Pine Barn Inn, Danville PA Wedding | 2nd Shooting

On weekends when I'm not busy shooting my own weddings or portrait sessions, I can often be found assisting other photographers.  I really enjoy the freedom (and lower stress level) that comes along with second shooting!  A few weeks ago, I second shot a wedding for Alisha Taylor of A Mack Photography.

My day started in Elysburg with sunny skies and temps in the 70s... and ended at the Pine Barn Inn in Danville with sub-freezing temps and snow!  Mother Nature was up to some shenanigans that day, but it made for incredibly diverse photos!  Nate and Alaina were so kind, so in love, and so much fun to hang out with all day!  I hope you enjoy this selection of photos from their wedding day.

Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel Scranton Wedding | 2nd Shooting | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

Even though I keep myself pretty busy shooting my own weddings and portrait sessions, I really enjoy second shooting for an amazing group of talented photographers who I am thrilled to call my friends.  A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of second shooting again for Aly Martin.  I always have a great time working with Aly!  She's so talented and fun, and her clients always throw amazing celebrations!!  This wedding took place in Scranton at the Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel.  The hotel is such a cool venue!  It used to be a train station, and the architecture is so unique.

Without any further delay, I'm just going to show some photos from this incredible day.  Thanks again for inviting me to assist you, Aly!

Cork Factory Hotel Wedding | 2nd Shooting | Lancaster Wedding Photographer

Even though I run a successful wedding photography business myself, I really enjoy second shooting for other photographers on days when I don't have my own weddings booked.  It keeps me fresh and feeds my creativity, and I love being surrounded by so much love and happiness that are guaranteed to be overflowing on wedding days!

I recently had the honor of second shooting Alicia and Rachel's wedding with Ashley Gerrity.  They were married at the Cork Factory Hotel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  The venue was gorgeous, but not as stunning as these two brides!  Their smiles lit up every room they were in, and within seconds of meeting each of them I instantly knew why they were both so loved by everyone attending the wedding.

Here are a few of my photos from the day.  Thanks again to Ashley for asking me to shoot with her!

Longwood Gardens Engagement Photoshoot | Jess + Sean | Berks County Wedding Photographer

Last Sunday, I met up with Jess and Sean for their engagement session.  They picked Longwood Gardens for the backdrop because it's one of their favorite places to visit together... and I was really excited, because it's one of my favorite places, too!  They booked me as their wedding photographer a few weeks ago, and this session was the first time we actually met in person.  I was so excited to meet them, and I had a very strong feeling that they were going to be really fun in person.  Oh, was I right!!  We were chatting and laughing during their entire session, and my face hurt when I left from smiling so much!  For every serious pose I got out of them, there were about 15 more silly poses - which I think is awesome!  My favorite pictures are always the ones where I capture my clients being themselves!

I hope you enjoy this collection of photos from their engagement session.  I'm looking forward to their Florida destination wedding next fall!!

Linwood Estate Wedding | Kristen + Joe | Carlisle Wedding Photographer

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of photographing Kristen and Joe's wedding.  Their wedding day was absolutely incredible!  I knew it would be, since we had such a blast at their engagement session!  (I just realized that their engagement session took place on one of the hottest days of the year, and their wedding day on one of the coldest!!)  There was a threat of rain in the morning, but it disappeared - and the sun helped keep everyone warm while Kristen and Joe exchanged their vows in the Linwood Estate courtyard.  The bridal party and guests were such great sports in tolerating the wind and the chilly air, and we have so many incredible photos as a result!

Linwood Estate is one of the most gorgeous venues that I have photographed, and their staff was incredible!  There are so many great backdrops for photos there!  I was extremely fortunate that Kristen and Joe created a timeline that allowed for ample opportunities for photographs and chose to add a second photographer to their package so we could capture even more beautiful and candid moments together.

This was my last wedding of 2016, and I can't think of a better way to end my wedding season!  The dinner was incredible, the drinks were flowing freely, the speeches were heartfelt, the dessert bar was AMAZING, the dancing was epic (this might be due in part to the free-flowing drinks), and the Bruce Springsteen serenades were perfection.

It was hard to choose just a few photos to share here, so I'm going overboard and sharing way too many.  I hope you enjoy these moments from Kristen and Joe's Day #1!  I know that I enjoyed reliving them as I edited the photos and typed this up.

Congratulations again, Kristen and Joe!!  I am sure you are enjoying life together as husband and wife!

Venue:  Linwood Estate

Wedding Coordinator:  Michelle Hare, Linwood Estate

Florist:  Sarah Klunk, Sarah's Floral Designs

Cake Artist:  Kyrsten Willits, Kyrsten's Sweet Designs

DJ:  Josh Vaughn, Complete Weddings + Events

Hair Artist:  Anna, Dulci's Salon

Makeup Artist:  Chelsea Nolan, Makeup by Chelsea

Wedding Dress Boutique:  Allure, L'Fay Bridal in Chatham, NJ

Bridesmaid Dress Boutique:  David's Bridal

Groom and Groomsmen Tuxedo Boutique: Joseph Abboud, Men's Warehouse

Sinking Spring Backyard Wedding | Hillary and Eric | Berks County Wedding Photographer

I have a Starbucks problem - I need at least one "venti no water chai" each day or I can't function properly.  While feeding this addiction and becoming a Starbucks regular, I had the honor of meeting Hillary.  When she asked me to photograph her upcoming wedding to Eric, I was ecstatic!!  Fast forward to a few weeks ago -- Hillary and Eric got married in their backyard in Sinking Spring, PA and threw an incredible party to start their marriage off properly!  I had such a great time documenting their day, tasting incredible food, and laughing along with their friends' fantastic stories!

This was one of the most intimate, casual weddings I have ever attended, and I loved every second of it!  I enjoy photographing all types of wedding ceremonies, but my favorites are the ones that really reflect the couple and their unique relationship and love for each other.  Everything about Hillary and Eric's wedding day did exactly that - from their DIY decorations to their self-uniting marriage to their iPod music playlist to Eric's blue velvet sport coat.  Everything was about them and their personalities and their loved ones, and it was perfect.

I hope you enjoy a few photos from their Day #1!  I'm so honored that I was able to celebrate with them!

Catering:  H20 Kitchen (Jason Hook)

Cake/Cupcakes:  Secrets Bakery

DJ:  Spotify and bluetooth speaker ;)

Hair and Make-up:  Hillary did them herself!

Bride's wedding dress:  Kimono purchased on Etsy!

Groom's suit: Velvet sport coat purchased from Kohls!

Mohnton, Pennsylvania Fall Wedding | Mary Beth and Jesse | Berks County Photographer

Mary Beth is a very talented Berks County photographer herself, and when we met last year and she asked me to photograph her upcoming wedding to Jesse, I admit I was a little intimidated at first.  I always feel an extra layer of self-induced anxiety when I'm creating art for another photographer.  But I was also honored that another artist would want me to capture their wedding memories for them, so I excitedly agreed!

One of the best parts of photographing another photographer's wedding is that they always allow lots of time for portraits throughout their wedding day.  Mary Beth and Jesse have an amazing property, which was also the site of their wedding ceremony and reception, and we took full advantage of the time we had!  I was so surprised to show up and see that the soybean field where their ceremony took place was still nice and green so late in the season!!  (All of the other fields I had seen in Berks County that week were already brown and/or cleared out!)  Oh, and their incredible home (you can see a little bit of it in the photos below) was built by the two of them!!  That's yet another reason why their backyard was the perfect place for them to start the rest of their lives together!

I'm so grateful that they asked me to be their photographer, and I'm glad that I agreed!  Their wedding day was perfect in every way.  It was super laid back and casual, and the DIY elements Mary Beth and Jesse included were gorgeous and fun!  Mary Beth and Jesse even retrofitted their old truck into a beer tap!  Cult Status, a local band made up of Governor Mifflin Senior High School students, played during the reception and did a fantastic job!  The reception was catered by Crow Wagon, a local food truck, and the food was delicious.  The bride and groom looked incredible (and so in love), and their little boys (Coleman and Caleb) were so handsome!!  

I hope you enjoy this selection of photos from their wedding day.  Congratulations again, Nocera Family!!

Videography:  Cory Slifka

Cake Artist:  Roxanne Shupp

Band:  Cult Status

Hair Artist & Make-Up Artist:  Jayda Hampton

Officiant:  MaryBeth's father!

Catering:  Crow Wagon

Wyomissing Park Engagement Session | Kailey and Kyle | Berks County Wedding Photographer

Last weekend, I met up with Kailey and Kyle for their engagement session.  We were planning on doing it Sunday evening, right before sunset... but the weather forecast was looking pretty ominous.  At the last minute, we decided to move the photoshoot to bright and early Sunday morning instead.  And I am so glad we did!!  Clouds, wind, and strong thunderstorms moved in to the area right at our original start time!

There was almost another last minute glitch in our photoshoot plans, because when we arrived at the Wyomissing Park, we realized that a 5K was set up smack in the middle of our planned location.  We were determined to leave the park with some amazing pictures, though!  So we focused, hit a few great spots in the park, and made it out right before the race began and right as a police officer was blocking off the parking lot we were in!  (I was literally standing at the edge of the parking lot taking a photo of Kailey's engagement ring as the officer was closing the barricade...)

We most definitely accomplished our goal - the pictures turned out great!  Kailey and Kyle are so easygoing, so in love, and so freaking photogenic!  (Even with millions of gnats swarming their heads!)  Check out this collection of photos from our session and I think you will agree that they are incredible!  I'm really looking forward to their wedding next year!

(Big thanks to one of my other favorite couples, Courtney and Brandon, for the referral!!)

Wyebrook Farm Engagement Session | Steph and Al | Chester County Photographer

I recently met up with Steph and Al for their engagement photoshoot, and had a blast!!  Our first stop was the Twin Valley High School baseball field - a place near and dear to their hearts.  Then, we headed to Wyebrook Farm, just in time to befriend a few cattle and catch some amazing late afternoon light as the sun started to set.  The wind was a bit of a challenge that day, but Steph and Al rocked their session and I love how the photos turned out!  I am so looking forward to their wedding next August!

I hope you enjoy this selection of photos from our time together!

Glen Onoko Falls Engagement Session | Becca and Joe | Jim Thorpe Wedding Photographer

Fall in Jim Thorpe is amazing, and I was so lucky to have experienced it recently with Becca and Joe!  We met at Glen Onoko Falls for their engagement photoshoot a few weeks ago.  It was the perfect location since that's where they went on their first hike together when they began dating!  We started out by hiking up a bit to one of the waterfalls, then turned around and stopped at a few of their other favorite spots just in time for sunset.  To be completely honest, I was a little winded at a few of the steeper sections on the trail (I'll blame my heavy backpack and not the obvious reason that I'm a little bit out of shape) - but Becca and Joe were champs!  Becca even hiked it in dress boots, and was putting me to shame!  The hike was beautiful and was absolutely worth it.  I love how their photos turned out, and I'm so excited to shoot their wedding next October!

Here are a few of my favorites from our session!  (Be sure to check out Becca's stunning engagement ring that she made HERSELF!)