Since moving to Texas my photography business has been in a state of change. I’ve built a new studio, photographed some political events and marches, made images of local politicians, and worked with a stylist and make-up artist on model shoots. The one thing I haven’t done though was restart my wedding photography. The area we moved to has a TON of wedding photographers in and although my style and execution is very different from most others, I hadn’t really felt like wading into the fray.

That changed when a local couple approached me and asked if I would photograph their day. I’ve known Jimmy for a few years now and first met his fiancé Kim as part of this process. We had a great first meeting and decided to proceed. Subsequent meetings were just as much fun and the planning of the day was wonderful. Getting to know people is an important part of my ability to capture their day….

The day was all about family and friends and was small and intimate. With only around 30 guests, the feeling of the day was wonderful and close. Taking place in a pavilion at a local residence, everyone smiled, drank, ate, and shared a true moment of love. The sun was shining, the mood was fantastic, and the Bride and Groom very much in love! There was, as you will see, a lot of kissing….

This was the perfect event for me to get back in the saddle here in Texas. I’m delighted that I got to work with Jimmy and Kim and meet their families. I hope you enjoy this video as much as the people in it enjoyed their day!

It’s been almost a year since I left the Cincinnati area for Texas.  When I left the area I obviously said goodbye to a number of my photographic clients that I had been doing work with for a number of years.  That also meant losing contact with some people/friends as well.  However, the great relationships that you make transcend such moves and when one of those friends ask you to travel back to document their wedding it’s an easy choice!

When Ashley and Matt approached me to be part of their special day I was thrilled to be able to say yes.  I’m always available to head back to Cincinnati for weddings for people who are special to me and Ashley and Matt were at the top of that list!  I’d been hoping they would call ever since they announced their engagement!  The arrangements were made and before I knew it the date was here and I was back in the ‘Nati once more, staying with some friends and ready to go!

The day reflected Ashley and Matt so perfectly; unique, eclectic, full of individuality, and bursting with personality.  From the little touches like the badges of Ashley and Matt, to the parade with a trumpet player and sparklers down the high street, you could see that these are two people made for each other.  The vows written into copies of their favourite books served to clinch the deal.

Surrounded by their friends the day was full of love, laughter, and happiness.  Thank you so much for letting me be a part of it.  Much happiness to both of you!

I’ve known Derek and Nico for a few years now.  They first approached me to document their wedding in mid-2015 and that gives you an idea as to just how prepared they are!  However I wasn’t quite prepared for the level of intensity that came along with working with them on their special day, both in terms of the effort they put into things, and the love that they show for each other.

This is a couple who are meant to be.  They hand made almost everything for their wedding and planned everything out meticulously.  But not in an obsessive, nightmarish way.  It was done as an experience of their togetherness and as part of their commitment to each other.  From the decorations, the documentation, the “recovery kit”, the shuttles, the cufflinks, and the gifts – everything was about sharing their love with everyone else.

Nowhere else in their day was their love for each other more evident than when they read their vows.  Both of them became so emotional that they had a hard time completing the words.  But, just as with all love, they forged on and won the day.  After all, there was a party to follow!

This was a party with a lot of dancing.  I think just about everyone at this wedding danced for hours and hours.  All ages, genders, styles, races, and sexes were on the dance floor.  It was non-stop.  You can see for yourself in their slideshow that people had a good time.  There was certainly a lot of sweat!  The evening ended with a “sparkler cheer” to wish them all the best.

I had a blast.  So did they and clearly, so did their friends.  This is what love is all about and I’m thrilled that I got to share in it.  Congratulations, chaps!

Cincinnati is not really a very big place.  I’m out and about a fair bit as a photographer and as an active member of the community, I know a fair few people.  One of the great joys of my job is when someone I have known for quite a while comes up to me, suggests we work together, and I get to form a new and vibrant friendship with them.  That’s the case with Dan and Mark.

I first met Dan and Mark back in 2003 when I moved to Cincinnati.  At that time, I was the VP of Fundraising for the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus.  I met them when I was organizing the “Brunch Cruise”, an event that took place most years on a riverboat as a fundraiser for the Chorus.  Coincidentally that was also when I first met Jeff Thomas, who was also involved in the catering for this wedding!  How time flies….  They attended the Brunch Cruise, the cook out at Jeff’s house afterwards, and I have seen them at many events since.  It’s had always been nice to see them to say hello, but we had never really had much of an opportunity to do more than chat briefly.  That all changed when Mark asked me if I was available to document their wedding.

I went to their beautiful apartment in Cincinnati (which you can see in the images) and I was struck by what charming and straightforward people they were.  I felt very comfortable with them and we had great conversation about many things on the way to talking about their upcoming wedding.  As a couple, their genuineness and love for each other (and their dog, Maggie!) was very apparent.  I was very taken with the sincerity behind the ceremony that they were planning; just a small, intimate affair.  It would be quite different from the usual events that we would see each other at!

The day began with just the three of us at their apartment in the getting ready phase.  Jeff Thomas’ crew were setting up, and some special friends were also in attendance.  We took some time for some delightful family pictures and then an elegant cocktail party took place in their apartment.  Escorting their mothers to the ceremony, the nuptials followed a similar pattern of carefully planned sophistication.  It was a real joy to be a part of it all.

I’m really glad that I got to discover more of Dan and Mark.  It’s been one of the biggest treats of my photography year so far.  Thanks for having me be a part of your day, chaps!

Laughter and smiling is such an infectious thing. One of the things I love about photographing celebrations is that people are always happy. The celebration of Doug and Bruce’s wedding was no exception!

Bruce and Doug spoke to me while I was photographing an event for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra that they were also attending. I was in the middle of photographing the CSO’s pride night celebration when Bruce, a long time friend, casually slipped into the conversation that he and Doug were going to be tying the knot and was I available to work with them. I was delighted at the opportunity, penciled it into my calendar until we could meet properly to chat, and carried on with the evening.

A few weeks later we got together to talk in more detail about the plans. Bruce and Doug are such fabulous people to be with, are such wonderful hosts, and were planning a great evening.  I was thrilled to be onboard with the celebration! Taking place at the Clifton Cultural Arts Centre, a building that Doug had been involved with re-designing, the night promised to be stylish and with more than a few memorable moments. I wasn’t to be wrong!

You’ll see from the images that I made that night that Bruce and Doug are people who like to smile a lot. They also hug a lot. That theme of smiling and hugging goes perfectly with one of their songs from the evening, “Love is in the Air”.  When I was finishing their images and putting together their slideshow, I was struck by how appropriate it all was and how well the images, music, and energy came together. There was SO much love in the air that night. I used a number of sequence shots in the slideshow simply because it shows the sheer amount of happiness, love, and emotion that exists between these two fine chaps. Watching them laugh, smile, and hug through their first dance was a very special moment indeed. Take a look; you’ll see exactly what I mean!

Congratulations, Bruce and Doug. I’m really pleased we got to work together. It was a super night and I know everyone had a great time!

I first met Jim and Dave in 2012 at the wedding of Hannah and Ben.  Dave was the organiser who was coordinating the wedding planning with Hannah’s mother, Rhonda.  I remember that Dave was charming, very well organized, and made Hannah’s wedding go with a real swing!  I was thrilled when, three years later, Dave and Jim, contacted me to talk about imaging for their day.

We met in their fantastic  backyard one summers evening to talk about their plans for the event.  It wasn’t long before we had decided to work together and we had begun to talk through the event.  I was excited to be working with Dave again as I knew that this would be a great event

Jim and Dave were married on November 14th at the Madison in Covington, KY.  The event unfolded across three floors of the centre and was as fantastically planned as I expected it to be.  Attended by over 100 of their friends and family the evening was a great celebration of their love.  Jim bawled his eyes out through the ceremony and Dave beamed with happiness at everyone.  A great event of love and joy! You can see how the event went in the video below

Congratulations Jim and Dave!

I first met Jim and Cary at the HRC Gala about four years ago. They were with their friends Jim and Jeff and I took some pictures of them all together. I remember being struck by two things; first how sharp they all looked and second, how friendly they were. My next encounter with them was at pride a few months later. I took some pictures of the four of them together again. They remembered me and I remembered them. It quickly became a ritual that whenever I saw them I would take group shots of them. I run across a lot of people at events and weddings but these four chaps stood out to me from the very beginning as being very friendly, warm, and genuine people.

It was wonderful when I was approached by Jim and Cary about photographing their special day. They have been together for 28 years and actually got married in Hawaii in March of 2015. Because it isn’t very practical to take 200 friends with you to Hawaii, they decided to hold a separate reception event at their house in June with reception area, receiving line, toasts, dinner, and dancing. A unique way to celebrate for a unique couple! We met, discussed a few things, including my style of coverage, and the stage was set for a very memorable evening.

To say that Jim and Cary have a flair for throwing parties would be an understatement.  Held at their house in Trenton, they transformed their house and backyard into the most impressive setting I have seen in a long time.  With their signature colours of lavender and teal the event was visually stunning and was topped with everyone wearing white.  There was dining, drinking, dancing, and magic.  Jim and Cary spent the evening with people who clearly cared a lot for them and that is what love is surely all about, right?

You can see the results here. Love, happiness, tears, laughter, and friendship were the themes of the evening. I’d like to think that comes across here. Cary and Jim, thank you for asking me to document your evening. I’m so glad I met you those four years ago and I wish you all the happiness for the next 28 years!