Erin & Colin | Massimo Da Milano Wedding Sneak Peek

September 23, 2013

Erin and Colin's wedding was one of the most unique I've ever shot. Most notably, they took a tour of Great Lakes Brewing Co. after their ceremony, which was just plain awesome. If you remember from their engagement photos, Erin and Colin are incredibly sweet with each other, and it was so fun to photograph their honest emotion again this past weekend. Enjoy some of my favorites from their big day. I hope they get to see this peek of their wedding before they jet off on their Grecian honeymoon! :)

101 in 1001: #24 Plant a Garden.

September 19, 2013

We had visions of our garden before we even knew we would be able to plant one. The sun would be shining as we picked carrots from the soil. I would probably be wearing a super cute sun hat while Rosie ran around chasing butterflies. ...

Let's be real. We planted our garden with much gusto. We were SO excited. Our neighbor offered up this little plot of soil between our houses, and we just knew we would be feasting on green beans and spinach and peppers in no time. Until the bunnies started eating everything, including the one tiny little strawberry we were completely smitten with. Until we realized we hadn't watered the garden for a week. Until I got so busy, I completely forgot we even had a garden (for proof, see picture below of our basil plant in May and then in September).

Yesterday, we discovered our garden again and realized we had some carrots. Except that we forgot to thin the carrots out, so they ranged from hugely short and squat (kind of resembling a sumo wrestler) to the most minuscule, inedible things you've ever seen. You better believe we'll be eating those carrots though.

One day, I want to tend to a garden just like the one at Lucky's. I would love to grow my own wildflowers that I can pick for vases and be completely self sufficient when it comes to summer vegetables. I'm hoping that our neighbor isn't silently cursing us and already making plans to ban us from the garden next season. Because I really would love to try again. :)

Melissa & Derek | Downtown Cleveland Engagement

September 19, 2013

Downtown Cleveland is so underrated. I love the energy happening downtown these days, the vibrant restaurants, the architecture. I mean, come on, that shot up there doesn't look like your typical Cleveland, right? Well, it is. It's Cleveland, and I love it.

I'm always excited when a couple suggests the city for an engagement session and Melissa and Derek were committed to it. We traveled all around to get some of their favorite spots, and they were such sports the whole time. Enjoy my favorites of this lovely couple!

Love that Tower City shot ...

We seriously had the most beautiful day for this shoot!

To see more from Melissa and Derek's downtown Cleveland engagement session, click here to view a SLIDESHOW or watch it here:

Allie & Sean | Cleveland Springvale Ballroom Wedding

September 18, 2013

Baldwin Wallace University has both Allie and Sean's hearts, so it's really only appropriate that they met on campus. Allie just happened to be talked into buying concert tickets for her sister (even though she didn't feel like going) and Sean just happened to be selling those tickets in The Union. What fate, right? It absolutely amazes me how one moment can change so much.

"A few times that week I 'just so happened' to walk through The Union on my way to class and I'd tease Sean as I went by," Allie said about the aftermath of her ticket purchase. "I 'accidentally' bumped into Sean the night of the show and he introduced me to the opening band, Florez. A little after the concert, Sean asked me out for ice cream."

Or as Sean puts it, "third time's a charm." :)

Allie and Sean are those people that you automatically like seconds after meeting them. It makes perfect sense for them to be together. They both have an awesome sense of humor, they're quick to smile and say something positive, but they also have this inner calm that draws people to them. They bring out the best in each other, which is the absolute best kind of love.

Thank you a million times over, Allie and Sean, for inviting me into your lives to document this special day. I'm so blessed to have met you and YOU are so blessed to have each other. Here's to many years together ...