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

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

The ceremony at the gorgeous Old Stone Church in downtown Cleveland was a first for me. I had a chance to tour the church the Friday before the wedding. Filled with Tiffany glass windows, it’s the perfect setting for a wedding. Jennifer was also gorgeous in her wonderful wedding dress. In fact, the whole wedding party was quite dashing.

Before the ceremony, Jennifer and Omer met for the first time that day. Bad weather outside kept us inside, but we found a great location. They looked amazingly happy together, and we were happy to be a small part of the moment.

Flash forward to the reception at The Club at Key Center. Everyone cut loose for dancing. Michael and I commented to each other that it was some of the best fun we ‘ve had working. Omer’s family is Pakistani, so the reception was filled with Bhangra music. I happen to be a huge fan of Bhangra, so we had an absolutely blast during the reception. I’m not saying he was, but Michael may have been dragged onto the dance floor. Unlike times past, it was not to dance the Electric Slide.

Below are just a few favorites from this wedding of beauty and bhangra -

I love that everyone in Jennifer’s family was present to help her get ready. Even her father was hanging near by for support.

Jennifer looked so radiant during the first look.

During the first look we like to back way away, and still try to capture the private moments. I love the silhouette above and expression below.

The lighting at the Club was perfect  for portraits, even though the weather outside was awful.

Above, the kiss was Omer’s idea. Below, a quick candid moment during family formal photos.

At night, the Club was transformed for the reception. The decor and colors were so rich! And the staff so wonderfully helpful.

Above, Omer and Jennifer greeting guests during the reception. Below, Jennifer’s very proud father.

Jennifer and Omer looked so happy during their first dance. At the end, they encouraged everyone to join in.

Right here…this is where things got a little crazy. In a good way. In the way you never forget!

Above, you can tell why Jennifer noticed Omer dancing at his brother’s wedding. Who wouldn’t notice Omer.

And those last couple end one crazy awesome wedding. As Michael put it after the wedding, it was 100 pounds of awesome-sauce. In all seriousness, we had a blast and have two amazing clients to thank. It’s been such a pleasure working with both Jennifer and Omer. You couldn’t ask for more genuine, extraordinary friends.

That’s all for today. We do have more engagement sessions coming soon, so check back often. Otherwise, you can keep up with current work and ramblings on Facebook.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

In the guide, I discuss a few topics critical to starting a successful wedding photography business. Key point include correcting for the inevitable mistakes, creating a cohesive brand, and building your site for solid SEO performance (that’s Google, y’all). I highly recommend getting a copy for yourself. I plan to read it cover-to-cover tonight.

But wait, there’s more! When PhotoShelter interviewed me for the guide, we talked for a solid hour. The whole process has been a pleasure. However, there were a couple tips I forgot to include during the interview. To provide additional benefit, I though I would include the additional information right here.

Are you absolutely certain?
Photography can sound like a wonderful career. People have visions of running all over the world photographing amazing clients in beautiful locations. But that’s not how it works. In reality, photography is tough. It doesn’t pay well and you have to work very long hours. Of the hours you do work, very few are actually spent capturing photographs. The balance of the time is spent running a business, caring for your clients, editing photos, and really boring stuff like….taxes!

So ask yourself this – must I become a professional photographer to be happy? If you like your job well enough and enjoy time with your family, consider remaining a very serious amateur. There is nothing wrong with being the best damn amateur photographer ever. However, if you are chasing a vision in your head that you can’t get out, then maybe it is time to become a pro. One commonality among the professionals I know is an insatiable drive to capture a certain vision again and again. It’s not something they can let go.

It’s a vision thing
Being a master at business and client relations is important, but when it comes to any creative pursuit, you need a solid vision that defines your work. Developing this vision is like developing a muscle – it needs work each and every day. Here are some initial steps I took to hone my personal vision -

• Use a tool like Google reader to build a large collection of work that speaks to you. Google reader is a great tool for curating work from other photography blogs.
• Over time, decide which of the collected works really speak to you. Eliminate all those that don’t.
• Hone the remaining list down to those that share common visual themes. What you like creatively will begin to stick out.
• With your list of “visionaries” in mind, take the style you have curated and make it your own. Add your personal touch.

The above is not something that has an ending. It’s a muscle you must constantly exercise.

It’s always personal
The saying “it’s just business” makes my skin crawl. Who could think such a thing?! Business is, and should be, very personal. Build your photography or creative business around relationships. Serve your clients well and constantly surprise them. Show them you care about more than just their work. Demonstrate that you care for them as people. As I mention in the guide, a core component to my brand is that I want my clients to feel as though they were given a gift. This is a critical part of what I do for my clients – and it’s deeply personal for me and for them.

That’s all for today. Definitely checkout the guide. Also, stop back here often. I will be adding much more content for photographers very soon. Until then, you can keep up with our current work on Facebook.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

I think Dave loves Molly because she sees the good in everything, and because she is a great mother to their dog, Bella. She cares deeply for the well-being of all, loves her family and loves her friends. I think Molly loves Dave because he is a rock. He is quite funny and quirky, yet sincere. They both have an amazing sense of style and go together like Dolce and Gabbana.

Their romantic wedding at the Renaissance matched them both perfectly. It was filled with loving friends and family. The ceremony was sincere and touching. The toasts at the reception were funny and quirky. Everyone was lively and the style was impeccable. Of course Molly and Dave looked dashing together. His polka-dot cummerbund seemed to fit perfectly with Molly’s flower-laced dress.

Held so close to valentine’s day, the wedding seemed styled for the occasion. While unintentional, the detailing on Molly’s dress looked like a series of hearts. The cake was pink and beautiful red roses provided by Arne’s amazing team at  Blooms Cleveland. Below are a few emotional favorites from this wedding of love.

Above you can just make out the heart-shaped detailing on Molly’s gorgeous dress. It was the perfect fit for the wedding day.

Also a favorite were the very red bride’s maid dresses with flowers to match.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with Lindsay and Sarah before. As usual, they did an amazing job with make-up and hair styling. The girls looked amazing.

Above, some finishing details and a portrait for Molly. Below, Dave getting dressed in his custom tuxedo. Notice – he’s not wearing a watch. When wearing a tuxedo, a man is not concerned with time, because he is already at the best place possible.

Molly and Dave decided to do a first look in the club lounge at the Renaissance. Above, Dave waiting patiently for Molly as he can hear her approach. Below, a loving first look.

They are so amazingly sweet together.

The ladies looking stunning just before the wedding ceremony.

Even though Dave met Molly before the ceremony, he lit up when she entered the room. We have  great series of photos showing Dave shifting from anxious to excited as Molly enters the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Molly and Dave took a moment to thank some close friends who were responsible for their introduction. It was a wonderfully personal touch.

They didn’t just share one first kiss, but two with a hug in between. You could really tell how they are best friends as well.

Molly and Dave’s parents were so proud for both of them. Especially Molly’s father, as you’ll see below.

As usual, Elissa at the Renaissance Hotel in Cleveland did an amazing job coordinating the ceremony and reception. Molly’s style was executed perfectly and the entire room was  aglow. Below, a wonderfully pink cake for valentine’s day.

Molly’s father gave a wonderful toast, with handouts. Molly, Dave and guests got to enjoy photos from the past as her father toasted the couple. Below you can see Molly’s mother laughing at a perfect punchline.

There might have been tears for the best man’s toast. I’m not saying there was, but just maybe.

Above and below are the parents enjoying a dance with their children. This is my favorite time of any wedding. I love my parents and love to see the same for others.

To end the night, we slipped outside into the snow for a quick shot in downtown Cleveland. Molly and Dave were anxious for a picture outside despite the snow, cold and biting wind. We kept them warm inside until the shot was set. Then we rushed out at just the right moment. What a way to end an evening.

Huge, huge thanks go out to our my, Michael and Meghan. Elegantly capturing this wedding would not have been possible without them. We have some more coming soon, so check back again. In the meantime, you can keep up with our current work on Facebook.

See y'all soon,
Hunter

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

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

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

As I always do, I promptly fetched the mail from our mailbox. Stuffed inside was about 25 pounds of late holiday cards, Christmas catalogs, and other detritus. However, hiding among the treasured cards and other trash was a curious little package. In a Christmas habit, I gave the package a squeeze and a shake. Then it hit me! I tore into the package and was greeted by long awaited, but temporarily forgotten news. The new Knot Magazine had arrived.

I am pleased as punch to announce that a Hunter Photographic wedding has been featured in The Knot Magazine for the second time in a row. For the Spring /Summer 2012 issue, the editors of the Knot reached out to me and requested a fresh wedding right off my site. They chose Holly and Brian’s amazing wedding at Lantern Court and Holden Arboretum in Kirtland, Ohio. I was not surprised at all when the Knot requested the wedding. Holly and Brian’s wedding is definitely one of my favorites from this year. It was so special in so many ways.

I was just there to capture the moment. Holly and Brian deserve all the credit for planning such a unique wedding. Also, special thanks to Carri-An at Holden Arboretum for presenting such an amazing venue and for being a gracious help. Also, kudos to JMS Originals for putting together such amazing flowers. The flowers were truly unique. Lastly, Cakes by Maria & Joe put together a fabulous cake. I hear it was very tasty!

As I noted above, this is the second Knot Magazine feature in a row for us. Jamie and Ethan’s wedding was featured in the last issue. Looking forward, I will have a lot of good news to share over the next few weeks. More publications, blog posts, and new ideas are coming soon. To say the least, 2012 is going to be a truly special year. I hope everyone has a bright and beautiful 2012!

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