In my opinion, second shooting is the best way to gain experience in the wedding industry. There is an enormous amount of pressure when shooting a wedding, and the only way to get better acquainted with the ebb and flow of the process is to practice (and by practice I do not mean learning how to manually shoot your camera, that should be done waaayyyy before you agree to capture one of the biggest day’s of a couple’s life). Attending a wedding with another photographer means you are there to assist them in whatever they need, not just getting good shots from a different perspective, but taking things back and forth to their vehicle, attending to lens changes, composing detail shots or posing as they shoot, properly positioning a wedding gown, the list goes on.

Karen Allen Photography is owned by a dear friend of mine. I was so honored when she invited me to work with her on Bryan and Laci’s wedding day.

Enjoy some of my favorite images from the first wedding of the year!

The nook between Laci’s neck and shoulder is where Bryan calls home. The two fit so comfortably together. It was amazing to see them interact on their wedding day, especially during their first look. An instant peace came over them when they saw each other for the first time.

This series is my favorite!

Karen in action!