joshuajwood.com

Jessica & Carl

2011-09-21T14:39:00.005-04:00

Jessica first contacted me back in January after she saw some of my photos from her friend's wedding that I had shot last year. I was excited to hear that she was friends with a past client and knew that she would be a great bride to work with. I couldn't wait to hear more about her wedding details.

The entire wedding and reception took place at the Hale Farm & Village, a preserved village from the 19th century, here in north east Ohio. Having grown up in another state I had never spent much time at the farm. It was definitely a treat to finally be able to shoot here. It is extremely quaint and eloquent with plenty of orchards, fields and gardens...I probably could have spent hours just discovering all of the cool hidden photo spots. And Jessica and Carl were absolutely great to work with. Laid back, classy and fun.They are also true high school sweet hearts, having gone on their first date back in 1997, which is just plain impressive!

Congratulations Jess and Carl, thanks for being so much fun to work with!

Rachel and Adam

2011-09-13T19:21:00.005-04:00

When I first met my wife, Shiloh, she used to tell me about this amazing sports team she was apart of in high school. Being an athlete and intrigued, I asked more and that's when I first found out about JUMP-ROPING, the sport! I know, right?! Apparently jump-roping is a legitimate sport -- with teams, competitions, tournaments and everything. And her team, the Heartbeats, was amazing -- getting invites to jump at Disney and even other countries.

And that is why I've been looking forward to Rachel's wedding. She and my wife were on the Heartbeats together back in high school. Needless to say, Rachel and Adam's wedding was a blast. I enjoyed getting to know her family and some of the people my wife grew up around.

All of the details were gorgeous, but my favorite part of the day, by far, was when Rachel and Adam actually whipped out some jump ropes during the reception!

Congrats Rachel and Adam, you two are a wonderful couple!

And be sure to stop back by to check out Rachel and Adam's video trailer. It will be us soon!

Amanda and Tom

2011-08-24T23:06:00.003-04:00

WOW! I can't believe how fast Summer has flown by. It was only in May that Tom, Amanda and I were hanging out at Starbucks, and June when we got together for some engagement photos up on the lake in Bay Village. And now, well...now they are MARRIED!

I started out the day with Amanda and the bridesmaids at the salon, before heading over to her parents house where she grew up. And I have to admit, that I could have been happy to just hang out there all day long! There house backed up to a beautiful forest with huge trees and plenty of trails (and for those that aren't aware, my last name is WOOD, and yes I love the WOODS). While I was there I saw at least three deer walking through the back yard.

After the ceremony at St. Bartholomew's church we stopped by a few select shooting locations with the bridal party. And for the first time ever I was able to shoot at Voinovich Park (a small island right next to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Browns stadium.) Parking was atrocious, being a pre season game day everything was jacked up to about $100 million dollars a spot (or something like that). But God provides, right as I realized was never going to find parking, someone pulled out of a free front row parking spot.

So what was supposed to be a rainy Saturday ended up being a beautiful sunny day, filled with the most delightful people and blessings around every corner.

One thing that I cherished most about the day, were all of the kids involved in the wedding. Being a father I have this new found love for all kids and I just love seeing them all dressed up, interacting so candidly all day long :)

Amy and Jake

2011-08-09T11:42:00.004-04:00

A few years ago I attended the Honor Academy down in Texas. With hundreds of students from all over the country, and even other countries, I was bound to make at least a few good friends. And I actually made a ton of friends that I now consider to be like family. One of those friends was Amy!

I absolutely love shooting weddings for my friends from the HA because it's like a family reunion for me. I loved catching up and spending time with Amy and her fam. Everyone was so much fun to work with and shoot.

When I was chatting with Amy about how she and Jake met she told me that they actually went to the same high school growing up. He had been in the grade above her. Which wasn't to surprising, but the crazy thing is that they never met until years later when they lived in the same apartment complex! How cool would that be to meet someone for the first time only to realize you basically grew up together but had never met before! Well, I'm glad they did because these two are cute together and I had a blast working with them! Love you guys and hope you had an awesome honeymoon up at Niagara Falls.

Jennie & Clint

2011-07-29T20:54:00.002-04:00

Jennie and Clint are definitely a one of a kind couple. She's energetic and peppy, he's steadfast (not so) serious. Jennie is also one of the most laid back brides I've ever worked with before. When we first met last year I was blown away with her relaxed attitude, humor and vision for her ideal wedding. I immediately felt at home. And on top of that, they love the outdoors! They used to spend their summers volunteering at the same camp (which is also where we shot their engagement photos), and also had their wedding outdoors at a barn. And for their honeymoon they took a road trip down south to go camping up and down the gulf!

A lot of the details were also hand made, which is always a great way to customize and add a bit of flare to a wedding. One thing Jennie was adamant about was that she wanted everyone to have fun at their wedding. Frisbees were flying everywhere, everyone got a deck of cards and every table had a childhood game on it (and painted with their wedding color of course).

Kelsey and Dan | downtown Akron e:session

2011-07-07T20:15:00.002-04:00

Another engagement session! This time with Kelsey and Dan. The cute couple had picked out some sweet locations in downtown Akron and rocked out some great rock-star poses. Fortunately for me, I've known these two for a while and will get to hang out with them a lot more in the future. Dan is a long time friend of the family and we are super excited to see him and Kelsey walking down the path to marriage. You two were a blast to work with!

Amanda and Tom's E:session

2011-07-07T11:09:00.002-04:00

Last week I spent some time with Amanda and Tom up in Bay Village park in Cleveland...a gorgeous park if you are ever in the neighborhood. We had so much fun and the pics came out so well that I had to show off a few. Engagement sessions are a great way to get to know each other and "loosen up" in front of the camera. I highly recommend it with all of my couples!

Jaime and Chuck

2011-07-01T12:43:00.003-04:00

After a long Ohio winter, it feels great to finally be shooting again! To start the summer off I spent mid June with a wonderful couple, Jaime and Chuck, and we were blessed with an absolutely gorgeous day.

The sweet couple had been dating via a long distance relationship...traveling back and forth between Akron and Detroit for nearly 2 years! To commemorate that season of their relationship, they placed photos of landmarks and routine stops that they passed on their 'every other weekend road trip' on all of the reception tables. I love stories like these because it just shows how committed they were to each other even before the vows.

Anyhow, after the ceremony we swung by Akron University (which is a gorgeous campus) to take some shots of the newly weds and their bridal party before heading over to the Akron City Center Hotel for the reception. People laughed, people cried, but mostly laughed. It was truly a great day. Congrats Jaime and Chuck!

Download these images for facebook.

Chuck also had the brilliant idea of creating a time lapse video of the reception. Once guests realized what was going on, they all started hopping in to the frame for group shots and little notes for the couple. It came out great. Check it out!

Chuck and Jaime's Wedding from Chuck Van Horn on Vimeo.

Below is a shot of Lindsay and Bill, my couple from last Halloween. I had to toss in a shot of them, just because they are AWESOME!

Kristen and Kevin - A Christmas Wedding

2011-01-25T20:16:00.003-05:00

Kristen and Kevin wanted a snowy Christmas wedding, and that's exactly what they got! That, and a lot of cheer from their friends and family on their big day.

Planning a wedding around the holidays can be a challenge, but the couple did an amazing job with the help of their families. All of the details were well thought out, putting that special taste of Christmas in the air...and into your mouth too! Literally. There was an exquisite candy bar for all of the guest for after dinner, which will always score you cool points in my book.

But what made this wedding even more special and personal to Shi and I is that Kristen is one of Shiloh's child hood friends from school! And it is always fun for us to be able to hang out with and shoot such cool people.

But I would have to say that one of my fondest memories of this wedding was actually the speech that Kristen's dad, Jim, gave before dinner. First of all, I've always enjoy hearing what fathers have to say about their daughters on their wedding day. Possibly because I am soon to be a father of 3 daughters. Or maybe it's because I just love hearing fathers affirm their daughters with genuineness and love. Maybe both. But I think I liked Jim's speech so much because he did it with style, the style I imagine I will use when my daughters get married. He addressed the crowed and told how much he cherished his daughter and how he had always been her super hero. And that now Kevin would be stepping in to be her super hero. And then he took his super hero cape and bestowed it to Kevin. Simple and classic.

One last unique detail to their wedding was the brew. For you see, Kevin makes his own. And it was good. My brother in laws have brewed quite a bit of brew in the past several years. So I know how much work and detail goes into every batch. And the fact that he brewed enough just for his wedding was glorious in my eyes. Not to mention he has actually won several awards down in Charlotte where they live. So if you want to try some amazing home brew, I would definitely call Kevin.

Mindy and Mike

2011-01-15T22:09:00.002-05:00

Some of you might remember Leila's carnival themed wedding that I shot in the summer...well now you can meet her cousin, Mindy!

Mindy and Mike had a brilliant wedding carefully planned around the Thanksgiving holiday! What an amazing idea and fun celebration it turned out to be. Despite the weather being extremely cold, everyone was in high spirits. How could they not?

Friends and family had all gathered in town and had spent the past few days having fun, enjoying each others company and stuffing themselves with more food then should be humanly possible. And then to top it all off they would be celebrating with Mike and Mindy as the exchanged vows on there big day.

This is an amazing couple and I can not express how happy I am for them. And I can only hope that each year, each Thanksgiving, each anniversary is more glorious than the last for you two!

A Texas Wedding

2010-12-21T23:50:00.002-05:00

Last month my entire family flew down to Texas for a very special event...my brother in law Kellen was gettin' hitched! And to a very special girl...Ashley :)

Kellen moved down to Texas a few years ago and we never would have imagined that he was going to find himself a wife. But we sure are happy that we did! Ashley is so amazing and we love her to pieces. Not long before the wedding the couple flew up to Ohio for a wedding shower (and Ashley's ~~initiation~~ welcome to the fam)! And we immediately fell in love with her. She was smart, funny and attractive. Yes, we could all agree...Kellen was marrying UP! Haha (just messin' kel).

Anyhow, they did an amazing job planning there wedding and had lots of great help from close friends and family. The day was radiant with joy and love. Aaaannnnddd they even had Long Horns at there wedding site. Because you can't have a true Texas wedding with out Long Horns :)

Congrats you two love birds. And happy birthday kellen (December 21st)!

PS. I also want to give a shout out to Reanna who was the only family member on our side that wasn't able to make it. We all missed you and love you :)

here is my daughter Eden was the flower girl! isn't she soooo cute!

and here is my other equally as cute and awesome daughter!

Anna and Matt

2010-12-19T21:21:00.002-05:00

Anna and Matt are some of my new best friends. I had not even met them until the day of their engagement shoot, but these are the sort of folks that you fall in love with immediately. On that day we had a grand time traipsing around Cleveland as we chatted about life and recalled stories to each other as if we had been friends forever. They even treated me to my first cone of ice cream from Honey Hut!

For their wedding day, they elected for an earlier wedding with lunch reception. And it was a truly bliss day with one of the most touching moments during the father/daughter dance. Anna's father had prepared a very special, and classy, dance for her. They were both fitted with white gloves and began the dance with a cute bow and curtsy.

But one of my most favorite things about earlier weddings is that I get a lot of extra time with the couple after the reception. A relaxed and fun time where I can just snap away and really get into my element...and just hang out with some good friends :)

Erin and Patrick

2010-12-13T15:18:00.002-05:00

Erin and Patrick had a lovely wedding in downtown akron at the exquisite greystone hall. I was very honored to have spent the whole day with this genuine and fun couple. From taking shots of the girls getting ready, to the downtown park at sunset, and then to the lively reception where I didn't think the dancing would ever stop -- the day was a blast.

Jackie and Mark

2010-11-10T18:54:00.004-05:00

She's from California, he's from Ohio. They met at one of Mark's shows when he moved out west to pursue music. Both Mark and Jackie are extremely sincere and authentic. Shiloh and I had a wonderful time capturing there wedding on camera.

I know it has got to be hard planning a wedding from the other coast, but Jackie (with a little help from her future mother in law) did a fantastic job. Everything was exquisite. I was especially enthusiastic to hear that our local Italian restaurant, Vaccaro's Trattoria, would be catering :) Vaccaro's is becoming a tradition for my friends and family and I was super stoked to be able to hang out with the owner and head chef Raph in the kitchen. You should definitely stop by there if you are ever in Akron.

And if you are ever in California you should definitely look up Mark. He is still playing guitar, but now he is playing on extremely rare and vintage guitar's that he repairs and sells at a sweet little shop in LA.

Jackie and Mark you guys are surrounded by amazing friends and family that emanate love and happiness. Thanks for having us on your special day!

Other vendors:
Elegant Events by Maria
Shadow Studios

Tori and Kyle

2010-11-02T17:13:00.003-04:00

September 4th was a very special day this year. Not only was it my 5 year anniversary to my babe-a-licous wife, Shiloh, but it was also the day Tori and Kyle tied the knot! I gladly shared this day with such a rad couple.

Both Kyle and Tori are laid back, creative and fun to hang out with. They actually designed and made a lot of the details that went into there wedding. In fact, Tori has a website for her design and photography skills...so if any of you brides out there need help you should definitely get in contact with her :) One of my personal favorite details were the vintage books that they had carved the table numbers in to...which had most of us stumped on how exactly they did that. AND this was the first wedding I've shot that had SUSHI! I love sushi...so a BIG thanks to you two for that because I know you were thinking of me when you added it to the menu!

Emily and MIke

2010-10-09T11:37:00.004-04:00

For those of you who follow my work you may remember the photos from a wedding I shot this past December --- Stephanie and Shane's wedding which is now featured on my website.

Weeelllll, Emily is Steph's cousin. And when I found out she wanted me to shoot her wedding I was ecstatic and knew right a way it was gonna be a blast. After emailing back and forth with Emily I found out that her fiance, Mike, was an ex-bull rider (how random and awesome is that!) And slowly I began to visualize this country wedding.

At some point their reception hall fell through and Mike and Emily opted to host the reception at their house. Which, honestly, was the best thing they could have done because I can't have imagined a more fitting location. Their property is beautiful. They have a quaint country red barn with a couple of horses and a field to ride in. It completely fit their personalities.

Now I'm not an ultra country person, but when you're hanging out with Mike and Emily it just kind of rubs off on you. And in this case it rubbed off on to my wife a little more then it did me. Mike wasn't even half way into his line dancing routine when I heard Shiloh let out a "Yehaaawww!" My jaw dropped and I just grinned from ear to ear. For anyone that knows my wife knows she is a pretty shy and quite person. And I don't know how Emily and Mike did it, but they got her to Yehaaaw in a room of people she had just met. So in my book, Mike and Emily are right up there at the top of the list of just pure awesomeness and I can't wait to see them again. (Emily told me I could bring my two daughters by sometime to see their horses, and I'm definitely looking forward that.) Everybody needs a country friend.

Sarah and Elliot

2010-10-05T20:11:00.005-04:00

When I first met with Sarah, Elliot and Sarah's parents I knew right away that this was the kind of family I could fit in with --- super fun and silly. I was immediately talking shop with Sarah's dad and discussing the thought of him wearing his kilt to the wedding. Her mom also tossed out the idea of whipping out her flute for a fun musical for the first kiss (which ended up surprising all of the guests and was extremely hilarious and awesome).

I was also able to take some engagement photos with the couple back in April --- something I love being able to with my couples because it gives us a chance to get to know each other and just have a great time before the wedding day.

Sarah and Elliot were incredibly easy and fun to work with and not even the rain could put a damper on their glorious wedding day :)

Ann & Kevin

2010-09-23T22:56:00.003-04:00

I shot Ann and Kevin's engagement photos last fall, and ever since then I have been anxiously awaiting this fun couple's wedding! Both have BIG personalities which really came across in the photos. And the day went super well with the ceremony at the Palace in downtown Canton. We actually spent most of the afternoon outrunning the rain that was predicted for the day. It finally caught us right as we were arriving at the Quarry Golf Club. I also had an excellent time hangin' with their bridal party and family. One of my highlights of the evening was when Ann's sister graced us with some sweet Irish dancing skills and her brother played the accordion! Good times with the Irish folke :) I wouldn't have been surprised if Kevin had sported a kilt down the isle.

Me with Amy and Phil, a couple from earlier this summer :)

Julie and Ben

2010-09-08T14:47:00.004-04:00

Another amazingly fun couple! Julie is probably one of the sweetest girls we've ever met. And hers and Ben's personalities were really reflected by the people they surrounded themselves with. I couldn't stop smiling all day just from hanging out with such an upbeat and cool couple.

I've been super pumped about their wedding because this was the first time that I have shot a wedding reception and the beautiful and historical Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens. And not only that, but the weather cooperated quite nicely as well :)

Sara and Tim - July 24th, 2010

2010-08-27T14:17:00.002-04:00

I started out the day with the lovely bride, Sara, and her bridesmaids at the hair salon before heading over to Occasions Party Center.

Now, I have been especially excited and looking forward to shooting Tim and Sara because their ceremony and reception site is --- drum roll please --- where my wife and I got married 5 years ago! Yay.

It was so much fun to be there (except on the other side of the lens this time). The couple was so relaxed, fun, and down to earth. The day was filled with great people and the weather held out just long enough for us to get some fun pics (it started down pouring about 10 minutes in to the reception!)

Leila & Justin - July 17th

2010-08-23T21:31:00.011-04:00

I was overwhelmed with excitement and anticipation when Leila told me that she was planning a CARNIVAL themed wedding and wanted me to shoot it! Her goal was to have a wedding that everyone would enjoy...and it was exactly that. There was cotton candy, a balloon artist, caricature artist, games, photo booth and much more. The reception was held out her parents house and it soon turned into a block party with all of the neighbors stopping by and offering additional parking at there houses.

AND Leila has a huge Lebanese family that I am seriously considering adopting! They were a blast to hang out with and the Mediterranean food was remarkable. I am really looking forward to seeing them all again at Mindy's (Leila's cousin) wedding in November!

Jenny and Matt - July 16th

2010-08-17T20:35:00.005-04:00

Matt is an old co-worker of mine and I was ecstatic when he called to tell me that he and Jenny were finally tying the knot! They selected a beautiful Square in Oberlin, Ohio for both the ceremony and reception. The guests were all close friends and family of the couple, making for a quite quaint and fun time.

Here are a few of my favorite pics of the cute couple!

A Kansas City Skyline Wedding - Jenna and John

2010-07-26T23:57:00.005-04:00

I was delighted when Jenna told me that she and John wanted to have me down to Kansas City for their special July wedding.

The entire day was filled with extravagances. Upon arriving at the Westin Crown Center, where the girls were getting ready, I was taken away with the beautiful exterior and indoor waterfall. Sometimes I find myself surrounded by such wonderful people and places that I forget I'm working...and that was certainly the case with Jenna and John and crew.

The couple decided to share a special moment before the ceremony which was both beautiful and emotional. And then the fun really got started at The American Restaurant. Possibly the nicest restaurant I have ever been to. The food was more then amazing but its view of the Kansas City Skyline was even more so!

I was also able to see some of my clients from last year, Sara and Nick, who were at the wedding. It was definitely a wonderful wedding and a I can't wait for my next chance to get back down there. Thanks again Jenna and John, for having me down. You two are amazing and I had so much fun meeting your friends and family!

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Amy and Phil

2010-07-16T16:18:00.004-04:00

Such a classic love story...Phil was the quarter back at Revere High School, Amy was a cheerleader at his rival school, Copley High (which is where my daughters will attend in about 10 years!).

And two weeks ago they tied the knot on a beautiful July 3rd afternoon! After their ceremony we headed out to the breath taking Akron Civic Center for some photos. Then we had some random luck when Amy spotted a sweet fountain on the side of the road! The day was perfect and I really enjoyed getting to know all of their friends and family! You guys ROCK!

DOWNLOAD the slide show images for sharing.

Make sure to check out their sweet WEDDING TRAILER by R-S Production!

Jessica and Dan

2010-07-12T15:03:00.003-04:00

Every once in a while we get a fun couple that likes to change things up a bit! Instead of the traditional afternoon wedding and evening reception, Jessica and Dan opted for a fun morning wedding and lunch reception. I love weddings like this because it enables us to take the bride and groom out for the rest of the afternoon for a fun, non rushed photo shoot!

And it was a beautiful day for such an opportunity --- almost TOO beautiful! Blue skies and sunny, a 90 degrees sunny! At one point I think I was sweating a small waterfall. But the couple did great. They were a pleasure to work with and the photos came out fantabulous (fantastic + fabulous)!

Download the slide show images for sharing.

The Girl With Red Hair

2010-06-09T15:38:00.011-04:00

It was a pleasure to be able to shoot both engagement and wedding photos for Ronalee and Anthony. I had such a great time at their wedding. The Ceremony was especially rich with love and peace as God's presence filled the church during a time of intimate worship. I love times like this.

I have to admit though, when I first got an email from Anthony Astrino last year, I was a bit intimidated by the strong Italian name. But it only took me a few minutes into their engagement session to realize how laid back and awesome Anthony is...both of them - in fact - are amazing.

These two love birds grew up only a few streets apart...well, instead of reading about there engagement I'll just let you watch the kickin' video they made and played at their reception!

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Here's the Wedding Slide Show...

...And here's their SWEET engagement video

here's the photo we wanted to submit to AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com! (this is seriously the only site that makes me cry.)

and some shots from a carnival that we stopped by on the way to the reception.

the pins were such a great idea...we def made sure to collect all five before we left :)

North + South = Pure Awesomeness

2010-05-26T13:51:00.008-04:00

She's from Ohio and he's from Louisiana - what a great mix of friends and family! Being from the south myself (north carolina) I definitely enjoyed the southern preacher, southern humor, and southern conversation.

Jill and Patrick put together one picturesque wedding. From the white tent reception, to the southern brass band, custom parasols and bobble head wedding cake toppers---everything was perfect. Shiloh and I fell in love with these guys and all of their guests.

Here's some of our favorites shots from the day...

DOWNLOAD the slide show images.

Kristen and Bruce - April 24th, 2010

2010-05-11T22:18:00.011-04:00

Yep. Kristen and Bruce are one of thoooossee couples. After you hang out with them once, you want to hang out with them every-daaay. Honestly, why do I always get the rocking-est clients?! I remember the first time I met them at a local Barnes and Noble. As I walked in the door I was greeted with a "Here comes the legend himself," accompanied by a big smile and a firm handshake from Bruce. Right then and there I knew I would like Bruce and Kristen.

It seems like a lot of people at their wedding had similar stories. I especially enjoyed hearing the toasts from their closest friends and family. You can tell how great someone is by the people they are surrounded by. And Kristen and Bruce are definitely great people.

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And here are some of my favorite shots from the day...

I love having Shiloh second shoot with me. You can get so many sweet 2nd angle shots.

A shot of me and Shiloh with Kristen and Bruce.

Trailer - Lauren and Adam

2010-05-06T11:32:00.003-04:00

Yes, that's right, we are now offering videography skills (Napoleon Dynamite accent)! We have been working on this for a while and I'm excited to be releasing our first Trailer.

Many thanks to Lauren and Adam for allowing us to bring along our video crew to capture their amazing wedding at the Akron Art Museum. We had a great time and look forward to capturing many more weddings this summer!!!

Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

Lauren and Adam - April 17th, 2010

2010-04-23T22:44:00.005-04:00

Maybe it's because I'm coming off of the "winter wedding withdraw"...maybe it's because I was shooting with my awesome wife...maybe it's because Lauren and Adam were such a great couple...maybe it's all of the above or something else entirely, but I apologize. HOLY PHOTO!!! I tried my best to narrow down my top photos for this post but I could not get it below 40!!! There were so many GREAT PHOTOS that I had to include and I hope you enjoy them all. Just brace yourself for the long haul.

Adam's father used to own a bowling alley, so it was completely appropriate for the guys to start the day out with a few games. And being the groom it was even more appropriate for Adam to take the first game with a 244 SCORE! Good job Adam.

We then met up with Lauren at the salon before heading to her hotel, and eventually heading to the photogenic Akron Art Museum where the Ceremony and Reception were being held.

It was a fantastic day, and before I get carried away, I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking.

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Meet the vendors:
Bowling - AMF Riviera Lanes
Salon - Totally You Salon
Hotel - Sheraton Suites
Ceremony/Reception - Akron Art Museum
Catering - A Taste of Excellence
Photo Booth - Red Eye Photo Booths
Band - Jerry Bruno Productions

Ashley and Kevin - First Wedding of the Year!

2010-01-22T13:05:00.004-05:00

Ashley and Kevin were brilliant. The day started out at the church with Ashley and her bridesmaids getting ready, and I have to say this was a super magical time. As the guests started arriving you could feel the excitement in the air -- Ashley was hidden away in her room being prepared for her awaiting groom -- the music from the harpist was penetrating the walls and beckoning all to come and witness what was about to take place. It was truly amazing.

P.S. Ashley and Kevin, if you end up moving to Cali then I'm definitely going to come visit! Go ahead and block out a month or so in your guest suite for me!

Thanks to all the vendors!

Ceremony: www.northcantonccc.org
Reception: www.lapizzaria.com‎
Harpist: Courtney Kania - Harppist@aol.com
DJ: www.audio-extremes.biz

A shot of me with Ashley and K dog!

Stephanie and Shane - A Winter Wedding

2010-01-12T22:26:00.003-05:00

December 19th - A perfect day for a snowy wedding.
Stephanie - A beautiful champ bride that took on below freezing weather!

This was my last wedding of the year and this was a great couple to spend it with. Steph and Shane were so amazing to shoot...with my camera. Steph first saw my work last December when she was at another wedding I shot. Later we found out she also went to high school with my wife, Shiloh. I'm super glad she contacted me about her wedding, because I can't imagine having finishing out the year any other way. Steph and Shane you guys were awesome to work with and I had a great time at your wedding. I hope we can hang out and get some coffee sometime soon!

Dawn and Jeff - On the 12th day of December...

2010-01-06T17:19:00.008-05:00

I first met with Dawn and Jeff back in July when I shot their engagement photos and man did we have a great time! Right from the start Dawn told me that she was all fun and Jeff was all business. And while that's true to an extent I soon discovered that Jeff also has a silly side. These two guys are amazing and I had so much fun shooting their wedding. Dawn informed me before the wedding that they wanted to change things up a bit, so I was all ears (and lenses..hehe). Uuuuusually what happens is during the reception guests insist on tapping their glasses in expectation of the newly weds to kiss. Dawn, being the awesome bride that she is, didn't want to make it that easy for everyone. So they had a movie themed reception, dedicating each table to a specific movie. And in order for the couple to kiss, the guests had to stand up and act out a well known scene from their movie! What a genius idea...it ended up being an incredible night. Thanks Dawn and Jeff!

And here are a few of my favs from there e session.

From Colorado to California

2009-12-16T12:52:00.010-05:00

I feel so blessed right now. I've really been craving some fellowship with other photographers and the past two weeks have really surpassed all of my desires.

Last week I flew out to a photo shoot in Colorado with David Molnar. I think one morning it was around negative 20 degrees when we woke up, but it was totally worth it once we were able to spend a little time on the slopes with one of our buds Kelly Lund.

This week I've been in California, my first time to the west coast. I came out for a workshop taught by Zach and Jody Gray...excellent photographers from Nashville. I had a blast hanging out with them, touring Hollywood with Eric Macintosh, and eating at the local In-in-Out Burger (definitely hit up this joint and ask for the secret menu if you get a chance)!

All in all I its been a wonderful few weeks, but I am really starting to feel wife deprived. I can't wait to get home and see Shi and the girls! I just have one more day in Vegas...I think I can, I think I can...

Here we are breaking for some lunch before heading over to the beach.

Here's Eric at the beach

Me at the Grove (right)

Lindsay and Bill - A Halloween Wedding

2009-11-23T12:58:00.006-05:00

What a delightfully unique way to spend the Halloween holiday. These two love birds were a blast to shoot. Bill was extremely laid back and fun, Lindsay was just plain crazy awesome. It definitely takes a dynamic couple like these two to pull of a Halloween wedding, and they did an excellent job. The reception was a riot with guests arriving in full costume. I didn't think the day could get any better until I found out that Bill's parents had invited Zippy, the Akron University mascot, to come crash the party as a surprise for Bill and Lindsay.

Holly and Nathan

2009-11-11T11:03:00.005-05:00

I was able to take a weekend trip out to Pennsylvania for Holly and Nathan's wedding and had a great time. The fall road trip on the Turnpike was beautiful. The weather on the wedding day thankfully continued to hold out and we did not get any crazy rain (or snow, apparently it snowed 30 minutes north of us)! Many thanks to the families and bridal party for being champs during the chilly outdoor photo shoots, and especially to Holly and Nate!

I also want to thank Todd Carlson for assisting.

Carrie and Phil - October 10th, 2009

2009-11-03T22:27:00.004-05:00

I had a great time at Carrie and Phil's wedding. They got married at a quaint little church out in the country and man was it a blast. After the wedding we had some fun shooting time with the couple before heading over to their opera themed reception where we were warmly welcomed by the excited guests.

Kendall + Andrew + October 3rd, 2009

2009-10-26T18:00:00.007-04:00

I had a great time shooting Kendall and Andrew. We started the day out at Hudson Community Chapel where the girls got ready before the ceremony. We allowed for plenty of time to get some fun photos before the guest's arrived. I was also able to grab some shots of the cutest ring bearer I've ever seen practice walking down the isle...at least his parents were trying to get him to practice (he thought it was a fun game of tag and kept trying to escape down the pew rows)! Once the ceremony was over we jetted to one of Kendall's friend's house for some amazing shots of the newly weds. We finally ended up at the reception where we were warmly welcomed by the excited guests and family members.

Matt and Christin - October 2nd, 2009

2009-10-22T14:27:00.006-04:00

Earlier this summer I was approached by my buddy Dave, telling me that his youngest brother Matt was engaged and wanted to book me as his wedding photographer. Having already shot Dave's wedding a few years ago, and his brother-in-law's wedding in August, I was super excited to be shooting another wedding in the family.

Matt and Christin were surrounded by warm love all day long from everyone at the wedding. And it was no secret how these two young love birds felt about each other. I love LOVE! I was so blessed to be a part of their big day and am looking forward to our post wedding photo session!

Mark and Lucia - August 29th, 2009

2009-09-18T19:55:00.005-04:00

I was able to shoot Mark and Lucia's engagement photos earlier this year and I had been excitedly looking forward their wedding ever since. The day was grand. A lot of Lucia's family was able to travel up from Florida to be here for their special day. On top of that, their bridal party was a lot of fun to hang out with and shoot. Something that I always try to do is set up photo shoot location for the Bride and Groom and Bridal Party for between the ceremony and reception. Usually a surreal out door location. With the help of Mark and Lucia we were able to find the perfect place...Indigo Lake! I had never shot their before. This lake is such a gem. The photos turned out fantastic. I hope you guys enjoy them.

The song I used for this slide show is by an Iceland band, Sigur Ros. So you won't understand the words, but the music fits perfectly.

Sam and Eileen - August 22nd, 2009

2009-09-04T11:31:00.003-04:00

I had a blast traveling out to New Jersey a second time this year. I'm making so many great friends that I've thought about moving. The entire community is very family oriented and Sam and Eileen's wedding was no exception. Sam (originally from Cambodia) is one of seven siblings and Eileen is one of six. That's just crazy! Eileen is one of the most peaceful brides I've ever met, and Sam has one of the biggest smile's I've ever seen. He didn't stop grinning all day long and I loved it. The day was filled with lots of love and laughter from friends and family alike.

Enjoy your Cambodian slide show, my New Jersey Family.

Dave and Chelsey - August 7th, 2009

2009-08-25T18:56:00.008-04:00

This is a wedding that I've been looking forward to all year. Dave and Chelsey are definitely a classy couple. We had a lovely time at the Pine Ridge Country Club up in Wickliffe, OH. Their friends and family were very dynamic, which made the day that much more fun to shoot. A few of my personal highlights were the best mans "toasting shirt" which read "GAME OVER," a classic shirt every best man should have, and when one of the bride's relatives almost got tossed from the reception (which ended up being a prank all together!). I hope you guys had fun in Paris!

John and Val - A Uniquely Beautiful Wedding

2009-08-10T15:32:00.005-04:00

John and Val went for a completely tailored wedding. I loved every minute of it. We had an awesome morning ceremony and brunch reception. John and Val wrote their own vows. This was also the first time I've ever seen French Toast at a reception, and it was definitely a highlight for me! They had kazoos for the guests, a crazy wedding cake topper and an awesome selection of music.

I am especially excited about this slide show because I was able to use a crazy awesome song thanks to John and Val's great taste in music. Enjoy!

p.s. The song is No One's Gonna Love You by Band of Horses.

Matt and Diana - July 18th, 2009

2009-08-05T23:08:00.008-04:00

Matt and Diana are awesome. I had a great time shooting them and their guests. I immediately felt welcome and like I was part of the family. We started out shooting at Diana's house where her and the girls got ready before heading over to the church. Once the ceremony was over we hit up a few outdoor locations for some sweet pics of the newly weds and their bridal party. The reception was definitely a crazy one. Ever heard of the "dollar dance?"...how about the "Polish dollar dance?" The dollar dance + a shot of liquor + Polish music = crazy Polish dollar dance! By far my favorite part of the wedding was hearing Diana's grandfather, Pap Pap, give advice to the young couple. Diana's grandparents had the longest lasting marriage thus far and they were asked what helped make it last so long. Pap pap replied "Don't drink, don't sell drugs, and don't sleep around." Classic advice Pap pap, very sound! Thanks for having me guys, I had a blast!

Matt and Brea - July 11th

2009-07-30T15:49:00.005-04:00

Matt and Brea were great to work with, super fun and relaxed. The ceremony and reception were both at the Bertram Inn in Aurora, OH. A beautiful facility - inside and out. Brea's mother, Janis, was a riot to work with as well...not only was she on the dance floor all night, but she new the lyrics to all of the current music! Very inspirational. I seriously think this family could have danced until dawn! Hope you guys had a great honeymoon. Enjoy the show.

Nick and Sara - June 27th - Kansas City, MO

2009-07-10T17:22:00.005-04:00

I had a great time in Kansas City, MO. This was my first time out there and I was grateful to be able to see and catch up with a lot of old friends. Nick and Sara and I have a lot of mutual friends, but this was our first time meeting. They had seen some of my work from a wedding I shot earlier this year and called me up to see if I could come shoot thiers. And I'm so glad they called, because these photos came out priceless. We had a beautiful outdoor ceremony and reception. Thankfully the rain held out (for most of the day). The only time we had to whip out our umbrellas was for their first dance! Nick and Sara are classic and they didn't let that ruin their day. I love LOVE!

Brandt and Laura - Canton, OH - June 20th, 2009

2009-07-01T01:53:00.006-04:00

I was able to shoot Brandt and Laura's engagement photos last year...something I love doing because it gives us a chance to get to know each other before the wedding.

What was supposed to be another rainy afternoon ended up being gorgeous. We had a great time at the all inclusive "Lodge at Fieldcrest of North Canton". A beautiful outdoor ceremony and fantastic reception. This was the first reception I have been too that incorporated hula hoops and maracas on the dance floor. What a great time.

I was really excited to be able to grab Brandt and Laura during the reception to take some more photos of them right before sunset. The photos turned out awesome, I've posted some of my favorites below.

Brian and Erin - June 13th - Cleveland, OH

2009-06-23T17:05:00.002-04:00

Brian and Erin are so lucky. They have great families and great friends. The laughing did not stop all day...mostly Brian's fault. We had a great time in between the ceremony and reception when we took the couple and the bridal party out for some fun shots. A big thanks to cc salon&spa and Jesse Webb Entertainment for helping make their big day a GREAT one

Phil and Esther - May 2nd, 2009 - Summit NJ

2009-05-12T17:25:00.003-04:00

Phil and Esther are finally hitched! I've been talking to Esther and Phil for the past 9 months about their wedding, and I was finally able to meet them the night before their wedding when I flew out to New Jersey. Even though we are new acquaintances they didn't hesitate to welcome me into the family. I love their whole family, it was great making new friends and being their to capture this monumental event. What really blessed me was seeing how much of Esther's family was able to fly up from Costa Rica for the wedding. There is nothing better than adding a little Hispanic spice to the dance floor! These guys are amazing and their wedding day was filled with blessings from God. Love you guys, enjoy the pics!

Brian and Jodi - April 24th, 2009 - Hammond, LA

2009-05-05T21:08:00.003-04:00

I am proud to bring to you the photos from the Brian and Jodi Salzmann wedding! These two are characters, they have so much love for each other, it's quite obvious and I am so stoked for them. I first met them in 2003 when we attended the Honor Academy in Texas together. Needless to say, I think this has been a highly anticipated wedding for the Alumni and Staff of the H.A., and everyone was there to see it! All of their friends and family are great. Everyone was filled with love, giddiness and even a little playful joking. I would have to say that two of the things that really made my day at this wedding was hearing the funniest Best Man toast from Daniel Bostic, and the sweet Samurai sword Brian got as a wedding gift! I love all of these guys very much, especially Brian and Jodi. Congrats guys!

April 18th, 2009 Cheryl and Thomas Wedding

2009-04-30T19:00:00.005-04:00

Cheryl and Thomas Rock! She is from Cleveland, he's from New York. These guys were so much fun, so cool and calm...ready for whatever the day would bring. The only thing on their minds was each other and it was so cute. We had fun shooting at a park up in Cleveland, the weather ended up being fantastic despite its recent crazy/cold/rainy pattern. They also had the best bridal party...which included the first "groom-woman" I've ever shot. And they played nothing but good ol' Frank Sinatra at the reception. Honestly, who doesn't love Frank? Hope you guys had a fun honeymoon in Jamaica.

Now some of you might be thinking "Great photos Josh, but I think I've seen that Best Man somewhere...?" Well, you're right, you may have...on TV. Here's a little video the groom snuck into the reception slide show.

New Orleans

2009-04-24T12:19:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I flew into New Orleans. Here are a few shots I took upon my arrival. I love the warm southern temperatures and hospitality. I love sweet tea. I'm definitely a southern boy at heart. In a few hours I'll be shooting Brian and Jodi's wedding, they are some friends of mine from a few years back. Great people! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of old friends and having blast on this perfect sunny and breezy day.

U-Turns! One of my favorite things about the south that I can't find in Ohio.

Mark and Lucia - Engagement

2009-04-07T10:36:00.004-04:00

This past weekend I was able to take some engagement photos for Mark and Lucia. They are an awesome and fun couple. I'm looking forward to posting more pics of them from there wedding in August!

Adam and Whitney - December 27th, 2008

2009-01-07T16:09:00.002-05:00

Adam and Whitney, I had such a great time shooting your wedding! Whitney you were such a detailed planner, and it paid off! I don't think a single person didn't have a blast at your wedding. The pastor was great, the photo shoots were great, the dogs were great, your family and friends were amazing, the food was good and I didn't think the dancing was ever going to end! What a party. I hope you two are always surrounded with such great people. I was blessed to be a part of it, it's not everyday that I get to go snowboarding for work. A special thanks to DJ Ryan and Boston Mills. I hope you guys enjoy the photos.

Mike and Sara! Toledo, OH

2008-11-25T10:25:00.002-05:00

Mike and Sara I was so blessed to be apart of your wedding. You two, your families and your bridal party were so much fun, so beautiful, and filled with so much love. You made me feel like I was part of the gang right from the start. I know you two are going to have such an awesome life together with a house filled with laughter. I have never heard so much laughing before in my life! And by the way, the wine was great! (Mike and Sara made their own red and white wine for the wedding). I wasn't able to have any while at the wedding, but Mike definitely made sure I took a few bottles home. You guys are amazing!

Matt and Danielle, Savannah Georgia!

2008-11-19T22:11:00.002-05:00

This was my first time in Savannah, and I loved it! It honestly made me think about moving.

What a weekend! Matt and Danielle were so fun and relaxed the whole weekend. They are an extremely welcoming and loving couple.

The day was picture perfect. We started out in a park, then the ceremony was in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and finally a trolley ride to the reception site. This party was such a blast, I didn't think it was ever going to end. There was some great food, a great band and lot's of dancing! I know for a fact that the dancing would have gone all night had the band been willing. These guys were amazing. The Permanent Tourists really know how to get a party started and keep it going. Check out the photos for yourself!

Philip and Melissa, Hilton Head SC

2008-10-29T21:33:00.012-04:00

When Melissa first told me about her destination wedding on Hilton Head island in South Carolina I knew it was going to be a fun wedding. We were fortunate enough to just miss some bad weather the week prior. It ended up being a beautiful intimate wedding with a handful of their closest friends and family. The weekend was filled with tons of inside jokes, stories of ultimate frisbee, and lots of high fives and fist pounding!

We had a gorgeous 10am wedding followed by a lunch reception. And then I was able to take Melissa and Philip around the island to a few choice spots. I learned that Hilton Head is where the PGA Golf Tournament is held(my dad's going to make fun of me for not having known that), and we were able to take some photos on the 18th hole! We ended the day by going back to the Marriott and taking a nice walk down the shore line. I love the ocean!

Jonathan and Charisma

2008-08-23T00:26:00.005-04:00

These two were such a joy to photograph! I have never seen such sensitive hearts and touching emotions as these two had for each other. I have also never seen a couple exit on a Cessna before! It was a wonderful weekend indeed. Thanks and Congrats J & C!

Zach and Di - July 6th, 2008

2008-08-11T19:19:00.004-04:00

I have known Zach and Di for about 4 years now, from when we all went to the Honor Academy in Texas. Ever since then I think our whole class has been waiting for them to tie the knot! Thanks for letting me be a part of it guys.

Ryan and Abbie - July 5th, 2008

2008-08-11T18:37:00.003-04:00

I first met Abbie over a year ago, when she was a bridesmaid in a wedding I shot. I remember noticing her and Ryan on the dance floor, and man could they dance! And they've still got the moves, their wedding was a ball. If you guys ever have an anniversary party please invite me! I love you guys, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future. Enjoy the show.

Ryan and Megan

2008-07-26T20:51:00.013-04:00

Ryan and Megan, you two are such a great couple. I was blessed to be a part of your wedding. I wish the best for you guys in Cali!

Jeff and Autumn

2008-05-28T09:24:00.013-04:00

Have you ever watched Project Runway? Well, keep watching because you may see Autumn on there...she made all of the bridesmaids dresses as well as her own gown! This was a wonderful spring wedding full of great people and beautiful details.

New blog

2008-05-10T14:26:00.000-04:00

I've created this new blog for everyone that wants to follow my photography!