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Stanek Family
This has been the perfect fall for outdoor lifestyle photographs. Throw in a magical castle (Squire’s Castle, that is!), beautiful leaves, three cute kiddos, and a variety of adorable plaids and you’ve got some serious fun. The Stanek kids have no shortage of energy, and it was really great to play hide and seek through the castle window – a new concept in photography for me, and a great way to get kids to participate!
Thanks, Stanek family! I hope you enjoy these images as much as I liked taking them!
Wheelock Family
This shoot felt like going Home. Quite literally! Meadow Ridge, a fantastically gorgeous event property, home to Art and Linda Smith and childhood home of Seneca Smith Wheelock, is just a few miles west of my childhood home. Fall is magical in this part of northeast Ohio, and I was so excited to be shooting the Wheelock’s in such a nostalgic location.
I have known the Smith family since I was a very small girl, and I have to admit that I teared up more than once during the course of our session. I have always admired and respected the Smith family, so it goes without saying that being able to provide them with photographs of their first grandson was an unbelievable honor.
Seneca has matured into a gorgeous, great-natured woman, and her little family is so sweet and hysterically funny!
Please enjoy these favorites from our time together.
By the way, if you are planning on getting married, having a family reunion, or celebrating in general, you really should check out Meadow Ridge Farm! I have shot a number of events there and find it to be so incredibly charming!
Kasl Family
I loved everything about this session. Warm autumn air, bright overcast skies (a photographer’s dream), kind hearts, a new park to explore, puppies, and an extremely adorable child. Happy 1st birthday little one, and many thanks to the Kasl family for being so sweet, gracious, and incredibly photogenic!
Janelle
Janelle is moving to Seattle soon, and I wanted to give her a proper Cleveland send off. A beautiful lake and gritty but highly compelling urban architecture are two of Cleveland’s finest offerings, and Janelle shows them off splendidly. Not too long ago I saw this doorway while driving down Detroit Avenue and I immediately knew it would be great for shooting. Little did I know that Janelle’s outfit would harmonize so well with the color palette! I love this sort of coincidence! This lovely lady will be sorely missed, but I am confident that she’ll thrive in her new home.
**Hair by Brett at Barber Shop Rock in Lakewood, Ohio
More from this shoot to come. Stay tuned!
Jared’s 30th and David’s 40th Birthday Extravaganza
I recently had the great pleasure of photographing a nerd-themed joint birthday party hosted by birthday boys Jared and David. I’ve known Jared for a year or two, and being familiar with his fabulous attention to detail and skill at planning events, I anticipated this would be one great party.
The event was held at The Happy Dog, a glorious bar on Cleveland’s west side known best for their yummy gourmet hot dogs. Don’t believe me? Check it out for yourself! Part of the festivities included polka lessons by Get Hep Swing accompanied by the quirky and super cool Chardon Polka Band. When the crowd wasn’t dancing, they were spanking the hosts (all proceeds went to the APL!) and taking part in a “best costume” contest!
Take a look through a few photos from this nerdtastic occasion!
Mintus-LoPresti Wedding
It’s all in the details, and if those details happen to be handcrafted by a talented artist-bride it’s even better! When I met this creative couple I knew that their wedding would be punctuated by aesthetically beautiful moments, both aurally and visually. I mean, Sigur Ros as a processional? I would have swooned had I not had a job to do!
I instantly bonded with Kristen because we are both artists with significant others who are musicians. She seems incredibly patient with his touring schedule (the groom, Michael LoPresti, is in the fabulous Cleveland band The Lighthouse and the Whaler), probably partially because she is so busy creating beautiful things! Kristen’s birdcage veil and the chandeliers in the reception hall were both handmade. The bridesmaids were adorned with henna and each wore different colors and styles of shoes; a wonderful way to really allow their personalities to shine!
The ceremony was incredible! It was very hot, and parasols were provided to heat sensitive guests. What a beautiful sea of yellow and red circles! The wedding was outdoors, and the trees behind the wedding party were decorated with lanterns, bits of fabric, and bird cages. The couple wrote lovely vows for one another (you can see Kristen’s handmade scroll in the photos) and planted a tree together as a symbol of their growing union. The recessional was made extra special by the release of hundreds of yellow balloons, which set my photographer’s heart a flutter!
I hope you enjoy these selected images from the ceremony. Suzuran Photography is now booking weddings for next summer and has a few slots available for Fall 2010 weddings for you last minute couples! Click here for details!
Hoover and Ketterer Kids
I would honestly have a really difficult time finding a more beautiful, energetic, expressive bunch than this group of cousins. As any photographer knows, it can be a little difficult shooting kids, especially with location AND outfit changes, but these five stayed so attentive! Dare I say the girls may soon be in the running for America’s Next Top Model; so much sass!
It was difficult for me to choose which photos to feature. I have to say, I love how the camera series turned out! I brought a suitcase full of props with me just in case attention spans started to wane and this vintage camera turned out to be a wonderful little curiosity! Hopefully we have some budding photographers in the bunch!
Special thanks to the Ketterer and Hoover parents for raising such fun and photogenic kids!
PavlishGroup: Stop Animation
Created for PavlishGroup, a Cleveland video production and web design firm.
The photos were taken in multiple locations around the fair city of Cleveland. PavishGroup owner Don Pavlish wanted a DIY aesthetic that showcased Cleveland’s history, strength, fortitude, and playfulness!