Category Archives: Columbus Ohio Portraits

Columbus Photography- Andrew & Jessica

Andrew and Jess are officially married! You might remember this couple from their engagement shoot that I posted on here late last year. In May, my wedding season officially ramped up with their wedding.

This was also the first wedding I’ve shot since getting back from WPPI earlier this year (Wedding & Portrait Photography International). WPPI was a three-day intensive convention with over 15,000 of the world’s best photographers who gathered to learn, experiment, and see the latest and greatest products that are now on the market. I’ve wanted to go to this convention for over three years now, but have always found excuses as to why I couldn’t go. This year I promised myself there would be no more excuses. It definitely changed my life and I’ll be forever grateful to my travel mates and the great speakers I was able to learn from and meet. Needles to say, when I returned I was excited to get back to shooting. And with wedding season now in full swing, I love looking back at Jess and Andrews’ wedding day photos.

It was a picture perfect Ohio day. Cool, crisp, beautiful lighting and colorful backdrops everywhere I turned. Jessica’s dress also happened to be drop dead gorgeous. We were able to shoot photos at that magic hour when the sun cuts its rays through the trees and leaves everything glowing in its warm light. The trees at the reception venue, The Lakes Golf & Country Club, created the perfect backdrop for the evening. Dinner and dancing was held under a large flowing fabric canopy tent.

I am so honored to have shared this incredible day of love with them and get to know them better over the past year. Andrew and Jess love photography, traveling, and they don’t take themselves too seriously so it was definitely no surprise I love them both. Enjoy! XO Jess

Katie & Mike- Columbus Ohio Engagements

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Whenever I meet with a couple, I always ask if they have ever had their photos taken professionally before. I think I currently have a 100% response rate of “No”. When we meet up for our sessions, I usually hear that one of them or both is nervous. I was too the first time Scott and I had our pictures taken…actually it’s one of the reasons I like to stay behind the camera. The key is to just have fun, be creative, and always feel free to share thoughts and ideas for fun pictures! And this shoot was no exception. It was extremely hot outside (goodbye temperate, cool summer- hello hot muggy heat), but we had so much fun running around the Whetstone Park of Roses. All of the roses were in full bloom which provided a spectacular landscape for some beautiful photographs. Some of them ended up looking like a beautiful technicolor lovey dream-scape, wouldn’t you say?

Katie and Mike have the cutest ways of interacting and making each other smile and laugh. I think you can really see this in the way the look at each other. Katie’s smile was truly brighter than the sunshine!

I love a couple that shows some Ohio love! It is, after all, the best-shaped state, almost like the heart of the nation. I loved Ohio’s old travel motto “Ohio-the heart of it all”. It seems to be true, also. Everyone I’ve ever talked to either knows an Ohioan or has lived in Ohio. You can’t say that about too many other states. The second half of our shoot together was relaxing in their back yard, enjoying some Ohio brews. This was such a great way to end the day. So relaxing and the pressure was off. I hope you enjoy the photos we captured! XO Jess

Audrey turns One, Columbus Baby Photography

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How quickly a year goes by! Last year at this time, I took Audrey’s newborn shots at her home. Lots of changes happen in a year. It’s so fun to watch my client’s kid’s grow up right in front of me! I consider capturing these years for my clients one of the great privileges and honors of being a photographer. This year, we ventured to Jeffrey Mansion in Columbus, Ohio for some beautiful spring photos and sunny snuggles. I just love capturing this age. This was right after Audrey had taken a few steps at home, but had yet to really walk on her own. One of my all-time favorite pictures of this age is when the parent’s hand comes into the frame for a bit of safety/stabilization. I find it to be almost poetic- that our parents are always just out of frame, ready to reach in and stabilize us when we need it (at any age).

At her one year old photo session, Audrey was so curious and just LOVED rolling around and playing with pink paper pom poms. She’s also not afraid to get dirty and she showed me nearly every stick Jeffrey Mansion had in their back wooded area. She has such and infectious smile and giggle. Her arms jump up and down when she’s really excited, which is so entertaining and you can’t help but smile ear to ear with her. She absolutely loved mommy-daughter time and I think the feeling was very mutual.

Not more than two weeks went by after this shoot when I saw her again, and she was practically running from room to room on her own and grabbing everything in sight. I’m sure her parents are getting great workouts from chasing that little speed demon around the house these days.

Craftin’ Outlaws- Columbus Event Photography

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For those who follow me on Facebook, (which you should!) you already know that I’ve been the official photographer for Columbus’ Craftin’ Outlaws for the past three years (I can’t believe it’s been that long!). Craftin’ Outlaws is a local alternative craft show which sells off-beat, creative and inspiring products. I also like to describe it as a living, breathing ETSY. This year the event was a little more exciting for me on a personal note, as I was able to have my OWN booth to sell products as well as a photo booth, and of course, shooting the event as well. I sold fine art prints, canvas prints, cards, card sets, matchboxes and gift tags. I have always loved making things since a very young age, so this process was very time consuming, but so fulfilling in many ways. It was also nice to get out from behind my computer, which is were I feel like I spend most of my days…and nights. It was also the first time I’ve ever been able to sell my own personal work. The top photos below are from my booth and the products I sold. If you would like any more information on anything you see, please don’t hesitate to write me a note at [email protected]. The rest of the photos are of the talented vendors and some of the wildly creative products they sold. Here’s a fun fact- the guy that makes the birdhouses below, Jeff, is my landlord! Please mark your calendars for November 16th. This is when Craftin’ Outlaws will be back. It also happens to be a perfect time to holiday shop. Thank you to all my friends and family who came out and joined in the festivities. I know this show keeps getting bigger and better and the next three years are going to be even better than the last three! Enjoy the photos! XO Jess

Here’s some photos of my booth!

And here are a few photos of the many AWESOME vendor booths you can spot at this event:

Bridget & Aaron- Seattle Engagment Photography

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Traveling for photo shoots is very exciting. It gets you into unfamiliar territory, which keeps you sharp and attentive to the world around you. Seattle was my destination for this rainy/hailing/sunny weekend engagement session. Yes- we had all three weather patterns in the span of three days.

Bridget had told me that they lived on a houseboat, but I didn’t really believe it, or I guess it didn’t completely register until I got there what that meant. They live on a houseboat. A legitimate houseboat….floating, tied to the dock houseboat. And the dock they live on is like stepping into a fairytale. Front stoops lined with buckets of blooming flowers. Kayaks angled against every house. Ferrys full of tourists riding by the rows of houses. Bridget told me that they can kayak to happy hour. I was not in Columbus anymore.

The night I arrived, they took me to a micro brewery for some down time after a day full of travel. They said microbreweries are located almost on every block in Seattle. I had one of the best grilled cheeses I’ve ever had from a food cart parked outside. People are free to bring their dogs into the breweries, which made me wish my little puggle Rugby was with me on my adventure.

The next morning Bridget and Aaron made me a delicious breakfast and we decided to go to Pike Place Market for some morning photos. The market was so alive with tourists, colors and fantastic aromas. The market flower booths brightened the day, as it was pouring outside. We grabbed lunch at a restaurant that was in the movie “Sleepless in Seattle” and as we sat in a corner booth, we watched the world outside. We could see the beautiful waterways, Ferris Wheel and boardwalk through the rain. As we drove to our next location, it started to hail. The ground was covered and looked like it had snowed! We decided to call it a day at that point. Later that evening, we all sat by the fire in their wood-burning oven and watched a movie.

Sunday was much better weather wise…perfect, in fact. We went to Discovery Park which is a stunning beach nestled right next to an old lighthouse. Picturesque would be an understatement. As we stood near the building, Bridget spotted a swimming seal in the distance. Was I really about to get on a plane to go back to the heart of the Midwest? Yup. And then before I knew it I was gone. A whirlwind weekend that I’ll never forget. I hope you love these photos as much as I loved taking them! XO Jess

Columbus Portrait Photography

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I always remember when my half birthday is because it falls smack dab on St. Patrick’s Day. Needless to say, it’s always pretty fun to celebrate, even though I’m at the age where half birthdays aren’t exactly fun to celebrate anymore. On this year’s March 17th, I was so honored to spend the day with a very talented bunch of Columbus Wedding vendors and specialists. We had makeup artists, fashion stylists, hair stylists, and yes- photographers! On this brisk day, we all met up at a studio in Victorian Village for a styled spring shoot. The inside of the building had beautiful exposed brick walls, floor to ceiling windows with flowing white drapes, and one really cool bright orange and white animal print wall.

It’s such a freedom to shoot in any way or style you choose without time limits. I usually shoot on very short timelines, so it was both liberating and inspiring to take my time and explore different poses and surroundings. Inside and outside on the street, I worked with the models to capture fantastic shots: from the fun and flirty to dramatic and powerful. You would never know these girls weren’t professional models by the way they interacted with the camera.

I am definitely going to try to do more of these kinds of shoots. For me, this experience accentuated why I love my craft. I love manipulating a scene with color and lighting and capturing a feeling that’s conveyed without words. I’m so in love with the results that came from this really fun day together.

A special thank you to the whole team who worked so seamlessly well together: Kim Rottmayer, Shelley Benson Kilgore, Kelli Ramey, Joy Macke, Kerry Smith, Jessica Dunham, Shannon Goode, Michelle Buzaki, Nathan Branch, Kate Hare, Stephanie Birtle, Isha Suri, Courtney Henry, Kaillie Dravestott, Carolyn Porter, Megan Bordenkircher, and Ellen Dobbs.

The Boyers- Columbus Family Photography

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend with loved ones and great food! My belly is STILL stuffed, and Easter was three days ago! I am now officially in my post Easter- pre- Fourth of July diet. It’s time to get active, feel some sunshine on my face, and make sure my pants fit properly. Today I’m posting about a session I did way back in December. I am slowly climbing out of my to-do list from the past few months.

Architecture has always had a special place in my heart, as my Dad is an Architect and when I was little, he tried to get me to become one as well. I remember one children’s book he gave me had a woman architect on the cover and the title of the book was “You Can Be An Architect, Too.” Needless to say, times were a little different then. Although that never panned out, I did work at an architecture firm here in town, Moody/Nolan, in the marketing department for 6 years during my breaks from undergrad and graduate art schools. So when a family of Architects contacted me for photos, I was extremely excited. Since both of them are practicing Architects, they decided that the perfect backdrop would be The Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture. For those of you who haven’t been in or seen this building, it’s most impressive. It sits near the OSU Football Stadium with a grand corner presence. The inside is very distinctive with its exposed concrete hallways, tall ceilings and tons of natural light.

Scott and I both agreed that when we have children, we want them to be just like the Boyer’s. These kids were polite, smart, funny and oh so cute! Scott and I were treated to a live reading of Frog and Toad a few times throughout our session together. It was by far a family favorite! I hope you enjoy these photos as much as we did taking them! XO, Jess

Kara- Columbus Portrait Photographer

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I hope everyone’s week is going well. I keep telling myself THIS snow is the last snow of the year- and I haven’t been right yet, but if I keep saying it- it will be true one of these days. I have a special post for you today! Earlier this month I had the opportunity to do an incredibly special set of head-shots. Unlike a portrait session that gets a little more artistic, these head-shots will be used for competition.

First of all, can you believe how beautiful she is? Yea, me neither. Kara is the reigning Miss Cuyahoga County, is a contestant for the upcoming Miss Ohio pageant, and in less than six months, she COULD be the new reigning Miss America…which is really fun to say! She has my vote all the way (even though I’m fairly certain it doesn’t count). Kara started with pageants when she was in college at Ball State University. Since then she has been quite successful and now is her time to really shine under a larger spotlight. As a LGBT friendly company, I love to meet and work with other fellow advocates of LGBT rights. Kara has built her platform on the acceptance of the LGBT community. As if that wasn’t enough she is crazy smart AND dances.

Me, my husband Scott (acting as my assistant) and Kara braved the 22-degree weather earlier this month to shoot inside and out at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Columbus, Ohio. Yes, that’s right- some of these photos were taken in below freezing conditions. Between shots, Kara wrapped up in a cozy sweater to stay warm. The orange accents of the building paired perfectly with her bright purple one-sleeve top. She told me that she wanted her personality to come through in the pictures, and I think they completely do. Her eyes speak volumes about the kind-hearted, upbeat and down to earth person she is. Keep your fingers crossed, because come mid-June, those other contestants are going to have their work cut out for them.

Sharon & Justin- Columbus Engagement Photography

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I just got back from Vegas last week where I enjoyed a few days with my photographer friends at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International convention soaking up a world of knowledge and a little sun. I feel inspired and have a renewed sense of purpose as it relates to my business. I guess it was wishful thinking that I wouldn’t get sick with all the people, the long days, and ok, ok, there was a little dancing. SOOOOO I’ve been sick the last few days and have been working on the backside of my website to get the contact form fixed (thank you Steve!). So my website is back up to full speed, my business is better than ever, and I’m on the mend. Things are looking up! And- it’s officially Spring! Hallelujah! (Although it’s supposed to get into the low teens tonight, so I’m not sure Ohio knows it’s supposed to be warmer than it is)

I have been looking forward to sharing this engagement session since the day I shot it last month. Sharon and Justin love German Village, so we planned for a cold winter session around the brick lined streets. If you are from Columbus, you completely understand how charming and quaint this part of the city is. We started our day with hot chocolate, which was much needed. I think we shot in 30 degree weather. It goes without saying that these two are champs, but the cold weather made for some really beautiful cozy-up-to-stay-warm shots. Just when I didn’t think it could get much better, it started to snow these huge dreamy snowflakes all around us. It was a true winter wonderland and created some fantastic romantic pictures. I wish more people opted for the cold-weather shoots, as Ohio winters really can be quite beautiful. Enjoy! XO Jess

Best of the Knot 2013 – Columbus Wedding Photographer

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The current issue of the knot is out and I was so excited to see my pictures strung throughout the publication! It used to be my dream to be among the many talented photographers who are published in the Knot. I am so proud to say this is now the third Knot issue I’ve been published in, and the excitement really doesn’t get old! This is the first issue, however, I have a featured Ad! It’s a small little guy, but I’m really proud of it! If you see the Knot Ohio on your newsstands, pick up a copy and find the beautiful green JMP ad:) I’m seriously hoping it will turn some heads. Let me know what you think of it! I love feedback:)

In other Knot news, I found out last week that Jessica Miller Photography was voted Best of the Knot 2013! This means I get to flaunt this cool little icon:

I also get a nice little award badge on my Knot listing…as well as a fancy plaque they send me in the mail. This ranking cannot be bought- it is based on the feedback the Knot has received from my clients. That fact alone makes this award invaluable to me.

I would seriously bend over backwards to ensure my clients are completely ecstatic with their experience and photographs. The write-ups I have received on my Knot listing keep me going, keep my heart full, and keep me energized to pursue this creative adventure I’m on. A huge thank you to all of my clients, and an even larger thank you to the universe for sending me such down to earth, genuine and fantastic people to work with- and good looking…..did I mention that? ALL of my couples, brides and famlies are really really good looking!! *blue steel face*.

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