Tag Archives: Outdoor Portraits

kendra and jacob hug on tartan field golf course

Tartan Fields Engagement Photos

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

sarah and rich hugging in the topiary park

Columbus Topiary Park Engagement Photos

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

emily and rob published in brides and weddings

PUBLISHED! Urban Winery Wedding

Ok so this is my fault, but I haven’t bragged on my past couples enough. Especially because some of their weddings were published last year and I put showing that off on the back burner. But today is the day I’m starting to unveil all of the 2018 publications that I haven’t yet featured. Today is Emily and Rob! Last year they were featured online at Brides & Weddings! The link can be seen here:

Emily and Rob: Vintage Meets Modern

 

 

 

carole and john hug in the park

Columbus Wedding at the Vue

I’ve waited to blog this wedding for a very, very long time so I’m super excited for today when I get to share with you, drumroll, please… Carol and John’s wedding! Hanging out with these two gives me the same feeling as when my coffee kicks in. Pure, unadulterated joy.

We started our day with a first look on the patio of the Vue in the Brewery District of downtown Columbus. John was so excited to see Carole. As he was waiting for her, he was staring at one of the potted plants in front of him nervous and anxious to give his bride a hug! When he finally got to see her, he explained to her how he’ll never forget that plant and how much it means to him now. Lol!

We hopped on a bus and went to Schiller Park for some enchanting and magical photos. I’ve honestly never laughed so much on a shoot before. You’ll see why. I adore people who don’t take themselves too seriously- especially on their wedding day!

From there we utilized some rustic Columbus spots for more photos before we headed back. The green bridesmaid dresses were so striking. I truly wish more weddings utilized this color!

Their ceremony inside the Vue was filled with laughter and tears of joy. The setting was striking with its natural light and soaring ceilings. Immediately after the ceremony, Carole and John spent a few minutes together on the back patio with just each other. I was so glad to see them taking the time to do that because the party that followed was a throw-down whirlwind!!! Awesome speeches, a Dairy Queen ice cream cart, and some incredible dance moves were just a little of what made this party so memorable. I couldn’t be more happy for two people and thank the universe all the time for letting us cross paths!

terri and liza's franklin park conservatory engagement

Columbus Ohio Engagement Shoot at Franklin Park Conservatory

One of the things I love most about being around Terri and Liza is they act like a new couple even though they’ve been together for years. Both of their faces just light up when they see each other. To have such a palpable love I think is pretty rare. It also made photographing them extremely easy.
We shot their engagement session at the Community Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory on the most beautiful September evening when the golden sun was low in the sky. The warm glow of the universe only made Terri and Liza that much more beautiful together. A couple of weeks later, these two tied the knot in an intimate German Village ceremony which I will blog about in the weeks to come.  Until then, I hope you enjoy these as much as I did taking them! XO Jess

 

Park of Roses Family Photos

Welcome to Babypalooza day 2!!!!

Today’s family is near and dear to me! I photographed Jess and Randy’s wedding a few years back. Since then, they have grown their family with the addition of their beautiful daughter Brooklyn.

Jess entered my “Celebrate Life” giveaway earlier this year and won a free family session! It was so good to see them again and I’m obsessed with the mommy and daughter matching dresses Jess picked out for her and Brooklyn! This day was no joke- it was well over 90 degrees outside. It was easily the hottest session I’ve ever photographed. So a huge thank you to Jess, Randy, and Brooklyn for bearing the heat with me.  We made our way to the Whetstone Park of Roses. If you read my blog, you’ll know this is one of my favorite spots to do family photos. There’s a lot of variety and I have yet to see the park in any season where it’s not photogenic and beautiful.  Brooklyn loved being tossed up in the air by daddy and twirl her dress for mommy. She has the sweetest face and cheeks you just want to nuzzle your face against. I’m so excited to show off these precious photos today!! Enjoy! XO Jess

jennifer and kyle kissing in schiller park

Engagement Session in German Village

Jenn and Kyle met up with me for a short engagement session late last month so they could get an awesome pic for their save-the-date. Even though it was a shortened shoot, it felt like each click of the shutter just produced awesome images. I remember saying a few time, “well this is easy!”. We started at Schiller Park and wound our way around German Village for our mini-adventure together. Jenn actually sent me a few inspirational photos before our shoot. I was so excited and giggled a little when I opened them and saw that they were photos I had taken! It’s a huge compliment to find inspiration from your own photographer! As we drove around German Village, we hopped out of the car paparazzi-style at any place we saw and loved. Let’s be honest though, you probably could use any street in German Village for a shoot and have it turn out completely enchanting in photographs. We ended the shoot on a romantic high-note at Pistacia Vera. It was buzzing inside with lots of patrons but we were lucky enough to snag a table by one of their floor-to-ceiling windows. Jenn’s engagement ring looked so sweet stacked against some of their colorful macaroons. And there was nothing more perfect than the foam heart on top of their specialty coffee! I’m so lucky you both walked into my life and I can’t wait for your November wedding! XO Jess

happy couple at Oddfellows

Mikey’s Late Night Slice Engagement

So I was killing it with the blogging up until around January 20th. Why, you ask? Well, we had a few things going on. We welcomed our new beautiful daughter into the world. 1.5 months later, we moved into Children’s Hospital for a week while our son had open heart surgery for the second time in his little life. In between those two big life events, this session with Chelsea and Chris happened and I’ll tell you what- hanging out with these two was refreshing for the soul. This was a late February shoot, so the air was crisp, and let’s face it, the weather was exactly the same as it has been this week (groan).

We went to some of my old and new favorite spots (thanks to them!). We started the shoot at Schiller Park which is stunning any time of year. Then we just walked around some streets in German Village and enjoyed a few moments in the direct sun. You know that moment when the sun hits your face after a long winter? We had a couple of those moments- it was bliss. Most of my job is asking people to do things and watching how they interact. A lot of times it ends up with us all being completely goofy together and I can’t get enough of that. This whole session was like that. Dancing in the street? Check. Feeding each other pizza? Check. Kissing in front of a restaurant full of people watching? Check (Them, not me. lol). We ended the session at Mikey’s Late Night Slice off 4th street. Annnnnnd I totally over-ordered lunch (fresh off a pregnancy and still eatin’ for two). Do you see the way the pizza so perfectly accents that engagement ring? I think I need to make a habit of suggesting Mikey’s for more shoots.

Chelsea and Chirs- thank you for coming into my life (and thank you, Emmie and Rob, for facilitating that!). I can’t wait for your New Years Eve Eve wedding! XO Jess

married couple kissing among holiday lights

Scioto Mile Holiday Lights

I wanted to sneak this blog in around the holidays because it is pure glistening eye candy!! This shoot was from early January 2017 but by the time I caught up with my blogging, it was early spring and posting a winter shoot just didn’t make sense. I’ve quietly waited all year to unveil this enchanting day to evening shoot. To say I’m excited to post these today is an understatement.

Tanya and Chris were actually married but never had a large ceremony or photo session because Chris was deployed shortly after they tied the knot. Chris surprised Tanya with the photo shoot as a Christmas gift and we met up downtown at the Scioto Mile on one of the snowiest days of last year. I remember driving there squinting through the snowy windshield, thinking wow this is going to be interesting. But it was actually perfect, romantic and magical!! Except for at the very end of the shoot when we were walking back to the car and I totally fell in front of them on a patch of ice. Super embarrassing! I had a nice bruise as a souvenir from the night- but even more importantly, fantastic memories and a shoot that I would do again in a heartbeat.

Winter is such a pretty time for photography so if you’re up for braving the elements, definitely give me a call!! And so without further ramblings, here is Tanya and Chris’ magical winter session! Xo jess