This is definitely one of my FAVORITE blog posts of the year! In 2015, wedding season went right up until the last hour of the year with a New Year’s Eve wedding so I had to wait to write this post until 2015 was completely over. All summer & fall the blog was filled with beautiful weddings but if you ever want to know what it looks like behind the camera? Well this post is your chance to have an inside look at what really goes on behind the scenes! I can tell you, it’s a lot of smiles & laughter. Looking at this post seriously makes me tear up a bit because it reminds me how incredibly blessed I am to 1) have a job that I absolutely LOVE and puts a smile on my face, and 2) have wonderful clients who put so much trust in me and I absolutely love working with. Wedding season is for sure absolute craziness and if you run into me between the months of May & October, it may seem like my head is spinning a bit, but I wouldn’t have it any other way! So without further ado… A look behind the scenes in 2015… with lots of commentary built in ;)

New Friends & New Places

Sometimes industry get togethers include wine & cookie decorating… Best job ever? Yep.

Let me say something… This industry I am in has some AMAZING folks in it. Because I have my own business & work from home, I don’t really have “co-workers” but I have built so many friendships with other people in the wedding industry that is such a blessing in my life. When I moved to Burlington, VT I was welcomed with open arms and have met so many awesome people! In November, I got to travel to Charleston, SC for the Creative at Heart conference, where I got to reconnect with some familiar faces and meet lots of new ones!

{ Above, Left } Last spring I did a one-on-one mentoring session with the wonderful Katelyn James in Richmond, VA. I look up to this lady in so many ways that stretch far beyond the business realm. So happy I got to reconnect with her in Charleston too!
{ Above Right & Below } BTS of me shooting in Charleston… I was seriously in photographer HEAVEN!

Getting to ride on the front of an antique boat on Lake Winnipesaukee during Taylor & Bill’s engagement session was definitely a highlight of the season! Safest thing for my camera? Maybe not. Worth it? Absolutely!

Ice Cream Cones during an engagement session?! Yep!

Editing in the car… it’s a thing.

I got to photograph not one, but TWO proposals this year!

Behind the Scenes – KDP Weddings

When Jess read her card from Andrew, my heart was melting!

You gotta do what you gotta do to get little ones to look…. The bouquet seems to work wonders!

So admittedly sometimes 5’3″ isn’t quite a tall enough angle, so you can usually find me standing on things!

Don’t worry ladies, I take good care of ya. Lipstick check on the teeth! (Below you can see Jeff is laughing at me asking if this is included in my job description :) haha, sure is!)

“Bro hug!”

I had some helpers getting a kiddo to look at the camera!

I also specialize in iPhone photography ;)

… And someone gave me golf cart privileges hahaha. A little lesson from Tim (the groom) and I was good to go!

Photographer in the making…

And now for a little game of “Where’s Kelsey?!”…

We’ve probably gotten some crazy looks, but we like having some fun during lighting tests :)

If Missy Elliot comes on, I WILL be on the dance floor at your wedding…

Second Photographers

My little sister, Kinsey, got to second shoot for me for 2 weddings!

My good friend Amy Spirito who got to second shoot for me in October… Love this girl!

Nicole Weeks also got to assist 2 weddings for me this year!

Sienna

Okay, I’m going to go off the emotional deep-end for a minute here. Sienna has been with me for 2 full seasons now. I can not say enough good things about this lady… She is everything & more that I could ask for in a second shooter. I can give her a look on a wedding day and before I even say anything, she knows what I need. She always makes sure I have water and does anything I ask without question or hesitation. Her confidence & warm persona puts my clients at ease, and that is something I am so incredibly grateful for. Not only does she produce amazing images for my clients, but treats them with so much love & respect. Sienna will be moving forward on her own adventures in the new year, and while I am so sad to be losing you as my right-hand lady, I am so excited for you and know you have big things in store!

She puts up with my lighting tests… God bless her for that alone.

Our former Hallmark video instructor, Adam!

If there’s a photo booth, you can bet you’ll find us in it.

Familiar Faces & New Friends…

It was SO good to see one of my 2014 couples, Sarah & Eli, at Sarah’s brother’s wedding in NY this summer!

Kate & Trever’s Maine wedding was a family affair… Below is a photo with my brother & my dad

Rule #384: Always come to a wedding prepared to get IN a photo with a guest. They ask more than you would think…

Another Hallmark gal pal, Victoria, at her brother’s wedding!

My #KDPbrides photo!

I try at every wedding to get a photo with the couple! Sometimes there are times when the reception gets crazy and I’m driving away kicking myself for not remembering to get a photo, but luckily I got to almost all of my couples this year. SO. MUCH. LOVE. to you all. You seriously don’t know how much you all mean to me.

Maria & I took one normal, then she said, “Okay, now one looking at each other!” … I just about died of laughter. Love this girl!

And that’s a wrap for 2015! 2015 was such an incredible year of growth for Kelsey DeWitt Photography and I am already so excited to see what 2016 has in store… :)