The Greatest Compliment
Michelle and John discovered Every Atom through newlyweds they met while traveling. Jordan shares why that recommendation meant so much to him and Sarah.
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 compliment 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! You can explore more of our wedding and engagement photography in the portfolio below.
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 tell us about your plans.
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?
An engagement session gives you time to get to know your photographer, try their guidance, and feel more familiar with being photographed before the wedding.
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
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 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.
Thanks for reading!
- Jordan Epperson
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.
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