This is what I started to talk about at the Toledo Botanical Gardens on Friday night… the proposal between Nathan & Sarah. Let me just say that it was really neat to be part of this and I’m so fortunate to have fallen into this [I love my job!].
I received a call from Janice, one of my 2008 brides, explaining that her best friend has always wanted someone to photograph her getting engaged. So…without going into too much detail, this is exactly where I came in. Sarah’s fiance, Janice, Janice’s fiance and I all planned on having this surprise moment of joy reserved for an evening in August…well this all changed when Nathan picked up the engagement ring Friday afternoon. He couldn’t wait or didn’t think he could keep it for 3 weeks, so we did it Friday. I brought along my two guys (previous post) and met Janice and Sarah’s parents, who were also in on the surprise and we waited and waited and finally they arrived. It was so neat to watch – though I was shaking, I was so nervous (for what, for whom – I’m not sure!) I was just hoping the images were in focus!! Here are a few my favorites!
AND if there are any men reading this who want to propose and want to catch the moment in stills – PLEASE feel free to contact me! I would love to do this more often!

I love this moment of Sarah’s dad before they arrive…you can almost tell what he is thinking.

I was out of town this past weekend and had the honor to photograph Karissa & Adam’s wedding. It was nice to see some new scenery and ofcourse meet new people! I didn’t meet the bride and groom until their wedding day [which was very different for me]. I only spoke to her a few times over the phone and through emails we were able to form a nice working relationship. Karissa used to teach with my cousin, who happens to live on the other side of Ohi – so I will travel to wherever a wedding will take me!
Karissa & Adam truely have a loving relationship, that was obvious to me right off the bat. And I hope I was able to capture every drop of love these to newlyweds share. I wish them the best and hope they are having fun in Mexico!
Ceremony Site: Hartford United Methodist Church; Hartford, Ohio (itty bitty town)
Reception Site: Holiday inn Metroplex; Girard, Ohio
Video Guy: James Reuff
DJ: Simply Ed Productions
Photo Location: Mill Creek Park; Youngstown, Ohio

I don’t think there was a dry eye in the crowd after the father daughter dance…including my own!

On Friday night, Ben, Grant & I went to the Botanical Gardens for a special ocassion (more to come on that) but I ofcourse brought my camera and I wanted to post a few of my favs…

Ofcourse, the infamous ‘window’ ~

There is a lot of talk about ‘trashing the dress’ going on ~ I know I’ve received some phone calls and have even set a few appointments up for the next few weeks.

If you have no idea what ‘trash the dress’ means, I will try my best to explain… your wedding dress – you will only wear it once and then put it away forever. So why not spend an hour or two in it (after your wedding) getting it dirty or wet, something that you would never dare do on your wedding day. So after all the wedding planning is complete, the wedding day comes and goes, you’ve gone and come back from the honeymoon, I encourage you to put that dress back on to create one of a kind photographs that you will have to display forever and ofcourse have some fun doing it [with or without your husband]. So it’s not totally about completely trashing the dress, it’s just about being able to get dirty and not worry about it!

Another spin on it – YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE A BRIDE in order to do this! How about that term, ‘always a bridesmaid, never a bride’ – what are you ever going to do with that bridesmaid dress hanging in your closet? Sure, your friend – the bride – has always said, “You could wear it again!” yeah right. Is it collecting dust? Try it on and let’s trash it! In fact I know I have a few that I’m willing to spare….

If you need visuals or pix to look at there are a lot sites out there pretained to this subject.
Here are just two:

www.LetsGetTrashed.com
http://www.trashthedress.com/

Please contact me if you are interested!!! let’s get trashed!

Here is my first senior session this year from yesterday! Please meet Aaron ~ after 3 shirts, walking a couple blocks downtown, a few laughs and some guy asking for $, I went home with a handful of unique backdrops and great images! It was fun and I’m glad mom & sis where there to help! You will be seeing more of this kid…his sister is getting married in October and I have the honor to be part! Thanks Aaron for hanging out with us chics for an evening!

I had to include a neat find outside an antique shop ~ and I’m not even sure what to call it…the red metal bench/couch/love seat thing. ?