Katie’s dress she purchased at European Bridal fit her personality perfect. So cute and so much fun!
I love the pink shoes! All of her girls signed special messages to her on the bottom.

Yes, even her ring is pink!Katie is an amazing designer, she made her invitations and program with artwork she created herself.All of the girl’s wore gorgeous magenta dresses accesorized with a Neckalina.  Katie and her BFF Valerie are the duo behind KaVatee, an awesome company that makes these 3 in 1 accessories.  They are so hot!  Check out their website here.
Chris looking dapper. I love this one!
Katie and Valerie, the duo behind KaVatee.

The Cincinnati Art Museum, one of  my new favorite venues!  Thanks so much to Meggie, the museum’s wedding coordinator  for  once again for making sure things ran flawlessly.
Katie’s creativity was everywhere.  Almost all of her decor is DIY.  She created all of the canvases and framed signs as well as the centerpieces.  Check out how cool her card holder is. And just when you think the party is over….Katie comes out with a pink limbo stick, YES!! 
Thanks to my awesome assistant Andrew for capturing this one, the limbo winner!

Sometimes I get a little lost.  I get a little lost from me, the me that I know I am and the me that I want to be.   I am mega hard on myself.  I compare myself to others who I am nothing like.  Sometimes I feel like I am reaching for something that doesn’t even matter to me because I think it is what  I am supposed to do.  Sometimes I just need to  retreat, to return to that place in my heart where MY fire burns, where MY passion comes from, to get back to Me.

I am a wild child of the night, I am a dreamer.  I am a head banging hippy who loves a good time.   My life is full of contradictions.  I like to explore as many options as possible before I make a decision.   I think, and I dwell.  I try not to judge, but sometimes it happens and then I feel like shit afterwards.  I live for butterflies in my belly.  I fantasize about people I see in public, I make believe their life is a lot more exciting than it probably is.  I am super sensitive, though at times I pretend like I am a hard ass to disguise it.  I really worry about lonely people.  I would rather be happy than rich.  I like when people feel good about themselves, it makes me feel good.  I believe everyone has a talent, a special something they were meant to do.  I admire people who take risks and fight for their dreams.  I  love to remember the past, but only the good parts, the rest I have learned to forget.  I can sit in silence for hours, I actually enjoy it.  I am inspired by hard work via the body and the mind.

I was a waitress for many, many years.  I met some of the most amazing people I have ever known while doing it.  Through that experience I realized we are all the same from doctors to mechanics, from artists to mothers, we all have the same worries and fears.  We all just want someone to listen and someone to love, to find a place where we can feel safe.  Sometimes life takes turns you are not prepared for, it’s scary when it happens.  The only thing you can do is hold on tight  and learn to adapt.  I am still trying to figure this part out.

Always a work in progress.

Courteney and Drew’s story really stood out to me.  It wasn’t just the fact that they are planning a carnival themed wedding with rides, a concession stand, and all of the fun games you see at a carnival. This did sound pretty amazing to me, Umm I want to take pictures on a carousel. It was also the love story Courteney sent in with her entry.   It was so sincere and heartfelt.  She admitted she thought Drew was a tool in the beginning, I loved her honesty.  She talked about all of the sweet things he did to win her over and prove her wrong.  He encouraged and supported her before he even got a first kiss.  She talked about how positive he is  and how eventually a friendship blossomed into love.  The story was about 5 pages long, but I enjoyed reading every bit of it.  Needless to say I found my winners.

I have really enjoyed getting to know Courteney and Drew through their planning process.  They are a blast to be around.  I cannot wait to work with some of my favorite vendors on their wedding in May!   Your Wedding by Jen planning/event design,  Marti’s Floral Designs on flowers/event design, and the super talented Kristen of Five Dot Design is in charge of all of the paper goods, this will be a wedding to remember for sure!

For Courteney and Drew’s engagement session they wanted to do something unique so we headed to the Cincinnati Zoo.  We got VIP access to some of the animals thanks to Drew’s good friend Travis,  who happens to be one of my first clients ever!  Small world!!

p.s. For those of you wondering, Love+Bash 2012 is in the works…stay tuned!

See Shanean and Ryan’s destination wedding here, their sexy day after shoot here, underwater fun here, and their reception at the Bell Event Centre here.

Cover photo by Deogracias Lerma

It’s been a good week for me so far, so much love!  Yesterday Candice and Chris’ Riverboat wedding was featured on Wedding Row Kentucky‘s blog! Check it out here.

Their gorgeous wedding was held at the Cincinnati Art Museum.  I love that we were able to incorporate some of the museum’s art into their pictures.  Robin was the ultimate DIY bride.  She made everything from her button bouquet (which was unlike anything I have ever seen), to the cupcake stand and menus.  Instead of flowers her bridesmaids carried letters   that spelled out Jeff and Robin’s last name, how cute!   She put a lot of work into her wedding and because of that her wedding was unique and personal.  My favorite kind of wedding to photograph.

Robin and Jeff I can’t thank you enough for choosing me to be your photographer and allowing me to spend this special day with you.  xoxo

Vendor info

Art museum event coordinator-Meggie King
Dj-Joe Hriffin
Cupcakes Home Grown Cakes
Make up- Heidi McKenna
Hair-Jackie Uher Rawe
Officiant-pastor Brian Eastman
Second Shooter/Amazing Assistant Andrew Ducker

See the 70′s inspired wedding shoot I did with Casey a few months ago here.

We started the day out in my car jamming The Doors which inspired a heated discussion between the three of us about  how hot Jim Morrison was.   After about a 20 minute ride we arrived at the location I picked out for the shoot, a field of wild flowers in KY, my favorite place to be.  He we are, 3 girls on a long gravel road in the middle of nowhere, clothes and cameras everywhere, Casey half naked and here come the police. Shit! You should have seen the look on their faces, priceless.  Thanks to Casey’s power of seduction they were super cool about letting us stay and shoot.  How could they say no, right?

We gathered our thoughts and gear and ran into the middle of this amazing field squealing and laughing like little girls.  We were all so excited.  We set up this shoot for nothing but fun and that is exactly what it was.  The sun was low and gorgeous. Casey had a cocktail and was ready to party.  Christine was beside me holding my cameras(thanks Christine) and making sure Casey looked amazing.  I was just trying to take it all in without losing my mind.  We lost a camera (which we later found), a cup of vodka, and a pair of killer sunglasses.  We were covered in bug bites and burs.

Inspiration was running so thick I had to remind myself to breathe.  There is a point in my creative process where I sorta loose control.  I love when it happens.  I let go of fear and  things begin to happen naturally, it’s freedom.  Casey totally inspired me to push myself farther that I could have imagined with these. She became my muse and we fed off of each other instinctively.  Over exposed, under exposed, out of focus, smokey sun flare, it was magic I tell you, magic.

****this post contains some artistic nudity, Casey’s cool with it, I am cool with it, but If you are not cool with it you might want to turn around now****

Her dress from Bridal and Formal was so, so pretty!  Ok so we all  know I love unique bouquets, I think this one is my favorite to date.  So delicate and  pretty.  She got it from Croska on Etsy.This was my first experience with Funky’s Catering.  I was blown away, the food was delicious and their staff was very professional.  It was a pleasure working with them.The gorgeous flowers are by Robin Wood.  I love the colors Brandie chose.Brandie is so creative.  Other Vendors
My Assistant Natasha Loos
DJ Maize Music
Cake Artrageous Desserts
Planner Tracey Reece
Officiant Paul Ravenscraft
Hair and Makeup Mitchell’s Salon