Posts tagged Beach | Columbus Wedding Photographer

Sami & JohnHuntington Beach Engagement Session

I can imagine how they met. Sitting next to each other in business class, noticing one another over time. An unnoticed glance from her. A hidden glance back from him. Bumping into one another at the home of a shared friend. A relationship that starts cool, but builds quickly. At least that’s how I imagine it in my head after talking to Sami and John during their Huntington Beach engagement session.

Like my wife and I, Sami and John started dating on Valentine’s Day. After a few years, they were engaged. As Sami tells it, she thought something was odd that Christmas Eve in the park. It was unusually warm for winter. Nonetheless, John gripped is jacket tight, sweating the whole time. They hiked for some time, eventually reaching a hidden bridge. He shed his unnecessarily thick jacket, producing a ring and a heart-felt proposal.

Now it’s nearly time to cross another bridge. In just a few short months, Sami and John will be sharing vows during their Cleveland wedding. Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time I’ve photographed Sami. She was also in her cousin’s wedding, which I captured earlier this year. Below, you can find some highlights from their Huntington Beach engagement session. We also had the opportunity to visit many other spots around downtown Cleveland. Hope you enjoy!

Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Cleveland engagement photography with Sami and John

Sarah & Kyle – An Evening Engagement Session by the Lakes

I was standing in the library parking lot at Coe Lake waiting for Sarah and Kyle to arrive. The plan for their evening engagement session was to start at Coe Lake in Berea, then head over to Huntington Beach in Bay Village to wrap up at sunset. It wasn’t until just a few minutes ago that I realized we planned their engagement session beside the shores of two lakes – Coe and Erie. Strange, but true. Maybe I should plan the same in the future, since I love how the photos turned out!

When Kyle and Sarah did arrive, I noticed something strange. Or, at least, it was strange to me. “You’re a paratrooper,” I asked Kyle. I had noticed something on his car that gave away his past. His paratrooper past seemed strange relative to how I had seen the two of them together. They are both very loving and clearly close friends. Furthermore, the idea of a hardened paratrooper didn’t seem to match with what I know of their engagement story.

Kyle hatched the engagement plan a full year in advance. Each year, Sarah and Kyle color Easter eggs together. It was this yearly tradition that initially gave Kyle the idea. Flash forward a full year and he was ready. Again they were coloring eggs together when Kyle scrawled a message on one egg with a clear wax pencil. Into the dye went the egg and the message was revealed. The note on the egg was presented – “Sarah will you marry me.” Of course the answer was yes, or we wouldn’t be here today.

That is some serious planning and a seriously brilliant idea! It definitely ranks as one the best engagement stories I have heard. I guess a good story deserves good photos. I certainly hope you enjoy some of my favorite highlights below –

A summer sunset engagement session at Coe Lake captured on film with Sarah and Kyle

Cleveland Family Photos with Michelle & Amir at Huntington Beach

I’m so thrilled that I had another chance to work with Michelle, Amir and their young son, Michael. Needless to say, I was thrilled with the results from their first family lifestyle session. Before, it was winter and we just decided to stay inside their home in Lakewood. Now, it’s summer so we headed out to Huntington Beach in Bay Village for another family lifestyle session.

Many other things have changed too since this past winter. Michael is much larger now and walking on his own. He’s even learning little words. I think “ball” is his favorite word, given how excited he got for every ball that rolled by on the beach. The beach has changed as well. For whatever reason, it was amazingly crowded on this particular Sunday. I’ve never seen so many people at Huntington Park, but I guess that is a good thing. Lastly, Michelle has changed as well. Something new might be coming soon for both Michelle and Amir.

Sadly, I was informed of some unwelcome news as well. They are likely moving home to be near family, which means they won’t be so near by. However, we are already talking about traveling for family sessions, which should be great fun. For today, enjoy some highlights from their latest family lifestyle session, all captured on film at sunset.

A summer family portrait session at Huntington Beach in Bay Village with Michelle, Amir and Michael.

I love the one of Michael removing the sunglasses, and the one of Michelle holding him in the air. Then again, it’s hard not to love them all. That’s all for today. I’ll be back soon with more sessions and weddings.

Tagged: Beach