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The Wedding of Jackie and Mark

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I first met Jackie and Mark at our last wedding of the 2010 season. Jackie was a bridesmaid in Jessica and Kevin Schulze's wedding. The entire bridal party was a lot of fun to work with, so I knew that I was going to have a great time working with Jackie again.

We started out the day at Neon Salon in Sunbury. The girls arrived early to get their hair and nails done. A couple of the girls wanted to open up a bottle of champagne for some mimosa's and I remember thinking, "You may not want to point that in anyone's direction". The girls took the bottle outside and tried to remove the cork which just so happened to fly about 30 feet across the parking lot. Hilarious. :)

The wedding was great for me because I got a chance to shoot in my hometown of Westerville. The ceremony took place at St. Paul's which is a staple in the Westerville community. Beautiful weather, everyone was relaxed... couldn't have asked for more. I met up at the church with one of my up and coming shooters, Brooke Mott. (who did a great job I might add...) Between the two of us, we were able to capture some wonderful moments.

The reception was amazing. We were shooting at the Royal American Links country club, which is a great location because of the variety of areas to shoot in. Everything there is goregous. We were able to run around the golf course for a bit and shoot some fun group photos. The night flew by as the dance floor was packed up until the end of the reception. Kudos to the D.J. who did a fantastic job.

Congratulations to Jackie and Mark! We had a blast working with you!

-Steve

 

Kylynne and Justin

I've always enjoyed working with Bowling Green grads. We always tend to swap stories about crazy nights in downtown BG, or argue about who had to walk farther in 6 ft. of snow... and so when Kylynne and Justin chose us to be their photographers, I was thrilled.

We started off the day at Shaper's Salon in Marion. I've worked with Char (the owner) a few times now and we always seem to come up with cool ideas for shots while I'm there. It's a lot of fun mixing it up with the girls early in the morning. Break the ice. Make people feel comfortable. Relaxed with photographer = better shots.

From the salon, we moved on to the church, Emanuel Lutheran. This church is amazingly beautiful with it's blue ceiling over the altar and amazing pipe organ. It was a bit dark in the church, but the d700 performed great. What I always tell aspiring photographers is that you have to understand what your camera can do and not do. You can go nuts on ISO so long as you get the right exposure. Too far underexposed or overexposed and that's where noise becomes a problem.

After the wedding, we moved on to the reception at Brookshire in Delaware. This was a very nice reception hall and it had a great lobby. The Chiavari chairs were an excellent touch to the room and really made things look great. Kylynne and Justin also had an awesome ice sculpture made with their names and B.G. Falcon logo embedded into it. So cool!

It was a fun night of dancing and certainly full of memories. Congratulations to Kylynne and Justin!

-Steve

The 2011 Photo Cover Contest!

Hey everyone!

This year, I'm submitting another image for the 2011 Photo Cover Contest for Professional Photographer Magazine. Last year, we won 3rd place for reader's choice! I would be honored and grateful if you would click on the link below and vote for our entry this year.

This is Ava, our flower girl from one of our favorite weddings this past year, Tara and Joshua Kemp. Let's make her number 1!

Click here to vote:

http://www.ppmag.com/cover-contest-2011/vote/40979/

Thanks everyone!

-Steve

The Cleveland Sight Center

Let me start off by saying how thankful I am for being invited to help out Progressive Insurance volunteers with a wonderful community service project. Last weekend, about 70 volunteers from various departments at Progressive Insurance volunteered their time and effort for The Cleveland Sight Center's Highbrook Lodge. This place is awesome. For those of you who don't know what this is:

"Highbrook Lodge, the first camp in the United States built specifically for blind or visually impaired persons, was opened in June 1928, the gift of three pioneering Cleveland Sight Center volunteers and early supporters: Prudence Sherwin, and Ida and Josephine Grasselli.   Five miles south of Chardon, Ohio, it is named for a rippling stream that descends the length of Highbrook’s gently sloping hillside. 

It is a place where independence and self-sufficiency are encouraged, campers can improve orientation and mobility skills, increase their ability to live independently and, most importantly, learn while having fun surrounded by natural beauty."

Bob Kochmit, the camp manager, had an ambitious list of projects that needed to be completed before the camp opened... and we were happy to help.

After a full day of work, Bob sent me the list of what was accomplished:

- 50 tons of stone were used to pave 708ft of walking track…
- 10 yards of mulch were laid on 375ft of sensory trail…
- Over 500 fallen branches were removed…
- 10,000+ beads were sorted…
- 1,000+ crayons were sorted…
- 15 gallons of paint were painted with 19 paint brushes…
- 3,500 lbs of furniture were moved…
- 1 sports and recreation shed was moved…
- 9 Gallons of off-road diesel were burned in the equipment used…
- 8 ropes course elements were cleared of debris…
- 1 mouse had to find a new home…
- 1 Conestoga wagon had it’s top restored…
- 50 plants were placed in the ground…
- 24 gallons of water were drank…
- 100,000+ smiles will happen because of your hard work…

This was such a wonderful experience all around and it felt great to work alongside such motivated, well-organized and caring volunteers.

I wanted to post some photos and a quick video to show all of you just how much we were able to get done. Thanks to Progressive Insurance and The Cleveland Sight Center for letting me come along!

-Steve


 

Carrie and Stefan - The Wedding

When I first met Carrie and Stefan I knew that these two would be a lot of fun to photograph. They are non-stop personality and always seem to have a blast around each other. I can definitely appreciate their sense of humor and their wedding was so much fun to shoot. I showed up in the morning at the hair salon and got a chance to mix things up a bit with the girls for a bit before going over to Carrie's house. Whenever I am able to visit someone's home, I try to utilize home decor to compliment the photos.

Something I always tell new photographers is to not underestimate textures. Often, I'll find a cool pillow, table or leather couch to shoot details of rings, earrings, etc... It looks amazing, and in the end, you get some really cool shots with things the client may have never realized would make a good photo.

The day went great, and the bridal party was awesome to work with. As you're looking through the photos, I'm sure you'll also notice that one of Carrie's sisters traded a bridesmaid's dress for a tuxedo... and...vice versa! Certainly was one of more interesting ways to enter the reception, but everyone's reaction was priceless! A beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple. Congratulations Carrie and Stefan!

-Steve

 

Nicole and Jeremiah

Every once in a while, I get to work with friends from back in the ol' college days, which is a lot of fun because it definitely makes for breaking the ice faster. Jeremiah was my roommate's best man in his wedding a few years ago, and of course, we had plenty of college stories to share. Nicole and Jeremiah are such a cute couple! It was a little cold out on the day of their engagement session, but we all toughed it up and came out with some really great photos.

It's really fun for me to watch and be involved in my friend's evolving relationships. It seems like everyone I know from college is now either married, in the process of having their first child, etc... and looking back, I'm thinking, wow... I'm getting old. It does however, put a smile on my face to know that I could be a part of helping my friends tell their story and the next chapter of their lives. It's a really cool position to be in, and I'm always grateful that photography allows me to stay connected.

Nicole and Jeremiah had a blast on the session, and I think their personalities definitely come across. The wedding is only a few months away, and I'm sure it will be amazing!

-Steve

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Photoshop World 2011 (Part 1)

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It has been one hectic week! I've been lucky enough to chaperone a trip for Ashland University to Photoshop World 2011 in Orlando, Florida. I haven't been to this conference in a few years, and I can't tell you how nice it is to surround yourself with tons of people who are addicted to creativity and learning cool new tricks of the trade. I was explaining to my four students who came down here that this conference is one of the best opportunities they will have to take classes from world-renowned instructors. The courses range from web design, to photography, to digital copyright and all offer the unique perspectives of seasoned professionals. If you haven't gone to PSW before, you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Here are a few photos that I've shot thus far!

 

The first three images were shot on my iPhone. The next shot is the view out of my hotel window, and the final two are model shoots.

More to come!

Jenna and Rob

A beautiful fall day in Marion, OH. Jenna and Rob's wedding day was gorgeous. Amazing details, vibrant colors, and a fantastic bridal party. Chris and I love shooting in the fall and bringing the bridal party outdoors. We had some really bright and colorful trees outside of the church that made for some truly stunning shots. I think what impressed me the most was the choice in colors for this wedding. Chocolates, reds, oranges, coppers... it was the best of fall all wrapped up into one wedding. A great day for a great couple. Congrats to Jenna and Rob!

-Steve

Got a Buckeye fan in your family?

It's time for the big game! (and it looks like OSU is taking care of business with relative ease) :)

Last year, Chris and I got a chance to shoot inside of the The Horseshoe, home of the Ohio State Buckeyes! We produced some great shots of the stadium and one of our favorites was this photo. We put together an amazing panoramic print and are once again putting it on sale!

This canvas print is 12" x 36", and is 1 1/2" thick. It's ready to hang as soon as you receive it. We are offering this size print for $285. If you're interesting in picking one of these canvas prints for the buckeye fan in your life, shoot us an email via our contact form.

Go Bucks!

As Featured in Professional Photographer Magazine!

I am SO excited! Over the summer, we asked all of our fans to vote for one of our favorite brides, Jennifer Cleaver, to be on the cover of Professional Photographer Magazine. Over 5,800 photos were submitted from all over the world and out of 38,300 people who voted, we won Third Place for Reader's Choice!!!

We were also one of the only wedding photos featured in the contest.

If you would like to read the Cover Contest Article, click here.

Being that we are members of PPA, and that we absolutely love and respect the magazine so dearly, I think I can speak for all of us at Kaufman Kramer when we say THANK YOU to PPA, all of our family, friends, and fans for voting for us and for supporting us. A special thank you goes out to Jennifer and Bryce Cleaver for being a truly wonderful and supportive client for us. We love you guys!

Of course... to pay homage to Jen and Bryce, I wanted to repost some of the amazing photos from their special day...

Thanks again everyone. We couldn't do what we love without you!

-Steve

The winning image.

Boy Meets Girl - The Wedding of Vanessa and Andy

First off, I cannot express how much I've enjoyed working with this couple. When I first met Vanessa and Andy for their engagement session, their love for each other was so apparent. They met at Otterbein University down in Westerville, Ohio... (my home town!) and the story of how they met put a smile on my face. It was the classic boy meets girl. They meet. They fall in love. It's great to photograph couples that feel so at ease with each other that I just become a witness documenting the day. It's the best job in the world.

Whenever I shoot the bridal party walking down the aisle, I like to turn around at the exact moment the groom sees the bride for the first time. All of that emotion wrapped up into that one moment always makes for a great photograph. I expected Andy to be very stoic and serious as she walked down the aisle, but as I saw the tears well up in his eyes I knew that words could not express how much he loved Vanessa. It was great. You can just tell when someone is head over heels in love and these two leave no doubt in my mind.

It was a beautiful wedding, and it was an honor to be there to document their special day. Congratulations once again to Vanessa and Andy!

Also, a special thank you to Jeremy Kester for shooting with me. You did an AWESOME job!

-Steve

The Big Leagues... Kristin and Andrew

I am all for cool locations... and I've seen quite a few, but I have to give some major props to Kristin and Andrew for their very unique wedding venue. Becca and I shot this wedding at Huntington Field down in Columbus. I hadn't been in the new stadium since the Clippers moved there a few years ago.

It was a well themed wedding. Kristin went to BGSU and graduated from the same VCT program as I, and consequently her graphic design rocks! She designed everything from their monogram that adorned the cake, to the invitations, to the "tickets" for their special day. She even had thunder sticks for all of the "fans" to clap once they exchanged their vows. So cool!

Of course, it wouldn't be Ohio unless there was a threat of rain, so, as luck would have it, it rained during the ceremony. I have to give it to the entire bridal party for toughing it out in the rain. I distinctly remember hearing someone say "play ball" as the rain clouds approached... :)

Although, they say it's good luck for it to rain on your wedding day right? All in all, it was a great experience shooting with such a fun group of people in an amazing venue.

Enjoy the photos, and congrats to Kristin and Andrew!

A Beautiful Day with Kylynne and Justin

I got a chance to shoot with Kylynne and Justin up in Willoughby for their engagement session a few weeks ago. I absolutely love going to new places! Justin knew of some fantastic locations in the area so it was easy to find great places to shoot the session.

Willoughby is a very cool area. Lots of old shops, a picturesque downtown area, and of course, it's right next to the lake... which I love shooting at! As the clouds began to roll in, the photos start looking more and more dramatic. I think we got some really neat stuff and so, of course, I wanted to share some with you. It was great working with one of my 2011 couples and I'm very much looking forward to the wedding. Enjoy!

-Steve

 

pics

Carrie and Stefan

I got a chance to shoot with one of my upcoming 2011 couples, Carrie and Stefan. It was a beautiful day out... literally the first nice day after a week of cold nasty weather. After running around Gahanna for a bit, we stopped into Crazy Goat Coffee. This place was awesome! Amazing selection of coffee and friendly towards photographers. What could be better?

The session went great and I think we got some fantastic shots. Can't wait to shoot the wedding! Enjoy!

P.S. Special thanks to Kelsey for showing me around town and shooting with me!

-Steve

Rain or Shine... Breanne and Tyler

Ah, Ohio. Sometimes, the weather just doesn't cooperate. A few weekends ago, we shot the wedding of Breanne and Tyler... and did it rain! We had plans to shoot a good portion our photography outside with them immediately following the ceremony, so when the downpour started, we were thinking... this will not be good.

Amazingly enough, as soon as we stepped out of the car, the rain stopped, and the sun came out. Who knew? The result was a beautiful scene at the Harding Memorial in Marion, Ohio. The wet ground really made the photos pop with reflections and actually helped create even more unique images.

The wedding reception was next door to the Palace Theater in Marion and I was very anxious for the opportunity to shoot in the beautifully ornate space. Towards the end of the night, we got our chance to shoot and the photos turned out AMAZING.

I think we were able to produce some phenomenal images and I can't wait for Breanne and Tyler to see their album!

All in all, a great weekend that started out rainy, but ended up with the sun in sky and great images in the camera. Enjoy!

-Steve


Married in Marion

Marion has been such a wonderful city for Kaufman Kramer. Our second wedding ever took place in Marion and it's always nice to come back to a city we've grown to love. In such a small town, everyone seems to know everyone, and that by far has been the best publicity for us. I think the thing I enjoy the most is the challenge to create something new for each client in the same town. Nicole and Brian heard about us through the Marion grapevine and they already had a great idea of the kind of photography we produce.

Wedding day was actually the third shoot they've had with us, and there are even plans to do one more session soon! (pics to follow of course...) :)

I think that as a creative professional, we seek out clients that understand what photography means to us. It's so much more than just... sign here, we'll show up then. It's about getting to know people, building rapport, and just having fun doing what you love to do.

We really had a great time shooting with Nicole and Brian, and judging from the already numerous Facebook comments, I'm confident that their photos will be treasured for many years to come. Congratulations you two!!!

-Steve

35,000 Shots + Tilt Shift Lens = AWESOME

As I was perusing the internet the other day I found this really awesome video by a VFX artist named Sam O'Hare. The video that he produced was simply amazing. It's a time-lapse video using a Nikon D3 with a tilt-shift lens. The effect that he achieved makes the video look like a city of "miniatures". It's not quite the same as shooting straight video with the D3, but the time-lapse turned out great and achieved a unique look.

The article of how he did it is here.

Check out his awesome work. Very cool.

-Steve

(Watch it in HD for the best look)

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

Two People... Who Fell in Love.

I had been looking forward to shooting with Lauren and Dustin for quite some time. We had an absolutely perfect day to shoot outside. Being in Ohio, it's really anyone's guess as to whether mother nature will cooperate.

Any time I can get by the water it just triggers inspiration. The surf, the warm sun, the cool breeze... it all makes for some epic photography. It just feels good.

Lauren picked out some great outfits to bring along which gave us an opportunity to really push what we could get out of their engagement session. When they stepped in front of the lens, I just knew. Their love for each other came through with every shot. I couldn't ask for anything more... the day was perfect.

Enjoy the vid / pics!

-Steve

(Watch it in HD, I promise it's worth it!)

Hot Summer Sun

I love shooting at the beach, and luckily, we've had quite a few couples this year that were excited to make the drive up to one of the most beautiful areas in Ohio. This summer has provided us with some amazing weather and gorgeous sunsets. Ashley and Jimmy first approached us during the winter months about their wedding plans. I knew from the first time I sat down with Ashley that this was going to an opportunity to shoot something really special. Jimmy had experience with wake-boarding from an early age, so doing a shoot up at the lake was naturally perfect for him. Ashley is simply radiant, and her personality comes across in every photo.

I wanted to share some of my favorite pics from their shoot, and I think you'll agree, they look great together!

-Steve