there!!

See Mac IN HIS CAT TUX here — Jodi and Lucas, married with their cat!

Signing the marriage license does not make it official… it’s all about that secret handshake

Bug in the boobs, I repeat — BUG IN THA BOOBS

Quick hair check — quick candid shot that you can’t stop me from snagging

What getting denied looks like.

My dearest friend Lauren of Lauren Benson Photography, second shooting for me on this epic wedding day, and coming in stronngggg with the behind-the-scenes photos! The ones of me in the church are super important to me.. I told Lauren ever since moving to Kansas City back in 2008, I had DREAMED of shooting a wedding at that church…and on this day, it happened. So, Lauren took it upon herself to make sure I ended up with some special shots of a little personal dream coming true :) Love her so much!!

PS — Peep our martini mashed potatoes… YUMMY YUMS!

These sweet girls making me wanna put my camera down and join in this wedding reception fun

Uncle Bob? hahaha, if you know you know.

WEDDING
DAY
MIRROR
SELFIE
!!!

One of those really serendipitous things that happens every once in a while and never ever fails to make me EXPLICITLY HAPPY! When a past couple is at the wedding of a current couple!! Jeff and Jess on the left were one of my engagement and wedding couples many moons ago — and on this day in September, Jeff’s little sister Regan married the love of her life, Gabe! Soooo thankful we got a photo together!! PS why am I so short.

Another #WeddingDayMirrorSelfie and another wedding day with the one and only Fernando of Fernando Productions — both really great things, adore this guy!

When you’re just trying to frolic through a field of wildflowers for photos and there is fornication happening on each damn flower

No one except us 3 will understand the inside joke that was born out of Lance’s NAVAJO BELT, but I could NOT be more thrilled to have such a random and hilarious inside joke with these two awesome people!!

Lauren B and I back together again — but on this day, a fun headshot exchange!

When I tell people I get awkward if I’m in front of the camera, I’m not kidding. No idea how to act, so I became a plane.

Then Lauren and I trying to be cute together and 100% losing our balance lol

First time working with this sweet gal, Miranda, from Planned Ya! Highly recommend!!

One of my favorite people in the industry y’all, Derek, with Levity Events!! Most brave choice he’s ever made in his DJ career is saying to me “You can run this for a second, right?” and leaving me in charge of the music for a few mins

Photo intermission for eye drops

Unexpected pot hole

One of my most favorite DJ’s in KC — Brandon, with Complete!! And then, one of my favorite videographers, humans, and friends — freaking Kory Gilmore, adore this guy!! KG Productions and I are the perfect team, so like, hire us both, promptly!

When a whole slew of awesome vendors come together for one wedding, like we did for this wedding in October, Lizzy and Britt (couple with eyedrop groomsmen guy / couple who stepped in a pot hole in a field lol), lots of selfies together are destined to happen! We had quite the awesome team, y’all! Brandon with Complete, Kory with KG, myself, Hannah with Bridal Path Weddings & Events and her assistant for the day was Espy, a fellow photographer at Espy Photography!

All those pics with others and I still had to get in a #weddingdaymirrorselfie, cause, priorities

Some behind-the-scenes of Kory and Hannah doing their thing!!

When veils try to fly away (and grooms have no idea)

I wanna be BFF with this bridesmaid.

Forever one of my favorite pics and it’s SO random… Julia and Dan brought the energy of the Jewish Horah celebratory dance to their wedding reception, and not too long after getting them both lifted… the guys broke the chair that held Dan. Dan went down. Dan was not hurt. lol I found these chairs over by a corner shortly after and couldn’t help myself!

Wedding day pics with my sweet couples, always makes me soooo happy, and I could not possibly adore Katie and Adam anymore than I do!!

Two of my MOST favorite prompts to give my couples is known as my “sneaky bear” and “sneaky cat”…. and these two were VERY dedicated to these prompts lol. I LOVE IT.

Another casual walk… another unsuspecting bride… another accidental step-on-the-veil-moment

Me: “You guys just NAILEDDD your engagement session!!!”
Them:

Things that are *not* my idea:

Bless Kasey’s heart… she had a cute stunned little bumble bee on her dress and after it was picked off, and tossed on the brick patio… a groomsmen smashed him. Her reaction was complete and utter devastation. lol — so devastated she resorted to boozin soon after, as pictured below:

Joeyyyy…. readyyyyy toooo parttttyyyyyy

The just-married kiss, so good it made her veil fall out.. Kasey notices, Kasey looks behind her, Kasey shouts “Oh who cares, I’M MARRIED!!!!!”

I love how couples are always like… how do we cut this cake… and I love how 10 outta 10 times they look to me for direction and I look back at them the same way Kasey and Joey looked each other

WITCHES AT WEDDINGS!

The robe says it all

Natalie coming up to Payton for their first look and Payton showing off Nat’s favorite part about him, per their words, “DAT BOOTY”

*Australian accent* “Crikey! It’s a big one idn’t it, that sneaky bear folks, comin’ in outta nowhere!”

Discussing their future life…. cute baby, but lots of dirty diapers, and who’s gonna be in charge of poo

When no amount of yummy graham crackers can make photos more fun

I feel like I tried to warn her, but no amount of warning would’ve done much good for Kenzie… Lucas was SUPER dedicated to this moment lol

Do I ever have a favorite behind-the-scenes photo? NOT USUALLY
Do I from 2021? YEP
Is it this one? YESSSSSS 100% YES

My prompt had something to do with pretending to be tipsy, and searching for your car… and this is what Kenzie and Lucas came up with it lol. There are sooo many memes that could come out of this and I just LOVE their energy and creativity SO much

The lovely Hannah from Bridal Path Weddings & Events and I yet again, but time — not a wedding, just a casual friendly brunch date together! Adore this woman!!!

Second to last #WeddingDayMirrorSelfie I took in 2021!!

Moments before my sweet bride Lauren and I did a jello shot together — I try to never partake in such things on wedding days but towards the end of wedding season I’m feeling more loose lol, plus Lauren wouldn’t take no for answer, plus, YOLO!

Hannah and I again! Our last wedding of 2021 together!

Last wedding of 2021 — went out with a BANG OF JOY with these two — absolutely 1000% adore Brynn and Jordan!!

And my last #weddingdaymirrorselfie of 2021 — and the first and only time I’ve ever worn a blazer, BOOM!

When you’re tearfully and giggly enjoying your first look with your almost spouse, and then Santa Claus shouts “Awwwwww!”

Yeah I wasn’t kidding

Then it just got funnier as Brynn and Jordan kissed first… then hugged,… and well, Brynn’s lipstick transferred to Jordan’s lips, which he then transferred to Brynn’s shoulder…

Cutest flower girl stealing the show with an epic spin

When your mama says you can’t have any cake
(my other top fave bts shot of 2021 lol)

And that’s it, friends!!

Compiling these behind-the-scenes photos throughout the year is always such a task but on wedding days and shoots, when something so amazing / hilarious / unique / etc happens, and I know I got a shot of it… all I can think about is how even though this is a lot of work, I can’t WAIT to share it with you all. There’s always so much more than you realize that happens at every single shoot or wedding and I LOVE getting it all!

Bring on 2022, and all the hilarity that happens!!