Lead Photographer, Owner, Literal and Proverbial “Big Sis”

Kristen Wynn

Who We Serve

Our clients would often describe themselves as “girl-next-door”// “guy-next-door” //“person-next-door” – we meet you where you are!
We match your energy and vibe. Do you want direction in photos and timekeeping? Okay, I can put on bossypants! Do you want things quiet and low stress and authentic smaller moments captured from us in the shadows? Sure, we got you. We customize coverage to you.
We are professional and aim to blend seamlessly in to your day with YOUR people (you as a couple, your fam, your wedding party, planner/vendors), like a helpful li’l wedding chameleon!
We have committed to blogging and posting every single wedding on social media (unless the client requests to remain private of course!), 10k budget or 100k+ budget, rainy day or hot-as-hell or deep snow drifts, size 2 or size 22+, age 22/32/42/52/62+, all races, all religions or not religious, LGBTQIA+, if you’ve never spent the night together or yinz already have 3 kids – we’re celebrating everyone’s marriage here!
I’ll treat your wedding like it’s my own. I’ll treat it better than my own. I might care about your wedding photos more than you do! I treat every wedding like it’s a royal wedding for my favorite sister (I only have one sister but YKWIM)!

Whether you are super Type A or go with the flow – I’ll be your wedding big sis!

white-glove service with a blue-collar work ethic

My Experience

I went to undergrad at Penn State (BA Communications: Media Studies) and grad school at Robert Morris (teaching certificate/MS: Instructional Leadership). My privilege and good fortune isn’t lost on me – my grandma (on my mom’s side) didn’t get to even START high school, let alone graduate, and somehow I got a whole a** master’s and a passport full of stamps. I owe so much to those who came before me and paved my way.

Getting Started

In 2004, I answered an ad in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (the physical newsprint copy – this is how we used to find places to work, GenZ) for a wedding photography assistant while in college because I always enjoyed photography. I worked as an assistant until 2009. When I didn’t find a teaching job (whompwhomp 2008 recession probs), I hung out my own shingle – that’s how I fell into my wedding photog era.

Philosophy

Capturing you and your new spouse together in photographs on such a joyous, special day is important to me because of a tragic loss. I was widowed suddenly in my 20’s after just three years of marriage. Being Steve’s wife was the greatest honor of my life. I’m now re-partnered to a wonderful guy (who shies away from social/being on the internet) – you can love what you have and still love what you had. In my work, I focus on the couple’s relationship and portraits.

Moments

Know that I still think about my KWP couples years later.

I remember standing on the hill above a Butler County barn, lighting lanterns with you to honor your mom and his dad and even my late husband.
I remember you running through the sparkler line, leaving that reception a little early, smiles on your faces to head off to that big move to Michigan together (Cue Noah Kahan’s “You’re Gonna Go Far”).
I remember breaking the “no dancing” rule I have for myself as you and your sweet sisters spun me around and around – just us girls on our side of the curtain at your Hassidic wedding, even though I didn’t know any of the steps – because this is peak girlhood and sisterhood.
My super power? Give me a KWP couple’s name and I can recall the venue, the weather, the year, the bridesmaid dress colors, the eating Pizza-Hut-pizza-for-lunch-fully-dressed-in-a-satin-gown chaos!

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forever looks like this

Photographer’s Assistant, Actual “Little Sis” (by 18 months!)

Allison Wynn

Allison is our photographer’s assistant for most of our weddings. She is primarily in charge of watching the timeline, putting together social media posts and blogging here, sending out vendor galleries, photographing candids, doing the heavy lifting, wrangling dogs (with great success), wrangling kids (with lesser success), working our lighting equipment, and being the boss of Kristen on the wedding day. There’s no one quite like a sister – no one triggers OR supports you like a sister!

Her favorite part of a wedding day is the first look because of the emotions it captures and its positive impact on the couple’s photo variety and timelines. Allison is a 2009 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, majoring in psychology; she is entering her fourteenth season as an assistant (while maintaining her 9-5 as an admin in the education field). Allison works every wedding like her name is on the building as well – she’s been seen in hip deep water pushing a boat from the dock, she ran out to get the bride’s mom breakfast when it was desperately needed, and once, she gave a struggling bride her shoes and walked barefoot back over the bridge.

When Allison isn’t working with the Kristen Wynn Photography team, she enjoys traveling (her previous trips have included Iceland, London, the Bahamas, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, South Africa, Thailand, Australia, Greece/Turkey/Egypt/Israel, and Chile), renovating her newly purchased home, watching Bravo shows and listening to Jeff Lewis Live, and spending time with her dog Hunter.

Editor, Not Related to Us (But we love our sisterhood here!)

Amy Forbes Wells

Amy has been the editor here at Kristen Wynn Photography for almost ten years!

She is based out of Charlottesville, Virginia, where she previously photographed newborns and still occasionally second shoots weddings.

Prior to becoming a full-time photography and editing professional, Amy worked as a licensed and registered Interior Designer. This skill set allows her to bring a knowledge of color and design to her image edits.

When Amy isn’t editing, she enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband and daughter first and foremost! She also enjoys hanging out with her beautiful cats and bunnies. She graces the stage doing Improv in Virginia as well.

She’s also a big Swiftie – if Taylor and Travis (#tayvis #traylor #swelce) get married, they’d be lucky to have Amy edit their wedding photos!

Amy’s known for loving the Oxford comma, two spaces after periods at the end of a sentence, and her Photoshop exploits and creative Christmas cards. Using a dedicated private editor allows Kristen to take risks on the wedding day and attempt shots without stressing about the outcome and deliverables – because Amy’s got it covered and can bring the vision to life. In addition, every image delivered has been touched by two sets of hands here. We love having Amy on the team!