Cincinnati Family Photos

I really enjoy photographing senior photos.   Simultaneously, we are paying homage to youth while witnessing witnessing parts of the adult they will become.  It's an exciting time full of transition and change.  Olivia and Kirby left me with a sense of hope and excitement after their session.  They both seem very driven and kind.  The future looks bright through their eyes, I really enjoyed that. 

This is a combination of senior photos and family photos.  Jill, is a wedding industry friend.  Her family runs Village Pantry Catering.  She added time to the girl's session so we could fit the entire family in some of the photos.  It was a gorgeous day at French Park.  I cannot wait until the weather gets nice, so I can visit again. 

Savannah and Andrew's Downtown Cincinnati Wedding

2017 was a year full of much love and laughter.  The clients who came into my life left me with a deep reminder of the magnitude of gratitude I have for this very special job that has been presented to me.  I document love.  I document the emotion.  I help preserve memories and moments.  The time I spend with the people who come into my life through photography help me become better at living and loving in my own life.  Its pretty damn incredible.  

I have a huge body of work I have not shared.  Time got the best of me last year.  I am still trying to find balance between being a mother, a business owner, an artist, a lover, a friend, an aunt,  sister, a daughter, ....does that ever really happen?   I feel like if I am productive every day,  I am doing IT.  I have just learned to give myself some grace. 

 I vow to spend the rest of February sharing lots of new stories, a new website, a slow integration of my art and my work , and some very big announcements. 

This is Savannah and Andrew.  Before they moved away to North Carolina for Andrew to continue his studies, they had an intimate wedding celebration downtown at The Blind Pig.  The theme of their wedding was fun.  Look at all of these smiles.  <3

Polaroid and 35mm film Wedding Photos

I have been experimenting with and collecting vintage cameras and film for many years.  I have mainly used them for my art, but as the line between work and art blurs more and more for me, I have a strong urge to shoot more film at weddings.  In fact, every wedding I have booked since offering a Polaroids has added them to their wedding package.   This makes me very, very happy.   I love that I am able to give my clients a unique experience and one-of-a art as wedding photos.  

I set up a shoot with this awesome couple to push things creatively with wedding photography.  I was not their wedding photographer, I share a studio with the bride, Emily so I asked if she and her husband would model for me.  They were so amazing to work with.  My friend Amy Jo from The Pearl and The Petal provided the beautiful florals. 

I started out using fresh 35mm film.  When I say fresh I mean new film, that isn't expired or altered at all.  I love the warmth and mood of this film.  I then used a variety of Polaroid films.  Some are new, some are 17 years old.  Each has their own unique characteristics.  Lastly I used expired 35mm film.  Some of this film is 10+ years old.  I alter the film by soaking it in chemicals, exposing it to light, and exposing the film more than once to create a dreamy atmosphere.

Next year, I want to shoot a small wedding entirely on film.  I want to do it without the worry of strict timelines and high expectations for specific images.  I just want to freely create art that celebrates love. I decided the best way to get my feet back into shooting film is to find a couple to work with for free.  I have special wedding giveaway going on until Nov. 30. 

Here are the details.

Danielle's Maternity

This was a fun shoot for me.  Danielle has the sweetest energy that is always pleasure to be around.  I am very happy for her and her husband Rich.  Their little guy is already surrounded by so much love. 

These grey fall days are a dream for me to work in, just look at the fall colors. 

Lizzie and James Rookwood Pottery and Polaroids

Remeber Lizzie and James from my last post?  We decided Lizzie's dress is too pretty for her to only wear it once.  Just as they were celebrating their 2 month anniversary, we got together again for another shoot.   This is something new I am offering all of my clients.  Maybe your wedding day timeline is too tight to hit up all of the locations you want for photos, maybe you just want to snuggle and laugh in your wedding clothes again, or maybe you jut want to make art and feel like a goddess.   I am down for all of it!   Plus, if you get the Polaroid package, we can slow down and really dig deep into creating magical images. 

At the end of this post you will see lots of Polaroids I took on both days.  I love the mixture of posed images and candid moments. 

I have dreamed of taking photos in front of this mural at Rookwood Pottery by Christian Dallas since I first saw it.  I absolutely love the colors.

Lizzie and James' OTR Wedding

What happens when two of the nicest people you have ever met get married?  It is one amazing party and there isn't a single person there not having fun.  From the minute I spoke with Lizzie's amazing sister Becca, who helped coordinate and design the event,  I knew I would it was going to be a special day.  Lizzie and James are in love.  It is the kind of love that makes you bite your fist, James actually did when her first saw his girl, it was the sweetest.  And from what I learned at their wedding, everyone around them is in love with them.  They both have this rare kindness about them, they put others before themselves.  It felt great to be around something so awesome.   

The ceremony was at Washington Park and the reception was at Woodward Theater.  Thanks to my assistants/photographer/friends, Leeka and Chris for all of your help telling their story.  

Be prepared to see more of these two.  We took lots of Polaroids and recently did another shoot in front of one of my favorite Cincinnati murals.  I will post those next. 

Sean and Angela

It was raining all day, but we decided to stick it out to see what happened.  The sun came out and it was pure magic.  Photographing people in love is the best.  Photographing people I know in love is even better.  Happiness is contagious, I enjoyed every minute of this shoot with Sean and Angela.  I am super excited for their wedding next year. 

Polaroids at Neltner Farm

I have been bringing Polaroid cameras to weddings over the past 6 years.  I would sneak in a couple of photos to satisfy my need to make art with the couples I photograph.  I love the spontaneity of instant film and the dreaminess adds such a special feeling that is impossible to replicate.   I say it over and over, each photo is a one of a kind piece of art.  

Last year was the first year I decided to offer Polaroids as an option to my wedding packages.  The response has been overwhelming.  Almost every single wedding I have booked since adding the option wants Polaroids at their wedding.  This makes me so happy.  I get to make art while celebrating love.  

I haven't shared an entire collection of wedding images, so I decided to showcase this very special wedding I photographed earlier this year at one of my favorite venues, Neltner Farm.   Some of this film is 17 years old.  I just love it's very unique charm.  These are from 2 shoots.  A week after the wedding we went back to the farm to experiment more.  Mandy and Landon were so patient and grateful.  I appreciate them giving me so much time to create these.

Here is a little iPhone video I made while creating with Mandy.

Rebecca and Tanya's Pleasant Ridge Engagement

I remember sitting in the coffee shop waiting to meet Rebecca and Tanya.  A girl next to me was wearing the same sweater as me and I was freaking out, luckily she left before they arrived.  I went up to the counter to get the Wi FI password when two women, who caught my eye walked in.  I thought to myself, WHOA this couple eludes this amazing confidence and beauty.  I was taken back by them.  When I found out they were my potential clients, I knew I had too be their photographer.  I was literally attracted to their warmth and authentic energy from the moment I met them.   

For their engagement session I suggested we start at their home.  It was so beautiful and the light pouring in was a dream.  After we spent some time there with their 2 dogs, we headed to French Park for a quick sunset session, my absolute favorite!

I took a very expired roll of film with me to play around at this shoot.  While processing it I made few mistakes which added extreme grain, but I love the results so much.  This is a double exposure of the couple and a dandelion flower.