The Barn At Glistening Pond | Pennsylvania Summer Wedding

Each of us here at Knot Just Any Day consider ourselves “archivists” at our core. Whether we arrive at your wedding as photographers, videographers, or both we look to capture, document, and preserve the entire day timelessly with the utmost respect and care. Not only is this our guiding principle, but it pushes us to get better, it motivates us as artists and storytellers, and it grants us the privilege of great relationships with all of our wedding couples. Our first meeting with Ilissa and St. John always sticks out as a prime example of that immediate “click” when they approached us about their summer wedding at the Barn at Glistening Pond.

Sitting down with them for the first time it was apparent how dedicated they were to everything in their lives and each other. These two hardworking movie lovers with an appreciation for family, faith, and friends expressed all the things important to them, from where they had their first date to the elements they were planning for their wedding day. After a great conversation at our studio, they booked us as their Wedding Photographer and Wedding Videographer for their summer wedding at The Church of St. Gregory in Clarks Summit, PA, and The Barn at Glistening Pond in Falls, PA.

Their wedding day was truly “them” to its absolute core. The moments at their respective bride and groom preps were delicate, raw, and emotional. Followed by a service rooted in faith that though they were surrounded by their loved ones, they still found the intimate moments to share a loving stare or crack an adoring smile. Their time together afterward was loving and romantic, and after all the formalities were said and done, the party was BUMPIN’.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve & Connor

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Curtis & Drew

VENDORS:

Ceremony & Reception: The Barn at Glistening Pond

Entertainment: Nowhere Slow

Tuxes: Tuxedo by Sarno, Dickson City

Dress: Grace Loves Lace, Montclair NJ

HMU: Lavish Scranton

Catering & Cake: Epicurean Delight

Florist: Shabby Sisters

Florist: McCarthy Flowers

Planning: Ashlee Martinelli at Every Little Thing

Check out their First Dance Song!

photography workshops and creative business courses

I often wonder where I learn new things. When I’m taking new chances with a photograph, where do those bursts of inspiration come from? Are they from direct instruction through classes or photography workshops I’ve personally taken? Are they latent images in my mind of photos I’ve once seen? Or are they new thoughts and amalgamations from other experiences altogether?

Seeing is growing as a visual artist. I am all about doing research and looking anywhere and everywhere for ideas and inspiration. I am even comfortable with stumbling through online tutorials…to a point. Step-by-step posts and videos can be super helpful, but they don’t take into account the variables that may arise. Once you’re “in it”, there’s little to no room in trying something new with certainty.

Nothing compares to the practice of in-person guidance and hands-on training. EVERY single time I get in the room with someone who is equally passionate about our trade, I see a massive change in what I am able to achieve. I’ve been fortunate to find mentors and leaders in this field to help me in this process. Through workshops and tutorials, I have been able to take new concepts and applications to properly execute my intended vision.

Let KJAD teach you

Basically, hands-on learning is where it’s at. We are excited to announce our very first workshop series “[ISO] in search of…“. These three workshops (2 photography workshops + 1 branding course) are designed to cater to a wide variety of creatives.

The first two workshops are for photographers with varying levels of knowledge of the medium. “[ISO] BASICS” is a photography workshop for enthusiasts, hobbyists, and beginner photographers. Photographers who want more control over the images they capture and a better understanding of their cameras and flash. “[ISO] LIGHT” is a photography workshop for working photography professionals. Those taking LIGHT want to grow their understanding of off-camera lighting and other lighting techniques. The last of this workshop series is “[ISO] BRAND”. This course is for creative entrepreneurs looking to start and structure a business more effectively. Additionally, we will be focusing on the visual brand of each persons’ business – meaning all of the front facing elements like logo, website, color, social presence, etc.

Why host a workshop?

Being a photographer for 20 plus years has given me the experience and confidence to face any lighting or composition challenge with enthusiasm and excitement. And while that is vastly important to my creative and consistent photography career, it’s seems unfortunate to not share those techniques and knowledge with others.

Additionally, I have taught at Wilkes University in the Digital Design and Media Art program for over a decade. As an artist, I fondly reflect on my interactions in college with professors and peers, and think of everything that brought me to where I am now. As an instructor, I regularly strive to build those same meaningful connections with my students to help them advance their creative careers.

By starting this workshop series, I now have the opportunity to merge these two aspects of my life into one. Education at the KJAD Studio has been a goal of mine since the day I opened my doors in 2015… and now it’s time.

Event Details

in search of BASICS • June 4, 2023 • 9:30am-7:30pm

in search of BRAND • June 8, 2023 • 5pm-9pm

in search of LIGHT • June 25, 2023 • 9am-9pm

Congress Hall, Cape May, NJ

Our photography and videography crews started our 2021 wedding season at Congress Hall in Cape May, NJ with Kiki and Dave. Kiki had been planning her destination Congress Hall wedding for as long as she could remember. So, being able to carry out her dream wedding despite the global pandemic, meant more to her than one could imagine. With a stately, historic yellow building and a perfectly blue sky as the backdrop of this chilly early spring Cape May beach wedding, we give you Kiki’s dream wedding… oh and Dave’s too!! ; )

Oh and be sure to check out the “KJAD aqua” ballroom. So cool.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Steve and Tom

VIDEOGRAPHERS: Stephen and Stay

VENDORS:

Ceremony & Reception Site: Congress Hall, Cape May, NJ

Entertainment: BME Event Group

Salon: Say I Do Hair and Makeup

Dress Shop: Van Cleve Bridal

Bridesmaid Dress Shop: The Dress Lounge

Tuxes: Tuxedo by Sarno

Shoes: FitFlop

Invitations: The Knot

Officiant: Judge Joseph Carmondy, District Magistrate

Cake: The Bake Works

Florist: The Manic Botanic

Coordinators: Erin O’Brien (ICONA Resorts) & Shauna Strellish (Westmoreland Club)

This past week KJAD had the opportunity to photograph two weddings (highlights included below). One was quite small, focused around a short ceremony, and the other was much more of a standard wedding day. It included hair and makeup, bride and groom prep, a full church ceremony, posed family and wedding party photos, and portraits of the bride and groom. Both weddings chose to have small and informal outdoor gatherings rather than a “full” reception, and both will celebrate with larger groups later this year at “part 2” receptions.

After preparing for and photographing each, I realized what stands between getting married now (during the pandemic) or postponing your wedding to later this year or even next, is the ability to envision your wedding in different ways. What you have imagined for the past year or more is likely not be what you will experience.

But, by no means is this a bad thing. Reimagining your 2020 wedding can be challenging and frustrating, but so can waiting another year to have the wedding of your (pre-COVID) dreams. Thankfully, a reconfigured 2020 wedding and the wedding you originally imagined have one thing in common – two people, joining their lives and families together with love and trust. The rest comes down to your comfort level. Options can include the following: a wedding on your original date, with a small party afterward or a more inclusive reception in the future; or, a more traditional full wedding ceremony and reception next year.

Whatever you decide, KJAD is here to help you navigate your long list of to-do’s and offer things to consider along the way. We are hosting a live stream session at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, to talk about wedding options for 2020 and beyond, and showcase our new KJAD LIVE service.

Consider these things if you would like to keep your 2020 date: Reconfigure the traditional wedding format – hair and makeup, bridal party prep, ceremony, formal photos, cocktail hour and reception – by evaluating the entire day to see what parts matter the most to you and only include those – safely. Think a little outside the box: change locations, activities, guest count, or even day’s timeline. Just remember, whatever you decide to do, make sure it is in line with your venue’s rules, and state and county’s guidelines.

It really comes down to one of a few options: get married on your original wedding date with pandemic restrictions – have a small ceremony on your OG date and then a party to follow later in 2020 or 2021 – or completely move your entire wedding to next year and hoping that the coronavirus doesn’t pose such a serious threat.

Quick Sidebar: I captured this photo of a section of the wedding party, safely spaced out throughout the entire church, wearing their face masks this past weekend. I understand the photo seems a bit “dark and grim” at first, but really the intention is far from that. (I also really just like the look and strong social narrative to it.) The church planned and executed safe practices throughout the entire service. They held a full Catholic mass and made it quite worry-free. While my photo has a darker overtone to it, the ceremony was the exact opposite; joyous, exciting, tearful, and full of all the tradition one hopes for at a mass. You can find more photos at the end of this blog.

The weddings we experienced last weekend (through a face mask and a little distancing) were two pandemic-era weddings held in completely different fashions. Both formats worked for the individual couples, and perhaps some aspects could work for you, too. We will share what we learned during our live discussion at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, and will also blog about each wedding in the weeks to come.

All my best to you, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you would like to talk through your upcoming wedding. Also, if KJAD isn’t a part of your wedding, we’d still be more than happy to consult with you over the phone or video chat. We are all in this together.

Take great care and see you soon!

Hey, it’s me, Mike! I’m your second crew feature, and while you’re here, I wanted to tell you a little bit about myself and how I became the Lead Photographer at KNOT JUST ANY DAY.

One day, just about 5 years ago, I showed up at the KJADstudio, sat down, started doing some work, and I’ve been here ever since. Okay, okay, maybe it wasn’t quite that simple, but it’s close.

I graduated from Wilkes University in 2012 with a degree in Integrated Media. My path with Steve didn’t cross there being he didn’t start teaching at Wilkes until 2013. Still, a good friend of mine, Eric, was a student of Steve’s and transitioned into videography for KJAD after he graduated in 2013. 

I definitely credit KJAD for jumpstarting my creative career, but art has been in my life for as long as I can remember. I was really into video games and anime, which made me want to learn how to draw. There was no YouTube then, so before taking art classes, I got my start by learning from drawing books from Walden Books. Drawing and gaming evolved into an interest in motion graphics, and that’s when I began working with Adobe products like Photoshop and After Effects, and found my interest in graphic design and photography. I watched tutorials and made graphics for friends, and by doing enough of those you learn the basics of it. Photography came into play when I needed some sort of footage to test my graphics over. Then, when I got to school, I learned that it was a part of the Integrated Media program, and it all started working together. 

Prior to KJAD, I worked in advertising for about 2 years, which oddly enough was right next door to the KJADstudio. During that time, my friend Eric then gauged my interest in coming to work for KJAD. I said I was down, so here we are. Even though I am a photographer now, my role there began as a video editor.

At KJAD, my first jobs were file management, video editing, and designing flyers, invitations, and all of that fun stuff. Within a few months, I was at weddings as a 2nd shooter for video. Ever so slowly from there, I started training more in photography, saved up some money, and bought all my gear. Getting a camera after all those years of messing around and teaching myself was like a “game on” moment. I knew this was something I wanted to do and that I was comfortable with it. So, in my second year, I started as a 2nd photographer to learn even more and grow my skill set. After that and once I got even more comfortable, I started shooting lead. Now, years later, that’s my role today! 

I think the cool thing is, being a photographer and videographer has gotten me out into the world more than I expected. I’ve gone to places I otherwise wouldn’t have gone and met great people that I would not have met. KJAD definitely kickstarted my creative career, which I’ve continued to build on since I’ve started, but the experience has also impacted me, as I’ve matured as an artist and a person through KJAD. 

Nowadays, you can find me splitting my time as an artist between my full-time job at Benco Dental as a designer, photographer, and videographer, and as a Lead photographer on weekends with the KJAD crew.

That’s all there is to know about me and my time here! I’m looking forward to becoming part of your wedding. Can’t wait to meet everyone! Thanks for reading and taking a few minutes to learn more about me. In the meantime, follow me here (@mjgentle) and listen to my playlist below. 

From the wedding party’s color pallatte to Mallory and Bill’s cake and everything in between, the whole day exuded elegance. Their day encompassed everything you could ever want in a gorgeously classic wedding. We are just so over the moon about all of their photos. We hope each ones brings a smile to your face just like they did for us.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: AMANDA AND MIKE

VENDORS:

Ceremony Venue: St. John the Evangelist

Reception Venue: Radisson Lackawanna Station Hotel

Dress: Rosa Clara

Tuxes/Suits: Sarno and Son

Flowers: Ambiance Event Planning and Floral Design

Officiant: Monsignor Jack Bendik

Coordinator:  Courtney Killeen

Entertainment: DJ Hersh – BeatTeks

Transportation: Feel Good Limo

Cake: Minooka Bakery

Decor: Ambiance Event Planning and Floral Design

Invitations: Independent Graphics

Annarose and Mitch had so many wonderful personal little moments together on their wedding day, and it was incredible getting to be a part of each of them. From their quiet and emotional few minutes together before the ceremony, in which they prayed together, to their afternoon portrait session when they got a chance to laugh, look back on the day, and enjoy the company of each other – privately… well of course we were there too… but technically it was just the two of them.  : )

Plus, being that it was an afternoon reception, we got a chance to finally have brunch at a wedding. Eggs, french toast AAAND bacon!! Now THAT was the best… oh wait… well not best part of their day, but you know what we mean… Bacon. Mmmm. Enjoy!

PHOTOGRAPHERS: STEVE AND ASHLEY

VENDORS:

Venue: Inne of the Abingtons

Dress: David’s Bridal

Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal

Tuxes/Suits: Men’s Wearhouse

Flowers: Fire and Ice Florists

Officiant: Pastor Timothy Walker

Coordinator:  Stephanie Hunsinger – Inne of the Abingtons

Entertainment: AVIVA Strings

Photo Booth: Backstage Journey

Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas

Melissa and Aaron went all in with KJAD. We photographed their engagement session a while back, designed all of their stationery along the way, helped with coordinating their wedding and rehearsal, and then to top it all off we captured photo and video on the day of the wedding. Phew! And now we are at the point where we get to share their wedding blog and everything that went into making the day so amazing. Check out the Filipino “Cord and Veil” section of their ceremony… super cool… along with the ladies’ fans and the gentlemen’s barongs. Such great stuff. Enjoy!!

VENDORS:

Ceremony Venue: St. Therese’s Parish

Reception Venue: Irem Clubhouse

Flowers: John Mackey Design

Entertainment: Group Du Jour

Transportation: Parrish Limo

Catering: Irem Clubhouse

Cake: Irem Clubhouse