Carla + Eric | Downtown Cleveland Engagement Session

[av_one_full first min_height='' vertical_alignment='' space='' custom_margin='' margin='0px' padding='0px' border='' border_color='' radius='0px' background_color='' src='' background_position='top left' background_repeat='no-repeat' animation='' mobile_display=''][av_textblock size='' font_color='' color=''] 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 [/av_textblock] [/av_one_full]

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Kristina | Gorge Metro Park Senior Session

[av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='']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.

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Alicia + Nick | Holden Arboretum Engagement Session

[av_textblock size='' font_color='' color='']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!

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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.

Tammi + Preston

Realizing that it is February, and snowing yet again, I thought it would be nice to share some photos from one of my favorite shoots of summer. I met Preston at a wedding we were photographing in Bowling Green, Ohio around... I want to say 2009? Preston has been following our photography for quite some time, and so when I received a phone call from him letting me know that he was now engaged, I jumped at the chance to photograph his wedding. Immediately upon talking to Tammi and Preston, you could see the undeniable chemistry they share. They really are a great example of a couple the compliments each other. They have the same sense of humor, will crack the same kind of jokes, and just love being around each other. When you have chemistry like that, it's always going to lead to a fun photography session.

For their engagement photos, we decided to meet up in Hudson and run around town a bit. I love the textures and different color buildings to use as the backdrop for their photos. Being June, it was a bit of a scorcher outside, so we ran into a coffee shop to grab some iced beverages for the road. Later in the day, we made a stop in Chagrin Falls, which if you haven't visited, you absolutely should. Not only do they have a Jeni's Ice Cream (which is amazing) but the views and the feel of the town is really unique. An Ohio best kept secret kind of place. Tammi and Preston were all smiles as we enjoyed creating photos around the area.

Our last stop was downtown Cleveland. About five to six years ago, I would have just avoided the downtown area because of traffic and construction. Now that many of the downtown projects have been completed, it is a wonderful place to photograph couples. It's hard to explain. Cleveland has a beautiful waterfront, that's a given, but there is this blend between modern buildings, like the Rock Hall and the Science Center, and the days of old. The Theater District, Public Square, the Old Millionaire's Row, hearken back to Cleveland's glory days. There's been so much investment in making downtown a great place to visit, work, and live, the possibilities for photography are endless. I wanted to give Tammi and Preston a variety of choices for their engagement session, and where else can you find such a blend of old and new?

All in all, we had so much fun hanging out and capturing their story. Their wedding is coming up this summer, and I can't wait to see what they have planned.

-Steve

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8 Years of Storytelling

This past December marked 8 years of photography for me. It has been such a wonderful experience to work with such amazing clients. I've gotten a chance to travel to some beautiful cities, meet extraordinary people, and develop an even deeper passion for photography. As I started looking through the collection of photos from over the years, I was curious as to just how many photos we had taken. I think even I was surprised to learn that we have created over a half million photographs! Our average wedding produces close to 5,000 images, and if you combine that with an engagement session, we're close to 6,000. It has been an honor to capture the stories of my clients, and here's to creating photos for many years to come!

-Steve

A New Year

It has been a huge undertaking, but it's finally here. I am so excited to share some of the latest happenings. After a busy Fall season and talking to some wonderful graphic designers, we had decided to move forward with rebranding the company. I was a bit hesitant to make this change, more for sentimental reasons than anything else, but it's a new year, and now is a great time to refresh everything. As many of you know, the old gang from Kaufman Kramer has moved to various parts of the country. Chris is now in Austin, Texas. Brad is in now in the D.C. area. They are also celebrating the birth of their baby girl!  2013 was a year that brought many life changes, new directions, and promising opportunities.

As for me, it's been an amazing year. Rebecca and I are settling into married life, and we've gotten involved with a church that we love. We're meeting people all around town and really exploring and enjoying the area. I never thought that I would like the process of planting roots in a town as much as I have. Between home improvement projects, keeping busy with photography, and keeping up with family, it's been a whirlwind year.

These past few months have been focused on just reconnecting with what I love about photography. I wanted to rekindle the excitement that I have for storytelling. So, this new look and redesign came at just the right time.

I do have to acknowledge something moving forward. The fact remains that I am so thankful to Brad and Chris for helping build a legacy centered on people and delivering images that truly capture our client's stories. It was a great experience to create something from nothing, to build a company on hard work and dedication. I plan to keep that tradition alive and I really couldn't have done it without them.

So, we're back! We've got some great clients coming up in 2014 and I am looking forward to sharing some brand new stories with all of you.

-Steve

Audrey + Timothy

I've known Tim for almost 5 years now, and I must say, this is the happiest I've ever seen him. I remember telling Tim that one day, he'll find the perfect person to compliment him, and once he finds that person, everything will fall into place. A few weeks after that conversation... that someone stepped into his life.

It has been so wonderful to see Audrey and Tim grow as a couple. These two are perfect together and it really shows. What I've enjoyed the most is being able to help tell their story and to create some beautiful images for their engagement. I am very much looking forward to their wedding this next coming Fall.

Congratulations to Audrey and Tim, and enjoy the photos!

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Sarah and David

Wanted to quickly post some of our favorite photos from Sarah and David's wedding in Marion, Ohio. These two were wonderful to work with, and we definitely need to thank David and his groomsmen for their dedicated service in the armed forces. I don't think I've ever heard so many interesting stories in a 48 hour period.

To think, it all started with a chance encounter on the freeway where Sarah and David just happened to be driving next to each other and decided to take a chance and meet someone new. (You'll have to ask Sarah for all the details... it's a great story!)

We had a blast on your shoot, and we hope you love the photos!

Congratulations to both of you.

A Senior Story... Bre

Recently, KKP has been getting into shooting some senior portraits, and I wanted to share a few photos from Bre's session. I remember when I first had my own senior portraits taken down in Columbus. It was fun, but I only received 10 or so finished photos, and I thought... that's it? I will admit that digital was still in its infancy, so I imagine that you get more now (at least I hope so!)

I wanted to shoot this session much like how I work with our wedding clients. Tell a story, and get to know them! Bre is the younger sister of Amber, who is a student of mine. Last Spring, KKP donated photography services to a charity auction at Ashland University. It just so happened that Amber's parents bid on our photography for their daughter Bre. So, it worked out great!

Bre was a pleasure to work with. Natural smile, great taste in outfits, and she was very energetic. Bre is an accomplished soccer player for her high school, and I think that energy definitely carried over into the shoot.

Here are some of my favs... Enjoy!

Nina + Joe - A Beautiful September Wedding

I first met Nina and Joe after booking with Joe's sister, Dolly, who's wedding was earlier this year. It's such a cool experience to be able to shoot photography for two members of the same family. When you walk in on wedding day, everyone knows who you are, the relationships have been established. Just a great feeling overall.

Nina and Joe are an amazing couple. They are so loving in everything they do, that being photographed seems to be second nature to them. We started out the day in Rocky River at the Color Nation salon. This place is really well decorated with lots of bright vibrant colors and open atmosphere. I was able to grab some great window light portraits as well as some macro detail shots of Nina's ring. When I was shooting her ring, I was checking my display on the back of the camera and I remember thinking, "I don't think I'm going to need to crop into this at all. Wow." (Well done Joe) :)

From the salon, we moved back to Nina's house for make up and prep. It was really fun to photograph the girls getting ready and the family members coming in to congratulate Nina on her big day. After a few hours at the house, we moved to the church, which was St. Marion Catholic in downtown Cleveland. If you haven't been to this church before, it's definitely worth a look. Beautiful ceilings, altar, and ambiance.

We just so happened to be in downtown Cleveland on the day of the airshow, so many of the roads were closed and the traffic was nuts, however, it also meant that many of the parks and locations we wanted to visit were pretty much empty. Thus, we were able to grab some fantastic pictures downtown and avoid the big crowds.

At the end of the night, we wound up at Ahren's Banquet Center for a wonderful middle-eastern reception. The bride and groom were lifted up in the air, the band kept the dance floor packed... it was just a great night for Nina and Joe.

I really enjoyed working with the Assaad and Lahoud families, and I can't wait to show the photos of their beautiful day. Congrats Nina and Joe!

-Steve

Love, Sun, and Ice Cream

Brittany and Brian, one of my favorite engagement sessions this summer, got a chance to come up to the lake with me a few weeks ago. It was nice to get out from edit mode and out on some new shoots! When I first met with them, we were tossing around ideas about where to go, and we settled on going up to Marblehead and Lakeside, Ohio to have some fun in the sun.

One of my favorite things to to do with clients is to just capture them on a date, and what better thing to do on a date than grab some ice cream. (Always makes my day better) :)

We ran around for the afternoon and had a lot of fun taking in the sights and making some beautiful photos. There was an epic sunset to work with and a nice steady wind which kicked up the waves. Perfect weather. I think Brittany and Brian had an awesome time and I know that their upcoming wedding will be amazing. Enjoy some of my favorite photos!

-Steve
 

Emily + Aaron + 1

I am always honored to produce maternity photos for my clients. I especially love it when a good friend asks me to shoot for them. Emily and Aaron are a fantastic couple and they will be welcoming a new addition to the family in the next week or so! Everything was so relaxed during our session that the beautiful photos just came naturally. These two will certainly be amazing parents and I can't wait to greet the new arrival! Congratulations Emily and Aaron! :)

-Steve

The Gorgeous Wedding of Dolly and Matt

This wedding blew me away. From the salon, to the church, to the reception... everything was amazing. When I first meet with a client, I try to help them understand that great photography can happen if you do two basic things. Number one: Let there be light! Number two: Give yourself time. Dolly and Matt did a wonderful job of both. All the locations had great light, and we had plenty of time to be creative and really get some wonderful shots.

We started the day at PJ's Salon in Fairview Park. This place was so much fun. Lots to shoot, huge windows, and just a great atmosphere to keep things chill while the girls were getting ready. From there, we moved to Dolly and Matt's home. I always encourage clients to get ready in front of a window, which can seem a bit weird to some... "You want me to get ready literally in front of the window?" It's an odd request, but it yields such beautiful photos. After getting Dolly and the girls into their dresses, we headed to the church.

The church was Our Lady of Angels in Cleveland. All I can say is wow. The ceilings in this place are so ornate and the space is so large you would think that the royals were getting married here. Fantastic choice and a really nice ceremony. After shooting some formals in the church, we hopped in the cars and followed the limo over to a local park. Now, this was one of those days where the temperature was already hitting the high 90's, but the humidity made it feel like 110. It was blistering hot. The best thing you can do in this situation is have all the guys leave their jackets in the limo, and move fast. We used the shade as much as we could to our advantage and actually stayed outside for quite awhile. After the park, we were on to the reception.

We pulled up to Ridge Manor over in Brooklyn, Ohio and when we walked into the main hall, I was amazed at what I saw. The D.J. company, Rock the House did a transformation of the space that really made things look first class. I remember pulling up to the reception hall and thinking... oh great, there are no windows, but Dolly and Matt picked a company that went all out. The uplighting around the room, the spotlights on the cake, and the monogram on the dance floor brought the space together and made things look spectacular. The evening was so much fun to photograph. The music kept everyone on the dance floor until the end of the reception, not an easy task for any D.J.

A beautiful day all around and I couldn't be happier for Dolly and Matt. Congratulations you two!

-Steve