Monthly Archives: May 2012

Cara and Karan’s Sunset Photo session

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Last night I met Cara and Karan for their last session before their wedding this Friday at Wade Oval Park and the downtown Marriott Ballroom. We had just done a beautiful session at Stan Hywet so our goal, other than getting them prepared for their wedding day, was to get something entirely different. Sunset shots it is!! If you are from the Cleveland area, you know how beautiful sunsets can be on the lake. Many of the parks and beaches on Lake Erie face the west, which is perfect. Pick a spot; get set up; and wait for the perfect moment. My time with Karan and Cara has only increased my excitement for their wedding day. I’m glad I only have to wait two more days! Here are a few images ( I used four separate lighting techniques :) . Be sure to leave Karan and Cara a comment, below, and remember to “Like” Spencer Photography Inc. on Facebook.

sun lit engagement portraitsunset engagement portraitsunset portraitsunset engagement portrait on lake erieView the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Josh and Jennifer’s Cleveland Photography Session

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What better way to spend part of the Memorial Day weekend than with a veteran and his fiance. I met up with Josh, who is active duty Army Reserve, and his fiance, Jennifer, yesterday in downtown Cleveland at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Being major Browns fans it was a logical place to start. Just as were started rolling along the wind began to pick up and create a challenge for us. It was no problem, though, and the images turned out great. We ended the session on the west bank of the Cleveland Flats.  Josh and Jennifer will be getting married in July at St. Augustine in Barberton, Ohio with their reception to follow at Chenoweth in Akron. Here are a few images from the session:

cleveland engagement portraitwest bank cleveland flatscleveland flats picturedowntown cleveland picturecleveland browns stadium picturecleveland browns stadium portraitView the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Karan and Cara’s Stan Hywet Photo Session

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Karan and Cara’s wedding is in six days, but that did not stop them from doing a photo session. Of course, the fact that their wedding is in six days is the whole point of doing the session. The more that my clients are in front of my camera before their wedding day, the better prepared they will be on their wedding day. By the end of the session I could tell that they both were ready. We are going to do one more session, so they will ROCK on their wedding day!!  Karan and Cara’s wedding will be taking place next week at Wade Oval Park next to Severace Hall in Cleveland, with their reception to follow at The Ballroom at the Cleveland Marriott Downtown. We met at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens, an obvious location for a dramatic backdrop. But beyond the beautifully landscape grounds (The English Garden, Birch Alley, The Tea House ect.) there are always good patches of light, which I am coo coo for. Here are a few images:

stan hywet english garden portraitstan hywet teahouse portraitstan hywet birch alley portraittea house at stan hywetjapanese garden at stan hywetsouth terrace at stan hywetView the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Chagrin Falls Photography – Cleveland Wedding Photographers

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Last night I had the opportunity to witness the Chagrin Falls Balloon Glow. This is an annual event put on in the city of Chagrin Falls, Ohio and sponsored by the Chagrin Valley Jaycees. It is festival type atmosphere culminating in a number of hot air balloons (on this evening there were nine) igniting their propane tanks to create a pretty impressive site. I usually don’t take my professional equipment to a night with friends but this was a definite photographic opportunity that I HAD to take advantage of. There were a ton of people present and the whole night had a family friendly vibe that was just great. Thank you to our friends Alex and Brandi Hamerstone for inviting us and thank you to my girl, Marie, for putting up with my photo obsession.

chagrin falls hot air balloon festival View the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Mike and Monique’s Akron Engagement Session

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Yesterday evening, I met with Mike and Monique for their engagement session. We will be photographing their wedding day this December at St. Augustine’s in Barberton, Ohio with the reception to follow at The Galaxy in Wadsworth, Ohio. I met Monique and her mom at the winter Today’s Bride show this past January. Yesterday, we  met in downtown Akron, kind of a halfway point for the both of us. Downtown Akron has always been a good area for portraits, not only for the urban vibe that comes across in the images, but also because its a great area for quality light, which is the most important thing for me. Like all of my clients, Mike and Monique are excited about their photography, even coming up with some ideas that I would have never thought of. I am excited to be their photographer and look forward to December. Be sure to leave Mike and Monique a comment below and remember to “Like” Spencer Photography Inc. on Facebook. Here are a few images from the session.

akron portraitakron ohio portraitdowntown akron portraitdowntown akron ohio portraitalley portrait in akronkiss in the sunlighta hug in a parking lot portraitView the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Kevin and Sarah’s Akron Engagement Session

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The other evening I met up with Kevin and Sarah at Kevin’s parents beautiful home in Akron’s Portage Lakes for their engagement session. I will be photographing their wedding next month at St. Francis and their reception at the Firestone Country Club, both in Akron Ohio. The whole goal of the engagement session is to get my clients comfortable in front of the camera (and with me behind it) and Kevin and Sarah did a great job of that. Sarah will be having her bridal session in just a few weeks and, if the engagement session is any indication, it is going to be on great session! Be sure to leave Kevin and Sarah a comment below and for goodness sake. “Like” Spencer Photography Inc. on Facebook.

rim light portrait in portage lakescasual engagement portraitanother casual engagement portraitportage lakes engagement portraitanother portage lakes engagement portraitsunset portrait on portage lakesstaircase engagement portraitView the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Ryan and Marianne’s Stan Hywet Wedding

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Ryan and Marianne are married! Their wedding took place at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, Ohio. The day started with Marianne getting ready at the Radisson and then it was on to Stan Hywet for the Ceremony. Stan Hywet is a beautiful venue and the weather was just perfect. We were able to take advantage of some of the more iconic spots on the grounds, and Ryan and Marianne were just great. It was then on to the reception at St. Demetrius in Akron. St. Demtrius did a superb job of seamlessly handling a large amount of wedding guests. Gary from Kidd Productions handled the formalities and kept the dance floor full. Overall it was the perfect wedding day. Thank you to Ryan, Marianne, their families and their awesome wedding party for allow us to participate, Be sure to leave Ryan and Marianne a comment below and to “Like” Spencer Photography Inc. on Facebook.  Here are a few images from the wedding day:

bride getting ready at the Radissoncocktail at the Radissonbride getting hair done at the Radissongroom at the Radissonring bearer and grandmatying the wedding dressfinal touches to the bride at the Radissonstan hywet weddinggroom walking at stan hywetkids in the stan hywet wedding partydad and bride at stan hywetwedding ceremony at stan hyweton the steps at stan hywetsouth terrace at stan hywetenglish garden at stan hywetthe porch at stan hywetburch alley at stan hywetscrabble wedding favorbest man speech bride at head table bridal dance mom crying at reception backlit bridal portrait

 

View the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Senior Class President

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We would like to congratulate our senior portrait client, Breanne Townsen, for being elected Senior Class President at Barberton High School in Barberton, Ohio. It couldn’t have happened to a better person and the class of 2013 at Barberton is well represented. Congratulations Bree!!

Barberton Ohio Senior Class PresidentView the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Akron Art Museum Reception

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Last night I photographed a corporate event at the Akron Art Museum. I have worked at the museum before for other corporate events and wedding receptions and was glad to be back there. The event took place late in the afternoon so I was able to use all natural light when capturing everything (which is always nice). Sue Parker is the event coordinator there and always does an excellent job. Her events always go off without a hitch. A Taste of Excellence catered last night’s event and they also did and outstanding job. The type of set up and food that they had was unique in my experience. Here are a few detail images from the event.

akron art museum center pieceflowers at the akron art museumfood selection at the art museumakron art museum reception flowers at the museumsign at the art museumfine art piece at the art museumView the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home

Akron Ohio Photography Workshop

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Yesterday was our workshop for photographers. We met at the Tangier in Akron Ohio and it was the PERFECT place for what I wanted to accomplish with the participants. With many different areas for different lighting techniques, I wanted to make sure that the photographers involved understood the importance of a direction of light in their photography, which is sorely missing in most photography today. Creating texture, mood and shadows for a much more interesting image. I also wanted to show how light is light. As long as it’s used correctly ANY light source can be used (see my image of our model Lea where her face is lit with nothing but cell phone lights). I really enjoyed spending time with the photographers involved and talking about photography (DUH!!). Thank you again to all participated and also to our wonderful model, Lea. Let’s go light hunting!!

cell phone lit portrait

The image above was lit with nothing more than two cell phone flash lights (light is light).

leading line portrait in a parking garagedirect sunlight portrait at Tangier

Direct sunlit images do not have to be over exposed, contrary to today’s trends.

under the entrance at Tangierstraight forward portrait in a parking deckThis may look like a straight forward portrait, but the location was not. Lea is standing directly next to a car with a trash dumpster over her left shoulder and a walk in cooler for a background. I wanted to show that by controlling your environment (rather than letting your environment control you) you can get acceptable images anywhere (although we always strive for exceptional, right?)

Inside hallway at the Tangier

The image above shows, that with proper technique, you can get an acceptable portrait in even the least hospitable location.

 View the website: http://spencerphotography.net/home