Kat + Ivy

When clients book outdoor sessions I usually recommend to schedule them between May-October to increase our chances of good weather.  Sometimes clients want to plan an engagement session during February and that's okay too!  It's just much more difficult to plan.  It could be 70 degrees or below zero, 12 inches of snow or none at all.  I'm always ready and willing to shoot in any conditions though.  

Since Kat and Ivy live out of town, we were limited on dates for their engagement session.  We decided to schedule it for President's Day weekend.  And wouldn't you know it, we had a beautiful weekend.  They didn't have to bundle up in heavy winter coats and we were all comfortable for the entire shoot.  

They chose the most beautiful location for the engagement session: Jeffrey Park and Mansion in Bexley, Ohio.  If you haven't been here you need to make a trip to see it!  It's a public park so anyone can visit the space and take photos during set hours.  You can even rent the indoor space for your wedding!  

Not only is the mansion gorgeous, but there's an amazing wooded area that runs along the back of the property.  It has beautiful trees and a walking path as well.  

And to make the session even better, they brought their dog with them!  He is such a sweet boy and he is the most well behaved dog I've ever worked with.  He was the perfect little model and did everything we asked him to do.  He is going to be the ring bear at Kat and Ivy's wedding too!  Can't.  Even.  Wait.  

Kat and Ivy will be having their wedding at Waters Edge in Hilliard, Ohio.  I can't wait to capture their special day and post the images from their wedding gallery!

Madeline + Kishan

I'm OBSESSED with Madeline and Kishan's engagement gallery!  This couple is absolutely adorable and I'm so excited to be shoot their wedding at Patterson Fruit Farm in Chesterland, OH July.  Can't. Even. Wait.  

We decided to do the engagement session at one of my favorite photo shoot locations - The Cleveland Museum of Art.   I'm so happy we chose this location.  We had the most beautiful weather that day and we were able to get some amazing photos both inside and outside of the museum.  

We started the session with some ADORABLE shots that included their dog.  What a perfect little model!  

The chemistry between Madeline and Kishan was so much fun to capture.  They are just too cute together.  They RADIATE love for one another.  Sweet couples like this are the reason I love my job so much.  I'm so honored that they chose me to capture their special day this summer.  

That's a wrap!

I learned a lot about myself this past weekend.  I learned that I’d much rather be the one pointing a camera at someone than be the one it’s pointed towards, I learned that I get really stressed out knowing I have to look really presentable for a photo shoot, and most importantly I learned that I have ABSOLUTELY NO future in being on television or in movies!  I never realized how difficult it is to sit in front of a camera and talk to it while it records my voice and the way I’m sitting and every movement I make and the exact way my hair and makeup looks (without the ability to Photoshop it later.)  It was probably the most nerve wracking experience I’ve had in a long time.  It was on par with interviewing for medical school, only it was wayyy more embarrassing.   But I made it through that portion of the filming and we got to the part where we actually film me in action, doing what I love to do. 

There was only one problem....I picked a location that happened to have a giant winter festival taking place in the exact spot I wanted to film the video!  That was a little bit of poor planning, but I didn’t get this far in life without being a great problem solver.  I quickly chose a new location and we got there in time for golden hour.

While the Cleveland Museum of Art is a really gorgeous place to film a promo video, the Rockefeller Park & Greenhouse is equally as beautiful.  One thing that went even better than planned was the weather we had last Sunday!  I couldn’t have wished for a more perfect December day in Cleveland.  It.  Was.  Perfection. 

Another amazing part of the day was working with Tiffany and Greg.  I did an engagement session with them this summer and LOVED how their gallery turned out.  I knew they would be the perfect couple for my promotional video.  They’re an adorable couple with great chemistry, and it shows on camera!  They do a great job with my goofy prompts and we all have a really great time when we work together. 

After a lonnnng do of prepping for the video and filming, I immediately went home and edited the gallery.  To say I was happy with the results is definitely an understatement.  Seeing the finished gallery from Sunday makes me so excited to see the final promotional video. 

I hired an incredibly talented woman named Amanda Ellis of Amanda Ellis Photography + Films.  She specializes in newborn photography and film making.  Her promotional videos are captivating and moving.  She is amazing at what she does.  Her attention to detail makes everything come together in the most perfect way.  I can’t wait to see the final product! 

Working with couples brings me an incredible amount of happiness.  I love it all – engagement sessions, anniversary sessions, working with married couples, working with couples on their wedding day, and couple boudoir sessions.  Photography is a career that I can see myself immersed in and loving for the rest of my life.  The joy this job brings me is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.  It makes every day exciting and fuels me.  My photography company motivates me to set challenging goals and work hard to achieve them.  I’m so thankful for the ability to pursue a career that is my passion.  And while running a business can be quite challenging, I can’t imagine a job doing anything else. 

Hair and makeup by Jackie of Jax Hair Salon & Kaelyn of My Fair Makeup Artistry.

Your love life should be your favorite fairy tale

You may have seen the super romantic couple photos on Instagram and other social media and thought to yourself “I wish my husband and I had photos like that” or maybe even “There’s no way my finace and I could ever look that comfortable on camera.”

Well…

a.)     You can!

b.)    Ummm yes you can!

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I believe in these types of sessions.  I think they are important and very meaningful.  It’s so easy to get comfortable in a relationship…to start taking one another for granted.  Classic story: It’s been years.  Every time you wake up they’re there.  And when you come home from work, they’re there.  And when you go to bed at night…you’ve got it…. they’re there.  And there hasn’t been a time yet where that wasn’t the case.  But I am a firm believer in cherishing all the small moments of a relationship.  I believe those mean more than anything.  Appreciating that you get to wake up next to someone you love every day, and come home to them after work, and go to bed with them.  That means so much more than a fancy anniversary dinner or an expensive Christmas gift. 

After my marriage ended I vowed to stop taking the people I love for granted.  Tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone and I want those I care about to know what they mean to me. 

I am currently in the most beautiful relationship I ever could have imagined.  And once I realized how special this man is, I promised myself that I would nurture that crazy-in-love feeling that I experienced at the beginning of our relationship.  I knew I never wanted to forget that feeling.  So we say I love you way too much and we write redundant love letters way too often.  We tell one another how much we are appreciated daily.  We constantly compliment each other.  And I take way too many pictures in hopes of making all my favorite moments stand still for me to remember forever.  This greatest love of my life deserves to be cherished and held on to for dear life. 

I'm going to be honest - couple sessions are my favorite.  I love the dynamics and uniqueness of every relationship.  And I really I love to see my clients' reactions to their gallery!   

Book your couple session now!  You can have on lots of clothes, a little bit of clothes, no clothes, it doesn't matter to me.  You don't have to be a super touchy-feely, outwardly romantic couple.  I promise I can find a way to show your connection through your photos.