Friday, December 23, 2011

Kristin & Martin

Meet Kristin & Martin! They got married back in August of 2011 at Maumee Bay State Park in Oregon, OH. When I was asked to capture their most special day I couldn't resist the to share the excitement I had for them! They are the type of couple that you can just tell that they are meant for each other - they way they look at each other, the way they communicate and the way that they embrace is so special and loving... It is so rare to meet a young couple that are SO in LOVE with each other, it's almost as if their souls have known each other for a really long time and it clearly shows...even in their photos!






 super fun wedding party!!!

 I love the hydrangeas mixed with the orchids!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Kay & Trevor's engagement session

Meet Kay & Trevor! What a GREAT looking couple and super cool personalities as well. This guy totally digs his girl and she is sooo into him = makes my job fun!!! I had the pleasure of doing their engagement session last fall at Wildwood Preserve Metropark.
It rained and rained and rained all that day and when it came time to do their scheduled shoot, all of the sudden it cleared up and let in some amazing light. The REALLY cool part of it: usually the park is packed with people (because it's such a beautiful place to be), but there was barely anyone there because it did rain ALL DAY - so it was like we had the whole place to ourselves :o)
I am soo looking forward to doing their 2012 wedding!!!!

Just a F.Y.I to all new brides, I am now offering (actually requiring) Engagement Session with all weddings that get booked. It REALLY makes all the difference in your wedding images. You see, the Engagement Sessions breaks the ice early on in our relationship (like the first 10-15 minutes) and you feel alot more natural and comfortable around the camera. This goes a LONG WAY in creating your most precious & beautiful memories, keep this in mind when looking for a professional photographer... Also keep in mind the personality of your photographer because they can make (or break) the mood of your most awesome Wedding Day. I have witnessed over the years some tragic episodes that professional photographers have created and I swore that I would NEVER even consider doing to someone on their Wedding Day. My cousin paid high $$$ for a "professional photographer" for his wedding on the East Coast. This "professional" was rude, arrogant and down right mean to everyone, including the my cousin & his new wife! This poor behavior actually made me really think about how my positive attitude would only benefit my career as a Professional Photographer and that my clients would truly value Me documenting their Perfect Day :o)

Enjoy Kay & Trevor's Engagement Session photos!

 Great light, right?

I LOVE belly laughs!



Friday, December 2, 2011

Marzullo Family





Tricia & Tony

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Why Hire a Wedding Consultant

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Wedding Consultant

10. Sounding Board -- Wedding planners are a huge creative resource. They listen to your vision and dreams for your wedding and bring their creativity to the process to help your vision come alive.

9. Big Picture -- When you pick a venue they often give you a "wedding coordinator" from the venue to help coordinate the day. This person is NOT the same as an independent planner. He or she is the venue's catering manager and their job is to make sure that everything having to do with the facilities runs smoothly. While they are helpful, they do not cover the scope of what an independent planner does.

8. Budgeting -- Wedding planners have been in the industry for some time. They know what things should cost and the difference in value. They can help you navigate the often confusing waters of wedding industry price tags and balance your budget around YOUR priorities.

7. Enjoyable Process -- I've observed so many brides through the process of planning their wedding and when they do it without a professional planner, oftentimes by the time the wedding comes around, the process has been so stressful that they just can't wait for it to be over. Planning your wedding is supposed to be an enjoyable process. A good wedding planner helps you enjoy the journey.

6. Mediator -- A good planner serves as a buffer in tricky relational situations. It's a known fact that it's impossible to make everyone happy when planning a wedding. A planner is a safe neutral person to point to for direction. It's easier to tell your future mother-in-law, "My planner thinks we need to...." instead of "I think we should...."

5. Timeline -- Your wedding day will involve numerous vendors who need to work together to insure that the day goes smoothly. A planner understands how each vendor relies on the others and serves as the team captain who coordinates the complexities of the timeline with all its moving parts.

4. Knowledge Base -- This is likely your first time planning a wedding. Planners have been in the industry for years and are experts in protocol, etiquette and everything it takes to pull off an event of such magnitude. They are a HUGE and readily accessible resource for education.

3. Background -- In addition to possessing a wealth of knowledge, planners have been in the industry long enough to know who the players are -- which vendors can be trusted and who has the best business practices. A referral from someone who has roots in the industry is GOLD when you're having to place such a high level of trust in those you previously had no knowledge of.

2. Save $ -- I have had the planners I've worked with tell me that they can actually help their clients save enough money on their wedding to cover the cost of hiring them! How unbelievable is that!?


And the #1 reason to hire a wedding planner is...

1. Stress -- The difference in the stress level of a bride who has a professional planner and one who doesn't is palpable. When it comes to the day of your wedding, the most important thing is that you are able to relax and enjoy it. You are the bride. You don't want to end up being the point person for issues and questions that will inevitably arise. Hiring a planner frees you and everyone you love to live in the moment on your wedding day.


If you are looking for a Wedding Consultant in the Toledo, OH are here are a list of my favorites:
Bee for the Day
Elite Events
Soirre Event Planners
Your Perfect Day LLC
Catalyst Events & Designs

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

October 2011

Meet my son Joe! (aka MoJo) He is my absolute LOVE and my favorite subject to photograph!!! October is my favorite month and I decided to share with you a few of the MANY photos that I take of MoJo. Can you tell he is a natural model? 
... or he's just REALLY used to the camera by now :o)  Enjoy~

Monday, November 7, 2011

Carly & Chris' Engagement Session

Meet Carly & Chris!They drove all the way from Columbus, OH for their engagement session. I was sooo excited to do a downtown Toledo photo shoot and had all my places mapped out for our session and on Sunday morning (the day of our session) it rained and it rained and rained. I looked at the radar and there was a big green blob that covered us in NW Ohio for most of the day. Needless to say, I was sooo bummed out... then the light bulb went off in my head and remembered this jewel. It is a little piece of history, right in the heart of downtown Toledo plus it has the coolest architectural details! Carly & Chris were pleasantly surprised with this building and to top it off we got sooo many amazing images~
I am looking forward to their August 2012 wedding!









Saturday, October 22, 2011

Navy Ball - 10.22.11 The Toledo Club

I had the absolute pleasure to photograph the Navy Ball at The Toledo Club on 10.22.11.
Images can be viewed at this gallery: The Toledo Club Navy Ball  Thank you so much for your service! I really appreciate our freedom that you fight so hard to protect!!!

Click on this link to go toThe Toledo Club Navy Ball 

Here are a few photos:





Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Sneak Peek of Carley & Chris' Engagement Session

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Chrissy & Puck's Engagement Session

 Meet Chrissy & Puck! Aren't they so cute together???
We were at Wildwood Metropark last weekend for their engagament session and we made it a family portrait session as well :) Their kids are sooo stinkin cute and soooo well behaved, I had so much fun working with them!
Chrissy works at the University of Michigan, so of course their BIG U of M fans! Personally I am not a football fan at all (neither college nor professional) but my husband is, and he says I should at least support our local teams and I agree :) Go Blue!!!

 I LOVE this one!!!

I cant wait for their May 2012 wedding!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Chrissy & Puck's Engagement Session l Sneak Peak

Friday, September 30, 2011

Barefoot at the Beach

I was asked to donate my time and my art of photography to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Toledo. The event Barefoot at the Beach was so so so so much fun and is a super great cause and I had absolutely no hesitations in saying YES! They had such wonderful vendors and yummy food to sample from Super Suppers, Manhattans, Le Petite Gourmet, Rosies, The Melting Pot just to name a few. I can honestly say that I love my job, I capture fun events and in the process of it all I make some awesome new friends (and sometimes a mentor) - I am truly blessed! Remember to always give back to your community.
Enjoy these awesome images :)