A powerful maternity session

When I was pregnant, I asked everyone I knew to share their birth story with me.  I knew I wanted to try my best to have a healthy, natural birth, but had no idea what to expect.  Some of the stories were beautiful and peaceful, some were scary and difficult.  I listened to every one of them  with an open mind and heart.  I now understand, that those stories and the power of every woman who came before me, every woman that has yet to be are inside of me.  When I got to the point during childbirth that I thought I could not go any further, they carried me.  They pushed me to dig deeper.  They threw the rope I needed to pull from to help guide my son into this world. 

For this shoot I wanted Kristina to embrace that divine power that will be her strength as she steps into her new role as a mother. I wanted to encourage her and to create space for her to enjoy the moment she is in right now.   Everything about her will change dramatically in the following months.  Soon, her heart will open up in a raw, delicate way that is indescribable.  As she is going through the stages of being pregnant, it is already happening. The journey from Maiden to Mother,  has been the most life changing experience I have had.  I feel everything so much deeper and with a more empathetic view.   My heart has softened, yet become more protective.  It is truly a blessing for me to be able to create beautiful art with women in this very precious part of their journey. 

The images below were all created with 35mm and Polaroid film.  Kristina gave me full creative control and really encouraged me to push things as far as I wanted.  I couldn't be more happy with the magic we made.  I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity to make art with her.  

Kris and Molly Engaged

When Kris and Molly contacted me about photographing their wedding I was thrilled.  Not only is it going to be one hell of a party, but also because Kris is a good friend.  No matter how much time has passed, conversations with him are honest and without effort, something I am grateful for.  Seeing my friends happy, makes me so happy.  I got a chance to get to know Molly a lot after our shoot as we spent time together at their favorite bar.  She is a smart, strong woman, who I really enjoyed talking to, I could have stayed there all night.  . Photographing gorgeous people is a nice, but photographing gorgeous hearts is what I live for. 

Thank you for the amazing day Kris and Molly.  I cannot wait to see you again!

Jessica and Emmie

I should have shared these images months ago, when I made them.  As much as I have tried to write, lately something inside of me feels like I have to keep everything private. I feel like I  have to protect these sacred stories and moments.  Deep down I think I am afraid I might not give them the respect and care they deserve with my words. 

I have been thinking a lot about the people I am connected to through my work.  I was trying to understand what they have in common, what kind of person am I attracted to? I feel like we all bring in certain kind of people into our world, for me, that person is one with a big, powerful story. It is usually a person who, through their own experiences has found their own path to be one of helping others heal whether they know it or not.   Love attracts love, beyond all of the fear I have been hiding behind recently is so much love. 

Jessica is one of the strongest women I have ever met, not just because of all that she has been through and come out of, but because she is sincere, caring, forgiving, resilient.  She is a wife, sister, mother, business woman.  She balances a very busy life with a smile on her face.  She gives more than she takes.  She has lived through one of the most heart wrenching experiences a woman can go through, yet she elludes so much grace.  She is an inspiration to me.  Her trust in me to tell her story was a gift. 

When I first posted a photo of her these are the words that came to mind.  Emmie is a couple of months older than this now.  This is a collection of Polaroid and 35mm images.  <3

"As we celebrate Emmie thriving in her seventh month, we are also remembering Meggie, Emmie’s twin sister who is no longer with us. This was such a special session for me. I spent 3 hours with Jessica discussing life, and loss, and dreams. Jessica and Craig came into my life a few years ago when I photographed their engagement, twice because it rained, then their wedding where it rained again. Their strength to endure has been tested over and over again, yet they prevail over and over again, and they do it with warmth in their hearts. Jess has this grace that eludes strength and confidence. She’s such a badass in her giant pickup truck and muscle car from her teenage years in her driveway. Yet, as I watched her look after her babe I was engulfed in her tenderness. Through my lens I’ve watched her grow into a woman, and a beautiful mother. She is the saint who will help those in need, no questions asked. Her husband Craig supports and loves his wife dearly, his presence is soft and kind. I’m inspired by their bond. It is a bond that has grown stronger through the kind of pain that is unthinkable. When you see a butterfly on the crib in the NICU it let’s you know the baby is part of a multiple pregnancy and one of the babies is no longer with us. Jess and Craig only got 2 weeks with their sweet Meggie here on Earth, but she will live in their hearts forever. "

Greg and Dave Engaged at Crazy Fox

This photo session with Greg and Dave was a blast for me.   I am really looking forward to spending more time with them this summer at what will most likely be one of the most fun weddings I have been too.  For their engagement session, we decided a drink would help take the edge off, so we hung out at the bar where they first met,  then headed to their home for some magic light filled images. .  

 I always feel like the luckiest girl in the world because I get to capture love like this.  Thanks for trusting me to tell your story Greg and Dave. >3

Adalia of the band Knotts

Working with other creatives fuels me.  I love collaborating on ideas to come up with something unique to their personality and craft.  I met Adalia when I moved into the new neighborhood we are living in.  I was thrilled when she contacted me about creating content for her band Knotts.  She suggested we shoot outside the skating rink near our homes.  I love all of this color. 

Love Love Love

Marisa, who is from America, was living in China.  She was working as a General Manager opening a restaurant for Expats and tourists and teaching Chinese people about Western service.  Jacob had just finished a 3 week journey through Tibet, traveling with a Buddhist Monk visiting monastery's and sleeping with a Tibetan Nomad family who were Yak Shepherds.  

Jacob came to the town Marisa was living in to fly out of the airport there that weekend.  As Marisa was walking into a bar called "Jellyfish",  Jacob was standing outside.   They were both open to love and in a place in their lives where they were ready to accept it.   After a long weekend together,  Marisa moved to Amsterdam to live with Jacob. They have been together ever since. 

Fast forward 6 years later.  They are now married and have a sweet little boy who is the best parts of both of them.  After spending time living in Amsterdam and London, they found their way back to Marisa's home here in Cincinnati.  I suggested we do a mini wedding shoot when they returned since they did not get many photos from their intimate ceremony in England. Marisa showed up in the most beautiful red dress, my heart exploded. 

I had been eyeing the restaurant, Frida in Covington and really wanted to shoot there.    The owners Emily and Paul were very gracious to allow us in on a day they were closed.  Emily also gave this underpass in Covington new life as well.   She is a pioneer in making Covington the amazing place it is today.  <3

I want to thank Evelyn from Eve Floral Co for these AMAZING flowers.  She is absolutely incredible and such a sweet woman.

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.