Kyle and Jimmy had a beautiful wedding at one of my favorite venues. The Inn at Oneonta is a beautiful property along the Ohio River. The couple wanted a relaxed, easy going wedding where they could enjoy time with their family and friends. From Kyle's bright blue shoes to the dinosaur cake topper, every single detail was a true representation of their fun loving personalities. It was my pleasure to spend the day with these two.
I heard she was a badass woman, I got to see she is a badass mama.
I watched Grace carry her sweet girl Clementine up a hill on her back, without a complaint, just to be able to share a waterfall with her. She took off her shoes, so she could let the mud slip between her toes. She asked her to be quiet so that they can hear nature. She showed her how the natives caught water with their hands. She gives her the confidence to explore without fear and the guidance to show her the way. She is the kind of mother I aspire to be.
It’s my first year being a mother. I have noticed in myself the strong urge to connect with other mothers, and to see how they interact with their little ones. It warms my heart, and I learn so much from the experience. I didn’t quite grasp the underlying bond I would have with other mothers, there is something so raw about the shared experience we have., whether this is acknowledged or not. There is no denying the immense love we have for our children and the sacrifices we make everyday to ensure they feel secure and happy.
I also quickly noticed there are a lot of photos of my son his dad, but not very many with me. If there are photos of us, I have a ponytail, no makeup, and look tired. Like most mothers, I am the one with the camera, I want to remember every moment. Inspired by my shoot with Grace and one I did with my friend Emily awhile back I decided to put together a special Mother’s Love package. It is a 2 hour photoshoot with you and your kids doing something you love or at a location that is meaningful. Maybe, you just want to get dressed up and feel great, I don't blame you one bit. You deserve it. Whatever you choose, I want to document it for you.
In honor of my very first Mother's Day, I am offering $100 off these special sessions the entire month of May. What a great last minute Mother's Day gift, huh? Feel free to email me for more info nikita@nikitagross.com
Nikki and Dustin's wedding, held on their family's property was one of my favorite. It was personal, relaxed, full of creativity and love. Every detail was thought of. I hadn't met the couple before their wedding day, but as soon as I walked into the beautiful bed and breakfast where Nikki was getting ready I felt like I was hanging out with an old friend. Bikes play a very important role in their relationship, it is something they enjoy together. Dustin actually proposed to Nikki at a women's bike convention, on stage in front of hundreds of people. How sweet! Another really special part of the day was the location. Dustin and his family spent many months building bridges through the woods that led to a romantic spot for the ceremony. They built seating in the hill for all of their guests. It was unbelievable. It's hard to call what I do work when I get to be in nature surrounded by such beautiful people, who are celebrating love. Thank you Nikki and Dustin.
Remember Maddie and Mark from yesterday's post? I had the pleasure of photographing this gorgeous couple once again a few weeks after their wedding. We decided to to a natural photo session since their wedding was in the city. I took them to one of my favorite locations in Kentucky. What a perfect day.
I love when I get a chance to book these kinds of sessions after the wedding. It is more relaxed than wedding day because we aren't on a time crunch. It also gives us a chance to get a larger variety of looks and go to multiple locations. The ultimate bonus is being able to run through a field of wildflowers without worrying about getting dirty. Brides pay too much for their dresses to only wear them once. :) 
If you have attended an event or booked your wedding at The Bell Event Centre, you have probably seen Maddie. She is one of the smiling faces running around making sure everything is running smoothly. She is the kind of person who makes everyone she is around feel special. When she contacted me to photograph her wedding, I was very flattered. I knew it was going to be a very special day. Maddie, Mark, and all of their friends and family were so gracious. It was way too fun to call it work.
The Bell Event Centre looked amazing for their reception. I love the look on their faces when they saw it. 
CSC Special Events lit up The Bell beautifully. 
I have so many weddings from last year to share. I figured since we are covered in snow and freezing cold why not start with a nice summer wedding. I had the pleasure of spending July 4th with Kevin and Katie on the B&B Riverboat for their laid back, intimate wedding. The day was a lot of fun. My favorite part was when Kevin got out his guitar and sang for Katie, I am such a lush for special moments like that.
Before the boat took off along the river, we jumped off for a few minutes to capture some nice portraits. I really like the one below a lot.
I have become utterly obsessed with my Polaroid cameras. I have about 10 or so varieties and a fridge full of film for them. Over the past few years I started taking them everywhere I go, including weddings. Whenever there is time I will pop one out and try to grab a few shots. I love the dreaminess and nostalgia of using film. They make wonderful thank you gifts for my clients.
Here is a collection of some of my favorites. These were shot on Impossible Project and gifted expired Polaroid film.
2015 was my busiest wedding season yet. I had a lot of fun working with really amazing couples. It was also one of my most difficult wedding seasons because I was pregnant most of the year. Things worked out pretty awesome as far as timing. I had all of my weddings shot by the time I was in the 7th month and was determined to have everything delivered before the holidays and my due date. I worked very hard to make that happen. Blogging and sharing images had to take a backseat while I focused on staying ahead of schedule. Growing a baby really sucks the life out of you, literally. Writing posts and organizing images was the last thing on my mind after shooting and editing, and getting as much rest as possible for my little meatball growing inside of me.
Giving birth was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I had an amazing support team and it was exactly the way that I wanted it to be. We are a little over two weeks into our new life and everyone is trying to figure out a rhythm. Right now our biggest concerns are eating enough and sleeping. I am trying to sneak in a little work in between nursing sessions, just so I can feel normal again. It takes me 2 times as long to get things done, but my time management skills have become pretty amazing through the process.
I appreciate your patience while it has been pretty quiet over here. I am very excited to finally be able to share some of the gorgeous weddings I had the pleasure of photographing last year. Over the next month or so I will be putting together posts and sharing them. I hope you enjoy them.
Here is a Polaroid of my little man, Nico. He is such a sweet little guy. I am so excited to watch him grow and smother him in love.
When I think about my job and the impact it can have on people's lives, I wouldn't be able to do it if I didn't think it had meaning. People trust me with their most intimate moments and feelings. They trust me to document them and to be apart of their lives, even if it is only for one day. I cherish my job, and there isn't a day that goes by that I am not grateful and don't take the responsibility I have been given seriously. Sure I like to make beautiful images, but I know that the real impact in my work is in the moments I am able to capture, the feelings I am able to portray, and the precious memories I am able to give every single person who steps in front of my camera.
I have shared Kristen and Sean's story on my blog when I photographed their engagement photos and wedding. Sean was diagnosed with brain cancer within 2 months of getting engaged to Kristen. They fought very hard together to keep the cancer from spreading or getting worse. For a few months, they were very successful. They bought a house together, had great careers, and enjoyed their fur baby family.
When I got the email from Kristen letting me know Sean wasn't doing well, that his cancer had worsened and that he was given a small window of time, my heart sank. It wasn't that I was naive that this could happen, it was that I hoped so much that it wouldn't. They are young and have fought so damn hard. Kristen told me that Sean asked her if she had enough pictures of the two of them, how thoughtful of him. Of course Kristen said no and asked if I would come over to snap some casual photos of them together at home. I was more than happy to do this for them.
When I got to the house I didn't know what to expect. I was around 7 months pregnant, and I did not want my emotions to get out of control. It wasn't like that at all. Sean looked great. He needed help getting around, but he still had that beautiful, vibrant spirit I was able to see each time I photographed him. We joked a lot and he smiled so much. He looked at Kristen with those same loving eyes I had seen the first time I met him. It was very touching to witness.
Sean passed away December 8, 2015 at his home surrounded by Kristen's love. He fought so hard, it was very sad to see the news of his passing. But, I know he is now at peace, and we have to find comfort in that. I encourage each of you who is reading this blog to take time everyday to appreciate the love in your life, not because it could be gone tomorrow, but because it is here today. Live in the moment, let your worries fade. There is no better time than now to accept love, to give love, and to appreciate the life you are given. We aren't ever sure how how much or how little time we have with the people who mean so much to us. What you do with it is up to you. The impact you make on other people's hearts is your legacy. We need each other to heal and to grow. My heart has been so heavy for Kristen. Today, as she says her final goodbyes to her husband, I hope she is surrounded by peace and is able to someday heal from her loss. She has handled every day with such strength. She comforted her husband through sickness and health. The vows she took were sincere. I admire her greatly.
This is my favorite picture of Sean from that day. Look at that spirit in his eyes. He was a very warm, compassionate person. I am happy to have had the chance to get to know him. 
Kristen took time off of work to comfort and take care of Sean. She slept right beside him every night. 
Their sweet family. 
Sean's best friend Scott was there to help Kristen take care of Sean. 
He absolutely adored her. And she took such good care of him. 
