Tag Archives: huntington beach

Kendra + Brad | A Romantic Lake Erie Engagement Session

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that although I’ve become proficient at it, I can’t stand small talk. Four years sitting at a receptionist’s desk has taught me to how to talk about current events and weather patterns like a pro. I don’t know if it’s the fact that life seems to be moving at lightning speed, or I’ve grown to be an adamant old woman in the last few years, but I’d much rather spend my time getting to know the important stuff. I want to hear where you grew up and what your family was like. I want to hear all about what has made you who you are. And most importantly, I want to hear how you fell in love. Lucky for me, I can just blame my often imposing questions on the job.

I often book weddings before I’ve met my couples in person. So many of my clients don’t live in the area, so finding time to get together doesn’t always work out for us. This was the case for Kendra + Brad. They’re living in LA at the moment, and it just made sense to wait until our engagement session to meet. I knew quite a bit about them from our email exchanges, but you never really know a person until you’ve met. Meeting Kendra + Brad was like the 5% of Catfish episodes that have a happy ending. They were even more awesome than emails could have shown, and SPOILER ALERT, they’re pretty great looking, too. They graciously answered all my non-small talky questions and I feel like I know them so much better because of it.

One of my favorite parts about my session with Kendra + Brad was recreating a couple old photos of Kendra’s grandparents. Can I be honest for a second?
I care a whole lot more about what you’ll think of your photos in twenty years than what you think of them right now. Whether I’m photographing your wedding, or your family, I want you to pass these photos down for generations. That’s why I loved Kendra’s request so much – her grandparents’ photos stood the test of time. She loves them enough half a century later to recreate them.

I hope 50 years from now, Kendra + Brad’s grandchildren are doing the same thing.

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Madison + Jason | A Lake Erie Engagement Session

Sometimes it’s hard to know what your marriage looks like to the people who aren’t part of it. You know what it feels like, and you know what you hope it looks like. But you can never be sure it looks the way it feels. I recently had a conversation with a friend about marriage and he said something I won’t forget.

“I know a whole lot of married people. It’s obvious that some are doing well, and that others are just getting by.
When I see the way that Stephen looks at you, I can tell that you two really love each other.”

In that moment, my friend saw exactly what I feel every day.

I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about what makes us so happy together after nearly a decade of learning everything there is to know about each other and I think I figured it out. Stephen is my best friend in the whole world. He’s the one I put first. He’s who I call when something great happens, and the one I cry to when life just isn’t fair. He’s the one I send all my memes to, and the one who will tell me when my jokes aren’t funny. When I feel like the world is against me and I just want to be alone, he’s the one I want to be alone with.

The first time I met Madison + Jason, I could tell right away that they’re best friends. Jason’s the one that makes her laugh. Madison is the one who brings out the best in him.

They’re just better together.

As an outsider, when I look at their relationship, I see two people who are ready to take on the world together. They’re on the same team and they’re not going to let life get between them. They’re ready to work hard for each other and to always lift each other up. But most importantly, they’re ready to laugh at the same memes and New Girl reruns for the rest of their lives.

+ I have a feeling, it feels just the way that it looks.

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Dana – A Laurel School Senior Portrait Session

Dana’s a girl that makes things happen. She’s ambitious, compassionate, and as you can see, gorgeous.
I have a questionnaire that I ask seniors to fill out for me so I can get a little understanding of who they are and what they like before our session. Dana’s definitely impressed me.
When I was in high school, I spent most of my time in class thinking about whose house we were going to sleepover that night. Dana spends her time interning at the Cleveland Clinic. She’s a senior at Laurel School, where she founded multiple clubs and is a member of even more. She’s applying to over a dozen colleges, and my guess is that she’ll have her pick of any of them. Her goal is to be a pediatric surgeon.

I had such a great time hanging out with Dana for her senior pictures at the Huntington Reservation in Bay Village. The trek through the weeds was more than worth it, and if you look closely, you might even be able to spot some new friends we made along the way.

Here are some of my favorite images from our session together.