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northwest ohio
You don’t have to be a photographer to enjoy documenting your life through photos. Many of us snap pictures on our cell phones on a daily basis. Kids, food, pets, friends, and activities; do you ever encounter a subject that you wish you could take better photos of? All living creatures are a bit of a challenge. They move, the make weird expressions, they don’t always listen or know how to pose. In this article I specifically want to talk about photographing your wiggly woofers.
When we scheduled June’s photos, she had to bring her sister, Paizley, along. Kysha recommended the Whiteford StonceCo Community Park in Temperance, MI. June was a couple of months post-op and her surgical site was all healed up. She jumped out of the car, ready to play, as though she had lived her whole life on three legs. It is truly inspiring to see the hardships dogs can overcome to have a good life.
Fall leaves were really showing and the whole area was full of golden colors. Unfortunately the day we scheduled happened to be one of the colder days of October. The girls were not excited to take their coats off. Luckily, Jay stepped in to be the hero of the day. He played fun games with the girls to keep them distracted from the cold. He was positive and upbeat and the girls fed off of his energy. Cassandra and Jay make family one of their highest priorities and it shows in their relationships with their daughters.
Fall was just at its peak at the Toledo Botanical Garden when we met for these portraits in November. The boys were quick to smile and help their sister have a good time too. I love seeing siblings interact with each other. Toward the end of the session we let lose and played in the leaves. Elaina did not seem super impressed, but the boys loved it.
When I ask couples what they most want documented, I get a wide variety of answers. For some it is the details, for others the wedding party as a group. Mackenzie and Ian said that they wanted me to document people having a good time at their wedding. I can 100% do that. It is one of my favorite things. Their guests made my job easy. Everyone had a wonderful time dancing, and eating, and congratulating the couple. The reception was held at the Master’s Building at the Wyandot County Fairgrounds. It was spacious and comfortable. The DJ, Nyte Flyte, kept the timeline on track and gave all the guests some great entertainment.
Holly is a Nurse Practitioner. When I asked her how she felt about entering a new decade she said, “I’m excited about turning 30! It will be a new adventure”. What a fabulous outlook. Holly was so wonderful to work with. She was positive and completely laid back. We had the session in the studio space at the Big Fab Lab in Bowling Green. Holly decided not to risk the Ohio weather by shooting outdoors. It was the right call because all of those balloons would have been blown away.
Rachel and Forrest were a dream to work with. They were fun and relaxed. They were cute and VERY into each other. It is so refreshing to see people who are so passionate about their relationship. We started the session by exploring the Toledo Botanical Gardens together. The gardens have so many unique spots, they provided some beautiful variety! Next, we went to the cute main street area of Downtown Sylvania for a slightly more urban look. I am so happy with how this session turned out. Congratulations Rachel and Forrest!
Witch is your favorite? It started as one model… simple. Then I had two, and then three. At this point I had decided to do a sort of boho-witch theme. I began researching costumes and culture. I discovered that in the Wicca belief system, each point of the pentagram represents an element. Air. Spirit. Earth. Fire. Water.
Now I had to have five models.
Wildwood Metropark was a perfect choice for this summer day. Teresa said that they DID NOT coordinate their outfits, but look how they all chose complimenting neutral tones. The Rice family is very laid back and they preferred not to make their portraits too formal. My goal as a Toledo family photographer is to make my client’s photos as genuine and comfortable as possible. I love to learn about each person’s goals and concerns regarding their session. Learn a little more about the Rice family.
During the session, Ted was about eaten alive by mosquitos but he played it cool and you would never know. Brinley loved exploring the park and walking with her daddy. We got to capture some really cute moments of these four interacting together. Secor Metropark is a place I have not shot at in a while. Since moving back to Sylvania, I am really enjoying exploring this park. It was the perfect location for this family session.
There are numerous things to consider when thinking about what to wear for your family pictures. Colors, patterns and styles are all part of the, don't mind my pun, picture, but don't just think about the externals, think about your family as a whole and what they are going to feel comfortable standing in front of the camera in. Some people have a hard enough time getting their picture taken and feel totally awkward in front of the lens, but then add to that trying to make them wear clothing that is not their style or color preference and the smiles are not going to be very natural.
I am unfortunately out of practice,
I have given you into the hands of my laziness and neglectful nature.
They are unkind masters,
They like to make me forget that good things require attention,
Else good things grow tainted and tarnished.
Electronics are even more unreliable. It is not necessarily a design flaw. The failure ratio seems higher due to the fact that there are so many more intricate elements. The human body has similar issues. Bones break. Arthritis develops. Defects happen before birth. Pain occurs in many areas with no apparent reason. Similarly, computers develop quirks and failures.
Lindsay contacted me after buying her wedding dress at Blush A Bridal Boutique in Bowling Green, Ohio. Lee, the owner, happens to pass out my brochure to all of her brides! I met with Lindsay and Terry in downtown Bowling Green at one of my local favorites, Grounds for Thought. Lindsay explained that she and Terry have a little girl and they have been working very hard building a life together. Terry was working an opposite shift to Lindsay and I asked if they ever got to see each other. They both agreed that they do what it takes to make it work!
Mandi and Zach have so much history at Bowling Green State University, that they decided to have an outdoor ceremony on the campus! The forecast said rain all day for Bowling Green. They got lucky and the rain held off until after the ceremony! Everything about the day felt genuine and full of joy. It is so wonderful to see a couple as deeply in love as these two are.
What is one thing you could never live without? (Ian {boyfriend} says that it was be McDonald's for me haha!) I think it would have to be photos. Photos make it possible for generations to pass along to the next generation an idea of what it was like while they were growing up and they also help you to not forget someone and what they look or looked like. They are amazing little memories of life.
Honestly, I had no idea what working with a snake would look like. I assumed that I would just let Spooky do her thing and we would hope for the best. She did not disappoint. Nicole was so gentle with Spooky, directing her but never forcing her to do anything she did not want to do. My priority when shooting with animals is to make sure they are treated with respect, in an ethical manner. Spooky's comfort and safety was more important to both of us, than having a successful shoot.
Anva is a very cute place. The decor is fun but relaxing and comfortable. I am a lover of textures and Anva is full of lovely ones to look at and feel. I felt like the whole place spoke to me saying, "just breathe and be". Val is one of the most positive people I have ever met. Every other word out of her mouth was a compliment. I am drawn to people like that because I highly value words of affirmation. What better place to get a self esteem boost than your stylist's chair? Val was very knowledgable about her business and her services. She has her client's well being in mind.
Marquita says, "I think the most remarkable thing about my pack is the fact that everyone of them loves home. I never have to worry about them running away (and that is EXTREMELY uncommon for huskies as a breed). They may get bored and find a way to escape, but the only reason I know they’ve gotten out is because they’re at the door smiling at their accomplishment."
The ceremony took place outside, with the couple exchanging their vows beneath a beautiful tree. It was short and sweet and the couple even shared a mimosa toast. Every aspect of their special day reflected who Jodi and Josh are. A caricature artist was set up at the reception, for guests to enjoy, and also a photo booth, to document their attendance. The evening was filled with laughter and dancing. I admire couples who want to make their day enjoyable, not only for themselves, but for their guests.
