Amanda Donaho Photography

This blog has a new home! NEW BLOG LINK!

2010-01-15T18:00:00.000-08:00

2010 is already bringing changes! :)

This blog has been great & served its purpose, but I've finally taken the plunge to "upgrade" to something a little nicer & with more features.

Please make note that no further posts will be posted here..... Come find me at my new blog home:

http://donahophotography.com/blog

So go..... check it out!

Charity & Jason - A "Just Because" Session - Cincinnati Photographer

2010-01-12T18:50:00.001-08:00

Last weekend I sweet-talked Charity & Jason into allowing me to shoot a mock-engagement session with them. Okay, so actually no sweet talking was involved, but they were kind enough to brave the cold! Charity & Jason have been married 14 years (right, guys?) but had no problem at all acting as if they were newly in love... I'm pretty sure no acting was required for them.

This session was set up for a little practice shoot with my super awesome interns, Lane & Michelle... Stay tuned for a post in the upcoming weeks to learn more about who they are & see a little bit of their work!

Here's a few from my POV during our quick time in the bitter cold... Thanks again, C&J for being such troopers!

Charity = Hot. 'Nuff said.

Trevor - Model/Actor

2010-01-06T08:36:00.000-08:00

My good friend Trevor who lives in LA came through town during a visit & had dinner with us & his girlfriend, Pam. It was so great to get to see him & we had to (of course) go outside to take a few shots. It was COLD (note the snow) so we were only out for about 10 minutes, but was fun none the less!

Trevor & I have been friends over 10 years now (We're getting old, Trev!) and I'm so proud of his hard work in Hollywood! I'm used to seeing him with long hair, so it's still weird for me to get used to the short 'do, but he recently had to cut it off for a movie he was working on. (He is Paul Bettany's stand-in in the upcoming movie, Priest, which finished production right before he came here to visit). I talked to him yesterday & he was on the set of some other movie that's in production with Steve Carell. It's always fun to hear the scoop from an "insider" on so many of my favorite tv shows & movies that he has been on! What an awesome job to have!

Anyways, here's just a couple from our 10 minutes outside in the cold! Can't wait to do a REAL shoot eventually with him... Preferably in LA! :) (Ah... beach!

Carrie & Colin - Engagement Session - Claremore, Oklahoma

2010-01-06T07:34:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Christmas & New Years! I enjoyed allowing myself a few weeks of NO work (...and no blogging :) and had a great time celebrating the holidays with my family & friends.

We spend Christmas in Oklahoma with Hayden's family this year & I was able to squeeze in a quick engagement shoot for his cousin, Carrie, and her fiance, Colin.

For some reason, Oklahoma HATES me! This is my second back-to-back trip down that has had absolutely HORRIFIC weather! My last trip was specifically to do photo shoots, and some had to be moved around or canceled all together because roads were flooded, etc. This time around there was a straight up BLIZZARD. Oklahoma "blizzards" aren't a bunch of snow (like it would be here in Cincinnati) - it starts off with freezing rain which puts a good 2 inches (at least) of ice on the ground, and then the snow starts. This session went down during the freezing rain portion - It was FREEZING cold, with the craziest wind ever. I literally had to hold on to things or I would have blown away.

I can honestly say this was hands down the worst weather I've ever shot in, and I'm SO proud of Colin & Carrie for being such troopers in that craptastic weather. We turned this into a mini-session & made the best out of it! Guys, I'm hoping OK is much nicer to me in August for your wedding :)

Who knew freezing cold look so good?! Gorgeous!

We stopped by an old museum for a few quick indoor shots before wrapping it up (Yes, Will Rogers Memorial for those reading this in Claremore).

2009 Weddings.... Thank you.

2009-12-15T11:34:00.000-08:00

This year has been more amazing than I could imagine. I moved back to the Cincinnati area in July of '08, and after not living here for a number of years I was nervous about "starting from scratch" with a new area & my photography business. Tulsa had been good to me and I was hesitant to leave that great referral base. I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.

I should have known. The Tri-State area houses amazing people.

I am SO grateful for each and every one of my clients from this year. YOU are the reason this year has been so great, and the reason I am so excited about years to come. The "word of mouth" business that I have received from each of you literally makes me choke up, and I'm just so honored that not only would you trust me in capturing one of the most important days of your life, but that you would tell your friends to do the same.

From the bottom of my heart... Thank you. (...I'm totally crying. Good Lord, I'm a sap.)

A VERY special thank you to my wedding clients whom I've spent the most time with over emails, coffee, engagement sessions & wedding days. Here's to you.

....................................

The very first couple I met with when I moved back to Cincy was Britni & Petey. Oddly enough, they also ended up being my first wedding of 2009. They had a beautiful January wedding in Dayton which I had so much fun shooting. Since then, I have also photographed their maternity photos (YAH!) and soon will be photographing their brand new baby girl, Daisy! ...and a big congrats that it's ALMOST your one year anniversary! Horray!Carolyn & Aaron are such a REAL couple. From our first meeting I felt completely relaxed with them because they are such down to earth people. Their Dayton wedding was in May, and was the perfect wedding to start my busy wedding season with.... A great bridal party (complete with Aaron's hilarious brothers) and an awesome couple. You guys just plain rock.

Oh, Kaliegh & Jason! I still believe Kaleigh picked their wedding location just for ME :) This was SUCH a gorgeous wedding. Holy cow. Kaleigh was ridiculously beautiful & matched her vintage location (Veraestau) perfectly. I have really (really!) enjoyed getting to know both Kaleigh & Jason better, and am SUPER stoked that they're expecting! Expect more appearances on the blog from this little family in the Spring... and one of their bridesmaids wedding, next year!

Funky & super fun. That sums up Dawn & Josh.

Dawn also works in the wedding industry & went above & beyond with her wedding. It was AWESOME. Super creative details, bright bold colors, a beautiful couple, and the whole thing went down in an old church converted to an art gallery. Check & Mark. Fabulous. Amy & Tom... Okay, Amy & HOBBS (as his groomsmen chuckled when I called him anything but) had a perfectly romantic wedding in Dayton. Amy looked like a princess and Tom was glad to be her prince. They're an adorable couple and had the perfect day.
Tracey & Jason are such gentle spirits... They ooze genuine care & concern for others, and are head over heals in love. No really... It was intense! Each couple has a particular thing that I always remember about their day... For them, it was the look in their eyes as they read their vows to each other. I've never seen anything like it. Just beautiful.
Mailynn & Jeff are awesome. They're so awesome that they've subjected themselves to my crazy methods 3 times now (engagement session, wedding day, and trash the dress session...the photo on the left is from that session!) and have sent 2 or 3 couples to me who's weddings I'll be shooting next year. I've started to loose count. They're awesome. Awesome, awesome, awesome. I love you guys :)

I loooooved Autumn & Jeff's wedding day. Almost as much as I love them as a couple :) It was absolutely gorgeous, totally relaxed, and again at a beautiful location. Jeff is a sweet, gentle man and Autumn is a sweet, feisty (she's a police officer!), STUNNING woman. They're a PERFECT match for each other & I'm so so glad they found each other. (Speaking of, remember THIS post? Kinni is responsible for hooking them up! Way to go, Kinni!!)
Cara & Casey's wedding was a weekend adventure for me in the great state of Wisconsin. (I've since told Hayden that we should move someday to Lake Geneva, the area that they got married in, because I loved it so much!) Cara was a bridesmaid in a 2008 wedding & I was super pumped when she contacted me about shooting hers. I can't tell you how much I loved shooting this wedding. I stayed at a beautiful resort with them, was seated with their families during the reception, & laughed SO much with the whole bridal party. They treated me like family, and I am forever grateful to them for such a wonderful time. I love you guys! Luke is the brother of my best friend, and Michelle was a bridesmaid in a wedding I photographed last year. Making the trip to Boston for their wedding was a no brainer. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. Michelle is THE sweetest woman I've ever met. There are a LOT of contenders out there, but she takes the cake. After meeting her parents, I understand why. I love both of these families so very much & was so honored to share in this wedding weekend with them.Jeremey is an old friend of mine from back in "the day".... I hadn't seen him for about 7 years until the day before his wedding. I was nervous to meet his bride to be, Michelle, because she pretty much needed to be perfect to be good enough for my extraordinary friend. Luckily, she was. Michelle & Jeremey tied the knot in Michigan on August 1st.... and are living happily ever after :)Kathleen & Luke might be one of the worlds most attractive couples. Seriously. Brad & Angelina who? Shooting these two during their engagement sessions & wedding day was a breeze and (drum roll) I know their MATERNITY photos will be too! SOOO excited about your new news & can not wait to see how adorable Kathleen is pregnant!
SO. MUCH. FUN. That pretty much sums up Stacey & Sam. They love to laugh, really enjoy life, and most importantly are totally in love. My favorite memory from their wedding day was the look on Sam's face when Stacey walked down the aisle. Wow. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these two!
I love love love Natalie & Adam. I teared up more times at this wedding than I can count. It was a day overflowing with emotions and was absolutely perfect. The perfect couple, perfect families, perfect weather. Perfect. ....and they're beautiful to boot :)I remember writing on Kristen & Sam's blog that Kristen is like a breath of fresh air. Really, they both are. I had so so much fun with them during both their engagement session & wedding day & really hope we have the chance to shoot again someday. They have infectious laughs & know how to kick back & enjoy life.

Christy & Jason had a GORGEOUS October wedding. It was simple, classy, and stunning. Christy spent so much time on the details & it showed.... Such an elegant day with a vintage twist, and I loved everything about it and them.

Jessica is my sister-from-another-mother's sister in law. Confused? Basically, Jessica is my new family. :) I was beyond honored when she, a fellow photographer, asked me to photograph her wedding day. Jessica & Daniel are cute beyond words and had a beautiful fall wedding in northern Indiana. Again, another wedding with a fantastic bridal party & families. I love my job.

Deeann & Loyd were the winners of this years Wedding Giveaway that I did and I'm the one who got lucky! I met such amazing people, photographed beautiful details, and had an absolute blast. They opted to do a Day-After session since the sun was down by the time they saw each other during the ceremony, and I'm SO glad they did. These shots were from that day....
Finally, Yeyin & Steven. I just posted about them last night, but I shall say again how blessed I am to have met them. Yeyin is so so so sweet and compassionate and she & Steven make the perfect couple (I forgot to mention their wedding date marked 10 years of them being together! That's so awesome!) Thank you for making my last wedding of '09 so memorable!

Yeyin & Steven - Wedding Day! - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

2009-12-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

Yeyin & Steven's wedding wrapped up my 2009 season with a bang. I've been looking forward to their wedding day for quite some time now, and it did not disappoint!

They live in Chicago, so Yeyin & I first "met" via email. After the first 2 or 3 emails, I knew I we'd be fast friends. She has the sweetest personality and is so much fun. Why, Oh WHY must you live in the windy city, Yeyin?! :) Although Yeyin & I had the opportunity to meet up twice in person before the wedding, I didn't get to meet Steven until I walked into his hotel room that morning. What a nice guy. Really. I was so happy to see that my new friend Yeyin had such a fantastic new husband-to-be.

The couple along with their bridal party, got ready at the Hilton in Downtown Cincinnati.....

Yeyin & her sister, April, are such beauties.... and I wanted to steal April's awesome dress.

Yeyin & Steven decided to see each other before the ceremony, so we were able to shoot around a little downtown & at Ault Park before the ceremony.

Yeyin, I hope you realize how gorgeous you are.While I was getting funky with the above shot, my sweet friend Annie who assisted as my second shooter for the day took it wide to capture the shot below. I love the 2 perspectives! The ceremony was held at Yeyin's family church, The Korean-Madisonville United Methodist Church.

I just love these first 2 shots... Steven bowing to Yeyin's father, and an emotional Yeyin as Steven hugs his father...
LOVED this church. Just beautiful.
Shots like this one tug on my heart... I wonder what she's thinking as she watches this pretty bride's wedding day...

Annie went to the balcony to shoot as they walked down the aisle... The reception was held at none other than the fabulous Covington Madison. I SO loved the Christmas details!The snowflake place cards were adorable, and made for the perfect sparkly background for a ring shot...Yeyin, Steven & their families then dressed into traditional Korean wear for their Paebaek ceremony. This includes sharing tea with their families, and the parents get to throw dates and nuts into the bride's skirt... The number of which they catch in the skirt represent how many children they'll have! :) It was fun to watch their pile grow HUGE (I didn't count, but there were ALOT!)

As you can see, everyone had a blast watching the ceremony! (That big pile to the right of Steven is what they caught!) They changed back into their original attire & danced the night away.... I snuck through the dancing crowds to grab this sweet little moment...

....So there you have it, folks! The end of 2009 has come! It's been a really REALLY great year... I'll save all of my sappiness for another post, which will be dedicated to each of my couples from this year, so check back later for that.

Give the Gift of Photography! - Gift Certificate sale!

2009-12-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season as it creeps up on us.... Only 2 more weeks!

Now through Christmas I am offering a PHOTOGRAPHY GIFT CERTIFICATE SALE!

Gift certificates are valid on any photoshoot, prints or album purchase (*offer not valid on photoshoots that are already scheduled*).

Certificates in all dollar amounts are now 20% off! Grab one for yourself, your parents who have been bugging you for family photos, your best friend that's pregnant, your cousin who just got engaged.... Photos are the gift that keep 'on giving :)

Offer valid through December 25th. Please email amanda@donahophotography.com for more information.

*Certificates valid for one year from purchase date*

Deeann & Loyd - Wedding Day! Franklin, TN

2009-11-24T21:39:00.000-08:00

Deeann & Loyd were the winners of my wedding giveaway this year, and I am SO happy that I chose them. I went to the Nashville area this last weekend for their wedding & was wowed by the beautiful details that Deeann spent so much time on to make this wedding exactly what she wanted. She is an artist, so I knew it would be amazing, but WOW.... it was totally my style and just gorgeous.

The ceremony & reception were held at their church, Journey, which is in The Factory at Franklin (which is amazing). As I mentioned, Deeann is an artist & created this awesome old door/window combo which hangs along the back of the church (you'll see it lots further down)... Anyways, I took the liberty to writing their initials in the dirt :)

She & her bridesmaids carried lanterns instead of flowers... Everything had a unique touch. This necklace was made by her maid of honor, Tally, and features a flower piece from Deeann's grandmother.I love the "first look" with the bride's mom when she first sees her daughter as a bride....
One of the flowergirls was coloring this picture of a princess, which I found all to appropriate for this wedding day.Speaking of flower girls, I found another one later on like this.... (Sidenote: She found this & started playing all on her own... She's 2, adorable, and has amazing musicians for parents, so no doubt this picture is just speaking to her future :)
Deeann, you were a breathtaking bride. The epitome of natural beauty.

Loyd & his groomsmen were such a blast... This photo was (almost) completely unprompted. They're hilarious.

Vintage. Handmade. Unique. That was the theme surrounding this wedding.... and the details were perfect.
Guests could "sign/type in" at the typewriter above, and then leave notes to the couple below:

All of the old doors, windows, lanterns, tree branches, and candles gave such a romantic feel.

I followed them as they walked out of the sanctuary to catch this next shot (when "no one" was looking :)
These next two are some of my all-time favorites... Deeann & Loyd.... I am SO glad you applied for the wedding photography giveaway and know I made the right decision in choosing you. I wish you both all of the best as you move on to exciting changes in the "dirty south" :) Keep in touch! - If you're ever on tour in Cincinnati, holla!

Mary & AJ - Kiddos - Cincinnati Photography

2009-11-20T07:11:00.000-08:00

This time of year, I end up doing much more family shoots than normal with folks gearing up for Christmas. It's always a guessing game when you walk into a kid photo shoot, as each child is SOOO different. Mary & AJ were just adorable. They have the most stunning big beautiful eyes & look like little porcelain dolls. They're also VERY fast. And they like to run in opposite directions. :) Good thing their mom didn't mind me doing a little bribery... I hope they didn't eat ALL the chocolate when they got home, Yvonne! :) Sorry! :)

Anyways, they're just adorable. See for yourself.Big sister sitting pretty.......and little brother playing in the dirt :)This last one doesn't go with our "natural" feeling theme here at all, but it's so stinking cute I had to share anyways....

ALBUMS!

2009-11-18T18:25:00.000-08:00

Let's talk albums! I get lots of questions about albums and various options, so I thought now is a good time to dedicate a blog post to showcasing these beautiful albums! (Shout out to my awesome album vendor, Kiss! You guys are awesome!)

These sleek leather albums come delivered to you in a beautiful canvas bags, like the one shown here:

Below is the 10x10 album in White with the 4x4 mini-album in Black.

The mini-albums are exact replicas of your main album, and are perfect to toss in your purse & show off to your friends!

These albums have super soft, plush leather. By far the best quality leather I have seen in a wedding album. The pages are thick and lay flat.The 4x4 albums are NEW and adorable!
Leather color options!
Next up, album design.

My favorite thing about these albums is the ability to design them in "spreads" verses "pages". Basically, you'll open your 10x10 album to see a large 10x20 panoramic spread. The fold where the pages are bound is so well done that it's hardly noticeable, which allows nice BIG images! I am ALL for clean, simple albums that showcase your wedding photos and don't get too busy with extra "stuff". That's also why I like the simple design of these albums. You do NOT want your album to be "out of style" 10 or 20 years from now. These clean, modern, and TIMELESS albums won't be caught on a What Not to Wear episode.

Here are a few spreads from a recent album design:

(You'll notice some spreads have a few images, some several images, and some just one big image!)

I offer albums in a variety of sizes including:

12x12

10x10

8x8 (the perfect size for parent albums!!)

4x4

Jessica & Eric - Engagement - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

2009-11-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

2 posts in one day... again! Yes!

Jessica & Eric are adorable. Even during this cold early morning 8am session, they were having a great time together. And I loved Jessica's orange coat. That's always important. :)

Jessica has THE most beautiful brown eyes ever. The color is just GORGEOUS!

Ariana - Senior Shoot - Cincinnati Senior Photography

2009-11-13T06:57:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in my last post that I had a weekend full of great laughter... Continuing on with that is the beautiful Ariana.

I had SUCH a great time cruising around with Ariana during this session and getting to know about her. She is the kind of girl that I know I would have hung out with in high school. She spends a large amount of her time volunteering and giving back to her community and is wise beyond her years.

On to the sneak peek!
We also did a few shots in Borders.... Ariana has a love for music & reading, so it was the perfect spot to capture a few more shots!Congrats, Ariana! I know you have a great future ahead of you!

Darci & Andrew - Engagement Session - Cincinnati Wedding Photography

2009-11-10T18:03:00.001-08:00

Laughter.

It's one of my favorite things to photograph. People having a good time. Enjoying themselves. Enjoying each other. Enjoying life.

I had 3 shoots last weekend, and all 3 featured gals with the most beautiful smiles. Darci is first up. She & Andrew have been sweethearts for many many years, and first met in the 5th grade. All of these years later, she still giggles like a school girl around him. That's love.
Check back for 2 more blogs before Friday!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone is having a great Halloween tonight & eating lots of food that's bad for you :)

Since Thanksgiving is now the next holiday on the docket, I thought I'd toss out a reminder that if you are interested in a holiday family session, please book it soon... I'm determined to not overwork myself this winter, so I'll only be scheduling a few more sessions for the end of November & December.

...and because every post is better with a few pictures, here's one of the adorable Keaton from her shoot a few weeks back... Isn't she the cutest cat ever?!
...and one more... Here's me and my little Rocky tonight. He did such an awesome job trick or treating, and then came home to pass out candy to all of the other kids. He was just adorable. I'm so blessed :)

Jessica & Daniel - Wedding Day! - Winona Lake, Indiana

2009-10-30T19:55:00.001-07:00

Jessica is a fellow photographer, who's wedding I was honored to photograph. I cruised a little over 4 hours north into the corn fields of Indiana to Winona Lake. It's a beautiful little town, which is especially charming in the fall. The fall themed wedding that Jessica & Daniel had was perfect down to every detail, and as fall is my favorite season, I absolutely loved it!

On to the sneak peek!
Starting with some detail shots.... Jessica got ready at her parents home, which I loved...
It was a chilly day, but Jessica had an adorable jacket made for her to wear, as well as this antique mink, which looked super glam with her handmade birdcage veil:

Jessica's brother, Jeff, walking her up the street to see her groom for the first time.....
The first look:Fave:
Jessica & Daniel are such a fun loving couple... I have really enjoyed getting to know them both, and have shared lots of laughs with them. They're honest to goodness joyful people to be around.

HELLO Jessica! Fierce! :)
Reception details! A full fall feast, complete with apple cider, pumpkin pie & candy corn. Yum-o!
If you notice the sign in the next shot, you'll see a little German up there. Daniel has lived in Germany his entire life before coming to Indiana for college. His family came from Germany for the wedding and brought with them the most delish chocolate I've had since my trip to Scotland a few years back. Tonight I cracked open the bottle of blackberry wine they gave me along with the German chocolate as I worked on this blog. Mmmmm.... Thank you Manduka family! :)

Jess & Daniel - You're fantastic. Enough said. xoxo to you both, Amanda

Baby Sam - Newborn Portraits

2009-10-30T17:30:00.000-07:00

Oh, Baby Sam! He's just perfect. Sweetest little face.... see for yourself.
Proof that he's adorable.... I guess this next shot could be considered an "outtake" as he was getting a little annoyed with my photography antics at this point, but HELLO! STILL cute when he's crying! Look at that perfect little pouty lip!
...and then I was nice & left him sound asleep in his crib. :)

Ashley & Chris - Engagement Session - Cincinnati Wedding Photography

2009-10-28T17:45:00.001-07:00

2 blogs in one night! Woo-hoo! I'm slowly catching up!

Ashley & Chris are ridiculously adorable as you're about to see. They live in Colorado, so I was super excited when they flew down for their engagement session. We shot around the Miami of Ohio campus, which is where Ashley attended, and where she & Chris first met. We hit some memorable spots for them that they hadn't been to in awhile & it was so much fun! I can't wait for their wedding next year!

Enjoy the sneak peek:

Eden & Ava - Sisterly Love

2009-10-28T15:46:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my last post, I am BEHIND, so thank you for your patience & bearing with me as I play catch up this week. For that reason, the next few blog posts will be shorter than normal... I'd rather get SOMETHING up for you right now rather than nothing, so maybe these shoots will be re-featured at another time :)

On to this post.....

Eden & Ava are two absolutely adorable sisters who I had the privilege of spending a few hours with. It was FREEZING cold and they were total troopers & pushed through the chilly weather. Here are a couple from our time together:

Thinking of something mischievous, I'm sure :)

Christy & Jason - Wedding Day - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

2009-10-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

Christy & Jason had a simply beautiful mostly-outdoor wedding last Saturday at the Krippendorf Lodge at the Cincinnati Nature Center. The breathtaking colors of fall surrounded them during the ceremony, and provided the perfect backdrop for their vintage wedding theme.

Here's a sneak peek into their wedding day...

Jason awaiting his bride....Christy's sweet mom handing her daughter to her new husband....Not sure if anyone else noticed this, but I loved how this huge old tree stood directly between them..... "2 becoming 1...."I also love this tear rolling down Christy's cheek as Jason reads to her his vows.After the ceremony, I spent some time with Jason & Christy shooting some fun & relaxed portraits.

Christy, I told you this a million times already, but you are GORGEOUS.

The work they put into the tiny details was SO worth it. These are the place seating cards.... Christy worked so hard finding the little "gems" for each card & making them into magnets so the guests could take them home. Many of them chosen specifically for certain guests as well.

Christy & her mom searched vintage stores for months to find all of the little silver pieces used as centerpieces.My favorite detail, was the photobooth they created themselves for their guests to have a little fun with and provide an adorable alternative to the traditional guestbook..... Everyone joined in & had so much fun with it.

Congrats again, Christy & Jason! Much love to you both - Amanda

Behind!

2009-10-24T18:56:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post to let you all know that I'm still alive.... just falling behind! I had a very rough week & blogging was at the bottom of the to-do list. Tomorrow I will post a sneak peek from last weeks gorgeous wedding... and then keep an eye out for a ton of other posts as I get caught up over the next few days.

If you're waiting for your sneak peek, I appreciate your patience!

xoxo
Amanda

The "P" Family

2009-10-15T12:30:00.000-07:00

Proceed with caution... baby fever can and will result from viewing the next set of images. :)

Kinni, a friend of a former wedding client, contacted me to do a shoot for her little family, and especially of her baby girl, Keaton, who is about to turn 1. Let me just say, if anyone reading this blog has connections in the acting and/or modeling world, please hook this girl up. She needs a manager. Seriously. She's too cute for words.

So instead, here's pictures :)

Kinni, Keaton & Cory... an adorable family!

We also did some shots of her in her adorable Halloween costume, so I might share a few of those closer to Halloween, too :)

It was so great to meet you P family!!

Kristen & Sam - Wedding Day - Tipp City

2009-10-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday I drove up to Tipp City, Ohio. Not a super exciting drive, but I was smiling most of the way. I noticed during that drive north that the trees on the side of the highway were more colorful than the day before. I knew that Kristen & Sam were having a fall themed wedding, and it made my heart happy to see that they timed the day JUST right. The trees had the most colorful leaves that had not yet fallen. Perfection.

Kristen & Sam are such a FUN couple. You can't spend time around them without laughing alot. I heard more than one person say during their wedding day that Kristen is like a fresh breath of air. This couldn't be more true. Her genuine spirit & contagious joy is beautiful & reflects into beautiful photos. Sam is SO in love with his bride & it shows.... such a sweet guy.

On to the sneak peek!

First off, for those of you who read my blog who aren't from Ohio... THIS is Tipp City! Lots of corn fields & silos :)

STUNNING! Kristen & her gals...
Sam & his men... The ceremony was held at The First United Methodist church of Troy, Ohio. The reception was at the GORGEOUS Willow Tree Inn in Tipp City. I had been looking forward to this reception for a long time based on Kristen's description!
During their first dance.... If that looks like Sam is singing to Kristen, you're absolutely right. (::tears!::)...and Kristen's response about 2 seconds later... She was weeping. It was so sweet!!

Thank you guys SO very much for everything! You & your families were so great & I had SO much fun! I wish you all of the best, Jeff & Stephanie!! :) (inside joke...) xoxo- Amanda

Ashley & Derrick - Engagement Session - Cincinnati Wedding Photography

2009-10-10T19:19:00.000-07:00

If there were an award for most snuggly couple, Ashley & Derrick would win it. Seriously. They were so adorable their entire shoot and incredibly easy to photograph. My favorite thing to see is a couple interacting in front of me as though I'm not there... When you forget there's a camera on you, that's when you get the best shots. Fortunately, they caught on to this concept quickly & we had a great time!

Here are a few of my favorites for their sneek peak...
I had so much fun with you both & can't wait until your wedding next year!

Emily Senior Session - Cincinnati Senior Photographer

2009-10-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

4 blog posts in 2 days! I love checking things off my list!

I had the privilege of photographing my gorgeous sister's senior photos recently! It blows my mind that she's about to graduate high school (and makes me feel ancient)... We met up in Loveland where she has taken piano lessens since she was a little girl, and had fun checking out different locations around there to shoot. This was my first time shooting in Loveland & I really loved it! Such a cute quaint town!

On to the photos...
Hello blue eyes!

New Arrival - Baby Hayden

2009-10-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

You may remember a post a few weeks back of Abigail and Mitchell and I mentioned to stay tuned, as they were expecting a new sibling. Well, HE (we're all shocked!) arrived last week and I couldn't wait to get my hands on him! :) His name is Hayden (such an awesome name!) and he is soooo sweet. He is a chilled little man that has already learned to sleep through his big brother & sisters loud play times :)

First, a quick shot of the new & improved "W" kiddos...
Congrats, Steve & Amy! We love you guys & are so happy for you & your new addition!!

Tricia & Paul - Engagement Session

2009-10-04T16:22:00.001-07:00

2 blogs in one night! Sa-weet! Hope to have 2 more up tomorrow!

I first met with Tricia a few months back about her wedding, but Paul wasn't able to make our meeting. However, they were guests at Natalie & Adam's wedding last weekend, so I was not only able to meet Paul before our engagement session, but also able to take a few shots of them dancing to prepare them to have the camera on them next! :) It's so fun when my clients are friends & I see folks at each others weddings!

On to their sneak peek....
Tricia is flipping gorgeous. I can not WAIT to see her as a bride!

This next one feels like a piece of film from an old movie to me.... And I love the hidden meaning of the "becoming one" that I tossed in there :) They rocked it out despite the creepy dude in his truck watching this shot go down...
We shot until the sun set in Mt Adams! Was a gorgeous night!

Lyndsay - Trash the Dress

2009-10-04T15:54:00.000-07:00

Lyndsay is an artist so when she first asked about doing a TTD session, I knew she'd pull out all the stops! Roughly a million years ago her mom was my art teacher in middle school, and she & I went to high school together. I adore people who see past the "norm" and into another realm of the artistic. Lyndsay is one of those people.

Here's a quick sneak peek from her trash the dress shoot. I am BEHIND on blogs right now, so I am going to be blogging several within the next few days, so check back for more.

Lyndsay had great spots picked out for her shoot & brought along her little boy & a fellow artist friend who made her dress into a contemporary piece of art for this event!

Interns found!

2009-10-01T12:49:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post to say thank you all SO much for emailing your interest in the internship and for all the applications I received. It was so awesome to learn a little about each of you that applied & to see others with a passion and desire to follow their dreams.... DO IT! Keep it up!

More info to come soon on my 2 lovely new interns!

Natalie & Adam - Wedding Day - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

2009-09-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

EMOTION! That was the theme surrounding this wedding day for me... I, of course, love photos that convey true, honest to goodness emotion in them and I had a hay-day getting hundreds of those shots on this wedding day.

Let's skip the chatter and get to the photos, shall we?

We're starting this off at The Rossville Inn Bed & Breakfast in Hamilton.... It was a beautiful location for the girls to get dressed and for Natalie & Adam's first look.

I snuck around the corner of the door to get this shot of Natalie & her sweet mom. I may be watching too much America's Next Top Model these days, but I love that I can see the emotion coming from Natalie's mama's eyes even though she's not looking anywhere towards the camera. Headed down to meet her groom...
Natalie & Adam decided to see each other before the ceremony to allow themselves to get into their reception quicker after the ceremony was over. I helped arrange a private "first look" time for them in the gardens behind the B&B. Everyone went inside so that they could share this moment alone. It was absolutely beautiful. More emotion, comin' at ya...Favorite.

Um.... are you kidding me with this bouquet?! Gorgeous!
Their ceremony and reception were both held at the Beach House at Lake Lyndsay in Hamilton. This week had been so rainy and gloom, and was on the wedding day until about 30 minutes before the ceremony began.... Then this happened...
Emotion. Love it.
Bridal Party... You were all fantastic. Thanks so much for being super fabulous... Yes, even the groomsmen, who picked on me endlessly. :)
The reception was full of fun... Just as Natalie & Adam had planned. Everyone danced the night away under the beautiful big blue sky. This was during their first dance...
Mr & Mrs.... There is no where I would rather have been on Saturday, then at your wedding. I have loved every second of getting to know you both better and am honored to now call you my friends. I hope your photos help you never forget the way you looked at each other on this brilliant day and that you hold on to that feeling forever. I love you, both. xoxo-Amanda

Sarah & Neil - Maternity - Cincinnati Photographer

2009-09-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

Neil first contacted me a few months back about scheduling a maternity session for he & his wife Sarah. The rain this last week delayed us a few days, but we were able to find a nice afternoon & just barely missed the clouds! ...and just in time, as Sarah was only 3 weeks away from her due date at the time of this shoot! I couldn't get over how great she looked!

Here's a quick sneak peek for them...

A classic maternity shot that I always love...
I absolutely love doing maternity/newborn... really, any kind of family shoots IN the home... It just makes it extra special, I think, so I asked if we could take a couple quick shots in their gorgeous living room.

...and I'm so glad we did once I spotted this framed ultrasound photo, because this is definitely my favorite shot of the day:

They're going to have one beautiful baby!
Sarah & Neil, it was SO nice to meet you both and I can not wait to meet your son!! Not much longer! Congrats!

Britni - Maternity - Cincinnati Photographer

2009-09-21T10:13:00.000-07:00

I first met Britni & Petey over a year ago when they contacted me about wedding photography. Last January I watched as they tied the knot, and was super excited to hear in the Spring that they were expecting! They came down from Dayton this weekend for their maternity session... Here's a few from our morning together.

They're having a baby girl & naming her Daisy... call me cheesy, but I had to go buy a few daisies for a couple shots :)

Thank you guys for coming down - it was so good to see you both! I can't wait to meet Daisy! Congrats!!

Five on Friday - Favorites

2009-09-18T08:24:00.001-07:00

I'm actually remembering to do this post for once! Hooray!

For this week's Five on Friday edition, I'm going to share 5 random favorite things.

1. Newman's Own Farmers Garden Salsa

Yum-o. I love this stuff. Hayden thought he was being a good husband one day and bought a jar for me, but he bought the wrong kind and it wasn't so good. Has to say "Farmer's Garden" on it... Sooo good.

2. Secret Garden Candle Company - Pumpkin Spice

For my birthday, one of my sweet clients, Michelle, sent me a few Pumpkin Spice candles from Secret Garden. Pumpkin candles are my favorite scent & I am super picky about them because of that. Secret Garden's scent has taken the lead as my new favorite fall fragrance. Go check them out online.

3. Crushed Ice

Until we moved into this house we had the "old" refrigerators where you had to actually "make" your own ice.... (Gasp! Right? :) Well, in the new house we are a little more up to date & have ice in the door. I can not get enough crushed ice. Seriously. My favorite is crushed ice with Pepsi. I don't know why. I'm a nerd.

4. America's Next Top Model

There are a few random places that I get inspiration from for photography... One of which is ANTM. I'm often telling bridesmaids to "work it out ANTM-style" & I'm grateful for the crash course in modeling that Tyra shows us fashion-loving viewers every week, because it seriously helps the subjects I shoot if they watch it. However, I will say that the over the top "acting" (I hesitate to even call it that) that Tyra does more & more each season makes me a crazy person. I cringe sometimes it's so bad. But alas, I still watch.

5. Anniversaries

Monday will be my 7 year wedding anniversary. We're going out tomorrow night to celebrate while my dad watches Noah (thanks, dad!). I pulled out a few old photo albums this morning and had fun reminiscing on where we've been in the 9 years we have known each other. The people we were & the people we've become. The bad times (though there isn't typically pictures of the bad :) and the good times. So here's to anniversaries for giving us an opportunity to reflect!

Happy 7 years, babe! I love you!

Janie Rae Band - Promo Shoot - Cincinnati Photographer

2009-09-15T18:28:00.000-07:00

Janie is finishing up her CD & contacted me about doing promotional photos for the CD & new site. This last weekend, I met up with her and had fun doing a few different "vibes" for her to choose from. Here's a few of each!

I love her custom Taylor!
Janie -You are just lovely! I can't wait to hear the new CD & hopefully come see you play live soon!

Kathleen Senior Session! - Cincinnati Senior Photography

2009-09-12T15:17:00.000-07:00

Today my cousin, Kathleen came up from Tennessee along with my Aunt Francie and other cousin, Emma. Kathleen is a senior in high school this year (graduating TEN years after me! Holy crap, I'm old!). I was SO excited when they decided to come up to Cincinnati for me to shoot this session for her! I already have ideas for her little sister, Emma's senior session... We're just a few years away from that. :)

Anyways, I almost NEVER blog the same day as a shoot, but I just love these too much not to share today! Here's a sneak peek....

We started off with a little vintage in a field near my house... See the stool she's sitting on? That sat in our Great Grandma's kitchen our entire childhood and has been in my house since she passed away. I thought it would be a perfect prop for her session :)

Next up, downtown.... I LOVE LOVE LOVE doing senior sessions... They let me be my super funky self :) Clearly, the hot leg gene in the family passed me by and went straight to her...
She's ridiculously gorgeous.
We ended our session with a trip to Graeter's.... These next couple summarize why being young is so fabulous.

Thanks again for coming up guys!! I love you all and it was SO good to see you!

So you say you want to be a wedding photographer? - Internship Opportunity!

2009-09-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

I'm often asked how I began in the wide world of photography. I am a "hands-on" learner, and was super blessed to have been given the opportunity to intern with another wedding photographer. I attended classes hosted by him for myself and a couple other interns multiple times a week, and second shot to my hearts content.

I am going to be opening up a similar opportunity to another individual (or two)! This will be an excellent time to learn from the ground up and build your portfolio. This internship opportunity is not a paid position, but can (& hopefully will!) lead to a paid assistant position after the completion of the internship.

Intern applicants must be in the Greater-Cincinnati area, have a passion for photography, have great people skills, and be fun! :) (Key word: FUN!)

For more information & to apply, please email me at: amanda@donahophotography.com

Excited for what's in store in 2010!!!

Stacey & Sam - Wedding Day - Vevay, Indiana

2009-09-09T13:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I drove... and drove... and drove... and ended up in Vevay, Indiana. :) Vevay is a little town along the river in Indiana that's just a little over an hour away from Cincinnati. I went there a few times as a kid geode hunting (google it.) but it's been years since I've graced Vevay with my presence. It was a bit of a drive, but it was a gorgeous one! I took lots of back roads and had fun cruising the country roads enjoying the beautiful weather. Sam & Stacey celebrated their wedding day at the Ogle Haus. I'm not sure how they had such a sweet setup, but they literally had this entire hotel for themselves. All of their guests could stay there, their ceremony & reception was there... It was pretty awesome.

Let's get to the photos, shall we?

I love when grooms sport a little of their personal style on their wedding day, so was I stoked to see Sam in his DC shoes.
After spending a few minutes with the guys, I headed up to check on the ladies & capture Stacey getting into her beautiful wedding gown.
Loving this special moment with Stacey & her mom...The AMAZING Becky, of McCabe's Greenhouse, supplied the bouquets & centerpieces. I say it to every bride I meet, and I'll say it again. Call her. Now.I knew the moment I met Stacey that she'd be a stunning bride. I love it when I'm right.

Stacey and Sam are such a laid back, fun loving couple. I love this shot because it really depicts their relationship. Work it out, girl.
Their reception was a blast, and as per usual, I spent dinner time taking detail shots.... New favorite ring shot? Possibly.

This is Stacey's beautiful little girl, Lily.... My heart is happy looking at this shot.

Everyone had a blast dancing the night away.... A million years ago (or 10) I went to high school with these dancing queens... Good to see you all again!
Stacey & Sam - I wish you ALL of the best! You are such a sweet couple & I know great things are in your future! xoxo -Amanda

Abby & Chris - Engagement Session - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

2009-09-05T07:45:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick sneak peek from Abby & Chris's downtown Cincy engagement session from this week! Can someone please tell me if I have a sign somewhere on my site that says "Gorgeous couples, please pick me?" Honesty. This is getting out of control.

Um... Hot. And one more in honor of those of you who are laying around today watching the beginning of college football season... ALL. DAY. LONG. (Thank you, God, that I have a wedding today and won't have to listen to my dear husband cheering and screaming from the basement all day.)

Abby & Chris - Thanks again for sacrificing your bodies to the mosquitos for the sake of photography :) It was worth it!

Kathleen & Luke - Wedding Day! - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

2009-09-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday afternoon I headed over to the Cincinnati Hilton to meet up with Kathleen & her bridesmaids as they prepped for her big night. She was relaxed, excited & totally enjoying the absolutely beautiful day.

Kathleen had the perfect view of the city from her suite windows as her mom helped her get dressed.

Prepare yourself for a ton of Kathleen photos.... Can you blame me, she's gorgeous! I LOVED working with you, girl. You're a beautiful person inside & out!

Vintage glam anyone?
Next, I headed over to meet up with Luke & his groomsmen for a few shots at his Dad's house.

I don't think I even need to say it, but I will. Stud. :)

Their ceremony was held at Saint Thomas More Church in Cincinnati.
After the ceremony, we piled into a party bus and headed to Covington their portraits. It was almost totally dark outside when we arrived at the river, but we snagged a few shots of the beautiful sky before it turned to black.

The bridal party... Thanks for rockin' it out for me all day, guys!

Guys, do me a favor and blow this next one up into a huge canvas & hang in on the wall in your new place. Seriously.

Being totally dark allowed for some fun moody shots working with the ambient lighting around us. Next up, their reception, which was held at The Covington Madison.
The band, Laika, did an awesome job of keeping the party going all night!
Congrats again, to you both! xoxo!

And the winner is.....

2009-08-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

My birthday is here, which means it's time to announce the Wedding Photography Giveaway winner!

First let me say that this decision was SO HARD to make! There were some awesome entries to this Wedding Photography Giveaway and reading such beautiful stories about each of these couples was so much fun. There were ALOT of entries that I received for wedding dates I already had booked. (FYI, June 2010 is all booked up folks :) I had to enlist the help of my husband & one of my best friends to help make this final decision because I was having such a hard time!

Without further adieu, our winner is....

Deeann & Loyd of Nashville, TN!

The Skinny:

Deeann & Loyd met during a summer camp when they were 13 and became pen pals. Their friendship grew over the years and the two fell in love. They just became engaged this past Saturday (above photo is from their engagement night) & are planning a November wedding. Their wedding is going to be very unique, as they are having a handmade do-it-yourself wedding day. As Deeann describes "I am the type of person that wants everything to have a meaning more than it being fancy or nice..."

Why Them?:

I have a great admiration for people who pursue their passions in this life. It's a hard thing to do, often requires great sacrifice, and always requires alot of trust in God. (I know this first hand :) Both Deeann & Loyd are artists, and make their living doing so. I know this is not always an easy road, but it is a very rewarding one.

I received an email from one of Deeann's friends, Rachel, to tell me a little about how they serve in their community. They're a part of a small group in their church that goes out monthly to help where they can in the small ways. They've been known to paint swing sets, hang out at nursing homes, go to the hospital and just sit and chat with patients, and bring groceries to those in need. One other thing Rachel shared with me is that last year Deeann donated several of her paintings to be auctioned off to help raise money for another community project. Herein lies the reason that I picked this couple... I know that they will pay it forward.

So Deeann & Loyd... Congrats! I can't wait to get to know you both! Keep loving others, serving your community, and pursuing your creative talents!

Again, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who entered this years giveaway.... What? "THIS years"?? Yeah, well, who knows... maybe we'll make this a yearly event :) It's just too fun!

The "W" Kiddos - Cincinnati Photographer

2009-08-25T21:40:00.000-07:00

My sweet friends Amy & Steve asked me to photograph their two little ones, which I was of course more than happy to do! They're such great kids, and adorable to boot, so this was easy-peasy for me. :)

Mitchell could be considered one of my little Noah's first "friends".... I have no idea if they actually have ever played "together" but they see each other weekly & Noah talks about "Mitcheee" when he knows he'll be seeing him soon. That counts, right? Abigail is such a beauty already.... Steve, you better be prepared! :)

This next is a set of shots that I did with this in mind.... These 3 NEED to hang on your wall together, Amy... They're so cute! (I wish this dumb blog would let me post this larger! You get the idea at least...)
Stay tuned in a few weeks when Mitchell & Abigail gain a new sibling & we have some newborn photos to shoot!

REMINDER: Wednesday is the LAST DAY to get in your entries for the Wedding Photography Giveaway! Click HERE if you have no idea what I'm talking about. :) Thursday is my birthday (please send gifts to....) I kid, I kid... Really though, Thursday I'll be sharing the birthday love when I announce the winner of the contest!

Haley & Matt - Engagement Sneak Peek - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

2009-08-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

So, I'm going to forewarn you that I have super excellent exciting news to share with my fantastic husband tonight, so if I sound chipper than normal in this post... Well, that's why. :)

Last weekend I met up with the fantastically awesome (see what I mean?!) Haley & Matt for an engagement session at Cincinnati's beautiful Ault Park. I always try to get in the brains of my couples a little bit when we're chatting about locations for engagement sessions so when Haley mentioned that she volunteers at a local nature center, and then mentioned Ault Park, I knew we had a match. We dodged approximately 1.5 million brides & grooms who were also there on Saturday taking photos, and found some fun spots of our own instead of shooting in the "normal" Ault Park areas. I think the outcome is VERY Haley & Matt.

Two Words: Natural Beauty.

I love that this shot feels like you're seeing something you shouldn't. Is that a little Peeping-Tom-ish? Whatev'. I love it.

Check back in on Friday for the "Five on Friday" post which I have been neglecting as of late. I try to keep my sneak-peek blogs short & sweet, which means I often end up not posting lots of other favorites, so I think Friday I will post some random photos from recent different events.

If you haven't emailed everyone in your address book yet about the Wedding Photography Giveaway, please do so immediately! I kid, I kid. Really though, if you know of someone who could benefit from this, let them know & tune in August 27th to hear who is the winner! Total value of this giveaway packages is upwards of $2000, so it's my biggest giveaway yet!

For those of you who only read the "notes" stream of this blog on facebook, go here for the details of the giveaway: http://donahophotography.blogspot.com/2009/08/wedding-photography-giveaway.html

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!

2009-08-12T07:34:00.001-07:00

I can't stand the suspense any longer... Let the games begin!

Doing a Wedding Photography giveaway is something I've wanted to do for awhile, but wanted to wait until a good time to announce it... What better time than my birthday month?! Here's the skinny:

Rules:

*You must be currently engaged & have your wedding date chosen.
*I must be available on your wedding date (duh).
*Your wedding must be in 2009 or 2010.
*You may not have an existing contract with another photographer.
*Out of area couples are encouraged to also apply, just know that should you be chosen, you will have to cover my travel expenses (airfare & 2 nights of accommodations).

Here's whatcha' get:

*Engagement Session or Day-After Session (which comes with a disc of high-res edited photos and a proofing gallery online!)
*FULL wedding day coverage!
*All wedding day images on a DVD for you to keep, share online & print as well as a large selection of specially edited images!
*Personal online gallery to share your best-of-day images with friends & family!

To enter, please email me at: amanda@donahophotography.com with the following info:

1. Your names
2. Wedding date & Location
3. Your STORY! How you met... What you enjoy doing together... Why YOU deserve this giveaway!
4. A photo of the two of you that I can post when I announce the winner!

Please note:

I really want this giveaway to go to a super deserving couple! If you want to nominate someone for this special, you're welcome to do that also! Do you serve in your community? Do you work for a non-profit? Tell me your story!

Good luck!!!

ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 26TH!!!! MY HOPE IS TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNER ON MY BIRTHDAY, THE 27TH :)

Client Appreciation.... (Specials & Giveaways!)

2009-08-11T19:31:00.000-07:00

You know those little things in life that just make you smile? Things that regardless of what's going on around you and how terrible certain circumstances may be, you know you can turn to those and feel refreshed?

...Pumpkin Candles
...My son's belly laugh
...The smell after a fresh spring rain
...The dumb jokes my husband makes... that I try to pretend aren't funny :)
...Pedicures

...Letters from happy clients.

Here are a few little notes I've received from clients over the last few months.... These kind words mean so much to me!

...All I can say is WOW....all of the shots are amazing and I couldn't be happier!!!! I can't wait to show my entire family and group of friends the pics... I hope we don't lose touch and can do dinner some time to catch-up. I have been telling everyone I know to use you for future events...you are the best!!

...I want to cry they are so amazing. Thanks for making that day soooo memorable for me.

...I'm so excited, you can't even imagine!! I love all the pictures and you have an amazing eye for creativity and detail! Oh-my-gosh, I love, love , love all that you did! thank you for capturing our day!!

...We LOVE the pictures! Your talent, spirit and passion for what you do is soooo apparent.

...Yaaaaaay! They are AWESOME!!! :-) I don't know how I'm ever going to decide which ones I want to display in our house!! ...when my friends get engaged, you will be HIGHLY recommended :-) Thank you sooooo much for everything! We have loved working with you!

...Thank YOU so much for coming out and taking these wonderful pictures..... I'm just getting super awesome feedback which makes me feel so beautiful. It was totally our pleasure to meet you and share this with you. You are absolutely my inspiration for photography.....I am going to keep working at it and hopefully someday I can shoot like you!

...YOU ARE SO TALENTED IT MAKES ME SICK!!!! UNBELIEVABLE....I don't know how you do it....I look amazing!!! It took me a minute to realize it was ME!!!!!

...my photographer is AMAZING and the best around - hands down, no questions asked! She makes everything look gorgeous!

Thank you so much to those of you who have also taken the time to write reviews about my services on sites such as Wedding Wire, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Wedding Book.

I love you all! :)

Now, as some of you may remember, last year on my birthday I did a drawing for a free shoot.... Well, this year I decided to do it up a little more and celebrate for a few weeks! :) My birthday is on the 27th of this month (...and oddly enough, I'll be turning 27... Yikes) so check the blog LOTS over the next few weeks for SPECIALS and GIVEAWAYS!!!! Horray!

Mailynn - Trash the Dress - Cincinnati, Ohio Photographer

2009-08-10T20:18:00.000-07:00

When I first met Jeff & Mailynn to chat about their wedding day, she asked about doing a Trash the Dress session. Any bride who's willing to indulge in a little TTD is a bride after my own heart. :)

We headed out last weekend to a few different locations to do some "trashing". Now, as I always like to mention when discussing TTD sessions, this does NOT mean you have to actually TRASH your dress. (I need to re-name these shoots actually... any ideas?!). Mailynn was able to use her beautiful dress for some awesome shots, and will still be able to clean her dress (thank the good Lord for dry-cleaners) and preserve it if she chooses. TTD sessions are whatever you want to make of them! The only requirement is that you work-it-out fashionista style, which Mailynn did PERFECTLY!

I don't think there are enough words in the English language to describe how much I love this next shot.... It's so Alice-in-Wonderland-ish. Mailynn, if you ever decide that you're done with your legs, can I have them? Hot. Jeff was kind enough to jump in at different times and join his new bride in some shots. I don't know much about ballroom dancing, but I have heard (on movies...) that the man is to "frame" his female dance partner, as if she is a picture & allow her to be shown off. I kept thinking of that during the shots that Jeff was in. He "framed" her in such a way that allowed her beauty to be shown off even more.

Michelle & Jeremey - Wedding Day! Saginaw, Michigan

2009-08-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

9 years ago this month, I met Jeremey for the first time. He is an amazing guy, and for the last 9 years I've been saying "whoever Jer ends up marrying is going to be one lucky girl!" So when I heard that he had met & proposed to Michelle, I was super eager to meet her!

I traveled to Saginaw, Michigan last weekend to photograph their wedding day, see Jeremey for the first time in about alot of years, and meet Michelle for the first time. Michelle is everything I ever hoped to see in a wife for Jer... They're both such awesome people & I am so happy that I got to be there and witness the beginning of what I know will be an incredible future for this new family.

Michelle was so so so so so beautiful.

I snuck a few shots from the other room right after the ceremony was over & Michelle &Jeremy had a couple moments alone....

The church had a huge basketball court... and well, mix that with a fun group and a crazy photographer....
It was totally raining through all of these next few shots... Michelle was not the least bit phased by getting a little wet... Even more of a reason for me to love her! :)Their entrance into their reception..... In a full sprint while carrying Michelle... SO much fun :)

Lovely in Love

2009-08-04T16:19:00.001-07:00

Last weekend I drove up to Saginaw, Michigan for Michelle & Jeremey's wedding weekend. One thing I love about shooting out of town weddings, is that I always attend the rehearsal, which lets me get to know the wedding party a bit before the wedding day & of course get a better play-by-play of how things will go down at the ceremony. After Michelle & Jer's rehearsal dinner, I snagged them for 2 minutes to take a shot in the huge corn field behind Jeremey's family home.

Check back this weekend for the sneak peek from their wedding day! Until then, here's a couple of the cornfield shots to hold you over...

Michelle & Luke - Wedding Day! Lowell & Andover, Massachusetts

2009-07-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this blog from my hotel room in Michigan. I'm shooting a wedding here today, but I have a non-written rule about having one wedding blog up before I shoot another. So even though I'm pushing it down to the last few hours, I'm still getting this next blog up "on-time"! :)

Michelle & Luke are amazing. No, really. I know that all of their friends and family that are reading this right now are shaking their heads in agreement with me with a sweet smile on their face and the rest of my blog followers are thinking "yah, ALL your couples are amazing... whatever." While this is very true, Michelle & Luke just have an extra something that sends them over the top amazing-wise.

You may remember their engagement photos (click HERE for the link) that I shot last year while I was in Boston shooting a different wedding. I said then that Michelle has the best personality ever, and it stands true today. Couple her sweet, caring heart with Luke's gentleness & kindness and they are one heaven-sent match.

To the new Mr & Mrs... Thank you SO very much for allowing me the true HONOR that it was to watch the two of you interact on your wedding day. You have such a pure joy for life, that I walked away from your wedding feeling refreshed & renewed. Thanks for being a blessing to everyone you touch. I love you both!

To the photos. :)

It's hard being beautiful....

Thankfully, lollipops cover a multitude of sins. :)
All of Michelle's bridesmaids were SO beautiful!
Michelle was a picture-perfect bride.
She got dressed in their new home.... I saw this photo from their engagement session last year & had to take advantage of it. :)

The next few photos were taken outside of the house that Michelle grew up in....

My Boston-Bride's! Michelle & Laura! (Click HERE to see Laura & Ryan's wedding from last year!)

I told Luke when I arrived at the church before the wedding "Dude, your wife is super hot." He got a huge grin on his face and said "Oh..... I know" :)

Luke had the BEST faces through the entire ceremony. I adore the way he looks at his bride.
The new Mr & Mrs!!

Their plan was to exit straight out of the church and into the limo to head to the reception site where we did all of the photos, but I snagged them down a hallway at their church for this next shot. Michelle & Luke met when they were 13 and were high school sweethearts. Actually, they even went to their church's high school, so these particular set of lockers were all too appropriate for a quick shot....

Then to the reception at the Andover Country Club....

Most-fabulous wedding party possibly ever. Loved them all.

There was a crazy huge thunderstorm at the beginning of the reception, which caused the reception facility to loose power for the first little bit of the reception. All was well though, spirits stayed high and as the evening continued, the electricity came back on, the DJ was back up & running & this rainbow popped into the sky.....
I'm thinking someone was trying to steal my job....

A preview to the sneak peek...

2009-07-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

Hello blog readers! My head in still spinning from the whirlwind that has been the last month of my life, and it's not over yet. I just returned from Massachusetts from a beautiful wedding, and am headed back out on Friday to Michigan for another one! Couple that with things going on in daily life at home & I'm playing lots of catch-up. :)

Since it will probably be a couple more days before I am able to get the time to post Michelle & Luke's sneak peek, I decided I should post something in the meantime.

Sooo... This post is dedicated to the super-fab-awesome bridal party that Michelle & Luke had at their amazing wedding. A large group of these folks were also a part of the wedding I shot in Mass last year, so it was so much fun to work with them again. They're all beautiful, so it made my job super easy :)

A very special shout out to the men of this group.... I have to say that you guys really impressed me. 9 times out of 10, the groomsmen are the ones that I have a hard time rounding up and keeping together... Well, since the girls schedules fell a little behind in getting ready, I was running late getting to the church for the guys shots before the wedding. I flew into the church doors & started scouting out the groomsmen, and Greg (groomsmen & the groom's brother-in-law) came straight up to me, asked who I needed & where I needed them, and within minutes they were all right where they needed to be, and worked it out for me GQ style. You guys ROCKED it.

And the girls.... Really, could this group be any more gorgeous?! Much much more to come on these beauties soon!

Boston Bound

2009-07-23T12:17:00.000-07:00

A few months back, I picked this little book up from Barnes & Noble, in anticipation of this month. While I'm definitely not looking into specializing in Destination Weddings and being gone every week of the year, I do love to travel a few times a year to shoot weddings. This month happens to be all of those traveling weddings packed into a few weeks time! Anyways, I thought this book was too cute to pass up and all to appropriate for this month.... Minus the parts where it speaks of mommy sitting in meetings all day.... My job is much cooler than that. :)

Tomorrow morning I head to Massachusetts for what I KNOW will be an amazing wedding! I'll return early next week, so please be patient with me while I'm gone in returning emails and phone calls.

Cara & Casey - Wedding Day! Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

2009-07-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

Thursday I boarded a plane to Chicago, rented a car upon my arrival, and drove north to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. I felt like I was in a bit of a time warp, as I did the same thing this time last year. Two years ago, I photographed Rachel & Ben's wedding in Tulsa, OK... Rachel's maid of honor was her cousin, Heather... Heather then got engaged to her beau, JP & they asked me to travel to Kenosha, WI to shoot their wedding last August. Cara was one of Heather's bridesmaids, and after that wedding, she asked me to come back to WI this year for her wedding! Are you confused yet?! :) I had SO much fun at this wedding... seeing familiar faces from when I was there last year and meeting new ones. Cara & Casey's families and friends were so incredibly kind to me, and treated me as if I were just part of the gang. Thank you all so very much for making my time in WI so memorable!

On to the photos!

I stayed at the same resort as Cara, her family & friends, so it was REALLY nice to stroll down to her room in comfy clothes & flip flops to shoot the morning events. I walked in to find Cara & some of her nieces curled up in bed together checking out the resort they'd booked for their honeymoon online.

All of the girls had their nails done there in the suite...
I'm sure this belongs to one of Cara's nieces, but when I saw it laying on one of the tables in their suite, I couldn't resist taking a quick shot of it... It was all to appropriate for a wedding day... :)

All throughout the day, I would glance over at Cara & just think "man, she is soooo pretty!" - Cara, you were a stunning bride.My Wisconsin brides! Woot, woot! :) You can click HERE to see the blog from Heather & JP's wedding last year... Love you, girls!

Fabulous. These girls are just fabulous.

I should mention that it was sprinkling outside just the tiniest bit during the above shots... Then I drove over to the Geneva National Golf Course to meet up with the guys & do their shots. As soon as I jumped in my car, the heavens opened & the rain began to pour. Yikes. Their wedding was scheduled to be held outside at the golf course, but had to be moved under their cocktail hour tent due to the weather. It was still absolutely gorgeous & God gave us about 40 minutes after the ceremony of clear (albeit overcast) skies to get shots of the family & of the newlyweds. Thanks, God! :)

Cara's father during the giving of the bride... So precious...
Cara, I was watching Raise the Bar the other night and realized that you look alot like an actress on there... Natalia Cigliuti... Google her :)
Cara & Casey's reception was a blast... So much laughing & dancing... I could post pictures for hours of fun dancing shots, but considering I've already blogged more shots than normal, I'll wrap it up. :)

C&C, your wedding reflected your love for each other so beautifully. Thank you so much for inviting me to come and for the great time. Have an amazing time in Mexico!

xoxo -

Amanda

Leavin' on a jet plane...

2009-07-16T21:26:00.000-07:00

Actually, I already left.

I am writing from Lake Geneva, WI where I am shooting a wedding this weekend. Currently, I'm sipping a glass of wine with the bride & bridesmaids at our hotel. I love my job.

Anyways, here's a quick shot from the rehearsal tonight. This little girl stole my heart with her adorableness (is that a word?!)

PS - Just an FYI, this is my "crazy" month.. I'm in WI this week, MA next week & MI the week after that - all for weddings. So forgive me now if I'm delayed in responding to emails or phone calls. :)

Christopher - Senior Session

2009-07-14T14:41:00.000-07:00

Life has been so busy with weddings, that I haven't shot near as many senior sessions as I'd like to. Seniors are always fun to shoot because they're up for anything & don't mind that I'm crazy. :) ...or if they do mind, at least they don't tell me & just do as I say. :)

Anyways, this last weekend I drove out to southeast Indiana to Christopher's home to photograph his senior photos. His family lives on over 130 acres and has an amazing view. It was SO gorgeous with so many great places to shoot!

Christopher graduated from the same high school that I graduated from "coughninecough" years ago.

Christopher's mom, Pat, asked if I could take a few family shots while I was there too..... I love this one because Pat has no idea she's part of it.... I love her in the distance just looking at her babies. :)

By the way, does the blond bombshell above look familiar? That's Lindsay, who's wedding I photographed last year... Christopher is her little brother! (To see Lindsay & Andy's wedding blog click HERE)

These next couple shots are some of my favorites..... Pat knew of an old cabin nearby and asked the owner (who is restoring it) if we could shoot some there. I'm SO glad she asked... and I'm SO glad it was unlocked because the inside was even more amazing than the out! :)

Congrats on your graduation, Christopher!

Dog Photographer?

2009-07-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

That I am not. I think that folks who specialize in pet photography have the patience of a saint. Followed by child photographers. :)

Anyways, I had a senior session in Indiana yesterday & couldn't help but grab a quick shot of these two adorable puppies.... Meet Hampton & Penelope...

Check back within the next few days for a sneak peek of Christopher's awesome, outdoor, rugged senior session!

Five on Friday

2009-07-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

I've been a total slacker with my Five on Friday "random things" posts, so I'm getting ahead of the game & posting this at 11pm on Thursday night.

So... instead of another 5 random things about yours-truly tonight, I'm going to share 5 photos. Let's face it, you'd rather see those anyways. :)

If you've been keeping up with my blog, then you know I was on vacation last week. My little family met up with some of our most favorite people in the world, Asheley & Judah. We spent a lovely few days together on the beach & of course, my camera had to make an appearance at some point. So for now, I'll leave you with 5 of my favorite photos from my 10-minute photo session with Asheley & Judah, before the skies opened up and rained us out.

Have I mentioned that I am available for destination weddings? :) Really, I love to travel & will be living on airplanes this month as I have 3 back to back weddings in other states starting next week. Oh, how I'd love to shoot a wedding on the beach! Holla!

I love getting comments.... so please leave a comment to tell me which of these is your favorite! Don't be shy! :)

Heather & Bobby - Engagement Session

2009-07-08T09:46:00.001-07:00

Hello blog readers! We returned home last night from our vacation with our friends and had a great time! I've been spending this morning getting caught up on emails & phone calls... and wanted to also post Heather & Bobby's sneak peek! Before we went out of town, I got together with them for their engagement session, and we did a little walk down memory lane.... If you've done an engagement session with me before, then you know that I like to make it a little more personal than just some cute shots, so when I heard where Heather & Bobby met & then were engaged, I knew we had to shoot there!

They met while with friends one evening inside of this bar at Newport on the levee.....

...and the night that Bobby proposed to Heather, they were in a horse drawn carriage passing by the Cincinnati skyline...

Here's a few more shots from their session....

Gimmie' a "V".....

2009-07-01T09:26:00.000-07:00

Vacation! What a fantastic word! :) Hopefully my neighbors can't hear my daily cheers & countdown to vacation. Noah doesn't have a clue what the beach actually is, but he wakes up every morning talking about it & making "ocean" sounds.... This household is ready for swim suits, flip flops, seafood & sundresses! Okay, so maybe I'm the only one ready for the dresses. :)

Anyways, starting tomorrow I will be taking a much needed vacation. We'll be heading to Alabama to see some of our best friends and then heading on to Florida. I will of course have my cell & laptop with me, and will still be returning emails & such, just know that it will take a little longer than the few hour time frame that I usually try to respond within. :)

This will be a fun but crazy month for me! After returning from our family trip, I'll be heading off to Wisconsin to shoot a wedding... the weekend after that, I'll be in Boston for another wedding, and the next weekend in Michigan... You guessed it... for a wedding. :) Whew! I'm stocking up on books to read during all of my flights!

I hope everyone has a great 4th holiday weekend.... Check back next week for some beach photos!

Autumn & Jeff - Wedding Day!

2009-06-29T18:26:00.000-07:00

Within 60 seconds of chatting with Autumn when we first met, I knew I liked her. She's one of those girls that's so naturally gorgeous that you just want to hate her (come on ladies, you know what I'm talking about!).... but Autumn has SUCH an amazing personality, that you instantly fall in love with her. That's exactly what happened between her & Jeff.

Prepare for a longer post than normal folks... If I had the time tonight, I might be blogging double the number of images you're about to see. I loved this wedding THAT much.

Jeff & Autumn had a small, intimate ceremony at Mission Heights in Aurora, Indiana, followed by a large reception (also at Mission Heights). I have to say, I am quite impressed that the 2 weddings I have shot in Indiana turned out to be 2 of my very favorite locations. I'm from SE Indiana... so I can say that :) I'm impressed, Aurora... Way to go. :)

Autumn's mom *and Maid of Honor*, helping her get dressed....Sooooo... there's lots of pictures of Autumn. Really though, can you blame me?! She's breath-taking!The next two don't fit the "feel" of the rest of these shots, but we came across a few rooms that we couldn't pass up for some funky vintagey-shots....and Jeff. I didn't have the opportunity to meet Jeff before the wedding day, since he lives out of town, so this was also my first time watching he & his bride interacting together. Oh goodness... they're in some serious love. Adorable.

Jeff's niece's sang before & during the ceremony... AMAZING voices!

Are you kidding me with this location?! Seriously! (PS, over that huge hill you're looking at is the Ohio River)Moments after walking back down the aisle as husband & wife... an intimate moment together.
Totally almost slid down the hill taking this next shot... It isn't good unless you get injured, right?! :)First dance as husband & wife........and finally, you know I couldn't end this weeks blog without a word about MJ. Michael Jackson. Autumn's friend made her an MJ "glove" and during an 11 minute multi-MJ-song-remix, she tossed it on & everyone partied down. King of Pop, this one's for you! :)

Karate!

2009-06-28T15:47:00.001-07:00

A few months back I received an email from a woman named Barb asking me what I would think about shooting during a black-belt testing at a local Karate club. It's something I have never done, and sounded super cool, so of course I said yes.... I'm SO glad I did this & so thankful that Barb contacted me (Thanks, Barb!!). It was so awesome! I'll let the photos speak for themselves on this one. I went into this knowing nothing about karate, and left hungry to learn more.

The following shots were taken at the Bellbrook Karate Club in Bellbrook, Ohio.

This was amazing.... I'm still in awe :) (PS, they were both testing for their black belts.... and both succeeded! Congrats!!) (PSS, look at the kids in the bottom right hand of the photo... Too cute!)
After the 2 new black belts finished their testing, the kids were up next. There were different groups testing for different color belts. I was SO impressed with these kids... I came home & told Hayden that Noah needs to do karate... the amount of discipline that you can tell these kids have is fantastic.

Let's not mention that I can't even do THIS part.

Shihan Richardson, the dojo's (karate school) owner, after presenting their new belts.
Switching into the new (well-deserved!) belts....

Check back soon for the sneak peek from yesterdays wedding! :)

Mailynn & Jeff - Wedding Day!

2009-06-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

I had hoped to have this blog up a few days earlier, but as we are now smack-dab in the middle of wedding season, things are taking longer to get to than normal.... So thanks for your patience! :)

Mailynn & Jeff are an absolutely awesome couple that I first met last year when they were doing their wedding planning. I fell in love with their personalities during their engagement session & knew that their wedding day would be FUN... and it was just that! Their sweet, laid-back personalities made this day a joy to shoot!

Mailynn had TWO dresses... (yes, I'm insanely jealous :)... Here's dress #1... You'll see the other in a minute :)

If you're wondering if that is a TIRE that I have their rings on, you're exactly right. They love the outdoors, and especially love their quad (which they even brought along with them!) so I couldn't pass up getting a ring shot that really represented what they love to do... together.

Mailynn's mom helping her into dress #2!.... Mailynn wore a traditional Vietnamese wedding dress for a few family photos before the wedding, and for a portion of the reception.
Meanwhile... Jeff & his groomsmen were workin' it out....
Mailynn was so awesome with her many wardrobe changes...

They decided to see each other before the ceremony to allow them to go directly into the reception after the ceremony was over. Whenever couples choose this option, I always suggest they still do something fun for their "first-look." Here's Mailynn coming up behind Jeff for the first time in her dress....
I love this next one because it's totally Jeff & Mailynn. They love to laugh & enjoy life... and this shows it. :)
I couldn't stop talking during this next shot. Whenever I won't shut up with the "Oh girl..." "Don't move" "Perfect" "Wooooowww!"... Then you know it's going to be a good one. :)
The ceremony & reception were held at Lake Lyndsay in Hamilton, Ohio. They were a little worried about the forecast, as it had called for some rain, but it was perfect! I keep telling my outdoor ceremony brides that I'm a good luck charm on no rain weddings, and so far it's been accurate!

How much I love this next shot.... Let me count thee ways....

Sunflare... check

Smiling bride... check

Perfect timing with the Best Man pulling out the ring box... check.

Congrats, guys!! Thank you for having me along for the ride!

PS, see the post underneath this one for an extra shot from their wedding day!

Eye Candy

2009-06-22T10:27:00.000-07:00

I'm playing catch up on some things for the next few days, so I probably won't get a chance to do Mailynn & Jeff's "sneak peek" for a couple more days.... and for those of you who remind me when I haven't blogged in a day or two, here's some eye candy to hold you over.

Mailynn & Jeff were married this last Saturday and it was gorgeous... Stay tuned for more from their wedding day later this week!

Tracey & Jason - Wedding Day!

2009-06-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, Tracey & Jason stood before their family & friends and vowed to share their lives together. At each wedding, there are a few things that really stand out to me & make their day memorable in my mind.... This particular day, I could have cut the love in the air with a knife. I have NEVER seen a couple gaze into each others eyes through the entire ceremony quite like Tracey & Jason did. It was a beautiful thing to witness, and I'm so glad I was there.

The wedding was held at the amazing Carillon Park in Dayton, Ohio. Tracey slipped on her dress in one of the many buildings there... You'll see the phenomenal ceremony & reception locations in a second....

Tracey's Maid of Honor, Dara, pulling the dress down for the bride to get ready....

...Wait for it....

GORGEOUS!

Nearby, also waiting for this closeup, was their ADORABLE ring bearer.... After I snapped this I said "So, are you a model or what?" his reply was (with a shrug) "Eh. Not really." :)

The perfectly romantic flowers were provided by Case's Golden Leaf.

The ceremony was held on a bridge (gasp! LOVE it!)..... Here's Tracey & her father coming down the aisle to her groom.

One of my favorite parts of the wedding ceremony is when the father gives the bride away. This next set is 3 shots in a row out of my camera. Can I mention how sweet Tracey's dad is? Look at his face! Enough to make me cry!

Jason saying the vows that he wrote to Tracey. They both wrote their own vows & it was so beautiful to watch them speak from their heart to each other.

Married!

Mmmmm... a new take on the old American Gothic painting.

Meanwhile... the ring bearer & flower girl were feelin' the love too :)

A remake of one of their engagement session shots that we did together....

So check out this reception area! The bridge were they were married was right outside the doors to the left.... There were trains all around the interior! Fantastic!For the second week in a row, I worked with my friend Olivia as she served as the wedding planner for Tracey & Jason's wedding day.... Everything looked beautiful & I especially loved the centerpieces! Too cute!

Shout-out also to Sara of Viva Bella Events for a great job as the wedding day coordinator... The day ran super smooth thanks to her hard work!

Tracey & Jason.... Your wedding was just beautiful, but doesn't compare to the love you two share. It has been so great getting to know you both & I am so very happy for your new lives.... TOGETHER! :) I hope you're having the time of your lives right now on the beach! I'm sure your nomes are missing you & ready for you to come home :) Ha ha....

Amy & Tom - Wedding Day!

2009-06-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

Amy & Tom (otherwise known as "Hobbs") tied the knot this past Saturday in Xenia, Ohio. It was such a beautiful day out... and an even more beautiful wedding!

The bridal party was so much fun, the parents were all so very sweet and Amy & Hobbs were super laid back. It couldn't have gone any better!

There's something about the shots of the bride getting ready that I just love... As I was thumbing through their photos, I got a little teary looking at all of the getting ready shots. All of Amy's closet friends, family & of course her mom, were there helping her prepare for what was about to be the most important day of her life. There's something really awesome in watching that.

Amy & Hobbs opted to see each other before the ceremony to allow for quicker transition to their reception afterwards, but I wanted to be sure that they still had that "moment" together. With the sanctuary of the church empty and Tom at the front, Amy walked down the aisle to her groom. This is the first time he saw her in her dress, and Amy looking back to the family & friends peeking in the door to watch the big moment.

The beautiful ceremony was held at the Dayton Ave Baptist Church in, Xenia, Ohio

Hobbs, you're a stud.

Are you kidding me, Amy? Really. Could you BE any more stunning?!

I'm pretty sure I said something along the lines of "That's Hot" after taking this next shot. Love it.

A bride who is willing to sit in tall fields of grass on her wedding day is my kind of bride!

The reception was held at the Schindler Banquet Center in Xenia.... I LOVED it. SO beautiful!

Amy's mom, Linda, is an artist and painted a few very cool pieces for her daughters wedding day which were placed around the reception. I couldn't resist a ring shot with this one...

My sister-from-another-mother, Olivia, was the wedding planner for Amy & Hobbs wedding and did an amazing job! This was right after the couple drove off... a hard days work complete! Olivia is also planning the wedding that I'm shooting tomorrow... So I know it will be awesome! I love the attention she pays to the small details!

Thank you SO much to both Amy & Tom's families... It was my honor to document this special day for you & I had so much fun doing it! Congrats, guys!!

Blogs for Brides

2009-06-10T12:59:00.001-07:00

I'm a self admitted blog stalker. I stalk the blogs of a couple photographers that I admire as well as some blogs that give inspiration to brides & others in the wedding industry alike. Two of my favorites are Rock n' Roll Bride and Vintage Glam Weddings. They post work from some amazing photographers that I look up to, so I was beside myself when they both decided to feature a few of my recent weddings! Yahoo! :)

Brides... Run, don't walk, to these blogs. Inspiration GALORE. I LOVE that they LOVE details. Really, the little details are what make the photos even more awesome.

Jason & Kaleigh's amazingly vintage wedding can be seen here....

Dawn & Josh's uber-cool art gallery wedding can be seen here:

In other news, I have been out of my mind busy! I hope to have a sneak peek from this last Saturday's (gorgeous!) wedding blogged tomorrow, before I head out for my Friday wedding (which will be sooooo cool! More vintage! Horray!)

Kathleen & Luke - Engagement

2009-06-02T18:31:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had an early morning engagement session with Kathleen & Luke. The weather was beautiful, the early morning light was perfect, and the couple was gorgeous. Couldn't ask for a better shoot! :)

We began our shoot near their home in Covington...

I love shooting from each person's view point... I want them to always remember how they look at each other. (Sidenote: I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me how all of my couples are so darn good looking!)

After shooting in Covington, we drove to Kathleen's parents home... where she lived from the time she was born.

A photo for sentiments... The swing set that Kathleen played on as a child!

Kathleen & Luke.... I hope you enjoyed your sneak peek! :) I'm so happy to have met you both & am SO looking forward to your wedding day!

Today's Random Post

2009-06-02T10:48:00.001-07:00

I'm working on the edits from Kaleigh & Jason's wedding from a few weeks back & came across I few photos that I promised to blog, but totally forgot about!

While shooting weddings, I end up doing alot of random things... Sometimes things that require me to *gasp* put down the camera for a second or two. Well, at this wedding, Jason (the groom) somehow became my camera-holder a couple of times, and he decided to have a little fun BEHIND the camera! (Don't worry, he's a police officer... he can be trusted with my precious camera!)

Anyways, he was very excited to see his work, so here are a few (with a "hint" of editing :) that he took...

Random thing #1: I climbed up into this horse-drawn carriage thing to wipe it down before placing my bride, Kaleigh there... And yes, I used the inside of my shirt to wipe off the dust & cobwebs. That's how I roll.

Giving Jason the "gimmie the camera back" eye :)

Random thing #2: Helping Kaleigh with a minor wardrobe malfunction. I'm a jack of many trades, what can I say. (Not really.)

Jason, if you ever decide to grab a camera instead of your badge, give me a call! :)

Check back tomorrow for Kathleen & Luke's engagement session sneak peek!

(Fab) Five on Friday

2009-05-29T15:16:00.001-07:00

Mixing it up for today's Five on Friday... Instead of the random nothingness that I normally write about, I'm going to share Five Fab Etsy stores!

Here we go! (Note: Click on the Etsy store name to be directed to their shop... Also, all photos are taken off of their store... I didn't take 'em! :)

1. First up.... Wayside Violet's Cable Knit Coffee Cozy... Eco-Friendly and wicked adorable...

2. Next... Are you kidding me with these?! Lauren from Handmade Lovelies keeps me drooling over these awesome pieces to spice up a dull hair day. She has even added some funk for your shoes... (Brides... There are even some some birdcage veils on there too! Keep checking back, she's always adding more!)

3. Made by Keli made my company thank you cards, which I LOVE... She has uber-cute stationary, cards, you name it on her site, but you can also place custom orders! I've seen her wedding invitation work also.... Gorgeous! (Pst... Yes, these are wooden... Sooooo cool!)

4. I can totally picture this necklace paired with a simple, mermaid style, strapless dress. Love it. Check out Florasun for more beautiful pieces like this!

5. Finally, JBugBaby is a new Etsy store that a friend's wife just started... I need to have a baby girl NOW so that I can buy this dress. It's THAT cute.

Thanks for reading today's randomness! I'll leave you with a photo from my early morning engagement session today.... (More to come from that session soon!)

Dawn & Josh - Wedding Day!

2009-05-26T11:29:00.001-07:00

I know I say this alot, but honest to God, I'm the luckiest wedding photographer in the world. I am convinced that I have the best clients ever. Seriously. I don't know how I got so lucky.

Dawn & Josh are just awesome. They had an amazing wedding day this last Saturday at the Leapin Lizard Art Gallery in Covington, KY. This was the first wedding EVER at the Leapin Lizard, and it couldn't have been more amazing. Let's get to the photos so you can see for yourself...

Both Dawn & Josh got ready at The Madison in Covington, KY.... I'm in love with this dress shot...

Dawn's sweet green shoes!

Are you kidding me?! GORGEOUS!

I LOVED this bridal party.... SO much fun!

After the ceremony, we headed down to Mainstrasse in Covington for some fun shots.... We saw a band playing & went over to get some shots dancing around the band.... Apparently this guy playing guitar had a better idea!

Cailyn came along to second shoot with me again this week (Thank you girl! You're awesome!) and caught this shot of Josh playing pool at a bar we stopped in....

I gladly obliged when the guys asked for a shot with the Scarface & Godfather posters...

I thought we were so lucky when we passed by this VW bus... and then felt REALLY lucky when I asked the owner if Josh could hop inside for a shot & he said yes!

Now the Leapin Lizard.... SO AMAZING. It is an old Methodist church built in the 1800's that has been converted to an art gallery.

I could have spent hours just shooting random details using the art in the gallery like this ring shot...

One more..... Dawn & Josh had a photobooth, so Cailyn & I jumped in for a little fun ourselves :) Here's a couple....
Congrats, Dawn & Josh! Thank you SO much for allowing me to be apart of this amazing day!

The "S" Family

2009-05-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

Jennifer & I have been friends since the 4th grade. We haven't lived in the same state for about 7 years, so thankfully we have the world wide web to keep us connected. Jen's husband, Jed, serves our country with the US Coast Guard and they're currently stationed in Alaska. I hadn't seen them in about 5 years or so, so I was very excited when Jen contacted me about doing a family shoot while they were in town visiting their families this week!

I posted a few shots of their sons, Lance & Max, on Friday playing in the creek.... Here are a few more..... I love little brother following after big brother here...

However, before we headed to the creek to let the boys "be boys", we first did some fun family shots in a more urban setting.... Here are a couple from then:

Here's Jen & her sister Rachel.... This is one of my favorites from the day... Just a classic moment.

Jen's whole family....

A few of Jen & Jed solo...

It was great to see all of you! ...and Happy Memorial Day, Jed! Thanks for all you do!

Natalie & Adam - Engagement Session

2009-05-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

This last weekend, I met up with Natalie & Adam for their engagement session. They were torn between a natural feel and an urban feel... so we did both! They are such a sweet, laid back couple & were super easy to shoot! I can't wait for their wedding... If their e-session was this fun, I know they'll rock it out at the wedding! :)

Congrats, guys! I'm so honored to document these amazing times in your life for you!

Here's a few of my favorites from the session for their sneak-peek....

Hot! I looove it...So I totally fell on my butt during this shot.... I guess I was a little to excited about the perfect sign that we were using to our advantage in the background. I stepped backwards into a hole & went down! Thanks for not laughing at me guys! :) Ha ha! (PS, my foot felt okay afterwards, but then started swelling that night! So weird!) - It was worth it for this shot though! :)

Five on Friday... and the joy of being young

2009-05-22T18:25:00.000-07:00

Here's this weeks Five on Friday:

1. I wore the same outfit to the last two weeks weddings (washed, don't worry) and if I don't get creative soon (i.e. within the next 8 hours), it's going to be three weeks. But still, here I sit blogging instead of tearing through the boxes of clothes still unpacked in my office & bedroom.

2. My mother-in-law and cousin have been in town this week and have been SO helpful. Taylor has spent many hours entertaining Noah while I worked, painted, and continued to unpack. Lee, my mother-in-law, has helped paint (okay, so she did most of it herself), washed my dishes every day, and fixed my leaky air conditioner. ...and bought me a new awesome set of pots & pans. She's this weeks hero :)

3. I've had more Pepsi in this last week than I have had in all my years of life combined.

4. I'm looking forward to a little pre-wedding meal at Mokka with Cailyn tomorrow before shooting an evening wedding.

5. Today I had a family shoot... We did some shots in town, and then went down some back roads to a creek to let the boys really be boys.... They liked that MUCH better :) Because every blog is better with a photo or two, here's the adorable boys, Lance & Max, doing what boys do best.....

Kaleigh & Jason - Wedding Day!

2009-05-20T14:20:00.001-07:00

I'm pretty convinced that Kaleigh & Jason picked the Veraestau Historical Site in Aurora, Indiana as their wedding location just for me. Okay, so maybe not since they already had it booked when they came to me about their photography..... but I just like to tell myself that. :) This place was pretty close to heaven for me. You'll see why soon. I don't even need to explain.

Jason & Kaleigh's wedding day was really awesome. Really. The family, the friends, the unexpectedly beautiful weather & of course the crazy amount of love that these two share.

So maybe I went overboard on detail shots..... Nah.

I love the history in this photo.... check out the Bridal portrait on the wall....

My friend & fellow booty-kickin' photographer, Cailyn, came along to second shoot.... I'm loving this dress shot she captured... (Thank you for all of your help, Cailyn!)

Kaleigh & Jason were on schedule to have their wedding outside. The weathermen had been predicting something like a 70% chance of rain on their wedding day. I have yet to have a outdoor wedding rained out, so I kept telling Kaleigh that I was her good luck charm.... Sure enough, it was a BEAUTIFUL day!

Seriously, Kaleigh. You are beyond beautiful. Absolutely stunning.

Jason shared the sweetest moment in pre-wedding history with his great-grandma before the ceremony. It was just amazing, and of course brought me to tears as well.

Another Jason-made-me-cry-moment.... Ava is Kaleigh's daughter and Jason surprised everyone by giving her a ring during the ceremony.

The (really really ridiculously good looking) new couple! :)

Josh, one of the tour guides who was SUPER helpful on the wedding day, happened to toss these dried up flowers in the sink at one point while he was tiding up. I may have scared him when I yelled "leave those RIGHT there!" as he went to toss them. I loooovveee this shot....

Though I don't want to, I have to stop for now. :) Jason & Kaleigh, thank you for being so great... I REALLY enjoyed getting to know you both & am so thankful for the time I spent with you on your amazing day. Congrats!

Jessica & Daniel - Engagement Session

2009-05-18T19:39:00.000-07:00

Jessica & Daniel drove about 4 hours down from Winona Lake, Indiana last week for their engagement session, so when the rain showed it's wet face, we crossed out fingers & went for it anyways. As has been the norm with me lately, it allowed us to get most of what we wanted to done before it really began! Yah!

Daniel & Jessica are such a cool couple & I really had a LOT of fun with them on this shoot. Jessica is a photographer herself, so she knew how to work it out for me :) - Really though, this girl has the most infections smile & I just LOVE the chemistry between her & Daniel and how much he gets her laughing. They're just adorable.

Guys, I can't WAIT for your October wedding... I know it will be fantastic! Here's a few of my favorites from the e-session...

I loooovveeee when my couples are allow themselves to be completely natural in front of my camera & do things like this.... totally unprompted, I might add.....

Gorgeous.

Carolyn & Aaron - Wedding Day!

2009-05-17T15:19:00.000-07:00

Carolyn & Aaron's wedding was last weekend & was just awesome. A fantastic wedding party, super sweet parents... couldn't have asked for a better day! They were married at St. Rita's church in Dayton, Ohio (the same place Carolyn's parents were married!) and held their reception at the beautiful Meadowbrook Country Club.

Congrats, guys! I hope you had an amazing honeymoon! You were SO great to work with... please keep in touch! :) Here's a little sneak peek for you!

Have I mentioned how much I love flower girls!? ADORABLE!

Carolyn, just as I suspected, you were a gorgeous bride!

Aaron & all of his brothers....

Five on Friday

2009-05-15T00:05:00.000-07:00

Sooooo I missed a few Fridays, but thought I'd try this again since I am remembering to do it right this minute!

Once again, coming up with these as I go along....

1. We've been in our new house for a week now & I still have a ton of boxes unpacked. My office is all in boxes & my clothes are all in boxes. The 2 things I need the most. Hm.

2. Hayden is making me go to the Grand Opening of Ace Hardware tomorrow first thing in the morning..... the first 200 customers get a free trash can. It's an exciting life I live, 'eh?

3. My mother-in-law and cousin-in-law are coming into town Saturday and I'm very excited! Maybe they can help entertain Noah while I unpack..... :)

4. REALLY need a haircut. Just a trim. I am always worried about going to someone who will cut too much so I just don't go. And yes, I realize I have talked about my hair in both of my "Five on Friday" posts now.... It's an issue.

5. I really need to paint Noah's bedroom. It's currently green & purple (from the past owner) and Hayden is NOT having that. Would love ideas! I stink at this stuff!

Michelle & Roger - 15 Year Anniversary

2009-05-14T09:52:00.000-07:00

Michelle & Roger are an awesome couple who are celebrating their 15 year wedding anniversary! To celebrate, they wanted something some intimate photos that show their crazy love for each other, all these years later. This was such a fun shoot & I'm so honored that they asked me to shoot this for them! Since they booked their session a few months back, Michelle & I have been getting to know each other via email & Facebook, so I totally felt like I was walking into an old friends house when I arrived! Thank you both so much for being so sweet! It was SO nice to meet you both!

Let me say yet AGAIN how crazy it is that my couples are so darn gorgeous. Seriously. I'm so lucky.

I LOVE how Roger looks at his beautiful bride after 15 years.....

*WARNING!* The following photos are STEAMY! Totally tasteful and chosen very carefully for this blog, but always like to toss the warning out there! If you're uncomfortable with skin and sensuality, then don't scroll down :)

A few photos of Michelle alone..... I'd like to point out that she is 35 & has THREE kids! Are you kidding me, Michelle?! Really.... this just isn't fair! :)

Michelle has the most beautiful smile & laugh.... I love this shot that totally shows her personality.

Michelle & Roger were my last shoot while I was in Tulsa & right after I was done at their home, I got on the road for my 12 hour drive home. They sent me on my way with a huge package of chocolate covered coffee beans from my one of my favorite coffee shops, Rocket Brothers.... Thank you SO much guys! Those things got me home & helped me get through editing all of these sessions! :) I also shared them with my movers on Sunday and they got the job done fast! Ha ha!

The "Y" Family

2009-05-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

Last summer I shot Tim & Chrissy's maternity photos while I was in Tulsa, and this trip back to Oklahoma I got to meet baby Isaiah! He is SO adorable!! I'm telling you, this trip was not good for my existing baby fever :)

Tim & Chrissy wanted an urban feel to their family photos, which of course I love.... We did a little shooting in their home & then headed downtown. I love this entire session... so hard to pick my favorites! I had so much fun with them during their maternity shoot & they didn't disappoint this time either! Thank you SO much guys! I had a blast with you.... again!

A few from their home first.... I love love LOVE the feel of these....

Downtown!

I'm constantly on the lookout for things like you're about to see & am STOKED that we found not one but TWO perfect ones during this shoot!

Daryl & Donna - Just Because

2009-05-11T18:32:00.000-07:00

Tonight's blog is coming to you from Hayden (my husband) because my brain is just too darn tired to do it alone. Friday I had a super fun engagement session, Saturday an amazing wedding, and then Sunday we moved! All great things, but my brain has had about all it can handle, so Hayden has chosen the shots for tonight's blog :) I always have a hard time picking a few "favorites" for blog posts, so I'm glad he could help!

Donna & Daryl's daughter, Sarah, is a good friend of mine and through her I've grown to know the rest of the family. Donna emailed me a few months back about setting up a shoot for her & Daryl while I was in Tulsa. She said she just didn't have many photos of the two of them, and well... it was just time! I think it's SO cool that they decided to do a shoot like this just for THEM and just BECAUSE! One of my most favorite things to shoot is engagement sessions, and I treated this shoot just like one... and they were as adorable in love as any engaged couples I've shot!

The first few were taken at their beautiful home. When I arrived, they had an Over the Rhine song cranked up! Donna said she fell in love with OtR from the music on my website & bought three of their albums on iTunes... Woot! Way to put a girl in shooting-mood! :)

Next we headed down to Daryl's office & did a little shooting around. Daryl also flies planes and the hanger was calling my name, so in there we went....

*Note* One of my favorite things about this session is how PERSONALIZED it is for this awesome couple..... Each place we shot & each thing we did had significance behind it other than just a super cool photo (which hey, those are okay too :) - Couples: When I talk about finding unique locations for engagement sessions that really represent who YOU are as a couple & the things YOU enjoy doing, this is a perfect example! :)

Gary & Ashlee - (Mini) Engagement Session

2009-05-07T14:35:00.000-07:00

This post is a special one for me.... Gary and my husband, Hayden, grew up together and have been very close for alot of years. He was actually the best man in our wedding. I can remember during our rehearsal the night before our wedding seeing a teary-eyed Gary... I remember him saying how happy he was that Hayden had "done well" and found what he was looking for in a woman.... I remember Gary saying that he wanted the same for himself.

Enter Ashlee.

Since we now live so far from Gary, we don't get to see him much. There was a point in time when he practically lived in our house (or so it felt) and I referred to him as my "son"... Mainly due to fixing him lots of meals and then cleaning up the Doritos crumbs from under my couch that he left behind (you knew I'd mention it, Gary!). Since those days many years ago, we've moved across the country & therefore, this was my first time to meet Ashlee!

I have to say, I was pretty nervous! A little bit of a motherly-instinct came out in me & I wanted to be sure that this was a good match for him. Ashlee passed all of my tests with flying colors... She has the best demeanor, she's so sweet, and is beautiful inside & out. Not only did I meet Ashlee, but also had the chance to sit down with her parents & they're equally as wonderful. I am so so SO happy for the new life these two will share together and SO happy to have another girl to sit and listen to Hayden & Gary's crazy childhood stories with me :)

Gary.... you've done well.

A few of my favorites from our "mini-session" (fit in at the last minute with only a little time...)

The G Family

2009-05-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Another Tulsa photoshoot comin' your way!

Kelly is a photographer herself, so as usual when other photographers ask me to do a shoot for them, I feel *extra* special. :) Remember yesterdays post with the beautiful little girl?! Well, prepare yourself for some more baby fever.... because Jackson is SWEET!

We weren't quite sure if this shoot would happen (again, because of the crazy rain during my trip to Oklahoma), but the rain stopped JUST long enough for us to shoot! It was grey & cloudy, but we'll take that over a flood any day! :) Here's a few of my fave's:

Isn't Kelly so gorgeous?! (PS, she's expecting baby #2! Congrats guys!!)

I LOVE this next shot of Kelly's parents..... It totally captures their personalities....

SUCH a sweet family! You know those people who just ooze kindness & a genuine care for others? That's them. :)

Adelaide - 4 Months

2009-05-04T15:35:00.000-07:00

WARNING: If you have baby fever, back away from your computer now! :) This post will only make this feeling worse!

Adelaide is such a perfect little girl. She's so sweet, has the most "chilled" demeanor, and is absolutely beautiful. Her parents are so lucky to have her, and she's so lucky to have such cool parents!

Rachel & Ben are Adelaide's parents, and that makes this shoot even more fun for me. They were my first ever engagement shoot and one of the first weddings that I shot alone. Follow that with their maternity photos, and now, their little girl's pics. How cool is that?! I feel SO special when a family refers to me as "their" photographer, and I love that I get to document this family as they change & grow!

I was in Tulsa, Oklahoma last week visiting family, friends & doing photoshoots! Unfortunately, Tulsa's weather was MISERABLE during my time their.... It rained every.single.day. Every day. Almost all day. Some major roads were closed due to flooding and you could have used a boat in my inlaw's front & back yards... It was nuts. We had hoped to do Adelaide's shoot outside in her grandma's beautiful flower garden, but mother nature had other plans. Inside we went!

On to Adelaide.... I'm serious about this baby fever thing.... She's adorable!

Here's a sneak peek!

5 Percent. (Relay for Life, Hamilton, Ohio)

2009-04-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

"5 percent chance."

This was what my mother-in-law was told would be the chance of survival for her young son. At only 1 year old, my husband was diagnosed with leukemia. Chemo was new at this point and the survival rates weren't good. 5 percent.

Through the miracle of God's grace, healing and wisdom to physicians, I now have a healthy husband who has been cancer free for over 20 years. Unfortunately, cancer is something that we all know continues to ravage families & homes every day. This is where Relay for Life comes in to play.

The Relay for Life an amazing fundraiser hosted by the American Cancer Society. It brings together volunteers from all over the country into their own community to raise money for this much needed cause, in hopes of putting an end to cancer. It is a time to Celebrate, Remember, and Fight Back.

I was so honored that I was asked to volunteer my time yesterday to photograph the Relay for Life in Hamilton, Ohio. It was a moving experience which for me consisted of Celebrating the life of my cancer-free husband, and Remembering the life of my Grandfather who lost his battle with cancer 8 years ago. Two of the most important men in my life have been forever touched by the hand of cancer, and I stand with these other strong men & women to fight back.

It was a beautiful sunny (HOT) day!

The Relay was hosted at Hamilton High School's beautiful football field

The first lap was the "Survivor Lap".... All of the men, women and children who had battled and won against cancer took the initial lap around the track. This was SO moving.... As you look through these photos, look into the eyes of these beautiful people. Fighters. I, of course, was choked up basically the entire day. The next 4 photos were from that lap:

The was LOTS of walking through the day, of course! :)

The day was also full of fun & excitement! Games for the kids, fundraisers & raffles surrounded the track. Everyone had a great time while supporting a great cause!

The Relay began at 3:00pm and continued until the following morning at 9am. When nightfall came, the luminaries were lit around the track. Each luminary was either to remember a loved one whose life was lost or to honor a survivor.

PLEASE take a few minutes to check out Relay for Life's website by clicking HERE

Five on Friday

2009-04-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

I'm snagging an idea from my fellow photographer friend Jennifer Weddington and I'm going to start a new thing here on my blog called "Five on Friday".... It'll be 5 random things going on in my life or about me.... A little bit of a "get to know your photographer better" if you will. :)

Coming up with these as I go along, so here we go...

1. I once handcuffed myself to my dads car. Yes, with real handcuffs & no, not on purpose.

2. I have an obsession with homemade potato salad (has to have hard boiled eggs in it).... and then I mix it with baked beans on my plate. Yum Freaking O. Seriously.

3. I'm trying REALLY hard to grow my hair out right now. I chopped it all, off from a crazy terrible perm, to old Halle Berry style the day before my senior photos in high school.... It has been short ever since... The longest being what it is right now. Every time it starts getting long I get annoyed with it & chop it all off again.

4. I have lived in Ohio, Indiana, Arkansas, Indiana, Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Ohio. In that order. And I'm moving back to Kentucky in a week.

5. I would love love LOVE to shoot a traditional Indian wedding. Love. India is my most favorite place to visit in the world and I think their culture & people are beautiful.

On Marriage

2009-04-20T19:50:00.000-07:00

Hayden is my husband.

Sometimes Hayden makes me crazy.... in a good way.
Sometimes Hayden makes me crazy.... in a "I'd-rather-stab-my-eye-with-a-fork-than-talk-to-you-right-now" kinda way.

This, my friends, is called marriage.

We married young... REAL young. Let's just say the bartender at my wedding shouldn't have let me have actual champagne :) - We "knew" we'd be faced with some tough times because of marrying at the ripe old age of 21 & 20, but we "knew" we'd be just fine.

Well, really... we didn't know anything.

We didn't know the work that it would be... We didn't know the fun that we would have. We didn't know the tears we'd shed in late night arguments & we didn't know the tears we'd shed when first meeting our son. Really, we didn't know much, but we learned together.

In 5 months we will celebrate our 7 year wedding anniversary (God, that makes me feel old...). And even though we have those eye-stabbing days where there seems to be more "work" required than not, it will be followed by 100 more fun days, full of laughter & excitement & our favorite word here... "change".

So to all of my brides & grooms to be who may be reading this, or to my couples of the past, I'll leave you with this quote from one of Hayden's all-time favorites... (enter eye-stab here :)

I got gaps
you got gaps
we fill each other's gaps.
-Rocky

Spring!

2009-04-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

How I love thee, let me count the ways....

I know it's been "Spring" for a few weeks now, but it hasn't felt like it to me until today. Noah & I spent a large portion of the day & night outside.... Playing in the yard by day & going for a walk with Daddy to get ice cream by night. I took a few shots of the "signs of life" that I saw today.... and how I enjoyed them :o)

I'm enjoying my last "free" weekend for awhile.... Next weekend starts my crazy season & it won't stop for many months, but when I am home, you can bet I'll be there... feet propped up on my back deck, watching the world go by. Frosty beverage in hand. :o)

I hope everyone has a great spring! Enjoy this beautiful weather & prepare for lots of photo blogs coming your way!!

It's fun being 2!

2009-04-15T06:41:00.000-07:00

....or that's what I hear! :)

This last week I met the "T" family at Whitewater Park in Harrison for some family shots & to capture their adorable son, Emmit, at his ripe new age of 2! Talk about ENERGY! I wish I had 1/8th of the energy that Emmit has! I had so much fun running after him with camera in hand... Here's a little sneak peek for the family from our afternoon together... Emmit has some MOVES!

*As a sidenote... The above is an example of a "Storyboard".... Sometimes I will add in a storyboard design with my portrait clients, or any client can ask for a few design ideas. Storyboards can be printed at any size (the above is an example of a 10x20) and can printed on matboard to be framed & hung, or on a "standout" which is very thick & looks awesome placed on a small easel & set on the shelf!

An afternoon of shooting.... Spring Grove Style Post #2

2009-04-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

Hopefully you read the part 1 to this 2 part post... If not, then read the post before this one first :) All is explained there!

Let's jump straight to the photos... more of Olivia's Bridal shoot! I love the progression of the photos here... So pretty & romantic at first.... and some funky model madness at the end! Love it!

An afternoon of shooting.... Spring Grove Style Post #1

2009-04-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

Sunday I headed out to meet up with my photographer friends Toby & Annie and Cailyn & Kevin for an afternoon of food, chatting, and of course... shooting! My very dear friend Olivia agreed to come along as our model for the day! Just wanted to share a sneak-peek from Sunday's shoot... More to come later!

PS... believe it or not, this shoot was done in a graveyard! Spring Grove Cemetery is over 700 acres large (one of the largest in the US!) and serves as a beautiful backdrop for photos! There are also a few chapels and areas in Spring Grove (that AREN'T surrounded by graves) that are used for weddings! It's a BEAUTIFUL location!

Here's the GORGEOUS Olivia (I mean, really.... being this hot is just WRONG!)... We started off "pretty" and ended up "funky".... If you know me well, then you know I couldn't pass up some crazy funky graveyard images, right?! Stay tuned for those!

Tracey & Jason - Engagement Session

2009-04-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

Earlier in the week I showed a "sneak peek" from Tracey & Jason's session (check below if you haven't seen it yet), but thought I'd blog more tonight!

I met up with Tracey & Jason last weekend for their engagement session in Dayton, Ohio! I haven't shot a ton in Dayton before, so it was fun to check out new places... there's alot of "grunge"... which I LOVE :o)

They're having an outdoor wedding this summer & I'm so excited for their big day... Stay tuned for those shots in a few months!

For now, here's a few more from their shoot... They're such a sweet couple, it was an awesome afternoon!

One thing I did remember about Dayton is seeing this bus there..... I've been dying to shoot by this bus for months!

Wardrobe change!

Holy cow... those eyes! Jason's are equally as stunning...

Arise from your slumber, O thee... or is it thou?

2009-03-28T14:55:00.000-07:00

My Winter vacation is coming to a close..... The weather is getting nice & that can mean only one thing.... Wedding season! Time for me to come out of my bear cave & get to work! Truth be told, I have a few more weeks until wedding season hits me "full force" but being out today shooting Tracey & Jason's engagement session just got me pumped up!

Note to my couples: If you have been waiting to book your engagement session until the weather perks up, NOW is the time to book your dates! I have some weekend slots open between now & the end of April, and then it's going to get slightly insane :o) So email me soon, please!

Just had to share one little sneak-peek from today.... Can't tell you how much I love these shots... The outfits... location.... oh, and the hot couple! Woot, woot!

Check back later this week for more of Tracey & Jason!

Happy Birthday, buddy.

2009-03-20T16:11:00.000-07:00

Today is my little man's birthday. I can't believe two whole years have flown by since I first saw his little face. I am so blessed to be his mommy.... even when he is a little crazy :o) He has enriched my life in ways I could never otherwise imagine and has helped me to grow into a better person.

I love you, baby boy.

Why I love my job....

2009-03-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

I really am convinced that being a photographer is the greatest job ever. Someone asked me recently "if you could do ANYTHING right now & had nothing holding you back, what would you do?" The first thing out of my mouth was "well, I would still be a photographer..."

Today I had a photoshoot with an adorable little man named Eli to celebrate his 1st birthday. This was just a moment between he & his mommy in between shots of him..... THIS is why I love my job.

Fellow Photogs - Check it out :o)

2009-02-26T18:07:00.001-08:00

I have a bit of an obsession with textures.... to say it lightly & I came across some sweet ones today on the Tofurious blog.... Click HERE to link to their page if you're in the market for some sweet new textures.

Class of '10 Senior Models Wanted!!! Cincinnati - Metro Area

2009-02-23T19:42:00.000-08:00

We're looking for 3 stylin'-seniors to become the face of Amanda Donaho Photography's 2010 Senior photography year!

3 lucky Cincinnati area students (guys or gals!) will receive a complementary senior photo session with yours truly, plus some awesome "business cards" that are personalized with YOUR photos & with our company website. The more cards you pass out to your friends at school who end up booking their session with us, the more free prints you will receive! All 3 models will also receive a free 8x10 of their favorite shot!

Email for more info on how to apply for our 2010 Senior Model Casting Call!

amanda@donahophotography.com

Babies & A Thanks....

2009-02-23T05:48:00.000-08:00

I was hoping today to post new baby photos of my friend Rachel's beautiful new baby girl, Adelaide. My little man Noah & I traveled to Nashville to see her this weekend, and through a course of events we ended up home much sooner than anticipated. Little Noah got really sick, but thankfully he's much better now! Hooray!

Anyways, I'm just in the "baby" mood now, so I'll share some OTHER baby photos :o)

This is the lovely Lydia... isn't she a doll?!

Seriously, babies like this one & beautiful baby Adelaide (whom I wish I'd had more time with to do a shoot of her as well!) give me SERIOUS baby fever!

Also, I wanted to say a big "Thank You!" to Cora, Lydia's mama for the thoughtful gift card to the spa that she sent me.... I am now 100% convinced that the best gift you can give to your photographer (or wedding planner for that matter!) is something to do with a massage, pedicure, or facial :o) Between chasing after my energy filled 2 year old by day, and photographing by night & weekend, I rarely find time to treat myself to things like this, so this was such a fantastic surprise for me! So, thank you my dear friend!

Check out my new facelift!

2009-02-13T05:40:00.000-08:00

Amanda Donaho Photography has a new look!

My blue & brown swirly logo has served it's purpose over the last few years, and while I really loved that cute little thing, I felt it was time for some change...... My style continues to evolve & I really wanted a new look that I felt more accurately displayed who Amanda Donaho Photography really is.

My talented friend (designer & photographer) Cailyn of InRetrospect Design created my beautiful new logo that I absolutely LOVE. Thank you, girl!

If you've been around me very long, you know that my outlook on photography is much more about it being an art form for me than anything else. Some people paint with paint brushes - I paint with a Canon :o) Within that, my style is modern & fresh with a side of vintage funk. All of that is displayed in this new branding & I couldn't be happier!

So pull up a chair & check out the new diggs. I will continue to make some tweaks over the coming days (namely updating the galleries on the website & other pages/info there), so check back for more later!

www.donahophotography.com

My attempt to be "crafty-mom"

2009-02-11T13:40:00.000-08:00

Although I love the thought of being a crafty mom & spending my days making fun little projects with my son, I just don't have the creative skills to make it happen. My friend, Chris, showed me this cool blog with a great idea... Making crayons out of old "scrap" crayons...

So here's how this went down in the Donaho household:

I decided it would be cute to make a Valentine's crayon... So we placed our heart shaped cookie-cutter on the (covered) cookie sheet....

Then you place the cookie sheet in the oven at 275 for about 7 minutes...

Sounds easy enough so far, right?

Not when you forget about the leakage factor UNDER the cookie cutter....

Oops!

I attempted to salvage my little creation by wrapping the foil around it tightly and sticking it in the freezer to cool off.... Here was the final product:

Not too bad, right? Except I didn't use near enough crayon-parts so this thing is super thin.... And you know what that means....

2 minutes after handing it to Noah:

A broken heart. Boo.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

PS -Check out THIS link for a better way to do this :o)

Wedding Wire - 2009 Bride's Choice Awards

2009-02-03T05:12:00.000-08:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Amanda Donaho Photography has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Amanda Donaho Photography is one of the very best photographers.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews. “We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

Amanda Donaho Photography would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

Snow Day

2009-01-28T17:28:00.000-08:00

Today was a snow day in the Donaho household....
along with the rest of the tristate area....
and half of the country.

Thankfully the level 3 storm emergency (aka "don't drive or we'll arrest you") ban has been lifted, as the snow finally has stopped. My little man and I ventured out into the blizzardy-mess long enough to get a sniffly nose, then back inside for warm drinks & cuddling up on the couch to read a book. Though I am more than ready for summer to show its sunny face & bring with it a golden tan for me (...with an icy margarita on the side) it is nice to live in a place where we can enjoy all 4 beautiful seasons. The crisp winter wind, the fluffy white snow, the hot tea, and the cuddling on the couch make this season worth it.

...but please send the margarita soon. :o)

PS.... It's been brought to my attention that I haven't blogged in some time.... oops! I've been getting all caught up on editing & have a little somethin-somethin in the works for a new Amanda Donaho Photography look..... More teasers to come :o)

Upcoming trip to TULSA.... Scheduling bookings!

2009-01-14T11:37:00.000-08:00

Over the last week or two I have received a sudden flood of emails from those of you who know me through when I previously lived in Tulsa asking when I will be in town next to schedule photo shoots.

I've looked at my calendar and it looks like the best time to make the trip that direction will be around the first week of May. If you are interested in scheduling a photo shoot during my trip down please email me at amanda@donahophotography.com

Even if you have already emailed & I've put you on my list of people to contact, dropping me another email just to be sure I've got you down wouldn't hurt! I will be finalizing the exact date of my travel & will begin to schedule specific time slots for shoots within the next week or so & will contact each of you to schedule at that time.

Lots of love to T-town! See you soon!

Britni & Petey - Dayton Wedding

2009-01-07T19:26:00.000-08:00

Britni & Petey tied the knot on Saturday & I wanted to share a few "sneak-peeks" for them.....

They first met when they were mere children & have grown to become best friends & soulmates. Both of their families were so awesome and so close..... I've been known to cry through many ceremonies (yes, while I'm working) but to my surprise this time around it was the reception that had me in tears. They honored their family in so many cool ways & it was so touching. One of my favorite things about what I do is the relationship I develop with my clients... I really feel that my clients aren't just that, but by the end, they're my friends. I wish the two of you the VERY best in Florida.... I'll be thinking of you hanging on the beach while I'm up to my ears in snow :o)

Enjoy the photos!

I am a sucker for all things red.... And at this Christmas color themed wedding, it was everywhere! I was in heaven.....

Britni's final glance in the mirror.....

She looked absolutely brilliant!

While I mingled with the ladies, my rockin' second shooter, Christine, captured this shot of Petey & the guys....

I had to utilize the beautiful Christmas trees at the church for some creative ring shots...

After the ceremony we headed to downtown Dayton for the really fun stuff!

I'm in love with this sweet moment shared under the bleachers...

Mr & Mrs!

The reception was such a great time... I love this great laugh shared during the maid of honors speech.

Congrats, again you two!!! xoxo- Amanda

****WARNING... BOUDOIR PHOTOS TO FOLLOW.... While these photos have been taken in a very tasteful manner, they do show skin, so if you don't want to see... don't scroll!!****

Okay, to end with a little somethin'-somethin' ..... Britni wanted to surprise Petey with an album of boudoir images of herself as his wedding gift! She is just stunning & Petey was sure to let me know (more than once!) how much he LOVED his gift! :o) Here's just a quick couple from that shoot...