Carla + Eric | Downtown Cleveland Engagement Session

Couples often ask me, why bother with an engagement session? Well, I can tell you with absolute certainty that the photos from an engagement session are some of the most genuine, fun-loving, and memorable that you'll ever have taken. Why? The wedding jitters! Here's a chance to get in front of the camera, and just enjoy being a couple without having to think about every minute detail of the wedding. It's a break from all the planning, decisions, and stress. Plus, it gives a couple the chance to get used to a camera being pointed at them. (Which ultimately leads to better wedding photography)

Our latest couple, Carla and Eric, are very special to us. Carla is my sister-in-law, and Eric, my soon to be brother-in-law. What I love about these two is just how natural they are with each other. The way they interact, joke, and make each other laugh is fun to watch, and even more fun to photograph. We also got a chance to photograph Carla's daughter Alexandra, who proved to be quite the photographer assistant towards the end of the shoot. Carla and Eric truly embody what it means to be from Cleveland. They're adventurous, energetic, and love to explore all that the city has to offer. What better locations to visit than the Rock Hall docks, East 4th Street, and Playhouse Square?

It has been a pleasure to tell their story, and we can't wait to attend the wedding in October!

-Steve

Kristina | Gorge Metro Park Senior Session

We were treated to one of the last warm sunny days in November for Kristina's senior session. The backdrop? Gorge Metro Park. I actually couldn't believe I had never been there before, and upon visiting, I was blown away by the beautiful rock formations, trails, and waterfall. It's a very unique location, especially in the fall with the changing leaves and the streaks of sunlight cutting through the trees. It can be a bit challenging to shoot here, as the park is tucked away in a steep valley, and the sunset quickly dips behind the hills. Fortunately, we had plenty of time to create some amazing images.

I love senior sessions. They're upbeat, fun, and allow me the opportunity to capture the personality of my clients. Kristina was a joy to work with, and I hope that these images will bring back some fond memories of her senior year.

Alicia + Nick | Holden Arboretum Engagement Session

Whenever we meet a new client, we like to find out a little bit about their backstory. How did they meet? What kinds of things do they enjoy doing together? When we sat down with Alicia and Nick, they told us that they met each other while working in a local pizza shop up in Willoughby, Ohio. It seemed fitting that we would start off their engagement session at the place where they grew to be close friends.

When we were trying to come up with some additional locations for our shoot, they mentioned that they have a membership at the Holden Arboretum. If you've never had a chance to visit the Holden Arboretum, it is certainly worth the trip. The grounds cover an expansive 3,600 acres, 600 of which are dedicated to specific collections and gardens. It is a beauty to behold, and would serve as a perfect backdrop for Alicia and Nick. The fall leaves were right around peak color as we walked throughout the arboretum, pausing here and there to create some beautiful imagery.

It was an absolute pleasure to hang out with these two, and we cannot wait to photograph their wedding next year!

Jessica + Nicholas | Hale Farm and Village Wedding

[av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='']The cool autumn air rustled amongst the colorful leaves as everyone started to arrive for the wedding rehearsal. Jessica and Nicholas walked up to the meeting house, which is a beautiful white chapel building located within Hale Farm and Village to begin the practice run of what was sure to be an amazing outdoor ceremony.

After a few run-throughs of the ceremony, it was obvious that we were going to have some fun the next day.

I met up with Jessica at the Off Main Street Salon in Downtown Hudson to capture the start of the day. It’s always fun to see everyone getting ready and all of the preparation that has to happen before walking down the aisle.

Sarah and Lauren from the salon did a wonderful job with Jessica, her mom, and the flower girl. After the salon, we headed over to Hale Farm and Village located in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park to finish up preparations before the wedding. I spent some time gathering a variety of detail shots which was really fun to create given the rustic outdoor setting available.

The weather was gorgeous, not too warm, not too cold, and some amazing directional light to give everyone that sun-kissed glow.

Everything from the string quartet, pumpkins lining the aisle, to the music-inspired confetti congratulating the newlyweds, gave this wedding a particular fall charm that was unique and special for Jessica and Nicholas.

We followed the ceremony with some formal portraits and some one-on-one time with our new bride and groom. The reception was so much fun to capture. Jessica and Nicholas had a bonfire and smores bar which was a huge hit!

The evening ended was some beautiful long-exposure sparkler writing that their friends helped to make possible. An amazing day with an awesome couple.

Congratulations Jessica and Nicholas! [/av_textblock]

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Ashley + Joey | Chagrin Falls and Hudson Engagement Session

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, I got the chance to meet up with Ashley and Joey. We had been emailing back and forth to discuss some locations they were interested in, and they mentioned that Joey had proposed in downtown Chagrin Falls. If you've never seen downtown Chagrin, you owe it to yourself to check out the neat shops that seem to hug the shoreline around the falls. It is by far one of the most beautiful downtown areas in Ohio. I was excited to take these two off trail to actually get them right in front of the falls. There is a gigantic fallen tree at the base of the falls, which is perfect for sitting and observing the beautiful surroundings. About 5 minutes into the shoot, I attempted to make my way a little farther down river so I could turn around and shoot with the falls in the background, when I discovered that some of the dried river stones were a bit more slick than anticipated. Ashley and Joey had a look of surprise when I slipped and fell into a log directly in front of me. Luckily, the log stopped me from falling and I was able to keep the camera from banging against anything. Despite my momentary lapse of balance, the smiles that Ashley and Joey gave me as I regained composure were priceless.

Next, we decided to climb back up to the main street and check out Jeni's Ice Cream. It's important to think of engagement sessions as date night. What could be better than taking in the sights, having some delicious ice cream, and hanging out with the person you love? I think that's a recipe for great photos.

After Chagrin Falls, we headed back to Hudson to hang out at Western Reserve, then back to their new home. I got a chance to meet their two pups and kitty, and we were able to grab a few family photos on their front porch. The day would not be complete without getting these two up on Joey's truck as the sky dimmed to brilliant shades of pink and blue.

Ashley and Joey are so relaxed with each other. They make each other laugh, melt into each others arms without hesitation, and complement each other in every way. It is truly a joy to capture the story of these two, and I can't wait to photograph their wedding.

Here's a quick video of some of our favorite images from their session. Enjoy!

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Rain or Shine

It seems that winter has finally come for our area, and those 50 degree December days are behind us. Reflecting back at what 2015 has brought us, we have had the privilege of working with some amazing local businesses and talents. Trudging through the snow to the mailbox it was a pleasant surprise being reminded of our shoot with Shanklin Heating & Air Conditioning on one of those fluke warmer days in December.

Kip and Derek are some really great guys moving into the area and it was fun capturing their personalities throughout the session. We met in downtown Hudson, braved the wind and rain, and made it happen! They had great pride in the communities they represented, and an even bigger passion for representing and using local businesses.

So check your mailbox if you're in town, you may see some of KP's latest work!

Stay warm, and Happy New Year!!

-Steve

We made the cover! | Hudson Life Magazine

Every year, the city of Hudson gets together to do something really special for all the kids in town. The event is called the "Merchants of Hudson Trick-or-Treat", and many of the local businesses hand out candy and the city provides activities at various places all over the downtown area. For the past couple years, We've partnered up with Lucia's...the Salon on Main to have fun with photography, and provide some keepsakes for families. The stylists at Lucia's pick out a theme each year, and they always draw a HUGE crowd of children and parents who want to have their picture taken with them. Last year, Lucia's dressed up as different animals, complete with make-up and outfits. The theme was so popular that to advertise this year's trick-or-treat, one of our photos was selected as the cover for our local magazine!

Here's the original:

This year, Lucia's decided on "The Rainbow Fairies", a popular series of children's books. We had a blast hanging out with them once again and seeing all of the great costumes this year. The added bonus? It's a Star Wars year, so lots of storm troopers and Jedi's running around. :) Here's a quick video of some of our favorite images: Can't wait for next year!

-Steve

The Bryant Family | Kingwood Center Family Portrait Session

I love photographing families at Kingwood Center. If you've never been there, it's worth a trip. The house was built in 1926 for the King family. The entire 47-acre estate became a public garden in 1953. It reminds me of walking around the old Millionaires Row in Cleveland. Kingwood looks untouched by time. There are numerous themed gardens along with sprawling fields of beautifully maintained foliage. This past week, we had the opportunity to work with Jesse, Kathryn and their three children. It was so much fun to photograph the kids running around the gardens and rolling around in the sun. For family sessions, you never quite know how long you have before everyone starts getting tired, especially with the sun bearing down. The trick is, stay in the shade when you can, and move quickly. Evening hours give everyone a nice, warm glow that's always great for photos.

We try and keep family sessions light and fun, and just allow kids to be kids. We pose when we need to, but never underestimate the power of just being silly and keeping your eye out for the little moments. Overall, the shoot went great and I think we produced some fantastic photos. Many thanks to the Bryant family for allowing us to capture their beautiful family!

The Cleveland Marriott Bridal Show

 

Kaufman Photography has gone through many changes in the last year. As we attend expos and meet new clients, we wanted that change to reflect on the way we represented ourselves in our booth.

This past weekend we had the opportunity to do just that, and participate in the Cleveland Marriott Bridal Show.

The idea was to showcase who we are, and what we feel photography is about. Ditching the formal coffee shop high-tops for end pieces and removing benches for vintage coffee tables and classic chairs, we created a space that not only showcased the photography, but also an inviting space that would help visualize those pieces in a home. A bonus was being able to show off some of our awesome vintage cameras.

Of course, being Ohio in January, it did get a bit slippery later on in the day. Overall it was a great show, and we got to talk to some amazing couples.

We're definitely excited for our 2015 clients, and look forward to meeting our 2016!

- KP

The Camera Comes Home

When my wife and I got married in June of 2012, we got the chance to reminisce with many friends and family. It was a wonderful time to see our loved ones, and we enjoyed catching up with relatives we haven't seen in years. One of the best gifts we received was something that I wasn't aware actually existed. My aunt and uncle from New Jersey told us that they had something special they would like to give us on wedding day, and that something special turned out to be my grandfather's camera. Apparently, my grandfather had given this camera to my uncle years ago, and they figured that the camera should "come home". I have to admit that I was truly blown away to open up the box for the first time and see this camera. It's a Bee Bee Model B camera, produced by the German camera maker Certo. The Bee Bee was made in the 1930s, and was distributed in the United States by Burleigh Brooks (hence the name 'Bee Bee'). The shutter is a Deckel Munchen Compur, and features 10 shutter speeds, ranging from 1/200 second to 1 second, and also Timer and Bulb. After a little research I was able to find some additional specs on the camera. One article I found showed an advertisement from 1939 for the Bee Bee. The body, without lens, originally sold for $70.00! It appears that I can still get film for this guy, so I can't wait to try it out!

One last thing. We needed some inspiration for our new Kaufman Photography logo, and where better to look than my grandfather. Paying homage to the man that inspired my photography, his camera is a fitting reminder of the stories we all cherish. The camera is home, and I couldn't be more honored to continue creating stories with it.