Engaged: Stacey and Adam

Last Friday I met up with Stacey and Adam over at McKinley Monument for an engagement session. We weren’t quite sure how the day was going to wind up as the morning and early afternoon hours were rainy, cold and quite honestly miserable. Of course, right after I emailed them questioning a possible rescheduling the clouds zoomed away and it ended up being a perfect evening for an engagement session! Gotta love Ohio and it’s crazy weather (then again, doesn’t everyone say that about every state they live in??).

We started out at my favorite spot near the monument – the waterfalls and then headed to the Canton Garden Center to finish out the shoot. I was really happy to see the peonies in full bloom! Last week with Elizabeth and Jared they were still not quite blooming so I was stoked to get some shots with Stacey and Adam in front of the peonies. Everyone was taking advantage of them being in full bloom though so it seemed like everyone was taking pics of them so I’m glad that we were able to nab a moment when we did! I also grabbed Stacey’s gorgeous engagement ring for a few shots on the peonies channeling my favorite ring-shot photographer, Kate McElwee.

This darling couple will be coming back to the blog in August when they tie the knot on the 7th! Can’t wait!


If you haven’t guessed by now, I really love lens flare – but it needs to have a purpose. I love how the flare line leads your eyes straight to the couple.


Monument Park is full of beautifully lit paths, which are a photographers dream during the magic hour (although this isn’t during the magic hour.. it’s close!).


I had to go back to the bridge, there is some seriously wonderous light in this area!


Aren’t the peonies beautiful??? Sniiiffff – they smelled great too! They couldn’t have planned their outfits any better to match these flowers if they tried!!!

7 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • LEAH STAFFORDJune 4, 2009 - 10:30 AM

    this reminds me, i need to go back there and do a session! what great light!ReplyCancel

  • CoreyJune 4, 2009 - 10:35 AM

    This was also at 5:30PM!!! Even BETTER!ReplyCancel

  • KateJune 5, 2009 - 11:03 AM

    Heh! Thanks! What a gorgeous location. And I just LOVE the B&W one of them on the bridge. I am jealous for your beautiful peonies …ReplyCancel

  • EricaJune 7, 2009 - 12:16 PM

    Beautiful location and pictures you are great.ReplyCancel

  • […] (the picture of them on the stairs and the casual family portrait) there already for weddings and Stacey and Adam Elizabeth and Jared and finally Codi and Joe have all came here for their engagement […]ReplyCancel

  • […] and Adam are so freaking adorable together (see their engagement session for further proof), it’s just so fun to see. Adam is definitely the emotional one of the two […]ReplyCancel

  • - Corey Ann PhotographySeptember 27, 2011 - 10:08 AM

    […] session, Heidi and Matt’s engagement session, Carla and Craig’s engagement session, Stacey and Adam’s engagement session,  Melanie and Lance’s winter wedding images and The Sedlak Family. Cost: Free but donations […]ReplyCancel

Mobile Monday Mashup

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Mobile Monday but I haven’t been taking a lot of pics with my cell phone! So here’s a mashup of the past few weeks via my mobile phone!

Something Blue Manolo (center), 2. Gut bomb lunch! (top left), 3. I’m a Photographer, 4. I didn’t mean to set her drunk Marilla!!, 5. Fire!!!!, 6. Margarita Day, 7. Hello!!!!!, 8. Dad’s Shish-Ka-Bobs, 9. This Just Seems Wrong, 10. Sex and the City x 2, 11. I designed the logo!, 12. Alcoholic Cherry Limeaid, 13. Sweet Tea Vodka + Lemonade!!

Noteworthy Items and Links

Gut Bomb Lunch – came from Variety’s Restaurant in North Canton. They have great food and the best salad bar around! I just happen to have a craving for grease… and more grease!

Breitenbach Wine Cellars – This is where I purchased the Red Currant Wine above (if you got the Anne reference you are a kindred spirit!). I’ve yet to try it but I HAD to buy it. I also bought a few other bottles of their wines, they have MANY to choose from and are all delicious. Sampling is available at their store in Sugarcreek for 25 cents each!!! Woot!

Firefly Vodka – one of the makers of sweet tea vodka. I LOVE sweet tea. LOVE it. I highly recommend mixing it with sweet tea vodka! 🙂

3 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • StephJune 3, 2009 - 1:13 PM

    I LOVE THOSE SHOES!!! I’m very jealous!ReplyCancel

  • CoreyJune 3, 2009 - 1:16 PM

    Thank you!!! I’m quite in love with them myself 🙂ReplyCancel

  • KateJune 5, 2009 - 11:05 AM

    Nice to see you enjoying your Blu-nolos … a lot 😀ReplyCancel

Corey Talks: Receiving Lines

One of the most often under-estimated times when it comes to a wedding time line is the time that it takes for the receiving line after a wedding. Today I hope to help the brides understand a bit more about the tradition and how long it REALLY takes for a bride and groom to greet their guests after the wedding. Why in the world is this on a photography blog?? When brides underestimate the time that it will take to greet guests after a wedding, the first thing that goes is the time for photography after the ceremony because the time the bridal party needs to be at the reception is usually non-negotiable. Instead of having two hours after the wedding, I have ended up with as little as 15 minutes to do all family formal shots, bridal party and bride & groom shots!! So this VERY MUCH will affect me and in the end, the bride and groom whom may not end up with as many pictures of themselves as they had originally hoped for. I am quick when it comes to formals but there is only so much I can do when I have only about 5 minutes with a bride and groom for portraits – and yes, this has happened!

To Receive or Not to Receive??

This is entirely up to you. Up until about 5 years ago, I would have always said that you *must* do some sort of formal greeting of your guests after the ceremony no matter what. However, now that isn’t so much the case. I’ve had quite a few weddings that have bucked tradition and greeted their guests at the reception during a cocktail hour or during the reception. Personally that style is right up my alley as it gives me a) more photo time after the wedding and b) better photo ops when you greet your guests. This style is especially great for Intimate Weddings (75 guests or under) and/or Destination Weddings where typically the all around format for the wedding is more casual. Decide what works best for you and go for it. Often people say that guests will be upset, but as a wedding guest myself – I dread waiting in that long line after a ceremony to get a quick two seconds with the part of the bridal party I know and a lot of uncomfortable moments with the ones in the party I don’t know.

I Want a Line… What Are the Options?

If you know you want a line, there are many options that you can choose to take with a receiving line. First, the typical line is formed at the end of the main aisle and includes the bridal party, parents of the bride and groom and the bride and groom. A line forms of guests (either released by row by ushers or on their own) and everyone says their congratulations as they exit the ceremony. The second type that is starting to become more traditional is a smaller version of the above with just the parents of the bride and groom and the bride and groom. The final option is having just the bride and groom release each row themselves and greet each guest as they are released.

How Long Should I Estimate?

All three of the above lines take around the same times, with the bride and groom releasing on their own taking a BIT shorter time. From my personal experience, for every 150 guests expect 45 minutes for them to exit or around 3 guests/minute. It is always better to overestimate than underestimate when it comes to the receiving line. So if your ceremony starts at 4:30PM, is over at 5:00PM, guests start exiting at 5:05PM and you have 200 guests expect to be doing a ‘grand exit’ from the ceremony location around 6:00 -6:15PM. Photos would begin around 6:30PM – taking 15 minutes for the bride and groom to return from their exit, the guests to leave, everyone in the formal shots to make their way to the ceremony location and Aunt Betty to finally stop talking the ear off the Mother of Bride!

Did This Help???

Did this help demystify the timing of the receiving line for your wedding day for you? Please let me know as I love to hear feedback!!! I’m not ever sure that my Corey Talks posts are valuable to anyone so hearing that they are would make me smile!!!

3 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

  • StephJune 2, 2009 - 12:59 PM

    This was definately an eye opener! Now I’ll really have to think about it because I have limited time at the church for pics and 45min would eat up basically all of it! Thanks Corey!ReplyCancel

  • EricaJune 2, 2009 - 7:30 PM

    It was very helpful actually !!! Thanks so much. I need to make not about that to Heidi. Corey for me I won’t have a line lol.ReplyCancel

  • CoreyJune 3, 2009 - 1:17 PM

    Glad I helped!!! That happens a lot – brides don’t realize how long they take and then poof we’re out of church time 🙂ReplyCancel