Last year I tried something new: hiring an associate team to cover even more weddings. It’s something I always wanted to grow into and originally had it as a 2025 goal to grow enough that I needed a team to take on additional dates I wasn’t available. A dream, right? To be so booked and busy that I needed another employee to cover weddings on the same dates I was already at a wedding. I know several photographers that do this, some of whom I’ve worked under this year. I had an absolutely fantastic experience with the photographers I hired out for this wedding! I only work with photographers I know and trust, and my couples have peace of mind with that.

I did find that I didn’t have as much as an emotional connection to the photos and gallery in the same way I do when I work the wedding day myself. I found myself hungry to hear the story of the day and meaning behind some of the moments captured. In that aspect, I did miss working those wedding days myself but I knew they were in great hands as I completely trust my associate team. There’s just something special about working with every couple one on one and being there for them throughout the entire planning process, even when using a team approach. I’ve found that I enjoy only taking on a certain number of wedding couples every year because I love being able to truly dedicate my time to them. Quality over quantity. A practice I’m humbled to take on. The number of couples I take on varies- I look at planned family vacations for the year, milestone events, etc. happening and then decide what my maximum is going to be. For 2025 I’ve decided my maximum is 20 full-scale weddings.

I am truly happy Lexie and Cameron hired me and my team to document their day! They had such a beautiful day and I’m so happy to have been a part of it. They spoke so highly of the photographers on my team to work with them, and the photos of their day are truly stunning. This was a wedding I picked up pretty close to last minute because their original photographer backed out. Lexie and Cameron knew from the beginning that it would not be me at their wedding but a team working under my business. I think this is so important for couples to know when working with anyone for their wedding. Honesty and being up front about these details are the best approach in my opinion. Building trust with any client is important, but especially on a wedding day. The last thing you would want is someone you don’t know to show up and be by your side all day. I was happy to have a team ready for their day since I was already scheduled to be at Fortitude Farms for another wonderful wedding.

Wedding Day Preparations

My approach for planning a wedding with an associate is honestly the same as when I shoot a wedding myself with a few minor tweaks. It’s common for couples to book with me anywhere from 3 to 12 months out from their wedding day. I do quarterly check ins with my clients- it reminds them that I’m here should they need anything. I send out a questionnaire about a month out from the wedding day. The questionnaire prompts my couples to outline what they want, maybe some surprises they have planned, and what else is important to them throughout their days. I use the questionnaire to draft a wedding day timeline. If you’re working with a wedding planner, sometimes this questionnaire isn’t needed because the planner will know and draft the timeline themselves. If you do have a wedding planner, this is something I’m happy to touch base with them on rather than you to keep it off your plate! After an initial timeline draft, I like to meet with my couples either via phone call or Zoom to review and tweak it. If you’re local to me, we can also meet for coffee! I send a finalized copy after the call and make any last minute tweaks needed as the wedding day approaches.

With the Kenyons, I only had one week to learn about them, their wedding plans, and finalize a timeline for both them and my team. We hopped on a call and went through the questionnaire together. I learned about what had been planned and what surprises they wanted captured- like Lexie’s gift to Cameron! I drafted a timeline while on our call and sent it immediately to them after. I sent over all the info to my team, passed off a list of important photos to capture, dropped off some SD cards for them to use, and trusted them to capture the day.

Wedding Day at the Barn

While the Kenyons were with my team in Potterville, I was working another wedding in Owosso at Fortitude Farms. Lexie and Cameron had chosen to use a family member’s private property for their wedding day. Something I’ve noticed a lot of last year! I love that couples turned away from using large venues and instead married at homes and farms near and dear to them lately. I thinks it adds an extra layer of specialness to the day. Because I wasn’t present, I made sure to check in throughout the day- I never want to be overbearing but I like to be available for any help needed. I’m usually the one to fix last minute issues that pop up without the bride finding out or needing to address.

The wedding day went beautifully. Lexie and Cameron had several special moments I loved editing like their first look, her special, private gift to him, the dances, and the sand pouring part of their ceremony. I’m not totally sure what the gift Lexie gave to Cameron was, but his reaction was so good! A lot of these moments I was able to include in their wedding album for them to look back on for years and years to come. I love when couples order wedding albums. I love the design process and including my couples in it. I love the reactions to seeing their albums arrive. It’s such a happy mail day!