Joe | Rockdale Temple Bar Mitzvah | BB Riverboat | Dayton Ohio Photographer

When Heather, a talented family photographer, first contacted me to cover her son's Bar Mitzvah and celebration luncheon on the BB Riverboat, The River Queen, I immediately wanted to do it.

Then I worried about the sad, sad fact that I don't swim.

Am actually quite terrified of deep water.

And thus began the months of quietly trying to figure out how to surreptitiously wear orange arm floaties while shooting on a boat. 

Because I...

really wanted to photograph this.

(and I'm also trying to overcome my fears and all that jazz.)

I'm happy to report that I pulled it off without a panic attack (or a flotation device) and I'm so very glad that I took this event.  I met the most adorable family - a mother and father who radiated joy and pride, a sister who was the life of the party, a cute rascal of a baby brother and a sweet, freckled faced boy who shined with happiness.  And I witnessed and documented an extraordinarily beautiful ceremony rich with tradition and meaning.

The Rockdale Temple in Cincinnati is breathtaking.

The Ark is beautiful.  It seemed to radiate light.

Reading the Torah.

I really enjoyed seeing a community of loved ones reading with Joe.

I love this moment.

Mother and Father spoke words of love and inspiration to Joe.  It was a lovely moment to witness and many people, including me, were tearing up along with them.

The River Queen, BB Riverboat in Cincinnati

Joanna & Joel | Birch House, Yellow Springs | Dayton Wedding Photographer

Joanna & Joel were both students at Cedarville University in the winter of 2010.  At midnight on a cold December night, students gathered in the student center for the annual Campus Christmas tradition of cookie decorating, enjoying a hearty breakfast and a showing of the holiday classic, A Christmas Carol.  Joel describes it as being magical and when a brunette with long curls and the face of angel walked in, he was captivated.  He was completely smitten and thus began his long, steady courtship of Joanna.

Four and a half years later, family and friends gathered at the historic Birch House in Glen Helen Reserve just south of Yellow Springs to witness their marriage.  The magnificent estate is nestled near a creek at the end of a secluded tree lined lane, and it was the perfect location for their romantic, woodland wedding.

I discovered this old telephone built into a plaster wall and created an old photograph with it.  Not my usual style of imagery, but oh so charming.

Joel is a video journalist, so I knew that wedding photography would be important to him.  The only image he specifically requested was of him and his guys at the ball field.  Joanna said that because this was special to him, we'd make it work with the timeline.  So the fellas and I jumped into two cars and drove to Xenia.  

And the boys played a little ball.

Their ceremony was filled with beautiful music performed by many loved ones.  Friends, siblings and even the father of the groom had important roles during the ceremony. 

Joanna & Joel gave me a quite a bit of time for their portraits.  I'm so thankful when clients give me their precious time on wedding day to see the light, work the scene and take full advantage of the location.  Creating imagery of the bride and groom is one of my favorite parts of the day. 

The caterer's moved the cake table to this brilliant patch of light on the patio.  I swooned.  SWOONED, I say!

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Enchanting.

Thank you, Joanna & Joel, for inviting me to photograph your wedding.

Venue:  Birch House, Yellow Springs

Cake:  Granny C's Bakery

Hair:  Trisha Baker of Self Expressions Hair Studio

Hair:  Courtney West of Concepts Hair Studio

Flowers:  Wickline's

Catering:  Christopher's

Photographer: Valerie Hawkins   and follow vhp on Facebook