Studio B

Goals for 2012!

2012-01-02T17:51:00.000-05:00

Every year I set new goals for my business and for me personally. This year I will be implementing some major changes in my business and I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I've made a big decision to not photograph anything that's not related to weddings or seniors. I want to put all my energy into what I love. Since I've raised my pricing, I'd like to shoot 15-20 weddings this year as well. I also want to try and blog at least 4 days a week. I go through spurts where I'll blog every day then nothing...sorry internet!

Some of my personal goals are to start working out more, I actually started this last month and I'm down 6 pounds! But I still want to lose more. I also want to manage my time better between my family and business. And finally to cook more! With three kids in sports we're always on the go and it gets hard...sometimes it's just easier to let McDonald's do it!

So that's about it for now, I'd love to hear some of your goals for this year so please feel free to post them below! I'm going to leave you with this picture too...How stinkin cute is she!

I'm A Wedding Photographer.

2011-12-15T20:26:00.001-05:00

The past several months I've done a lot of soul searching on where I want my business to go. I mainly shoot weddings but will also shoot families, babies, seniors, you name it. It's impossible to "specialize" in all these fields. My heart just isn't in it anymore and I've decided to stick to just weddings and seniors. Of course I will still continue to shoot for my past clients but I want to focus all my time and energy on weddings from here on out. That's where my heart is. I will still only shoot a select few weddings per year to ensure I can give my clients the best customer service and attention to detail as possible. I truly believe quality over quantity! So with that being said, I'm excited for what 2012 will bring!

Funny Commercials.

2011-12-02T21:35:00.001-05:00

Lately there have been several commercials on that really make me laugh! So I decided to share them with you!

Halloween Mini Sessions ::

2011-11-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite pictures of Jevon is when I took him and had him photographed in his Halloween costume, he was a from and it was absolutely adorable! This year I thought it would be fun to hold mini sessions for my clients. Here are a few of my favorites!

lifestyle photography :: Leah and Emily

2011-11-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

Lee and I became really good friends while working at State Farm several years ago. We both eventually ended up leaving State Farm but managed to catch back up on Facebook and I was excited when she contact me about taking her and her daughter Emily's pictures! We met out at Dawes on probably one of the hottest days of the summer, but the light was amazing and we have blast!

lifestyle photography :: the parks family

2011-11-26T19:14:00.001-05:00

Tasha and Tony have been long-time clients of mine. I shot their wedding several years ago and from that day on I knew that we would become good friends. Tasha has wanted to set up a family session for a while now and we were finally able to make that happen! We started our session off at Nationwide Arena and then walked over to North Bank Park, and then from there just walked around downtown Columbus, finally heading over to the Short North. We had a lot of fun walking around and catching up!

Simply Me ::

2011-11-14T21:35:00.001-05:00

I am no longer going to feel sorry for myself. I'm going to put my big girl pants on and move forward! Where is this all coming from you might ask? It's coming from everywhere. Let me explain.

Around 2001 I shot my first wedding as a second shooter and was hooked. I loved everything about it. It was such a rush to me that I knew from that day forward, I wanted to be a photographer. I had my reservations about moving forward with this crazy idea because at the time, my friend Megan was just graduating from photography school and I didn't want her to think I was "copying" her. Because you know, she's the only person in this world to go to photography school. Once I talked to her about it and had her support, I was off!

I started shooting friends in my dining room with my Pentax film camera and pop up flash. I'd drag my dining room table into the kitchen, set up a make shift backdrop and off I went. I produced horrible picture after horrible picture and people actually paid me for this! Of course at the time, I thought my work was good! Looking back, I'd like to offer anyone of those people a re-do at no cost! I can't tell you how many times I didn't double check my settings from the last shoot and totally ruin the whole role of film. And of course, I didn't find this out until the pictures were developed. I shot a few more years with my film camera and finally made my big move to digital!

I bought a Canon Rebel around 2005 I think and was amazed. I could actually see the "crap" I was shooting immediately and delete it! I'm not much of a manual reader, so trying to learn how to use this thing was challenging for me because I thought I would just practice, practice, practice. And I did. But eventually I had to to turn to my manual for a little guidance. I will say it took me years to finally grasp the concept of how to set my iso, speed and aperture correctly and how they all work together. By this time I'd already shot about 75 weddings.

I literally jumped in with both feet and my eyes closed. I had no idea how to run a business and I still struggle with it today. I thought all I had to do was be creative and get great shots. Yea, that's the least of it. I spend hours editing and researching anything and everything business related. I always thought great pictures would make a successful business and I learned quickly that's not the case. You can take horrible pictures but have mad marketing skills and run a very successful business. You can also be the bomb photographer and have no marketing skills and run it into the ground. So as I hit my five year mark things are scary for me. I'm finally to the point where I realize my worth and I understand how much I need to charge to cover all my business costs, and pay the bills at home. But with this realization, I've had to double my prices if not triple some things to actually start making a profit and with that I've lost a lot of clientele that can no longer afford me. That makes me sad. I love my clients and I don't want to lose any of them. But I understand everyone can afford different things.

I've had to do a lot of soul searching this year and I've had some depressing moments, I'll admit. But I've decided from here on out, it is what it is and I can't take things so personally. There's a quote from Mark Twain and it says "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you always got." Boy is that true! So this is my new motto and I'm ready to kick some ass this next year! I'm sure I'll have plenty of failures to report but hopefully those will be out-shined but the good stuff!

Nicole + Nathan Featured :: Studio DIY

2011-11-10T08:30:00.000-05:00

Congrats to Nicole and Nathan for being featured on Studio DIY!

Simply Me ::

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

I would like to start off by saying how thankful I am to have my parents in my life. With our three kids, we're constantly on the go with one of them and at times I forget about... oh lets say parent teacher conferences...but I have a good excuse. Really. Nakaela has been sick and I had her at the doctors office for an unplanned visit when they sent us over to Children's for some blood work. So there I am in the lobby when my mom calls to tell me that parent teacher conferences are in 15 minutes and Jevon is freaking out because I'm not there. Oops. I forgot. So I sent my mom instead. This is why I love my parent so much. They are always there for Craig and I to help us out with the kids when needed. My parents are the bomb!

We found out that Nakaela made New Wave Volleyball which is a traveling team in central Ohio so we're super excited about it! She also pitches for a traveling softball team and is playing basketball for the school so to say she's a little busy is an understatement!

I finished up my last wedding of the year and now I will spend the winter months ~~hibernating~~ gearing up for the new season! I want to thank all of my clients for being amazing and wonderful!

This past weekend, Craig the boys and I went to the OSU boys basketball game against Walsh University to watch a family friend play and had a blast! I didn't think we'd have very good seats so I didn't even bother to take my camera and yea, we had floor seats! I took this with my iphone so please excuse the crappyness of it! But here's a picture of Jared Sullinger and it looks like the other guys is grabbing his butt lol!

2nd Nature :: Breanna + Todd

2011-11-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of second shooting with Darlene of Harvest of Memories Photography and like always, we rocked it out! We always have so much fun working together! Breanna and Todd were married at Everal Barn & Homestead and it couldn't have been prettier! They DIY'd the whole reception and I was in love! I absolutely love shooting details and the more the better! See for yourself!

Charlie Grace :: 3 Days Old

2011-11-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Kaylyn's daughter, Charlie Grace came into this world back in September and whoa is she a cutie!! Tons of black hair and just the sweetest little thing! She did great at our session and I hope to photograph her more in the future!

Kaylyn :: Maternity

2011-11-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

We shot Kaylyn's maternity session out at Dawes and I'm so in love with some of the images we captured! I'm so far behind on blogging this session that I will be posting the babies newborn shoot here soon! Kaylyn was simply glowing and looked so happy!

Parrish Family

2011-11-05T10:00:00.000-04:00

The Parrish family came referred from some of my long time clients so I'm always excited to meet new families! Their kids were absolutely adorable and so cooperative the day we shot which was amazing because it was freezing cold and super windy that day! I hope to be photographing this family for years to come!

Noah

2011-11-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

I was so excited to finally meet baby Noah! His mom and I have been good friends since we worked together back at State Farm and I shot their wedding in Mexico several years ago. Talk about a handsome little guy! He looks just like his daddy and has a head full of blonde hair...I just love him to pieces!

Thomas

2011-11-03T10:30:00.000-04:00

Baby Thomas came to me at just a little over 2 weeks old and is a cutie! Mom has her hands full with a newborn and the two curious cats that joined us for the shoot! He did very good considering we were dressing him, undressing him and putting goofy hats on him! But when he's a senior in high school, he will just love these pictures!

Holiday Special!

2011-11-02T14:41:00.001-04:00

Liz & Connor

2011-11-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

Liz and I have been friends for several years now and I love photographing her and Connor! He is getting so big and has such a personality now! We walked all over downtown Newark one morning shooting at random locations and had a good time catching up!

Alisa + Jim :: The Reception House At Raymond Memorial

2011-11-01T16:58:00.000-04:00

Alisa and Jim are my new best friends, I just don't think they know it yet! We clicked the minuted we met back in the spring and I couldn't have asked for a better couple! They are absolutely the nicest, most sweetest couple. Ever. Jim adores Alisa and you can see it every time he looks at her! It just makes you all warm and fuzzy inside seeing how much these two love each other!

They were married at The Reception House At Raymond Memorial in Dublin and we had a blast! We started off with a first look at Innis Wood in Westerville and finished up at the golf course. Alisa's dad built the stage they stood on for the ceremony and it was beautiful! So beautiful that the golf course offered to buy it from him to use for future weddings! It was a gorgeous day and the wedding colors matched the colorful trees perfectly. Seriously, everything was perfect that day! Congrats to the both of you, I love you both and I hope you two have a long and happy marriage!!

The other great vendors I worked with were::
Florist :: An Occasional Florist
Videographer :: Columbus Pro DJ's
Cake :: Bess' Cakery
DJ :: Columbus Pro Dj's
Make Up :: Clinique at Macy's at Tuttle Mall
Hair :: The Spa School
Dress :: Sottero Midgley at Alan Ray Bridal
Bridesmaid's Dresses :: Bride's World

The English Family

2011-10-31T15:52:00.001-04:00

Cia and Mark have been coming to me since Cia was pregnant with Mason. He is now a little over 2 and I absolutely love shooting this family! This session took place at a park in Reynoldsburg and Mr Mason had a good time! Grandma Betty was there as well and this is the second time I've had the pleasure of photographing her with the family as well! I love making memories for such wonderful clients!!

Alison + Ian :: Southern Theater Wedding

2011-10-31T13:00:00.000-04:00

When Alison and Ian showed me the pictures of the Southern Theater in downtown Columbus I was super excited! This theater is one of the oldest left and it has so much character. Gold ceilings, a ginormous stage, and lots of exposed brick to name a few.

Alison and Ian decided to do a first look and as always, I couldn't be happier when my clients choose to do this. It just makes the day run smoother and I'm able to get more relaxed pictures! They were absolutely great to work with and we had a great time! Congrats you two!

Jennifer + Brad :: OSU Newark Wedding

2011-10-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

They compliment each other in so many ways. I knew when I shot their engagement pictures that their wedding would be fun! Jennifer is so down to earth and it feels like we've been friends forever! Brad is so sweet too! They were married at St Francis De Sales and the reception was held at OSU Newark in the Reese Center. The Grill on 21st catered the food and oh-em-gee was it good! Jennifer and Brad were surrounded by all their friends and family and you couldn't have asked for a better day! Congrats you two!!

Featured :: Nicole + Nathan :: Be U Weddings

2011-10-28T16:05:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Nathan & Nicole on having your wedding featured on Be U Weddings!

Nicole + Nathan :: Indian Bear Lodge Wedding

2011-10-27T12:27:00.001-04:00

They met online a little over 6 years ago and on their first date they pulled up in matching trucks, rockin out to the same cd. Coincidence? Maybe not! Nicole and Nathan are a match made in heaven. I seriously couldn't have asked for more amazing clients then these two. They are both so down to earth and easy going, just my kind of people!

When I showed up at Indian Bear Lodge I was totally blown away by the decor. Nicole had done everything herself and it was simply the most beautiful wedding ever! I was in heaven shooting all the details! I'm thinking she should start up her own business to help other brides plan such a fabulous wedding!

Other Fabulous Vendors ::
Florist :: DIY
Cake :: Cake Diva
DJ :: Enchanted Nights Entertainment
Wedding Dress :: Watters, Cabo
Bridesmaid's Dresses :: Catan's Bridal
Tuxes :: Tuxedo Junction
Tent/Linens :: Main Events Party Rental

The New App That Saved My Life::

2011-10-25T16:59:00.000-04:00

Ok well it didn't really save my life but it has simplified things a bit! Last night the kids and I were at Finish Line and as I went digging through my wallet for my rewards card, I quickly realized that I couldn't find it! Now if any of you are like me, you collect these stupid pieces of plastic from every store you go to for savings. I mean I probably have 30 or better! So I found this app call Key Ring and oh-em-gee is it ah-mazing! You scan your cards, choose the store it's from and that's it! From now on, I will no longer need to carry all these cards around, just scan them and they're now stored in my handy dandy iphone! Whoop! Whoop! When you need to use it, just go to the app, find the card and the bar code will pop up for you to scan it!

Marcela + Matt :: Confluence Park Wedding

2011-10-21T15:59:00.001-04:00

Marcela came to the States in high school as an exchange student from Brazil. She lived with a family who happened to be good friends of Matt and his family. She was a couple of years older than Matt so in high school they just remained friends. Fast forward to college...After losing touch, one day they ran into each other on campus only to find out that they were living really close to each other. One thing led to another and here we are today celebrating the love these two have for each other at their beautiful wedding! Marcela, you are seriously one of the most beautiful brides I have ever photographed! Matt, you are one lucky guy!

Other Fabulous Vendors ::

Wedding Coordinator :: Jen Wooster-McBride of JLauren Events
Videographer :: Blue Skies HD
Florist :: Brian Coovert
Cake :: Enticing Icings
DJ :: Capital City DJ's
Make Up :: Alison Feamster
Hair :: Jennifer King
Wedding Dress :: Sophia Tolli at Alan Ray Bridal
Tuxedo's :: Men's Warehouse

Simply Me ::

2011-10-19T13:23:00.000-04:00

Hibernation season is coming up fast so I've been eating my extra calories to beef up for the winter months...I kid, I kid...Ok, well I don't kid, but hopefully I don't pack on too many pounds this year...Every winter I seem to put on about 10 LB'S but come spring time, they don't go away. At this rate, I may outgrow the whole house if I don't slow my roll. But it's winter. In Ohio! Need I say more? We get tons of snow, there's not much to do, so I sleep. And sleep. And sleep. It's something that I've managed to master over the years, and dammit, I'm good at it!

Trick or Treating is next week and my boys are excited as usual! Nakaela? Yeah, not so much. When I asked her if she was going this year, her response was "Really mom? I'm in eight grade" Well excuuuuuse me! So I got excited thinking I was going to save money on not having to buy her a costume until last night she informed me that she now needs one for a Halloween party she's going to...Lord have mercy. This child may seriously be the death of me. Being a teenage girl should just be illegal. I don't remember being this high maintenance when I was her age.

Does anyone have any organizational tips for me? I'm sitting here looking at my desk and among all the "office" things you should have out, I also have a pair of swimming goggles, a pop tart and a tape measure sitting there. Not a clue where the goggles came from, I'm sure the pop tart is mine and the tape measure probably is too but why have they been on my desk for like a month? I seriously need help!

If you are not familiar with this site, please check it out! (www.damnyouautocorrect.com) I seriously cry every time I read it and I guarantee it will put you in a better mood every time you visit it! I've decided that I can burn some serious calories just from the laughing that I do! It's updated daily so you should read it daily!

I'll end this post with a picture of Lola who just finished drinking the milk from my cereal bowl. She should be on the Got Milk Ads!

What Exactly Is A Digital Negative?

2011-10-16T19:08:00.002-04:00

I'm sure at some point we've all owned a film camera and every time you went to pick up the pictures from your lab, there were negatives included. If you hold them up to light, you can see what your picture looks like. A digital negative is the same thing. It's the image that was shot straight out of the camera, no editing, nothing. It's a blank canvas of sorts and we as photographers take these digital negatives and turn them into great pieces of art.

Every photographer has his or her own editing style and how they want their pictures to look. But we all pretty much use the same programs and resources to achieve the final look that you as the client will love!

When I shoot a wedding or a family session, what you will view are the proofs. I will color correct and fix minor things and present these photos to you. Any pictures that you decide to order or have in an album will be fully retouched and edited. I will airbrush you, maybe add some actions. Whatever necessary to make the final print fabulous!

So I get a lot of questions from clients about getting the digital negatives. I don't give my clients the digital negatives but I do give the proofs. What you'll get on your disc from lets say a wedding that I've shot are the proofs. You are given a limited release that allows you to print at your local lab for personal use only. I do not airbrush every single pictures though. That's only done if you order prints and or albums through me.

I hope this post helps you out in understanding the difference between digital negatives, the proofs and edited images. Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts!

Photo Shoot Ideas.

2011-10-06T21:24:00.000-04:00

I love Pinterest! It allows you to create inspiration boards for anything and everything!!! I would love to find a sexy couple that would like to participate in a shoot like this! Love it!

Simply Me.

2011-10-05T13:54:00.002-04:00

Once again I say I'm going to post on a regular basis a section on Simply Me and I failed miserably! I always tell people I have A.D.D. (I really was diagnosed with it) and a lady said, you have kids and a husband, that's why you have A.D.D. Amen Sister! As you all know I have three kids who are all involved in sports so we're always on the go with them. I love it and wouldn't have it any other way! So I'm going to blame my kids for not posting more! Yep, it's all their fault ;) So here is some random things going on right now...

I bought Lola (my pug) a Halloween costume and guess what! She's to fat around the neck area so my mom has to make the straps a little longer so it'll fit around her fat little body...She's going as a banana and I promise to post pictures once we get the costume to fit!

I really want the new iPhone coming out in white. I love white phones and I can't figure out why Verizon doesn't make more of them. I'm guessing a ton of women would rather have a cute white phone then your boring black ones!

I bought some fake eyelashes and I'm super excited to try them out. I'm always admiring my brides who have them on for their weddings and it just really makes their eyes pop so I've decided to give it a try. Hopefully I don't either poke my eye out with the tweezers or glue them shut but I'll let you know how it turns out and may even post a picture!

I'm loving that fall is here because I love wearing boots and sweaters. I can totally wait for all the snow I know we'll get this year, but I'm going to enjoy fall and football season as long as I can. And even though my Steelers aren't doing very well this year, I still love 'em!

Well that's it for this installment, thanks for reading!

Cosi Bridal Show

2011-09-30T21:14:00.001-04:00

I participated in the Perfect Wedding Guide Bridal Show at Cosi this past Sunday and wanted to share pictures from my booth. I received a lot of positive feedback so now just to book up my wedding season for next year!!

10% :: Are You Kidding Me?!?

2011-09-11T21:46:00.005-04:00

I'm sure every bride who is about to plan her wedding will visit The Knot to get a little advice, help, whatever. But under their little planning section it has a breakdown on what you should be spending your money on. I'm a little perturbed by what it says...Here's the following breakdown, tell me if you see the problem...

Reception 48-50%
Photographer/Videographer 10-12%
Florist 8-10%
Attire 8-10%
DJ 8-10%
Ceremony 2-3%
Rings 2-3%
Stationary 2-3%
Transportation 2-3%
Gifts 2-3%
Misc 8%.

So you're trying to tell me that the flowers and DJ are just as important as the photographer? I don't think so. In 50 years will you be able to show your great grandchildren your flowers or DJ? No! When a wedding is over, the only thing left is your wedding album. That's it. No one's going to care what type of wine you served, what music the DJ played or what your flowers looked like. Pictures are one of the single most important things and you should never budget in 10-12% just because The Knot says so. Seriously people. Lets get our priorities together here. I don't care if you're budget is only $20k. If you need to spend $10k on a wedding photographer to get the amazing photos that you want and need, then do it. In the long run, it's all you have. If your house were on fire, what would be one of the first things you'd grab? Your DJ? No, your wedding pictures.

I get that newly engaged women need a little help planning the wedding of their dreams, but think about what's really important. Think about the family heritage you'll be passing down to your great grand kids. Make cuts in other places to be able to afford the photographer of your dreams!

Granville Inn Wedding :: Eleanor + Scott

2011-08-31T22:27:00.001-04:00

They have to agree to disagree on the way they met. Eleanor says it was at her roommate's birthday party, Scott says it was while watching The Office in their dorm. But either way, it was a match made in heaven! Scott is the peanut butter to her jelly...

Eleanor jokes about the whole proposal as well. She actually bought her bridesmaid's dresses before he ever proposed...but they were on sale, so what was a girl to do? She also reserved the Granville Inn to ensure they could have the reception of their dreams there. Scott wanted things to happen the old fashion way, but Eleanor wasn't about to let her dream wedding escape her! The night he proposed they actually got in an argument about this very topic and Eleanor told to him to hurry up and propose so they could start planning the wedding so he did. Right then and there. Down on one knee in the middle of the afternoon, in Chicago. And the rest is history!

I had a fabulous time shooting Eleanor and Scott's wedding. Every detail was perfect. You could tell how much thought and planning and love went into making this wedding a success. Thank you for allowing me to share in it!

Simply Me...

2011-08-25T15:39:00.000-04:00

I've been wanting to post on a regular basis more about my personal life with my kids, husband and dog, or whatever else I felt the urge to write about but I couldn't come up with a title for the post. I have seriously been searching for a title for probably six months or better and nothing sounded right. Then the other night on my way home from the Sandy Puc' Workshop it hit me. It was around midnight and I was cruising along 270 when I came up with it...Simply Me. Because in reality, that's what it's about. Just me. Then I hit a skunk. So I was thrown back into reality for just a second to realize that I now have to smell this thing for the duration of my trip. Yuck. I immediately fired off an email to myself (yes I do email and text myself) so I wouldn't forget. And so here we are for the very first installment of Simply Me.

I've have been waiting for today to happen since the beginning of June...the kids went back to school! Some mother's hate the idea of their little one's leaving but quiet frankly, I cannot wait! I love my kids more than life itself, but oh-em-gee they drive me nuts! The boys fight with each other non stop because they're bored or someone looked at them funny. And my daughter says it's boring at our house and she wants to be with her friends. All the time. She's pretty much never home but guess who gets to taxi her around? Yep, you guessed it...me. The kids are all involved in sports and so we just go non stop for that all year round. At least when they're in school I get a few hours of quiet time to myself and the chance to get my house back in order. When the kids are home, it's a non stop mess because they want to change their clothes 10 times a day and eat everything in the fridge. So yes, I'll admit it, I look forward to them going back to school!

On another note, I've got some big changes coming and I couldn't be more excited! I'm always looking for new ways to improve my business and I set a goal this year that I would attend at least 5 workshops of some sort. So far I've gone to 6 and have one more that I know of next month!

And if you're wondering why I'm all over the map with this post, it's because I suffer from A.D.D. (seriously) and I just type whatever I'm thinking and my mind goes a mile a minute. So I hope you can keep up!

Here are a few photos from our trip to Hilton Head, SC. Actually these photos where taken when we went to Savannah, GA where we would now love to relocate!!!

Doesn't he look excited!

We walked up those steps! Talk about exercise!

This is just extra cause I love my fat girl!

Mackenzie's SR Video!

2011-08-25T10:03:00.001-04:00

This is a new option I'm now offering seniors and I couldn't be more excited!!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Struggles + Imperfections.

2011-08-20T20:13:00.000-04:00

Just like any other creative person out there I struggle with being creative at times. Sometimes I'm just not on my "A" game. My clients are never the reason a photo shoot may not go as planned or as well as I'd like. I'm the photographer. I'm trained to work in crappy situations, with fussy babies, you name it. It's my job to still produce beautiful portraits and sometimes I don't deliver. That's hard to admit but it's the truth. I'm only human like everyone else and I have good days and bad days. Obviously I like the good days but unfortunately it's not always possible. I strive to give good customer service and everything my client wants so if there's ever a time you're not happy with me or my services, please let me know! I can't fix what I don't know is wrong. I don't take those things personal. Really. I love my job and the fact that I'm able to create one of a kind pieces of art for my clients is priceless. I'm creating memories for you that will last for generations to come. Hopefully your kid's kids' kids will see these photos and remember their heritage, their family...Where they came from.

WPPI Road Trip :: Columubs Ohio Conference

2011-08-18T18:28:00.001-04:00

Ah-mazing! Let me just say that. So amazing that my head is still spinning with all the information the speakers managed to cram in there in the 10 hours we were there! I attended the WPPI Road Trip Conference this week in Columbus at the Renaissance Hotel and had the opportunity to meet with, talk to and get some great information from their speakers. The host was Vicki Taufer, from The V Gallery, who was awesome and super cute! The speakers were Jamie Schultz from Jamie Schultz Photography, Justin and Mary Marantz from Justin & Mary, Jared Platt from Jared Platt Photography and finally Adina & Scott Hayne from Hayne Photographers. These speakers really brought their A game because I learned so much from them! I'm so excited to implement some new things into my business here soon!

p.s. I wasn't able to get a picture of Jared due to the fact that I was laughing too hard during most of his presentation and the fact that I knew he was going to call me out in front of everyone about our discussion we had at lunch!

Guest Spot :: A Wedding by Sylvia

2011-08-12T10:21:00.001-04:00

My dear friend Sylvia is a fabulous wedding planner in Columbus (A Wedding by Sylvia) and I've been very fortunate to work with her on several weddings! If you need someone who has it together, then you definitely need to call her! So here's another installment of Guest Spot...enjoy!

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself.
My name is Sylvia Harris Douglas and I was born and raised in Ohio. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Financial Management. I am very happily married with children and love balancing work and family!

Q: When did you start your business?
I started researching Wedding Planning back in 1999 and spent a year shadowing, learning, getting licensed etc before officially opening A Wedding by Sylvia LLC in 2000.

Q: Where can we find you at? (address/web address, etc)
www.aweddingbysylvia.com

Q: What are some new trends you see going on in the wedding industry right now?
Recently, I have seen a trend in brides and grooms really being creative in their wedding planning. Infusing their personalities into their weddings and making them a lot more fun (and a bit less traditional). I have also seen an upward trend in weddings being a bit smaller and more intimate. Instead of 15 bridesmaids, we see smaller wedding parties, smaller guests lists and smaller budgets. Another fun trend is a surprise honeymoon for the bride. Lots of grooms are planning the entire honeymoon and just telling their bride to pack her bags and passport and she will find out where they are going at the airport! What a fun and adventurous way to begin your married life together!

Q: How would you describe your style?
I have a very professional style that is also very approachable and friendly. I really work well with a lot of different types of people from various backgrounds, budgets, and beliefs and can pull together multiple resources to suit just about any theme. I believe in a strong work ethic and in pleasing my clients. Most often, my clients and I become friends and keep in touch for many years after their wedding.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
In five years, I will have been a Wedding Planner for 16 years-wow! My children will all be school-aged, so I plan to expand my business at that time, yet continue to focus on a personal relationship with all of my clients.

Q: Tell us 3 things we didn’t know about you before this interview?
1-I LOVE a bargain!! I have always been frugal/thrifty, but especially now, in this economic times, I LOVE helping my clients get great deals!
2-I love animals. We have 3 rescued lab mix dogs that are our “furbabies.”
3-I do not like chocolate-or shoes. I know, I am weird.

Q: What do you feel is the most challenging thing about your job?
The most challenging part is when a client comes to me after she has booked other vendors that are not providing a high level of customer service. It is a challenge to “go to bat” for my clients, but it is also one of the greatest rewards when my clients’ wedding dreams come true and I was a small part in helping to make that happen.

Q: Who or what inspires you?
My daughters really inspire me! They inspire me to be a great example for them and to also keep in mind that I will be planning their weddings some dayJ

Q: What if anything do you do to keep up with the ever changing wedding industry?
I like to keep up with national and local wedding trends my reading blogs, print magazines and books. I also listen to my clients. They are the ones that are the true testament to what is really happening in my wedding atmosphere.

Q: Do you advertise, if so, where?
Currently, my main advertising is on Facebook and other internet wedding pages that offer link advertising. Probably my most successful form of gathering new clients is from my network of vendors and past clients. It is absolutely the best compliment when a past client or vendor I have work with recommends me to a new bride!

Q: If you weren’t running your business, what would you be doing?
I have no idea. There is nothing else that I would rather do. I would likely volunteer at a library so I could read all of the books!

Q: I’ve learned the most from?
My personal spiritual life is where I learn the most, but life lessons can be found every single day. They are all around us if we just open our hearts and minds and listen twice as much as we talk.

Q: What talent would you most like to have?
I would LOVE to be able to sing and sing well!!!!! I love to sing, but I cannot carry a tune in a bucket, LOL.

Q: Something you’re still learning?
I am still learning to set limits so that I can get the adequate rest I need. I tend to over-work myself and not sleep/rest nearly enough.

Q: Something that is overrated?
Going into debt to pay for a huge wedding that is outside of your budget!

You can find Sylvia's website HERE and
Like her on Facebook HERE

Marie + Oscar :: Dublin Ohio Wedding

2011-08-11T21:03:00.000-04:00

Marie and Oscar met at The Ohio State University a little over 9 years ago and had dated off an on during this time. They finally made it official and started planning the wedding of their dreams! For their engagement session we went to Cleveland, Oscar's home town and had a blast touring Cleveland. The wedding was just as fun and maybe that's because of their crazy wedding party! Everyone really made the day beautiful, and despite the rain we were able to capture som amazing pictures. Marie is absolutely gorgeous and Oscar's not too bad himself! I don't think these two could take a bad picture if they wanted to! Congrats to both of you and thank you so much for allowing me to share in your special day!

Family Vacation :: Hilton Head Island

2011-08-11T14:47:00.000-04:00

I had a wedding in Hilton Head Island this past Sunday so Craig and I decided we would make a little family vacation out of it and take the kids. The trip started off a nightmare! We just bought a van and decided to drive it down, and half way down, it started acting up! Then when we stopped for gas I realized that my son had left the gas cap at the last gas station...are you serious! Then once we check into the hotel, we realized that our 30 day tags fell off somewhere between Ohio and South Carolina...Oh and I forgot to mention that on the way down, we got stopped in traffic for 2 hours due to an accident! Do I dare ask what else can go wrong? I do, and the hurricane like storm we were having, knocked the power out. Oh My God, I just want to go home at this point! If that wasn't enough I had to argue with my boys about why they couldn't swim in a storm...really? Jevon tells me he will get out for 5 minutes every time he see's lightening. Um...no.

So at this point, my only goal is to make it to the trash the dress shoot, the wedding and make it home safely. All of which I did.

At the trash the dress shoot, I took the family with me since we were on the beach and the first 5 minutes there, Nasir got stung by a jelly fish! Can we say that this vacation was turning into the vacation from hell! During the wedding, which was on a private beach, there was a fly issue and all these flies were biting like crazy! So fast forward to Monday, the day after the wedding...

I took the kids back to the beach while Craig stayed in the room and we had a good time. We went shopping and out to dinner afterwards. Tuesday we decided to head to Savannah GA to site see and have a little fun. We walked around for a couple of hours and loved it! We're ready to move there now!

So despite all the hiccups we incurred during this trip, we had fun! I didn't get to take many vacations as a child so when we're able to take the kids anywhere, I love it! It means so much to me to be able to do things like this with my children and create new memories with them. To me, that's what's important.

Here's a pic of my favorite boys...

Giving Back + The Importance of Memories.

2011-08-09T13:54:00.000-04:00

Over the years, I've had clients tell me about how a family member passed away before they could get one last family portrait together. This breaks my heart. Pictures are the one thing you have left once a loved one dies to help you remember the wonderful memories you once shared. To help give back, I will now be waiving my sitting fee to any one who contacts me that has a family member that is terminally ill . I know pictures are the last thing on a lot of people's minds when they have a loved one suffering, but it's also so important to try and document those memories as well. So please don't hesitate to contact me to set up your session. I would love to help you create more memories.

Second Shooting...Mohican Gardens.

2011-07-24T21:55:00.001-04:00

My good friend Darlene of Harvest of Memories Photography asked me to second shoot a wedding with her and well I was super excited to do so because second shooting is soooo less stressful then being the lead shooter and I knew we'd have fun! I did warn her that anytime I have someone second shoot for me, we play a little game of who can capture the worst picture of the the other one while working! She gave me this look and I could tell it was on! The day was beautiful and we had a great time shooting together. The wedding was simple, yet elegant and minus the bouquet hitting the ceiling fan and being shred into a thousand little bouquets during the toss, everything went perfectly! Here are several of my favorites from the day!

So How Do You Know When You're Old?

2011-07-13T23:09:00.000-04:00

I was reading an article in this month's Glamour about turning 30. I always thought I'd dread it but 30 came and went, then 31, now we're at 32, almost 33. And I still don't know how I feel about it. I will say that it seems as if since I've hit 30 that my body has just gone to hell, but that could also be due to the fact that my diet consists of lots of pop and hot dogs from the ball field! (Hey, I'm there about 6 nights a week, give me a break!) I don't really consider myself old. I don't feel old, I don't think I look that old anyways. But it got me thinking. What have I accomplished in my 32 (1/2 years) here? I've got a wonderful husband who loves me, my stretch marks, and the fact that my thighs rub together...Three very beautiful, smart, talented and athletic children who are my world. We have a nice home in a good neighborhood, we're healthy, my parents are still alive, I have an amazing career. Life's pretty good.

I know I'm getting older though because I hear myself repeating the same stuff my mother said to me when I was a teenager and I hate it! "Those teenagers are too loud, their clothes are too small and where are their parents?" are all things I like to say to my 13 year old. And she just rolls her eyes and shakes her head like I used to do. When did I get so old? Especially when I really don't feel it?

The other day I was sitting at my youngest son's baseball game and my husband's friend's son was telling us a story about two women and he referred to them as "old women." I stopped him and asked, "Old like me?" He says "No, old like 30." I laughed and asked him how old he thought I was, which he promptly answered, "I don't know, 26-27?" Amazing that you're considered old at 30, but not 27! He seemed a bit surprised when I told him my age, which in turned made me feel a little better!

So how do you know when you're old? When you look it? Feel it? What is considered old? Now that I'm in my 30's, other people in their 30 and 40's don't seem so old to me anymore!

A Bit Discouraged...

2011-07-13T15:29:00.000-04:00

Things have been a bit slow on my end and it's had me a bit discouraged. I love what I do and can't imagine myself doing anything else. I feel like I eat, breath and live photography. Running my business has been a huge learning experience for me and I'm still continuing to learn as I go. I don't always make the right choices when it comes to my business, but again, I'm still learning. I've been doing some serious soul searching these past few months on where I want my business to go and how I want it to grow and it can get a bit depressing when the works not rolling in like I want it to. But today, I received an email from one of my long time clients and she has totally just made my day and made me remember why I do what I do...Here's what she said.

Hi!

I finally got a chance to get focused and place my order! I just wanted to thank you for taking such amazing photos of my guys. I teared up looking at them and thinking about how big they’re getting (especially Lane.) Thanks to you I have lots of amazing photos to document these precious years. You do such an amazing job! Thank you for that!

Hope you’re having a good week!

Ali

This totally made my day!

The Lost Files.

2011-07-11T11:14:00.000-04:00

I was going through my external hard drive last night and came across some pictures of Craig and I that I never posted. These were shot last year in Zanesville. I hated them at the time, but it's funny how a year later, I actually like some of them! Maybe it's because I've packed on a few pounds since then and now I think I look better in those pictures than I do now...who knows, but here they are!

Urbana Ohio Wedding | Malerie + Ryan

2011-07-08T16:10:00.000-04:00

I will admit, I was a bit nervous going into this wedding only because I had never bet the bride or the groom. I had met with Malerie's mom and dad since she was in school out of state. I fell in love with her mom and from what she was telling me about Malerie, I knew I'd love her too! Malerie and Ryan were awesome! Very laid back, fun, and totally after my heart and stomach with their throw back 90's hip hop and the food that was catered! They are both eclectic, artsy and just pretty damn awesome! One of my favorite things was the fun booth! Her family went all out on getting props and such for this thing and I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life! Their wedding rocked! Thank you both for allowing me to be a part of your day.

To view their wedding website click HERE

Vendors
Wedding Coordinator - To Have & To Hold Wedding Planning 937.508.9541
Florist - Absolute Floral
Cake - Dayton Cakes
Make Up & Hair - The Hair Company
Wedding Dress - David's Bridal
Bridesmaid Dress - David's Bridal
Photography - Studio B Photography

Our Family Pictures...

2011-07-01T21:38:00.000-04:00

I try and get our family pictures taken at least once a year. I normally do them myself as well and this year I talked myself into having my good friend Meighen Snow from Mystic Snow Photography do it and I love them! It was about 95 that day and I thought we might actually melt but we got through them and I couldn't be happier! Thanks Meighen!

Top 100 Wedding Blogs for 2011

2011-06-30T14:17:00.000-04:00

I came across this website and thought it was great! It's the top 100 wedding blogs for 2011. When a bride is planning her wedding, the internet is probably the first place she turns for ideas, inspiration, you name it! So here they are in no particular order...

Cynthia Martyn Events
Elizabeth Anne Designs
Junebug Weddings
Once Wed
Bridal Snob
Austin Wedding Blog
Elizabeth Dye
Style Me Pretty
Bridesmaid.com Blog
Oh Lovely Day
Postcards and Pretties
Forget Me Knot Weddings
The Knotty Bride
Branco Prata
100 Layer cake
Kiss the Groom
Offbeat Bride
Rock n' Roll Bride
Green Wedding Shoes
Glamour and Grace Weddings
The Bride's Cafe
The Inspired Bride
Whimsical Wonderland Weddings
Cap Classique
Borrowed and Bleu
One Lovely Day
Polka Dot Bride
Ritzy Bee
La Belle Bride
Emmaline Bride
Eco-Beautiful Weddings
Luna and Chloe Weddings
The Broke-Ass Bride
The Budget Savvy Bride
The Cinderella Project
OneWed's Savvy Scoop
Boho Wedding Blog
The Wedding Vine
OK, Now What Bride
Valley & Co.
Hindsight Bride
Amour Amour
Ruffled
Grey Likes Weddings
Hot Pink Brides
The Knot Blog
DIY Bride
Wedding Chicks
Peonies & Pearls
The Loveliest Day
Bride Chic
Martha Stewart Weddings
Groom's Advice
Groom Groove
Sparkle & Hay
MOD Blog
The Bridal Bar
Perfect Bound
Frolic
Something Old, Something New
Erin Ever After
Snippet & Ink
Weddings Unveiled
Recycled Bride
Weddingistas
The Sweetest Occasion
Earth Friendly Weddings
Ethical Weddings
Janay A Handmade
Elegance & Simplicity
Weddingbee
Brooklyn Bride
Love and Lavender
Dandelion and Grey
Rice Ink
Always A Blogsmaid
With This Ring
Southern Weddings
Manolo For The Brides
Rock My Wedding
The Perfect Palette
A Mountain Bride
Wedding Paper Divas
Adventures In Wedding Planning
Love My Dress
Wedding Belles Online
Bellissima Vita Blog
Big Mouth Bride
Brenda's Wedding Blog
BridalEase
Bridezilla
Classic Bride
Dallas Wedding Planner Blog
ellyB Events
Every Last Detail
I Love You Much
Tried and True Weddings
Inspired Goodness
Smartbride Boutique Blog
Magnolia Rouge
Intimate Weddings
It's A Jaime Thing
Landlocked Bride
Prepare To Wed
Pearls Events
Beau-Coup Wedding Blog
Santa Barbara Chic
So You're Engaged
Clover & Bee Weddings
The Third Coast Bride
My Personal Artist
Victoria With Roses
Weddzilla Blog
Sparkliatti
Wish Special Events
Wishpot Blog
African-American Brides
Green Weddings
Swoonoverit
Wedloft
Walking Barefoot
A Practical Wedding
The Relentless Bride
Truly Engaging
Anti-Bride
The Bowie Bride
Bride On A Budget
Niche White
Staggered
The Plunge
Blogger Brides
Bridal Tweet
Delightfully Engaged
Bridal Rehab
Bridalhood
Bustled Blog
Tweet My Wedding
Aisle Say
Wedding Channel Blog
Bridal Buds
Wedding Aces
Wedding Rumors
Omg I'm Getting Married
YesBride Blog
Dolce Sposa
Here Comes The Blog
Engaging Bride
Big Fat Cake

Franklin Park Engagement | Alecia + Russell

2011-06-28T16:55:00.000-04:00

Alecia and Russell will be getting married in West Virginia, so I was honored to shoot their engagement here before they left! After having to reschedule what felt like a hundred times because of the weather, we finally got it done! Thank you both for letting me photograph the engagement and I wish I could be there to shoot the wedding as well! You two are an awesome couple!

Orville Lifestyle Session | The Downman Family

2011-06-26T21:00:00.000-04:00

The Downman came referred to me from another great client of mine and the session was booked months in advance since they live in Australia. They would be home visiting and wanted some family portraits taken. This was my first time visiting the small town of Orville and I had a great time meeting this new family! Erin is super sweet and Pete's accent is just, well, sexy. I'll say it. He's Australian. I have a thing for accents! Their daughter, Stephanie, is one of the happiest babies I've ever photographed! She was just all smiles. I've offered to fly to Australia to photograph them in the future, so we'll see if I ever really get there!

Embassy Suites Columbus Wedding | Jessica + James

2011-06-23T11:34:00.000-04:00

Jessica and James met while working in the military. It was a match made in heaven! Their first date was at UNO's and Jess says she knew James was the one when he took her to their first Army Ball in Washington D.C.

Jessica and James compliment each other in so many ways. It's hard not to see the love they share. It was an honor to shoot your wedding and be a part of your special day!

Vendors:
Wedding Coordinator - Heather McCoy
Florist - Nancy's Flowers
Cake - Susan Larson
DJ - Tommy Nutter Diamond Entertainment
Dress - David's Bridal
Tux - Men's Warehouse
Violinists - Diana Jones and Sharon Blake (740-745-5006)
Photography - Studio B Photography

To see more pictures, click HERE

Newark, Ohio Wedding Photographer | Amanda + Dave

2011-06-16T13:33:00.001-04:00

Amanda and Dave met at the Courthouse several years ago. Dave was working and Amanda was an intern. Dave walked by her and Amanda said, "I'm going to marry him!" This was a big deal since Amanda never pictured herself getting married.

On our recent engagment shoot, I asked Dave when he knew he wanted to marry Amanda and he said on their first date when she walked through the door. She was wearing a flannel that he still has in the trunk of his car after all these year!

When you see Amanda and Dave together you can truly see how much they love each other and how much in love they are with each other. They're an amazing couple and I feel very lucky to have been able to be a part of their special day! Congrats you two!

Vendors
Cake - McClain Creations
Invitations - Designs by N
DJ - Sweet Rock Wedding House
Flowers - Kelly's Flowers
Hair & Makeup - Bellezza Salon
Ceremony - Second Presbyterian Church
Reception - Moundbuilders Country Club
Caterer - Meg Cabosky
Dress - David's Bridal
Reception Dinner - Dal-Cielo Italian Restaurant
Decorations - Storybook Wedding & Balloons
Photography - Studio B Photography

To view more pictures, click HERE

Columbus Ohio Wedding Photographer | Kristen + Chad

2011-06-08T09:31:00.000-04:00

Kristen and Chad were married a few weeks ago in Columbus at St Mary Magdalene and I must say, this is one of the most beautiful churches I've ever been in. The day started off with all the ladies getting ready at Kristen and Chad's house and because they decided on a first look, we were able to get amazing photos throughout the city without having to rush!

Kristen's bouquet was my favorite detail of the wedding. She made it out of her Grandmother's brooches. It weighed about 15 pounds but Oh my God was it beautiful! Kristen rather she knows it or not, planned her wedding around the photography! It was seriously every photographer's dream to shoot...They did a first look, the details were out of the world, the couple is super good looking...I mean I could go on forever but I'll stop now and show you the pics!

Vendors
Florist - Balloons by ME
Caterer - Catering by Scott
Cake - Cakes Creatively by Crystal
DJ - Mark Dantzer
Make-up - Jordan Wolverton
Dress - Boutique 21
Suits - Romanoff's Classic Tuxedo's
Ceremony - St Mary Magdalene
Reception - Our Lady Victory
Photography - Studio B

To view more click HERE

Kristen + Chad Featured! | Columbus Ohio Wedding Photographer

2011-05-26T16:22:00.000-04:00

I'm excited to announce that my couple, Kristen and Chad have been featured on The 30 Something Bride's Blog! Congrats you two!

Newark, Ohio Lifestyle Photographer | Tegan

2011-05-19T22:16:00.000-04:00

Baby Tegan was just a few weeks old when I got the chance to photograph her and she is beautiful! She's got a head full of dark hair and these bright eyes that just make you want to squeeze her when she looks at you! She did great for her session, but insisted on staying awake for all of it!

Columbus Ohio Lifestyle Photographer | Amy + Michael

2011-05-10T16:38:00.000-04:00

She was bar tending when she met him and when I asked if he at least got a free drink, his reply was "No! Amy says she doesn't give anyone free drinks!" But Michael must have done something to win her heart because they've been inseparable ever since. They have a beautiful son, Jack and an upcoming wedding that I'm sure will be fabulous! Congrats you two!

Newark, Ohio Lifestyle Photographer | Taylor

2011-05-08T21:14:00.000-04:00

I've been photographing Taylor since she was born and she finally celebrated her first birthday! I didn't attend her party but I was told that she basically inhaled her cake in less than five minutes! Her mom gave her a cupcake at the end of our session and she literally devoured it in like 30 seconds...I could barely get any shots because she ate it so fast!

Gahanna Engagement Photographer | Amanda + Dave

2011-04-26T22:00:00.000-04:00

I photographed Amanda and Dave a couple of weeks ago at Creekside in Gahanna. It's been so hit and miss with our weather lately so it was nice to finally be able to shoot a complete session without any rain! Although it did start to rain at the very end...But anywho, I'm super excited to shoot their wedding because they are an amazing couple! From the first time I met them, they've been great to work with and so much fun to be around! I love it when my clients make my job easy! Here are a few of my favorites from their session, enjoy!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun...

2011-04-22T16:14:00.000-04:00

Mystic Snow and Studio B Photography present...Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! Every girl has a prom dress that she may never wear again. Come join us for a glamour photo shoot in your prom dress on Sunday May 1st. Sessions are booking up quickly, call 740.975.3718 today to reserve your time!

Came Across This Post & I Love It!

2011-04-14T21:12:00.000-04:00

I came across this blog post and I love it! Please check it out by clicking HERE It talks about the importance of photographs and why their priceless...Thoughts? Opinions?

Guest Spot | McClain Creations

2011-04-14T20:57:00.000-04:00

I've have been working with McClain Creations since 2006 and I'm here to tell ya, their cakes are the bomb! They are a husband and wife team who do everything from helping you design your dream cake to baking and delivering it. Make sure to check out their website and their facebook page!

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

A: We are a husband and wife team and love doing what we do!!! We both love a challenge and love to see our clients happy!!

Q: When did you start your business?

A: 2001

Q: Where can we find you at? (address/web address, etc)

A: 122 Ramona Avenue Newark, Ohio 43055 www.mcclaincreations.com

Q: What are some new trends you see going on in the wedding industry right now?

A: All bets are off!!! Centerpeice cakes and cupcake cake are on the rise too.

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Always up fo anything!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: God Willing hopefully doing exactly what we are doing today. We have gone from doing 1 wedding a weekend and a few orders to being booked 2-3 weeks in advance and are booking weddings already into 2012.

Q: Tell us 3 things we didn’t know about you before this interview?

1. Daryl (my husband) is actually the "artist" behind all of our creations.

2. I' not a very good cook!!!!! I can bake up a storm but cook....not so much.

3. We will be featured in our first CAKE CHALLENGE this year!

Q: What do you feel is the most challenging thing about your job?

A: TIME... Hands down

Q: Who or what inspires you?

A: GOD first and my dad, we lost my dad 5 years ago and we were obviously doing cakes then too and he kept telling us that we were gonna be "big" . We try to run our business in a way that we are proud of and try to help the community as much as possible.

Q: What if anything do you do to keep up with the ever changing wedding industry?

A: Cake Magazine and watching "BUDDY" of course.

Q: Do you advertise, if so, where?

A: Yes, Telephone book and internet. We do one bridal show a year in January.

Q: If you weren’t running your business, what would you be doing?

A: Gosh, I'm not sure...

Q: I’ve learned the most from?

A: My husband, he never gets frustrated with me while he is trying to teach me how to decorate.

Q: What talent would you most like to have?

A: ARTISTIC ABILITY

Q: Something you’re still learning?

A: Patience

Q: Something that is overrated?

A: SLEEP!!!!!!!!

My First Polarity Experience...

2011-04-12T21:33:00.000-04:00

A friend/client of mine is finishing up school for Polarity and I went in yesterday for my first session. I was assuming it would be similar to a massage and it was to an extent but actually very different. While there is some "touching" involved there's also a lot of other things they do as well. It has a lot to do with energy, attraction, repulsion and neutrality. I'm probably not the best person to try and tell you what it's all about but it does seem to have a lot of benefits. I've had bad back, neck and shoulder problems for years and no one has ever really been able to help me until now. So I'm very excited to continue my sessions and get everything all worked out! So if you're interested in going in for your own Polarity session, please give Holly a call at 740.403.2597 and she will totally help you out!

Pickerington Lifestyle Photographer | Brody

2011-04-08T22:37:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Brody and Whitney a few months ago and Whitney made it very clear that she loves being a big sister! We had a great shoot and Brody slept through most of it. Here are a few of my favorites from their shoot...

Finding Myself...

2011-04-05T22:49:00.000-04:00

You would think that after almost 5 years in this business full time that I would have some idea of who I am as an artist. Well I'm here to tell you that I don't have a clue. Well that's not completely true. I feel my photography style is unique to me and reflects what I want to show in pictures, but when it comes to the whole branding side of my business, well lets just say I struggle a bit with finding who I am. I'm one of those people who wants to repaint their house every year because I get tired of what's there. I get bored very easily, therefore, I change.

I attended a photographer's workshop last week with Jasmin Star and she said to make a list of things about me that are unique. I'm sure everything on my list are things that other people like as well, but I feel like it's what makes up my personality. So here's what I came up with...

I have no filter...meaning unfortunately I'm always quick to let you know what I'm thinking, good or bad.

I love other languages. I can't read them, but I love the way they look on paper. There's just something beautiful about it. I'm so obsessed with it that most of my tattoos have foreign words incorporated in them. I have Chinese on my neck and back and Italian on my foot. I will be adding something else on my spine hopefully soon that will say "There's beauty in everything, but not everyone sees it." It will also be in another language...I'm thinking Arabic, but I'm not 100% sure yet.

I love to download new fonts to photoshop. Again, you could say I'm a little obsessed with it. I literally have hundreds and always struggle with which ones to use.

I love to doodle. I've done this since grade school and it got so bad that I used to have to cover my desk in notebook paper so I could write all over it...trust me, it was better than getting in trouble for writing on my desk!

I have this insane laugh that everyone makes fun of. I would describe it more as a cackle but never the less, it's very loud and I can usually be heard miles away!

My style is complicated. One day you might see me in skinny jeans and a cute top and the next day I'm in sweats and a t-shirt. I tend to go from one extreme to the next. I've been like this all my life. It drives my husband crazy!

And to understand how all over the place I am, right now I'm listening to Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Darius Rucker...sometimes I make my own head hurt!

Oh and I also love love! When I shoot a wedding, seeing my couples look at each other and feeling the love they share for each other is amazing!

So I took my list and redesigned my website (again)...but this time I tried to incorporate things from my list. If you look at the background you'll see every language you can possibly think of and every word on there says "I love you", so if you've ever wondered how many ways you can say I love you, I believe there's 33 different ones on there! I was also able to incorporate some doodling on there which adds a fun touch to it. And for the colors, right now I'm loving grays and corals so there's the color scheme.

Maybe I'm finally finding myself...maybe not, who really knows. You may come back next week and I could have something totally different on there, but for now, I love it and it's here to stay!

Newark, Ohio Lifestyle Photographer | The Allen Family

2011-04-04T23:38:00.001-04:00

I've had the pleasure of photographing the Allen family now for a few years and they never disappoint! All three kids are huge hams and love to perform for my camera. I love it when my clients trust me enough to pick the location because I really feel like I can help bring out their personalities just a little bit more. We shot in two locations this time, one downtown and the other location was actually across from their house. And one thing that I LOVE about this family, is that Sarah always hangs giant prints in her home of the pictures! I love walking into her house and seeing my work on the walls!

Akron Photo Series With Jasmine *

2011-04-03T21:16:00.001-04:00

I felt like a kid at Christmas Monday night. I was going to the Akron Photo Series Tuesday to see Jasmine Star and you would've thought that I had won the lottery! I have followed Jasmine for sometime now and she is such an inspiration to me. While her photography is great, her personality just draws you in and you can't help but love her. She gave a wonderful presentation on marketing and has totally kick started my motivation for this new year! Thank you Jasmine, you were ah-mazing!

Oh and a quick note...I went to this conference with a fellow photog, Meighen Snow of Mystic Snow Photography and we arrived 2 hours early. We were going to get up there early and grab a bite to eat then head over to the conference but when we got there I was too excited to eat so I made her sit there in the front row with me to guarantee I had a good seat! I think Jasmine and JD were a little shocked when they came in and were already there :)

Photography Classes!

2011-03-28T15:35:00.000-04:00

Studio B will be offering photography classes to anyone who is wanting to learn how to take better pictures! It's mostly for beginners who own a digital SLR camera. The class is 2 hours long and will cost $50. You will learn all the basics and depending on the turn out I may turn this into a series of workshops! Please contact me HERE to register. The class is May 11, 2011 from 6-8 at the Newark Public Library.

Cutest Couple Contest!

2011-03-27T13:14:00.000-04:00

I will be holding another contest on my facebook fan page! This one is for the adults...You must be 18 or older and in a relationship. You can be just dating, engaged, married, whatever. You can be in a same sex relationship, I don't care. Just upload you favorite picture of you and your significant other to my fan page and starting on Wednesday your friends and family can start voting! The winner will get a free portrait package! Please email me with any questions and good luck!

Guest Spot | Custom Wedding Details

2011-03-21T12:46:00.000-04:00

Amanda started out as my bride several years ago and has now turned into a friend and a vendor I love to refer! Her background is in design so she took her love for that and turned it into her business Custom Wedding Details. She creates customized cake toppers, aisle runners, water bottle labels, you name it! If you can envision it, she can probably create it! So check out her website (click on the link above), LIKE her on facebook and make sure to keep her in mind if you ever need anything design related!

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

A: Ahhh, I hate this question! =] Let’s see, I am married, love spending time with my family, being on the lake, sleeping and being creative.

Q: When did you start your business?

A: 2007

Q: Where can we find you at? (address/web address, etc)

A: www.customweddingdetails.com

Q: What are some new trends you see going on in the wedding industry right now?

A: I’ve noticed that my Thank You Signs are still a big hit with brides! Also, would be a nice prop for photographers too!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: Custom and fun!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: Expanding my wedding business product line.

Q: Tell us 3 things we didn’t know about you before this interview?

A: 1. I am not a morning person. 2. I have a 5 year old Westie who is like my child. 3. I love to sing (in the privacy of my own car!) haha

Q: What do you feel is the most challenging thing about your job?

A: Keeping up with the competition and current trends.

Q: Who or what inspires you?

A: Me. I get in the right state of mind and the creativity just flows!

Q: What if anything, do you do to keep up with the ever changing wedding industry?

A: It is hard, so I do what I can when I can such as keep my website and products in line with what is currently in demand.

Q: Do you advertise, if so, where?

A: I do my own website marketing and print design. I do Google AdWords, but it’s minimal. A lot of my business comes from organic search results, referrals from brides and fantastic vendors such as Brianne! =]

Q: If you weren’t running your business, what would you be doing?

A: That is a good question! It started out more as a hobby because I enjoyed it (and still do)! I honestly don’t know what else I would be doing!

Q: I’ve learned the most from?

A: Past clients. My goal is to design a product that the bride will love! It is very much a collaborative effort. I’ve been lucky thus far to have worked with some awesome brides!

Q: What talent would you most like to have?

A: Mind reading.

Q: Something you’re still learning?

A: Patience

Q: Something that is overrated?

A: If you’d have asked me a few months ago I would have said coffee drinks, but now I am totally addicted. ;)

Guest Spot | For the Love of Petals

2011-03-16T20:02:00.001-04:00

For the Love of Petals was started by a client of mine who is a stay at home mommy. She started making these adorable head pieces and accessories for babies and her business is really starting to take off! Make sure you show her some love and LIKE her facebook page by clicking HERE. You can also read her blog HERE and if you are from this area and ever stop out at Girls Gliter and Grace here in Newark! Ok, so now on to the questions!

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself.

A: My name is Jessame, I am a stay at home mom to my 2 beautiful children! I have been married to my best friend for almost 11 years! I am an energetic, outgoing person who loves coffee, fashion, and my family above anything!!

Q: When did you start your business?

A: I discovered my talent for hair accessories this January and have been working hard at it ever since!

Q: Where can we find you at? (address/web address, etc)

A: You can find me @ www.facebook.com/fortheloveofpetals www.fortheloveofpetals.blogspot or email me @ fortheloveofpetals@hotmail.com If you are local to the area Girls Glitter and Grace carries some of my items.

Q: What are some new trends you see going on in the wedding industry right now?

A: I am seeing flowers and feathers as the big trends for hair accessories right now!! I love that idea, so vintage and chic!!!

Q: How would you describe your style?

A: I would describe my style as casual, trendy, but totally functional! I am a stay at home mom but no sweat pants here, I still need to feel cute!!

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: In 5 years I would love to have expanded my business into my own shop or website!!

Q: Tell us 3 things we didn’t know about you before this interview?

A: I am addicted to starbucks, I hate mornings, and I am obsessed with what I do!!!!

Q: What do you feel is the most challenging thing about your job?

A: To continuously be the trendsetter. There is a huge market which is over saturated with product, so to stand out is key and can sometimes be a challenge!

Q: Who or what inspires you?

A: I find inspiration in almost everything and everywhere I go for my work.

Gahanna Ohio Wedding Photographer | Afton + Chris...

2011-03-16T19:55:00.000-04:00

Afton and Chris were married back in September at The Mifflin Presbyterian Church in Gahanna. It was a beautiful day, beautiful weather and an absolutely beautiful couple! I couldn't be happier for Afton and Chris! More times than not, I don't really know my couples too well in advance, but Chris was a groomsman in a wedding I shot several years ago and he might kill me for sharing this story, but I made the mistake of leaving my camera with the groomsmen while I ran to the restroom. When I came back they had Chris dangling over the edge of the balcony at The Cherry Valley Lodge and they were taking pictures of it! Lesson learned...never leave your camera with a bunch of firefighters ;)

In between we ran over to Creekside. If you've never shot their before, i recommend it. It's just beautiful! The reception was held at The Columbus Athenaeum, another favorite place to shoot! Very elegant and just down right gorgeous! Thank you Afton and Chris for allowing me to witness this amazing day and be part of it! Congratulations!

*30+ comments will earn them a complimentary gift from Studio B!

3 of my amazing brides!