On their wedding day, we got just a little lucky. After days of brilliant sunshine, it began to look ominously like rain. OK, it doesn’t sound lucky, but it was. The rain, as it turns out, held off just for the wedding. Jodie and James are lucky as well. Across continents, they found each other. Jodie was living in Boston with roommate found through an ad. According to her roommate-now-maid-of-honor, dating was a little rocky. James was in Boston after emigrating from Ireland. Luckily their paths crossed. Before long, we were all gathered in a living room to plan a wedding.

A what a wedding it was! You see, James and Jodie are so very nice. They welcome everyone like family. They are the type to ask about your day and genuinely care about your answer. Their wedding was filled with friends and family who were equally as kind. To say the wedding felt like a neighborhood would be an understatement. Below are just a few favorites of mine Jodie and James’ neighborly wedding at Westwood Country Club -

Details from the morning, just around the hallway from where Jodie, James and I first met.

Nervous excitement above. Below, Jodie and her mother waiting to leave for the ceremony.

Above – Our Lady of Angels looking gorgeous in the spring. Below – Jodie’s brother comforting their mom.

I love small wedding parties. They always seem a little more – personal.

Above – the gap in the trees looks like a sanctuary in a forest. Below – some private moments between Jodie and James.

Their first dance was amazing. Nearly everyone stood and look on at the new couple. Below, a really funny and really touching toast to Jodie and James.

I’m sometimes asked what I like most about weddings. It’s a toss up between a really good Best Man toast and the parents dances. I just love how proud parents are of their children. I have always strode to make my parents proud, so I certainly know the feeling. Because the pride is so easily seen during the parents dances, I end up sharing the dances again and again.

So that’s all for today. We will certainly have more coming soon, so check back often, or simply subscribe.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

And Carrie and Kevin are so much fun to work with. I know I say it a lot, but they are particularly fun. At points I had trouble doing my job because I was laughing so hard. They both kept each other entertained, and my self as well. I would be awesomeness when Carrie and Kevin did the handshake from Community (those of you who watch the show will know what I mean). Oh – and their execution was perfect. I have to admit I was a little jealous. I might have been practicing with Brooke ever since. I’m not saying I was, but just maybe.

I think you can see their true personalities in the engagement photos below. Carrie and Kevin’s happiness is not manufactured. They really are that amazing together. So, here are just a few favorites -

Oh Bella, Carrie and Kevin’s lovely dog. She was so curious about the entire experience.

I just love the sunlight pouring over Carrie, and the clean background below. This location for photos is definitely a favorite.

I love the photos above and below because of the expressions. Their hands almost tell half the story.

Above, a moment of excitement. Below, a shared private moment together in the evening sunset.

The light was fading fast, and turned a deep orange. We took a quick break and then finished up the session. Above, you can see how orange the light became.

I promised a blimp. I am not sure why the Goodyear Blimp was flying on Friday, but it was over downtown. I particularly like the last photo. It takes a private moment and keeps it private. I simply love how it turned out. Looking forward, we can’t wait for Carrie and Kevin’s wedding in October after their amazing engagement session. They are simply a dream to work with.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

The photo above of Todd alone is one of my all-time favorites from this year. The golden colors framing him in are just perfect. As always, we have much more coming soon, especially since I am on a blogging kick lately. Definitely check back for more, or add us to your favorite RSS reader.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

For their autumn engagement session, we headed over to Barlow Park in Hudson, Ohio, a place familiar to both Annie and I. I love the old barn still present at the park. Bailey, their rescue dog, was an added touch. We love having dogs along for engagement sessions, especially loveable rescue friends. Below are just a few favorites of mine, with some notes.

Rescue dog Bailey with his lovely owners.

Sometimes a failed kiss can be cute. Above and below, I think someone got a tongue in the ear!

I love the photo above. Annie and Derick’s hands are expressive enough to carry the entire photo.

The sun grazing the grass in the last photo is my favorite. I love the golden hues and wish I could find them year round. For the photographers, the colors came alive when the photos were processed through VSCO Film. We are really looking forward to Annie and Derick’s wedding. It will be so nice to see a friend get married and help at the same time.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Joanna’s sense of style also gave her away. She works in the New York fashion industry and her knee-high boots fit her perfectly. Because they live out of state, the date for their engagement session had to be carefully chosen. We timed it perfectly to coincide with a Thanksgiving visit. Me? I was just happy to get out of the house for a few hours. For their session, we went to an old favorite, and some new places as well. We started in downtown Cleveland around the art museum, and then headed to Lakeview cemetery and the Coventry Neighborhood in Cleveland Heights.

A few personal favorites are simply included below -

Above – Joanna looks radiant in her purple dress. Below – David smirking to Joanna off camera as she cracks a joke. I always like to include a couple individual portraits.

Scenes from a deserted parking garage above and below. Who new a simple location could look so nice.

Due to the weather, the leaves fell really late. You can still see some hanging on in the photos above and below.

This last location is one of my favorites. I love how the height of the lamp mirrors Joanna and David together. I’m really looking forward to their upcoming wedding. It’s always so nice to work with such a fun couple. That’s all for today. but look for more coming soon.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Starting with Stephanie and Ben, they are the kindest people you could imagine. They care for one another, and genuinely care for others as well. Knowing Stephanie, you’d completely understand why she’s a nurse. Both Ben and Stephanie love music and share their passion at concerts and trips to SXSW. Equal to Stephanie, Ben is just a cool guy. He’s the type of person you’d want have a beer with over a football game. Of course it doesn’t hurt that we share a passion for cars!

Their wedding in Rocky River and at the Club at Key Center in downtown Cleveland was amazing. Filled with friends and family, the wedding featured a designed inspired by the day’s events. For example, the reception was beautifully decorated. Stephanie and Ben celebrated the day by featuring Margaritas and Mint Julips at the bar. Whether you wanted to celebrate Mexican heritage or your southern roots, the drink choices were perfect. The band was also rocking the house. Being music fans, Stephanie and Ben found the perfect band to light up the Club.

It was also Super-Moon Saturday. We had planned to sneak out from the reception for a portrait in front of the giant moon, but alas there were clouds. Nonetheless, we got some amazing photos, just a few of which are previewed below -

Stephanie looked beyond beautiful in her gorgeous, slender dress. She was perfectly flawless!

Above you can feel the excitement. Her family and friends were anxious for her and Ben as well.

Above – custom-made cufflinks. Below – two very cute nephews.

I love that Ben escorted his parents down the aisle. It was a personal touch that really made a big difference.

A little trip-up with the vows is always good for a laugh.

Although it’s hard to tell, Stephanie and Ben had amazing weather for early May. Blue skies, full sun and mild temperatures.

I love proud fathers, as seen above. Below, did I mention the cute kids.

Stephanie’s sister and Maid of Honor was thrilled for the new couple. The excitement continues below.

Another personal touch – Stephanie’s sister made her a clutch, by hand, out of their grandmother’s wedding dress.

Above and below – a stylish design featuring purple orchids to match their wedding colors.

A hand-drawn seating card and mint julip above. And Stephanie and Ben’s very touching first dance below.

Last but not least – Fitz and the Tantrums to end the night.

Sure we might have missed the super-moon due to a few pesky clouds. But how do you improve on perfect? That’s all for today. More than anything, I hope Stephanie and Ben enjoy their preview before the depart for their honeymoon tomorrow. I, however, have a full week ahead. There is much, much more coming all week long.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

I gave myself a fun little challenge – one camera, one lens and one film stock. Then lens wasn’t even a zoom and there was no digital “crutch”. Below are a few favorites with minimal commentary -

Above – St. George, Grenada. Below, my father at the helm and Brooke taking her first turn.

Sailing has it’s own language. Unless you speak it, things can get really confusing.

My brother moving us through the water at six knots, and Brooke taking a sunset swim.

Pulling into Hillsborough Harbor on Carriacou Island at sunset.

My brother waiting at the fish market while our Dorado was cleaned at fileted.

We almost made Peter the new masthead on the boat.

Above – colors from Clifton Harbor on Union Island. Below – Angelo photobombing my brother.

Above – Happy Island and rum punches. Also my brother making some iphonography.

Above- Brooke looking radiant at Happy Island and back on the boat.

Above and below – Mopion Island, which might be the most photographed island in the world. The island is tiny and the single umbrella is perfect. We left our mark, albeit in temporary charcoal. I can say one thing – the island definitely needs a bottle opener.

Sunset dinner of spiny lobster in the Tobago Cays.

Detail of a fishing boat and sunset in Hillborough above.

Above – pulling back into St. George and the Timoneer, the largest sail boat I have ever seen. Below, enjoying one last Carib in St. George.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

To kick things off with a bang, I always greet new clients with excitement. Weddings are a really exciting time for couples and I want to contribute to the enthusiasm. After the boring contract business is done, I want to make sure the excitement builds right away. I take time to send couples an email right away. I greet them with honest excitement. After all, I really am excited to be working with them and to start a new relationship. This kind of opening helps reassure any client that they made the right decision. The news is filled with sensationalized wedding horror stories, so reassuring your clients can make a big difference.

A week later, I follow-up with step two. No, I don’t send them some FAQ document or more things “deal” with. Instead, I send them a simple gift, and the gift is something personal to me. A core component of my brand is the idea of a “gift,” so offering my clients something at the beginning really helps to under-score my brand.

If this concept sounds right for you, but you feel it might be too expensive, you’re be over-thinking it. The gift I offer is small and inexpensive. What’s important is that the gift is personal to me. So how did I arrive at this specific gift?

• I often greet clients in my home-office with fresh cookies. It’s just a great way to start a meeting!
• The sweet treats are a specific memory from my youth that I am excited to share. Hopefully, this creates a personal connection.
• Last, I want to underscore my gratitude with personalized thank you note.

In the future, I will be adding some more components that will allow the welcome gift to be personal to my clients as well. Are sweet treats not right for you? All that’s needed to come up with something unique and personal to you is a small time investment.

On a completely random note, business has been growing by leaps and bangs lately. So much so that the shipping department needed a new employee. I recently added “Hector” to the staff I expect he will improve productivity. And yes, I do name inanimate objects around the office. Weird, but that’s me.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

And they both love furry best friends! We met at their house for their engagement session. Victoria and Joshua were waiting outside with their two dogs. When they first met, each of them already had a furry best friend. Now, they’re a 12 legged happy family. At first the dogs were a little shy, so we took it easy. I spent sometime outside and inside getting to know them, and bribing them with treats. Before long, the dogs were warmed up and ready to go. And what personalities they have! They were jumpy, fun and bright during the entire session.

After a little while with the dogs, we headed out on our own. We stopped by a local outdoor mall in Westlake, and then headed to a personal favorite – the beach at Huntington Park in Bay Village. Below are a few favorites from this Sunday evening -

I think dogs know they look best when standing on their hind legs. Below – a great wide shot of a fluffy furry monster.

Above – I think the dog was more afraid of the hydrant than the hydrant of the dog. Below, Victoria looks amazing in the late afternoon sun.

The framing above is one of my favorites. Also a favorite – the oblivious woman talking on a cell phone.

Whenever possible I like to capture individual portraits during engagement sessions. The lines in the above photos make them favorites.

Love the last two, especially the photo on the left. The flare from the low sun is just gorgeous. I also love Victoria’s expression. Looking forward, we are already getting excited for Victoria and Joshua’s wedding, but that is a story for another day.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

We met at their family property, filled with forests and meadows. After chatting for a few minutes, we headed across the meadow and up a hill to the forest. “Are you OK crossing rough ground with your equipment,” Drew asked. “I was a boy scout,” I said, which seemed to address any concern. We were looking for a waterfall. Alicia and Drew have spent hours together in the meadows and sitting by the falls. Eventually we arrive at the beautiful falls. The waterfall was just a simple drop in the forest, but it was surrounded my hemlocks and moss made lush by spring rains.

Alicia and Drew’s relationship may have matured on this land, but it started in college. Alicia and Drew have known each since college, and as Alicia puts it “I have had a huge crush on Drew since the end of college.” As is typical, she was dropping hints, but Drew missed them. I am notorious for that as well. They continued to spend time together, and after separate mission trips in Africa, their relationship really took off. Now, their wedding is just around the corner, but that is a story for another day. Below are a few favorites from their gorgeous engagement session -

Above – Alicia and Drew in evening light passing through the forest. Below, Alicia looking up to Drew.

We came across a transmission line right-of-way cutting through the forest. Underneath the wires, the sun was streaming across the field, lighting up the tan grasses. Below, a covered bridge around the corner from their property.

Alicia and Drew have such fun together. They really are the perfect couple – great fun, deeply loving, caring and oh so beautiful.

Just before sunset we hopped over to the Lake Erie shore near Conneaut, Ohio. The peach-colored light cast a amazing tone across the beach.

I like the last photo in particular because it looks like they are ready for what is ahead. What’s ahead looks sunny and bright. For the photographers out there, the majority of the above was shot on film. The balance is digital processed with VSCO. You might spot the differences, you might not. Well, that’s all for today. Many more coming soon.

See y'all soon,
Hunter