A couple of weeks ago Lindsey and Brian were married in one throw-down awesome wedding. I realized at that time I needed to blog about their engagement shoot we did late last year because it’s too cool not to. We went to OSU’s campus on a brisk fall shoot, and we did a dusk-evening color session to make it extra unique. What I think the coolest part of all of it is, they both went to OU!! They’re just such OSU fans they didn’t really care. I can’t blame them, as I, as well, am a Buckeye through and through.
The session started and ended at the OSU Stadium. Since it was fall, the trees were bursting with vibrant reds and yellows. There just happened to be the most dreamy sunset, which is one of the benefits of choosing to do an evening color session.
The Ohio State Stadium has beautiful stained glass windows at the vaulted front entrance. They are pretty easy to miss during the day, but at night they are internally lit and a dynamic testament to OSU football. They also make the perfect evening backdrop for any Ohio football lover. Mix that with some vibrant up-lit colors, and you have a collection bursting with life and love.
Easter and Jay really know how to throw a wedding. Their friends and family are super fun, everyone was so go-with-the-flow, and the day was pure joy from start to finish.
I have to gush over Easter’s dress for a minute. While it wasn’t one shoulder, it had that feel and accented her neckline so elegantly. Her individual photos came out so dreamy and glamorous.
Their wedding was one of the first that Columbus’ new venue “Vue” hosted. It’s a really cool space with exposed ceilings, rustic charm, and a killer downtown location. There’s a little patio outside of the building that is private and quaint, where Easter and Jay saw each other for the first time on their wedding day. Their reactions were so cute.
Easter and Jay scheduled their day to allow for lots of downtown photos, which is a photographers dream. At one point, the bus broke down, but it happened at the coolest warehouse that just happened to match the bridesmaid’s dresses so it was a total happy accident. Once the bus got back up and running, it was party on! By the time we got back to the venue for the ceremony, we had all the bride and groom photos done, and they were all able to enjoy their cocktail hour with family and friends.
Can I just also point out that every cocktail hour and reception should have a popcorn machine? It made the room smell magnificent! Another cool thing they had at this reception were board games. It was a fun touch that made the whole evening seem very laid back and personal.
I can’t believe it’s late July and I’m still blogging about last year’s weddings. I only have one more to blog after this and then it’s on to this year’s beautiful eye candy! Enjoy:) XO Jess
So I’m not sure I’ve ever posted a truly personal blog on here. I don’t often feel compelled to write about myself, and I’m convinced that not many people would really care if I did write personal blogs. Sometimes I find them a little self-indulgent. The last few weeks, however, have proven to be pretty difficult in my personal life, and I decided I might as well share my journey in the off chance someone else is going through something similar and would find comfort in knowing that they’re not alone. I know I scour blogs, comment boards and threads just to know that I’m not.
This year my husband Scott and I have had a lot of changes in our life. He started working full time after being in graduate school for a bazillion, I mean three years. Shortly after, we found out that we were pregnant with our first child! When we found out, I didn’t really have the typical movie-ish reaction where it’s happy tears and celebrations. I started crying all right- and saying, what did we dooooo??? I’m way too selfish for this!!! After the initial shock wore off, it all became a lot more exciting.
A month later, we moved into our dream house, and we felt like we were on top of the world. We now totally live on ‘Leave-it-to-Beaver’ street. Every time I pull into our neighborhood, I feel like a bluebird could come sit on my shoulder and start singing to me. The moving process was a lot more stressful than I ever thought it would be. I seriously underestimated how much crap we accumulated, but in the back of my mind, I told myself how lucky I was for the house distraction while I was pregnant. Anxiety has been one of my weak points since I was little. It was nice to have a focus on something other than the millions of things that could go wrong with my pregnancy.
All was good until our 20 week ultrasound. The doctor came in and told us there was something wrong with our baby’s heart. If you have problems with anxiety, this news will probably hit you ten fold as strong as it would a normal person. I remember the world feeling like I was in a dream- as if people were there talking to me, but I wasn’t there. That feeling actually lasted for about a month straight, and I still go in-and-out of it sometimes. Tetralogy of Fallot was the diagnosis, and that is not one, but four congenital heart disorders that all occur simultaneously. The doctor then went on to explain that this could be caused by a chromosomal disorder called DiGeorge’s Syndrome, that would result in a lifetime worth of specialists and teams of people that would need to work with our child. It can include walking, talking, feeding problems, and among other things, major developmental issues and mental retardation. And that’s pretty much all I heard the doctor say- Mental Retardation. To find out the extent of the baby’s troubles, we decided to do an amino, which was no walk in the park but completely worth it.
Seven days passed. They were brutal, not knowing what the future had in store for us. The feeling of loss before you even get to experience the joy. A lot of really ugly thoughts passed through my mind that week. Having this diagnosis is pretty rare even though some people will tell you it’s common. I say the Flu is common. This is not. This is like winning the shittiest lottery.
On the seventh day, we received the phone call that made the world start spinning again- No DiGeorge’s Syndrome! I promised myself that if I received that phone call, I would go back to being the happy expectant mom-to-be. And I did, for about three days.
All of the feelings and fears started to simmer to the surface again. If our baby has Tetralogy, what else will he have? What did I do to cause the baby to have this? (The doctors say it’s just random and they don’t know what causes it in many cases, but you start to second guess everyone. Surely there is something that causes this). Was I eating enough good, organic food? I ate a lot of take-out junk my first trimester because of the move and lack of access to a kitchen. Will this give him autism? I convinced myself that I could “heal” our baby by eating more eggs, cutting out wheat, and eating fresh fruit and dark chocolate everyday. The rational part of my brain did a major leap off a tall cliff, and all of my fears and emotions made me feel like I was in a steep spiral downward, caught swimming upstream in the flushing of life’s toilet.
Our last ultrasound was on Tuesday, four days ago. I went into it praying that baby would have miraculously healed and the eggs I have been eating had worked. Of course, he (yes, it’s a boy!) still has his heart problems, and of course it’s ridiculous to think that eating eggs would help that…I’m not even sure where I got that idea. I think I made it up. It sounded promising. I have to mentally try to keep re-aligning my brain with the facts: The survival rates of having this are insanely great. He will definitely need one surgery, open-heart, possibly more. We are lucky this is a condition that will allow him to have a full and healthy life when fixed. He doesn’t have anything else wrong with him until diagnosed, so to put energy into that fear is worthless. When I do that worthless worrying, Scott tells me I’m in my rocking chair- I’m doing a lot of work and not going anywhere. It always makes me laugh. Well, more like snicker begrudgingly because I know he’s right.
We have three more months to go, and I can honestly say that the last few months have changed my life more than I ever thought was possible. I feel like I’ve aged about 5 years both mentally and physically. It’s been a good change, too. It’s been really rough sometimes, but I feel a lot stronger from it. I’m excited to meet our little man, and document his spectacular life. It will be hard not to spoil him given how lucky we will feel each and everyday he is with us.
In our ultrasound earlier this week, we were given the best gift ever! A small video of him sucking his thumb. His little nose is too cute and seeing it It made all the fears melt away… for this week at least.
I will continue to update this journal of his early life as we go through this experience. We are so thankful we found out early so that we’ve had time to process what will be happening as we move forward into the unknown. My wish is that in two years, I’ll look back on these posts and find comfort in knowing that all turned out well, and that our child will be able to experience a life filled with joy and love. I have a new appreciation for any parents who have gone through something happening to your child. You are the bravest people in the world!
Thank you so much to my closest friends and all the people, doctors and nurses who have been more than amazing! An even bigger thank you to Scott, who is the only person I’d want to go through something like this with.
I’m slightly obsessed with this wedding. First of all, Christel and Brett are two of the sweetest, most down to earth people I’ve ever met. Second, they’re seriously smart. They are both in the medical field and created a colorful, medical themed wedding. A medical themed wedding you ask? Yes…just wait till you see how expertly done it was! And third- the color overload at this wedding was spectacular! I loved everything from start to finish, especially the hot pink and vibrant oranges.
Their ceremony was held at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in downtown Columbus. This was the third wedding I’ve photographed there, and each and every time it feels like the first. The entire building takes your breath away when you walk in. Vaulted ceilings, rustic stone, and resonating acoustics all make for the perfect wedding backdrop. Christel and Brett decided to have a first look in the court yard outside the church, which is an intimate and private place to see each other for the first time on the wedding day. It was so much fun to see Brett’s reaction to her stunning dress.
After the ceremony, it was important to the bride and groom to stop on OSU’s campus on the way to their reception, which was held at the Franklin Park Conservatory Palm House. It was, however, game day. Traffic was backed up for miles, but we were all determined to get Christel and Brett a wedding day photo in the exact spot they met- their OSU dorm lobby. On the way there, we passed a few tailgates and one was more than willing to make an awesome wedding photo with them!
At the reception, Jan Kish entertained everyone by sabering a bottle of Champagne to get the party started. She also crafted the amazing DNA-inspired cakes that were both stunning and delicious! Cheers to Christel and Brett and a huge thank you for including us in your day!
These two were just married earlier this month! In honor of their big celebration I thought I would share a few frames from their downtown engagement shoot. This was a color session that we did from evening-night. As you can see, the light was heavenly. Everything was draped in a warm glow as the sun set. Later in the session as night fell, I added some extra pops of color to the water and smoke at the Scioto Mile for a little more dramatic look. In total, we hit up around 4 locations for this shoot, which added awesome variety to their photo collection.
Out in front of one of the court house buildings in downtown Columbus, there’s a part of the building that looks a little Gothic, like it should be out of Ghostbusters or something. Luckily Emine and Bob let me geek out in front of them and if you’re a super nerd like me, you’ll get a kick out of the photo we were able to take in front of it.
Fast forward to this month, June has been crazy rainy, but we dodged the rain on their wedding and I’ll have some of those pics on here shortly to share what an amazing day it was!
This Downtown Columbus wedding needs a drum-roll before you see the photos. In reality, it wasn’t a wedding, rather a wedding reception/ kick-ass party. Eric and Alan were legally married in New York City earlier and then had their modern reception at the Columbus Museum of Art. I immediately felt like kindred spirits with the two of them through a mutual love of arts and careers in events and performances.
The thoughtful way this reception was styled was nothing short of perfection for the venue that housed it. Modern centerpieces were comprised of bright orange flowers accented with living grass. Natural light poured through the ceiling and brought all the color from both the centerpieces and the surrounding artwork to life. I adored their hot pink neon “&” sign and I stole it from their decor table for a pretty epic evening shot on the front steps of the museum. While vintage is awesome, I think more people should give a more modern approach to decor a spin. It was so uniquely them.
The cool thing about having your reception on a different day than your ceremony is you can totally focus on hanging out with your family and friends, and just being in the moment. I don’t think I’ve ever photographed so many hugs and smiling faces in one room before…and I’m a wedding photographer! We were even able to go out on the front steps of the museum and get a picture of everyone cheering the happy couple. I would whole-heartedly recommend this kind of photo for anyone who is able to get it at their wedding. As far as the party, I think this reception came close to tying my Nashville wedding for most awesome dance party. It seemed like EVERYONE there got down! At the end of the night, Eric and Alan surprised guests with some baked treats from their favorite Manhattan bakery. The perfect ending to the most genuinely fun night!
I see a lot of weddings, and I mean a lot. While Etta James and Elvis are both great tried and true first dance options, there are so many amazing songs out there that are worth a listen. A lot of these songs on their own aren’t deep cuts, but in the wedding first-dance world, I think they would easily be considered as such.
1) Just Like Heaven- The Cure
I’m starting with this song, because this was Scott and my first dance song. I have yet to hear a slowed down acoustic version that is as good as the original, so we opted for the faster paced original. I knew I would cry in our ceremony, and I didn’t want to cry at all in the reception. I wanted it to be more celebratory. And it was. Dancing to this made us feel so happy and in love. It was non-traditional and I loved it even more for that.
2) You & I- Crystal Fighters
This is another faster paced first dance song. And it’s amazing. It’s full of pure joy, happiness, love and un-pulped emotion. The video is seriously depressing and I cried when I saw it because I’m a sap (pun intended). The bird is so in love with the tree it will follow it and be with it through all of the tree’s challenges, no matter how difficult it is for the bird to watch. The ending is a depressing Romeo and Juliet scenario where the bird chooses the same fate as the tree. While the video might rock you to the core, just listen to it without watching at first so you can get a feel for the song. It’s one of my favorites.
3) Till There Was You- The Beatles
Let’s slow it down a little and jump on the Beatles bandwagon for one song. This song is so rarely used anymore for first dances and it makes me wonder why! It’s very endearing in a genuine and simple way. It’s also so fun to watch Paul’s jolly little head shake back and forth in the video.
4) Dedicated To The One I Love- Mamas & Papas
Music from this generation just felt so real. The Mamas & Papas sound so freaking good…can I get an amen? They sing songs that just fill your soul with emotion. While being sentimental, this song is also joyous and fun to dance to.
5) Hysteric (acoustic)- Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Whenever I hear this song I close my eyes and my heart aches just a little bit. Karen O’s voice is magical like that. She really makes you feel a song. The images in this video are not affiliated with the band and they make very little sense. Maybe just close your eyes like I do, and imagine yourself dancing in the arms of your love.
6) Bloom- The Paper Kites
Quiet, sweet and charming. When I listen to it, I can almost feel sunshine on my face. The Paper Kites are an Australian group, and I’m still not sure how they haven’t exploded on the scene. All of their songs are equally as good as this one.
7) Rainbow Connection- Trespassers William
It’s extremely hard to beat Kermit, but Trespassers William has done it with this achingly beautiful rendition of Rainbow Connection. More than any other song on this list, I feel like this one spans most generations, young and old alike.
8) Turn Me On- Nina Simone
We’re officially entering into a generation of brides and grooms who may have never seen the movie The Big Lebowski. Not only is it arguably one of the best movies ever made, but Nina Simone’s song “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” made the spectacular soundtrack. Nina’s voice is deeply haunting in a mysteriously romantic way. Maybe it was the smoking, but the raspy quality to her voice is uniquely her own, much in the same way Billy Holiday’s voice was unmatched. I’m putting both “Turn Me On” and “I Got It Bad” songs up, as “I Got It Bad” might not be the best lyrics for a first dance, but I still freaking love it and think both work really well.
9) Real Love- Adam Sandler (John Lennon Cover)
Ok so I almost didn’t put this up, but I can’t get over how perfect the melody and words are, and yet I’m not sold on any version of it that I’ve heard. I like Adam Sandler’s version a little better than even John Lennon’s because of the musical support on the track. I can’t believe I just compared Adam Sandler and John Lennon. Regina Spektor also does a version of this song. Her styling is a bit of an acquired taste, just like an exotic spice you would only want to use in certain dishes- she’s definitely not all-spice. If I were going to use this song, I’d get kick-ass musicians to play it live acoustically. I’m going to be a little obnoxious and put all three versions of it so you can get a feel for the essence of the song.
10) Higher Love- James Vincent Mc Morrow
If you’re a product of the 80s like I am, you’ll definitely know Steve Winwood’s hit “Higher Love.” While this song is just beyond stereotypically 80s and pretty awesome in a synthesized kind of way, the James Vincent Mc Morrow cover is equally awesome in the exact opposite way. His rendition is the audio version of pulling your heart out of your chest and showing it to you while it’s still beating and saying “this is what true love is.” It oozes with pure passion. I think I get about 10 seconds into it before I get teary eyed. Perfect for an unforgettable first dance.
Above all, when picking “that” song, just make sure it’s “you.” My in-law’s song is Ana Gadda Da Vida by Iron Butterfly, which I think is so awesome because it’s non-traditional, a sign of the time they were married, and kind of funny mostly because the song is pure rock and over 17 minutes long. Don’t feel the need to conform. Just make it your own. It will be so much cooler and memorable that way! Happy dancing!
For those of you who know anything about us photographers, we tend to get a little hippy dippy trippy when it comes to good lighting, especially when the universe conspires to give you a drop dead gorgeous evening like this one last fall (holy late blogging, Jess). It was hot during the day, and crisp and cool as the warm sun set into a golden horizon… “magic hour.”
For this shoot we ventured to my hometown, Bexley, and walked around Jeffrey Mansion Park grounds. I love colorful images, and this day, the universe provided! Fall in Ohio tends to be pretty spectacular. Even the woodsy smell in the air is fantastic and nostalgic. I think you’ll agree this couple is amazingly cute together. I loved everything about the way they interacted with each other. Rachel would touch his face right as she was about to kiss him. It was so romantic and endearing. Near the end of the shoot, it was cold enough to cozy up in a blanket. And please! If you are getting married, and love your dog like your own child, lets incorporate it into your engagement session! Because seriously, every picture is made better with a cute puppers.
Rachel and Jake’s wedding will be here in a couple short months, and I can’t wait to see Rachel as a stunning bride!
I just woke up from my coma-like nap after returning home on the red eye this morning from California were I was lucky enough to attend Photo Field Trip 2015, also known as Yeah! Fieldtrip.
There are so many things that I want to write about this trip, but probably none more important than the reason I wasn’t going to go. I really don’t like to put myself in situations where I don’t know anyone, especially on the other side of the country….at least that’s what I kept telling myself. I’ve had limited experiences in this that were very difficult, mostly when I’ve moved to different cities and hadn’t known anyone and didn’t have any sort of friendships established yet. And those situations are hard. I find always having to smile and make small talk with people I don’t know completely exhausting, almost like a song and dance routine that never ends. This was my main reason I wasn’t going to go, so I made it my one reason I was GOING to go. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. I’ve put myself out there and reached outside of my comfort zone, it’s always been reciprocated with amazing people and experiences.
So the trip started out a little rocky- I bought a rather expensive airline ticket for the wrong month. The airline couldn’t fix it for me because I didn’t find out about it until AFTER that date passed. Losing the money sucked, but I found it seriously funny what I had done and my new flight was direct both ways, which is a big deal from Ohio.
Field Trip had a bus available from LAX which was awesome, because my brother lives in LA, so I got to see him during one of my layovers. The drive from LA to Santa Barbara is also extremely beautiful and it’s nice to just sit and watch the world pass you by sometimes, especially when it’s lush mountains, organic farms, and stunning ocean-side veiws. At LAX I saw some guys walking around with video cameras. I asked them if they were going to Field Trip, and they looked at me with the strangest faces and said “yeah” sarcastically. At first I thought they were being ironic hipsters, but later I found out they were just LAX paparazzi, there to film a star of a Lifetime Channel for Women series as she boarded her plane. #Blondemoment
When we pulled into the El Capitan Campground, it was so much prettier than anything I could have imagined. From yurts to cabins, tents to safari tents, this place was luxe and diversely unique all at once. Having been to WPPI before, I was wondering how this would compare. I understood the difference the moment I got there- fresh air and smiling, welcoming people everywhere. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been in an environment where you could just go up to literally anyone, and start a good down-to-earth conversation. And it wasn’t the song and dance routine I was scared of- it was awesome people being awesome together. And that never got old.
I was going to write in-depth about everything, but then I realized, that might be the same as spoiling the best movie you’ve ever seen. All I can say, is if you have the means and the interest to go, don’t let your fears stop you. You need to experience this- it’s awesome. Go with an open mind and an open heart and I promise you it will be a small highlight of your life. Instead of spelling it all out, I’d like to just write down some words that sum up my experience, and then of course some photos I took!
Each of the past few years, we’ve been lucky enough to travel to different states for weddings and engagement shoots. It might seem counter-intuitive to some, but I think it’s a creative advantage to shoot a wedding in a place you’ve never been before. I always take the time to scout the area before a wedding, but it’s fun to look at a new place with completely fresh eyes.
This year my husband Scott and I traveled to Nashville for Geoff and Julie’s wedding. We had always wanted to go there anyways, so we made a mini-vacation out of it. We went a day early and enjoyed the amazing music along the Broadway strip. I truly couldn’t believe how many bands are all playing on the same night. I’ve never experienced so much good music in such a close proximity.
The rehearsal dinner fell on the 4th of July, so the evening sky was filled with fireworks and cheers. The next day was a perfectly sunny and warm Nashville summer day. The church,Christ the King, was so beautifully modern and traditional at the same time. Between the light flooded in through the stunning stained glass windows, the beautiful blue bridesmaids dresses, and the colorful flowers, the whole ceremony was vibrant.
Geoff’s mother Janet is one of the best florists I’ve ever met in my life. (She also happened to do the flowers for our own wedding). Janet (with the help of family) did all of the floral and decor for Geoff and Julie’s rehearsal dinner and the entire wedding. It was a true labor of love. She had every corner of the reception hall dripping with beautiful roses. It was truly something to see.
I think this wedding also wins, hands down, the best dance party award for 2014. I am going to post more dancing pictures on this post than I usually do, because it was just that good. EVERYONE was dancing until they were sweating. It was spectacular.
