I have been excited about this wedding all year long. Not only was it the one that I consider the last of my regular fall wedding season, but it was also the most personal to me and my family. My husband Scott and I have been so blessed to get to know Alyssa, Jeff and her family over the past two years. They have truly become an extension of our little family- through thick and thin. I couldn’t think of any couple more special in our life and I’m so honored to have been here on this day as they started a new chapter in their lives together.
The day started relaxing and getting ready in separate homes. I was with Alyssa and my second shooter Katie was with Jeff. Over on our side of the process, there were so many laughs, doggie hugs, and even some pretty awesome dance moves!
Next, it was time to go to their church, Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. Alyssa and Jeff privately said their hand-written vows to each other as they held hands around a corner before the ceremony. Very rarely does this happen, but they made me quietly cry behind my camera. It was such a personal and intimate moment, that as a photographer I am lucky enough to witness. It’s in those moments that love between two people sings its loudest on wedding days, whether it’s between parent and child, siblings, or the future Mr. and Mrs.
The church itself was a stunning backdrop for the traditional Catholic ceremony. It had an old-world romantic feel that almost felt like it was from an older era. After the nuptials, we utilized the church grounds for some photos before we went downtown for some more portraits with the wedding party. It was then time for the real party to start!
Their venue was The Loft side of Dock 580 and the dining room was decorated in such a romantic and sophisticated way. Moroccan lanterns were hung over each table, and linens of blue were accented with gold and maroon. Stunning florals pouring out of centerpieces made for the perfect exclamation point on an already beautiful setting. As the guests dined, laughter from the perfect speeches filled the room. Everything felt so warm and alive.
The party ramped up with the first dances, including a fun coreographed dance by Alyssa and her father. Once open dancing started, it didn’t end until the lights were turned on. It was such a joyous blur! Their wedding day also fell on our son Caddie’s second birthday and they were nice enough to have him come to the reception for some dancing and cake! Needless to say, he loved every minute of it! Thank you again to this amazing family! I’m so thankful to have been a part of it all! XO Jess
This is easily one of my favorite weddings I’ve ever shot, mostly because Becca and Rich made it so intimate and uniquely them. From the start, Becca even referred to it as their “non-wedding”. They were married on a Thursday earlier this October. We met downtown at the Columbus Courthouse where other people were getting married on a Thursday as well. The couple getting married before them brought too many people to even fit into the room, so they were married in the hallway and we got to watch. I think that all made the experience even more exciting! The excitement for Becca and Rich’s names to be called into the chamber next was palpable.
The whole ceremony probably took less than 5 minutes. I was the only witness to their marriage besides the judge presiding!!! It was such a fantastical blur- and again I felt so thankful for being there so I could help preserve those quick but mighty minutes.
From the courthouse, we walked around downtown. While we walked, Becca told me how the whole planning process came together. Her dress was from Rent the Runway. I’ve actually done RTR and my personal experience was amazing. You’re able to wear clothes that make you walk a little taller. And WOW the dress she picked was perfect and she paired it with a vintage fur wrap. The morning of their wedding, Becca stopped into the North Market flower shop and they made her bouquet on the spot. Not only was it stunning, but it smelled amazing thanks to sprigs of eucalyptus. Rich’s tweet 3-piece suit came all the way from Scottland and the two of them together had a classic/vintage look, perfect for photographing against the urban backdrop of downtown. My favorite part of the day had to be when their family surprised them during our photo session by blowing bubbles on them. They had actually followed us from the courthouse in secret! It made for the best reactions from the bride and groom, and I must say some awesome photos to boot.
Later that afternoon, the couple met up with immediate family and friends for a small reception in the Tap Room at Wolf’s Ridge Brewery. It was the most elegant rustic backdrop for the affair. Drinks, tons of hugs, laughs and gourmet food followed throughout the evening. I can’t thank Becca and Rich enough for such a memorable and intimate experience! And now without further ado, here is the “non-wedding”:
So excited to share this wedding today!! In early October I had the honor of traveling to the Lighthouse Inn on Cape Cod for Tom and Sally’s beach wedding! Hurricanes had been hitting the US at just the right time to make the weather at the cape a bit unpredictable. On the day of their wedding, the rain held off just long enough for them to still have an outdoor beach ceremony. When we did portraits, the wind was picking up just enough for sally’s dress to come alive and create some dynamic images against some dramatic skies. The rain and storms came during their afternoon reception, but ended right as the reception ended- It was pretty great timing.
The intimate ceremony was accompanied by a Scottish folk duo of violin and guitar. The bridal party consisted of immediate families and best friends. Their fall wedding colors were deep purple accented with orange and purple florals. The reception’s decor was put together by the bride’s mom. She even used a pumpkin to hold the bride’s bouquet on their sweetheart table. Little woodland animal details added the cutest accents to the tables. At the reception, the Scottish musical duo played fun and lively afternoon music. It was also special because Tom and Sally then spent their honeymoon in Scotland after their wedding.
On the grounds of the Lighthouse Inn, some of the rooms were actually cabins. After the reception, we took just a couple photos in front of their cabin. The whole area was so quaint and scenic. A beautiful retreat no matter what the weather. The day of their wedding was actually the last day the Inn was open for the season. Apparently, a lot of the Cape closes in mid-October for the coming winter months.
A special thank you to Tom and Sally and their family and friends for making the weekend so special. It was a truly beautiful experience that I’ll never forget! XO Jess
Honored and excited that Jenn and John’s country barn wedding was featured last week on Let’s Bee Together wedding blog! Bee sure to check out this dreamy Lighting Tree Barn wedding here:
I’m not going to lie, I’ve had some trouble writing this blog. How many nice things can you say about someone before it starts to take on a creepy vibe? At the risk of going there, I’m just gonna fangirl all over Nicole. I’ve been lucky enough to call her my friend for 13 years, most of which we’ve spent apart living our own lives and keeping in touch every few years. We used to live in Chicago down the street from each other and my memories with her were some of the best of my life. She has the BEST sense of humor, is an amazing storyteller, and is so refreshingly genuine. Gah, I love her so much and when she asked if I’d photograph her wedding, I was so honored and excited. Being able to reconnect with loved ones is the single greatest part of this photography gig. Its so nice to know that no matter how much time has gone by, it will always pick up right where we left off.
I traveled up to Cleveland and was bowled over when I walked into their church, St. Colman. It’s a stunning Irish Catholic church that just turned 100 years old this year. Inside, it has the grandeur of a cathedral. The church coordinator was so nice and told me something I’ve never been told in a Catholic church before. She said, “our motto here is to ask for forgiveness and not permission. Please feel free to go anywhere you’d like in the church except for the main altar.” If you’re a wedding photographer, you’ll know how unprecedented this is. Usually, we’re not allowed to move period. I was able to discretely get some stunning angles that I’ve never been allowed to get before, so that was an exciting side note.
After the ceremony, we traveled to Edgewater Park for some lakeside photos. From there we stopped at the Cleveland Museum of Art. The outside of the building has a very cool striped modern feel that’s perfect for some unique and quirky photos. Our final destination was the West Side Irish American Club for the reception! I loved listening to the speeches- they always are a funny and heartfelt reflection of what a couple is like before and after meeting each other. Nicole and Matt had an amazing dessert table piled high with the most delicious cupcakes and a cute cutting cake that had bride and groom Pez dispensers on them! There were some killer dance moves all night long and the DJ even brought a smoke machine!! I’m so excited to share these photos today with the world. I feel so blessed to have been a small part of this perfect day! Xo jess
I laughed so hard I almost cried the very first time I met Erin and David- so when they asked me to work with them on their engagement and wedding, I felt like I won the lottery! Their fall 2016 e-session and their September 2017 wedding were truly highlights on my schedule!
I met up with everyone at the downtown Columbus Westin. My second shooter went and hung out with the guys while I joined the girls getting ready. This bridal party wins the bridal party of the year award. Each and every one of these girls was so genuine and fun. They all beamed when they saw Erin in her dress, and a few of them even cried. They all had electric personalities that brought a new level of excitement and joy to the day!
Erin’s dress might be the most uniquely beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. It was a form-fitting dusty light pink silhouette embellished with sequins that glittered in the sun. The bridesmaids all wore gold sequined dresses. Together with the Petals & Leaves florals of maroons and pinks, the girls all looked flawless.
I met up with David around the corner from the Westin for the couple’s first look. I asked him if he thought he was going to cry, and he said definitively no. But guess who had tears of joy streaming down his face when he turned around and saw how stunning Erin looked? It was such an amazing moment- one of those I’m so excited I get to be a fly-on-the-wall to see and capture.
The entire wedding party went around to a few Columbus spots, including a parking deck. It was like having your own city all to yourself up there! In the distance, there was even a band playing really loudly so it was like a private concert, too. After the photos, we headed back to the Westin for the signing of the ketubah and ceremony.
The Westin is such a grand event space. I know I’ve written about its history in-depth in a previous blog post so I won’t geek out over it here. Just know I love this space. Look at the photos and you’ll see why!! The ceremony ended with the breaking of the glass and a joyous “Mozel Tov!” rang out from the family and guests!
The event space was quickly turned from the ceremony to reception-ready during cocktail hour. With Orange Blossom Events at the helm, everything went flawlessly. Greenery was accented with maroons, golds, and candlelight. It was so elegant and classy. Dinner, speeches, happy tears and explosive laughter followed through the night. The whole day was nothing short of magical and I can’t thank David and Erin enough for having me with them! Cheers to you both!! Xo Jess
Heather and Kyle were married earlier this summer at Berlin Presbyterian Church in Lewis Center, OH. This church might look unsuspecting from the outside, but the inside has the most magnificent stained glass focal point behind the main altar. They were surrounded by family and friends as they said their “i-do”s. A family member was even the officient.
After the beautiful ceremony, the party made its way over to the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center for photos and the reception. The bridesmaids wore long pale purple gowns that accented the delecate Madison House Designs bouquets perfectly. The men wore purple striped ties and grey suits to finish the look. Heather is one of those people that is just naturally beautiful. She has gorgeous long flowing hair, expressive eyes, and a smile and laugh that can light up a room. Needless to say, she made for a stunning bride. I loved watching them during the speeches soak up all the love. Their first dance was so intimate. It was sincere and heartwarming as they softly sang just to each-other as they danced.
The evening really picked up and the dancing was awesome! Dessert was provided by Nothing Bunt Cakes, and I swear to you my eyes rolled into the back of my head when I tried the chocolate-chocolate chip bunt. I loved it so much I’m asking for one for my birthday later this month. Anyways, I hope you love these photos! It was an honor to spend the day with such amazing people.
I have shot at the Bluestone a lot over the years for various events and helping out other photographers on their shoots. For lack of a better, less corny expression, when it came to shooting my own wedding here, I was always the bridesmaid and never the bride. I was super excited when Brianna and Jake told me this is where their wedding was going to take place. I couldn’t wait to put my own creative spin on how this venue could be captured. And above all else, Brianna and Jake are two of the sweetest, most down-to-earth people you could ever dream to work with, so I lucked out in every way!
The Bluestone is an old church-turned-event venue. It has character oozing out of every corner (in a good way). In the main event room, the light trickles through stained glass windows and warms the whole environment. The venue adorned the main space with a canopy of bistro lights. In my opinion, this ups the enchanting factor ten-fold.
After Brianna and Jake said their I-do’s, we all went out into the immediate neighborhood to take advantage of some shabby-chic urban backdrops. I still can’t get over how perfect these locations ended up being for unique downtown portraits. Back inside the venue, we utilized some of the buildings’ stunning details for a few more photos. Then it was time for the real party to begin- and Oh my God, what a party it was.
The year’s not over, but this wedding is in the lead for the best throw-down wedding dance party I’ve seen so far in 2017. And that’s not an easy title to win, either. The whole celebration ended on a crazy high note when the couple ran though a spectacular line of sparklers.
I just ordered their wedding album today and was actually giddy when I hit send to the printer. I’m just excited to share share share this wedding. It was genuine, fun and all sorts of beautiful. I hope you enjoy! XO Jess
One of the mainstay features of the photography profession’s landscape is photo conferences. They used to all be very similar- in a large hotel’s ballrooms, a trade show in the hall, and downtime in a typically awesome location. Now, there are infinite options for what and where a photographer can choose to learn more about their profession. What it boils down to, is what do you want to learn?
New to the industry
If you are new to the industry or just starting out in photography, a photo conference can be invaluable. It can act as a boot camp for all aspects of photography. I would highly suggest WPPI or Imaging USA for the all-encompassing experience. You’ll leave with a lot more knowledge of what industry standards and practices are, which is important if you’re going to open up a wedding photography company.
When I first wanted to start my business, I read a book about owning your own LLC. The writer right off the bat said in no uncertain terms, typically what you set out to have a business doing (such as photography), is what you end up doing the least. And boy that couldn’t be truer. I spend my days editing, writing, charging equipment, scheduling, answering emails, social media-ing, and planning wedding days with my clients. Photographing couples literally is the thing I do the least in my day-to-day operations. But, as it turns out, I actually love all of the stuff that comes with owning a business. Without those larger conferences to help me along in how to operate a company efficiently in all aspects of the game, I couldn’t imagine where I’d be right now.
I see a lot of new photographers signing up for styled shoots to improve the appearance of their portfolios. A styled shoot is basically a wedding without guests, and the bride and groom are typically models. These usually take place during nice overcast days in stunning locations. In other words, it’s pretty hard to take a bad photo when the cards are stacked for you. Why does this matter? Well, if you’re opening a wedding photography company, have an awesome dreamy portfolio filled with styled shoots, what happens when you get into a dark ugly reception hall when you’re hired by your first client. The bride and groom aren’t models, the flowers are all artificial, and the walls are all covered in dark wood paneling. You’re going to have an Oh-sh*t moment. One that could probably stop your company before it’s even started. I think going to styled shoots as a new photographer is having tunnel vision, and it’s not being honest with yourself or your clients. Going to one of the larger photography conferences very well might help give you a much-needed reality check- one that could prevent that Oh-sh*t moment down the road.
TIPS for the conference goers
Don’t pretend to know it all. I attended a lot of classes where I already knew most of what they were teaching. But I had an open mind, stayed until the end, and almost always left with a little tidbit I either needed reminding of or learned something new. No, all classes aren’t created the same, so make sure to talk and network with other photographers while you’re there. See what classes they’re excited about. It’s an easy way to start a conversation and make a new friend.
Bring a notebook and write, write, write. Remember, be thorough. When you’re writing, it all makes sense. A day or two later, not so much. Make sure to go back and expand on thoughts in between sessions. Use this notebook to take what you’ve learned and strategize on ways you can implement the new-found knowledge. This book can and most likely will become a launchpad for amazing ideas and inspiration.
Talk, Talk, Talk. One of the biggest advantages of going to a large conference is gaining other people’s wisdom. I have learned so much from my peers just by hanging out and talking shop.
Don’t be seduced by location- get your ass to class! If you’re traveling across the country, try to make the most of your experience, even when the days seem long and the pool looks amazing. You are a sponge- soak it all up!
Ok, I’ve had the big conference experience, now what?
Get nit picky- be your own worst critic! This wasn’t hard for me at all! I knew exactly where my weak points were when I wanted to take my business to the next level. It all starts with being honest with yourself. For me, I needed to work on lighting and business strategies. Because I knew these two very specific problems were something I needed to focus on, I sought out tailored programs just for them.
I consider myself very lucky because I happen to live in the same city as a master lighter, and frequent contributor to Strobist articles all over the web, Nick Fancher. He along with Chris Keels teamed up and offered an amazing two-day lighting course in 2010. I couldn’t sign up fast enough. Because it was the class’ maiden voyage, it was reasonably priced (especially considering it changed my whole practice). I loved it so much, I took it again the very next year. Even though some of the stuff I learned the second year was redundant, it was a great technical reminder, and I still learned plenty of new techniques. Having it local was another advantage regarding cost. If you can’t find a course, just reach out to a local photographer who can do what you want to learn and beg them to teach you… and this should go unsaid, but pay them. It will be worth it, I promise.
For the business part of photography, I had heard Jerry Ghionis speak at WPPI and instantly knew he was a one-in-a-million photographer and businessman who lived up to every aspect of the word success. I ended up taking a full day, all intensive class from him, and honestly, I try to hear him speak every opportunity I can get. The class changed a few fundamentally small ways I shoot every.single.wedding….and just that alone was worth the cost of admittance. His business strategies will also leave you clinging on to every word that comes out of his mouth. Ok, I admit it- I’m a groupie. My friend and I even made Jerry t-shirts when we last saw him. *nerd alert*
In 2015 I knew I was going to make the leap to quit my other full-time job and go full-time exclusively with photography. I was really worried about working from home. Mainly, the seclusion, lack of interaction (which I guess is also the definition of seclusion), and how that can toy with the mind emotionally. I have anxiety, and most of the times I feel that helps me have an edge over my competition. But would this anxiety turn into depression when I was all alone each day? Again, I was getting honest with myself. Naming what I thought I needed to work on the most, or in this case, what I was most worried about happening and tackling it head-on. My husband and I were wanting to start a family, so logistically that was the perfect year to pick a conference and travel if I was ever going to do it. I picked Field Trip, out in El Capitan Canyon, California, because I was impressed with the mix of classes that focused on the emotional and “real” aspects of business and business practices. This ended up being a reset button experience for me. It was cooler than any summer camp I attended as a kid, but everyone was pretty much talking photography, so it was perfect. The incredible views, the classes where people could break down and cry, completely exposing their shortcomings and fears, it was real and it was just what I needed. I came back and have been working as a full-time photographer for almost two years later this month (although this is my company’s 9th full year). I can honestly say there have been very few days that have felt uncomfortable, and I have a lot more interaction with the outside world than I ever expected.
PICK your future
Photo conferences are tools that will directly impact the path of your business. Be mindful in choosing them. You can take cool pictures anywhere, but what are you LEARNING? What are your shortcomings? What do you need to improve upon? Make a list of 5 things right now, and under each one, three steps you could take to work on them. Make conferences and classes a part of your plan. The rewards far outweigh the investment if you choose wisely.
So I would consider Crystal and Greg’s wedding my wild card wedding of 2016. I think Crystal contacted me maybe only a month out from their big day. She was somewhat stressed out because the photographer she had been talking to didn’t work out, and wanted someone dependable that could take the reigns. I’m not going to lie- when someone shows up at your doorstep, literally, and starts telling you about the wedding she was describing, it’s hard to imagine it’s real. In fact, on my way there, I still wasn’t even sure if I was on my way to a real wedding. Low and behold, it was real, and everything she had envisioned turned out so perfectly. Why was it so hard to believe? Mostly because it was so fabulously unique and inventive. It’s hard to surprise a wedding photographer with something “new”, but they did it!
Crystal told me on the day we met that they were going to get married in the middle of the river on pontoon boats. I thought that meant the traditional kind with walls and seats. When I got there, I saw that it meant two of them without walls and seats were tethered to one traditional pontoon. To get the best angle, I was going to need to position myself of the ones without support, which I’m not going to lie, had me shaking at certain points. I could literally see myself along with my cameras falling into the river and making a huge mess of the wedding. This never happened, but boy did I feel the heat the whole time we were out there. That’s kind-of saying something, too, because I grew up boating and on the water. After the ceremony on the water, I had really never been happier to be on dry land. Their reception was held in a party house that they had finished construction on their estate literally two weeks before the wedding. The whole property was stunning and I still can’t believe what a wonderful experience I was asked to document. I’m also super happy my cameras made it water-free as well! Enjoy! XO Jess
