Maternity session Inspiration

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!

Crafting the Perfect Wedding Album

Happy Monday everyone! Today's blog is short but important. Today we are talking about picking the best images for your wedding album. Over the past 12 years of doing wedding photography Sarah and I have designed hundreds of wedding albums. After a time we started to develop a philosophy when it came to how these albums should be built. Similar to our business philosophy, which is to revolve everything we do around love, our photo album method is to tell a love story. 

It is very easy to grab 30 or so of your favorite photos and drag them into a folder and hit the place order button. It’s fine to do that if that's what you want but realize that your photo album could be so much more. Your future granddaughter could pick this book off the shelf and see either a common book of old photos or they could be reading a fairy tale. The difference is that one book is made up of good photos and the other of course tells a story and has the potential to be a time machine! 

When you're designing your book remember that you're weaving a narrative. Additionally not as many photos fit into a standard album as you might think. In my opinion that is a good thing. You might have 700 photos in your wedding album and have to narrow that down to 30-40. That means that only the cream of the crop are going to make the cut. 

There are 5 main parts of a wedding day when it comes to photos. 

Preparation ( getting ready shots. Make-up, getting into the dress, first look with bridesmaids etc… )

Couples and bridal ( Immediately after the first look if you have a first look. If you do not have  a first look they will should be done immediately following the ceremony. )

Formals and bridal party (Bridal party shots followed by your more formal family posed shots ) 

Ceremony 

Reception ( Cake cutting, dancing, speeches etc…) 

I would recommend picking 4-5 photos from each part of the day and then fill the remainder of the book with couples shots as they are going to be the star of the show in this story book. 

Personally I like to pick the photos which are the most expressive whether or not they are the best photos because they are the ones that tell the best story. As an example a grainy photo of your grandfather laughing and having a moment with your fiance is worth more than a perfectly lit and staged photo of your rings. 

So, to sum this up I would say to keep the mindset of telling a story and imagine someone picking this book up in 30 years. Be in their shoes as you design and think about how they will read it. Will they be looking through old photos or will they be transported back to a special time and place in your life and in the history of your family.

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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

If you want to learn more about Sarah and I you can click the link below to check out our about us page and hop over to the contact page if your interested in setting up a shoot or a consultation!

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

4 tips for perfect getting ready photos

Creating the perfect wedding day!

Mother of the bride zipping up her daughters gorgeous wedding dress!

Hello again, I hope you're having an amazing 2024 so far! Over the past 10+ years of doing wedding photography in Ohio and around the country I have done hundreds of weddings and taken getting ready photos with all types of people. Almost every wedding falls victim to the same issue and today I hope to help raise awareness to help you get the most out of your wedding photos.

Great getting ready photos don’t just happen naturally!

If you look online at getting ready photos you will see gorgeous well lit photos of the bridal party before the ceremony. Most people love these photos but don’t take the time to look into what they really love about them. If you notice the little things that make up the photo you will usually see the following. 

The Dream.

• Everyone is mostly dressed and in makeup already.

• The room is well lit, preferably with natural light. 

• The room is clean!

• People are happy and smiling

The Truth. 

• Most everyone is running behind.

• The room is poorly lit due to small windows.

• The room is full of trash from cosmetic wrappers, shoe boxes and half eaten food and coffee cups.

• There is a lack of smiles due to the high tense rushed energy. 

Don’t worry though, with a little planning these issues are simple to eliminate. For starters, everyone should have a decent breakfast! This cuts down on the need to eat during the getting ready phase of the day. This is extremely important as one of the biggest issues with photos is clutter from food rappers and also cuts down on the time that people are eating instead of focusing on the task at hand, which is make-up, hair and having a great time!

Wedding at Stone Valley Meadows in Franklin, Ohio.

Shot by Every Atom Photography.

I would be doing you a diservice if I didn’t take a time out to tell you about a great Ohio wedding venue in Franklin, Ohio. The above photo was shot at Stone Valley Meadows ( Link Below ) This venue offers a great getting ready space in the up stairs loft. Large double doors open to let in tons of natural light and the walls are painted a great shade of white which works with any color scheme. The above photo was taken on their patio which is covered perfectly to provide a well lit space while keeping the photos away from harsh unflattering sunlight. They also provide a great guest house for the guys to get ready which they call “The Guy’s Barn.”

Alright, back to it!

Second, if you have not yet picked a location to get ready I highly recommend, if at all possible, to pick a location with big windows which let in a flood of natural light. It’s very common that we end up doing prep photos in a hotel with everyone crammed into a room with one window. Any photographer worth their salt will bring good lighting equipment so they will make it work as we do, but no amount of flash will compare to natural window light. A nice Air-bnb or a venu with a large bridal suite is a great place to start. Having a space with a nice outdoor area helps as well. That way “weather permitting” your photographer has the option of taking the party outside for photos of the girls in their robes or the first look with the bridesmaids. Also I should mention that most people don’t usually realize that an air-bnb is close to the same price as a hotel when all is said and done.

Thirdly, let’s talk about clutter. Believe it or not the morning of most weddings is a hot mess. Everyone is both excited and busy. Cleaning the bridal suite is not on their radar. The floor will likely be littered with things like catering boxes, shoe boxes, cosmetic cases, and boob tape while the table tops will be covered in used starbucks cups and water bottles. The best solution to this is to first, make everyone aware of your wish to keep the space tidy for photos. Second, designate one or two people to keep an eye out for clutter and periodically go around and tidy up. Don’t feel bad, remember these are your friends and family. They are there to celebrate your love and are eager to help make your day perfect!  

Lastly, let's talk about smiles. I write about stress all the time on this blog as weddings can be stressful for all involved. Like I say all the time “ stress kills creativity” but also stress kills that positive mimosa energy we all want on the morning of our wedding. As always the solution to this is planning and buffer room. However much time you think you will need, add at least an hour. The reason the morning of a wedding can be unpleasant is almost always a time issue. Rushing. Driving home to pick up something that was forgotten, no one had breakfast so everyone needs to eat first, everyone is moving slow ( maybe from a long night. ) The list of things that cause prep to run late is endless and totally unpredictable but leaving buffer time for things to go wrong is incredibly freeing on such a busy day. On your wedding day, time is your best friend! And if everything goes well you end up with extra time to enjoy yourself and relax a bit before the eventful and exciting day ahead. 

I hope this article Serves you well in your planning and helps to make your wedding day and wedding photography a little bit better.  

      Let’s sum it up.

1. Eat a big healthy breakfast!

1. Book a space with plenty of natural light.

    3.   Make your party aware of your desire for clean and tidy photos.

    4.   Designate someone to periodically tidy up.

     5.   Give yourself plenty of extra time.

 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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

Find a photographer who you resonate with

Yesterday evening Sarah and I had a phone consultation with a woman who had inquired about wedding photography the night before. She was kind and sweet. Most importantly she had taken the time to look through our portfolio, and like I have talked about many times before on this blog, she made sure she had a connection to our work. 

Something about our work resonated with her and her personal taste. In the middle of the consultation while we were going through the wedding day timeline and discussing first looks and family photos etc.. I stopped the conversation and asked a question. I asked her what about our work made her reach out to us over all of the other wedding photographers in Ohio. She mentioned one session in particular that she described in a very interesting way. She Talked about the gallery of Abigail and Peyton. (link below) This session takes place mostly in the forest at Timeless Charm in Camden, Ohio. She said that the bride and groom looked beautiful and that the location was great but she said what really stood out to her was the way that the photographs captured how the bride and groom “ interacted with the environment. ” 

Timeless Charm in Camden, Ohio.

What an interesting way to describe what she sees. A description like that is up for interpretation of course. I take that as a serious complement. It’s a goal that I strive to achieve. Abigail and Peyton look natural and comfortable in the forest. They seem at home there as opposed to looking like a glamorous couple placed in the forest for a photo and then sent back to the ballroom. 

The barebones photography style we use is simple, fun to perform and low stress for the bride and groom. It has always been a goal of ours and over the past 11 years we have it down so well that sometimes we don’t even realize we are using it. In fact, until she had said that I hadn’t realized how well that feeling of simple belonging had soaked into every aspect of our work. When you work as hard as we do and take thousands of photos a year, artistic growth tends to happen without you being conscious of it. Then, when someone points it out to you it brings an unexpected sense of pride and accomplishment. 

This morning that bride and groom officially booked with us for our 2024 wedding season. We are thrilled to have another couple to work with who truly appreciate our vision and we can’t wait to create some beautiful unique wedding photography together.  

You can view the gallery that inspired our new client by clicking the link below! Thank you so much for reading and have an amazing 2024!

 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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

I Was Born the Family Documentarian

Johnny & Pam in the family cabin.

Hello all and thanks again for reading! I started this blog as a photography advice blog. It still is that but it's grown into so much more. I am enjoying sharing more about myself and my art. It’s been a great way for people to get to know Sarah and I better as well as helping me put things into perspective. When you do photo session after session things start to blur together and at a point you can become lost to your creative development.

Two weeks ago I went to my grandparents Christmas party. I’'ll admit I don’t look forward to every Christmas event, but I am always excited for Christmas at my Grandmother's Cabin.

My grandparents live deep in the woods in a cabin built by my great grandfather. The cabin sits on top of a hill that I think should qualify as a mountain. The drive up is rife with cliffs and gullies and the road starts with a sign stating “ I’d turn back if I were you.” to warn drivers who’s vehicles can’t handle the trip to second guess their choice to venture up.

Grandma is an “outspoken” woman who loves nothing more than Canoeing, fishing, playing her guitar and sitting warm in her cabin by the fire. She was always an inspiration to me and had a huge impact on me as an artist.

My Grandmother Pam Livesay in her cabin.

Grandma Playing her guitar.

Grandpa is a Tennessee native who grew up in a log cabin built by his father with no electricity or plumbing. His childhood cabin is actually in the Appalachian museum today. He served his country as a machinist in the navy on a battleship during Vietnam

Grandpa pictured with his fathers shotgun.

My Grandfather Johnny Livesay pictured with his fathers shotgun.

It’s always a great time hearing about their adventures. Somehow they have traveled the country for almost 50 years together and can tell you the names of every river they have paddled and every town they have taken a pit stop in.

So anyway back to the point. I was sitting in my favorite spot after re-stocking the firewood. looking into the same wood burning stove I have stared at my entire life when I see a shot. A spark of inspiration. I knew my grandfather's knee replacement surgery was going to be taking place in four days and at his age he might be out of commission for months. Especially with a hard winter coming up in Ohio.

So when I was saying my goodbyes I informed them that I would be back in two days to do portraits in the cabin at 11 am. That is when the light coming in from the front window is just right. They knew they didn’t have a choice with me.

That morning I showed up with my equipment and spent an hour photographing my grandparents. These photos show the love they have for each other, and to me they reflect their personalities perfectly. I hope although you don’t know them now, these photos tell you something about them.

After years of being a wedding photographer in Ohio and being overcome with Family, baby, graduation photo sessions etc… It can be easy to forget to use your photography skills to document your own family. I am thrilled to share these photos with you and I know they will be treasured by my family for generations.

 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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

Giving Thanks

Happy Thanksgiving! The holidays are officially in full swing. I am heating up my smoker and seasoning a turkey. Thanksgiving marks the end of our Fall photography season. We are thankful for so much this year when it comes to family and friends and great opportunities and experiences. But we can’t get over how thankful we are for this INCREDIBLE photography season!

Over the past decade we have had countless gorgeous photo sessions and weddings, but this Fall was really something special and a new high for our business both on the artistic and business side. Back to back sessions of creative photo session ideas, fashion and loving couples and families. We met so many new people who we vibe so well with. 

Ali & Sam

I had thought that open communication was something we always had, and it was. What I didn’t realize was that it could be taken even further. The inspiration to start this photography blog was a blessing. The response to it has been so powerful. Being able to share photo session tips and fashion advice in a free form way for anyone to read has really opened my eyes. It has put into perspective the vision of what I see for our photography and for our business. People being able to read these posts freely has let them get to know us on a deeper level and I am so thankful for that. 

This past Fall we have seen our clients new and old open up and be creative. They have not only learned about our vision but shared their vision with us. The result has been a unique look to our photos and a growth for our style in a direction that I am in love with. It has been years since I have felt this level of pride in what we're doing. That is so refreshing because as we all know, any job can start to become monotonous after a few years and needs a breath of fresh air to reignite that flame. 

Michelle & John

All of this makes us ecstatic for 2024. I can’t even imagine where this business is going but I am ready to take the ride. We are thankful year round for the life we live together and for the people in our lives. Thanksgiving is the time to put a little extra emphasis on it and even announce what you're thankful for if you are comfortable with it. Take stock this time of year and appreciate all that you have! We appreciate you all so much for supporting us and we are thrilled to have you along on this journey. If you have questions for us or would like to inquire about a photo session or wedding in Ohio or another destination we would love to hear from you. We are still squeezing in a couple more weddings for 2024 and have begun filling dates for 2025 already!

Have a great Thanksgiving. We will be back with more blog posts after the holiday.

Our family

Happy thanksgiving from the Epperson Family!

Big Announcement!

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post called “ The Importance of Printing Your Photos. ”  ( Link Below) We have always offered high quality professional prints to our client’s and have been so proud of the results. We have also offered photo books that Sarah and I, for the last 12 years, have designed and shipped ourselves. This process has worked fine for us and every client has been over the moon about their albums. 

As the years have gone on though, it has occurred to me that if clients were able to design their own photo albums they would be even more personalized. It would be simpler and more streamlined. The entire process would be more pleasurable for the clients.

  Today I am thrilled to announce that from here on out our clients will be able to easily design their own personalized photo books directly from their online gallery. They can place the order and have their books inspected by a professional printer before being shipped directly to their home. This is a big deal to Sarah and I because as I always say “ the most important thing to us is our clients having a stress free and positive experience. “ We are so excited for what this means for brides and grooms. Not to mention our family photo sessions and boudoir studio sessions. Our wedding clients will be able to customize their own style of album to be elegant or boho or rustic. Whatever matched their wedding theme or their hearts desire! 

Being able to offer holiday cards, hardcover albums and metal and wood prints in such an easy way is such a positive thing for our clients and in turn, a positive thing for us. 

   We opened our doors in October of 2011 and shot our first professional wedding photography job in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 17th 2012. At that time we were young and our business was extremely small. We were both working full time jobs. Sarah was working at Skyline Chili and I was a backroom worker at Target. It’s nothing short of a blessing that together we have been able to grow our little business into what it is today. We are so thankful to God and each of our clients for supporting us along this incredible journey. We can’t wait to see what the future brings for Every Atom Photography and our little family who loves it with such kindness and gratitude.

 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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

The greatest complement

A few months ago we received an Instagram message from a woman named Michelle who was interested in our wedding photography. She had been leaving us likes and sweet comments on our photos for a while and we, in turn, we had been following her. We had enjoyed viewing her adorable pictures with her fiancé John and seeing their travels around the country. They seemed like adventurous and fun people and we were thrilled that they had reached out to us. 

   We moved forward with a phone consultation. Sarah and I sat in the yard by the chicken coop with a cup of tea and coffee on a beautiful morning (Our favorite way to do a consultation.) We were so excited to get to know a little bit more about her and John. We said our friendly hellos and before we could get any further she said

“ Before we start, I have to tell you the story of how we found you.” Sarah and I were intrigued and excited. She explained to us that while traveling the country she and her fiance had stopped at a brewery called Idletyme brewing in Vermont for a drink. While there, they had met a couple on their honeymoon who told them all about their amazing wedding and were over the moon about their photographers aka (us). They shared our information with Michelle and she fell in love with our work. 

  Let's stop for a minute to reflect on that. This meant so much to us for so many reasons. The obvious appreciation of our art and hard work. But moreover, the fact that the honeymooning couple hadn't seen one photo from their wedding sample yet, meant that the glowing review of Sarah and I had been sent hundreds of miles from Cincinnati, Ohio to Stowe, Vermont by little more than the couple's wedding day experience with us! This was the biggest complement of all. Making someone's wedding day as magical as possible is of course the biggest thing on our hearts. Writing this story brings that feeling of love for our couples and pride in our work rushing back. The couple at the bar by the way, are named Ashley and Justin and tomorrow, over a year after their wedding we will be in Yellow Springs, Ohio shooting their maternity photos as they prepare to welcome their new baby into the world! I will link their wedding sample below and you can expect a sample of this soon to be amazing maternity session to be up in the coming weeks!

Justin and Ashley (The couple at the bar in Stowe, Vermont.)

Michelle and John booked us on the spot after our call and we are so thrilled to be working with them. They will be having us travel to Philadelphia, PA for their wedding next year and just last weekend we traveled out to meet them in person and shoot their engagement session at Hunting Hill Mansion. Which was GORGEOUS by the way. What an awesome adventure that was for us! God has blessed us with an amazing life of love and adventure fueled by art and the love of others. We have the privilege of bringing positive energy to such a special time in people's lives and we don’t take that for granted. Not even for a second.

Michelle & John at Hunting Hill Mansion. Outside of Philadelphia, PA.

Michelle & John at Hunting Hill Mansion. Just outside of Philadelphia, PA.

 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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

The importance of printing your photos

Ault Park, Cincinnati. Every Atom Photography

   Hello again readers! Today I felt the need to talk about something that is so important to us. It’s something that growing up in the 90’s was a staple in every home, but for the past 20 years has begun to vanish piece by piece. That something is printed photography. Since the invention of social media the idea of having prints to hang on your wall or a photo album on your coffee table has become less important. For many of us prints are still seen as an awesome addition to our lives and living space, but still they are put on the back burner and often never end up becoming a reality.  

  This is something that even Sarah and I have been guilty of in the past. When we made the choice to start taking our own advice it had a huge impact on our lives. Ironically it was our own clients who inspired us to make this change. After becoming the go to photographer for so many families we began to be invited into their homes. Either for home sessions or just as friends. We began to see our couples walls littered with our work. We saw our work come to life in a new way. Our photos weren't just gorgeous prints, they were a symbol of love! They told a story to anyone who walked in their homes. 

The impact of a print

 Years ago we started to print and frame our family photos. Hanging them on our walls and placing them on shelves. Every day when we wake up we walk past reminders of how blessed we are. When we are having a bad day or when we become frustrated with each other we catch a glance of ourselves smiling and laughing together and we remember that that love is really the foundation of our home and that unhappiness is just a bump in the road. Sarah and I are the hosts in our family. We host thanksgiving, Christmas, and even have a family Halloween gathering. At these gatherings we see our family and friends looking through our photographs and they love to ask questions and hear our stories about them. Because of our prints we have been given the opportunity to share our life and memories with people in a new and more open way.

The vanishing art of printing

  People today are so accustomed to seeing photos on a glowing screen and flipping through them by the dozen. We easily become desensitized to the impact of a photograph and as a result forget them quickly. Seeing something in print shows its importance and imprints it in our minds. Truly, not since the invention of photography have prints been more important than in today's world.   

Luckily we still live in a day and age where it's easy to order prints at our local Walgreens or CVS where they are printed by a computer and available quickly. Even better though there are still many professional print labs where they still practice the art of printing. They monitor the process and make sure the colors, contrast exposure etc.. are printed correctly. If you took the time to hire a professional photographer why not go a step further and make sure that your photographs convey the artists work accurately? 

   Sarah and I spent a lot of time choosing the right lab to offer to our clients and we are proud every time we see the fruits of that choice. We buy our own personal prints through the same lab we offer to our clients through their online gallery because we truly couldn’t imagine going anywhere else.

Megan & Tavis family session at Ault Park in Cincinnati Ohio

In closing

   It's an unfortunate truth that so many people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on their photography only to drop off and neglect the last step. Take it from us, get your photos up on your walls. Order your wedding album for your coffee table! You truly won't regret it and in the future when your grandchildren look through your photos and want to hear your stories you will realize how truly priceless they are. If you are interested in reading what professional print companies offer that others don’t you should check out the link below to a great article by Nations Photo Lab!

 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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

How do you pick the right photographer?

   Hello again dear reader! Earlier this week I was stewing on what to write about for today's blog entry when I had a situation pop up. After communicating with a potential wedding client for a few days via email we set up a phone call. I wont get into the details but during the call it became clear that although she loved our work and wanted to hire us, I could tell we just weren’t going to be a good fit. She needed more of a type A personality to give her the experience she was going to enjoy most. And that’s absolutely fine! I gave her a few referrals for photographers who might be better suited for her needs and after a few friendly words we parted ways. 

   After so many years in this business Sarah and I have a clear understanding of what makes a good photographer client relationship and it goes far beyond photographs! 

Picking the right photographer is SO important. You might love their work and they are right in the ballpark of what you were hoping to spend, but if you don’t vibe then your artistic journey together will be filled with negative feelings. Such as nervousness, awkwardness or even possible resentment down the line. Luckily when we first started we had an industry icon by the name of Zach Gray (website link below) give us an amazing piece of advice. “Don’t be afraid to tell a potential client you're not the right fit for them.” 

Do they offer what you're looking for?

When you're trying to decide if a photographer is the right person or team to capture such an important event in your life you should consider (After truly loving their work) what they offer. 

For example, If you see a package that has a boudoir session and you would rather have a large hardback wedding album, ask them if you can swap. Or if you ask if they are willing to make editing alterations if you request them in the future  and they refuse, that says something. It’s not a bad thing and the photographer probably has their reasons. However if they are unwilling to bend or compromise, that may say something about how the entire process will go with them. They are probably a strong willed person who knows what they want and they will do things their way. That's a great thing for some people. But maybe not for you. You might be the type of person who is looking for a more flexible photographer.  

Do they jive with your vibe?

   Most everything I mentioned above can be assessed by email before even meeting. If you feel like moving on with a consultation by phone, webcam or even better, in person that's great! During your consultation you have an opportunity. A consultation isn’t just about hearing their vision for your day. Of course that's extremely important, it's also about getting to know each other. Most of us humans have a sixth sense for someone's vibe, the way you click and communicate back and forth. Do they really understand you? Maybe you don’t get them? This is your opportunity to see if you feel like you could be friends with this person. Sarah and I love when our clients become our friends and we are thankful to be able to say that happens a lot. Your wedding will go so smoothly on the artistic side of things if you and your photographer can laugh together and handle problems when they come up with a clear understanding of each other. When you feel like friends!

Wedding planning can be stressful and sometimes people just want to get it done and get everything on the books. But take it from me, take your time. You and your photographer will be spending a lot of time together. Make sure you pick someone who you could imagine hanging out with!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read today’s post. I hope this article helped you on your wedding planning journey.

  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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

Don't need an engagement session?

If you're reading this it’s likely that you are recently engaged. Congratulations! You're probably in the beginning stages of wedding planning and getting quotes from local photographers. The packages you see when glancing at their pricing sheets often include an engagement session. There are many reasons you might not want to have one but the most common reasons Sarah and I hear from potential clients are as follows.

“We are trying to save money where we can and we think we can do without the engagement.”

“We had engagement photos done already and don’t need another session.”

“We live far away and it is hard to schedule time to make it out for an engagement session.”

   Now these reasons are all valid of course, and sometimes yes when a client insists that we remove an engagement session from their package we will work something out. However I always explain to them what I am about to tell you. An engagement session is much more than just a photo session.

Your engagement session is an opportunity.

You might have had a consultation with your photographer and think you are comfortable enough with them. Or maybe you have only communicated through email. Either way you don’t yet know how they work as an artist. Your engagement session is a time to see them at work, and when you know how they work you begin to learn how to work with them. Most people don’t realize that a portrait photographer doesn’t create a great session alone. Not by far. An amazing session is a collaboration between the photographer and the subject. During the engagement session “even though you might not realize it when it’s happening” you are learning a workflow. By the end of the session you will be picking up your photographer's cues, and hopefully finding that your having a great time! You will also most likely be free of any nervousness you might have had about having your photos done. You will feel more free and less tense. This free and relaxed attitude towards photos will carry over into your wedding day. I will but a link to my Article about how to loosen up for an engagement session below.

Your engagement session is a rehearsal.

Your engagement session is a rehearsal for your wedding day couples photos. You learn poses and the way that your photographer communicates. Again you also know your photographer after the engagement session and they are no longer a stranger to you. What if on your wedding day “this is unfortunately common” You haven’t met your photographer. This stranger shows up on the morning of your busy wedding day and starts pointing a camera at you and your friends and family. I have been this stranger on many occasions over the years and although I am professional and it no longer bothers me too much, I can still pick up on others being uncomfortable. Discomfort is a form of stress and as I always say. Stress kills art. Having a good vibe with your photographer is crucial to a great wedding day and great photographs.

Your engagement session helps make your wedding day. It goes without saying that although it may not seem like a big deal now, your engagement session is a big component to your wedding day. It isn’t something you want to skip out on if you can avoid it and it’s more than worth the cost. If you’re trying to cut back on wedding costs consider other options before forgoing this important piece of your wedding day puzzle.

We look forward to engagement sessions very much! Getting to know our clients personally is an amazing opportunity. They are the heart of our business and we are honored that they chose us and put their trust in us to record this special time in their lives. The engagement session is our first opportunity to earn that trust and form a friendship. It is just as important to us as photographers as it is for you!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I hope this article helped you on your wedding planning journey.

  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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

4 Pros and cons to doing a first look

Hello again! Today I’m excited to talk about a subject that many couples spend months stewing over before finally making up their minds. It seems like it should be simple, but the more it works its way into your head the more it becomes an enormous overblown thing that it really doesn’t need to be. Hopefully this article will help to condense this big knot of mental Christmas lights into a few simple things to consider. After reading this I hope you will be more than a step closer to your decision to have a first look, or to opt for the more traditional route!

So, it's been years now since the idea of the first look hit the wedding scene. It has officially proved itself to be more than a fad and for good reason. It’s romantic, modern and intimate to name a few reasons. Oh, and also the pictures from a first look are precious and beautiful if done right. As photographers, Sarah and I love first looks for a few main reasons.

The Pros.

Goodbye to Nervousness.

First, on a wedding day it can feel like there is a lot of pressure on the bride and groom to keep things running smoothly. Think about this. In a stressful situation who is the one person who makes you feel like you can do anything? I hope you answered your partner! I mean, that’s why you're getting married right? My number one reason I love first looks is that when the bride and groom come together early on a wedding day you can actually feel their tension melt away. Not only the nervousness about seeing each other that was hanging over their heads. But the subconscious feeling of doing this alone vanishes.

Photos done early.

When researching for this article I saw tons of writers saying that couples photos might not be as special to you on the wedding day if you aren’t actually married yet. Well… Fine, that’s fair. However, We aren’t necessarily talking about couples photos. Yes we can do some of those after the first look and we almost always do, but a huge chunk of our couples photos will be done around sunset. Long after the ceremony when the light is right! Now we are talking mainly about family photos and bridal party photos. These photos take a lot of time and when we do them all after the ceremony we often find ourselves trying to squeeze everything in as fast as possible. This is not only stressful for everyone “Stress is the enemy of good wedding vibes” but it cuts into precious couples photos time!

Privacy

If you are anything like me you appreciate your privacy. At my ceremony I felt very on the spot and I was uncomfortable at first. That may sound crazy to you but I bet a ton readers know exactly what I’m talking about. I am glad I had my first look with Sarah because I was able to soak it in in privacy and not during an anxious moment in my life with everyone watching. Social anxiety. Yes, I have it too!

Less wedding day pressure

After your first look you tackle those family, and bridal party shots and then you find that your wedding day schedule is suddenly less full, less rushed and more relaxed. That is a key ingredient to a special, fun and romantic wedding day that you remember fondly. Unfortunately over the past 10+ years we have been wedding photographers, we've seen our share of brides and grooms not enjoying their wedding day. Sweating, sour faced, snippy or even arguing… Of course we can’t stand seeing this on someone's special day. When this happens we do everything we possibly can to help. Especially Sarah. She is a master when it comes to wedding planning and positive vibes. There is one commonality between every one of these weddings. The bride and groom had planned too much into a day to not have a first look. Please don’t take that the wrong way. That does not mean that a first look is something you need to do to have an amazing wedding day. Not at all, what it means is if your not doing a first look make sure you're not planning too much after the ceremony. You will most likely find that you didn’t have time to actually enjoy your wedding and the time with the people you love the most on this special day.

Cocktail hour

Speaking of enjoying time with your loved ones. Soon after the ceremony they will all head to your cocktail hour to mingle, laugh, drink and celebrate together. Tradition dictates that the bride and groom aren’t there. But why not? We love when brides and grooms are present for cocktail hour. They have so much fun. Shake off the remaining wedding day jitters and we get to capture some candid photos of them with the guests. The ceremony is still so fresh in everyone’s minds and they are so ready to hug, squeeze and congratulate you!

There is so much more to say but I could literally be here all day and I told you I would make this simple and condensed! Some people prefer the traditional route. I have huge respect for this. Tradition is deep, meaningful and extremely charming. Especially at a formal event like a wedding day. Here are the cons. The reasons you might not want to have a first look.

The cons

Loss of tradition.

Maybe you are a traditionalist, or maybe you highly respect your Mother or Grandmother's opinion and want to take their advice. When you have a first look you are breaking a cultural tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony. I won’t harp on that for too long because I know that you knew that before clicking on this blog!

Ceremony photos less expressive

There is a theory amongst photographers that if you do a first look, the emotions might be less present at the ceremony. This is both true and not untrue. I’ll elaborate. If you opt not to do a first look, you might find yourself very emotional at the ceremony in the way of joyful tears and a deeply romantic vibe. If you go for the first look you will likely have a different experience. With most of the tension gone you will find yourself more relaxed and likely be more outwardly happy and excited. You will have less tears in the audience and more smiles and joyful laughs and an excited energy from your partner. It will be just as emotional but it will be a different flavor of energy, which leads to a different experience. Whichever you prefer is the correct choice for you!

You’re having an early Mass

A common thought is that you're having an early Mass and so you will have a jump start on your wedding day events. Awesome, In these scenarios we agree. A first look doesn’t yield much in the way of wedding schedule efficiency. It does still offer the relief of ceremony pressure. However, I’m betting that if you are having a Mass you are a person who respects tradition and are willing to deal with that to uphold in what you believe in. That is awesome and I love and respect that, but what are you doing reading this! You already know what you want. Stop second guessing yourself and go confidently into your dream wedding!

In closing

All things considered, it’s up to you to choose. I know that probably not what you want to hear but what I offer is advice.

If you are not having a first look, please consider not overcrowding your wedding plans. Leave time in the schedule between each event to get something to drink, a snack, or just take a breather. Leave time to have fun and not be stressed!

If you are having a first look, make sure that you leave some time to have couples photos done later in that golden hour light! Have a great time but please remember, you’re getting photos done later. Don’t party too hard, you have to keep that hair and makeup on point!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I hope this article helped you on your wedding planning journey.

  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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

A Venue Recommendation: Timeless Charm

Hello again dear reader! This morning as I sit with my cup of coffee and think over all of the great things I have to say about this unique venue, I’m reminded of why I started this blog in the first place. I’m here twice a week doing what I was born to do. Help people make cherished memories and have great experiences. That sounds cheesy I know, but in one way or another it’s what I have done since I was a child. It’s My calling and I love it!

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!

Timeless Charm in Camden, Ohio is a place that truly earns its name. The grounds are not only gorgeous, but are unique in a way that I haven’t seen before. This venue has so many great photo backdrops that when planning your photography you really have to narrow down your favorites because there simply isn’t time to visit them all! It doesn’t matter what your tastes lean toward. Classic, rustic, romantic or even boho, This venue is perfect for you.

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

Timeless Charm has so much to offer. A beautiful reception space, lakefront views and fresh food with their own private chef. But one thing that we adore over all else is the ability for your bridal party to stay on site in their B & B style honeymoon suite. Not having to wake your entire family up at 5am to get to the venue and start setting up is an enormous convenience! Not to mention not having to worry about driving home after a lengthy reception.

The Waterfront Veranda

The waterfront Veranda is gorgeous. Who isn’t interested in an outdoor lakeside space with its own stereo system for you to hook up to and a LAKESIDE BAR. Seriously. This area is of course surrounded by a beautiful forest and is just a minutes walk from the bridal suite.

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 and a beautiful wedding dress at Timeless Charm

The Wrap up

To wrap this up I’ll simply say that timeless Charm is the perfect spot for an outdoor wedding. It’s overflowing with charm and has all the makings for amazing wedding photography and an experience you can look back on with nothing but smiles and love.

You can check out Timeless Charm for yourself on their website at the link below or follow them on Instagram at @timelesscharm.

A sparkler exit at Timeless Charm

  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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

The magic of Fall colors

Good morning kind reader! The first day of Fall occurred over the weekend, and I woke this morning with the cool Fall air filling my bedroom. My favorite season is finally here!

I had multiple photo sessions over the weekend. My final session late Sunday night truly stuck out. Aside from the family being fantastic to work with, the colors they chose were absolutely perfect! They were muted earth tones that gave off such a warm and comfortable Fall vibe and also gave a sense of adventure and imagination to their happy and energetic children! In Ohio we are blessed with a gorgeous Fall and so much opportunity to capture beautiful timeless images.

However, getting the most out of these Fall photo sessions is not as easy as getting out in nature with a good photographer. A key element, (I can’t stress how important this is) is understanding how to dress! This applies for any type of Fall session, not just family photo sessions but engagement, baby, senior or anything else.

Choosing your colors

You probably understand already because your mother taught you when you were young that your clothes need to match. They don’t have to be the same color, they need to go together! The fall foliage is a set of specific colors that will stand out in your photos. You want to think about coordinating your colors to the foliage. Below I am attaching a Fall color pallet for you to us as a reference when picking your outfits.

Seasonal Color Pallette

Coordinate, don’t match!

Oftentimes people make the mistake of thinking that matching is the way to go. They understand they want Earth tones and the colors look great but they make the mistake of putting both parents in Green sweaters with Khaki pants. It’s really the variety that stands out and is pleasing to the eye.

Outdoor comfort

It’s common that people come to their session with shirts tucked in, shoes shined and just an overall more formal look. There is a time and place for this, but we prefer a more natural look. We want it to look more like we caught you on a hike in the forest or at a family picnic in the mountains rather than a traditional photo session. We prefer a pair of hiking boots over dress shoes. If you have children in your session make sure to dress them in something that is not only warm and Fall colored, but also something they can run around in. Something you don’t mind getting dirty. We like to play a lot at these sessions and take a lot of photos on the ground!

I am including a link to our free style guide below which helps to coordinate your outfits to the season. It is great for family sessions but the advice is relevant to any type of Fall vibe session.

Family Session Style Guide

Choosing the right store!

We live in an age that makes it easy to shop for the specific looks we want to achieve. Take advantage of the internet as it can be your best friend. Pinterest has tons of great articles with lists of stores online. Below is a link to an awesome amazon storefront by Jess Phillips from jessphillipsphotography.com. She has some great links to purchase beautiful Fall clothing!

If you live in our area I highly recommend women check a store called Rose and Remington in Lebanon, Ohio. This shop has a plethora of beautiful dresses with a great color palette and tons of accessories and jewelry to go along with your look.

In closing

It may be stressful when you first start to plan your outfits, but once you start using your color pallet and you find a good store you will start having fun! and in the end you will end up with stunning photos and a new sense of fashion that will serve you for years to come. Happy Fall!

  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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

The art of having fun.

   If you're reading this I’m going to guess that you, your partner or both of you are at least a little camera shy. If so I have good news! You’re not alone. In my experience most people are uncomfortable in front of the camera. Myself included. Ironic, I know… For the majority of my life I hated my smile. I would see photos of myself smiling and think my face looked fat or my smile caused my eyes to squint. My solution to this was to attempt the stoic “Sexy guy” face. I was happier with that back then but now realize I just looked angry in every photo for 2 decades. It wasn’t until recently that I started to apply the tips I give my client’s (the same tips I’m about to give you) to myself.

HOW MOST COUPLES FEEL!

  Most couples arrive at their engagement session nervous. They usually haven’t met their photographer and if they have it was at a consultation. Sometimes they haven’t ever had professional photos done and have no idea what to expect. They feel awkward and they are sometimes worried that the photographer will be frustrated or upset with their inexperience while posing them. These worries are completely false and totally normal.

WHATS HOLDING YOU BACK?

  The human mind often focuses on the worst case scenario. When I was a young musician I was technically very good, and everything should have sounded amazing… except, I sounded like a robot. It wasn’t until someone said something so simple, so obvious and wise that I was able to get past that stage.

“Let the weight off your shoulders, just relax and know there is no pressure.”

  Being the subject of a photograph is no different. Get out of your head and just have fun. With modern photography styles like ours, we don’t want a perfectly posed photograph that looks stiff and rigid. We want to photograph you enjoying yourself and enjoying your partner. We are trying to capture your love! Here are a few tips to help you ease into this state of mind.

DON’T BE EMBARRASSED.

  Maybe you're not a publicly affectionate couple, and that's fine but you're not in public here. It’s just you and the photographer. And just like your Doctor, they don’t judge you! It’s your photographer's profession and you're not doing anything they haven’t seen hundreds of times. To see a couple who has mastered the art of chill in front of the camera check out the gallery below!

Zach & Karen

Engagement session at Ault Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. A dark moody fun and playful session. Having fun is how we get natural unposed candid photos.

TALKING, TEASING & TICKLING.

  Talking, teasing and even tickling are fantastic ways to break you out of that stiff nervous zone. If your photographer poses you that doesn’t mean you have to be a statue. You are free to talk and enjoy each other. Joking back and forth is great or saying something loving. If your partner is nervous, whisper something funny into their ear. And if they are extra nervous give them a tickle. The laugh will be a great release of tension and makes for a really cute photo!

DANCING.

  Dancing is also a great way to loosen up. Any type of dancing you like is perfectly fine. Bringing a Bluetooth speaker is an option or just dancing in silence. Can’t dance? Even better. Do it anyway!

PLAN FOR SOMEWHERE SECLUDED!

  If you or your partner is camera shy you should consider planning your session somewhere private and away from crowds. The feeling of being gawked at doesn’t help when you're being romantic. Give yourself a place where you can feel secluded and for goodness sake do not invite your friends or family! Believe it or not, people do this thinking it’s going to help. IT DOESN’T.

  Your engagement session is more than just a photo session. It is an opportunity to rehearse for your wedding day photos. You get to know your photographer, develop a working groove and flow and learn to chill out on camera. If you're nervous, that's absolutely fine and normal. Just know that your fears are all in your head. I assure you. Before you know it the session will be over and you will be surprised at how much fun you had! Afterword, go out to dinner with your fiancé and you can both have a laugh about how nervous you were!

  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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

Why you should always do your photos at sunset!

Family photo session in Springboro, Ohio

So you’re excited to have family photos done. You have gone through all the steps. You picked the right photographer and you are ready to book. You ask for their availability and they send you a list of dates and times. But all of the available times are so late! It conflicts with dinner time, your kids are supposed to be getting ready for bed at this time. It’s just so inconvenient. As photographers we understand. It’s not ideal for us either, but it’s essential for the results we achieve. Here is why your photographer is so insistent on doing your session close to sunset.

What is golden hour?

Golden hour is the last hour of daylight before sunset. It is the time of day when the sun dips low and the light becomes soft and gives off a warm hue. It offers a ton of advantages for photos and gives off those amazing lens flares and golden bursts of light you see so often in photographers’ portfolios. Often people say they want an earlier time of day because the light flares aren’t important to them. What they don’t realize is that there are many other reasons for shooting at this time.

If your ideal time is 1pm and you manage to talk your photographer into this time of day, don’t be surprised when you get photos back and see yourself looking more wrinkly than usual. Or notice everyone is squinting and you can’t see anyone’s eyes. The harsh light of the sun causes shadows under the eyes making them look sunken or sick. The bright highlights can blow out parts of the photo making them nothing more than white blobs. The color of light the sun produces is also different. You probably never noticed before but the light earlier in the day is more blue and this can make skin look off in photographs.

These issues are no big deal when taking a snapshot but when you have professional photos done you expect professional results. We have been talked into earlier shoots many times. We explain the reasons for a late shoot and give out the proper warnings but still some clients insist.

I suggest for just one night you make an exception to your routine. Make it fun. Use it as an excuse to let the kids stay up late. Take the family out to dinner or ice cream afterwords! Your family photos are important and will last forever. It’s worth it to go the extra mile. Take your photographer’s professional advice. That is why you hired them right? Trust the expert and you won’t be disappointed with the results!

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 at the link below to keep up with our most recent photo session samples and reels.

Thanks for reading!

- Jordan Epperson

Venue recommendation

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.

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

Is a half session enough?

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

Do you have the right house for a baby session?

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

Should you pick your own location?

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