My Funniest / Most Embarrassing Moments: Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

Wedding photography (and photography in general) can sometimes be seen as a glamorous “picture perfect” profession (pun intended). Sure, there a lot of fun, glamorous parts of wedding photography - like the out-of-this-world venues, perfect light, cookie tables, and fantastic cakes (I’m hungry, can you tell?). But nothing is perfect, even if the photos might make things look that way. So today, I want to share my top embarrassing/funny moments from my photography career thus far – the not so picturesque side of what I do. But really, I just want to promote the fact that we’re all human. We all make mistakes, we all have embarrassing stories, and we all have moments we can look back on and (now) laugh at! So without further ado, here are my top 6 funniest/most embarrassing moments on the job:

1.  A Bird Pooped on my Head

Once, right before one of my engagement sessions was going to begin, a bird pooped on my head. And this wasn’t just a little bit of bird crap. This was a giant, heaping, hot pile of bird crap. That’s right, folks – this is real life.

2.  Laid in Goose Poop

During an engagement session last summer, while I was trying to lay down on the ground to get a different perspective, and laid right in a heap of goose poop. It was all over my pants.

3.  Got Caught Facebook Creeping

When I schedule a consultation with a couple to discuss the possibility of photographing their wedding, I usually look them up on social media so I know what they look like (and can flag them down) before the meeting. On this particular occasion at this particular meeting, I looked up the bride at our meeting location, then clicked the lock button and set my phone on the table. During our meeting, I went to open my phone to look up a photo to show, and BAM – there was the bride’s Facebook page, open on my phone… and they, without a doubt, saw that I had been creeping, because my phone was face up on the table between us!

4.  Stepped on the Dress

During a beautiful bubble ceremony exit from the church, I accidentally stepped on the tail edge of bride’s dress. In front of all of her guests.

5.  Walked into an Invisible Wall

The other day, right after a meeting with one of the sweetest couples at one of my favorite wedding venues (the Omni William Penn Hotel), I walked straight into a glass wall, face first… with my couple still sitting there watching it unfold!

6.  Fell Victim to a Groomsmen Prank

Every once in a while, I photograph weddings with other photographers as a “second shooter” – basically, to aid the main photographer on the wedding day. Typically, while the main photographer is photographing the bride and the bridal party, the second photographer photographs the groom and the groomsmen. Once, when I was working with another photographer and had arrived to photograph the groom and groomsmen in their hotel suite, the groomsmen introduced me to the “groom” and let me believe that he WAS the groom for 15 minutes… before the actual groom walked in. -_-

So there they are. My top 6 most embarrassing / funny moments that have happened to me on the job! Other photographers & wedding vendors – don’t leave me hanging, bearing my embarrassed soul alone. What is one of your most embarrassing / funniest moments from a wedding, event, or photo session?!

7 Questions to Consider for Unique Engagement Photos

Choosing an engagement session location can be a daunting task. With so many options to choose from, especially in Pittsburgh, where do you even begin? As a Pittsburgh wedding photographer, there are a few specific clarifying questions I like to ask my couples to help them think outside of the box for their session to choose a location (or theme) that’s unique to them.

1. Where did you meet?

Let’s go back to where it all began. Having a session where you first met is a great way to incorporate your relationship history. Tess & Phil, in the photos below, met at Seneca Hills Bible Camp. They decided to go back for their engagement photos!

2. Where was your first date?

Was your first date in a restaurant? At the movies? In a theatre? At a bar? At an ice-cream shop or bakery? Let’s go back to that spot! In the photo below, part of Sarah and Steven's first date was at the Bartram House Bakery. Going back to that spot made for some adorable photos that have sentimental value!

3. Where was your favorite date?

Usually, there are certain dates that stand out above others. Is there an anniversary date that stood out above the rest? Did your fiancé plan an epic Valentine’s Day date that you wish you could relive? While discussing options for their engagement photos, Jess and Todd (below) mentioned that they love hanging out on the North Shore around PNC Park. The city made for a perfect backdrop - plus, with the added sentimental value, it was a no brainer for their engagement session location!

4. What do you do you love to do together?

Do you love to eat out together at a certain café? Do you have a coffee shop you visit on a weekly basis? Do you love to cook or bake together? Or maybe you love biking, hiking, or canoeing on the weekend. The options are truly endless!

5. How, when, and where did he propose?

Let’s go back to the start of your engagement.

6. What do you most admire about your fiancé?

Is your fiancé a police officer? In the military? A fire fighter? Trina wanted to incorporate Jeff's love for fire fighting into their engagement photos, and the results are stunning and so personal to the two of them!

7. What is your favorite mutual movie or book?

This one might sound crazy, but movies and books can be so inspirational. Do you love “Tangled?” Buy a couple of floating lanterns and set them off over a lake at sunset!  Love the movie “Up?” Buy a bunch of rainbow balloons for us to play with during your session!

Are there any questions you would add to this list? How did you choose your engagement session location?