When I first met Arista and Logan over coffee at our local hangout in Indiana, they thought that having a destination engagement session was a “big ask.” Nervous about finding a photographer local to Denver to take their photos and know that the price tag would be enormous, they asked If I would be willing to travel to Colorado to capture their photos in the Rocky Mountain National Park. Of course I said yes! Over the next few months, we planned specific locations, acquired all necessary permits and passes, and made airfare, lodging, and transportation arrangements. Since I will also be getting to photograph their wedding, we were able to work out an arrangement that was fair to everyone, and next thing you know we were off to Colorado!

Photographs at the Rocky Mountain National Park are absolutely breathtaking, but they don’t come easy. Since we did the shoot in November, the couple endured cold temperatures and beautiful but snowy environments. Since the altitude is high, we made sure to stay hydrated to combat altitude sickness, and luckily we planned the session for a great time of day when the sun was just dipping below the mountains making for nice even light. My husband was a trooper and held my soft box and lights for every shot so I didn’t have to fly with a light stand, and the results are absolutely epic. Check them out below!

Click the link below to learn more about Destination Wedding Photography Packages

destination elopement photograher

Weddings at the LeMont in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania are the standard when it comes to having a classy wedding that has great views of the city without being over-the-top. When Maura and Craig toured the LeMont, they said the thing that swayed them about hosting the wedding there was how down to earth the staff was, simply showing the venue and not pressuring them to make a sale. That’s because the restaurant/banquet rooms speak for them selves. Built in the 60’s and decked out with dark marble architecture and drapery, the Pittsburgh’s “premier 5-star restaurant” boasts an entire wall glass windows. Since the building is perched at the top of Mt. Washington, there is no better place in the city to see the magnificent views than sitting at your sweetheart table with Pittsburgh glowing behind you! I was excited to work here and wanted to make sure we did the view justice!

We started the day at the couple’s new house where the vibe was so very chill, thanks in part to the small bridal party but mostly because everyone was just happy to be present and not worried about every little thing going perfectly. The couple met through mutual friends, and this marketing-director and math teacher combo made for the most sweet, chill, stress-free couple I had the pleasure of working with this year!

The details were perfectly curated to represent both class and whimsy, words that I feel describe the bride perfectly. I loved styling her Badgley Mishka shoes with bows, monogrammed Mrs. Box, and her family heirloom veil.

After a relaxed morning, I drove Maura to Grandview Park where we met up with her groom Craig and we had the sweetest first look! Even though it was past-peak for the autumn leaves, we still had brilliant colors in the trees! Since the park is flanked by a school and a playground and it was in fact a Friday, we were greeted by a few classrooms out for a walk with their teacher. The kids went wild when they saw the bride in her beautiful boho dress, and asked if she was “marrying Prince Charming.” They squealed with delight when she said that she was actually marrying a math teacher!

Portraits were so easy and fun with these two. The time flew by, and soon we were ready to head to the beautiful church for the ceremony. Saint Mary of the Mount is equally stunning on the inside as the popular overlooks of the city are on the outside. With vaulted ceilings and beautiful stained glass, it all but guaranteed dramatic wedding photos! After the ceremony we took the traditional family photos at the altar and then headed outside with the bridal party to get some group shots on the famous Mt. Washington overlooks. We were very fortunate to have a warm and not very windy day in November!

A short walk to the LeMont eliminated transportation and parking stress, and once we were set up, the couple was announced in and all the guests enjoyed the classic rock band that played the night away. The brides father even made a guest appearance for a few songs, including one that he learned just for the groom Craig, a song from his favorite movie “That Thing You Do.” The dance floor flooded with guests as the party started to take off, rivaled only by the excitement when the cookie table (but really “room” is more appropriate here) was finally unveiled!

The bride helped orchestrate and plan the most epic variety of delicious cookies, with lots of family pitching in to add to the delicious offerings. What’s a Pittsburgh wedding without a Pittsburgh Cookie table, after all? The bride’s sister, who owns a wildly successful baking small business, Micah Made Cookies, made amazing shortbread with chocolate on top, the groom scooped up some of his favorite butterscotch haystack cookies, and everyone’s favorite, the bride’s Milk Bar cookies, flew off the platters in record time! (she was sweet enough to give me the recipe!)

We ended the evening with a quick walk to the Duquesne Incline where we got a few dramatic night-time shots of the city and a few more calls of congratulations from on-lookers and the nearby restaurant patrons. For being the wedding I was most worried about (a new fancy venue, city-driving, parking, a big and beautiful and DARK church) it was the least stressful wedding day this season! Thank you so much to the vendors below (including my incredible assistant Ben Lloyd and my second shooter Jon Blanchard for carrying ALL of my gear uphill to the LeMont) for making this day incredible!

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Supporting local and small business was important to the couple - here are some of Pittsburgh’s best!

Ceremony: St. Mary of the Mount, Mt. Washington

Venue/Catering/Cake: Lemont

Second Photographer: Jon Blanchard Photography

Gown: BHLDN

Suits: Berk's Menswear & Tuxedo Shop

Shoes: Badgley Mishka

Rings: Custom made by The Harp and Hound Jewelry

Bride’s Hair: Spencer at Chariot and Vine Salon

Groom’s Hair: La Pomponnee

Makeup: Makeup Design Studio and Day Spa

Accessories: Mrs. Box

Cookies: Bride + Family; Micah Made Cookies

Florals: Bride’s Mother

Band: The Good Guys

Lenape Heights Golf Resort is an amazing venue with surprising views, and at about an hour from Pittsburgh, it provides the perfect destination if you want a peaceful, quiet, low-stress wedding day. The views at this location are absolutely stunning, and booking a stay at the Inn ensures that you’ll get to enjoy it from beautiful sunrise to stunning sunset.

When we first arrived at Lenape, I was completely floored by the beautiful and modern build of the Inn. The grand staircase opens up to a wall of glass, showcasing the beautiful countryside. The rooms are just as stunning - each with a beautiful balcony and lots of natural light, high ceilings, and modern furniture. There’s a lot of space to spread out while still not feeling like you’re crowded in! This made for simple, clean getting ready photos on wedding morning. Not to mention Daisy and her crew were already all ready when we arrived! We were able to get some great detail shots showing off her beautiful invitations, shoes, and jewelry. There was even time for the bridal party to enjoy a visit from the Pastor to do communion right there in the hotel room!

Matt and the guys were also ready in a flash, spending most of the morning helping to set up the outdoor ceremony area at the adjoining patio to the Inn. The ceremony was the perfect length, very sentimental, and ended with an epic kiss, just as everyone anticipates! Even though it was very windy because we were at such a high elevation, we were able to utilize the beautiful glass staircase inside to avoid blowing hair and harsh sun for family portraits afterwards.

Bridal party portraits took place on the golf resort’s course - my assistant Ben was so excited to finally drive a golf cart at a wedding! The friendly staff led us through the countryside and helped pick the best spots - he even knew we needed shade and directed us to holes with lots of tree cover! After a quick 45 minutes of portraits with both the bridal party and wedding couple, we headed back to the meticulously decorated ballroom.

Daisy and Matt designed a breathtaking reception area, with pink chair bows, pink centerpieces, and a gorgeous 3ft. high cake that echoed the pink floral theme. There was even a table for the kids with fun toys and props, and guests enjoyed a table covered with favors from the Pittsburgh Popcorn Company!

This reception started out particularly fun, with the couple running around table to table to complete the “Table Photo Challenge. “ The DJ played “Ballroom Blitz” as we sprinted from setting to setting, getting over 20 group shots taken during the course of the song. It was a great way to get guests in a picture and get them excited about the reception!

We ended the night with some epic golden hour photos by the pond and on the hillside, and sealed the evening off with a fun sparkler exit with the most die-hard wedding guests that stayed until the end.

I hope you enjoy some of my favorite moments from Matt and Daisy’s beautiful, picture-esque day!

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Vendors:

• Photography: Jill Gearhart Photography

• Gown: White Lace Bridal

• Hair: Shear Stylin

• Makeup: Shear Stylin

• Bridesmaids Dresses: White Lace Bridal

• Tuxes or Suits: 700 Shop

• Rings: Lorelli’s Jewerly

• Florals: Kimberly's Floral & Design

• Cake: Sweet Treats Bakery

• Catering: Inn at Lenape Heights

• DJ: Steven Vance Entertainment

• Favors: Pittsburgh Popcorn Company

Weddings at the Renaissance Hotel in Pittsburgh are a great mix of modern and elegance, with so many fun opportunities to showcase the city in order to get epic Pittsburgh wedding photos. This venue can be very challenging to light, with the gorgeous grand staircase and vaulted ceilings with dark purple glass dome - but luckily this isn’t my first day on the job!

I got to know Camille and Zachary when we did their adorable engagement session at Mellon Park with their pup Olive - and even though we had to work around the timing of the Pittsburgh Marathon and then got caught in a downpour, it was one of the best engagement sessions ever because THEY were just so happy and in love. It makes a huge difference in front of the camera working with couples that just love to be around each other. The two met online in the early days of the pandemic, and when they had their first date, they tackled all of the hard topics - religion, politics, etc. to really “cut to the chase” and see if they were compatible. Things worked out well, and they decided to quarantine together with Zach’s roommates during lockdown and their relationship grew at warp-speed! It was so fun getting to learn about them and just seeing the down right GIDDINESS they have around each other. Oh, and they are both super-smart scientist grad-students. They are perfect together!

We started the day in the gorgeous Heaven Suite at the Renaissance Hotel, where I was greeted with the MOST KIND group of friends and family ever (like seriously, they offered us snacks, lunch, and drinks!). The whole vibe was calm, happy, and pleasant, which means EVERYTHING on wedding morning! I always start wedding day photographing the small touches that make the day feel like “you.” Camille’s details featured a water-color rendition of the Renaissance Hotel on their invitation suite, and a hand-drawn Pittsburgh skyline for the save the dates! Jewelry was of course the timeless yet very trendy-for-2022 pearls found on her necklace, earrings, and hairpiece. The wedding dress was the perfect combination of classy and whimsical with a beautiful satin top and a full skirt covered in flowers.

When we went to spend some time with the groomsmen, we found Zachary helping head up the floral decorations on the grand staircase when we arrived. He and his groomsmen looked sharp in their classic black tuxedos and bowties. Once everything was set for the ceremony and everyone was ready, the couple opted for a first look so we could get some photos outside in downtown Pittsburgh before the ceremony started.

The Renaissance Hotel is conveniently located just steps away from one of the most iconic bridges in Pittsburgh, the Roberto Clemente bridge, which always makes for a great photo-op… except when it’s under construction! Luckily the bridal party was happy to walk just a block down the street to the bridge’s twin, the Andy Warhol bridge. Even though there were TONS of people out and about for a Kenny Chesney concert AND a summer festival happening on the same block, we were able to get some great photos by the tree-covered walkways, on the sides of the bridge, and even a few quick snaps walking across!

The ceremony was very sweet, drawing on the love and closeness that Camille and Zachary had grown over the last 2 years. With a quick kiss and a breaking of the glass (Mazel tov!), the two were officially Mr. and Mrs. Since most of the photos were done beforehand, we had time to get a GIANT photo will all 100 guests in on the grand staircase, which was a logistical and lighting challenge that we happily rose to!

Guests enjoyed cocktail hour on the second floor, strolling the marble halls with cookies and cocktails in hand. The Symphony Ballroom was stunning with gold Charivari chairs, floral centerpieces from Blumengarten, and custom etched drink ware for guests. My husband provided music with his company Royal Heir DJ Services, and after a quick getaway to take some night-time photos on the terrace of the Heaven Suite, it was officially a successful wedding day!

I loved being back at the Renaissance - I hope you enjoy some of the highlights from this special day!

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Vendors:

Photography: Jill Gearhart Photography assisted by Tommy Seibert

Venue: Renaissance Hotel Pittsburgh

Invitation Suite: Brown Fox Creative

Gown: Bridal Beginning

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Hair and Makeup: Black Label Society

Florals: Jim Ludwig’s Blumengarten Florist

Cake: Pastries a la Carte

Officiant: Brandon Stiffler

DJ: Royal Heir DJ Services

Weddings at the lodge at Indian lake feel like a destination wedding at a lake resort but without the long drive! This resort features a big beautiful ballroom and cozy outdoor covered porch for intimate ceremonies, and a neighboring golf courses for beautiful photo opportunities. And the best part is that it’s only 2 hours from Pittsburgh!

Nicole and Alex had the perfect day for a wedding - clear skies and comfortable temperatures, but even more importantly they were surrounded by people that genuinely cared about them and wanted to be there for THEM! We started the day in the complimentary bridal suite (!!!) which had plenty of gorgeous light, mirrors to get ready by, and lots of room for her large bridal party and family. My favorite parts of the getting ready portion were Nicole’s amazing 6 inch heels (her maid of honor told me that Nicole came out of the womb able to walk in heels, and it even was mentioned in the maid of honor speech later that night), the sweet first looks between Nicole and her moms, abuela, and dad, and a sweet and totally coincidental moment when I walked in to her room and found her sitting by the window reading her Bible to calm her nerves.

I am blessed to know Nicole from her early teenage years where she attended a youth group that my husband and I volunteered at. I remembered her as a sweet and spunky (in the best way) beautiful young lady. I had know idea the incredible woman she would grow up to be! Nicole and Alex both serve in the military (where they met!) and have endured so many more trials and challenges in both their personal and professional lives than most are aware of. They have even taken in younger family members as their own to give them a chance to thrive, even though they are still young themselves and working so hard.

I had the privilege of meeting Alex when we started wedding planning all together, and the respect and love he had for not only Nicole but everyone he encounters was evident from the first few minutes of talking to him. surrounded by his best friends from high school and the military on wedding morning, the nearly dozen groomsmen were loud and crazy (we heard them singing and laughing from 4 rooms down the hall in the morning), but immediately respectful and kind once I got their attention. Which was no small feat - I’m considering purchasing a “wedding whistle” so I don’t lose my voice again, haha!

Alex looked incredible in his deep purple suit with black lapels - the only person that could hope to upstage him was of course Nicole, who was breathtaking in her lace Essence of Australia dress with long sleeves and open back. The two were sheer perfection together. The ceremony was shared with a small number of family on the back deck, where Nicole and Alex wrote some of the best vows I ever heard.  Nearly every person cried hearing them, myself included. The two share a deep love that honors God and each other, which was evident in their vows.

After the ceremony came my yell-fest (in a good way!) to get through some large family groupings and a 20 person bridal party, which was super fun to work with because all of them loved the couple so much and genuinely wanted to be there for them, and not just to party. We wrapped up portraits with Nicole and Alex on the grounds behind the lodge near the lake, and when they both were willing to climb in a ditch on the side of the road with flowers all through it for SOME OF MY FAVORITE PHOTOS OF MY CAREER, their paparazzi team of 5 were all speechless. That’s a lie, I’m pretty sure I squealed. A lot.

The only thing that could top the amazing portrait session we had was one of the most fun receptions I’ve been to in 11 years. With a big crew that just wanted to dance, the floor was packed all night with the DJ throwing out some Hispanic inspired songs as well as all the wedding favorites. Nicole’s Puerto Rican heritage meant this girl can dance, and some of my favorite moments were watching her and her mom salsa on the dance floor. With her beautiful satin Marilyn Monroe inspired reception dress and killer moves, Nicole was radiant and joy-filled as we all had an amazing evening celebrating.

It’s not often that I don’t want to leave at the end of the night, but this was such a smooth, fun day that I was a little sad to pack up my lights and go. Over the past 11 years of photographing weddings, the one thing I’ve learned that all great weddings have in common is simply this: surround yourself with people that love and respect you, and your day will be filled with love and respect towards everyone, which is exactly what God calls us to model in a marriage.

A special thanks to this amazing vendor team for pulling off a flawless day:

Lead Photographer: Jill Gearhart Photography

Second Photographer: Kirkland Photography

Photographers Assistant: Ben Lloyd

Videographer: m20 Media

Gown: Essence of Australia at White Lace Bridal, Indiana PA

Makeup: Sparrow Beauty Co.

Jewelry: Sam Jam Creative

Rings: Lorelli’s Jewelery

Caterer: Flair of Country

Cake and Cookies: Nikki Hockenberry, Nikki’s Sweets and Treats

DJ: DJ John with the Lodge at Indian Lake

Officiant: Summit Church

Invitations: Tiffany Miller

Farm 1840

Farm 1840 is a beautiful, all in one wedding venue where everything is taken care of for you! When photographing this wedding in April of 2022, the beautiful chapel was newly finished just a few weeks ago, and the clean, simplistic yet elegant design was every bride’s dream.

Madison and Tyler had recently relocated to the beautiful town on Mechanicsburg for their careers, and while so many people they know and love are from this side of the state, the venue was worth traveling for! The couple met through mutual friends, both of which were in the wedding that day! Their fierce love and loyalty has carried them through so many challenges including moving across the state, losses of loved ones, and incredibly hard health scares. It was evident that their love for each other knew no challenge that they could not or would not face together - I was so lucky to be able to capture that!

We started the day in the beautiful, newly renovated bridal suite, full of lovely natural light which after all, is a girls best friend! Madison’s friend Alyssa traveled across the state to get the girls looking their best with their bridal hairstyles, and the make-up artist Alicia knocked it out of the park to make all the girls look amazing. Madison exuded an old-school Hollywood glam with her soft curls and dramatic lashes - it was so easy to take beautiful photos!

The guys looked handsome as ever and were extremely easy to work with and respectful, which is something I definitely don’t take for granted! Tyler was happy to pose for any and ever photo I asked of him (and there were a LOT that day)!

Once the couple said their I do’s, they walked down the aisle and were able to ring the chapel bell - truly signaling the start of the BEST of their lives!! We were able to capture some fun group shots and finish up with the most romantic and dreamy under-the-veil shots that were TOTALLY worth getting covered in glitter for! We made sure to make time for extended family photos since family is so important to the couple, and then danced the night away with an awesome DJ that kept the floor packed until the very last song! Madison also surprised her mom with a special dance, which again spoke to the value the couple place on those precious family ties. There were so many great moments in the day - I hope you enjoy seeing some of my favorites below!

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Vendor Team:

Venue: Farm 1840

Photography: Jill Gearhart Photography

DJ: Royal Heir DJ

Hair: Alyssa Ferguson

Makeup: Alicia D Beauty LLC

Bridal Attire: Birdy Gray | 700 Shop

Rings: Lorelli’s

Invitations: Miss Lily Designs

Cake: Cakes by Nicole Dunkle

Catering: Misson BBQ

A night-time, winter wedding at Phipps Conservatory is no less beautiful than having your wedding during the summer there - the beautiful wedding venue still has stunning topiary displays to dazzle guests, and when you follow it up with a wedding reception at the University Club on the Pitt campus, your guests are in for a very special, upscale experience!

I was honored to be able to capture these special nuptials a few months ago. The relaxed day started with family and bride and groom portraits in Pittsburgh’s beautiful Mellon Park, and then the ceremony took place under a night sky inside the conservatory’s Broderie Room, decorated with rich reds for the post-holiday season.

After a champagne toast, the couple wandered through the conservatory rooms where we captured some unique night-time wedding portraits among the cactus and fountains. We later joined up with the guests at Pitt’s University Club Ballroom where the guests enjoyed a delicious dinner while reconnecting with family inducing the intimate reception.

Enjoy the shots below of some of the most beautiful spots in Pittsburgh like you rarely see them - in winter, and at night!

If you were to take engagement photos in the exact spot you met your fiancé, would they be as cool as these engagement photos at Strawberry Way in Pittsburgh? These two met on this literal spot on the street corner by the Hotel Monaco (where they are getting married at later this year!), had their first date at The Commoner, the restaurant inside the hotel!

We met up on a cold afternoon in January and the two were dressed so classy and ready to brave the cold! They could pull off any and every pose - from super chic and serious to fun-loving and silly, which not even minding that they were freezing! We strolled up and down Strawberry Way, which in the summer is full of tables for outside eating at the various restaurants around the area, finding inspiration in the diverse architecture.

The session ended with dinner at the Commoner, recreating the couples’ first date! The restaurant was super cool to let us in a little early to get some really cool shots in the totally empty restaurant. Once they opened for dinner service, we ordered dinner and drinks to recreate all the details of their first date.

Enjoy the highlights of this super fun and meaningful Pittsburgh engagement session - hopefully it will inspire you to think outside the box (or better yet, inside the restaurant!)

The Westminster Preserve location at Armstrong Farms is a great choice if you’re looking for a beautiful barn wedding venue for your ceremony and reception. I was blessed to be a wedding photographer at Armstrong Farms twice last year, and can’t wait to go back!

Alyssa and Jason had a beautiful, sunny day at the farm, complete with deep blue skies, gorgeous flowers blooming all around the venue, and appearances from the famous geese that run the show at the ceremony pavilion!

The couple met on Tinder about 6 years ago, next came a house and a puppy! When I asked about the proposal story, Alyssa shared that on her birthday, Jason hid a camera in the living room and had her open up a present with a new collar they just got their new puppy, Ranger. Jason then sang happy birthday to her, handed her a birthday cake, and told her to close her eyes and make a wish by blowing out the birthday candle. When she opened her eyes Jason was on one knee asking her to marry him! She put the birthday cake on the table to give her new fiancé some hugs and kisses, but when they looked over at the table, Ranger was eating the birthday cake!

The couple honored Ranger and his brother Dante with some cute signature cocktails named for their pups, and had many other special details and moments incorporated throughout their day! Alyssa shared the special significance of some of her accessories:

“On my flower bouquet I had a blue butterfly brooch that was from my grandmother. She is 91 years old and lives in Florida with y grandfather. I always dreamed of my grandparents being there on my wedding day but with my grandmother Alice being 91 years old and my grandfather Melvin being 93 years old and COVID we decided it was not safe for them to travel that far. They have been married 73 years and seeing the love they have for each other is so inspiring to Jason and I. For anyone that has met my grandmother Alice she is always wearing a brooch but butterflies are her favorite to wear. By having that with me on my bouquet it gave me hope and inspiration for Jason and I to be married for just as many years.”

Be sure to check out all the beautiful shots of these meaningful details in the highlights of their perfect day below! And of course, we couldn’t have pulled this amazing wedding off without some incredible vendors:

• Photographer: Jill Gearhart Photography, assisted by Jessica Duncan

• Venue: Armstrong Farms, Westminster Preserve

• Gown: MB Bride

• Hair: Copacetic Beauty Lounge (Mallory Puniak)

• Makeup: Makenna Carlin (friend)

• Bridesmaids Dresses: Azazie.com (in “Twlight”)

• Tuxes or Suits: Men’s Warehouse

• Rings: James Douglas Jewelers

• Invitations or Other Stationery: annsbridalbargains.com

• Florals: Monika Friend (a close friend of my bridesmaid)

• Cake: Tasty Bakery

• Catering: Elegant Catering

• DJ: Entertainment Unlimited

• Videographer: Just Hitched Films (Ray Cordero)

• Coordinator or Event Planner: Deanndra Wetzel with Armstrong Farms

How do you set goals and know what to invest in as a small business owner? If you photograph weddings or engage in other “seasonal” work, the impending “off season” can be both exciting and terrifying! Photographers typically spend time and money investing in their business and in education to improve their skills, but no one really tells you WHAT that entails. Until now - here’s 10 things that small business owners can do in the off season to push their business forward!

That question of “what” is one that nearly every photographer thinks about at the beginning of the year once the Holiday hustle has died down and you’re left with more time to work ON your business with less things to occupy your time IN your business.

I’ve always been a person that is internally motivated and a bit of a perfectionist, and I habitually feel guilty if I’m not “doing” something or producing something. Setting specific goals is very daunting and feels rigid for me, in part because I can’t directly control my consumers’ behavior, and also because I will feel like a total failure if I don’t meet those goals. My motivator is fear more often than not, and it’s not necessarily a bad thing if you learn to set loose goals and have a whole lot of grace for yourself.

Instead of buying the cute paper planners for my daily, weekly, and monthly goals or and making trendy graphics for a vision board of 3 and 5 year benchmarks, I’m a “list it all out on my phone” type of gal. I have a master “ideas” list in my phone and every time I’m feeling uninspired or am at a loss for what to do next, I can pull out that idea list and start DOING.

As long as you’re making one small step a day towards progress, it’s enough.

Your list of ideas will look very different than mine, but to get my brain in the right mode to make business “goals”, aka think the next project I want to work on, I ask myself things like:

1. What do I feel like my weakest skill is? (invest in education in that category!)

2. What part of my workflow is the most time consuming (then work on streamlining or automating it!)

3. What’s something I dread with my business? (Network with others to learn other possible ways to do things!)

4. What can I outsource? (aka what’s taking up so much time that’s not something specific to YOU completing!)

5. What’s costing me the most money? (research alternatives!)

6. What’s a question that customers ask me over and over again? (work on clearer communication!)

7. What is my competitor doing better than me? (reach out to them for a mentor session!)

8. Am I reaching the customers I want to? (If not, switch up your branding or blog with those specific customers in mind!)

9. What’s something I can invest in to make my product better? (is it new gear? Maybe an educational course?)

10. What’s a resource or platform I’m not using yet, and is it feasible to incorporate it into my workflow? (Pinterest, Instagram reels, etc)

Of course there’s the daily tasks for any small business owners like taking care of clients, producing product, posting on social media, etc. but this list will help you with those projects both big and small that move the needle in the direction of progress! Here’s some things that I complete every year that are on my project list:

1. Branding

   • Update any digital or printed materials with new product shots

   • Get updated headshots

   • Take the time to update any color, logo, or text changes to your brand across EVERY platform (Facebook, website, google, linkedIn, Instagram, email signatures, etc.)

2. Website

   • Update your website with new images

   • Update your pricing, packages, etc.

   • Go through your website with “customer eyes” and make sure everything is organized with clear “call to actions”

3. SEO

   • Blog. Just do it.

   • Brainstorm a list of topics for blogs

   • Add alt text to all of your images to help with SEO

   • Add page titles and descriptions to all pages that are SEO friendly

4. Data Collection

   • Figure out what months have the most leads, most sales, etc. (This can be helpful for planning out what time of the year to invest into paid marketing)

   • Conversion Percentage: Do you know the percentage of “fans” that you convert to clients? Track how many leads against how many bookings to get a conversion percentage! Aim for 30% or more!

   • Raise your prices! If most of your sales are for your most expensive package or product, then it’s time to raise your prices! Look back through your sales to figure out the percentage of sales each price point is bringing in.

5. Financial Workflow

   • Research options for tracking your expenses easier (I recommend a business credit card linked to accounting software to make it automatic!)

   • Get organized for tax time! Research a reliable tax professional to help you get the most out of your money.

   • Pay yourself! Develop an easy system to pay yourself from your business income (A business checking account and a personal checking account with unlimited transfers back and forth helps BIG TIME!)

6. Social Media

   • If you hate doing it, learn how to batch-post automatically with services like Later.com

   • Brainstorm a list of reels ideas that aren’t cringey and feel like “you".” (and it’s OKAY not to do reels. It really is.)

   • Plan a monthly photoshoot of products or create an exporting system in Lightroom for when you edit photos so you can build up content to use on social media over time.

7. Network

   • Reach out to someone in your field that you admire to just get coffee and make a new friend!

   • Join Facebook groups for your expertise area to learn new skills and ideas, or just to meet people to understand and encourage you!

   • Get together with other small business owners in your community to learn how you can all support each other!

8. Client Communication

   • Start collecting emails in a Google Sheet for an email list!

   • Brainstorm ideas for and pre-draft email newsletters.

   • Do you send the same emails out over and over again? Make it a template!

   • Create and/or tweak your contact forms to collect ALL the info you need and also to pre-screen your clients! (It’s absolutely okay to require clients to specify their budget, and it’s absolutely okay to say you’re unavailable if their budget is way too low)

9. Education

   • Ask your mentors or peers for resources that they used to get where they are.

   • Offer to shadow or assist other professionals for free to gain on-the-job skills.

   • Buy my course! (But seriously, we cover SO MUCH of these things in detail!)

10. Define Success

    • Ask yourself what you REALLY want to get out of your business? Is it a number? A lifestyle? A state of mind? Get specific so you know when you are achieving it!

    • Figure out your monthly personal living expenses + your monthly business expenses to see just how many weddings you have to book or products you have to sell to meet your needs. (My finance planning tool can help!)

I’ve spent 10 years completing project after project, making and testing systems, and figuring out ways to automate everything to make my life easier and my business more streamlined. I’ve had so many people ask me about how I did certain things along the way, and I am always happy to help, because I definitely would not be here myself without the help of others and the audacity to ASK them! If you’ve found this information useful, I promise you it’s just the tip of the iceberg of what I can offer you as far as help! I spent two years putting together an online course to help small business owners just starting out have the knowledge, systems, and confidence to grow their business and “catch up” to the rest of the industry. If that sounds like something you want in on too, you can click the photo below to check out the course!