Find a photographer who you resonate with
A consultation reminded Jordan and Sarah why connecting with a photographer’s style matters, especially when you want wedding portraits that feel natural.
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 photographs of Abigail and Peyton. 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 compliment. 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 explore more of our work in the wedding and engagement portfolio below. Thank you for reading!
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
I Was Born the Family Documentarian
A visit to his grandparents’ cabin reminded Jordan to turn the camera toward his own family. See the portraits and the story behind them.
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
My Journey as an Artist - Jordan Epperson
Jordan traces his path from childhood storytelling, filmmaking, and music to photography, and shares the influences behind his wedding and family portraits.
This blog post will help you get to know me. It focuses on my artistic journey and what inspires me as an artist.
Jordan Epperson Photo by Sixteen Fourteen Photography
Wedding and family photography gets a bad rap in the art community. It’s not chic enough. Its not unique. It’s shallow or “basic”. These stereotypes can be true. But let me be the first to tell you that they can be true of any form of art. Just turn on the radio and you will hear a plethora of shallow basic pop music. Or go to the city and visit an art gallery. There will be a few great pieces there but you will likely also see piece after piece of mediocre art that imitates the greats but has no heart behind it. There is a difference between hiring a photographer and commissioning an artist.
An elegant Bride: Jordan Epperson. Rolling Meadows Ranch, Lebanon, Ohio.
When I was a boy I quickly learned that I was happiest when I was telling stories. My first medium was puppets. I would make up a funny scenario and then put my little brother and sister to work acting out whatever funny or scary ideas popped into my head.
Next came writing. I had dyslexia and wasn’t able to read or write until I was 11. My mother would sit with me for hours and transcribe my endless stream of thoughts. She was a saint.
My need to be able to tell these stories myself is what gave me the drive to overcome my disability. Writing was a tool that I had to have in my arsenal. I may have never mastered it to the level I aspire to but what I have gets the job done!
When I was about 9 the biggest event in my life as an artist occurred. My dad came home with an enormous used VHS camera that my grandfather had given him. This was the 90’s so having one of these was still a big deal. That camera might as well have been duct taped to my hands.
At the same time that I was falling in love with film I was able to imitate the artists who were producing them. With that camera and a VCR I began shooting and editing. My friends and family became my cast and crew.
My mother around that time, had taken up photography and had gotten good enough that she was even taking some paid sessions. She was a painter as well and the best hair stylist I have ever encountered. I am proud of her and I attribute my creative side to her.
Around 11 years old I started writing music and teaching myself to play guitar. This, like all other art, became an obsession and added to my films in a unique way. At 12 my parents got a divorce. This is when My art started to reflect more darkness. I wrote more horror stories than comedy and switched from colored pencils to charcoal. I listened to less of the Who and more of Nirvana.
At 14 Sarah and I got together. This was a bombshell and changed everything. She was a ray of sunshine in my life and continues to be over 20 years later. She was also, a creative. She was an abstract painter and sculptor. She was more into photography than video and showed me darkroom work she had done with a camera she built herself out of a box. What a girl.
This grabbed me. I was so used to telling stories in video at 24 frames a second. The challenge of telling a story in one frame was exciting. I started to notice photography more. Especially fashion magazines. I noticed how there were plenty of magazines with a smiling model on the cover showing a piece of clothing. It was flattering and made the dress or pants look good, but the magazine covers that really stood out to me were the ones where the focus wasn’t on the clothes. It was on the model. Their eyes and expressions were clear and made you feel something. If they looked mysterious that made me feel mysterious. Sometimes the shots would be totally out of focus and very artistic. This made me want to be artistic. I realized that by not focusing on the clothing and instead focusing on the emotional impact of the model, the photographer was selling a feeling. People wanted to feel like that and that's what sold the clothing. That was what made this work high fashion. You don’t really want the jeans. You want to feel cool, or sexy or confident. This was incredible to me.
This is where my photography method evolved from. If I am doing bridal photography my goal is to capture the way the bride feels on that day. The magic you feel in your heart on your wedding day. The target is to create images that the bride and her family can look at in 30 years and feel what she felt on that day. To me that's the difference between a wedding photographer and an artist. This applies for any session. A family photograph should do more than just show a family standing in front of the camera. That documents who is in the family and what age they were, but it does little else. A family photograph of mom and dad playing and tickling their laughing children shows a special time that for most people only lives in our memories.
Any artistic endeavors can become stale if you're repeating the same thing over and over. This is where fresh inspiration comes in. I am constantly reading and searching for inspiration. In today's world it is absolutely everywhere. But the best place to find it ( for me atleast ) is in books. Reading from inspiring people or going to the library and flipping through the books from fashion and street photographers of the past.
Reception Hora Dance in Cincinnati, Ohio. By: Jordan Epperson
I have plenty of names to drop from my biggest influences but I want to drop 2 names here for now. The first is Richard Avedon. He was an astounding portrait and fashion photographer who changed my artistic life with one image. The April 1965 cover of Harper's Bazaar Magazine. I can’t post it here because of copyright but I am linking it below and if you're at all interested in my artistic journey and have enjoyed this post so far you should give it a look.
My second name drop is M.K Sadler. Unlike Richard Avedon, M.K Sadler is currently working and still in the early stages of an incredible career. She shoots fashion and portrait photography and has managed to infuse her talents in that area into her wedding photography in such a unique way. I found her a couple of years ago through her popular instagram account. She caught my attention immediately and I had to start following her. She is everything I love about photography and if you want to learn more about my tastes you can check her out below.
Instagram - @mksadler
Instagram for wedding work - @mksadlerwed
Websites
This post has been very personal to me and I am thrilled that you have taken the time to read it. I get questions about my story and inspirations a lot. I am not the best at sharing in person so it has been extremely helpful and even therapeutic to write all of this out for the first time.
My advice to you would be to look carefully through the portfolio of any photographer that you are considering working with. See what Images stand out to you. Take note of how they make you feel inside. Are they simply pretty or do they evoke something deeper in you?
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
In this Thanksgiving 2023 reflection, Jordan and Sarah look back on a creative fall season and the couples and families who helped shape their work.
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. For current availability, tell us about your plans.
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 November 2023 update on personalized photo books and print ordering through client galleries, with a look back at Jordan and Sarah’s photography business.
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 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
The importance of printing your photos
Bring your wedding and family photos off the screen and into everyday life. Jordan shares why prints, albums, and a carefully chosen photo lab matter.
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?
Loving a photographer’s work is a starting point. Consider their approach, what they offer, and how comfortable you feel communicating before you book.
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