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Maternity session Inspiration

Find ideas for including your partner, children, and pets in maternity photos, along with outfit inspiration, setting ideas, and small keepsakes to bring.

Happy Spring from Every Atom Photography! 🌸


Spring is in the air and Sarah and I are filled with excitement here at Every Atom Photography! While we bid farewell to the chilly winter days, we can't help but look back on all the wonderful memories we've captured with our amazing clients.

Winter brought us so many heartwarming opportunities, especially as we witnessed our past brides and grooms embark on their journey into parenthood. The joy of photographing newborns and expecting mothers has truly filled our hearts with positivity and inspiration.

From the amazing "I do" moments to the tentative selection of baby names and beyond, we've been fortunate to be a part of countless families' milestones. As we sit back on this last winter day, we can't help but marvel at the incredible journey we've shared with our clients. Time truly flies, and soon we'll be capturing senior and graduation photos for these little ones!

Life is a beautiful whirlwind of precious moments and we are grateful to be able to freeze these memories in time through our photography. Although we primarily serve the Cincinnati area, if you reside elsewhere and can't book a session with us, we hope our work can serve as inspiration for your future photo sessions with your local photographer.

Without further ado, we present a few of our favorite captures from our last two sessions. 📸✨ Let's embrace the new season and the endless possibilities it holds!

Get everyone together!

Capturing Love in Every Atom: Maternity Sessions

During a maternity session, it's natural to focus on capturing the radiant glow of the mom-to-be. But hey, let's not forget about the other little love bundles eagerly waiting to meet their new sibling! Just like you, they are bursting with joy and anticipation for their upcoming playmate. Including them in the photoshoot will add an extra layer of sweetness and excitement that you'll cherish forever.

Oh, and let's not overlook our furry friends! Pets can bring such warmth and comfort to a maternity session. Their presence reminds us that the arrival of a new baby is a momentous occasion for the whole family, including our beloved four-legged companions.

So, embrace the chaos, the giggles, and the paw prints in your maternity session. Trust us, you won't regret it. These photos will be treasured reminders of the love and anticipation that surrounded the journey to welcoming your newest family member.

Let's delve into the romantic side of things now. Despite the joyous anticipation of starting a family, it's important to cherish the love and passion between you and your special someone that sparked this beautiful journey. Ensure your photographer captures these heartfelt moments and gives dad his well-deserved time in the spotlight during the session. It's all about celebrating love, family, and those tender connections that make your story truly special.

Romantic maternity session in Dayton Ohio

Embracing Winter Vibes!

While some of our clients lean towards cozy studio sessions during winter, others can't resist the allure of the moody, magical outdoor look. Don't shy away from the chill! Bundle up, and let's create unforgettable moments together. You'll love the results, we promise! 📸❄️

Braving the cold for this moody maternity session in Waynesville, Ohio.

Celebrating Our Mom-to-Be

Let's shine the spotlight on our incredible mom-to-be! In the world of maternity sessions, she is truly the star of the show. Capturing her radiance is not only a priority but a joy. It was capturing the beauty of individuals that led me to pursue this career, making this part of the session a personal favorite. And when our mom-to-be arrives in style like Katie with her stunning long green dress, it simply adds that extra touch of magic to the whole experience.

Long Flowing Green Maternity Dress

Effortlessly stylish long green maternity dress for glowing moms-to-be, blending elegance with comfort and natural beauty.

I have found the perfect dress that I absolutely adore on Amazon!

Lifestyle Maternity: Embracing a Casual and Charming Look

Given the scenario of lifestyle maternity photography, the emphasis is on capturing a laid-back and natural aesthetic. The fashion style in this setting leans towards casual outfits that reflect what you would typically wear around the house. This approach adds a unique level of charm and authenticity to the images, embodying a sense of realism and comfort.

Capturing Sweet Beginnings

Infusing your photos with timeless charm is as simple as adding a sprinkle of nostalgia. Props like baby's first shoes, a cuddly teddy bear, a soft blanket, or even an ultrasound photo not only bring delightful pops of color and texture but also weave a heartwarming tale of the beautiful journey that is about to unfold. By incorporating these precious mementos, your images come alive with a touch of sweetness, capturing the essence of a new chapter waiting to be written.

Thank you for checking out our photos and ideas! We hope they bring a smile to your face and give you wonderful memories to cherish for years to come. If you're in our area, Sarah and I would be thrilled to chat with you about planning your next photo session. Just head over to our contact page whenever you're ready. Let us know what type of session catches your eye! God bless and happy spring!

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Timeless Charm Weddings in Camden, Ohio: A Photographer’s Perspective

Our experience photographing weddings at Timeless Charm in Camden, Ohio, from its woodland ceremony backdrop to waterfront portraits and planning your wedding photos.

Timeless Charm in Camden, Ohio is one of the wedding venues Sarah and I have loved photographing. Its woodland ceremony backdrop and waterfront spaces give couples a variety of settings for warm, natural wedding photos. Here’s what has stood out to us during the weddings we’ve photographed there, along with a few ideas for planning your photographs.

Today I am continuing my series of wedding venues that Sarah and I love. We have been lucky enough to have had brides and grooms call us to this venue a dozen times over the past few years and I truly can’t say enough kind words about this place!

The variety of portrait backdrops is part of Timeless Charm’s appeal. Rather than trying to visit every spot, choose the settings you love most and leave room in your timeline to enjoy them. Whether you’re drawn to the woods or the water, a thoughtful plan helps keep portraits relaxed.

The Ceremony

There are a couple of different spots at timeless charm to host your ceremony but I want to talk about the amphitheater. This space is simply awesome. The seating flows downhill giving every friend and family member a perfect view of the ceremony. The center stage sits in the foreground of a beautiful forest backdrop. Unfortunately, in Ohio there are so many similar venues and ceremony sites that it's almost impossible to tell them apart in a photograph, but here there is an iconic look that stands out. When I see a photo taken here pop up on google I instantly recognize it without even having to think. It may just be me but something about the amphitheater space has always reminded me of wedding photography from the mountains out west. It just gives off such a natural deep woods vibe. We love it!

The Bridal Suite & Onsite Lodging

During the weddings we’ve photographed at Timeless Charm, we’ve appreciated its reception space, lakefront views, and onsite lodging. Getting ready and staying in one place can make the day feel less rushed. Ask the venue about current accommodation availability, catering arrangements, and what is included in your booking.

The Waterfront Veranda

The waterfront veranda has been another favorite setting during our visits. The lakeside views and surrounding forest offer a different feel from the woodland ceremony space. Confirm current access and available amenities with the venue as you plan your day.

Bride and Groom Reactions

We do so many weddings and have spent hundreds of hours with different bridal and grooms. It’s rare that we have a wedding day without hearing the at least a small complaint from the Bride, Groom or even a family member. Out of all the weddings we have done at Timeless Charm I can honestly say that I have not heard a single complaint. I have however heard brides go on about how lucky they feel to have found such a perfect venue!

A happy bride at timeless charm in camden ohio

A happy bride and a beautiful wedding dress at Timeless Charm

Planning Your Timeless Charm Wedding Photos

Choose a few favorite portrait settings before the wedding and talk through the timing with your photographers. Leave room for family photographs, a relaxed couple session, and the moments between. Ask the venue about a weather backup plan and access to the spaces you hope to use. If you’re planning a sparkler exit, confirm the venue’s current rules and coordinate the timing with your photographer.

The woodland and waterfront settings are what we’ve loved most about photographing here. Visit the venue’s website below to confirm current offerings and arrange a tour.

A sparkler exit at Timeless Charm

Explore our Cincinnati & Dayton wedding galleries.

Planning a wedding at Timeless Charm? We’re Jordan & Sarah, and we’d love to hear about your day. We photograph weddings across Cincinnati, Dayton, Southern Ohio, and Northern Kentucky.

Check Your Date

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson



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Venue recommendation

See why Jordan and Sarah enjoy photographing weddings at The Marmalade Lily in Loveland, Ohio, from its flower gardens to the outdoor portrait settings.

Wedding at The Marmalade Lily in Loveland, OH. Wedding advice and venue recomendadtion.

THE MARMALADE LILY. PHOTO BY EVERY ATOM PHOTOGRAPHY

This is by far the most important article written as of yet. What could be more important on your wedding day than having the right venue? Think about it. The catering could be incredible, the DJ is fantastic and the photographer is everything you dreamed they would be. But None of that matters really if your guests and most importantly you and your spouse have to spend your special day somewhere you hate! A bad environment can easily sour the entire experience. This is a series of articles I have been wanting to write for a long time, and well… here it goes!

The Marmalade Lily in Loveland, OH is the first venue I want to recommend on my list. In fact when thinking about what I wanted to say in this post I realized I just had to jump over to their google business page and leave a glowing review. Over the past few years Sarah and I have enjoyed photographing many weddings here. Seeing how happy the couples and guests were and how beautiful the grounds are kept always makes for a great day at work for us and an amazing wedding day for the Bride and Groom.

The Marmalade Lily sits on 9 acres of beautiful grounds and flower gardens. The owner Laura, Like my own beautiful wife Sarah has a deep passion for gardening and flowers in particular. Season to season the grounds grow and change, Setting a wonderful vibe that really tells the story of your wedding day in its time and place. Along with Laura their clients get the pleasure of working with their awesome staff who come off more like a family than a group of co-workers. They have great wedding coordinators and multiple floral designers! Being a flower farm they offer floral arrangements included with their wedding packages which is so convenient.

The Marmalade Lily flower bouquet Loveland, Ohio

Flower bouquet by The Marmalade lily. Photo Every Atom Photography.

Why do we love The Marmalade Lily?

Over the past 10 plus years Sarah I have shot hundreds of weddings at dozens of venues. We remember and look forward to going back to the ones with a personal touch and a positive vibe. They inspire us as artists because negativity stifles creativity and these people are always positive. When a bad customer service experience impacts the bride and groom, well… It can be hard for them to shake that off and get on with a happy day. Much less fun, playful and romantic photos. The Marmalade Lily has always offered us everything we could ask for and more importantly given the bride and grooms we have worked with a more than positive experience and a beautiful place to celebrate the beginning of an amazing journey together.

The Marmalade Lily is a place with a great outdoorsy energy, tons of scenes to pick from for photos. The staff are helpful and not high tense and all of this is fueled by a true passion for beautiful flowers and love. What more could you ask for? If you want to visit the grounds and see this beautiful venue for yourself you can schedule a visit or stop by when they host one of their pick your flower days! You can check them out on Instagram at @themarmaladelily or on their website by clicking the button below.

Sarah and I are open for bookings in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky area as well as traveling sessions. If you’re interested in possibly booking a session just hop over to the contact page and shoot us an email!

If you enjoyed this read, please leave a like and consider subscribing for more photo session advice. Follow us on Instagram to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

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Is a half session enough?

A shorter session can suit a simple goal, while a longer session leaves more time for different backdrops, outfit changes, and getting comfortable. Here’s what to consider.

Is a half session enough time to capture the vision you have for your photo session?

Lets start this conversation as always, by asking yourself a few questions. First, what is it that you want. After everything that goes into a photo session. That is, picking a photographer, planning, searching for inspiration, picking the location, looking at outfits, getting the kids ready, doing the shoot and lastly, waiting to get the photos back. What is it that you want to see? Is it a beautiful Christmas card? or an announcement photo for a new baby on the way? If it is, than a half session is probably the right way to go! A half session is perfect for anything short and to the point. In fact I would also say that a half session is perfect for a family who gets photos done regularly. You might not feel that it’s necessary to get 60-100 photos done if you get them done every few months.

What does a half session look like?

A half session is fast paced. The photographer will probably be trying to fit as many different poses and expressions as possible into a short amount of time. This time crunch has it’s ups and downs for families with young ones. On the upside, for those of us who have small impatient children, this approach is awesome. It gets the job done quickly before the kids are over the experience and start protesting. Then on the downside, if your infant is crying or your four year old simply won’t cooperate there isn’t much time to turn that situation around. Note: Always do nap time and a snack before any shoot. Follow the photographers instructions closely and most importantly, have fun! If the kids aren’t cooperating, ordering them isn’t usually the solution. Sarah and I have always found that playing, telling jokes or having a tickle fight works much better! You might not get many photos looking at the camera, but you will get a ton of natural, candid laughs and smiles! I know for me that is much preferred.

If you are picking your own location for the session try to pick a location that has very nearby spots. Walking from spot to spot soaks up your time quickly!

Make sure you love what your wearing. A half session doesn’t allow time for outfit changes like a full session does. Pick something your sure about and feel comfortable in. Your half session might not be the best time to try a new look.

When to choose the full session?

If you want variety to choose from like different backdrops, looking at the camera along with candid photos and laughs, Mom with the kids and Dad with the kids, individuals of the kids and maybe even an outfit change, you definitely want to be looking into the full session. The full session will give you time to get the shots you want and also time to handle unexpected issues or a bigger location. You will also get time to warm up to your photographer. The first 15ish minutes of a photo session are always a little tense for everyone. It’s a loosening up period for the group. Including the photographer. Most of the magic happens once some of the tension fades and a rhythm develops. That’s a huge benefit to a full session.

Whatever session length you choose just remember to have fun with it! We get our photos done to make a record of family. Family to us means love and love comes out of joy.

Sarah and I are open for bookings in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky area as well as traveling sessions. If you’re interested in possibly booking a session just hop over to the contact page and shoot us an email!

If you liked this read please leave a like and consider subscribing for more photo session advice. Follow us on Instagram to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

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Do you have the right house for a baby session?

Think through the light, space, and rooms in your home before planning baby photos, and consider a studio if you’d prefer another setting.

Newborn Baby photography

If you’re reading this it’s likely because you have seen gorgeous photos from a baby session that look like they were done in the families own warm and loving home. Oftentimes they were, and often times they weren’t. Gone are the days of fake backdrops and cheesy prop photo studios. In todays modern times photographers have access to an array of studio options. When clients book a studio through us for the first time they are always taken aback. Believe it or not I had a client during a shoot who once took me aside to tell me they were concerned I had broken them into someone’s home! That’s true by the way.

The Benefits of an at home session!

More about studios later. In home sessions are fantastic and have tons of benefits. Just to name a few let’s start with travel. Babies are moody. You never know how they are going to act and the littlest things can upset them. Being in the comfort of their own home is more stable for them. You don’t have to pack them up, interrupting their sleep before you absolutely have to. If you need to feed them during or right before the session it’s a simpler task. Another huge benefit is the memories. Wouldn’t it be special to look at those photos on the wall years or decades down the line in a new home and remember back to where it all started! That last point is huge, and I think it’s what draws most of our clients into picking an at home session. Lastly let’s talk about the cost. Some photographers own their own studios but the vast majority rent a space on a session to session basis. An average price for 1 hour in a studio is $100.00. That will be an additional cost to you. Saving a little money and doing the session at home is always nice.

Is your house right for an at home session?

A couple of years ago when our son turned 2 we decided we wanted some family photos done. Doing them in our home was the first thing we thought of for all the reasons above. Especially for the sentimental reasons. The photographer was excited and so were we. But as I started to ask myself the same questions I’m going to talk about, I realized that our house just wasn’t right. It’s a beautiful house and we have so much love and great memories in it. It’s just not right for professional level photography. Here are a few things you need to consider before you make the choice to go with an in home session.

Window light!

Yes, any worthwhile photographer will have his or her own lights. However they are no substitute for natural light. Big windows are important. What is also important is how much light gets into those windows. The sun, as you know rises in the East and sets in the West. So if your living room faces West you will have gorgeous light flooding in at sunset. The same is true at sunrise if your living room faces the East, but lets not talk about 6am photo sessions. I don’t want to manifest that into my life. I recommend choosing a room in your house that you would like to be the main focus of your session. Then remember to peek in on it through the day and see when it seems to get the most light.

Floors.

What are your floors like? Hardwoods? Perfect! Tile? Depends on the pattern. Carpet? Probably not. Hardwood floors are ideal because they give off a natural earthy vibe and go with almost any outfits you pick. Carpets and patterned floors can be distracting. That doesn’t mean they are a definite no. It just means you should consider what it’s going to look like on camera. Photographers will most definitely want to take many photos on the floor. An option to consider is large blankets to put down that match the theme you like!

Space…

Having enough space for the photographer to get down on the ground and have a few feet between them and baby is crucial. Portrait lenses need some space to work their magic. Otherwise the photographer will have to switch to some wider lenses and the finished product probably won’t have the look you were hoping for. One more thing, and this ties back into the floors section. Make sure to clean the floors well, and even do under furniture as the photographer will likely want to move some furniture around.

Diversity.

It’s great to have a handful of diverse options for the session. What Sarah and I do in an ideal situation is shoot in the living room, on mom and dads bed “Playing with baby/holding baby” on the stairs with mom and dad, in the light of the best window, laying tummy time on a large wooden floor or rug and lastly we head to the nursery. Usually the nursery is a very special spot for new mom’s and dad’s. If your home is limited on spots to shoot this could definitely effect the number of shots you get and of course the diversity in those shots.

If your house isn’t right for an in home session please DON’T FEEL BAD! Like I said above ours wasn’t either. And that doesn’t mean we don’t have a beautiful home. You can still get that look you’re going for by searching local photo studio’s or asking your photographer for advice on a location. We are available for recommendations if you want to shoot us a message, we are always happy to hear from our followers!

Sarah and I are open for bookings in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky area. If you’re interested in possibly booking a session just hop over to the contact page and shoot us an email!

If you enjoyed this post please leave a like and consider subscribing for more photo session advice. Follow us on Instagram to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson



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Should you pick your own location?

A meaningful location can be a great starting point. Consider the light, crowds, walking distances, and variety of backdrops before choosing where to take your photos.

A huge part of what we as photographers do involves deciding the best spot for what the client is hoping to get out of their session. But very often we get the request to shoot the session in a place that doesn’t make for the best possible photos.

Just because its sentimental doesn’t mean its going to look good!

So… This is awkward but its true. Your husband may have proposed to you next to a beautiful oak tree in the middle of a grassy field on a gorgeous day. That is a preciouses memory and lives on as a perfect moment. It would be amazing to do your family photos there. What you don’t realize is that the field was surrounded by a sub division in the distance and the natural looking country photo session in your mind will be littered with houses in the backdrop of every photo. Or let’s say you have special memories as a child with your grandparents at a park in Cincinnati and you want to do the shoot there because they are coming to the session. What you might not think of is that it’s largely over crowded and every beautiful spot has a group of people lounging in it or three other family shoots in line before you with other photographers. Most of the session time is spent waiting and a number of the photos that were captured have strangers lurking in the backdrop.

Sarah and I are always happy to hear suggestions from clients and often that’s how we find new favorite spots to shoot. Our clients introduce us to hidden gems frequently.

How do you know if your choice is a good one?

After over a decade of scouting out locations my wife Sarah and I have developed a keen eye for a good environment. Here are a few tips to help you tell if your pick for a photo location is ideal.

Different looks

A good location for any photo session should have more than just one pretty backdrop. a waterfall definitely has potential for some awesome photos but whats next? an hour long photo session can yield dozens of great shots and having diversity between them is what we are looking for. It’s great to have a location with creeks, hiking trails, and an open area for sunset where we can can get that amazing golden light before it falls behind the trees.

Secluded

Your area is great! It has everything you want but you didn’t think about all the other people who might come flocking in with the same idea. If your area is a popular one you might want to make sure you schedule your session on a day when it’s not so busy.

Shade

Like most photographers we schedule our sessions about an hour before sunset. Sunset is the best light of the day but it can take a while for the light to be right. If there isn’t cloud cover the first 20 or so minutes of the session can still have pretty harsh lighting. It’s good to have the option to take the family into a shady spot like woods or a conservatory if available.

Reasonable distance

An hour is a good amount of time to capture fantastic looking photos, however it goes by fast if half of your time is spent walking and talking. Especially if you have small children in your group or God forbid its 95 degrees. When picking a location remember the walking distance between each location should only be a couple of minutes. For example if you have five spots you want to visit in your session and they take just five minutes to travel to that’s 25 minutes of your 1 hour session. Some locations will offer a golf cart or something similar to get from spot to spot.

Has a theme

Finally, ask yourself this question. Does the location have a look that speaks to you? Does it fit your dream idea of how your shoot will look when you receive your gallery? There are thousands of shoots to look through online. Take some time to go down the rabit hole and see which images inspire you. Save them to your device and even send them to your photographer. This will help you get a clear vision of what you want. Like making a dream board.

Sarah and I love collaborating with our client’s and we are always open to ideas and inspiration. If your curious about if your idea for spot is right you can always reach out and ask what we think. Fall is coming up quickly. We are so excited to visit some of our favorite locations as the leaves change and capture some beautiful memories!

Sarah and I are open for bookings in the Southern Ohio and Northern Kentucky area. If you’re interested in possibly booking a session just hop over to the contact page and shoot us an email!

If you enjoyed this post please leave a like and consider subscribing for more photo session advice. Follow us on Instagram to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson



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