A Sneak Peek into 2024

After writing up last week’s super reflective post about 2024, I’m sitting here contemplating what my big plans & expectations for 2024 are for team AGP (and team Gerrity, on the home front)! It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like a new year was as much of a fresh start as I hope for this one to be. In no particular order, we’ve got a new studio, a new studio manager, and one of the most balanced shooting calendars (so far) that we’ve ever experienced. What does that all mean?

Meet Michelle, Our Full-Time Studio Manager

For starters, to anyone who followed along in 2022 and 2023, you know that there have been some seismic shifts happening behind the scenes. Our beloved studio manager, Rachel, set off to follow her heart and find her family’s calling in California in the midst of our most jam-packed season ever and to be honest, it left me feeling a little bit listless and unsure as 2023 began. Pair that with the behind the scenes energy-zapping of an incredibly adorable toddler (and our newest fur addition to the family), I was definitely lagging in pizazz as 2023 came to a crest.

Enter Michelle. Although Michelle is a familiar face to many of our couples, she’s taken up the reins of studio manager as we set off into the autumn season and saying that she’s saved the day feels like an understatement. From her initial internship while studying photography in college to earning her second shooter wings, Michelle has been a stabilizing, reliable presence on the team for years. When Rachel was ready for the next stage in her life, she and I both identified Michelle as having the poise, organization, and multi-faceted talents needed to co-captain this ship with me.

While you may not have felt her presence as strongly in 2023, 2024 is going to be her year to shine. In between weddings, we’ve been catching her up to speed on projects and re-evaluating the business side of our business together so that we can do an even better job of creating unforgettable client experiences in the future. Her star is rising and I can’t wait for you to all fall in love with Michelle!

Our Cozy New Home for Photography & More

The best thing about our industry is definitely the people that we’ve met through the years. Both behind the scenes of weddings/shoots and in front of our camera, we’ve met people who stayed with us through the years and have ended up being some of our most loved friends. Sarah from Elegance Artistry is just one of these amazing individuals! So many of our clients have gotten to meet & work with Sarah and her team at Elegance Artistry through the last decade, so I know you’ll be excited about our newest partnership.

It’s been a few years since we’ve first talked about the possibility of a shared space. I’ve headed over to Elegance Artistry’s past studio for co-working days, rented one of their spaces for a past boudoir experience, and welcomed the team into our Daisey Lane studio many times. So as it became time for AGP to consider a new home, Sarah & I went into the search together. After many months of meandering and considering our options, we’ve found the perfect, sun-soaked space in a historic home in East Norriton.

What does that mean for you? We can’t wait to welcome you into our new home! Michelle & I will be hosting in-person album design consultations, new client appointments, album & print pick-ups, and a Grand Opening Open House sooner or later! We’re happy to meet you over a cup of coffee (or wine) and excited to have a dedicated workspace to keep our focus & create beautiful things together. And we’re even more thrilled to share that space with the talented team at Elegance Artistry.

A New(ish) Approach all about Balance & Relationships

With so many fresh starts in 2024, we’re also giving our behind the scenes approach a bit of a facelift. What does this mean for you? At first you might not notice the changes, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll see a renewed energy happening on our team. We’re revitalizing our social media with more fun video content, diving into creating meaningful client connections, and building our community of impressive wedding partnerships. At the same time, we’re becoming fiercely protective of the team’s work-life balance and creating a business that allows our staff to thrive in their daily lives.

After a year of going it solo behind the scenes and truly understanding the meaning of burnout, Ashley is ready to shake things up! In her experience, the best way to build an amazing client experience has been to really invest in a personal connection and pour our hearts into our work. The truth is the happier our team is, the better we’re able to care for you.

So 2024 is the year of investment in us so that we can better invest in YOU! Between new opportunities for education & professional development and creating a wellness culture for our team, we’re bring our best selves to the new year!

An Intentional Season for Personal Development & Projects

We’ve never had as steady of a winter wedding season as we expect this year. While that means we don’t get our usual two to three month couch potato phase, it also means that we’ve been able to more intentionally craft our peak seasons to be more sustainable. Which means we’ll be able to offer more consistent turnaround times and a more deliberate planning process for couples, no matter what time of year they’re saying “I do.”

This balance also opens up our opportunities to shoot outside of the wedding day. As we explore photojournalistic approaches & personal projects in our “free-time” and continue to grow our relationships with past couples as their lives shift & families grow, 2024 will be the year that you see a bit more diversity in our content. While wedding have been the heart & soul of our work for over a decade, we’ve had the honor to become family photographers without intention. It’s time to focus our attention to creating better opportunities to stay with you throughout the years & share our own experiences as the year goes on.

Not sure where I’m headed with this? Stay tuned for updates on our social media in 2024. Ashley is planning to create a regular series documenting her own life/inspirations and we’re opening up regular portrait sessions for our family sessions. Want to be first in line for one of our coveted spring spots? It’s never too soon to send in the contact form!

Above all, we are honing our intentions for a magical 2024 and are so grateful to have you along for the ride. Best wishes for the happiest of New Years!