Best of 2013 Weddings

I need to throw a HUGE shout-out to all of the amazing couples that I was so lucky to work with this year!  Each event was full of love and laughter and so much joy that my face hurt after a long day of smiling so much while snapping those beautiful moments!

Building a relationship with my Brides and Grooms is so much fun for me.  In several of this year's weddings, I already knew a member of the happy couple.  The little brother of a best friend, a long time friend of the family, an old friend I grew up in dance class with.  And for several of the weddings, I met the bride and Groom to be at our "Pre-wedding Pow-wow"... or even on the day of the event! it didn't matter how long I had known these couples though, had it been 15 years or 15 minutes, I cried at each wedding as if I had known them ALL for years! (not ashamed to say, Yes.  I am that photographer.  I have emotions and guests will find a tear of joy running down the cheek that is pressed against the black box with the flash attached to it). I can proudly say that I started 2014 with new friendships on account of the fun we all had together as I chased them for an entire day as their personal paparazzi.  So thankful for you all!

And now... Some of my favorites from 2013!

It's a New Year... So here are some Newborns!

I am going to come clean about something right now for 2014:  I am a TERRIBLE Blogger (as one can plainly see from my lack of posts!).  If you follow my page on Facebook, you know very well I have shot MANY MANY more sessions that what are posted here.  And so, I'm starting fresh for the year and truly hoping I allow myself more time to share my favorites on here!

2013 was a big year for finding what I'm most comfortable shooting and what I am most pleased with as an end result.  I think one of the areas where I truly "found myself" as far as style this year was Newborn sessions.  I won't lie, when I first started out, these sessions were probably the most daunting.  Sure, I have two kids of my own, so babies aren't foreign to me, HOWEVER... finding interesting ways to shoot a little human who doesn't do much except look SUPER adorable and squishy can be a challenge.  I reviewed many other newborn photographers images for inspiration and after attempting those perfectly-posed-portrait shots... I realized that look WASN'T for me.  Sure, I feel it's important for every family to get some classic, clean "put it up in the frame" shots of their new little one, but I found that wasn't what was special about my opportunities with these new families.  That frame-perfect shot doesn't tell a story, and that's what I LOVE to do in photography.  I want  my clients to be able to put their images into a book, a book with no words, and let it speak for itself.  For Newborn sessions, I began approaching the sessions completely differently.  I go into each new baby's home now with the goal of creating a full snap shot of their life in these first few days so that in 20-30 years, they can go and pull out that book from this session and see their room, their tiny feet with the dry, peeling, newborn skin.  The umbilical cord stub, still fresh.  the first yawns, their older siblings excited little grins as they get to snuggle the new baby. The first documented smiles and how petite they were in Daddy's hands and laying against Mommy. I wanted to make sure all of those little details of the room that were so special and meaningful to mom and dad are documented too.  That First room tells so much and it gets by-passed by so many photographers!

I stopped showing up with a million blankets and backdrops to my sessions this year.  Sure, I have stuff on hand, should we need it, but I wanted the backgrounds and blankets and everything in the image to breathe life into the portfolio of images, to help set the scene.  My generic items are okay for some shots, but they mean nothing to the family.  And these images, should be packed full to the brim with meaning and sentiment.

And so, I went through my photos and here are some of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES of 2013!  Enjoy!!!

Courtney and Dustin: Ohio Engagement

I can't believe these 2 are getting married in less than 2 weeks!  The Engagement session was a total blast so am soooo excited for the big day!!!!  Can't wait to see you say "I Do", Courtney and Dustin!

 

 

Baby Reese: A Newborn Session

High School goes by in the blink of an eye.  I know this now, but it feels as if it takes FOREVER when you're in the midst of all the drama and "stress" (or so we thought it was stress) of 16,17,18 year old life.  People enter your life and exit your life from year to year.  For my high school, we spent the mornings for 4 years all the same, with the same group of people.  As people came and went, we could rely on this group of people... for 4 years anyways. ;)   We called this our "advisory".  Hillary was one of those whom I shared advisory time with and I hadn't seen her since the last day of our Senior year, 12 years ago (well, perhaps graduation).  You can imagine the thrill and excitement I felt when  she contacted me about photographing her Baby Girl who was on the way.  The months passed and finally the day came when Hillary sent me the message that her little Reese had arrived!!!! 

I need to first off start by saying I almost fell over when the auburn haired beauty opened the door.  She was a far cry from the curly, sandy-blonde haired girl I knew "back when".  Her previously wavy locks were shoulder length and straight and she was all grown up!  She also in NO WAY looked as if she had just given birth.  But the gorgeous proof sleeping in her arms hinted otherwise.  Hillary was more beautiful than I had ever seen her and also she looked more happy and blissful than ever. 

Our session was perfection.  Her little bundle of joy was calm, relaxed and gave us a few chuckles at her random "accidents" (hey, no diaper... bound to happen! ;)) and the adorable little smirks she would sneak out every so often.  I can't tell you how amazing it was to watch the love between this new Mommy, Daddy, and their little one as they snuggled and spoke so sweetly to her.  As I sat there watching the picture-perfect moments unfold, I thought back to High School, and to the kids we were.  Hillary, the intelligent, mature, and organized senior who seemed ready to conquer the world... me the totally disorganized, half-awake-and-eating-chocolate-muffins-with-Dr.Pepper- Senior who was only just beginning to study for the test that was to occur in the next 20 minutes.  Polar Opposites, but we shared that back corner of the advisory room and all of the memories that went along with it.  I'm pretty sure Reese will be much like her Mommy.  Her calmness and the ease at which she went along with her session makes me feel she'll follow right in her footsteps :).

Baby Reese, you are so lucky to have been blessed with such loving parents.  Enjoy Babyhood, Little Girl!  It will pass in the blink of an eye.  :)

Back to School Mini Sessions

I know... again, I claim I'll do better with keeping on on the blog... and again... I failed!  Here are some fun shots from the "Back to School" mini-session day!