Tag Archives: Engagement

Ohio Statehouse Engagement Photos

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!

Downtown Westerville Engagement Photos

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Sometimes it’s so easy to see right off the bat why two people fell in love with each other. Today’s blog is about one such couple, Kristen and Adam. It is very obvious just from hanging out with them how much fun they have together. They were one of the last shoots I did before this whole lockdown occurred. I have backlogs of a year’s worth of shoots, but I just wanted to go out of order and get this one out into the world.

They say in business If you say out loud what it is you like to do most, then you’ll naturally gravitate towards doing the most. I often say how much I love to do engagement shoots. So you will see an overwhelming amount of engagement shoots on this blog in the coming weeks. They are my all-time favorite shoots to do and that’s why I include a free one with each wedding photography package I offer. They are so fun and relaxed and I always feel like I leave them with two more friends than I had before we started.

I met Kristen and Adam in downtown Westerville, the city where she grew up. She really wanted to include graters ice cream in the shoot because Adam loves ice cream so much. Even though it was February, it was still temperate enough to not wear coats and to eat ice cream outside! We casually walked up the street and back down again and got some killer shots along the way. I’m so excited to show you these today and can’t wait to celebrate with Kristen and Adam later this year! XO Jess

Downtown Columbus Engagement Photos

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What a stunning evening this was! I can’t get over how fun Bryan and Ryan are. Some of my past brides and grooms may recognize Bryan because he has been in the Columbus wedding and hospitality industry for years. When a fellow vendor chooses me to photograph their most important moments, it’s one of the highest compliments I can get.

One of the best parts of my engagement shoots is when pets are included! Bryan and Ryan have two adorable dogs who were very excited for their close-up. The sun was setting quickly, but wow the light did not disappoint. There were so many opportunities for golden hour lovey-photo goodness. Everything glowed like it was washed with golden honey. I especially liked some of the silhouettes we got against the dynamic Downtown Columbus sky.

We ended the engagement shoot at the Leveque Tower cheers-ing to the future in a big way! Little did we know late last year as we walked around the Scioto Mile talking and laughing, that this year would be so challenging. These two have unfortunately moved their wedding to 2021 because of this whole COVID-19 mess. I have now re-booked 8 of my weddings. My heart goes out to all those who are having their weddings delayed and rescheduled. Luckily, time moves so quickly and their wedding day will be here before we know it. Thank you so much, Bryan and Ryan and I cannot wait to get you back in front of my camera early next year! XO Jess

Cleveland Museum of Art Engagement Photos

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As the year is winding up, we are quickly approaching Katie and Jeff’s holiday wedding and I can’t wait! I figured I should share their engagement photos in celebration of them tying the knot in a couple of weeks! Late last year, we met at the Cleveland Museum of Art for their photo session. We mostly stayed inside because the weather outside was all over the place. From there, we drove to downtown Cleveland and found some cozy rainy day spots that were also quite spectacular. By the time dusk rolled in, it stopped raining and we were able to capture some romantic outdoor fall shots. Katie and Jeff, I can’t wait to see you in a few weeks! XO Jess

German Village Engagement

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As I’m now editing their wedding photos, I realized I never posted their engagement session from last year. I had this lofty goal to post about every single one of my couples that comes through the door, but this year that has fallen by the wayside, unfortunately. I’m so far behind in blogging that the next few are from last year. But they are from last fall which timing-wise works, so we’ll roll with it.

Eric and Morgan have been together over 10 years so when they decided to make it official, everyone who knows them I’m sure was ready to party right alongside them both.

I have known Eric only slightly longer than he’s known Morgan. We worked together for almost 10 years. He was my confidant- a wizard of all things construction and creativity and always up for Greek food (which if you know me, is my jam) He was (and probably is still) asked to do things he has never done before on a weekly, if not daily basis. That can be insanely stressful, but he always took it with a steadfast calm, or maybe just internalized the stress. My point is, his job isn’t easy but he always made it work. A lot of days I’d mostly see him in deep thought or concentration. So when I was able to spend the morning with him and Morgan last fall, I felt like I was getting to see a whole new carefree side of him. They have been together for a long time, but by looking at the way they interacted with each other, you’d swear they were still in the proverbial honeymoon phase of their relationship!

Eric and Morgan, I am so excited for you both and this amazing time in your lives. I’m honored to have been asked to be next to you as you said ‘I do.” You can also expect your wedding photos by the end of next week! XO Jess

Grange Insurance Audubon Engagement

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Jaimie and Dwayne were married last weekend, so I just have to share their romantic engagement session we did last fall at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center in Downtown Columbus. These two both have a very soft and laid back presence, which makes them really fun and easy to be around. The night we went to the Audubon, the lighting was nothing short of magical. As it happens often, I saw another photographer friend of mine shooting there that same night. Fast forward to Jaimie and Dwayne’s wedding, that same photographer was second shooting with me. It’s such a small world sometimes!

Be on the lookout this year for a blog post about their wedding! It was so breathtakingly gorgeous and everywhere you looked there were details galore. They even had printed out some of their engagement photos and had them on display at their reception! (which I of course loved!)

I’m so excited to finally get this out into internet land today. I’ve been sitting on it far too long. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did taking them! XO Jess

Tartan Fields Engagement Photos

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When I first met Kendra, I felt like I was hanging out with the cool kid from school. She has fun hair and an awesome sense of style and self. Also, her middle name is Joy and just to be around her is to understand why. When I met Jacob, I felt like I was meeting a better-looking version of Prince Harry. They are both so laid back and easy to photograph together. They have a playful and loving way of interacting with each other.

Some of my brides might actually recognize Kendra, as shes a wedding and events coordinator for Tartan Fields. It’s actually where she and Jacob first met when he worked there as a golf instructor! So naturally, we started their engagement session on the golf course. Woods, wispy romantic grasses and two smiling faces, what’s not to love about this place. That mixed with some perfect lighting and I was in heaven! Speaking of perfect lighting, I adore having the opportunity to do a cool silhouette, and an embankment on the golf course provided the ideal opportunity. Big pillowy clouds offset against a bright blue sky were a stunning backdrop for these two. From there we went across town to German Village where everything was just the right amount of evening sun-kissed. I can’t wait for these two to say I do this November. Until then, I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I did taking them! XO Jess

Columbus Topiary Park Engagement Photos

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I’ve admittedly been sitting on this one a while but am over the moon to share it today, and in the coming weeks, their wedding as well. Sarah and Rich actually eloped in a small ceremony earlier this year. This is the first time I had ever done an engagement shoot for a couple who was having such a small wedding, and I truly wish everyone did it this way! We had so much fun walking around the Topiary Park in downtown Columbus, talking about love and life and creating some incredibly fun images. I adore Sarah’s outfit. Any time you wear color, your images are going to be vibrant and eye-catching. Mixed with her stunning hair color, These shots have a really fun and funky vibe. I hope you enjoy these and keep a look out for their intimate wedding! XO Jess

Engagement Photos in German Village

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Cool couple alert! Sean and Amber met me out at Stauff’s in German Village for a laid-back wonderful morning photo session in the fall last year. Sometimes I think it’s fun to just start with coffee and talking. I never drank coffee before I was 35 years old, so lately I find I’ve been making up for lost time and finding any excuse to drink it.

Ok, so there are two things that stand out to me about our morning together. One is the way they make each other laugh. It reminds me of me and my husband. I really think one of the deepest bonds you can have is humor. When you can have the humor/love combo, there’s nothing better. And it will get you through quite literally anything in life. It’s a natural high being around them.

Two, Amber is a taste-tester of chocolate milk and Sean is a self-proclaimed supertaster. I have never met a real-life taste-tester before. It was almost like I was staring at a unicorn. And then Sean informed me of what a supertaster was. It’s actually exactly what you think it is. It’s someone who has super tasting skills. I’m a supertaster when it comes to only a few select things like mustard or beets. Anyways, their amazing sensory abilities are another reason these two are a match made in heaven!

After coffee, we got lost in the streets of German Village, one of my favorite things to do. The weather was just perfect, flowers were still blooming because last fall was pretty spastic weather wise. In a few short weeks these two will say “I do!” and I’m so honored I get to be there and document it all for them. Until then, I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I did taking them! XO Jess

German Village Engagement Photos

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Today is the day these two say “I do!” To say I’m excited for them would be the biggest understatement of the year. Keep an eye out in the coming days for some sneaks!

Last year we met up on a ridiculously warm December evening for their engagement shoot. Spending this hour with Laura and Mike in German Village left me with a natural high. It’s always refreshing to see two people in love, but even more so when you know them personally.

Everything in the village was alive and bustling with holiday spirit. There were lights around every turn, and people were getting ready for the Village Lights that evening, an event where everyone puts luminaries outside of their homes. As the evening continued, the most dynamic sunset tucked under the horizon to make way for a vibrant blue hour. We finished the evening in Schiller Park for some silhouettes and by then all of the streets around us were speckled with dancing luminaries.

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