Akron Family Photographer {W Family Sneak Peek}

Dave and I headed to the {W’s} home for a quick session.  There was a graduation this weekend and the entire family was in town for the big event.  I hope when my kids are grown and we all get together we laugh this much.

Thanks {W} family!

Gray & Yellow {Steve & Angela’s Wedding Photography}

It seems impossible but they kept their relationship strong for over five years of distance.  She was in Ohio and he in Indiana, but isn’t that what love does?  The impossible?  Love asks things of us that we’d never sign up on our own.

Angela had headed out to Indiana to visit some friends.  She had no intention of meeting a guy there.  She lived in Columbus and was just hoping to catch up with friends.  But, despite the distance between them, she and Steve did meet and she got a call from him a few weeks later.  I don’ t think she was disappointed though.  ;)  I think either one of them would have driven much further to be together.

On a trip last year to San Diego, Steve surprised Angela by proposing. The dream was realized this July in Barberton, Ohio (Angela’s home town).  After years of traveling to get there I imagine if feels good to finally just be together.

Some of the wonderful people and places who made their day possible:

Colors: Gray & Yellow

Ceremony Location: Prince of Peace Catholic Church

Reception Location: Prime

Florist: A Blooming Hart

Bakery: Leach’s Meats & Sweets

Gown Boutique: Cincinnati Bridal and Formal

DJ: DJ Crew

Hair Stylist: Erin’s Studio of Hair & Nail Design

Makeup Artist: Fierce About Face {440-655-2208}

I met the girls at the hair salon that morning.  I love this next sequence.  Isn’t Angela radiant?

And Steve looks pretty dapper himself.

Dave always meets the guys while I spend time with the girls.  It’s always fun when the images get merged together and I get a peek at what the guys did that morning.  When I saw this photo on my screen I fell in love.  To me, it conveys so much emotion–excitement, apprehension, even love.  (Of course, Hallmark commercials do make me cry.)

Angela custom made most of the details in their wedding.  There is a big difference between “handmade” and custom made and trust me when I say that Angela’s were custom made!  Just gorgeous!

Her something blue was an etsy find.  The pearl is held by metal stamped with S & A and the date.  Such a cute little detail.  Loved it.

I wish I had been able to hear what Angela and her dad were talking about!  Their laughs were contagious and I have no idea what was so funny!

The send off was adorable with Angela’s flags and pinwheels held by their loved ones.

I love the vibrant yellow.  It’s such a happy color.

Angela grew up in Barberton.  We headed out to Lake Anna for some shots around the town.  I’m not sure what it is about this next one…just a candid moment…but I love it.

I also love these next two.  Probably two of my favorites of the day.  And can I just mention that I love these bridesmaids?  They were so great to work with.

This was a fun find.  ”A great place to chill.”

Steve and Angela planned so much time for photographs.  It was wonderful.  They even scheduled time for the bridal party to stop at David B’s for some appetizers and drinks.  One of the best things you can do to get great photographs on your wedding day (besides hiring a great photographer…ahem, ahem) is to schedule lots of creative time.

More yummy details!  Each bridal party member was welcomed to their seat with a place card that looked like these:

Seriously?  Did you notice that they look like themselves?!  I want one for myself.  No I want one for every member of my family…these may be the most adorable things I’ve ever seen!  Even the Mr. & Mrs. had them:

It’s hard to find enough words without repeating myself constantly…but the photos say it all.

For more of Steve & Angela’s day, click play below to view the slideshow.  Please wait while it loads…I promise it’s worth it.  {If you are viewing from Facebook or an RSS feed, please follow this link and scroll to the bottom of the page.}

Family Photographs at Canton Garden Center {F Family Sneak Peek}

Poor Linda had to jump through hoops to have this session.  She booked the date a few months before but as time got closer, her husband realized and told her that the Hall of Fame Game was the same night.  The Canton Garden Center is shut down for game night to make room for buses to park.

After finally finding a day that would work for everyone…she was not about to let a little thing like the Hall of Fame Game slow her down.  She made a number of calls and finally got permission to use the park.  We drove up to police guarded gates that let us right through.  {It’ s moments like these when I like to pretend I’m famous.}  What was I am sure a pain for Linda turned out to be quite a blessing for us.  We had most of the part to ourselves.  It was a beautiful evening and I think it shows.

I have no idea what kind of flowers these are but I loved how they just popped right out of the ground around the gardens.

This next one was for fun.  We’ve seen a lot of jumping wedding parties and decided to see if this family was up to the challenge.

Thanks {F} family for being such good sports as we traipsed all around the gardens.  And a special thanks to Linda and the Canton Garden Center for making this happen despite the game.

*One part of the family was missing from this session due to starting chemo.  Please keep him and his family in prayer.

Another Fun Family {Akron Family Photography-S’s Sneak Peek}

O.K.  First, I have a conundrum to share.  I hate the boring old “akron family photography” titles.  Yuk!  But, the search engines like them.  I compromised above but really, why do they force me to do this?  I sound like a fool!  Please note, I don’t normally talk like that.  ”Oh, I have to share this Canton Family Photograph!” and “Nice to meet you, I am a Cleveland Wedding Photographer.”

Since I am on a roll here {gosh, it is much easier for me to think in the afternoon than at 2am…imagine that…}, can I send out a thanks?  Thanks so much to Melissa, Dave’s daughter-in-law.  Thanks for so many things actually, but thanks for introducing us to some great families and couples.  Like them, and them, and them too.  And last but not least, these guys:

I had to include this next one because she looks just like her dad!

Don’t you think?  Spitting image I say.

One thing I love about little Miss {I} here are the expressions.  She has this look of absolute shock that cracks me up.  Here she is right after she found out she just won the lottery.  ;)

Aren’t those flowers great?  The {S’s} brought them from their garden.

I had to throw this one in too.  This is just after we told her Oprah is giving her a new car.

Thanks {S’s}.  I hope you all have a GREAT time on vacation!

Why I Love the UPS man…

Because he brings albums like this…

…with spreads like this…

These Art Books are beautifully bound.  Donny & Maris chose a black leather with photo strip option.

I wish I could have kept her forever, but I had to let her go.  Gabby packaged her up and we shipped her to Donny & Maris today.  Goodbye sweet album.  Take care.

First Birthday {P Family Sneak Peek}

I had planned to share more of a story but it’s almost midnight and I know the {P’s} are excited to see these.  Plus, I’m not sure I can keep my eyes open much longer!  :)  Little {L} here turned one a couple weeks back.  We headed to Sand Run to photograph some shots with a cupcake.

Here’a a victory wave with the candle.

…as much as he loved the cupcake, I think he preferred the grass.  {L} does this adorable scoot thing instead of crawling.  He scooted all over the blanket to pull out the grass.

We gave up on the blanket for a bit.  :)

Probably my favorite:

We caught a few shots of the fam before poor {L} got really tired of the whole thing.

Aren’t they adorable?

I rode with the {P’s} to the park and on the way back I think I scared poor {L} getting in the car.  He looked at me like, “haven’t we seen enough of her yet?!”

Thanks {P} family.  It was great to see you and realize we have so many friends in common.  Such a small world!

Akron Area Infant Photographer {Little S’s Sneak Peek}

It was just last summer when Dave and I were shooting Raj and Tami’s wedding.  We both felt like we’d known them for a lifetime.  They stopped by the studio a few months back to share their happy news with us…they were expecting!  Little {S} was born a few weeks ago and is one of the most precious little girls I’ve ever seen.  Raj and Tami seem to have settled perfectly into parenthood and {S} is one lucky baby.

She isn’t a huge fan of sleeping so it took some time for us to get her down…but I did get a couple awake shots that were pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.

This whole session was shot with natural light.  They have the best light coming through their windows.  I could shoot there all day.

Finally, she drifted off and we were able to capture this beauty…

Thanks so much Raj and Tami for sharing her with me.  She is precious and I am so happy for your new family!

My Favorite People

We’ve been a little under the weather here the past few days so I thought I’d share some images I took of the my kiddos a couple weeks back.

I love my job.  I really do, but when I get home in the evening the last thing I want to do at times is take another picture.  I make myself though.  I make myself pick up the camera one more time to capture all the things I don’t want to forget.

I make myself because they are the cutest kids in the world.  (I am aware that I might be a wee bit biased.)

And for a real look into my life:

Maybe one of my favorite photos of my little man ever:

And my little girl…just how I usually see her…mad that she’s not getting her way.  Right after I told her it was time to go home.  :(

Biased or not, they sure are cute.  Don’t you think?

Canton Area Senior Pictures {A’s Sneak Peek}

Dave photographed Alex down at Lock IV in Canal Fulton.  You may recall Mr. A from here.  Now for part two…

Fun Canton Wedding Photographs {Matt & Erin}

When I arrived at the hotel the bridesmaids sat and watched as Erin’s hair was being styled.  Erin was calm and collected after months of intense planning…this was it.  She looked beautiful.  Gorgeous actually.  Laughter and conversation filled the room as all the last minute details were being cared for.  I can’ t think of many better ways to spend the morning of your wedding day.

Matt and Erin had met at Yankee Peddler but didn’t spend much time together then.  They exchanged screen names and for months spent hours chatting online.  (This was pre-Facebook after all.)  After so much time chatting without moving any further…Erin finally asked what Matt was thinking.  Is this going anywhere or not she wanted to know.

It was.  After seven years together, Matt and Erin were married at First Christian Church in Canton last month.  All of their family was gathered around them and celebrated as they spent the night dancing and enjoying the beginning of their lives together.  Dave and I were happy to be there to photograph the two of them and this wedding that they had poured so much of themselves into.

Kudos to this awesome bridal party.  I felt like another bridesmaid minus a cool silver dress.  They even did my hair.  I had a blast with them!

I’m not sure what it is about this next one that I love.  But I love it.  Isn’t Erin gorgeous?

Matt just after seeing his bride.

Did I mention that this was a cool bridal party?

To view even more images, please click play below.  The slideshow is about 3 minutes long.  Please be patient while loading, it’s worth it!  {Anyone viewing on Facebook or in an RSS Feed, click here.}

Matt & Erin…thank you both so much for allowing us the pleasure of working with you both.  We wish you both the best.

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