A year ago today, I stood with two beautiful brides, Rachel and Andria, on a hilltop overlooking the family’s farm as the two said “I Do.” It was a gorgeous September day and their intimate, same-sex wedding could not have been filled with more love.

Before the ceremony, the brides got ready together and helped each other into their dresses. Then we set out to explore the farm for some wedding portraits. Along the way, we played with Andria’s dog and were even photo-bombed by some cows!

When it was time, we drove to the top of the adjacent hill, where family greeted the brides and the two exchanged personalized vows as one of Andria’s sister officiated the heartfelt ceremony. Afterwards, family gathered in the backyard to celebrate with dinner and drinks to finish off a lovely evening.

I loved the rustic fall details that Rachel and Andria included in their day. From the greenery, pumpkins, gold lanterns, wood accents, and their white and blush pink flowers, everything came together to make it an absolutely beautiful wedding. And most beautiful of all–two amazing people pledging their love and commitment to one another.

Happy first anniversary Rachel and Andria! I’m so glad that serendipity (aka your sister meeting my husband during a Lyft ride and chatting about wedding photography!) brought us together for your wedding. Wishing you two a lifetime of happiness together.

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It’s hard to believe that just a few weeks ago I met Meghan and Jesse at the Columbus Museum of Art for their winter engagement session. Life has changed dramatically since then in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Gone are the days of holding hands and enjoying public spaces, for the time being anyway. Those are things that I hope we’ll never take for granted again! Looking at these photos is a throwback to happier days, a welcome break from the chaos, and a hopeful reminder that things WILL get back to normal.

Meghan and Jesse wanted a unique backdrop for their engagement session. With it being February and still pretty chilly we decided that the Columbus Museum of Art was the perfect indoor venue for engagement photos. It offered a warm space full of light and color. We lucked out with a nice, sunny winter day, so after exploring the museum we spent some time outside checking out the sculptures in the surrounding block. Meghan even broke out her white sparkly sneakers, which she plans to wear during their wedding reception. I’m a big fan of wedding shoes that allow for optimal dancing!

I’m so excited for Meghan and Jesse’s wedding this year! It is a challenging time to be planning a wedding, but I know that won’t keep Meghan and Jesse from celebrating their love. As two movie lovers, they went to the movies on their first date, and naturally, it was the activity they chose again the night Jesse proposed. You could say their current situation is fit for the cinema: girl meets boy, they fall in love and plan the perfect wedding day, and then an unforeseen catastrophe (or pandemic) puts everything in jeopardy. But the characters always overcome the obstacles and are stronger for it, and I know that’s what’s in store for these two. The best thing about romantic movies is their happy endings. And I can’t wait to be there to capture Meghan and Jesse’s.

Special thanks to the Columbus Museum of Art for allowing engagement and wedding photographers to use their beautiful space!

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We love barn weddings, and Andy and Cori’s rustic barn wedding at their family farm in Lancaster, Ohio, was no exception! Their early fall wedding had it all: city and nature, church and farm, rain and sun, pizza and beer, and above all, two people celebrating their love with all the important people in their lives.

We started the wedding day in downtown Columbus, in the Short North neighborhood that brought Andy & Cori together in the first place (they happened to move into the same apartment building ). Last winter, we did a snowy engagement session with these two at Goodale Park, and on their wedding day, we returned with MUCH warmer weather. Andy and Cori had written their own vows, which they shared with each other while standing back to back before turning around to see each other for the first time. It was one of the most special first looks we’ve ever photographed!

After some fun portraits in Goodale Park, we headed a few blocks over to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, where the couple tied the knot. Family and friends blew bubbles as they descended the church’s grand front staircase as newlyweds!

Next, it was on to Andy’s family farm in Lancaster, Ohio, for a laid-back, rustic barn wedding reception. We love wedding venues that have special meaning to the couple! The beauty of the farm blew us away when we arrived. Inside the barn, rustic details, greenery, and deep jewel-toned fall colors reflected the couple’s style.

Andy and Cori shared their love of pizza by serving gourmet pizza from Wood Fired Catering Co. along with beverages from Short & Stout mobile bar. After dinner, the couple snuck away for a few minutes of solitude by the pond. A beautiful sunset washed over the sky and created the perfect backdrop for photos. The rest of the night was spent dancing, laughing, and celebrating the couple’s love!

Shout out to all the great vendors who made Andy & Cori’s wedding dreams come true!

• Planner: Kate Lucas, Aisle & Co.
• Florals: Fezz & Hazel
• Catering: Wood Fired Catering Co. | Short & Stout Mobile Bar
• Cake: Pattycake Bakery
• DJ: Night Music DJ
• Decor: Got Ya Covered Linens
• Dress: Wendy’s Bridal

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Marissa and Arun’s Jorgensen Farms wedding at the Historic Barn in Columbus, Ohio, was one for the books. Their late summer wedding was full of bright colors, rustic chic decor, and most importantly, an abundance of love.

Every detail the couple chose for their wedding day reflected their personalities perfectly. Pops of color were everywhere, with light purple wedding party attire and bouquets of orange and purple flowers, including the unique Bird of Paradise. Orange marigolds, a traditional Indian wedding flower, adorned their floral moongate arch backdrop as well as their wedding cake. Lots of greenery, gold accents, and acrylic and wood decor gave their rustic chic wedding a modern feel.

Marissa’s first look with her father was a heartfelt moment! We love the first look trend, and doing one with your dad is an adorable twist. Marissa and Arun also embraced the emerging trend of co-ed/mixed gender wedding parties, which included a bridesman and groomswoman. We had a blast hanging out with such a diverse and fun-loving bunch! Marissa even acquiesced to letting Arun’s beloved Ray-Ban suglasses make their way into a few photos.

As Columbus wedding photographers, Jorgensen Farms is one of our favorite wedding venues! Their rustic aesthetic and beautiful grounds are a perfect backdrop. Marissa and Arun’s wedding ceremony took place in the flower field, under a giant shade tree and surrounded by thousands of hydrangea blooms. Marissa looked so radiant walking down the aisle in her flowy lace dress with flutter sleeves that everyone broke into applause! At the end of the aisle, Arun beamed and blew her a kiss. The love shared by this couple and their families was absoluetly infectious. 

After dinner, dancing, and some hilarious toasts, Marissa and Arun took a moment together to enjoy the flower fields at sunset. The sunflowers were at peak bloom, which offered a great opportunity for photos. At the end of the night, the reception wrapped up with a sparkler send-off, the perfect way to end such a bright and beautiful day. 

Thanks to all the wonderful vendors who contributed to this beautiful day!

• Venue: Jorgensen Farms Historic Barn
• Planner: Nina Marie Weddings
• Florals: Botanica 215
• Cake: Bella Cakes by Beth
• DJ: iShine Music Production

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Next, we bundled up and headed over to Goodale Park, which looked like a perfect winter wonderland. It may have been chilly, but these two didn’t let that stop them from having fun! We ended up with some beautiful snowy winter engagement photos. Can’t wait to photograph their September wedding…the weather should be a little warmer by then!

The post Snowy Short North Winter Engagement Session in Columbus | Andy & Cori appeared first on MacklerMedia Photography.

I’m so excited to share some of my favorite photos from the day. The decor included beautiful pink and red florals, vintage accessories, and some truly killer lace wedding boots! I had so much fun meeting other local vendors and working with models Lauren and Brandon to get some gorgeous wedding photos.

I’m looking forward to the start of wedding season and getting to explore more of the Columbus wedding photography scene!

A huge thanks to all the wonderful vendors who made this shoot possible!

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We hope everyone’s 2018 is off to a great start. Things have been quite busy around here at MacklerMedia, and we have some big news to share!

Chris and I recently relocated from the Washington, D.C. area to Columbus, Ohio! I actually grew up in Athens, Ohio, and Chris and I met while attending Ohio University. So Ohio definitely holds a special place in our hearts! We were excited for the opportunity to move back here.

Building our business in D.C. over the past 4+ years has been such a rewarding experience. We absolutely loved living in Northern Virginia and cherish all the wonderful clients who invited us into their lives there. We’ll miss D.C., but we look forward to joining the Columbus, Ohio wedding photography scene and continuing to grow our business here!

That being said, we are taking this as an opportunity to expand our business, rather than just relocate it. We have family and friends in Northern Virginia and will be visiting often! We plan to continue taking wedding clients in the D.C. area, and already know we’ll be returning for many weddings in the coming year. So, if you are a past client or know someone looking for a wedding photographer, please continue to refer us! In fact, we love traveling and are up for destination weddings anywhere

As we take this new step in our business journey, we feel honored to have worked with such amazing people along the way. Thank you all for making 2017 our best year yet! Because of your kind words and reviews, we were lucky enough to be awarded The Knot’s “Best of Weddings” award for 2018! It is a huge honor for us, and we are beyond grateful for your help in achieving this accomplishment.

We are excited to see what Ohio has in store for us! We hope you’ll keep in touch and continue following our adventures in photography.

-Kristin

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You got engaged and hired a photographer, woohoo! But now your engagement session is coming up and your excitement is turning in to nervousness about being in front of the camera. We realize being in the spotlight can feel like a lot of pressure! Not to worry, here are our top 5 tips for a great engagement session. These ideas will help you relax (and even have fun!) in front of the camera. And trust us, THAT is the key to getting photos you’ll love.

1) Realize that it’s normal to feel nervous or awkward at first

Seriously, I would say 99% of people feel nervous before a photo shoot. So if you are feeling anxious, that is totally normal! It’s likely you haven’t had professional photos taken in a while, if ever! Great engagement photos require you to get close and cuddly with your partner, so you might feel awkward interacting so much at first. But luckily, after the first 15 minutes you will get the hang of it and feel a lot more comfortable. Trust me!

2) Plan an activity to do

Worried about being put on the spot? If you and your partner have an activity you like to do together, incorporate it into the photo session! Visit a cozy coffee shop, play a board game, pack a picnic, or pop a bottle of champagne. Having an activity to focus on gets your mind off any nervousness and distracts you from feeling like you’re in the spotlight. Better yet, it encourages genuine interaction and emotion with your partner.

3) Personalize your session

If possible, choose a location for your session that is meaningful to you. Maybe it’s where you met or somewhere that you spend a lot of time together. Even if it’s not a specific place, choose a location that reflects your style as a couple. If you are more into an urban lifestyle, you could choose a downtown location. If you love nature, a park or rural location would be best. Being comfortable with your surroundings will put you at ease.

You can also work in meaningful props to personalize your session. If you have pets, consider bringing them to the session to add a bit of fun! Or, maybe you both play instruments and could bring them along. Think outside the box in terms of what tells your unique story.

4) Feel your most confident

If you feel insecure about how you look, that will show in the photos. So making sure you feel confident is super important! It starts with wearing the right clothes. Be stylish and show off your personality, but above all wear something comfortable! Choose something you have worn before and feel great in. Don’t wear anything that is too tight, tends to ride up, is super itchy, etc. No matter how awesome you think something looks, if it is uncomfortable it will show in your photos! You can also elevate your outfits by adding interesting accessories, such as a jacket or scarf.

If you’re anything like me and are not exactly a hair and makeup wizard, consider having it done by a professional. Even a simple trim and blowout can be a huge boost to your confidence! Plus, then you don’t have to worry about styling it yourself and running late if it takes longer than you thought. It is totally worth it to not feel stressed and look amazing!

5) Relax! Don’t overthink or worry about posing

You don’t need to be a model to have a great engagement session. It’s not your job to pose yourselves–that’s what I’m there for! Our photography style is candid and natural, so I will guide you into poses that feel comfortable. Most of the session will actually involve you interacting with your partner, rather than static poses.

Every couple is different, so it’s important that you embrace, hold hands, and cuddle in a way that comes naturally to you. The best way to help your genuine love shine through in the photos is to have fun! Don’t overthink posing. Instead of wondering where to put your hands or worrying that you look awkward, focus on your partner and go with your instincts. I have some fun prompts and little games we will bust out throughout the session that will get you laughing and feeling relaxed. Above all, be happy. Be in the moment. Be in love!

Remember that engagements sessions capture a unique point in your relationship, so be sure to enjoy it! Imagine looking at these photos years from now, showing them to your kids or grandkids, and reliving all the emotion and excitement you feel to be getting married.

Aside from capturing great photos, engagement sessions also help you get to know your photographer better. Clicking with your photographer is super important, especially if they will be with you all day at your wedding. It also helps you get comfortable being photographed so you can enjoy your wedding day without feeling awkward in front of the camera!

Hopefully these tips for a great engagement session will take the pressure and stress out of being in front of the camera. Most importantly, remember to relax and have fun! It will make your engagement session a memorable experience!

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The couple tied the knot at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Arlington, Virginia, surrounded by their family and closest friends. Then, they celebrated with a dinner reception at Old Ebbitt Grill, a classic Washington, D.C. eatery. In between, we had the chance to tour the National Mall by limo! We had a great time taking photos around some of D.C.’s most iconic monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, Reflecting Pool, Washington Monument, Tidal Basin and the Jefferson Memorial.

Kelly and Matt are such a kind and loving couple. We had such a fun time getting to know them and documenting their marriage! Best wishes you two!

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Sara and Phillip’s wedding day was full of personal details, love, and SO much laughter. Whether it was their dog, Sophie, entering the ceremony as ring bearer, or the sign telling Phillip it was his “last chance to run,” or the funny toasts and hilarious shoe game played at the reception, laughter rang out the entire night. The day had plenty of touching moments too, like Sara’s first look with her dad, or when Phillip brought his sister out to the dance floor to share the mother-son dance in memory of their mom.

Sara and Phillip were a joy to work with. The love and happiness that radiated from them was undeniable. We are so glad to have been part of their amazing wedding day!

If you are planning a rustic Virginia wedding and looking for a venue, I highly recommend checking out Wolftrap Farm!

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