Jackson Artwork Photography | The Blog

The Beginning of Something...Different | Personal

2012-01-03T21:19:00.000-05:00

What begins now has been a long time in the making. Amanda and I have been talking and dreaming about this for what seems like forever now and it is incredibly exciting that we're actually beginning this journey. So many evenings were spent brainstorming and going through everything over and over again because...we wanted to get it right. We want our business to provide more than images that document a wedding day, but instead we want to envelop our clients in an unforgettable experience. The idea to rename our business as "The Jacksons", just seemed like a natural progression. What started out as me experimenting with photography has turned into us being completely in love with capturing the intimate details of one of the biggest days in a couple's life. For whatever reason, we have always been known as "The Jacksons", even before we were engaged our close friends referred to us by that name and it just stuck. Reassessing our business around the idea of creating an experience for our clients, we wanted our business name to reflect the relationship we want to have with our clients, as close friends. We are oh so excited about the changes that will be happening in the coming year and we cannot wait to share our journey with you! Please feel free to check out our new website and blog.

Farewell Jackson Artwork,

Krista + Mark | Married!

2011-12-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

This is a much belated blog post, but we had a goal this year to blog every wedding we shot and by golly we're going to do it! Plus, this was a super cute and unique DIY wedding, so how could we not blog it? As you may remember from their engagement session, Krista and Mark know how to work a camera and just have fun, which makes it that much more fun to be photographing them! Their wedding was super laid back, starting with the fabulous breakfast at hair stylist Amanda Stephens' house (whose husband's name is also Jeremy...crazy!), and filled with awesome little details designed by Krista herself. But all of this would never have come to be if Krista hadn't happened to be working with the girlfriend of one of Mark's friends, who decided that she was going to try to set the two of them up. She gave Mark's phone number to Krista, who hung on to it for a little over a week before finally contacting him. She sent him a simple text which read "I hear you're Mark, well I'm Krista", and that was the beginning of a conversation that lasted pretty much the whole day. It went from texting, to a phone call when Krista got off of work and was on her way to a party. After the party she called him back, and although he was at the bar with some of his friends, he didn't offer to give here a call later, but instead talked to her until his phone died, at which point he borrowed a friend's phone. By the end of the phone call, Mark had asked if they could keep talking the next day over dinner. She wasn't wanting to go on a "date" just yet, but when he promised that it didn't have to be a date, that they could just keep it simple and go to McDonalds, she agreed. When he picked her up the next day though, it wasn't McDonalds that he took her too, but instead it was a nice Chinese restaurant. Haha, tricky! She was ok with it though, and they hung out and talked late into the night. And now, two and a half years after they started dating, they were saying their vows...all because of some texts, a phone conversation, and some surprise Chinese food!

Krista and Mark, we had a ball working (and laughing) with you guys and we thank you so much for making us feel welcome! Have a Merry Christmas!

Thank you to everyone who made this day a blast!

Venue: Brush Lake Lodge
Dress: She Fashions
Hair: Amanda Stephens of Eclipse By Design
DJ: Nick Camquin
Caterer: Amy Forrest of In Good Taste Catering
Florals: Krista!

Laura + Nate | Married!

2011-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

Oh my goodness, where to start with this one...this wedding was incredible! Laura and Nate are two of the sweetest and most fun-loving people I know. They spent the day soaking in the excitement of the simple moments. While enveloped by the love and support of their friends and family, they prepared to say I do to each other. After so many years, life had found a way to bring these high school sweethearts back together again. It seemed only fitting that they would share their vows in front of their loved ones only two blocks from where, on one Sunday in April of 2009, Laura and Nate just so happened to be going to the same Columbus Clippers game, during the opening weekend of the new Huntington Park in downtown Columbus. He had won her over with his witty banter when they first met in the summer of '98 before his senior year and her freshman year of high school and they quickly became close friends, but as so often happens, they lost touch over the years. It was in the minutes following the final pitch at that unexpectedly decisive baseball game, as Nate scanned the sea of faces, that their eyes met once again and something sparked inside them. Their love for each other is visible in the grins and laughter that follow them wherever they go, and their wedding was an incredible reflection of that.

Laura and Nate, thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of this wonderful day that was your wedding day! It was an honor to document this part of your story, the beginning of a new chapter, and we wish you all the best!

If you would like to be notified when the rest of Laura and Nate's images are available, please click HERE!

A special thanks to these people who helped make this day amazing!

Venue: North Bank Pavilion

Officiant: Dan Bastin (Father of the Groom)

Dress: Venus Bridal

Hair: Lindsay Ramhoff

DJ: Adam of Team DJ

Caterer: Steven's Catering

Florist: David Collichio

Cake: Cap City

Marybeth + Bobby | Married!

2011-10-24T23:46:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday everyone! I am finally going to get caught up on blogging, and first up is Marybeth and Bobby's super sweet wedding! I have been good friends with Marybeth almost as long as I can remember and it was an honor to be able to document their day. It's so exciting to see the way that Marybeth and Bobby's relationship has grown into something so beautiful. After hearing about Marybeth from a friend, Bobby sent her a message via Facebook which read "I hear you are awesome, is this true?", to which she replied "Absolutely, and humble as well." Although cautious at first, after a summer of ups and downs and plenty of flirting, they both realized that what they had together was more than a summer fling or a passing friendship. During their frequent walks through downtown Canal Winchester and Lithopolis, they shared their life dreams with each other, talked about what God was doing in their lives, and gradually, ever so subtly, fell in love. So it was no surprise that when it came time to ask her the question that would signal a new beginning for them both, Bobby chose to do it at a spot that was very familiar to them. A spot where they had sat and talked countless times. And it was in that gazebo, after a late birthday dinner for Marybeth, that she said "I will."

At age 12, Marybeth began writing in this journal to one day give it to her groom on their wedding day...so sweet.

Bobby also wrote a sweet note to his bride ;)

Sarah + Jeremiah | Married!

2011-09-10T22:05:00.000-04:00

Sarah signed up for eHarmony because she was looking for a true partner (in crime if you will ;) Of her first batch of "matches", Jeremiah stood out from the rest. With his amazing dimples, intelligence with a sense of humor, and a love for family, he was everything Sarah was looking for! She decided she would see if he felt the same and soon they were sharing their top music, books, and movie picks with each other. Sarah and Jeremiah quickly became best friends...and now Sarah gets to see Jeremiah laugh and show his dimples every day!

Salon Hotel Lily in the Short North was the perfect place to start the day with Sarah and Jeremiah. I love the incredible diversity and creativity of the Short North...so much character!

Sarah and Jeremiah's ceremony and reception were at the historic Grand Valley Dale Ballroom, which first opened it's doors in 1918. Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and many other famous musicians played there at one time or another, and the same room that all of these iconic singers got ready in, was the room where Sarah and her bridesmaids got dressed. How awesome is that!

I love this next shot...classic!

How awesome is that peacock feather cake!! I loved how all of the details tied together.

This part of the reception was great...there is a tradition in Sarah's family (correct me if I'm wrong haha) that whenever a new guy becomes part of the family, all of the men get together and sing a song to the new member. And sing they did!

Everyone gathered around Sarah and Jeremiah for one more dance to end the night...

Thank you to these people who helped make the day beautiful!
Venue: The Grand Valley Dale Ballroom
Officiant: Damian King of United Marriage Services
Dress: David's Bridal (with alterations by Linda Hine)
Hair: Lindsay Fawley of Salon Hotel Lily
DJ: Night Music
Caterer: City Barbeque
Florist: Flowers on High
Cake: Delicacies by Sherie

Stephanie + Vince | Engaged!

2011-09-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

It's Friday!!! And to celebrate the weekend we are sharing with you a sweet Circleville/Lancaster engagement session with some unique little details mixed in! We started Stephanie and Vince's session in downtown Circleville, right close to Ohio Christian University where Stephanie is going to school. It's a cute small town with plenty of character, from the colorful shops to the quiet alleyways it just had a relaxed feel to it.

This next image is one of my favorites....EVER!

After saying goodbye to the calm streets of downtown Circleville, we stopped by a corner ice cream shop...um, yes please :)...on our way to Lancaster for some stunning sunset pictures at Rising Park (interestingly, we found out that Stephanie had at one time worked at this very shop...how cool is that!)

Nothing like a good ol' fashioned thumb war while waiting for your ice cream to be ready, haha!

The first of the personal touches that Stephanie brought with them was a dark, rich colored frame that complimented perfectly the beautiful green of the trees surrounding them.

Ok, I think maybe this is my favorite! What an incredible view...

...and this next shot...stunning!

These cute, decoupaged letters were created by none other than Stephanie and two of her friends. There was no way we could not include them :)

Stephanie and Vince, we had so much fun with you guys and cannot wait for your wedding next May!

Laura + Roger | Engaged!

2011-08-22T04:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday Everyone! We thought we would start the week off right, with Laura and Roger's fun and absolutely gorgeous engagement session! We had so much fun with these guys at Slate Run and we're so excited to post their photos. Laura and I have been friends for almost as long as I can remember and for what seems like most of that, she and Roger have been together. So it was no surprise when she told me that he had proposed and they are now engaged, but it is super exciting! On a quick side-note, as you may have picked up on from some of our recent tweets, Jeremy and I have been going through some boxes of "stuff" and cleaning out our office in preparation for a bit of an office makeover. Well, as I was going through old birthday cards and such (yes, I used to keep everything haha), I found a bunch of really sweet and funny cards from Laura! It made me even more excited to post these pictures, because she is such an amazing person and I couldn't wait to introduce you all to her...so without further adieu, here is the beautiful Laura and her sweet fiancé Roger!

August, Winter, and Books | Personal

2011-08-07T22:10:00.001-04:00

It's a cloudy and cool August Sunday morning. To some that may sound like paradise after weeks of scorching heat, but to me it signifies something a little different. When I think of August, memories of going back to school flood my mind, which reminds me that Autumn is coming and I have to say, Autumn is not my favorite season. Not my favorite season at all. In my mind, Autumn is pretty much synonymous with the beginning of Winter, and I don't like Winter. I wish the seasons could just continually cycle through Spring and Summer. I could handle that…sunshine and green all year round, that would be my paradise. I know, I know, I have a problem, but for whatever reason Winter brings out a depressed side of me. I tend to become unmotivated and unproductive, which is frustrating for me because I am one of those people that always has to be working on something. I hate feeling unproductive.

So this Winter we're already planning to mix things up, to try to beat the cold, dark doldrums of Winter. I've got a list of books that I'm in the process of rounding up and I plan to read through all of them throughout the Autumn and Winter months, lounging on the couch with a nice hot cup of cocoa in my hand. (maybe even with a dvd of a fireplace crackling on the TV in the background) Also, we're thinking about planning a little getaway in February or March to a place a little bit warmer than Ohio to remind us that the Winter won't last forever. So as much as I dislike the darkness of Winter, there are a few things that I will be looking forward to this time around.

If you have any suggestions of things that you like to do to keep yourself from getting the winter blues we'd love to read them! (Even if it is a little early to be thinking about that...I like to be proactive haha) And I'll leave you all with a picture of the first two books that I have procured from my list...have a great beginning to the week!

Kristin + Stephen | Married!

2011-08-02T12:42:00.000-04:00

Happy August...can hardly believe it's already here!

This wedding was so fun to shoot and we have been so excited to post it to the blog! Kristin and Stephen are such an amazing couple and their personalities mesh in an incredible way. They met during their first semester at Miami University. Living in the same dorm, they began to hang out because all of their friends were friends, but they quickly realized that they got along better together than with anyone else. The semester flew by as Kristen and Stephen played way too much Guitar Hero and Halo, watched an insane amount of movies, and squeezed in a couple days of studying. By the end of the semester they were the absolute definition of best friends. Over the following winter break, Stephen visited Kristin a couple times to "catch up on Lost", and at the end of January they went on their first date. They had a great time, but Stephen tells me that afterwards, he was so nervous/excited that he didn't follow up right away. There was more hanging out that followed, but it wasn't until they were in Rome together on a mission trip over spring break that Stephen decided he had to make their relationship official and ask her to be his girlfriend. They have been together ever since, discovering together what God has for them while following their love for travel and spending quality time together.

Kristin and Stephen, we had an amazing time spending the day with you guys and we loved every detail of your wedding day. Thank you for being such a wonderful encouragement to us and having us be there to capture all of the happiness and love that surrounded you on this day.

If you would like to be notified when the rest of Kristin and Stephen's images are available, click HERE!

There were some very cool little details that were handmade by Kristin herself, including this very cute hanger :)

These guys were so awesome! It was also great to see Josh (groomsman on far right) again...we shot his wedding last year!

One of the groomsmen was a gymnast, which made for some pre-ceremony fun!

A sweet and emotional first look between Kristin and her father before the ceremony.

A quiet moment before the ceremony.

I loved the vintage table they used for the unity candles so much I just had to add in another picture of it.

I adore this next picture! Definitely one of my favorites from the day.

Candy bars are so fun, gotta love 'em!

Ceremony: High Street Church of the Nazarene
Reception: Springfield Masonic Temple
Dress: Maggie Sottero
Hair: Barbie's Hair Studio
Makeup: Monica Mitchell
DJ: Hayden from Good Vibrations
Caterer: Caterers Three
Florist: JD Arajou
Cake: Dottie's Creative Cakes

Quintessa + Jerry | Married!

2011-07-16T18:13:00.001-04:00

It all started with a friend request on Facebook. Facebook messages became texts, which led to phone conversations, and their first date. Quintessa says she hoped and prayed that Jerry was the one, but the thing that really confirmed to both of them that they were meant to spend their lives together, was an all-night conversation they had during a power outage. Jerry later told her that during that conversation she pretty much nailed it, sounding like the girl he never thought he could find. She says that it was that day that she knew he was the man she always wanted, the man she had been asking God for. Over the months an years that followed things became more perfect and real to them. In a way, it was like they couldn't believe they had found each other...like they were expecting something to happen to bring them back to reality, but this was their reality. Their love for each other is incredible and it was written all over their faces as they walked down the isle together after pledging their lives to one another.

Congratulations you guys, it was such an honor to be there to document the beginning of this new chapter in your story.

If you would like to be notified when the rest of Quintessa and Jerry's images are available, click HERE!

I love these next three...it was such a special moment right before he walks her down the isle.

Probably my favorite image from the whole day!

The sisters :)

During the toasts, they joked with Jerry that he is usually quite serious and that Quintessa is the only one who can make him smile.

Vendors and venues that made this day awesome:

Ceremony: Mt. Olivet Baptist Church
Coordinator: Aunt Shirley
Bridal Portrait Location: The Topiary Park
Dress: Alfred Angelo
Reception: Berwick Manor
Decorations: Ms. G Creations

Krista + Mark | Engaged!

2011-07-07T18:26:00.000-04:00

During my senior year at Columbus College of Art & Design I had a lot of gaps in my schedule, so I ended up staying at the school for most of the day. During the chunk of time before my advertising & graphic design class, I always sat in a specific area. It was probably the most comfortable place in the whole school because there were actually couches to sit on. (our school is made up almost completely out of concrete and metal, haha) Krista was in the same ad class as me and we met while we were both sitting on the couches waiting for class to start. It was a lot of fun to chat and get to know each other a bit while working on projects. When I told Krista that we are wedding photographers her face lit up because she was anticipating Mark's proposal very soon. After having met him at their engagement session, I can definitely see where all of her excitement was coming from! He is very sweet and funny, and it was awesome to see a groom who is so excited about the wedding plans and even pictures. They make a drop dead gorgeous couple and acted like pro's modeling for the camera. :)

With Krista being a designer, I know that their wedding will be absolutely stunning and I can't wait to photograph it! Congratulations you guys, we are so excited for your wedding in September!

Krista designed/painted these letters for their bedroom and decided to bring them along for the shoot. I love when people include little details like this in their engagement session!

Jeremy couldn't help but stop to take some pictures of the beautiful landscape here at the Franklin Park Conservatory haha.

How dreamy :)

Getting a little steamy in here ;)

Second Shooting + Kate & Rick

2011-07-05T23:19:00.000-04:00

When Kama contacted me asking if I could second shoot a wedding with her I was thrilled! This is the first time I've ever been a second shooter, so I was a bit nervous. I have only ever shot with Jeremy, and I guess I didn't realize how much of a "comfort zone" I was in. The wedding was actually back in April and we've been so busy with our own clients that I'm just now getting around to posting about it. It was the first wedding for me this season, so in some ways it was a nice little warm up. :)

Kate and Rick were married at a beautiful Catholic cathedral. Before the ceremony, while Kama shot the girls getting ready, I was with the guys. This was the first time I had met Rick, and man was he a character...he and his groomsmen kept me laughing the whole time. After the ceremony we got some portraits of the bride and groom and then we headed to Huntington Park for some wedding party fun. The reception at La Scala was just as beautiful as the ceremony, and the live band kept everyone on their feet.

This first picture here is of Kama. Thanks again for letting me help you out! I had a blast!

Sarah and Jeremiah | Engaged!

2011-06-23T17:16:00.000-04:00

When we first met with Sarah and her mom Lucy, we immediately felt like it was a great fit. We had so much fun talking with them about everything from the wedding plans to family and life. So after having such a blast with them, we were really excited to meet Jeremiah and spend some time with both of them shooting their engagement session at Lucy's parents' condo and across the street at North Bank Park. The view from the condo balcony was breathtaking and we couldn't pass up on that!

Love the expression on Jeremiah's face here!

This next shot is definitely one of my favorites!

So sweet!

Not only is this next picture super cute...but if you look, she has a tattoo on her wrist of the coordinates of the house that her family goes to up on Lake Erie, which I thought was awesome!

You guys are so cute together!

Reflection and a Graduation | Personal

2011-06-15T10:51:00.133-04:00

Yesterday, I drove through the neighborhood where I used to go to church, where my friends had lived and where I had so many good memories. I was just kind of reflecting on the past 5-10 years. As I passed by the familiar houses and yards I thought about how many things have changed, but at the same time, looking around I noticed how many things don't change (appear to be the same). It's incredible to think, and I am so thankful for where God has taken me and how He brought Amanda and I together and has now allowed us to share this incredible passion for photography and capturing life. I love what we do and I love that we get to do it together!

I started thinking about these things for a couple of reasons, but the main one is that one of my little brothers, Joel, is graduating from high school this Saturday. I remember when he was born and we got to go see him at the hospital in Little Rock, Arkansas. He was in a little "incubator" thing...I don't remember why it was that he was in it, I just remember that I always thought he was kind of extra special because he got to do that haha. He's all grown up now and it's weird. It's cool to think about how Joel's personality has developed and grown over the years, from a crazy little blonde-headed kid to a good-looking, contemplative young man with a knack for creative writing. I wonder what is in store for the rest of his life. I hope he finds something that he is absolutely passionate about and pursues it and never gives up. I hope that he remembers to be joyful in everything because he has a hope that transcends this life. And hopefully one day he will meet a nice young lady who will join him in his journey and make him a better man, as I know Amanda has done for me haha.

Anyway...Joel, congratulations on finishing high school and I look forward to seeing what is ahead for you!

Jess and Alex | Married!

2011-06-12T09:41:00.066-04:00

We just couldn't help but have fun with Jess and Alex on their wedding day, from start to finish they had a joy about them that was absolutely contagious and the smiles were constant. Their friends and family in the wedding party were some of the most fun people in the world! Yeah, I said it. in. the. world. They all had us laughing the whole day.

Jess and Alex are two really awesome, fun people and we were so blessed to be able to spend the day documenting the excitement and love that they expressed to each other on their wedding day. Thank you guys so much for letting us be a part of your day and if you are ever in Columbus shoot us an email, we'd love to catch up!

If you would like to be notified when the rest of Jess and Alex's images are available, please click HERE!

While the girls were getting their hair done, I took the guys to Circleville for some pictures. We found a super cool alley and the guys strut their stuff...oh yeah! Haha.

Shortly before the ceremony it started to rain, but when we looked out after the ceremony and family formals, the rain had stopped and the sun was peaking through!

Looking fabulous!

Man, these next few pictures are some of my favorite images ever! You guys look stunning!

Absolutely love these next two shots!

Jess and Alex's wedding cake was beautiful, and then check out this Angry Birds groom's cake! How awesome is that?!

Mail packages+tax refunds+fun with friends=the Bee's Knees

2011-05-05T14:32:00.000-04:00

Who doesn't like to get packages in the mail? If there is anyone out there that doesn't…well you need to get some sense knocked into you because packages are the Bee's Knees! I know we love to look out the door and see a box on the front porch…for whatever reason it is just exciting and makes the day just that much better. I can always tell when we have gotten something good in the mail or from the UPS guy because Amanda will open the door and then she has this little squeal she does…haha it cracks me up every time.

So yesterday we were supposed to have a package waiting for us when we got home, but instead we found a little note on the door that said something to the effect that "since we weren't there when the package was to be dropped off, we would have to either come pick it up at the post office or schedule to have it delivered some other time". Not the worst thing that could have happened, but still not as exciting as seeing a box on the porch. Anyway, so this morning I ventured to the post office (which I don't think I've ever had to go to before) to pick up the latest addition to our "family" as Amanda likes to call it. Fun stuff! For awhile now we have been using a Canon 5D mk II as our primary camera and our older Canon XTi as our second camera, but we just purchased another 5D mk II to use as our second which is exciting. The XTi was a great camera to start out on but the difference in image quality is amazing!

So this is long overdue, but speaking of packages…a few weeks back (or was it a couple months…oh it doesn't really matter) we received our tax refund…woo hoo! Yeah, so we decided that we could allow ourselves to splurge a little at one of our favorite places…J. Crew…so that's what we did! And what better way to try out some of our new clothes than with a fun impromptu photo shoot with a friend!

Meet our friend Sadie Lilly...this past year she and Amanda became good friends as they kept each other sane during their final year at Columbus College of Art and Design.

Troy and Stephanie | Married!

2011-03-26T10:30:00.003-04:00

Troy and Stephanie's wedding day was an extra special day for us. We got to watch two of our long-time friends become husband and wife! The day was beautiful and filled with lovely details. They were married in the intimate Reith Recital Hall at Goshen College in Indiana, surrounded by their closest family and friends, and you could just tell that everyone was excited. Excited because they knew that this was right...that both Troy and Stephanie had found the person that they were meant to be with. So, after managing to take a Phys Ed class together without ever talking (only making stares at each other as Troy puts it), they started a Facebook friendship which let to a date, and now they are married!

Stephanie's mom, Monica, was so helpful throughout the whole day, with goodies for both the girls and the guys while they were getting ready, as well as just making sure that everything was exactly as it should be. So a huge thanks to you, Monica! Also, thank you so much to both Troy and Stephanie's families for making us feel welcome. We had an absolute blast getting to know everyone! We can't wait to see you guys again!

Here are some of our favorite moments from the day. If you would like to be notified when the rest of their images are available, click HERE!

Jessica and Alex | Engaged!

2010-12-15T11:32:00.000-05:00

You know those couples that you meet who you immediately know are perfect for one another? That's how Jessica and Alex are. The way their personalities complimented one another and the way they interacted, you could just tell that no matter what they do, they always have fun together. One of their favorite things to do is go for evening walks at Indian Mounds Reserve, to watch as the daylight fades into night. This is the same place where he asked her to be his girlfriend and then six months later, his wife. Their engagement story is absolutely amazing and hilarious, and I could try to retell it, but I don't think I could tell it quite the way Jessica does on her blog, so you should go read it and be ready to laugh and maybe even cry a little...it's just that good.

The week prior to Jess and Alex's engagement session was a bitterly cold one, but somehow God had it worked out that the day of the session would be sunny and 60 degrees. Just like they had done so many times before, that evening we went for a walk at the Mounds. It was so beautiful! We walked the path along the creek, saw waterfalls, climbed on rocks, and shot until the sunlight was gone.

Jess and Alex, we are so excited to shoot your wedding in May and we have no doubt that God has awesome things in store for you two!

If you would like to be notified when the rest of their images are available, click HERE!

Jeremy & Amanda | Fun!

2010-12-10T11:58:00.000-05:00

Happy December dear blog friends!

Wow, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is definitely here! It's incredible how fast time flies by. It feels like just a few weeks ago Amanda and I were flying down to Florida for our honeymoon, and now, we're getting ready for Christmas! But this isn't just any old Christmas, it's our First Christmas. First Christmas as a married couple that is…it may seem like not that big of a deal, but for us, it's exciting! We got to put our first tree up, and buy our first tree topper, and put classy white lights all around the tree…there's even a couple presents under there as well!

Life is unceasingly busy and so on a recent evening, to take a break from the craziness, we decided to go for a walk at the Whetstone Park of Roses in Clintonville. Although we didn't get very far because we kept getting distracted by all these cool little things, it was relaxing and beautiful…a nice, however brief, getaway from the stresses of everyday life. I think we're going to have to plan more fun little excursions like this!

Check back soon to see some awesome images from Jessica and Alex's Cedarville Engagement Session!!!

Stephen and Kristin | Engaged!

2010-10-27T11:29:00.000-04:00

Amanda and I love to see new places, so when Stephen and Kristin explained to us how special Miami University was to them and that they would like their engagement pictures taken there, we were ready to go. I had heard that the campus was beautiful, but man…with the fall leaves and the evening sun streaming through the trees, it was breathtaking.

We started out at Upham Hall, which is where Stephen and Kristin spend most of there time while in school, and it is also the location of the famous Miami Merger Arch. Tradition says, if you go there at midnight and kiss under the arch, you will get married. Well, Stephen and Kristin admitted that they had never made it there at midnight, but they did kiss under it at about ten o-clock one night…I think that's close enough haha.

The light was great, and the fact that Stephen and Kristin couldn't stop smiling and laughing made it so easy to shoot. The smiling was contagious too…I know my face was hurting by the end because of constant smiling! Once the sun started to go, we ended up just walking around on a mini tour of the campus, complete with stories of a haunted hall, where it is said shackles and straight jackets have been found in the attic and basement from when the building was used as an insane asylum. Hmmm…fun stuff haha.

Thank you guys so much for the tour and for hanging out with us afterward! We can't wait to celebrate your wedding next June!

If you would like to be notified when the rest of their images are available, click HERE!

I asked them to go to that moment right before you kiss and this is what I caught…wow!

This was their reaction to me asking them for a "serious" look…so funny.

The famous Miami Merger Arch!

The McAlister Family | Portraits!

2010-10-24T01:06:00.000-04:00

Chris and Brandi are two of the greatest people you will ever meet. They are so fun to be around and always so uplifting. It is so cool to watch them interact with their kids in such a loving and supportive way. During our shoot at Lynd's Fruit Farm, Chris reminded the kids that "if you smile for the pictures, when we're done you'll get a apple slushy!" By the end I was really starting to crave an apple slushy, haha. (Not gonna lie though I did end up pulling an apple off and biting right into it…mmm…so good :)

Chris and Brandi, thank you so much for having us document this point in your life, we really enjoyed spending some time with you guys!

If you would like to be notified when the rest of their images are available, click HERE!

The Jacksons | Cool Weather, Dreams, and Cappuccino

2010-10-20T00:09:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! Wow, I feel like I haven't blogged in forever! The past few weeks have just flown by. But it's also been nice, because amidst that "flow" we have also had moments when we were able to just breathe and unwind a little bit. Amanda and I have been enjoying the cool weather and some warm cappuccino. We have been talking about our dreams and where we would like to be in the future. It's so exciting when you have a passion for something, for us it's photography and people, and you get to pursue that passion. We feel so blessed to have been given this gift of being able to capture some of the most exciting moments in people's lives. It totally rocks! Four years ago, as a freshman in college, I would never have guessed that this is where I would be now. I thank God that this is where I am…I wouldn't have it any other way.

In other news, this past week our car had to go in to the shop for a repair…it's funny how you don't really realize how cluttered your car has gotten until you have to let some stranger work on it. (At least that is how it was for me anyway...) Sometimes it feels like we almost live out of our car haha.

In parting, here are a couple images from our two most recent shoots, which we will be posting really soon! The first being an orchard portrait session with the McAlisters and their awesome kids, and the other a beautiful engagement session with Stephen and Kristin on the campus of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.

Enjoy!

Troy and Stephanie | Vineyard Engagement Session!

2010-10-08T11:28:00.000-04:00

For awhile now it has been a dream of ours to shoot in a vineyard. There's just something that seems peaceful and relaxing about walking through the rows and rows of grape vines. It's so beautiful. And that's exactly what we got to do with Troy and Stephanie. It took us a little while to get to the vineyard because we kept missing where it was that we were supposed to turn off, but Troy and Stephanie were troopers and just went with the flow. We eventually found it…down a narrow, tree covered road, which turned into a gravel road and then proceeded to wind around a bit before we came to the vine covered fields. It was kind of cloudy and started to sprinkle a couple times, but that didn't scare us off…it just meant we got to use an umbrella in a few shots! Haha. We had a blast out there and it really was peaceful like I had imagined...there were a couple times while we were shooting that I just looked out over the vineyard and sighed...it was perfect. Troy and Stephanie make it so easy to shoot, it is obvious that they are madly in love and so excited to be married! As the sun was falling below the horizon we headed back to the Valley Vineyards winery where we got to check out the wine cellar and take a few shots before we headed out.

Here are some of our favorites from an awesome day in a beautiful vineyard. If you would like to be notified when the rest of their images are available, click HERE!

Troy and Stephanie, December is coming up fast and we are so excited for you guys!

Troy and Stephanie | Vineyard Session Sneak Peek!

2010-10-05T19:14:00.001-04:00

Whenever we get together with our friends Troy and Stephanie, we always have a blast. Whether we're running around downtown Columbus, using a flashlight and long camera exposure to "magically" write words and draw pictures in the air at night, or just hanging out and talking about life, our time spent together always flies by way too fast. And the same was true on a recent Friday afternoon when we met up with Troy and Stephanie at Stephanie's loft in Cedarville and then ventured to the beautiful Valley Vineyards about a half hour away. It took us a few tries and about a half an hour extra to find the vineyard (yeah…we're definitely no Rand McNally haha), and the rain threatened at times, but we still had an amazing time and got some great pictures! We will be posting the rest of their session very soon, but until then, here's a little teaser ;)

News | Autumn Portrait Session Special!

2010-10-04T23:43:00.000-04:00

Ahhh...Fall is here! Time to pull out the scarfs and cosy winter coats, sip hot chocolate while snuggling on the couch under a nice soft blanket. Time to pick apples and pumpkins, bake pies, and watch as the brightly colored leaves blow past the window. If you can't tell...We. Love. Fall. We love the scents, the colors, the brisk cool breeze playing on our faces as we take a relaxing evening walk through the park by our house. Sighs...I always say I hate for summer to end, but then every year when the leaves start to change colors and everything is so beautiful I remember how much I do love fall.

So in honor of this wonderful season we are offering a discount on our portrait sessions! Now through the end of October, one of our super-fun, on-location portrait sessions is only $100! (that's 20% off, pretty cool huh?) So if you have been wanting to get some fun fall pictures, or you need a picture for your Christmas cards, now is the time to book!

Shoot us an email or give us a call to book your portrait session!

P.S. Check back tomorrow for a sneak peek from Troy and Stephanie's beautiful vineyard engagement session!

Bailey | Senior!

2010-09-19T16:04:00.000-04:00

We met Tiffany Welch at Josh and Emily's Wedding earlier this summer, and a few weeks ago she emailed us to ask if we do senior sessions. So last weekend we drove down to shoot some senior pictures for her daughter, Bailey, at their farm on the border of Ashville and Canal Winchester. It was kind of cool because Bailey goes to the same high school that Amanda graduated from and she is planning on going to Cedarville University next fall, which is where Amanda's sister Melissa went to school….until she got married to a Canadian and moved to Alberta that is…haha.

We got some shots from different spots all over the farm. It was kind of fun riding around from place to place on a golf cart. After shooting for awhile we rode back to this cool little cabin that Bailey's grandfather had built, where she changed into her homecoming dress for a few more final shots.

Here are some of our favorites from the day. If you would like to see the rest of the images when they are available, click HERE.

The Kelso Family | Mama Mia!

2010-09-12T16:47:00.000-04:00

Wow, so we have been really excited to post this session! It started back in May. Our church gives out different gifts for Mother's Day and they came up with some really clever ideas, like a honey baked ham for the mother with the heaviest baby (haha, told you they were clever!), and other nifty things like that. Well, for the newest first time mom they wanted to give a portrait session and they asked us if we would like to donate three family portrait sessions (one for each of the services), which we were thrilled to do! It's truly special to shoot a family as they grow. Adding a new addition to the family is one of those first big "milestones" in a couple's life after their wedding day, and we love to be a part of capturing the newness and joy of that experience.

Now, we would like to introduce you to the Kelso family. Stacey was one of those moms who received a portrait session when little Mia was just about a month old. Last weekend, we had the opportunity to meet up with Stacey, her husband Pat, and baby Mia to shoot some pictures at Creekside, in Gahanna. It was a beautiful evening. We started down by the water, with some cute little family shots, the sun trickling through the trees behind them. After a little while, Mia started getting fussy so they busted out the most adorable little giraffe, which got plenty of giggles out of her. :) As the evening wore on, Mia started getting sleepy and eventually drifted off in her momma's arms. When she fell asleep, we decided to take the opportunity to get some shots of Pat and Stacey together. They are such a sweet couple!

Here are some of our favorites from a fun-filled shoot, and you can register HERE to see all of their images when they're available. :) Enjoy!

-Amanda

Discovery Church | PreLaunch

2010-09-11T11:38:00.000-04:00

Last weekend we had the awesome opportunity to take some pictures of Discovery Church's Sunday morning service, which are going to be used for their website and their launch coming up on the 19th. Wow, that's next weekend! Crazy stuff. It really is exciting to see the pieces coming together and think about the impact Discovery Church will have. We had a great time catching up with old friends and seeing a glimpse of what is to come.

P.S. Check back tomorrow for a super cute portrait session...I don't want to give everything away, but there is a baby involved ;)

.

Discovery Church | Staff

2010-08-18T23:14:00.000-04:00

Ok, so Chris and Trent are good friends of ours and are two of the pastors at a church that is now known as Discovery Church. It is a church that has been around for over 50 years and been a part of some awesome stuff, but after a decline in recent years, the leadership began to seek God about a new direction. As a part of this new direction that they feel God leading them to, they are re-launching as Discovery Church with a renewed vision for what it means to follow Christ. As I hear about what is going on as they get closer to the launch, it is pretty exciting. I really believe that they will have an awesome impact on the community around them, so when I got a message from Chris asking if we would be interested in doing some staff pictures for them, I was all for it! Chris didn't want the pictures to be too serious, and I think we achieved that haha. Here are a few of the images from the shoot.

P.S. The launch is on Sept 19th, and you can check out their website for more information if you are interested!

Emily and Josh | Married!

2010-08-08T18:02:00.000-04:00

As Jeremy mentioned in Josh and Emily's engagement post last September, I have known Emily since she was a cute and bubbly first grader. I always wanted to be just like her, and we were the best of friends! :) My mom babysat Emily and Ryan (her brother) so it almost felt like we were sisters. My heart broke when she moved away in 6th grade and we kind of lost contact. We saw each other every once in a while but not like we used to.

Fast forwarding a few years to high school, I met Josh Brown in marching band. I know, I know...I was a nerdy band geek haha. Anyway, Josh was a super nice, Christian guy and I knew there would be someone extra special for him, but I never would have guessed who it was.

Emily moved back to our little town of Ashville for our senior year of high school, which absolutely floored me. I was very excited to see my old pal come back into my life! Over the course of that last year of high school, Josh and Emily became very close and the rest is history. ;)

I feel so blessed to have witnessed the beautiful love that Josh and Emily have for one another and the excitement of their wedding day. What a divine romance! Congratulations you two!

If you want to sign up to see their online gallery once it's available, click HERE!

Enjoy,
Amanda

The Honeymoon + Brown Wedding Teaser!

2010-08-05T09:59:00.001-04:00

I've been wanting to do this for a couple weeks now but just hadn't gotten the chance until today. A little over a month ago Amanda and I got married! Which is partly responsible for the lack of posts over the last few months, but we're hoping to make this the start to a more regular habit of blogging! Anyway, we went to Seagrove Beach, Florida for our honeymoon and I just wanted to share some pictures we took while we were down there. We were a little apprehensive about what the beaches would be like, but we were pleasantly surprised. The beaches were still absolutely beautiful, along with the blue-green water. It was amazing!

Here is the view from our condo, it was awesome being able to look out over the water while sipping some tea as the sun rose…

One of the days we decided we were just going to go drive down along the coast and stop somewhere and take pictures…so we ended up stopping at Rosemary Beach…I officially love this place.

As we were driving away we saw this incredible house and Amanda took a quick shot through the window…

Man, I think the morning is my favorite time at the beach…with the sun just coming up, nothing but the sound of the lapping waves…it's so peaceful.

And just as a little teaser…here are two of our favorites from Josh and Emily's wedding which we will be posting very very soon!

Troy and Stephanie | Engaged!

2010-07-25T10:50:00.001-04:00

As you may remember, we had the pleasure of being there when my good friend Troy popped the question, and we recently had the wonderful opportunity of shooting their engagement session. We started out behind a row of shops in the Short North, crossing our fingers that our car wouldn't be towed because "it was before 6 on a weekend" or some other silly nonsense, and gradually made our way to Goodale Park. It was so much fun just watching the way that Troy and Stephanie interacted, so much joy and love. After exploring the Short North and shooting for a couple hours, we went out to dinner with them where we met up with my brother and his fiancée. Good food and laughter is hard to beat!

Troy and Stephanie, congratulations once again, we are really excited to shoot your wedding this December!

Here are some of our favorites from the day, and you can register HERE to see all of their images when they're available.

Joan and Chip | Married!

2010-04-03T11:24:00.002-04:00

Joan and Chip were fortunate to have wonderful weather for their wedding at the beautiful Crowne Plaza of Dublin. You never can tell what you’re going to get with Ohio’s weather, especially when spring is just starting to break through, but they lucked out with a nice warm, sunny day. The day was full of smiles and laughter. Even when two of the groomsmen were delayed with flat tires on the way to the wedding, they didn’t let it dampen their spirits, the smiles never left their faces. Joan and Chip were so much fun to be around and the whole day was one huge celebration. The dancing didn’t stop until late into the night.

Congratulations Joan and Chip!!! We had a blast, thank you so much for letting us be a part of the celebration!

Here are some of our favorites from the day, and you can register HERE to see all of their images when they’re available.

The Winesettes | Portraits

2010-03-07T21:12:00.002-05:00

Ahh ::sighs:: finally a chance to sit down, relax, and write a little bit. Life has been crazy lately. For those of you who don't know, Jeremy and I are getting married this June, so we are in full on wedding planning mode, which as most of you probably know can be quite hectic. We have most of the big things nailed down though so that is nice. Anyway, enough about us, I want to share some pictures that we've been wanting to post for awhile and just haven't gotten a chance. Meet the Winesette family...Chris, Nikki, and their super fun kids Emylie, Madison, and Ethan. We had a blast shooting their family pictures and here are a few of our favorites! If you would like to be notified when the rest of their pictures are available, you can register HERE.

~Amanda

Troy and Stephanie | ¿Querés casarte conmígo?

2009-12-12T12:22:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back my good friend Troy called and told me that he was planning on proposing and explained his plan to me. He and his fiancée Stephanie were planning on going shopping at Polaris Fashion Place and then they were going to meet a couple of their friends at Latitude 41 in downtown Columbus for dinner. Now the restaurant is located inside the Renaissance Hotel, and he had worked it out with the people at the hotel so that when they were just about done with their meal, one of the staff would come over to the table and say something along the lines of "excuse me, I need you two to come with me," at which point they would be escorted up to the rooftop pool terrace. Troy had made a sign which asked "Will you marry me?" in Spanish that would hang from a light post with rose petals leading to it. I know, pretty romantic, huh? On top of that he was going to have his laptop sitting on a stool behind the light post playing Winter Air by Annasay, which she told him makes her think of him every time she hears it. The only thing was, he needed someone to set everything up while they were down in the restaurant, so he asked if Amanda and I would be able to set up and then take some pictures of him popping the question; we were thrilled with the idea! Although there was a close call and Stephanie almost found out too early, the night turned out beautifully, and most importantly of all…she said yes! Congratulations guys, it was such an honor to be there for this special night!

A serving of fun with a December Discount on the side...

2009-12-06T00:54:00.002-05:00

It seems like Amanda and I are busy busy all the time (I'm sure you all can relate), so it's really nice to find time to just have a little fun. And that's exactly what we did on a recent chilly evening. We started out in front of "the horseshoe", joking around and making faces at the camera until we thought our fingers were going to fall off, at which point we decided to check out the newly renovated Thompson Library at Ohio State. It really is a beautiful building and there is an awesome view of the campus from the Reading Room on the top floor! Neither of us had been in there before, so we had a blast exploring the many different levels. After checking it out, we would really love to shoot some fun pictures there, so if anyone out there wants to do some portraits or engagement pictures at the Thompson Library, we are all for it! Definitely contact us and let us know!

P.S. at the bottom of this post is some information about a special offer you might be interested in ;-)

On the side...
We are offering a December Discount of 10% off when you book with us before January 1st, so now is the time act! If you have any questions feel free to give me a call or shoot me an e-mail!

Josh and Emily | Engaged

2009-09-21T12:34:00.032-04:00

Amanda and I recently had the pleasure of photographing and hanging out with Josh and Emily at the beautiful Franklin Park Conservatory. Amanda and Emily have been friends since like 1st grade and we had so much fun catching up with them. We're really excited to shoot their wedding next June and we wish them all the best! Here are some of our favorites from the shoot, and you can register HERE to see all of their images when they're available.

Sequoia Photo Album by WillowBook!

2009-08-13T09:38:00.020-04:00

So, I know I said more to come on the engagement, and I promise I will post pictures soon, but I just recently received my Sequoia photo album in the mail and I am really excited about it. The people at Pictage did a great job with the design of the album, it really did blow me away! So, without further adieu....

Sequoia Photo Album & WillowBook Proof Book...

Welcome to our first official blog!

2009-07-31T14:09:00.024-04:00

Hello all,

We are super excited about our new blog and will be posting more recent "activities" very soon!

To tide you over until we get a chance to post again, here are a few pictures we snapped while we were visiting my grandparents down in Alabama this past weekend.

(P.S. Taking pictures and visiting family wasn't the only thing that happened while we were down there though...at sunset on saturday night while we were taking pictures I proposed to Amanda...but more on that later.)