•  From our first meeting I really clicked with this couple!  I quite literally did an office chair dance when they booked me.  I often remark that I love shooting close to home and have joked in the past about being able to walk to a shoot.  Jennifer is getting ready the day of her wedding at her Mom’s house, which is quite literally behind mine!  I may have to walk there just because I CAN that day!  I love when I’m able to work with clients from my own hometown of North Canton.  Not that I don’t love other cities as much but it’s always a bit extra fun working with people that literally are from my town.

•  I love it when my clients trust me and do anything I ask them to!  I say this a lot I know but I cannot stress how much better images can be when you trust your photographer (and not being afraid of grass is a HUGE bonus).

•  I couldn’t have ordered a more perfect day for an engagement shoot.  A lot of what we do as photographers is about light and I was worried about not only the light (shooting at high noon!) but also the weather since June can either be humidly hot or bitterly cold here in Ohio.  We truly lucked out with weather our day with no humidity, abundant sunshine and a cool breeze!

•  Beyond having a beautiful day for an engagement shoot, you will be hard pressed to find a much more perfect setting than Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens around this area.  Future clients should note that they have changed their rules in regards to professional shoots and now charge for engagement and portrait sessions on their grounds in addition to charging for weddings.

•  They aren’t getting married until 2012 so look for these lovely people to return to the blog in a year!

 

I am so, so, so happy that the West Terrace is open again!  They were doing construction here over the past year and it’s always been one of my favorite spots at Stan Hywet!

 

The English Garden is another one of my favorite spots due to the reflection pool.  I shoot here a lot so I try and change up the pose/location a bit every time I go.

 

When I was in 6th grade our class field trip was here and I remember being completely enthralled with the Japanese Gardens and I took a lot of pictures here.  When I started coming back for weddings, they were closed due to overgrowth.  They finally reopened late last year and I am so happy they did!  I want to go back here with a book and relax.

 

This is one pose everyone has to have in the Birch Alee and I can’t say that I blame them!

 

When I posted this to Facebook this image immediately got a lot of rave reviews.  I quite like it myself!

 

Another image I just love from this session.  I adore the rose gardens at Stan Hywet because they have so many varieties and encompass such a large area.  It’s a photographers playground!

 

Can we talk about how brilliantly awesome Jennifer’s outfit is??  Seriously I am a bit obsessed.

 

Ahhh they are so darned cute together!!!

 

This is another well loved and photographed location but with good reason.  This is a fantastic place in the fall as well!

 

Another image I just love, they are just too sweet together!  All day I kept asking them to move their date up so I could play with them again sooner than in a year!

 

On our way out I saw this nook and loved it, John picked Jennifer up without prompting and I thought it was quite precious.  I love how the tree is framing them as well!