Tagged: lakewood

Courtney & Bill – A Winter Engagement in Lakewood

I try to make engagement sessions memorable for my clients. I always suggest that the session be a small part of a more romantic day. For example, I suggest they plan a nice dinner for after the session. I also like to include locations that have special meaning for my clients. For example, where they first met or where they were engaged. So was the case for Courtney and Bill. We returned to where they met, and spent many hours together.

While Courtney and Bill currently live in Florida, we returned to where they met for their engagement session. It also happens to be my current home town – Lakewood. To make things really personal, we also visited the Kenilworth Bar and Grille. They first met at the Kenilworth, through mutual friends I believe, and lived nearby before moving to Florida. And like any good session, it started with a beer at the bar.

From there, we simply wandered around our home town, stopping from time to time for a few photos. While it was bitterly cold, I think the entire session came out wonderfully. I especially love Courtney’s bright pink coat and Bill’s scarf. We ended the session by the lake shore. While a bit windy, the shoreline made for a gorgeous backdrop. Below are just a few highlights. Personally I can’t wait for their Cleveland wedding. Thankfully, Cleveland is a lot warmer in September.

A winter engagement session in Lakewood, Ohio with Courtney and Bil A winter engagement session in Lakewood, Ohio with Courtney and Bil A winter engagement session in Lakewood, Ohio with Courtney and Bil A winter engagement session in Lakewood, Ohio with Courtney and Bil A winter engagement session in Lakewood, Ohio with Courtney and Bil

Jodie & James – Rocky River Wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie, James and I sat down in a comfortable living room to discuss their wedding. The meeting was just a couple blocks from my house and I could have walked over. Jodie’s parents were practically my neighbors. Even their house number was only slightly different than my own. Strangely, it felt as though I was meeting with neighbors. I say strangely because Jodie and James live so far away. They were in town visiting from Boston, where they live. James is actually from much, much further away. By the end of the meeting, we had their wedding all planned out, I had met some new neighbors, and could not wait for April to roll around.

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 –

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

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

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

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

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

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

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

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

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

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

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

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.

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

Jodie & James' Rocky River wedding at Westwood Country Club

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.

Elise- High School Senior Portraits Around Lakewood

I focus on weddings around the Cleveland area almost exclusively. However, I’ve spread out a little lately to take on some high school senior portraits for students around Lakewood and Rocky River. The sessions are a welcome change from weddings. Instead of working hard for one client over months and photographing large groups of people, senior portrait sessions offer a completely different approach. I love working with a single student for a few hours at a time. The concentration on just one person can have magical results. So I was happy to take on another senior portrait session when Elise and her mother, Mary, contacted me.

All three of us wanted some variety in the pictures, so we planned the afternoon session for multiple locations around the Lakewood and Cleveland areas. After a little time in my Lakewood studio, we headed out into the beautiful October weather. We shot a little in Cleveland’s west flats, as well as locations around Lakewood.

For each senior portrait session, I like to include something personal about the client. For Elise, she was absolutely in love with her mid-eighties Mercedes Benz. This opened us up to shooting at a location I had on my list for a long time – a simple car wash in Lakewood. I knew the light streaming through the wash bay in the evening would be truly magical. In the end, the shots at the car wash turned out to be my favorite, and we happily avoided the standard car wash cliches.

Here are just a few highlights and some personal favorites –

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

Shooting in a truck parking lot might not seem like a good idea a first. However, the light passing through the golden fall leaves creates a gorgeous color palette with Elise’s fair skin and blonde hair.

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

Elise brought an amazing variety of outfits to her senior session. This allowed us to mix and match the outfits and create something unique for each location. Not to mention, she just has great style!

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

I drive by this car wash nearly daily and I have always wanted to shoot here. The light can be really amazing. I just love how the light seems to flood everything and be constrained at the same time.

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

Right as the sun was setting, we were able to capture the last photo below. I love how the light moves through the water spray. Elise’s “straight” glance is also priceless.

High school senior portraits for Elise in Lakewood and Cleveland

So that’s all for Elise’s senior portrait session. We had a great time, and Elise and Mary were very happy with the results. I was just happy I could help. Looking forward, I will have a few more senior portrait sessions coming soon and I’m really looking forward to them. The sessions are definitely a welcome change of pace.  To see what we are working on this very moment, stop by Facebook for a quick peak.

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