The Top 22 Photos of 2022
This is our fourth annual “Top Photos of the Year” post. This year they are in random order. Each has a story to tell, an emotion to share, or a moment frozen in time. They are comprised of wedding photos, senior portraits, school portraits, sporting events, team sports and even some doctors jumping for joy! Throughout 2022, between Julia, Melissa, and Sean, we photographed 704 sessions. These include everything from quick in-studio class photo makeups to all-day events like weddings. In all, this totaled just over 500,000 photos taken! Choosing our favorites was an impossible task, so for 2022 we present our top 22 photos (plus a few honorable mentions because it’s just too hard to narrow down.) We had fun putting this gallery of images together and we hope you enjoy them!
OMG!
After photographing around 8,000 class pictures this year, there is a clear-cut winner for the most adorable!
Canon R6, RF 85mm 2.0, 1/200th, F8.0, ISO 160, lit with Godox QS400 II
The Leap Heard Around The World
Ayshah had an idea for her senior portrait where she wanted to capture a dive for a ball in the studio. We decided to take the couch cushions and lay them out on the floor to get shots of her diving at the camera. The peaceful look on her face as she is about to crash to the floor still amazes us. Well, this started a year of people jumping across the studio and crashing down on the poor couch cushions as you can see in this video.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F8.0, ISO 200, lit with Profoto B10+
You Can Feel This Photo
When we capture team photos, we always want the athletes to put their heart into the images and this athlete lived up to the challenge! Daisy let out a full-on scream and we captured this image that you can just feel as you look at it. For sure this is one of our all-time favorite sports team photos!
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F8.0, ISO 100, lit with Profoto B10+
Jump Doc!
One thing we love to do is convince people to let go a little and have fun in group shots. This one really has a great sense of release because this group of folks have just finished their medical residency. These doctors were able to cut loose and let themselves fly!
Canon R5, RF 28-70 f2.0, 1/500th, F2.2, ISO 125, naturally lit
Your Future Is Golden
At the very end of Susquehanna Valley’s graduation last year as the crowd was heading out we looked back and saw this amazing golden light enveloping the grads as they walked off the field. A few clicks later and it was gone, but this one shot of Liz just came out perfect!
Canon R6, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/500th, F3.2, ISO 100, naturally lit
Ghaaa!
99.99% of the time, you know what you are taking a photo of, but not in this example! Sean was snorkeling in Bermuda, chasing a parrot fish around the reef when he clicked this shot under some rocks of a fish he didn’t even see until the photos were pulled off the card. This is a puffer fish (the one that becomes a big spikey ball when scared). Based on the scale of everything around him, this little guy was about 2 to 2.5 feet long. Sean was inches away from him without even knowing it!
Sony A6000, E PZ 16-50 F3.5-5.6 OSS, 1/160sec, F4.0, ISO 320, naturally lit
Just Kickin It
Our second and final appearance of a couch cushion jump this year is McKenna, who did this wild flying kick at a ball resulting in this stunning shot. Later that day, after her session, she did kick a ball at me as I was photographing her game on the sidelines at SV so maybe she didn’t appreciate it the way that we did.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F5.6, ISO 160, lit with Profoto B10+
Me-Frickin-Ow!
Dominic and his family were in for holiday photos with several pets including a bearded dragon and his cat Oreo. At the end of the session, Oreo climbed up on top of him and sang us the song of his people at top volume. We didn’t help, but happily kept clicking shots…
Canon R6m2, RF 28-70mm f2.0. 1/200sec, F5.6. ISO 200, lit with Profoto B10
How You Dooin’?
One of our 2023 wedding couples, Paige and Derek, had their engagement session this year. Although it was broad daylight, we worked for this more dramatically lit shot that appeared as if it could have been dusk. It just has a very nice look to it and jumped onto the top 22 list.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F8.0, ISO 125, lit with Profoto B10+
Intensity
Chloe brought her violin to her session and we were capturing some more traditionally lit and posed shots but we had the idea to do something more dramatic. This is the result! We just love the lighting and the lines of this photo.
Canon R5, RF 28-70mm f2.0. 1/160sec, F18. ISO 200, lit with Profoto B10
Thank You
Back in 2016, the Maine Endwell Little League team won the world series and became local legends. This past year we had the privilege of catching up with all of them for press assignments and also shot senior portraits for several. This shot is bittersweet though… here is Michael Mancini in his final game with many members of the world series team as they were knocked out of the state championship playoffs. Thank you boys, you played well and have immeasurable class.
Canon R6, EF 400mm f2.8 IS ii, 1/2500th, F3.5, ISO 100, naturally lit
I Spy
We do a lot of work with the Roberson Museum throughout the year. One really fun project we did this year was to make an I Spy game for the iconic train set in the museum. We photographed hundreds of elements around the set and made cards for kids (and adults) to try to find the small details. I can assure you, it’s no walk in the park to find them all …
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F6.3, ISO 250, lit with Profoto B10+
Just Chatting
The Animal Adventure Chatters group made their 4th (almost) annual pilgrimage to the area this year. It’s hard to describe this group, but we can tell you that you will probably never find more kind-hearted and caring individuals anywhere. Every year we send a crew to photograph them at Animal Adventure Park and attend their events. We have made some great friendships along the way. And then, of course, there is Nanny Sue …
Canon R6, EF24-105 F4, 1/500th, f9.0, ISO 400, naturally lit. Three photo panorama.
Wet Groom
The groom is the one all the way to the right in the purple shirt about to go in and that’s his new father-in-law in the white shirt that he is taking in with him … I can say we have never had a groom jump into a pond before at a reception but I hope this tradition continues (Sara and Nick?). This was one of the most fun receptions we have ever photographed and you could not find a nicer couple than Emily and Tyler.
Canon R6, RF 28-70mm f2.0. 1/500sec, F5.0. ISO 800, naturally lit
Woah!
Nathan was the third and final senior from his family to come through. We wanted to get something cool to incorporate his running career and graduation and this shot came to fruition. It could not have gone any better! The flowing graduation robes and the cap flying off due to his extreme speed on the track were pure perfection.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/5000th, F4.5, ISO 500, naturally lit
Bring It …
Olivia is another SMS senior with an older sibling that has come through in the past. We captured this shot, again in broad daylight with some extreme lighting and camera settings to turn the world down behind her. After that, the toss and her intense stare all make for an incredible, dramatic image.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/160th, F25, ISO 50, lit with Profoto B10+
Not Santa
No, he is not Santa but he is certainly rocking the beard and hair. Fred came in for headshots and when we saw this image we thought it needed our extreme black-and-white treatment. We could not be any happier with the outcome and it puts him on this list.
Canon R6, EF 85mm 1.4, 1/200th, F7.1, ISO 100, lit with Godox QS400 II
Dirty Dirty
Wyatt’s session was super fun! We started out in a very reserved manner in the studio doing portraits that were nice and refined. Then, we went to Murphy’s gravel pit and it was all high flying, muddy speed for the rest of the day. We loved this image with all the mud flying in the air. The rooster tail off the front wheel makes it look like he is in 2-wheel drive. You should have seen how clean that bike was when we started!
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/8000th, F2.8, ISO 800, naturally lit
New Beginnings
This year really cemented our relationship with Maine Endwell as we picked up the class photos at the high school. While we did not do the main school sports photos, we did photograph the hockey team. We were really happy with how they came out and we hope the players and parents were as well.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 F2.8. Lit with Profoto B10+. Composite of 20 images and 83 photoshop layers.
Walk Off Into The Sunset
Courtney and Ryan had a beautiful wedding this year and this was one of their signature shots. We captured them walking off into the golf course hand in hand and this image made for a stunning closing shot for their wedding album.
Canon R5, RF 28-70mm f2.0. 1/400sec, F56.3. ISO 100, naturally lit
Just Chillin’
This is quite a departure from the previous photo. This little cutie was at the zoo in Tampa. He was the most playful little guy and spent the entire time we watched him running around and messing with his fellow orangutans. He was so much fun to watch and this shot just seemed to sum up his antics.
Canon R5, EF100-400 f4.5-5.6, 1/1250, F6.3, ISO 800, naturally lit.
Chubby Bunny
Did you ever play the chubby bunny song or kiss your baby’s cheeks from both sides to squish their face to the center? Take a look at the poor kid in the middle of this crash and sing the chubby bunny song as you laugh and laugh.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/2000th, F3.2, ISO 2000, naturally lit
Honorable Mention
Because choosing 22 out of 500,000 is just too hard!
American Muscle
The U.S.S. Wisconsin in Norfolk, Virginia is always an amazing sight. This shot of the bow, done with a wide-angle lens, is just a very unique view of this battleship that is longer than the Titanic.
Canon R5, EF 24-105 F4.0, 1/1000sec, F7.1, ISO 100, Naturally lit
He Has A Look
There is something about Jesse that draws you in. He has a look we can’t describe but one that we feel should be on an album cover somewhere.
Canon R6, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F5.6, ISO 100, lit with Profoto B10
She Said YES!
We had a proposal in the studio this year. She was brought to the studio under the false pretense of a couples photo shoot. When he dropped to one knee, she did say yes!
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F4.5, ISO 2000, lit with Profoto A10+
Time To Kill It
For our third multi-senior family on the list this year, Jeanette joined us for volleyball shots in the gym at JC and also in wild flower fields for light and airy images. Two VERY different looks for sure! We absolutely loved this shot. It’s our quintessential dramatic style, but what sets it apart is the subtle smile. It’s like she is thinking about how she is about to slam that ball right down your throat.
Canon R5, RF 70-200 f2.8, 1/200th, F14, ISO 200, lit with Profoto B10
The Helmet Is Safe
This was a fun one. We were covering the Bowie Baysocks visiting the Binghamton Rumble ponies. Here we caught the moment when the runner slid into second head first and his helmet was tagged safe before he was.
Canon R5, RF 70-200mm f2.8 IS, 1/160th, F3.2, ISO 6400, naturally lit
Big Yawn
Did you know that eagle babies yawn? They do! Big long yawns, and this little one sure was tired during our visit to the nest south of Sayre.
Canon R5, EF100-400 f4.5-5.6, 1/400, F5.6, ISO 125, naturally lit.
Hulk Mode
We try to avoid two photos of the same subject in the Top of the Year post but this slipped as an honorable mention. Michael going full hulk-mode on the inbounds pass was just too funny to not include!
Canon R6, RF 70-200mm f2.8 IS, 1/640th, F2.8, ISO 2500, naturally lit
Red Helmets
Liam was on of our first seniors from Chenango Forks and we learned a good lesson with him. Red helmets! You don’t ever do a graphic for CF with a blue helmet. We enjoyed working with him and his family and we thought this graphic looked great so it lands on the list for this year.
Canon R5 and mixed lenses and effects
Jacked
Tyrrell was one of our 2023 ME seniors. He and his team went on to win the New York State Class B football championship this year! We loved this black-and-white treatment and we can’t help but think that those arms helped in the team’s path to victory.
Canon R5, RF 70-200mm f2.8 IS, 1/200th, F5.6, ISO 100, lit with Profoto B10
Dark in the Light in the Dark in the Light
If you get the reference in the image title, we are impressed. (If you didn’t, read Lemony Snicket). We were a little nervous to try to get Janai the mysterious cemetery look she wanted at a noon session but with some extreme lighting and camera settings we think we pulled it off. The little car, which was not a prop, was right there when we arrived…. creepy!
Canon R5, RF 70-200mm f2.8 IS, 1/200th, F10, ISO 50, lit with Profoto B10+