Portraits category | Page 2 of 6 | Columbus Wedding Photographer

Brittany & Phil – A Well-Documented Love Affair

After receiving Brittany’s email, I was left with a feeling of familiarity. Something about her message left me curious with a sense of Déjà vu. I started a quick hunt through my email archive and it didn’t take long to identify the familiar source. I had chatted with Brittany previously when she was planning her wedding. While I didn’t end up capturing her wedding, she had reached out to me once more to capture her first anniversary photos with, now husband, Phil.

I think Brittany & Phil have a truly brilliant plan for their life together. They intend to get professional photographs every year on or around their wedding anniversary. I’m thrilled just to be included as the first photographer in this plan. Honestly, my wife and I believe the same, but are rather lacking with our actual execution. Something tells me this won’t be the case for Brittany & Phil.

So why does this plan make so much sense to me? We say “love affair” when we speak of couples whose connection seems transient. Instead, I like to believe “love affair” should refer to life-long passions tied to your most dear partner. Rather than speaking of a transient connection, “love affair” should speak of deep, smoldering, lasting lives together. “Love affairs” should be the kind of relationship we tell out children about. It shouldn’t be transient or temporary, but instead documented and savored.

So here is a salute to Brittany & Phil’s well-documented love affair. I certainly hope you enjoy the little highlights below from this life well-lived – together.

A summer anniversary session in Cleveland for Brittany and Phil. A summer anniversary session in Cleveland for Brittany and Phil.

Samantha – A High School Senior Session in Downtown Cleveland

I knew Samantha would be wearing traditional Indian clothing for the start of her senior portrait session. While standing in front of the Cleveland Museum of Art, I was on the look out for flowing silk, gold and intense colors. My phone started to ring and it was Samantha on the other line. “We’re here,” she said. I glanced around and didn’t see anyone. “Where exactly are you,” I asked. After some back-and-forth it became clear that we were on opposite sides of the museum.

Every since the finished the massive expansion to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the museum has become more beautiful and more difficult to navigate. I think it’s a fair trade-off, honestly. After a quick run, I met up with Samantha and her mother to start her senior portrait session. I happily do senior portraits whenever I can, but I really don’t market myself as a senior photographer. When someone does ask me to do portraits, I know it’s a blessing. I know they really want my work and none other, for which I am forever thankful. They see my wedding working and can picture themselves within the photos.

And so is the case with Samantha. Definitely read deeper than the traditional clothing you see below. Samantha’s intelligence and maturity runs deeper than almost anyone I have met, whether in or out of her age range. She is amazingly smart – focused mostly on AP classes. She could easily be your next doctor, world leader or famous fashion designer (an admitted passion of hers). But for now, she’s is a high school senior preparing for college.

Below are just a few highlights from our session. I have to say – I’m in love with the intense colors produced by the combination of wardrobe, film and sunset. Enjoy!

High school senior photography session in downtown Cleveland for Samantha High school senior photography session in downtown Cleveland for Samantha

Charleston Family Session with Michelle & Amir

Michelle & Amir have become good friends of mine. They’ve asked me to capture their growing family numerous times over the past couple years. Recently, they decided to have me come to their new home in Charleston, West Virginia to photograph their entire family. After a long drive south, the sessions were held over a couple of loverly spring days (with a little bit of rain – nothing we couldn’t handle).

Photographing four different sessions from one family was quite refreshing. I enjoyed watching their similarities and differences as a unit. I loved photographing the children, but I especially loved photographing the way the parents were with their children- attentive to their children but still in awe of of one another. One of my favorite photographs is of Amy & Joe, with Amy laying on the bench. I love the way that Joe is looking at Amy and Amy is resting peacefully in his arms. The location happens to be special for Amy & Joe. Joe was living in that apartment complex while they were both attending school at the WVU Charleston Area Medical Center. The bench also happens to be where Joe proposed to Amy. Apparently, just getting the bench ready for the proposal was quite an ordeal, but it was worth it.

Of course my favorite part was meeting Sofie, Michelle and Amir’s newest “human.” She is such a treat and so quite. I hardly knew she was there. I hope you enjoy the rest of the highlights below, captured on film over a couple days in Charleston.

Spring Family Photos for the Teleron-Khorshad Family in Charleston, West Virginia. Spring Family Photos for the Teleron-Khorshad Family in Charleston, West Virginia.

For the technically-minded, the above photos were captured on my beloved Contax 645 medium format camera with Fuji Pro 400H film. As always, developing and scanning was done by the awesome team at Richard Photo Lab.

Category: Portraits