Canton Engagement Session {Brian & Jen}

He was driving like a maniac.  That’s her side of the story anyway.  She was so mad she even asked around town and found his address.  She completely intended to knock on the door and give him a piece of her mind.  She knocked and he answered, but apparently she forgave him, because soon after they were dating.  Then, last December, Brian set out on an elaborate plan to ask Jen to marry him.  To keep her from being suspicious, he worked with 94.1 to be sure that Jen would win tickets to a Cavs game.  On the night of the game, she came home to find a Christmas tree decorated with a box next to it.  She said yes {of course!} and they went to see the game as a newly engaged couple.

We began our session at Silver Park in Alliance.  Brian and Jen brought their other love, Daisy, along and she snuck in a few photos.  :)

She is a cutie, huh?

Jen, you look beautiful!

After a quick clothing change, we headed over to Mount Union…

Here’s Dave’s perspective of the fire escape:

And mine:

Brian & Jen have visited Bubba Gump and wanted a bus stop shot.  We couldn’t find a good bench but this worked just fine.  Daisy seems to like it too, don’t you think?

Thanks Brian and Jen!  We are looking forward to your wedding this September.

Akron Area Engagement Photography {Donny & Maris}

When he saw her across the dance floor of the ship he was interested.  Very interested.  In fact, he describes it as love at first sight.  But Donny couldn’t imagine ever approaching her to talk….Luckily, he didn’t have to.  Before he could give it much thought, she approached him, mistaking him for someone else.  It didn’t matter why she approached him though, I think they were both just glad she did.  They spoke some in passing throughout the rest of the cruise and then after returning home, Maris gave him a call.

They decided to meet in Washington D.C. since she is from Ohio and he Florida.  The trip went well and their long distance relationship started from there.  Donny & Maris spent the next year or more meeting every other week and talking on the phone in between.  Then, their relationship came full circle when they returned to D.C. where Donny proposed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Dave and I met up with them in Maris’s parent’s garden.  Donny and Maris flew in just a few days before their wedding, so this session took place just before their rehearsal.

Love this dress:

Can’t you just feel their happiness?

Maris, you are beautiful!  Look at those eyes.

Donny and Maris…we hope you honeymoon was just as amazing as you hoped it would be!  I will be posting some of you wedding images very soon.

Canton Area Engagement Photography {Thomas & Ashley}

They met working in the bookstore at the University of Akron.  There is a bit of debate as to whether or not Ashley had a crush on Thomas at the time {and if you want to see a cute debate go ahead and bring it up.}  But, it wasn’t until they saw each other on Facebook some time later that he decided to ask her out.  Ashley’s schedule was booked at the time so she told him, “I can go out tonight or next month.”  Thomas chose tonight.  I think they are both glad he did.

Thomas immediately began collecting mementos from their days together.  Over time he created a scrapbook filled with these keepsakes.  After he knew she was the one…he added a little box that held a diamond ring to one of the last pages.  When Ashley flipped to this page, she looked over to find Thomas on one knee.  And the rest, as they say, is history.

Ashley, you are gorgeous.

Their first dance was a little down the block from this shot during a festival in Canal Fulton.

Thanks Thomas and Ashley.  Can’t wait for the big day!

{Cleveland Wedding Photography} David & Elisha Engagement Slideshow

Dave and I will be traveling to Cleveland tomorrow morning to shoot David & Elisha’s wedding.  We will soon have some awesome wedding images to share but until then, here is their engagement slideshow.  Enjoy!

{It may take a minute to load…I promise it’s worth it.}

Those viewing on Facebook or in an RSS feed, please click the following link to view:  http://www.heritagestudioandgallery.com/2010/cleveland-wedding-photography-david-elisha-slideshow.

Akron Engagement Session {David & Elisha Sneak Peek}

They decided to go to Stay Hywet for the day.  As they walked around, she noticed that they seemed to keep retracing their steps.  She was content to let him lead though.  Eventually they found themselves inside the English Garden.  They sat and talked and suddenly she realized that he was on one knee asking her to marry him.  She was, of course, more than happy to say yes.

Dave and I met David and Elisha back at the place where they pledged their lives together.  We walked all over the gardens and got some amazing engagement shots {if I do say so myself}.  I am thrilled with the way we were able to capture their love for one another surrounded by the beauty of one of the greatest places in all of Akron.

Here they are on the bench where it began:

Love this next one…

We had harsh sunlight that we tried to avoid, but it worked well for this next one.

Check out Elisha’s gorgeous eyes!

And David’s not so bad himself!

David is convinced that he is not photogenic.  I kept trying to tell him otherwise.  Shoulda bet him on it, don’t you think?

This next one is so sweet.  You can see how David loves her with every touch of the arm.

There’s something about white birch trees that I adore.  So dreamlike.

We’ll be kicking off our wedding season in a couple weeks with Dave & Elisha’s wedding.  If this session was any indication…we will have some great images to share soon.

Quick Sneak Peek

No time to chat…but check this out.  More coming soon.

Cleveland Area Engagement Session {Aaron & Rachel}

Never again, she had decided.  That very night Rachel swore off dating a guy from the bar ever again.  At the Loft in Kent, where she bar-tended, the guys weren’t exactly Prince Charming.  But then, he walked in.  She noticed him with his friends and thought he seemed so different…so “normal.”

A week later Aaron was back again, and she remembered his favorite drink.  He was impressed with her memory and with her and later asked for her number.  She hesitated.  Didn’t she just swear off this kind of thing?  But clearly Rachel has good instincts because she relented and handed it over…right after asking him if there was anything crazy she should know about him, of course.

They are good together.  Really good.  I love what Aaron says about her: “She’s genuine.  She never tries to project herself differently than who she really is inside. I know that she is always being herself around me, and because of this, I  knew from the start that I could always be myself around her.”

If that isn’t a recipe for a successful marriage, I don’t know what is.

Their pictures are especially cool because we did some of them in the fall and then Dave headed out with them in the middle of February.

And, here is they are with their son, Bosco.  {Ten points if you know where that name came from.}

I love this next one.  I told you they are great together.

Here they are outside the home they recently bought together:

Congratulations to Aaron & Rachel!  And Bosco of course.

Aaron is Dave’s son and I am looking very forward to photographing their wedding this September in Toledo.  If these engagement shots are any indication, it should be a great time!

Here’s a slideshow of more engagement photos.  Give it a minute to load…it’s worth it.  {If you are viewing this on Facebook or an RSS Feed click here to view and then scroll down.}

Rachel had plans for the images with writing on them…but I decided to have some fun with them in the slide show.  Cute, huh?

Stomach Bugs & an Engagement Photo

I’ve learned three things in the last week…

1. Lying in bed for days isn’t as fun as it sounds
2. Cherry slushies might be the yummiest drink in the world when nothing else sounds good
3. The stomach flu should die a long and horrible death

I have lots more to blog in the next few days, but I just wanted to check in and say hello…oh and share this favorite image Dave took of his son and his fiancée.  {More coming soon!}

Save-the-Dates

I’ve been working on save-the-date cards for Steve and Angela.  I met with them Saturday to discuss their ideas and this is what I’ve come up with so far.

What do you think?

Don’t forget to enter our contest!

Akron Area Engagement Photography {Steve & Angela}

Her friends set her up, but they picked the wrong one.  She wasn’t impressed.  It wasn’t a complete bust though because at some point that night there was a guy that caught her eye.  Clearly he was interested too.  They spent time together that evening and both thought that this just might go somewhere.  They were more than right.  A few years later, he surprised her in San Diego with a ring.  She, of course, joyfully accepted.

After nearly five years of being together they are engaged and planning their lives together.  Dave travelled with them to Cuyahoga Falls where they took some great engagement shots.  I don’t think these could have come out any better.

Despite their distance they see each other as often as possible and you’d never know they are forced to spend so much time apart.  Dave and I can’t wait to celebrate their wedding with them next July.

I love happy people.

Love this spot.  Isn’t this a cute one?  (Am I allowed to say that Steve?)  :)

This scarf is awesome.  Doesn’t it make these shots so much richer?  Nice pick Angela!

There it is again…and it perfectly coordinates with the plants.  Super nice pick Angela!

These are just cool.  Good job Dave!

Click below for Steve and Angela’s slideshow.

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