Monday, November 24, 2014

Giving Thanks

Every year on Thanksgiving since I was a wee lass, our family gathers round a table set with the good dishes.  Before we can delve into the delectable roast turkey and savory dressing, my mother makes us say grace.  My brother, father and I hold the record for the fastest spoken Lord's Prayer which is not to say that we are heathens, merely hungry people who were kicked out of the kitchen, told to stay out of the food pantry (it will not ruin my appetite, Mom!) and forced to endure the intoxicating aroma of a feast baking for several hours.  My mother yields a turkey baster as a weapon, a trick she learned from her grandmother, so you see, we were nearly starved by the time the meal was ready.  My mother, a true sadist to the mind of a child, further delayed dinner by making us also take turns telling each other all the things that we are thankful for in our lives during the past year.  This was generally met with groans and eye rolling.  But my mother persevered and kept the tradition going every single year.  And each year, somehow, she managed to have something new to praise and give thanks over.

It wasn't until I became an adult in the throes of raising a family and building a career that I truly appreciated how important it is to reflect on the last year of my life and remember all that has happened... the good, the bad and the ugly.  My mother's tradition didn't just teach us to be thankful for the food on our table or the person sitting next to us.  It reminded us to look back at how much our lives have changed, what we survived and to always find joy in life, especially in the little things because in the end they're big things.

But my brother, the old man and I still race through the Lord's Prayer.

I am so very thankful to the many wonderful people that I have met and photographed this year.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives for a few hours, see the real you and create a beautiful photograph.  You have trusted me when I said, "hey, stand in those weeds 'cause it's pretty" or laid down in the dirt to get a cool shot.  I am overwhelmed by the wedding couples who have let me in, who let me witness and document one of the most emotional and intimate days of their lives.  I am absolutely ecstatic and grateful for the clients who received a large specialty print for their home because you are what makes a landscape or architectural shot a beautiful piece of art.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.


2014 VHP clients will have one more chance to order from their portrait session.  Closed galleries will be pulled from the archives, reopened on Black Friday and remain open until December 25th with select products available to order.  Look for a 40% discount on digital file downloads just in time to create your holiday cards and special offers on large format and specialty art prints.  
      

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Jess & Josh | wedding | Canopy Creek Farm | Miamisburg, Ohio

 The first rule of photography is never photograph a relative or friends wedding.  But when Jess, the daughter of a dear friend, invited me to be her wedding photographer I simply couldn't resist.  I adore her family, from her grandparents to siblings, and it was such a delightful honor to be allowed access to the most intimate parts of their day.  Jess is a beautiful, determined woman with a sweet nature, and when she sets her mind on something, she is a force.  I knew she would plan a beautiful wedding filled with meaningful, romantic details.  But beyond all the lace, pearls and dreamy details was a marriage of two smart, sincere people purposefully in love.  Notice I didn't say madly in love?  That's because they've already reached that place in a relationship where love is a verb, not merely a giddy feeling.  Their eyes shine with respect and admiration, their words are kind and light-hearted.  Josh looks at Jess with captivation, and she just...blossoms.  I am so very happy that they have found each other.  And I am delighted that their wonderful parents, who raised these two kids to become remarkable people, can rest assured knowing that their beloved child has found a partner who is fully committed and makes their kid so damn happy.

Venue:  http://www.canopycreekfarm.com/
Decor:  http://www.impressive-occasions.com/
Catering:  Scratch
Cake:  The Cakery
Hair:  Bryce Van Dyke of PRIMP
MUA: Sam Delaney