2023 Behind the Scenes | Hannah Barlow Photography

Alright! ALRIGHTTTTTTT (yelling in my Adam Sandler voice)! I thought maybe I could sneak by and get away with not doing end of year blogs but you all beat me down. I mean…it’s been five months since my last wedding so I can’t REALLY use the “I’m so tired and need a break and the blogs take me so long to create”…line, right?! You asked…and asked…and 2023 really WAS something GRAND when it comes to wedding seasons so, yes…you are right…it deserves to be seen…behind the scenes!

SO, let’s do this! The 2023 Hannah Barlow Photography Behind the Scenes wedding blog is here. I gotta admit, it was pretty fun to go back and see all these weddings again (especially all that green). So, let’s start off with Marissa…and her very royal wave to guests in the parking lot. I don’t know why but it was one of my favorite moments of the year! I think it’s because she’s just so sweet and quiet and doesn’t necessarily love all this attention but she was forced in this moment and just like Princess Kate…she held her head high and waved at passing family and friends who were beeping!

So, in case you’re new here, what these blogs are really about is showing what we do behind the scenes to make these beautiful images for our couples! I like to put the behind the scenes version next to the finished photo because photography is ALL about perspective and if you’re NOT new here, you know that I am known for finding random locations and making it look beautiful! “You’re just going to have to trust me!” Exhibit A below…the top photos are thanks to my second shooters and the bottom photos are the finished product that was delivered to the couple.

Not only am I known for finding random locations…I’m also the Queen (or maybe awkward human is more like it) who tends to find herself in interesting poses! Pretty invitation suites called for some interesting set ups last year! Isn’t it so fun though to see how it all comes to life?!

Speaking of interesting positions. You can always find Lacey on the floor when the shoes go on! The shoes come out…and she hits the ground like she’s being shot at! HA!

…and while we’re at it! Some more of Lacey! Hey! Gotta do what you gotta do. Somehow she remains clean. Can we all petition to bring the red shoes back? I made ONE comment “look for the girl in red shoes” and we’ve never seen them again at a wedding. And now that I think about it, THAT is actually a great way for people to find her and us!

It’s not just them…one very unflattering photo of me coming right up! HA! This probably should be an outtake too! The ground was wet! What do you want from me?!

I had to photoshop MYSELF right out of this photo. I wasn’t quite as far back as I thought! Whoops!

Marge the Mannequin became a fan favorite last year ESPECIALLY for this couple. So, we cleverly (and professionally) hid her in different photos. It was a Where’s Waldo situation. Lacey caught me right before the ceremony putting my sweater on her. A naked mannequin in a Catholic Church…..well…just didn’t see appropriate. So, I dressed her! We usually lay her down or put her in the car but time was of the essence anyway at this wedding! Sweater it is!

She’s gonna kill me as I keep giving her the attention! But Lacey loves me so it’ll be ok. I appreciate Lacey and her help SO much. She’s been carrying the bulk of the second shooter weight for the last couple of years. I keep telling her she needs to start her own business…she could do it! It’d be AMAZING!!! From fixing dresses and lighting lanterns… to fixing flowers and shoes and hiding in bushes…she’ll do it all!

Honestly, I’m just so shocked every day that people can’t find good help because I somehow snagged the very best. The ladies who work with me not only stick around but they’re busting their butts year after year to help make wedding days perfect. They do absolutely anything for my couples and their friends straight down putting shoes and socks on! Last year was Becca’s first year, and while she did train…her natural ability to just jump in Hannah Barlow Photography style and spoil my couples can’t be matched!

…and they’re all so good at making sure couples are in justtttttttttt the right spot.

…and sometimes…at the same wedding…directions are unclear! HA!

We gotta keep things moving so giving directions is vital! Don’t worry…most of the time…we’re having a BLAST…but it seems the groom’s faces always match!

Don’t worry…I DO help too! One of the most stressful things that can happen on a wedding day is…rain. I always promise my couples I will absorb (no pun intended) as much stress and nervous energy I can so they can just “be” on their wedding day. Jen and Eric absolutely were a dream couple for an unfortunate, rainy weather day. Nothing was getting them down! BUT we still gotta keep those dresses dry!

…we’ve got tricks too!! Meghan and Ed were another couple who embraced the rain and didn’t let it ruin their day!

Trains should be JUST right, as well…rain or no rain! We spend so much of our day arranging and rearranging trains. You spend SO much money on those dresses…they should look just right…like a magazine! Remember, these photos aren’t just for the behind the scenes blog. Weddings run FAST…so many of these shots are just test and lighting shots my second shooters take to get prepared while I’m fixing dresses…it’s both multitasking and multi purpose photos!

We like our veils to fly! They steal the show and make gorgeous photos…and my assistants get some fun outtakes out of it!

Transferring from one location to another…means keeping those dresses CLEAN!

Shoutout to Plans for Perfection (Ashley Kirchner) for taking this duty off our hands! It’s absolutely no secret (from wedding friendships to podcasts)…we love when Ashley is around!

She’s always in those test shots (and one time I felt like I was being watched during the ceremony…she was creeping through the window). If you need a planner…not just any planner…but a drink fetcher, liner upper, cake direction cutter, gift collector…none of those are official titles BUT you’ll see she does them all below!

Hey, guess what! It’s not always my assistants who are assisting…nope. We often have family and friends who pop in BUT…2023 was on a whole new level. the friends and family my couples surrounded themselves with last year were TOP notch! Thank you, ALL….who aided these couples in having amazing photos!

Animals were also a common theme of 2023. Whether it was someone’s dog, horse, OR the couple just wanted deer in their photos…animals were a HIT!

This was on of those “you’re just going to have to trust me” moments! Into the weeds (I LOVE some dead stuff!)

BUT…look how PRETTYYYY the finished product is! AHHHHHH!!!

It’s not JUST our couples in the weeds! HA!

Ok…back to behind the scenes and vendor friends! This isn’t a moment where we were fixing the train or holding the train like the above photos I had shown you…nope!! Ashley came up to me and said “You’re going to table race with the couple…and I’m going to hold the train and run with you.” I kid you NOT! It was entertaining to say the least!

We had some future wedding planners and vendors in training last year too!! This little lady was hilarious and amazing. She made sure everyone was exactly where they needed to be!

Kids can be difficult but the kiddos we worked with last year were so cooperative and fun! So, I figured we’d give them some time to shine today! We do try to incorporate them into the day as much as we can because we all know it can be boring for them!

This little man wanted to take photos. How could I say no? But also…he truly did take those photos! He’s going to put me out of a job one day!

OOooooO HEYYYYYY!! Funny story..those are the parents of one of my brides (and then she became a second shooter and great friend). It was a running joke that I left (I did) that wedding before doing shots with her dad (his request). I had RUN out of that wedding…I don’t drink in public even after I clock out for the day. Let’s be honest…my loud, energetic personality does NOT need any encouragement. Well, he found me…and the consolation was we’d dance!

I say it every year in these blogs but the one thing that I really missed about being a nurse was the relationships I developed with my co-workers. Little did I know, about a decade into this…I’d have some of the BEST relationships with my “co-workers”…a.k.a. wedding vendor friends. I’ll tag them all below!

Buddy from Penderville Wedding Films took the lead at this wedding so Lacey followed him and caught him in action!

I almost lost my life when DJ Brian Oliver caught me (kidding…kind of)…looking back..probably not my best move..press that square button? Music stops! HA! Nah…I stay far far away but we always like to give him a hard time. If you’ve heard the cookie story…you know…if you know…you KNOW.

Different wedding but I bet you this was still his face and probably should go in the outtakes blog! DJ Brian Oliver and I have probably done the most weddings together than any other DJ. We’re at the point we have a sibling relationship…sometimes we get along and sometimes we don’t and sometimes we’re rolling our eyes and sometimes we’re laughing. If you hire us together though, I can guarantee you no matter what happens…we’ll get it done for you!

He lets the couples DJ too! Let’s make it fun, right?!

Lauren (Head Coordinator at Oglebay) has entered the blog! I cut her out in the final product but left her for the original!

…and it became our “thing” last year for her to model for my reception lighting test shots!

Let’s do it again!

Veils…and stray hairs…and windy hair and bugs in the veil. You name it…from veil placement to posing direction…we’re there for you! Not our first rodeo!

I thought I was going to go a whole blog without Ashleigh! She’s been here the longest so she MUST be in the end of year blogs! AND Becca too!

As a former full-time nanny, she’s so great with the kiddos!

I try to catch my second shooters in action. What’s great about doing this as long as I have is that they know the other wedding vendors well so we’re one big team!

Can’t leave Kari out! Last year MAY have been her last year…her and her husband went full time with a business too! WOOOOO! BUT…we love her anyway! She was the first official HBP second shooter! She’s been cleaning up my crap since 2017!

Dress fixing…flower fixing…what most don’t realize is that we do these things so everything looks great for photos! We’re happy to do it…and let’s be honest…it gets the chaotic timelines moving!

We were cookin’ at this wedding and everything was full speed ahead at this point, but because they’re the BEST of friends with the bride…they couldn’t let the groom go out with a wonky tie. It was hilarious!

Not an hour goes by on any given wedding day that we’re not making adjustments! Pre-first look you MUST look your very best, right?!

Ok! Back to some more behind the scenes and making sure everything is JUST right. You Hannah Barlow Photography fans will know…what’s the correction here and what do I call it?! Makes a huge difference, right?!

More behind the scenes before and afters! Ironically, from the same wedding!

It’s not just me that loves my vendor friends…Jeannie from the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott embraces all of us vendors from old friends to new friends!

She embraces the couples too…and the staff this night was so top notch the couple wanted to get a photo with them (they’re also one of the sweetest most humble and kind couples I’ve photographed…their friends too)!

Lacey…I SEE you! We took out test shots at the same time! Nick looks like he needs a drink!

Ask and you shall receive! The one unique thing about Plans for Perfection is that she finds us and makes sure the couple is hydrated and/or has cocktails (esp. when they miss their cocktail hour).

…we make sure our couples without planners stay hydrated too!

Weddings are fun and stressful and fill your soul right up with love…and I am so thankful to do it around so many amazing people who love weddings just as much as I do!

…and I just can’t describe it. You’d have to experience it. But, as the wedding photographer, I spend the most time with the couple on their wedding day and sometimes you get little moments like this where it’s just us between events of the day and it fills my soul to the top! Meghan and Ed…Ooo my goodness. WHAT A WEDDING.

…and then I get the biggest compliment when couples and their friends hire me and I get to see them over and over and over again AND they want photos (and hugs).

We also did it at Hannah and Noah’s wedding!

…and I MEANNNNN. What a sappy way to end the 2023 Behind the Scenes blog, right?! OOooOo man ooOOo MAN! 2023 was a wedding season DREAM! I’m more than ready to go back into wedding season this year (and usually I’m a weeee bit nervous. Post COVID wedding seasons have been a wild roller coaster ride). I think 2023 definitely hit reset and I am SO looking forward to 2024 wedding season and what’s to come!! Let’s do this!! First up…May 4th…not a Star Wars wedding but it’s going to be GRAND!

Tune in…stories and blogs and pretty pictures are COMING AT YOU!