Camping Wedding in Minnesota

In southeast Minnesota, there is a hidden jewel called Whitewater State Park. On route to the park, it seemed like my husband and I were driving in endless corn fields and farmlands. Merely turning one corner, however, we were immediately greeted by lush rolling hills, rocky cliffs and cedar forests. With foothills on either side of us, we drove down a dusty gravel lane, crossed a bridge over the Middle Fork White River, and hidden in a hallow between the forested hills, we entered the emerald beauty of the group camp area of the park. In the hallow, there are eight rustic cabins, and it is in these cabins that Joshua and Katie's family and closest friends stayed for the weekend of the wedding.

Coffee Shop Wedding in Toledo

As you'll soon see in the images below, Kyle and Samantha's wedding day was far from ordinary. Before the wedding, the couple wanted to spend time together, but it was also important to them that Kyle not see his bride before the ceremony. So with Josh, I orchestrated the meeting in order to keep Samantha hidden from her groom. With Kyle's eyes closed, Gentry, Kyle's best man, led Kyle to the center of the Oak Openings pine grove, and positioned him so he could not see Samantha approach. Happy tears graced sweet Samantha's eyes the moment she saw her soon-to-be husband. She beautifully walked toward him, and gently touched his arm.

weddingseastlyn brightAugust 15, 2016Ohio, Indoor, Forest, Traditional Wedding Comments

Hoover Dam Engagement Session in Columbus, Ohio

The two most important technical aspects that Sam and Kyle wanted for their session was a sunset and to use smoke. At the reservoir we found a beautiful pine grove, and because it was after 7pm, the sun was low enough to create harsh directional, horizontal light and shadows. After taking a few shots, we decided that this was the perfect spot to use the smoke. I positioned Kyle and Sam in a light streak between two shadows, and then Josh lit a green smoke stick and ran around them. As the smoke moved through the air, Kyle and Sam embraced and connected; and I photographed my back lit subjects, taking one shot after another. It wasn't until I looked through my playback that I saw what we just created together. I showed Kyle and Sam, and we were all ecstatic. You'll see those images at the bottom of this post. In summary, the smoke illumined the sunbeams that were already shining in between Kyle and Sam's embrace. The true beauty, to me, is their beautiful connection--the sunbeams and smoke just actuated it.

Torrey Pine Engagement Session in San Diego

Engagement session at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California

Canyonlands National Park Winter Engagement Session

Stewart and Mindy traveled three hours from Salt Lake City to meet Joshua and me at the Island in the Sky in Canyonlands National Park. When we first arrived, the entire park was covered in a dense fog and we couldn't even see ten feet in front of us. Typically I prefer fog, but in this case, it was making it impossible to see into the canyon. I directed Stewart and Mindy where to stand and then, right before our eyes, the fog began to fall, giving real meaning to its name, Island in the Sky.

engagement sessions, destination sessionseastlyn brightApril 6, 2016National Park, Sunset, Winter, DesertComment

Michaela & Ronan Arrow | Dayton, Ohio Portrait Photographer

During this in-home session, I asked Michaela how being pregnant made her feel. She told me that pregnancy has been the scariest, most annoying and frustrating experience of her life, but at the same time, without a doubt, it has also been the most wonderfully beautiful thing that she has ever undergone. Despite everything growing rounder and weirder, and as she has admittedly lost almost all control over her own body, she still basks in wonder: "Who is the wee one going to be?" she said out loud, "…and how will he turn out? Will I be a good mother and raise a warrior? Or will I fall short and not be who he needs me to be?"

personal, portraitseastlyn brightMarch 29, 2016Comment