Category Archives: Ohio Statehouse

Downtown Columbus Engagement

Michelle and John are getting married next weekend so I wanted to celebrate by posting their downtown Columbus Engagement. On this day, the weather report called for 100% rain. They wanted to just go for it and see if we could squeeze the session in. When we met up, it was already drizzling. We ran for cover under an overhang at the Ohio Statehouse. And just like that, a few minutes later it cleared up until our session was over, and then it down-poured. It literally felt like something magical had happened.

Their dog Timmy was along for the ride with us and was not camera shy whatsoever. The spring blossoms were out in force and the rain made the colors feel all the more saturated. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement.

Next weekend is going to be so much fun as I watch these two say “I do” at the Grandview Grand Event Center. Little Timmy will even be making an appearance! Check out my Instagram stories @JMillerphotos for a special sneak peek after their wedding!

Swan Lake Event Center Wedding

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I am so excited to share today’s Swan Lake Event Center Wedding for a few reasons. I had done Blaire’s sister’s wedding a few years back so it was super fun to see them all again. Also, this wedding felt so grand to me. They allowed so much time for photos and it really showed. Their final collection is so robust and stunning- not to mention I think this might have been the nicest fall day I can ever remember having for a wedding

For those who haven’t been to this beautiful venue in Powell, OH, it is everything you could ever ask for! The fall foliage was in full regalia as Blaire and Brian did their first look down by the lake. Everything was perfectly manicured and there ARE actual swans that live on the property.

Off to the church!

After the first look and a few portraits, it was time to go get married! The couple tied the knot in a grand ceremony at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown, Columbus. Blaire’s lace-trimmed cathedral length veil was nothing less than show-stopping as she made her way down the grand aisle towards Brian. This wedding was pre-COVID so everyone was mask-free. You know, the good ole’ days.

From St. Joseph’s, the entire bridal party met across the street at the Ohio Statehouse for more photos. The bridal party looked so sophisticated and elegant in the deep purple color. The classical architecture of the statehouse complimented Blaire’s off-the-shoulder gown perfectly. From the statehouse, we ventured over to the Scioto Mile for some fun group shots on the Main Street bridge. I think my favorite photos from this area were down by the water where tall grasses accented the edge of the river giving an ethereal feel to some of the imagery we captured.

Time to Party

Now it was time to party! Everyone met back at Swan Lake as cocktail hour was ending. The fire pit was lit on the back deck, and as the sun slowly set, you could see the fountains in the lake starting to change colors. All of the colors can be programmed to match the colors of the wedding!

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Creative Cuisine provided the feast as GMJL Productions kept the music rolling. Hilliard Floral Design did an incredible job with the florals and Got Ya Covered provided the linens. Batter and Bowl made the 4-tier cake and cookies were homemade by family and friends. Shannon from Goode Hair LLC knocked it out of the park-like always! Everything from start to finish with this wedding was spectacular and I felt so blessed to be a part of it all.

Ohio Statehouse Engagement Photos

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The statehouse is the absolute perfect place to have your engagement shoot when you both not only work there, but you both met there, too! The Statehouse has been the epicenter of a lot of drama, drama lately, so I thought I’d reminisce about a calmer time today.

I feel so blessed to meet some of the best people on earth through this job, and LeeAnne and Andrew are two seriously cool people. Their engagement shoot happened last Spring when the blooms were out. In the coming weeks, I’ll be blogging about their wedding as well, which was quite simply show-stopping.

I remember touring the Ohio Statehouse when I was in elementary school right after they restored a lot of the interiors. Every time I’m in the hall with the grand staircases, I always remember that tour guide so many years ago telling us about all the cigar soot they had to clean off the walls. The halls were once thick with smoking lawmakers. That imagery always makes the history of this place come alive for me.

There are so many creative nooks and crannies in this building and I could literally photograph it differently every time I’m in it. Thankfully, the weather was stunning so we were also able to utilize the gorgeous outdoor grounds of the Statehouse as well. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do!

Wedding Photography Columbus- Best of Weddings 2014

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Happy 2015! I would like to dust off this blog and give a special thank you to all of the amazing people I was lucky enough to meet, work with, and photograph this year. It has truly felt like two years all rolled into one and to call the experience rewarding would be an understatement. I will be blogging the remaining weddings I photographed in 2014 in the coming weeks, but this blog is reserved for my most favorite wedding photos from last year. Thank you so much to the other fantastic photographers who shot as my second shooters this year- Kim, Carmen, Zak, Steve, Jared, Melissa, and my husband Scott.

In 2014, Scott graduated graduate school in Occupational Therapy and now works during the day at his dream job helping others live a more active, pain-free life. To celebrate his graduation and our life together, we took off most of the month of September and went on a grand tour of California together. I will also blog about this trip in the coming weeks. We saw some amazing things that I can’t wait to share.

Last year I did a lot of soul searching about what direction I wanted to take my company. I overhauled my website with a fresh, new design that’s easier to navigate. I found a lot of clarity in 2014 about what I think is most important about the field of photography, which can be read about here. I attended workshops and seminars on how to enhance my practice and there wasn’t a complacent bone in my body. I’m so excited to enter into 2015 with a full schedule, a new camera body added to my arsenal, and the most wonderful, fun couples I could ever ask for!

So on to the good stuff! The photos below all pulled at my heart strings in one way or another. All of the couples I was lucky enough to photograph last year were so amazingly creative. The details were simply breathtaking, and this post would be 5,000 photos long if I included all the ones I wanted to. I hope you enjoy these and cheers to a happy, healthy, fantastical new year! XO Jess

Columbus Wedding Photography- Kathryn and Steve

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I love weddings, obviously. But it’s weddings like this that confirm it every time. Kathryn and Steve have such great family and friends. This whole day was pure celebration from beginning to end. I’m not sure why they chose it, but they got married on Friday the 13th, and I honestly couldn’t think of a cooler date to tie the knot.

The ceremony was held at St. Elizabeth’s at Sharon Woods. It’s a beautiful church with modern accents. Natural light flooded through ceiling skylights and created a warm and bright atmosphere. Kathryn and Steve’s friends sang throughout the ceremony, which made for a beautiful and personal experience. Kathryn wore a veil that was a family heirloom, which is always such a loving way of intimately including those you love.

After the service we took the party bus (I love when I get to do ride-alongs in the bus) to the Statehouse in downtown Columbus for some bridal party and portrait shots. This is such a fantastic location to have photos taken. It’s sophisticated, grand, elegant and timeless all at once. The building has such a rich atmosphere that any photo taken in it almost seems other-worldy. Because it’s so dark in certain parts of the Statehouse, it is perfect to do some fun off-camera lighting effects and dramatic portraiture. Outside the statehouse is grand and truly provides a divine backdrop for any wedding party.

After the statehouse we all rode to Walter’s Commons at St. Charles for the reception. This venue is simply stunning with its high vaulted ceilings, stunning natural light, and gorgeous stained glass windows. Among the many awesome details, there was a larger than life rubber ducky, an exquisite cookie and dessert table, and a Keurig bar. I think the coffee bar must have been well attended because there was some pretty great dancing that just didn’t stop!

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Off to the church!

Time to Party

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