Becca + Nick - Cincinnati, OH Wedding

Becca and Nick were so fun to work with. I was super excited for another opportunity to be in Cincinnati, since I had so much fun last time I was there. These two put me up in an incredible hotel that I probably enjoyed way too much. On the day of the wedding we searched for a secluded spot to do their first look. Poor Becca was so nervous! I found this little alcove off the hotel courtyard. I thought it had pretty light, and it was the only place in the whole hotel where they could have a private moment. Their first look was so sweet. They were so clearly excited to see each other. 

Everyone eating their lunches and playing games in the courtyard applauded Nick and Becca as they emerged from our little first look spot. 

As I said, this hotel was beautiful. I kind of loved it. I decided it would be a really cool spot for some bridal party photos. They look so fancy, right?

THEY'RE MARRIED!

Nick played Becca a couple of songs and it was adorable. 

Just because I love a cool ring shot. :)

Becca + Nick - Cincinnati, Ohio Engagement

I don't think it has EVER taken me this long to get a blog post up after a session, but the last two months have been absolutely INSANE. My apologies to Becca and Nick for the wait!

Becca and Nick's engagement session was my very last stop on the crazy train that was this fall. October was jam packed with long distance travel, tons of sessions, and a really unpleasant dose of chronic car trouble.

Two of my lovely best friends got married on November 5 in Ohio, and months ago I scheduled this engagement session to be perfectly timed with that trip for their wedding. I don't often just drop by Ohio, so timing was pretty important here. I knew I would be making my way down from northern Ohio on Sunday after the wedding and have to pass through Cincinnati to get home. The plan was to time my trip from Canton so that I arrived in Cincinnati exactly on time for this session. Meet this amazing couple, shoot some pretty pictures, drive on home. 

While in Canton for my friend's wedding my car started acting bananas. I was busy being a bridesmaid all day on Saturday and couldn't do a thing about it until Sunday morning at the earliest. I had a friend take my car in Saturday so it could be looked at, and called back first thing Sunday morning. I needed to leave Canton at a very specific time in order to be able to make it to this session and spent a good portion of Saturday night/Sunday morning being panicked that this wouldn't be possible. 

By some amazing chance of fate my car was able to be repaired on Sunday morning at the EXACT time I needed to leave town. (Thanks again to the wonderful Dennis and Kathryne for driving me to get my car and making sure I got home safely.)

This, again, was one of the prime examples of how amazing my clients are. I'd had a pretty stressful 24 hours. I spend most of it wondering if my car would be able to get me home and if I would have to call at the last second and cancel this engagement session. There's, of course, no way Becca could have known this, but still. When I arrived for our session she had CUPCAKES for me! RIGHT!? And they were delicious. The whole way home after the session I listened to my most recent podcast discovery and ate cupcakes and thought about how lucky I am to work with awesome people. 

Nick, if all of her baked creations taste like those cupcakes, you're a lucky dude.

It was important to Becca and Nick that we include his guitar in some of the photos, which naturally I was all for. This guy pulls out the guitar and starts playing... you guessed it... The Avett Brothers. Only my favorite ever. Thumbs up for Nick.

These are some of my favorites!

Kerry + Jose - Cincinnati Wedding Photographer

I mentioned in my preview post a little bit about my trip to Cincinnati. I ate some awesome food and had my first experience at an airbnb. All of that was great, but let's talk about the real reason I was there - THIS WEDDING! 

I remember seeing Kerry at a wedding I photographed last year. At that wedding reception I remember thinking that girl is so pretty, and she looks like she is having so much fun. I wanted to be her friend. Only a a little while later I received an email from her that she'd gotten engaged and was looking for a wedding photographer! I first met Jose when I traveled to Louisville, KY for their engagement session last fall. You can see that session HERE. What I learned at their engagement session is that these two are so kind and sweet... and they are awesome dancers.

On the day of their wedding the forecast predicted rain for all day. I obsessively refreshed my weather app to see if anything had changed. It was amazing. Right as I arrived at the hotel (in the rain) the weather app said that the chance of rain was greatly reduced during the two times of day we would need to be outside. AMAZING.

This wedding was my first ever Catholic mass! Like lots of people, I was raised in an certain religious group and I'm still practicing that faith today. I think it's so interesting (and so important) to see how people of different faiths and different denominations go about worshiping God. There's so much we can learn from our differences. It was a great experience. 

The way these two look at each other!

Perfect rainless sky. Perfect time of day. Perfect newlyweds. Perfect.

Doesn't she look great?

I loved the toasts at this wedding. Jose's brother delivered his speech in English and Spanish, so that everyone could understand. It occurred to me how amazing it is that people can be family and be celebrating the same moment with the same amount of joy and enthusiasm and not even speak the same language. 

Kerry + Jose - Cincinnati Wedding Preview

This weekend was my very first trip to the state of Ohio! I think it's funny that I only made it about five minutes across the border and was basically in Kentucky the whole time, BUT IT COUNTS. I went to Ohio. Cross that off my list.

I've decided I really like Cincinnati, as long as I'm not looking for parking. I ate some really delicious food and had the opportunity to see some family I haven't seen in a while (during which I was pooped on by a newborn). 

I'll be back in Ohio in a couple of months for ANOTHER wedding, but this time I'll be getting my bridesmaid vibes on instead of taking photos. 

Anyway, enough about me and my adventure to the north. This weekend was about THESE TWO! I had so much fun working with Kerry and Jose and their amazing families. I have lots to say about their wedding, but I'll save it for the proper blog post.

For now, just enjoy a preview of Kerry and Jose's wedding day!