Perfect light + guy w/ style = one amazing photo shoot.

I knew I had a reason to be excited to shoot Gage’s senior photos.  We had talked early on, but he wasn’t really “into” senior pictures, so it just didn’t happen for a while.  His mom got a hold of me and said I just needed to pick a day, and Gage wouldn’t argue – “we just need to get them done”.  I knew he wasn’t thrilled about getting his photos taken, but since I am not really a fan of it either (having my photo taken)…we clicked.  Actually, we clicked big.  Gage is into photography too (and is really talented), and I think he knew the feel I was going for once we got started.  I approached this shoot just wanting him to have photos that he liked…something that showed his style & something he loved.

I think it worked.  I think it worked out really well.

Thanks Gage for letting me shoot your senior photos…I am more than thrilled with how they turned out!  And heck, maybe they will be helpful sometime in college (Gage is going to school for music in Orlando, Florida!)

love it!

i told you, amazing light!

what?! shouldn’t this be illegal?!

Oh, and if you think I picked to many for the blog…you can’t even imagine how many I ended up with.  You could say there are more than a few ;)

Have a wonderful weekend!  Justin & I are heading to Pittsburg for the weekend with our friends Hayley & Richard!

of things to come!

This weekend has been full of great photo shoots, so I just wanted to share a little sneak peak of what is in store!

I love this girl.  Annie now lives in New Mexico and I absolutely could not wait until her & her momma came back to visit, because I knew it was time to do here 1 year pictures!  I always look forward to photoshoots with her…we are at 3 now, but I have a feeling will have many more :)

I can’t believe how fast they are growing up, and I am thrilled that their families want that documented. Here are a few of my favorites!

*and of course there are a few of Annie & Sophie!

I didn’t photoshop Annie’s eyes at all…that’s all natural!

and of course I had to throw one of Sophie in!

Update on the dog situation.  I *love* all the name suggestions!  I have had them pouring in from the blog, twitter & facebook…there are some good contenders!  However, I have decided to not pick a name just yet.  Simply because when we got home last night she was gone…and I was a bit more upset than I expected.  Ok, a lot more upset.  She did however come bounding around the house with a stick to play fetch when Justin went out this morning…and she is currently soaking in the sun on the porch.  I do think I will give it a few more days though…I attach a bit too easily, but keep those names coming!

So this is the situation.  Yesterday during the storm, I had this momma dog wobble up on my porch.  Usually I don’t think anything about it…we get a lot of stray dogs out here, or just neighbors dogs roaming around.  Well, this dog was different from those…she was soo hungry!  Of course I didn’t have any dog food laying around, so after about a half loaf of bread she decided this might not be such a bad place to stay during the storm (or so I thought).

She’s still here today.  And yes, I just bought a giant bag of dog food.

I already know what you are thinking…”that is no way to get rid of a stray dog”.  The thing is, I don’t mind if she stays :)  I am such a dog person, so the fact that I don’t have one, well, it’s kind of sad.  We are in a great area for a dog, but just didn’t want to add the extra expense at the time…but there is no way I will let a dog go hungry.

So that’s where we are.  Problem…I need a name!  And yes, I know what you are saying now, “you can’t name a stray”.  Well, too bad.  I’m gonna! She is the most precious dog, and to be completely unbiased…she is the most well behaved dog I have ever met.  Not only did she just lay there and let mom pick off all 32 ticks while she started to bleed, she also knows commands…and get this, she went out of the yard, across the driveway, and to the other side of the creek to do her business!  No, I am not kidding!

If you do happen to know who this dog belongs to, please, please let me know.  More than anything I want her to be back with her family, she is obviously trained very well.  However, if she was just dropped off (I have no idea how anyone could do that!) please at least let me know her name.

Thank you very much…and now, meet my new (maybe temporary) dog.  Please leave all name suggestions in the comments section!  I’ll be sure to let you know what we pick!

Well, do you remember these two girls…

they are growing up!

more on these two girls soon…

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.  I *love* when my clients choose to do a first glance for their wedding day.  I *love* it.

It’s not just because photos are done before and everyone can relax the rest of the day, there is plenty of great light & lots more time to work with photos, it’s super romantic to see each other for the first time in private and be able to talk, or everyone can go straight to the reception without making all the guests wait….ok, maybe it’s those things just a little.

I know, I know – “but it’s tradition!”  Well, that doesn’t work for me…for our wedding we didn’t have a guestbook (photo booth instead), flower girls, or a ring bearer, no unity candle or bouquet & garter toss…I could go on.  I feel that if it’s not something that works with your day or is something that you don’t like, why bother?  The day should be exactly how *you* want it…it is your day.  In my mind it was far more romantic & exciting to spend the day with my husband-to-be, rather than hiding from him…but I do understand when couples prefer to wait.  It always comes down to a personal choice.

I decided to blog about this because I don’t think many people really think about it.  One of my beautiful brides for this year just decided it was the route to go for them, she just hadn’t thought about it before…so I thought – let’s educate!

Saundra Hadley is a wedding coordinator extraordinaire based in Evansville, Indiana.  We met recently at a blogging bootcamp I attended in Columbus this month.  I read a great series on her blog about seeing each before the wedding, and I just had to share the link with you all!  After you read part 1, be sure to continue to finish all 5…they aren’t long at all – just a small post of info.

First Glance series.

(I loved part three…I totally did that and didn’t even realize it till after!)

Now, of course when it comes to weddings with Cassidy Dawn, the photo timeline is planned down to the last little detail so we try avoid stress in any circumstance…no matter when you choose to do the photos.  It’s just great to have more time for photos of the bride & groom – I mean that IS what the day is all about, isn’t it?!

The most important thing about all this is to remember that it is your day, so plan it how you want it to be.  It will be perfect no matter what you decide, simply because it’s what you want.

Because posts are no fun without photos, I thought I would post a few from my first glance with my husband… *my favorite part of the day :)

*yes, those are flowers you see…he brought me yellow daisies…so sweet!

Photos : the fabulous Melanie Mauer

Planning: the amazing Mackenzie Spalding

Flowers: uber talented Nathan Cutright (local, for all you Chillicothe brides!)

I’m back!  Back in my office & refreshed from Florida!  I will say that I am sad it’s so rainy this week…I’ve got 5 shoots this week, and I was hoping the weather this past weekend would last a bit longer! So everyone cross those fingers that it starts clearing up soon!

I don’t have many photos to share, but I wanted to get a few up and say just a bit about my trip!

It was a weekend full of yummy food, sugar white sand, sunshine, family, meeting new friends & of course an awesome wedding…right on the beach!  Literally, I was barefoot on the beach during the reception!  I can’t say that happens much here in Ohio.

We arrived in Florida on Friday morning and spent the weekend relaxing and having fun with my cousin, Keith (I’m *so* happy you could come down!) before I went off to the wedding on Saturday.  It was great to have some beach time and catch up with one of my very favorite people!

I was also able to have dinner with Amanda & her husband and had a great time getting to know them – they are such a wonderful couple, and I can’t wait to meet up with them again when Justin & I make another trip down!  *Justin’s never been!

I promise to share a few photos from the beautiful wedding when I can, but for now…

The beautiful beach of Seaside Florida (Sunday morning, 7:30am).

My awesome Dad…I wouldn’t know where to start.  Thanks Dad, I love you!

Now you will have to forgive me…the next set of images was prepared for just 3 people…you know who you are.  The rest of you, sorry…it’s just a family thing :)

Have an awesome Monday!

I am heading to Florida…and I’m so excited!

On Thursday my dad and I will be making the trek down to Florida for the weekend…and I can already feel the warm weather :)     *actually I just checked and the forecast is the exact same for bainbridge, ohio as it is for seaside, florida…however, it’s different when you can taste the sea salt ;)

I am going to be second shooting a wedding with the fabulous, Amanda Suanne of beautiful Destin, Florida.

The fact that I am shooting with her is amazing enough (not only is she super talented…she’s completely sweet,  we’ve never met, but I just know from our correspondence!), I am actually also fulfilling a dream of mine.

If you know my family at all, you know Destin has made a special place in our hearts.  We have vacationed there 9 times.  During all of these trips we always made a venture over to Seaside, Florida.  Seaside is a dream…perfectly lovely!  If you’ve ever seen The Truman Show then you’ve had a sneak peek of the town…and yes, it’s just that perfect!  I’ve always hoped to someday photograph in this little town….

Well, lucky little me!  I am heading down to second shoot what I know will be a beautiful wedding in Seaside, Florida!  I’ll be back on Monday…have a wonderful weekend…I know I will!

image credit (left: google maps; below: theseasideinstitute.org)

Saturday was bliss…perfect weather, trees in bloom & a couple in love.  Have I mentioned that I love my job.

On Saturday I met up with Jessica & Tom in Athens to do their engagement photos.  The day was perfect.  They took me to amazing locations and it was a great time to get to know each other, I absolutely can not wait for their wedding in July!  These two are so in love, you can hear it when they talk to each other (I can hear Tom calling Jessica “sweetie” right now!), the way they hold hands & just by the way they look at each other.  I am honored to be there photographer and to be able to document this time in their lives.

They did say something that had me laughing- at the beginning of the shoot they told me that they aren’t photogenic…um, I think we can all agree that they are completely mistaken.

Oh, and I am sorry the post is so long, if you are thinking I posted a lot…imagine how many I gave them :)

Jessica & Tom actually met while working at this library – so you know that was a must during the shoot!  It was the first quarter Jessica was there and they were working the same shift!

I saw the Grover Center and got so excited – “Jessica, they named that after you, we have to get a photograph there!”  Turns out, it really was named after her Great-Grandfather, Brandon Tad Grover Sr.!

Love, love, love these!

And finally…my favorite image of the day:

Now after looking at these images, I am going to go curl up on the couch with my sweetie!

Our sunrise service may have been a little cold (27 degrees) and maybe a bit too early for me…but it was so worth it.  Have I mentioned lately that I love where I live ;)