Krystal + Kyle

This couple!  They’re my dream clients!  Kyle and Krystal are just the kindest people around.  They are so genuine, and I’m so honored to have been their wedding photographer.  

Their venue was perfect!  Both the ceremony and reception took place at a wedding venue called Skyview Lodge in Brunswick, Ohio.  There are so many great little spots to shoot around the property which meant we didn’t have to spend time traveling to other locations for the formal photos.  I LOVE having everything in one place.  It eliminates so much extra stress. 

We started off with the first look which was EPIC!  One of the most beautiful first looks I’ve ever done for sure.  For those who aren’t sure what a first look is, it’s a way for the couple to see each other for the first time before the ceremony, in a more intimate setting.  Some couples want a private experience with just the two of them and the photographer, other couples allow friends and families to be there to experience it as well.  I love when couples decide to do this because the schedule is typically much more relaxed this way. 

My second shooter and I were able to get the group photos wrapped up seconds before the rain began.  The timing couldn’t have been more perfect.  The rain ended up being a blessing because it forced everyone to sit and relax.  The wedding party got a chance to grab some food and rest before the ceremony. 

The rain stopped at the perfect time and the outdoor ceremony was absolute PERFECTION!  We truly could not have asked for a more beautiful day. 

We even got some amazing night shots with the venue in the background.  Krystal and Kyle chose some of these images for their wedding album and they looked stunning in print! 

Andrew + Vanessa

We had originally planned to shoot Vanessa and Andrew’s engagement session in October but the weather just wasn’t cooperating.  Luckily we scheduled for a beautiful day in November and everything worked out perfectly. 

Downtown Cleveland is one of my favorite spots for an engagement session.  I was born and raised in Cleveland and I love it!  I spent a lot of time downtown as a kid so I’m really familiar with all of the best spots to do a photo session. 

The only unfortunate part about the day we chose was the fact that there was a Brown’s game going on downtown…and it just so happened to end at the exact time we had planned to start the photo shoot. 

 As we were trying to get photos, huge groups of very drunk Browns fans were yelling things and causing all kinds of traffic disruptions.  But I’m a wedding photographer; I’ve dealt with my fair share of drunk and yelling individuals.    

We started out on E. 4th and got a few shots before making our way around and past public square.  Unfortunately, they were in the process of setting up public square for Christmas so my typical shots locations in that particular area weren’t available to us. 

We made a big loop and headed back to E.4th once we got some great golden hour shots.  And it only made logical sense to end the session at the casino.  Night shots on a rooftop are pretty amazing.  I always recommend that my wedding clients give me at least 10 minutes on their wedding day to do a few night shots as well.  They always end up being some of the very best shots of the day. 

Vanessa and Andrew will be getting married in September next year and I can’t even wait! 

Celeste + Mark

I had such a great time shooting with Jess of Jessica Sonmore Photography in Canton this past April.  It was a cold and rainy day but the wedding was beautiful and the gallery looks amazing!  The beautiful ceremony took place at Little Flower Catholic Church.  It's such a gorgeous space and even more importantly, such an amazing community of loving people.  Sometimes you walk into a place and just feel at home there; this is definitely one of those places.  

Celeste and Mark have an incredible support system to help and guide them through their marriage.  They had so many friends and family members in attendance.  All of them are so genuinely happy for this couple.  It's easy to see why.  Just the way these two look at one another is absolutely adorable!  

After their beautiful ceremony, the wedding party traveled to a ridiculously gorgeous estate for group photos nearby.  

The reception was held at St. Nicholas Banquet Center.  It was so beautifully decorated for Celeste and Mark's wedding.  I loved all of the twinkle lights throughout the venue.  It definitely gave some amazing bokeh effects in the photos!   

I loved the details of this wedding.  Just look at these florals by Country Flowers and Herbs of Hartville!  The pink was a perfect pop of color for such a gloomy day.  

Some of the other amazing vendors that provided services at Celeste and Mark's wedding were Checkerboard Chessecake, Russel Sound Lab, Work Shed Weddings, and Mad Hair Studio.  It takes a lot of time and talent to put together beautiful events like this.  Each vendor played an important part.  

Taylor + Christopher

I had the opportunity to work as a second shooter with Amilia of Amilia Photography this past December.  Taylor and Christopher's wedding took place on December 29th.  It was a very cold day but the snow provided a gorgeous backdrop for outdoor wedding photos.  

The day began at The Bertram Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Aurora, Ohio.  It is such a gorgeous venue.  Taylor and Christopher used this venue for getting ready photos and for the wedding reception. 

The ceremony was held at St. Mary Church in Hudson.   What an incredible place for a wedding ceremony!  The church is GORGEOUS!  To top it off, the church was still decorated for Christmas.  The decor was an incredible addition to the wedding celebration.  

The reception was the party of a lifetime.  Darryl Cameron of Flash Jam Entertainment kept the dance floor packed with his amazing talent.  The music was a great mix of old and new, slow and upbeat.  The crowd couldn't get enough of it!  I really love being a photographer at receptions like this.  

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.