Shantel + Nick

Man, I love a good backyard wedding! There’s a special uniqueness with every intimate house held event. Shantel and Nick’s wedding this past Saturday fell on a day of perfectness. The weather was perfect. The Fall colors peaked early. Perfectly. There was a perfect chaos in such a joyful event. The couple was perfect. And they were covered in love and surrounded by a perfect gathering of friends and family.

Please enjoy my collection of images from Shantel and Nick’s perfectly beautiful day.

Congratulations to the happy couple and Cheers! to so many magical years to come.

These Two Brothers

A few months ago, Laura reached out to me. She had a special request for a portrait session. She wanted to celebrate a one year anniversary. A year since one of her sons saved the other one’s life through bone marrow donation.

Rather than posting a few teasers on my Facebook page, I thought these boys and this family needed their story told. And Laura very kindly obliged, when I asked her to tell their tale.

Blake got sick out of the blue on Easter Sunday 2018. Before all of this he was a completely healthy kid. He was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis. He probably got a virus and his body went crazy and started attacking his liver. About 6 months later whatever was attacking his liver started attacking his bone marrow. He was diagnosed with hepatitis induced aplastic anemia and had to have a bone marrow transplant. He needed to have a sibling match in order to go that route. Both his twin sister and younger brother were tested and his brother was a complete match. There is about a 25% chance for a sibling match. Jack was more than ready and willing to do this. On December 10, 2018 Jack came to the hospital for the bone marrow harvest and Blake got his cells that day. Blake is now 1 year post transplant and is doing wonderful! We see more and more of Blake’s normal personality every day.

I wanted to have these pictures done to show the significance of what Jack did for Blake and to truly capture the bond they will forever have. We also surprised our family with the pictures and gave it to them at a party to celebrate Blake’s one year anniversary.

When I arrived for their portrait session, I was greeted by three smiling kiddos: Super Hero and bone marrow donor, Jack; curly-haired, big brother to Jack, twin to Ashlyn, marrow recipient, and Survivor, Blake; and Ashlyn, Jack’s big sister and Blake’s twin. All three were ready for their close-ups (even Ashlyn, who was fresh from her soccer game.)

Super Hero, Jack

Super Survivor, Blake

We had a few giggles and made a whole bunch of awesome.

This was one of those wonderful days.

-Lindsey

Meet John.

John is Jill’s father.

And Jill is a dear friend of mine. Jill and I met many years ago at the Asian Food Festival (she is a FANTASTIC henna artist, you should check her out -> Jaiswal Designs.) We came together over the years to collaborate on our Henna for Heroines project (you should also check that out.)

But this isn’t about us. This is about John.

I met John this past week, down on his farm in Butler, Kentucky. I was invited down to capture some images of John on his farm, hanging out with family members, showing off some farm equipment, and introducing me to some farm animals. If you’ve ever seen “A Dog’s Purpose” or “A Dog’s Journey,” John even has his own “Boss Dog.”

                                                 

“John Acton, age 82 is a two-time cancer survivor. He has been a farmer all of his life. Born and raised on a farm in Butler, Kentucky, he went on to buy his own farm of 120 acres in the same town. For 30 years he also worked all over the country for AT&T and served 30 years in the Army Reserve retiring as a First Sergeant. He has spent his retirement working his farm of cows, horses, ducks, chickens, donkeys and goats. He still lives with four generations of his family in his 150 year old farmhouse house that he rehabbed himself. Although he recently lost his wife of 55 years, he is the father of four, grandfather of six and great-grandfather of ten. He still likes to spend his days driving around on his farm on his beloved John Deere Tractor or riding around his hills on his gator with his great-grandkids and his favorite dog, Sydney, riding shotgun.”

                                                                                                 -Jill, the farmer’s daughter

 

 

 

Don + Amy

September 13th, 2019 was a full moon Friday. It was a super hot, super beautiful day.  For Amy and Don, the date was significant and it made for the perfect wedding day.

Please enjoy.

Congratulations, Amy & Don!

Relay for Life: Lakota East

So, I spent a few hours of my Friday evening covering the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event at Lakota East High School.  It was an overnight camp out on the school’s football field, running 6pm – 6am.

The night kicked off with a Survivor’s lap around the track; followed by the Survivor dinner, additional track laps, some dancing, some carnival games, and a lot of general fun. In total, the event helped raise over $68K!

And I’m totally going to admit that while watching all of the fun, I found myself a wee bit nostalgic for my high school years. Note: I did say “wee bit.”

I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that fun was had by all.

To find a Relay for Life event near you, please click on the link below:
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=relay_find_event

To view all of the images from the event, please click here.

Dana + David

Saturday, December 17th, 2016
The Josephina, Dry Ridge KY

Saturday in Dry Ridge started as an overcast (always rain-threatening, but mostly dry) day with temps in the mid-50s. Quite pleasant and balmy for the middle of December. For the most part, the rain held off for the first half of the day. We were able to get the first glimpse and some bride/groom portraits taken ahead of the rain. As soon as we started with the wedding party, the drops started to fall. And man did they fall hard. And never did they let up.

Dana’s and David’s wedding was a beautiful event, rain and all. Please enjoy some images from their very special day!

Congratulations and Best Wishes to the happy couple!
-Lindsey❤

Denise + Kevin

November 19th, 2016
Evangelical Community Church, Cincinnati
Receptions, Fairfield

This day was one of the very first cold-weather days of the season. It was rainy and sleety; an absolutely beautiful day for a wedding.

Please enjoy images from Denise’s and Kevin’s big day!

Congratulations and Best Wishes to the happy couple!
-Lindsey ❤

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Tiffany + Paul

Saturday, October 29th, 2016
Oeder’s Lake Morrow, Ohio.

Please enjoy some images from Tiffany’s and Paul’s special day.Best Wishes and Congratulations to the newly married couple!

Making Strides 2016

October 22nd, 2016 marked my second year capturing the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, created by the American Cancer Society.

The event is held annually at Yeatman’s Cove, along the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio. Strides participants walk to honor and in memory of those that have, that are, and that will face the terrible disease of breast cancer. It is a gathering of tens of thousands, dressed in head-to-toe pink attire.

I was joined by a team of beautiful, local photographers that donated their time and talents to helping me cover this amazing event.

Please enjoy some of the featured images from the day’s events:

To view all images from the Making Strides Walk, please click on the following link:
http://www.eclecticallyforyou.com/acs/strides2016

A very special THANK YOU! to all of my generous and talented colleagues for helping capture this beautiful day. To learn more about these wonderful people, please check out their work:

Tiffany, TSI Photography
Pamela, Stevens Photography
Steven, Steven Kohus Photography
Adam, Gabbard Photography
Skyler, student

Sydney’s Bat Mitzvah

A week or so ago, I was asked to photograph a bat mitzvah and the events surrounding. Disclosure: I have never had the privilege of attending one before so I was incredibly excited to not only cover, but to experience such an event. (read: hold onto your hats, there’s gonna be A LOT of pictures.) Especially with Syd playing the main role.

The last time I photographed Sydney, it was about 5 years ago. You can imagine that she experienced quite a growth spurt in those several years.

My “job” began Friday evening at The Stir in Montgomery, Ohio. The evening included cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and good company.

I met Sydney and Co. the next morning, downtown at the Issac M. Wise Temple. As guests arrived, I made my way up to the balcony and prepped myself and my gear for one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have photographed.

Services were followed by a luncheon in the temple’s basement. I took the opportunity to snag Sydney and her girlfriends for a short, little photo shoot.

After finishing up some formal/family portraits, I returned home with enough time to whip out the hair crimper and heavy, over-sized earrings. It was time to cover the after party over at the Sharonville Convention Center. 80’s Style!

As a child of the 80’s, I cannot even begin to describe the nostalgia experienced as I roamed Sydney’s decade-themed party. The center pieces were made with day-glow painted cassette tapes and record sleeves. The candy table included all of those candies from my tween years. The clothes… the attire was amazing.

There was a photo booth, a song list straight out of the 80’s and 90’s (hello “Humpty Dance,”) an Adults Vs Kids dance-off, a friendly game of Musical Chairs, 80’s outfits, a “Sydney” slideshow, and did I mention the 80’s clothes?

So fun!!! Like, totally fun! Radical, you might say.

❤ Lindsey