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January 27, 2021

Behind the Scenes – Kivus & Camera in 2020

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

The Kivii in their natural environment: Behind the Scenes 2020

I always say I’m going to do this post every year, but I think I’ve only done it once before. I just share some of the behind the scenes shots on social media and never write a blog post. But. Here we are at the end of January 2021 and I’m bringing you a 2020 blog post of us behind the scenes.

Obviously lots of John & I, but also Emily! Emily started assisting me with shoots a little over a year ago now and she has been a god-send. She’s going to start second shooting with me too and I’m so excited to have her on the Kivus & Camera team. She’s a dog whisperer and a talented photographer and has been able to figure out what I mean when my brain goes faster than I can talk and I inevitably skip words and don’t communicate what I mean clearly enough.

First up are some behind the scenes from Kim & Andy’s wedding, which happened before COVID shut everything down (hence the now conspicuous lack of masks). At this wedding, we worked with officiant Gwen Downs, Michael from All Around Raleigh DJ, and Timeless Events NC, all of whom you can spot in some of these behind the scenes shots.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

John is so good at dancing on his own.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

These two always make funny faces at me when I’m getting my light right.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

I’m loving doing composites lately and this is a fun behind the scenes of this one made in The Meadows bathroom. We lit Andy looking into one mirror and then lit Kim looking into the other, and then I combined the images in post-production.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

And here’s Nicole from Timeless Events NC, in her element, getting everyone in position for the sparkler exit!

Raleigh wedding planner behind the scenes Raleigh wedding planner behind the scenes

Over the summer all of my weddings were tiny and I was shooting solo, so I don’t really have any behind the scenes from those, but let me assure you I looked ridiculous doing my job. Now we’re heading over to Wilmington for Allegra & Joe’s wedding. Photographers are always suckers for self-portraits in mirrors, so here’s John shooting one of himself, and me shooting one of myself in John’s glasses.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

Getting this shot (like I did at Casey & Josiah’s wedding) takes careful positioning by both John & I. I need to make sure I’m in a spot he can either frame me out, or I can easily remove myself when editing. This one was obviously the latter.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

John didn’t care to tell me that my mask was super crooked and asymmetrical. So I look weird. But that’s par for the course for me so I can’t be too upset.

Where’s Elyssa? Oh she’s putting the light in that cornfield…

… to set up this shot.

Next we’re back at The Meadows, this time with Folie a Deux Events, Wedded Kiss, and DJ Ones for Megan & Taylor’s wedding.

Raleigh wedding planner behind the scenes Wedded Kiss - Raleigh wedding hair and makeup

Dog whisperer time now: Emily & Gus becoming fast friends.

dogs at weddings are the best

Dinner: the only time your wedding vendors (aside from the caterers of course) sit down.

DJ Ones - Raleigh wedding DJ behind the scenes

Gus & I were friends too.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes Raleigh wedding vendors behind the scenes

The mask fogging up my glasses was a real struggle this year. But we still made magic.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

Solo shot this elopement, but found a mirror in the process…

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

At Belt Line Station for Katie & Paxton’s wedding. I’m ready for masks to be over so I can see smiles again.

Forgive the sensor dust on this shot – I didn’t fully edit this one. But I love Victoria’s mom tossing her veil and Emily hoisting that light stand up to sync with the tree line. This is from Victoria’s bridal portrait session.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

Next up: more dog whispering from Emily at Lisa & Josh’s intimate wedding.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

Thanks to Lisa’s dad for helping me get smiles during group photos 🙂

This was a chilly day for sure.

Now we’re up in the mountains for Liesl & Caitlin’s elopement. Emily shot a lot of behind the scenes for me here and I need to work on my posture haha. Emily also rocked the lighting assistant game at this session. Extra light makes the sky extra amazing.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

And now we’re at Victoria & Bryant’s Cotton Room wedding.

Raleigh wedding photographer behind the scenes

John helping me stay on time.

And here we are at the last wedding from 2020. Emily & Carly & I got to hang for a bit before M&H arrived.

Raleigh wedding officiant behind the scenes

That’s what I’ve got for behind the scenes for 2020, the weirdest year of all time. I’ll make sure Emily & John make more ridiculous faces for me in 2021 and hopefully I’ll manage to put together another behind the scenes post next year!


We believe that love is bright and colorful, and your wedding photographs should be bright and colorful too.

Kivus & Camera are Raleigh Wedding photographers who create bold, colorful, magical memories of your wedding day with beautiful, artistic portraits AND enthusiastic, genuine moments. Your unique love story deserves to be told through unforgettable, breath-taking photographs that stand out from the crowd. Kivus & Camera love creating that magic. After all, as past bride Courtney says, we’re photography sorcerers.

And though we call ourselves Raleigh wedding photographers, we definitely photograph Durham weddings, Chapel Hill weddings, Cary weddings, etc. We’re all over the Triangle area, and we’re happy to head to the beach or mountains and even to places outside of North Carolina! Just let us know where your love story is headed.

Want to know more? Check out more of our images or learn more about our nerdy selves or just send us a note! Can’t wait to hear from you.

  1. Y’all… these photos… just wow! Masks and all. 😉 Love the behind-the-scenes stories. Here’s to 2021!