Tagged: City

Sami & JohnHuntington Beach Engagement Session

I can imagine how they met. Sitting next to each other in business class, noticing one another over time. An unnoticed glance from her. A hidden glance back from him. Bumping into one another at the home of a shared friend. A relationship that starts cool, but builds quickly. At least that’s how I imagine it in my head after talking to Sami and John during their Huntington Beach engagement session.

Like my wife and I, Sami and John started dating on Valentine’s Day. After a few years, they were engaged. As Sami tells it, she thought something was odd that Christmas Eve in the park. It was unusually warm for winter. Nonetheless, John gripped is jacket tight, sweating the whole time. They hiked for some time, eventually reaching a hidden bridge. He shed his unnecessarily thick jacket, producing a ring and a heart-felt proposal.

Now it’s nearly time to cross another bridge. In just a few short months, Sami and John will be sharing vows during their Cleveland wedding. Oddly enough, this isn’t the first time I’ve photographed Sami. She was also in her cousin’s wedding, which I captured earlier this year. Below, you can find some highlights from their Huntington Beach engagement session. We also had the opportunity to visit many other spots around downtown Cleveland. Hope you enjoy!

Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Huntington Beach engagement session with Sami and John. Cleveland engagement photography with Sami and John Cleveland engagement photography with Sami and John Cleveland engagement photography with Sami and John Cleveland engagement photography with Sami and John

Hyatt Arcade Cleveland Wedding – Tiffany & Rick

It’s hard to know where to begin with Tiffany & Rick’s Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding. I could tell you Tiffany was uber-nervous in the morning, but that doesn’t seem like the best place to start. I could tell you how wonderful & gracious they are. I could tell you about the amazing wedding design or Tiffany’s stunning dress. However, nothing feels like the perfect starting point.

If I had to guess, I’d say I’m struggling to find the start because the entire wedding was such a pleasure. About once each hour, Tiffany would check in with me to make sure I was OK. Personally, I was more concerned about her comfort than my own, but my answer was always the same. “This is awesome,” I would say, “I can’t imagine being any place else.” And my sentiment was very true. Their wedding was filled with love, laughs and excitement. It simply could not have been better.

Certainly there are a few moments and details from the day that I loved. In a cute way, Tiffany paced her suite at the Hyatt Arcade in the morning. She never seemed certain what to do next. Her nervous excitement seemed to permeate everything, like dense air breaking as you moved through the room.

I simply loved her dress. The corset top adorned with beautifully detailed lace matched perfectly with the long, flowing bottom. Heck, her wedding dress even had pockets. In contrast, the bridesmaids wore dense black dresses that were a perfect counterpoint.

I love the gifts Tiffany & Rick exchanged in the morning. Tears were shed as each read the letters provided by the other. For Tiffany, it was diamond earrings from Rick. For Rick, it was a restored Harley Davidson motorcycle tucked away at a secret location. The only clue to the location – GPS coordinates attached to the keyring.

More so, I loved sharing time with Tiffany & Rick during their sunset portraits together. We simply wandered downtown Cleveland, stopping here and there to capture some photos on film. In fact, I shot a significant portion of their wedding on film – a real treat for me and them.

Lastly, I love one final gift bestowed to Tiffany. Sadly, her father had passed before the wedding. As a special tribute to him, her family had an heirloom table restored and presented to Tiffany at the wedding. Unbeknownst to her, she was sitting at the table the entire time.

Below are just a few highlights from their Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding. I certainly hope you enjoy. And for Tiffany & Rick – I owe you an uncertainly measure of thanks. It’s been an experience I won’t ever forget.

A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Old Arcade wedding in downtown Cleveland with Tiffany and Rick A Hyatt Arcade Cleveland wedding with Tiffany and Rick by Cleveland wedding photographer Hunter Photographic

For the photographers out there, what you see is a hybrid wedding photography approach, most of which was shot on my trusty Contax 645 with Fuji 400H and Kodak Portra 800 film. Richard Photo Lab did a fantastic job processing the film, as always. For those that are super curious, you can look at Tiffany & Rick’s engagement session, which was entirely capture on Fuji 4ooH.

Cleveland Renaissance Hotel Wedding – Alex & Matt

I love the unconventional. After all, I still shoot film, which is certainly unconventional at this point. Unconventional weddings and couples are even better. They’re new, different, and unique. They stand apart – special. So is the story with Alex and Matt. They’re certainly unconventional, and so was their downtown Cleveland wedding.

It helps if I rewind a bit and start with a little about Alex and Matt. First – they met online and then started dating. While a little unconventional, this is becoming much more common. I can’t count the number of couples I’ve worked with who initially met online. What’s more unconventional is Alex & Matt’s proposal story. You see, Alex(andria) proposed to Matt. As she puts it, there was no reason to stand on convention. She was ready for marriage, she thought the same of Matt, so she proposed.

Alex & Matt’s Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding was similarly unconventional as well. Instead of a large bridal party divided into men & women, they chose a different route. Matt had his best man, and Alex had her “bridesman.” A small bridal party for sure, but also so important to Alex & Matt.

The plan for the wedding day was a little unusual as well. It started with the wedding ceremony at Josaphat’s Art Center, which is housed in an old church. Instead of delaying cocktail hour until everyone could reach the Renaissance hotel, they held the cocktail hour immediately following the ceremony in the arts hall. Unconventional – sure. However, holding the cocktail hour back-to-back with the ceremony allowed everyone to celebrate immediately. It was awesome.

Below are just a few highlights from Alex & Matt’s beautiful – yet unconventional – wedding. I certainly hope you enjoy. And for Alex & Matt – thank you so much for having me as a small part of your wedding day. I loved every minute – especially the card box monster!

Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall wedding ceremony by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall wedding ceremony by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall wedding ceremony by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall wedding ceremony by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic A late summer wedding at the Josaphat Arts Hall and Renaissance Cleveland Hotel with Alexandria and Matt. Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic Josaphat Arts Hall and Cleveland Renaissance Hotel wedding by wedding photographer Hunter Photographic

!-- Google tag (gtag.js) -->