Just Jack!

February in Ohio means some degree of uncertainty when it comes to planning a portrait session. Sure, you can always go into the studio. Sure you can place a few props in front of a child and see what they do with them but when you know me and you know the way I shoot you know that I have other things in mind. Last week for Jack's shoot, I suggested we go over to Franklin Park Conservatory. It's truly one of my favorite spots to shoot...especially in the winter! Where else can you go when it's 25 degrees outside and see palm trees?

Jack was a natural in front of the camera, check him out...

What I remembered just before the shoot, but after we had decided on the location was that Jack's mom (and my friend, Melissa) and Dad were married at the conservatory... I grabbed this shot right next to where Melissa said their cake had been...

I have always loved this Chihuly piece...and I love Jack's expression in front of it! Kids are so much fun to shoot simply because you just never know what they're going to do next!

Jack, thanks so much for being such an awesome picture taker! And Melissa, thanks so much for letting him do it! :)

Coming Soon...Jack!

Alicia and Pete...Photo Rewind!

Going through some old prints and paperwork, I realized that I shot my first "official" wedding seven years ago this weekend. Alicia and Pete were married at St. Gregory Orthodox church and held an intimate reception back at the Bride's family home. It was an exciting day for me, but one that had me more than just a little nervous too! Armed with my Mamiya 645 medium format camera and a Minolta 35mm packed a roll of black and white, I ended up with some memorable images. Here's a peek at some that I scanned in from film...

Happy Anniversary, Alicia and Pete!

SOOC vs. Final Prints

This is a topic that has been discussed since the dawn of digital photography (and before), but it's one that's worth revisiting because it comes up so often. These days, it's customary for most photographers to provide a disk of images. But much like a proof book from the film days, these images may still need a little refining before they become what I call "Wall-Worthy".

Warming up skin tones and removal of distracting elements are just two of the ways that images taken straight out of the camera (or "SOOC") can be enhanced for a final print. Most of the time the result is subtle, but worth while...

And while any mega mart can take a color image and make it black and white, a professionally printed black and white print will have more depth and contrast...

Of Valentines and Ski Lodges...

Years ago I “met” my husband on a skiing trip. I say it with quotes because I had already met him…he was my friend’s brother. But it was on this trip that something shifted and I began to see him in a whole new way. This post isn’t about that, though. It’s about the fact that on that trip, I never skied. His sister and I hung out in the hotel staying warm and doing spa-type things while all the boys went and did crazy things in the snow. And so last week as we headed to my husband’s company ski trip at Mad River Mountain, Isaac commented to me, “So, this many years after that trip I FINALLY get to ski with you?” Before you start thinking this is a post about how I met my husband, let me tell you it's not! It's a post about me… and skis. Spoiler alert: We don’t get along.

I was ready! I had my special snow pants, a warm coat, and gloves. Had my hair and makeup lookin’ good (hey, from what I’ve seen on E!, and Access Hollywood you’re supposed to look good on the slopes). I grabbed a pair of rental boots and skis, poles…the whole deal and was ready to rock! I smiled at Isaac and had a vision of what fun we would have. I don’t think I’m delusional, but the picture I had in my head of how things would go looked something like this…




In reality, it was more like this…


Skis I learned, are not just big shoes. It’s tricky to get back up after you’ve fallen down and another news flash…it was cold! Not just cold, but blizzard cold. The wind blew and the snow stuck to my cheeks causing a brain freeze that would have made Ben and Jerry envious. Now, it’s important to note that I didn’t want to take lessons. I was there to spend time with Isaac and have fun. I didn’t have time for “lessons”, so I headed for the hills. About halfway into our ride on the ski lift, I realized we were still going “up”, and that eventually I would have to find my way “down”. I swallowed hard and pretended to be cool with it, but inside…my heart was pounding. The lift let us off and I tucked my poles under my arms… “Whoooo hooo!” I yelled to Isaac in a scene reminiscent of What About Bob, “I’m skiing”! But that was just to the summit.

There were two trails. The one to my left looked intimidating, tree-lined and kinda steep. The one to my right looked better. It was wider and not so steep. I headed that direction just in time to see the headlights of the groomer coming up the hill. Someone got out and stuck a sign in the ground that read “Closed”. If tears wouldn’t have frozen to my face, I would have cried right then and there. To the left I went. It wasn’t 10 feet before I fell, and there was Isaac to pick me up. 20 more feet and I fell again. Again, he picked me up. The pattern repeated pretty much the whole way down the hill and I realized maybe I should have taken that lesson after all. While I tried the kiddie hill, and then that trail that was to the right (it finally opened), I spent most of the rest of the day in the lodge sipping warm beverages. Not wanting to be a wet blanket to Isaac’s fun, I told him to keep skiing…I’d be fine. At one point, I did venture back outside…to the kiddie hill…by myself. And as I slowly descended, another skier rushed past me out of nowhere, stopped in front of me and smiled. It was Isaac. He had seen me from out on another trail and chased me down just to see how I was doing.

This Valentine’s Day, I really don’t really care about flowers, or cards or chocolate (well, maybe chocolate). I care about the fact that I’m blessed to have the most amazing husband who doesn’t care if I can ski or not. He’ll wait for me, he’ll pick me up when I’m down, and he’ll look out for me…always. A girl can’t ask for more than that.

Wishing all of you out there, that kind of Valentine’s Day.

A New Wedding Destination in Grove City...Grand Oaks!

It's not every day I get to see the groundbreaking of a new wedding venue...and it's certainly not every day that that venue ends up being right here in Grove City! Grand Oaks is a new event center set to open this fall. You may not be able to tell right now, but they'll have a beautiful ballroom, reception area and a garden with a gazebo for outdoor ceremonies! In a word, it promises to be fantastic! I had a the unique opportunity to catch a few shots of the actual groundbreaking...

The heavy equipment is poised and ready to dig!

Back at the builders', we were all treated to a scale mock-up of the building...

Can't wait to see this building progress! For more information, check out the Grand Oaks website!

Workshop!!!

When I first got started in photography and knew I wanted to get serious about pursuing it as more than just a hobby, I knew I needed guidance. I had books, I had some experience and had taken a few classes offered here and there. The problem with the classes was that they were either too basic (“how to properly hold a camera”) or they were too broad in their content. I wanted to shoot weddings, but the course material always seemed to be geared toward product photography or inanimate objects (i.e. spatulas…really.)

Thank goodness for the workshop. I went to my first seminars and workshops a few years back and felt like I walked away with a wealth of information…stuff I could really put into practice and use right away! Not only were the workshops great in terms of content, but I got to see new products and technologies and get to know other photographers…other people who had been where I was. I’ll admit to being star struck by a few of them...they're like celebrities in photography world...rock stars! I soon found though, that these were real people who had experiences and resources to share and that, I found remarkable despite the fact that I often had to drive great distances to get to them (Hellooooo, Orlando). Sure these workshops cost a little money, but I came to realize that I wasn't just paying for a workshop, but rather investing in myself for a long-term return.

So it’s particularly exciting to think that Kevin Keefer is going to be putting on what is sure to be a phenomenal workshop this spring, right here in Columbus! Space is limited to just 20 participants, but it’s going to be a day full of great information, a model shoot at a beautiful location and a chance to meet other local photographers! I, for one...can't wait!

Check it out, and reserve your seat! See you there!