Working with Alli and Dan could not have been better. Normally working with an out-of-town couple can have some challenges. However, Alli’s family was a huge help. Working with her mother before the wedding made all the difference in the world. Plus, I felt a personal connection to Alli and Dan. They were referred to me by friends and live in my old home town – Chicago.

The wedding was entirely hosted by the Renaissance, with the ceremony and reception in different rooms. The design created by Kim Singerman of Noteworthy Events was stylish, opulent and understated all at the same time. Various tones of white were used throughout and it looked amazing. The reception was lit beautifully to really show off the hotel. To compliment the great design, the team at Stephen Tokar Floral & Designs brought in some amazing floral arrangements. They draped a custom-made chuppah in white orchids and used complimentary flowers to decorate the tables.

So what really kept the guests going late into the night? None other than the Jerry Bruno Orchestra. They were so much fun and created an high-energy atmosphere. Below are just a few of my favorite photographs from the day -

Alli’s sisters and mother helped her to slip into her gorgeous wedding dress. The full veil was perfect for Alli. We then headed out into downtown Cleveland for a first look.

Coordinating a first look in an open space can always be tough. Thankfully, it was a little easier this time because we had a great team to help out.

Oooh – so exciting! The anticipation always kills me.

I love Dan’s reaction to seeing Alli for the first time. That reaction is why I always recommend a first look if my clients are willing.

One of the best times during a Jewish wedding ceremony is signing the Ketubah (marriage contract). The families gather around as the rabbi reads the document and the bridal party signs it. I really like the wide-angle photojournalistic shot above.

As I noted above, Alli and Dan’s wedding chuppah was gorgeous. It was draped top to bottom in white orchids, candles and beaded crystal threads.

All happiness and cheers on their wedding day!

The reception design created by Noteworthy Events and Stephen Tokar was lavish and classic! Simple white flowers throughout to match each place setting. Even more so, the lighting design really lit up the room (pun completely intended).

Alli’s sisters gave the most heart-felt and hysterical toast. They know Alli and Dan so well, and clearly love them to death.

Alli and Dan’s first dance backed by the Jerry Bruno Orchestra was great. All of the wedding guests stood and cheered the happy couple.

 The photo above is definitely my favorite. I have a real soft spot for emotional father-daughter dances. Plus, you can just see Alli’s sister in the background snapping a pic of her own.

Of course it wouldn’t be a wedding without the traditional Hora dance. Alli’s mother later commented that it was one of the longest and largest she has seen. I believer her! I was exhausted by the end.

I think you can see the real excitement above. Everyone, including your’s truly, was so excited for Alli and Dan. You gotta love weddings full of love.

To end, the Jerry Bruno Orchestra doing their thing. One of Alli’s bride’s maids jumped in on the singing action. So, that’s all for today. Definitely stop back soon as I have more coming to the website. Also, give us a “like” on Facebook where you can keep up with our current work.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Stephanie and Ben wanted to include the idea of live music in their engagement session. They love going to concerts and listening to music together at home. So, we planned to hit the Collinswood Arts district for a visit to the Beachland Ballroom and Music Saves. I would have loved to inside the Beachland, but their was some crazy children’s show going on. I was just happy to visit some great new locations. While it was mid-November, we did also want to include the fall colors where possible. Thankfully, our weird weather this year kept the leaves around a little longer. We headed to one of my favorite places, Cleveland’s cultural gardens where we found a yellow ginkgo sea.

A few of my fun favorites are below. The photos might look a little familiar – one is currently featured on my home page. Enjoy!

The Collinswood Arts district is such a great place to visit. It’s so colorful and has lot’s of indie music options.

You can only see a small part of the mural above. You’ll have to trust me – it’s crazy! As for Stephanie and Ben, it’s so nice when they laugh together, or at me!

The winds may have striped the leaves from the trees, but the color was all around. The yellow ginkgo leaves seemed to carpet everything.

I still cannot remember what I said or did to elicit the reaction in the last photo, but I love it. Maybe Stephanie will remind me one day. That’s all for today. I have been on a tear lately with new content on our website, so make sure to check back often. Also, give us a “like” on Facebook where you can find our most current work.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

When the day arrived, I simply met them at their house. We gathered up the dog and headed out for a local park. The sun was beaming through the trees, creating the perfect place for an afternoon outside. After Zoey had her time in the spotlight, we moved to some of my favorite places. One is a little secret of mine, but you will definitely see it below. The other is Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Given the season, it’s hard to resist spending some time in the valley sun. The park makes for such a nice afternoon. You just have to watch out for the crazy bikers (their everywhere and their fast!).

Danielle and Matt’s wedding is coming up soon. Given what I know about the event, I really am excited for them. Their wedding will be truly amazing! And so close to my house, which is just a little bonus! Below are just a few of my favorite moments from their engagement session. It was hard to pick just a few key photos. Danielle and Matt are so close to each other, and it makes every photo really stand out. Kinda like spending time with them – they are just stand-out people (Zoey too)!

Zoey really is unforgettable. She patiently held still for the camera like nothing I have seen before.

The golden light cast off from Danielle’s scarf is amazing. And I was happy to catch a nice private moment as well.

Almost on queue, Danielle and Matt were great at ignoring me and doing their own thing. I was just changing a lens and caught the moment above just in time.

She’s simply beautiful. I’m sure she will look radiant for Matt in her wedding dress.

I still can’t get over how amazing Danielle and Matt looked as a couple. On their engagement session, they just seemed perfectly fit for each other and the season. Soon the wedding will come rolling along and I’ll have more then. However, in the meantime, check back soon as I have a whole list of new stuff coming. Also, check us out on Facebook where you can keep up with our current work.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

On the drive to their house, I could see a storm chasing me down. Not long before I arrived, the clouds opened up and the rain began. Then it rained more and more and more.  Before long, it was clear the steady drizzle would not quit. I was happy to reschedule or continue, and left the decision to Molly and Dave. After some discussion, we continued.

I’m so glad we continued. The rain added drama when desired, or we could duck into sheltered spaces when needed. After shooting around their home, we headed into downtown Cleveland. I know of many sheltered places in the city, so it was the perfect choice for a good session.

Below are a few of my favorites. The rain need not go away, and we had a wonderful day (I know, I should be a poet .

Oh, Bella! Molly and Dave’s Shar-Pei is so sweet. They rescued her from a bad situation and she now has a forever home. As the owner of multiple rescue dogs, I could not have been happier to meet Bella.

We had always planned to use their antique convertible, and the rain wasn’t going to stop us. I love the above-right photo. It feels like the outside looking in.

Molly and Dave really know how to have fun together. Here we are in a parking garage in downtown Cleveland. The empty garage may sound like a strange location, but it offers a nice, clean background and gorgeous, dynamic light.

I don’t pose people much, and I hardly needed to do anything with Molly and Dave. They are just so comfortable with each other.

Above – a private moment with Molly as we waited for some heavy rain to pass. Below, some special requests from the couple.

I would love to share so much more from this session, like some fun “angry bunny” faces, but those are just for Molly and Dave.

There’s  more coming soon, so keep an eye on the website. For more up-to-the-minute work, check out our page on Facebook where I share what I am working on now.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Meeting families ahead of the wedding is always so nice. Getting to know each person is important to me, so the surprise presence of the entire family was very welcome. Even better for their session, a late autumn sun was beaming across Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio.

By far the best part – better than all the above – was simply Katie and Jonah together. They are a truly magical couple. Their love for each other, in ever aspect, is evident all the time. On that particular day, they were relaxed and wonderful to be with. Even better, they brought their dog along, which always makes me smile.

Katie always seemed so happy when Jonah held her hand, gave her a deep hug, or simply kissed her forehead. She would become completely radiant.

After the session, I came home and immediately started working on their photos. When I saw the photo at above-right, I nearly melted. I couldn’t resist posting an early preview.

I love the autumn colors and bright light through all of their photos, especially above.

When a couple selects a photo for printing, it’s always a good sign. Katie ordered the above in the largest size possible!

The peaceful expressions in the above-left is one of my favorites. I think the magic is in Katie’s smile.

On another note – our weird weather this year really brought out things I haven’t seen in ages. I cannot remember the last time a saw a woolly-bear. This year it seemed like I saw them all the time. Snakes too, but that’s another story.

At the end of the day, Katie and Jonah sat down on a nearby bench. I melted into the background and caught the photo above. The beaming sun reflected off of Katie’s shirt bathed Jonah’s face in golden light. I just love it!

That’s all for today. Definitely check us out on Facebook for our latest work, and stop back soon. We have lot’s more coming since I am in catch-up mode today.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

An engagement session that feels simple is usually a great one. Working with Molly & Zac felt very simple and comfortable from the beginning. I consider all of my clients to be friends, and this was especially so for Molly & Zac. Prior to working with them, I already considered Molly’s family to be personal friends, but that’s a story for another day.

Molly & Zac gave me creative freedom for their engagement session. We decided to keep it nice and simple. We spent a gorgeous afternoon walking around various neighborhoods in downtown Cleveland. Making it better, it was a warm and comfortable afternoon with amazing light.

We were also lucky! Below are a few of my favorite photos from the session. You’ll notice an Air-stream trailer filled with vintage clothing. We just so happened to stumble across a street fair with the trailer sitting at the end. It was a totally fortunate accident (wink, wink).

I love that Zac is gently holding Molly’s hand above. Her smile is priceless as well.

Molly is a true Clevelander, so we made sure to stop by a true Cleveland institution. In hindsight, we should have stopped longer and had a beer!

The last photo is one of my favorites from the summer. It’s an image I had stored in my head for months. I was waiting for the right couple and the right time. For Molly and Zac, it the setup was perfect, but their execution was even better.

That’s all for today. As always, find us on Facebook to keep us with our current work. And, more coming to the website very soon.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

Jessica and Justin really deserved a special day, especially Jessica. As it turned out, everything went smoothly and seemingly perfectly. The Abbey was a gorgeous place to hold their ceremony. Normally only the domain of monks, the Abbey opened their doors just for this lovely couple. The weather cast a bright light over the Cleveland Cultural gardens. Lastly, La Malfa put on a real show for their returning guests. You see, Justin’s family has held their weddings with La Malfa for years. As I said, familiarity is good.

Below are just a few highlights from a good day, one that I felt was filled with friendship -

A new iPad for the wedding? Yes please! Something I saw a lot this year was grooms recording heart-felt videos for their bride to watch on the wedding day. I love the personal touch.

There may have been a little dancing before the wedding ceremony.

This was my first time to St. Andrew’s Abbey at the Benedictine School and I love it for two simple reasons – giant double-doors and a hoop of lights over the alter.

Jessica and Justin are truly blessed – they had four priests to oversee their wedding and received a personal blessing from the Pope (see below)! Remember I mentioned the value of familiarity? Father Michael recognized me and took a moment to make sure I got the shot below. It was welcome and quite embarrassing at the same time (I like to blend in).

I about died when I saw the photo above. This is truly one of my favorites from the whole year. Such a simple thing – a hoop of lights.

I love proud parents, and bless the Jakab’s – two weddings in one year!

Some of my favorite formal photos are actually the less formal ones. Loose groups of friends just seem so much more natural than people standing in straight lines.

Even though it was late October, you couldn’t tell in Cleveland. The sun beaming through the still-green trees was amazing.

The above photo says so much to me. Jessica and Justin seem ready to march into the bright and beautiful future they have ahead.

Jessica and Justin put on a real show at the wedding reception for their first dance. They had practiced a gorgeous dance and executed it to perfection.

Now this is a sight to see – the dance floor slammed packed with people for the very first song. The DJ did an amazing job getting everyone on the dance floor. It was like nothing I have seen before!

Jessica and Justin definitely have a bright and beautiful future ahead. They are an extraordinary couple with wonderful family to support them, and I’m sure they will have very accomplished lives together. That’s all for the moment. More is definitely coming soon. In the meantime, Facebook is a great way to keep up with what we are working on currently.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

They may have been lucky to have had great weather in mid-October, but the fun they created was no luck. Surrounded by a great group of friends and loving family, the day featured one of the most passionate wedding ceremonies I have ever seen. The time we took for formal photos was fun and filled with laughter. Later that night, the reception at Cleveland’s Union Club was magical. The whole day could not have gone any better.

Below are just a few of my favorite moments, with little notes to match -

When I walked in, Jesi rushed to show me here new shoes. I think she was almost more proud of her shoes than the dress.

As a wedding gift, Alex gave Jesi a video recorder for the honeymoon, complete with a heart felt video pre-recorded for her to watch. To say the video was moving would be an understatement.

I think Jesi would have brought her dog do the wedding if she could. Such a cute dog too!

I love all of the mothers of brides. They work so hard to help their daughters plan fabulous weddings in exchange for a simple hug on the wedding day.

Given the a day full of love, I expected tears at the wedding ceremony. However, they came from an unexpected source. This was a first for me, and oh so perfect!

Through the whole ceremony, Jesi and Alex were simply beaming. Below is one of my favorite shots. I love it when couples pause for a kiss during the recessional.

With such a great group of friends, the formal photos were filled with laughter and great candid moments. Jesi and Alex had some big plans for their formal photos and they came out better than I anticipated.

Above is such a simple photo, and I love the sense of space and the little details that provide clues to the downtown Cleveland location. Below are two of my favorites. A private, candid moment and a deep passionate wedding day kiss.

The Union Club really shined for Jesi & Alex’s wedding. The flowers, colors, cake and details looked perfect together, and they really set the tone for a magical evening.

I happened to be with Jesi when she selected the gold-sequined table cloths. She was absolutely right – they sparkled wonderfully in the light.

Alex’s best man gave the funniest toast of the year. The whole room, including yours truly, was roaring with laughter. Jesi’s sister and maid of honor then had the whole room crying with joy.

One thing that really set Jesi and Alex’s wedding apart was the copious use of light. The Union Club features a star-lit dance floor. Added in was additional dance floor and room lighting. It really made the couple, and the room, shine!

Let’s not forget mothers of the grooms. Below is a tight embrace from Alex to his mother at the end of their dance. The photo below demonstrates what I look for most – photos with real, honest emotion.

Party time! And what a party it was. The band had the dance floor rocking all night long. I have never seen a crowd dance so much!

If your looking for one thing to set your wedding apart, love will do just fine. It seems like such a simple thing, but it depends on everyone at the wedding. Jesi and Alex’ family filled the room with love and it made a huge difference. The locations they chose were also magical. To be a small part of their wedding was a joy.

Look for more weddings and engagements from this year coming soon. Also, don’t forget to look us up on Facebook to see what we are working on at the moment.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

For the photographers, this was processed with the new VSCO Film from Visual Supply Co.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

The focus of their wedding seemed simply to be love and family. During preparation, the first thing we did was spend time with Molly’s family. Her bridal party consisted of her four sisters, a soon to be sister-in-law, plus a few dear friends. We took the opportunity to capture portraits of the beautiful ladies together with Molly’s parents. I knew going in that a “must have” was a nice portrait of Molly with just her mother and sisters.

The wedding ceremony at Solon’s St. Rita Church overflowed with love. The tone during the homely was simply one of joy as the minister recounted heartfelt stories about Molly and Zac. I must admit that I privately laughed along with the family at the ministers remarks. Thankfully the layout of the church afforded us a unique opportunity to capture reactions of friends and family during the wedding ceremony. A treat I won’t soon forget. Every time someone say “we’re getting married in Solon”, I hope it is soon followed by “at St. Rita”.

Speaking of treats, working for the first time at Cleveland’s famous Landerhaven during the wedding reception was delicious. Seriously, we only get a chance to eat once during the entire day. It really can be exhausting, so a meal is always welcome. But Landerhaven laid out the most amazing spread for us lowly photographers. With batteries recharged, we rushed into the reception. The band struck up and the dance floor was packed. Nearly the entire night, the five sisters and Mother danced together. The entire crowd may have sung a special version of “Goodbye Earl”, but you didn’t hear that from me.

For Molly and Zac – thank you! Your wedding meant more to me than I think you know. Simply, thank you for including us. Oh, and Brooke say “Hiya!” Now, here are just a few of my many favorites -

Molly looked truly radiant in her feathered dress, one unlike any other. It was truly gorgeous. Almost better were the bride’s maids dressed in picture-perfect green seersucker dresses. I remember asking Molly about her wedding colors. When she said seersucker, I nearly fell out of my chair. I have always wanted a seersucker suit (yes, I have an addiction to suits, too). I wonder if I can find that green seersucker fabric? I think I would look sharp in green.

Before the ceremony I spent a little extra time hidden away with Molly and the bride’s maids. Their love for Molly on her big day and the look of adoration they shared was priceless.

It’s rare that we can conspicuously get close to the action during the ceremony. St. Rita afforded us a comfortable vantage point to closely capture all of the wedding ceremony action and reaction.

I believe it was Molly who originally suggested bridal portraits in Chagrin Falls. I wasn’t convinced it would work without being cliche, but boy was I wrong. We ended up there after our primary location was finished. Since that time, Chagrin Falls has become one of my favorite spots. I might claim it’s because Chagrin is a gorgeous backdrop. Other’s know it is really because Jeni’s Ice Cream has a shop in Chagrin.

Molly mentioned wanting a picture of her Grandfather, but she never mentioned that he was a retired photographer. He saw the polaroid hanging over my shoulder and we just started chatting. I’m so happy he found the camera interesting enough to tinker with it for a while.

See y'all soon,
Hunter