Kenzie & Zach Wedding

After a postponement due to COVID, these two were able to find a new date and make their wedding day still happen this summer. I am so happy for Kenzie and Zach and after all they went through, they shared such a beautiful day together with some of their closest friends and family.

This was my first time at Honey Farm and I loved the outdoor options they had to offer. They have a stunning place for a ceremony, a cute little gazebo that is perfect for a first look, and then of course some amazing sunsets over the rolling fields. I had the lovely opportunity to work with some incredible vendors that put together such a wonderful wedding for these two. Since it was the 4th of July, we were even able to watch some fireworks from a nearby school. After a fun little firework show Kenzie and Zach finished the night with a sparkler exit. I am so happy to have been a part of this day and so glad everything worked out for them! Below are some of my favorite photos from their special day along with the amazing vendor team.

Venue: Honey Farm

Florist: Floral V Designs

Dress: BoChic Bridal

Styling Surface: Elysian Market

Emilee & Cole Engagement Session at Caesar Creek State Park

After a week of some extreme heat and a few rescheduling dates because of the rain, we had an absolutely perfect evening for an engagement session. We met halfway at Caesar Creek Park and since Emilee & Cole were unable to plan a beach destination wedding, we had some beach engagement photos right here in Ohio! This session was so fun because it was different and of course I was thrilled their pup came along too! Here are some of my favorites from the session!

Natalie & Jason Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove Wedding

We could not have asked for a more beautiful spring day to have an outdoor greenhouse wedding at one of my favorite Ohio venues, Jorgensen Farms- Oak Grove. The sun was shinning and we had a perfect sunset in the evening behind the gorgeous tree line. Even though there were stunning views and every detail was literally perfect, my favorite part was seeing how happy these two were together. You could just see the pure happiness in their eyes when they first saw each other. After a beautiful ceremony and some fun photos in the field, Natalie & Jason had a little surprise for their guests. They were intorudced into the reception by the OSU band! After a few songs by the band and a wonderful dinner, we partied all night long until it was time to send them off with some sparklers!

I am so grateful to have a part in their big day and can’t wait to share many more photos with them!

Below are some of the vendors who helped make this beautiful day happen!

Venue: Jorgensen Farms Oak Grove

Florals: Bear Roots Floral

Dress: White of Dublin

Suit: Studio Suits

Hair: Haley Garber

Makeup: Rachel Hodnett

Cake: Capital city

Rings: Jared

DJ: Party Pleasers

Videographer: Mark Batke

Summer Strawberry Field Session

Summer is quickly approaching and I’ve been wanting to do a couples picnic session for quite some time now. Blooms and Berries Farm, just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio is currently ready for Strawberry picking season. As soon as I heard of this, I knew it would make an adorable photo session. Kaitlin & Tim were up for the adventure and after a toasty day of picking strawberries, we cooled off in the shade with some champagne and a cute little picnic. As you will see below, we had so much fun during this shoot and I fell in LOVE with this idea and plan on using it for future sessions!

My Favorite Ohio Wedding Venues

Okay, so quickly after creating this list of my favorite Ohio Wedding Venues, I realized I had a lot. I guess this is awesome because I discovered Ohio has a pretty legit wedding venue selection to choose from. As you may notice here soon, I favor outdoor wedding venues. With my style and love for the outdoors, it’s a no brainer that I like to soak up some sun and get natural light for all of your wedding photos. I know, I know, many of you may be rolling your eyes and are afraid to pick an outdoor venue, because, well, it’s freaking Ohio. The weather is as bipolar as you can possible get but this risk is, (in my opinion) totally worth it! Many of these outdoor focused venues have a solid backup option in case of inclement weather and trust me when I say those clear umbrellas can make for some super cute portrait props! Below you will see some of my all time favorite Ohio wedding venues I’ve shot at, as well as a few that are on my bucket list.

Oak Grove - Columbus, Ohio

Get married in a greenhouse, yes please! This truly unique venue located right outside of Columbus is one of my all time favorites. With ALL of the natural light, the newly built reception building, on site getting ready locations, and a perfect tree-line for sunset photos, you will not be disappointed.

The Monastery Event Center - Cincinnati, Ohio

With only being in Cincinnati for 6 months, I have not experienced many Cincinnati wedding venues yet, but I’ve had my eye on this spot for awhile. I had the chance to second shoot here with Kailey Marie Photography and it really is as beautiful as I thought it would be. This renovated church is a jaw dropper and you will immediately fall in love with it as soon as you walk in. This venue is tucked into the adorable town of Mt. Adams which has perfect side streets that make for a beautiful backdrop.

Warwick Farm - Mt. Vernon, Ohio

What I love about this venue is how big it is. This allows for so many different options when it comes to the ceremony and reception setup. There are two different on-site getting ready locations as well as a beautiful reception space open to the outdoors! There are a million different places to take photos here and you can even take a quick trip in the Gator out to the the open field with the sheep and llamas! (Highly suggest doing this!)

Jorgensen Farms - Columbus, Ohio

Back on this list is the other Jorgensen Farms location which is their Historic Barn. Another gorgeous outdoor venue with fantastic indoor options! There is so much color and life at this Farm and there is a lot of space for all of your guest to have a great time! With outdoor games and the open barn feel, this is definitely a spot for all you summer lovers.

The Grand Barn at the Mohicans -Knox County, Ohio

Didn’t I tell you I love the outdoors? This Treehouse wedding venue will give you all of the outdoorsy feels. Another great spot with on-site getting ready rooms and lots of wooded area for photos!

The Club at Corazon -Dublin, Ohio

Italy vibes in Ohio, say what?! The Club at Corazon is another unique location that will make you and your guests feel like you are celebrating in Italy. The club has beautiful views, vineyards, relaxing water fountains, and those gorgeous pillars out front.

Ohio Statehouse - Columbus, Ohio

Although I have not actually shot a wedding ceremony here, I have done many pre-wedding portraits at the Ohio Statehouse. With many different rooms to select from and covered outdoor areas, (perfect for a first look) the Ohio Statehouse creates a classy and elegant look that I love!

These are some of my favorite venues I have photographed over the past few years in Ohio and there are many more I have on my bucket list.

My bucket list includes Juniper (Columbus), Franklin Park Conservatory (Columbus), Hotel Covington (Cincinnati area), The Columbus Zoo, Ault Park (Cincinnati) and basically all of the Cincinnati wedding venues so I can get a feel for my new home!

Reasons why to do a first look on your wedding day

Just another person over here trying to convince you to do a first look at your wedding. First off, I want to share that I never want to pressure my couples into choosing this option. I believe this is completely your decision and you and your fiancé should decide this together. For me, I am obviously biased because I’m a photographer, and I know a first look allows for more photos opportunities. I love photo opportunities, but I also know not all of my couples will choose this option, and that completely is OKAY! I just want to share some of the main reasons why I do love them so much.

To my surprise, it is usually the groom who is not interested in doing a first look for their wedding. I thought about this for a little bit and then came to the realization, DUH, because of the pressure we put on them to have this huge reaction when they first seen their bride. Not all men will cry when they first see their fiancé in her white dress. If it is not their personality to cry, then that is completely fine and this should be understood. But in reality, grooms will have LESS pressure to have a big reaction for their first look than during the actual wedding ceremony, because the entire wedding guest list will not be there watching. It is a shared moment between you two and just you two alone. If you think about it, you really don’t have much alone time with your spouse on the day of your wedding. Sharing this moment together can be so special and a time for you guys to really soak it in together. Everything is flying by at this point and there is no better place to be than to slow it down in the arms of the one you love most.

Another huge reason why I love when my couples choose to do a first look is because of the timeline of the wedding day. When there is a first look scheduled before the ceremony, this allows for more time for portraits and for photos with the full bridal party. If this important to you, then you might want to really consider doing a first look. Typically when there is no first look, the bridal party is split and one photographer will do photos of the bridesmaids while the other photographer will do photos of the groomsman. In this case, the only time to do the full bridal party photos is after the ceremony. Usually, there is not much of a gap between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception. If there is no first look that means we have to do family photos, full bridal party photos, and all of your portraits during this short time. By this point you may be completely checked out and just want to get the party started with your friends and family. This is why taking portraits before the ceremony always seems to be way less stressful for everyone.

There is also more of a middle of the road option where couples choose to have a first moment rather than a first look. This can be holding hands on either side of a door, a corner of a building, or even a tree. I have had couples pray together during this moment, read each others letters, and just share this special quiet time together before the ceremony.

There are definitely couples who still wish to take the more traditional route and I am COMPLETELY fine with this! I still love a good mix of wedding day experiences and I love when couples are passionate about their choice. These are just a few of my top reasons to organize a first look based upon my time as a wedding photographer.