2013 | Behind the Scenes

I've had a "Behind the Scenes" folder sitting on my desktop for more than a year just asking to be shared (so, spoiler, a couple of these are from before 2013!). I figure it's about that time. :) Note: Being a wedding photographer is NOT as glamorous as it may seem.

Oh, my awesome assistant Emily. This girl is fantastic and has photographed about 20 weddings with me over the past few seasons. She's going to go out on her own this year (SO bittersweet for me!), but I thought it only appropriate to share how great she is through these hilarious photos. Emily is the best at posing for me while I test my light. Obviously, she's giving a toast here.

I asked Nathan to pretend he was at a wedding reception so I could test my off-camera flash. What a ham.

I have approximately 156 photos of Emily at the front of churches.

If only I was a liiiitle bit taller!

This is my I-really-really-really-hope-it-doesn't-rain face. Thanks to my friend Brittany for the photo!

And speaking of which ...

Brittany is the dog whisperer. For real.

At any given time, you will find Nathan flexing. And Markie being cute!

Hahaha, these are my favorites. Emily is a pro at acting out whatever might be happening when I'm not just testing my light. The couple ran through sparklers just a few minutes later, duh.

Shout out to Anthony Codispoti! He's not really part of the LBP team, but he's an awesome videographer. Check him out. No, really.

Working for a fraternity for five years taught me how to hang with the guys (among lots of other things!).

I wear dresses to weddings (you will notice the same ones over and over again. I need to expand my wedding wardrobe!) so I blend in with the guests. See, you can't find me, right?

Carolyn is looking mighty fierce. Emily didn't get my memo. :)

Cute Brittany!

This photo isn't in focus but it cracks me up. Nathan is talking to me so seriously, almost like he's NOT wearing a clown nose and feather boa. This was our first photobooth!

Oh, Emily. I'm going to miss having you along at weddings!

Hahaha, the secret's out.

Nathan really wanted to get his hair did, but I had to remind him that we were there to work.

She's literally singing in the rain! It's always a good time with this girl!

And we'll end with the photobooth! HUGE props (no pun intended!) to Nathan and his assistant, Matt, for all their hard work at each and every wedding.

2013 Client Holiday Gifts

I love gifting my clients with a little something fun around the holidays, and I start thinking about it months in advance. I am sooo incredibly grateful for all the brides and grooms who trust me to document one of the biggest days of their lives that it only makes sense to spoil them a little! This year, I decided on a "my favorite things" theme, complete with my favorite tea (Muggswigz Orange Market Spice), a Volcano candle from Anthropologie, colorful Le Pens, salty caramel sauce from my very favorite Sweetie Fry, and an inspirational print.

I use color-coded Le Pens in my Simplified Planner to help keep me organized. Yes, I am a nerd.

The idea to make tea bags from loose Orange Market Spice tea came from fellow photographer Mikaela Ruth. Tea filters are such a great and easy way to enjoy loose-leaf tea!

The lovely Rachelle Sartini Garner, who is currently working on my re-brand, designed my holiday cards. She is one talented lady!

2014 | It's All About Balance

2013. What. a. year. I always find it overwhelming to look back at 365 days and draw up some overall conclusion/feeling/concise thought about an entire year. My 2013 was exciting (It was my first year as a full-time photographer, and Nathan and I explored lots of new places together). My 2013 was surprising and enlightening (I learned something new almost every day). My 2013 was busy (Did I mention I went full-time with photography?). My year was these things. It was also SO much more.

If I'm being 100 percent honest, 2013 wasn't necessarily easy for me. The craziest, most exhilarating thing I did was choose to dive head first into photography. I'd thought about it a lot. It wasn't a rash decision, and I'm so thankful that I was able to ease into it so that by the time 2013 came around I had my ducks in a row. Or so I thought.

Let me tell you something. Running a business is not a walk in the park. It's hard work … especially when it's a one-person show. You probably all realize this. I was still grasping at that truth while I was immersed in it. For me, a lot of 2013 was about struggling to find balance and set boundaries. It was my first really, really, absolutely full season, and while I'm SO unbelievably grateful for (and completely amazed by) it, I was not prepared for it. I was more than halfway through the year before I realized I was completely consumed by work all the time.

Sometime around the middle of August, I was only seeing Nathan when he would come into my office to clear away the dishes on my desk and bring me new ones (I wish I was joking; it sounds so ridiculous). I wasn't seeing or interacting with my family and friends nearly as much as I would have liked, even though a lot of them live within a one-hour radius and the phone was always sitting on my desk. I wasn't eating right (at all), I was exhausted, and the summer was flashing by without a proper bike ride, long walk, or good book devoured on the back deck.

I tell you all of this not to wear my busyness as a badge of honor (although I was certainly doing that just a couple months ago), but to bring complete and utter honesty to the table. I want to share that the most important lesson I learned was that a one-dimensional person is not a happy person, no matter how much work you have, how many features you get or how many Facebook "likes" are currently staring you in the face.

I thought that constantly being busy and stressed out meant I was making it. I thought that saying "yes" to everything was the only way to show that I had it all together. Well, guess what?? I didn't. I don't. And I realize now that that's OK.

I recently read 7 by Jen Hatmaker and was completely awakened to the truth that stress can take over your life if YOU let it.

"We are short fused, stressed out, overextended, and unrested. This pace is not sustainable. I don't want it to be. This season of life is passing me by, accelerated by a lack of boundaries. Most days I just try to keep the wheels on, not living in the moment at all; I'm just getting it done while thinking about what's left ...

"This biblical concept of rest is whispering to me, 'You're ignoring me.' And I am. Not only do I not take God's command for rest seriously, but I act like its not in the Bible. Ah, Sabbath. How cute and archaic."

Yes. That's me. How did you know, Jen?

After much self-reflection, I now realize that balance is going to be my saving grace in 2014 (that and a little prayer :) ). I know that I need more than one thing (work) to keep me happy/creative/motivated/content/excited/[fill in the blank]. I know that I don't nearly have it all figured out, and I will stumble and fall more than once, but I am on the right path. It's not about being perfect, it's about making space for myself to appreciate the moments and then live in them. Imperfect and all. I'll let you know how it goes.

I'm Baaack!

I'm officially back on the grid after 10 glorious, unplugged days. It helped that we were on a beautiful, tropical island and I didn't even want to look at my phone because I was too busy staring at my St. Lucian surroundings. :) Nathan and I are celebrating two years of marriage today, so this trip was the perfect anniversary present for us! I'm totally a follow-the-rules and stay-on-a-routine person, but having nothing on the agenda each day except get caramel waffles for breakfast was amazingly freeing. Now I'm refreshed and ready to tackle the end of wedding season! Later this afternoon, I'll have a wedding sneak peek up for you. Make sure to check back to see how lovely Allie and Sean's wedding was!