I love engagement sessions!  At these sessions the couples are so in love and excited about their wedding plans, and it gives me a chance to relate to them before their wedding day and chat about their lives and future plans.  This particular engagement session I didn’t need to get to know the “groom-to-be” but I definitely enjoyed watching him relate with his new fiancé.  You see, I’ve known Evan for quite some time…in fact, ever since I joined the Yoder family 12 years ago and became his aunt.  Evan was a little guy then, but now a handsome man ready to get hitched to his beautiful fiancé, Amanda!

When asked what he loves about Amanda, Evan said, “Well, she is very funny and pretty blond/smart. She loves to come up with puns that are terrible.  She makes me laugh and really impresses me with her work ethic and dedication to do things correctly.”

Amanda shared this about Evan, “I love how he is such an outdoorsy person!  He always wants me to follow him around looking for arrow heads!!  Even on the worst of days he always finds a reason to make me smile!  And he randomly brings me wild flowers…you can’t beat that.” 😉

Evan fixed up this little bench as a gift to Amanda.

I have never taken pictures of a blue sunset before...beautiful!

Amanda’s hair and makeup were done by Janelle.  Janelle does such a great job of bringing out a person’s natural beauty!  The other night I had the privilege of Janelle working her magic on me…it was so much fun to have her do my hair and makeup!  She’s an artist!   If you ever need a stylist for an event contact Janelle at janelle.d.yoder@gmail.com or 740.506.1014.

One of the things I love most about my job is getting to know new people…really great people!  John and Lyndsey are some of those people.  Although we had corresponded via email, we actually met for the first time at their engagement session.  Let me tell you a little about John and Lyndsey…

John and Lyndsey met through a mutual friend and as John says, “It took a while before I realized I should ask her out, but we got there.” 🙂

They love being outdoors, so an engagement session in the country was a must!  A few of the outdoor activities they enjoy together are football or baseball games, going to Shakespeare in the Park, going on walks, gardening, or even just sitting on the front porch and watching the corn grow. 🙂

Don’t miss the sweet things John and Lyndsey shared about each other below…

John and Lyndsey are fun and easygoing.   John is the hardworking farm-boy type, and loves to learn.  Lyndsey is sweet and loves to host friends.

John, what do you love about Lyndsey?  “First and foremost, I love that she loves the Lord. There is nothing more important than that.  I also love that she is willing to get her hands dirty with me.  Even though she did not grow up on a farm, she has been unafraid of getting behind the wheel of a tractor and getting her hands in the dirt.  I love her creativity and her care that she shows for other people.  The thought and creativity that she puts into gift giving is a blessing to watch.”

Lyndsey, what do you love about John?  “He is strong and hardworking, but goes out of his way to be sweet and gentle with me.  He is very kind and thoughtful, genuine, and he has a great sense of humor.   I like that he’s tall.   He has a fantastic smile and I see it often.  He loves the Lord and he loves me!”

John and Lyndsey, I wish you the best as you prepare for your upcoming wedding.  Savor this special time of your life!  Blessings!

Indian Lake and Hardin County Armory, Kenton, Ohio

High school sweethearts, Jeff and Sarah, tied the knot on a beautiful spring day in April.  The ceremony took place at St. Mary of the Woods in Russells Point, Ohio.  I could sense the charm of the quaint, home-town feel and the lovely mix of elegance and country.

Along the way to the reception we made a couple stops for pictures.  The first stop, took place where it all began…Indian Lake High School.  Then we stopped at a covered bridge in the country…this is where I began to realize we were in Amish country when a very small, horse-drawn wagon drove by hauling 16 people!

The reception took place at the “castle-like” Hardin County Armory in Kenton, Ohio.  It was a very nice venue and provided for some unique and beautiful pictures.  The food was catered by an Amish family, and my oh my, you should have seen the spread…complete with fried chicken and roast beef!  Yum!

Jeff and Sarah, may the Lord bless your marriage with His joy and many years to continue growing together!  Blessings!

I was so impressed with their hand-drawn map...so cute!

Where it all began....high school sweethearts!

Both Jeff and Sarah ran track while in high school, so using the track was a fun prop!

The wind blowing Sarah's dress made for a fun picture!

I love the flow of Sarah's dress when she spins...just like a princess!

Thank you to Sarah Elizabeth for assisting me for the day.

Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville, Ohio

Mike and Sarah are looking forward to their wedding in September!  Mike is from Pennsylvania and Sarah is from Ohio, so how did they meet?  They both were led to serve at a ministry in Florida called Gator Wilderness Boys Camp where Mike worked with a group of boys and Sarah was a cook.

Mike and Sarah enjoy sports, hunting, fishing and cooking together.  Their personalities’ complement each other well…Mike is more laid back and Sarah is outgoing.  When asked what they love about the other, Sarah shared that she loves Mike’s sweet and caring heart and his Godly leadership.  Mike said he loves how Sarah is caring and that he loves when she cooks/bakes for him!

Don't miss the shadow!

One could say that Jeff and Sarah’s lives and love are FULL!  Jeff and Sarah were high school sweethearts and their relationship continued through the years and college.  Jeff is an engineer and Sarah is currently in her fourth year at the OSU College of Optometry.  Amid the busyness of planning a wedding and going to school, Sarah had finals the week of their wedding AND took an evening off to take some engagement pics!  Whew! 🙂

Jeff and Sarah chose a country/barn setting for their portraits and brought along a bunch of great props including fishing poles, picnic basket, food, etc.!  At the end of their engagement session they would have liked to take sunset pictures, but this particular evening it was very cloudy and didn’t provide a beautiful sunset…so, they hopped on a rope and swung out over a creek TOGETHER (see the last picture below!)  Yep, the week of their wedding they trusted a rope to hold them for a fun picture!  As Sarah put it, “Anyone can have a sunset picture…!” 🙂  A few days later it was a delight to join Jeff and Sarah for their wedding, but I’ll save that for later!

Mychal and Brooke’s spring wedding day came with a mix of weather, but that certainly did not dampen the joy of the day!  The ceremony took place at their church, Agape Community Fellowship, and the reception was at the National Guard Armory, both in Marysville, Ohio.  The rain and snow forced us to stay inside for most of the pictures, but we braved the elements for a few quick shots on our way to the reception, and to do the dove release and flower petal exit…the falling snow added a unique “confetti” to the pictures! 🙂

Congratulations, Mychal and Brooke!  The Lord bless you as you serve Him together.

Special thanks to Deborah of DG Photography for second shooting…I love working with you and the special touch you add to your pictures!

Doves: Mark Hochstetler…if you would like to have doves released at a special event or wedding, contact Mark!  His doves are ready to travel! 🙂

A few months ago I was honored to photograph the birth of baby Bennett.  In the months that followed, the lives of this young family were turned upside down.  In early February, Marcus, the father was diagnosed with lymphoma and has been undergoing chemo treatments.

For Bennett’s four month pictures we decided to do a lifestyle session and I’m so glad we did!  Babies grow and change so much in the first year and we so quickly forget all the little things they do in each stage…like sucking their big toe, grabbing mommy or daddy’s face and trying to chew it :), the peacefulness of holding a sleeping baby, the giggles, hearing them coo, and the list goes on.  While Marcus and Andrea are making numerous trips to the hospital their life can feel like a blur at times…I’m so glad these little moments were documented.

There is so much more I could say, I simply ask you to please pray for Marcus, Andrea, and Bennett.

Blessings!

Bath time! Bennett loves taking baths!

Life…Joy and Pain

Why do we take pictures?  To record a special moment, to track the growth of our children…to help us remember.

I don’t always take the time to ponder the importance of the pictures that take, but recently I gave thought to the photos that I took last fall of a baby’s birth and how since then the young father has been diagnosed with lymphoma.  And as I sat at my desk editing a recent wedding, I looked at the groom’s portraits a bit differently realizing that he has a kidney disease, the same disease that shortened the life of his mother.  But it’s not just these instances…life if precious.  Each breath we take is a gift from God.  Eternity is so much closer than we allow ourselves to think about.

Looking forward to eternity and yet living life here on earth.  How do we face the future?  Some of my broken thoughts…savor the moment…yet this life is filled with so much pain…have joy in each day…but sometime we’re overcome with fear…  Recently, I was blessed as I read the accounts of Jesus’ final moments here on earth.  Jesus knew what was ahead…He KNEW pain and death were ahead of Him, but He still took the time to encourage His disciples with these words, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33  As we live in this broken world we can walk through the pain AND the joy with Christ.

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On another note, if you’re like me, I don’t get in many pictures with my boys.  It’s easy to snap away behind the camera and miss out on being in a picture with them.  So, I’ve decided to purposely take pictures with my little guys…maybe on a timer or as in the case below set the camera up and let them push the button!  It’s just an attempt to help me remember and savor the moment!

Months ago when Jeff and Stephanie planned their wedding for February, 2014, little did they know that we’d be in the middle of one of the longest and hardest winters for a very long time!  But wouldn’t you know, they hit one of the most beautiful days possible during the entire winter!  Unbelievable!  It was gorgeous…the sun was shining and it was just warm enough that being outside was doable!

The ceremony and reception took place in the Maple Room at the Westerville Community Center.  The room had tall windows, which made for beautiful lighting!

Jeff and Stephanie, the Lord bless you as you start your married life and seek to live for Him!  Love and hugs!