Carolyn & Alex | Cleveland Cultural Gardens Film Portraits

Over the last year, Carolyn has become such a great friend to me. This girl is one of those people who everyone instantly likes. She's warm and personable and also witty and interesting. She has so many cool life stories, AND she's a fellow photographer … all the way in Iowa City! I think it speaks to Carolyn's character that she has friends all over the globe (and I mean ALL over! These two are seasoned travelers).

Carolyn and Alex are from Cleveland and asked me to do a film photo session with them while they were home for a week. Carolyn and I have sort of explored film together (although truthfully, she's helped me way more than I've helped her!), and I was seriously so honored--and really, really excited--to do an entire session with my Mamiya. I love way too many of these to narrow them down, so get ready for a long blog post. These two are really good looking, so it shouldn't be too difficult to look through all these photos. :)

Ohhhh, Carolyn! You are gorgeous!

Alex, you clean up pretty nicely too. ;)

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens provide so much diversity for a session. I love shooting here!

Favorite!

Thanks so much, you guys! xo

Mallory & Justin | Cleveland Art Museum Film Portraits

Mallory and Justin are some of our favorite people ever … and we just met them less than a year ago! They make up the talented and adorable Mallory + Justin husband-and-wife photography team out of Canton. You should go check them out. They have big dreams and are go-getters and all around good people.

Over the past few months, we've adventured quite a bit with Mallory and Justin (or "Mallory plus Justin" as I call them in my head). Some of my favorite memories with them include sitting on our living room floor talking about life (and then some); traipsing around a llama farm at Unshop to find the best shooting locations … and then discussing brain freezes over giant ice cream cones; taking part in M+J's brainchild, Collected, which I'll be sharing more of soon; and, of course, missing our dinner reservations to continue this photo swap. You just have to love people that are on the exact same page as you!

Most of these photos are film (Fuji 400h), but Nathan "second shot" with me to capture a few digital photos too!

Meet my friend Mallory who has amazing hair and cheekbones! Justin, your cheekbones aren't bad either. ;)

Love that one on the right. I have no idea what they were looking at, but I love it!

I just love shooting outside the art museum. There are so many awesome natural reflectors! And P.S. I think that photo on the right is one of Nathan's! Pretty proud of him.

Film Mini Shoot #2 | Emily & Keith

I so, SO look forward to shooting with film each and every time I go to one of these mini shoots. Film is really a breath of fresh air for me, and I adore  playing with the light and waiting in anticipation for these digital scans to arrive in my Inbox. I've learned to be more deliberate about each shot and really take my time and think through what I'm doing. It's such a nice pace.

A HUGE thanks to my cute former assistant, Emily, and her husband, Keith, for agreeing to model for my Mamiya. :) You guys are so good!

P.S. There are a couple digital photos mixed in here. Can you tell which is which? Hint: The digital photos are a different size than the film!

Emily and Keith were married two years ago and have such awesome respect and affection for each other.

Oh you guys. These next two? They're my FAVORITES!

I just looooove the light coming through those trees!

Fuji 400H | Richard Photo Lab

Amanda & Scott | Downtown Cleveland Anniversary Portraits

Making time for an anniversary session is one of my favorite things. What is an anniversary session you ask? Basically, it's just taking the time to get your portrait taken with your spouse. It can be around your anniversary time … or maybe six months later. I'll still call it an anniversary session (exhibit A).

But the point is, it's so important to remember each season of your life. Amanda and Scott just celebrated five years of marriage and are on the cusp of some exciting things in their life. They wanted to remember this time, how they are right now--loving Cleveland and each other. (Seriously, they looove Cleveland. Check out Amanda's blog about the city!)

We started at Playhouse Square because Amanda and Scott love the theater and are really jazzed about all the cool changes happening in the square.

The amazing chandelier is SO cool!

Amanda and Scott are huge comic buffs and brought some of their favorite comic books for a photo. I have never seen books in such mint condition before!

Cleveland is just really killing it lately. This new area overlooking the Cleveland Mall is gorgeous!