{ 2011 - Super Busy Year! }

It has been a super busy year for Gardner Photography & Design!  We have photographed weddings all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky - including The Phoenix, Alms Park, Niederman Family Farm, The Syndicate, 20th Century, Aston Oaks, VOA Park, Celebrations Cruise Line, Receptions Erlanger, Savannah Center and more!

Look for our Best of 2011 coming soon.  Will be super tough to narrow it down, but I'll try!

Find us on Facebook!  We are hoping to break 250 fans by the end of January 2012.  Will you help us??

{ Meagan + Nick } Oct. 2011 Wedding

Beautiful fall day at Niederman Family Farm - perfect for a wedding! Check out Meagan + Nick's wedding montage. One of my favorite songs ever! They had so many unique, cool details for their farm/barn wedding in Ohio. Enjoy!

{ Trena + Kevin } Oct. 2011 Wedding

Another gorgeous fall wedding from Cincinnati Wedding Photographers, Gardner Photography & Design! Ceremony and reception were held at Aston Oaks in North Bend, Ohio. What a great place for a fall wedding! The country club motif was leaves - they are on the walls, stamped in the cement, used in furniture. I love leaves, so I noticed them right away!

Kevin and Trena saw each other before their ceremony - which meant LOTS of time for photos around the golf course with the wedding party. We took out several carts and had a blast. And got some gorgeous photos with the beautiful fall colors.

Enjoy their wedding montage!

eSession Ideas { Devou Park }

So far, we've looked at Ault Park, Glenwood Gardens and Cincinnati Music Hall.  It's times to cross the river and check out a great park in Kentucky....and another free location to do engagement (and wedding) photos in Cincinnati.

DEVOU PARK

Located in the hills overlooking Covington, Kentucky, Devou Park offers a range of entertainment and recreational activities including theater, symphony, nature trails, golf, tennis, picnic facilities, fishing, Behringer-Crawford Museum and the newly constructed Drees Pavilion.  When most people say they are doing photos at Devou Park - they mean Drees Pavilion, with its breathtaking view of downtown Cincinnati (one of the best in the city).

 

Beyond the amazing view, is there anything else....?  Yes - there's some nice grassy areas with large trees and shade.  There are some benches and flowers - and more flowers in front of the building.  There is also a little gazebo - which works well on very sunny days.

 

Devou Park can be like Ault Park - a very busy place on a Saturday during wedding season!  You may have to wait to do photos in certain spots, since other wedding parties will be there.  You may also get asked to leave the gazebo area - the bride who has Drees Pavilion booked for her event obviously takes priority.  Hopefully, HER photographer is nice about asking you to leave, so they can do photos (not always the case).

=====

Looking for the best Cincinnati wedding photographer?  Contact Gardner Photography & Design today to get a custom package quote.  Ask about our "Try Before You Buy" engagement sessions.

Video Montage { Diana & Jay }

Diana and Jay had their wedding at one of my favorite venues - the beautiful Oscar Event Center in Fairfield, OH!  This gorgeous venue is located at one of my favorite grocery stores - Jungle Jim's!

When I first spoke to Diana, she told me about the Oscar Center.  Before we even booked her, I drove up and did a site visit (and a little shopping at JJ's).  We got lucky and the Oscar was open.  So, we went in, looked around and fell in love!

There are so many very cool details at this place - from the large chandelier that looks like a bunch of grapes to the wall sconces that are bottles of wine/Champagne.  Even the bathrooms have multiple photo opportunities.

We started with photos at Diana's salon in Fairfield and then returned to her house, so everyone could get dressed - and I could do make-up!  Then, the limo arrived, and we headed for Sharon Woods.  The ceremony was held at the Sharonville United Methodist Church with the reception at the fabulous Oscar Event Center.

Enjoy!



=====

Are you planning your reception at the Oscar Event Center at Jungle Jim's?  We would love to talk to you!  It's a fabulous venue with so many opportunities for great photos - and we'd love to be the photographers taking those photos.  Contact us today, and let us craft a custom package perfect for you.

Gardner Photography & Design Won a 2011 Bride's Choice Award!

We're excited to announce that Gardner Photography & Design has won a WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award for 2011.  It's our second year in a row, so we hope to continue the trend in years to come!

We couldn't have done this without all of our fabulous 2010 Brides and Grooms.  Thanks to your awesome reviews, we earned this award!  THANK YOU!  We love you guys.

We look forward to all of our 2011 weddings - and hope we'll be sharing this exciting news again in another year.  We definitely plan to work hard and earn this honor again.

 

 

WeddingWire Announces Bride's Choice Awards™ 2011

BETHESDA, MD - January 25, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce the 2011 winners of its prestigious annual Bride's Choice Awards™. With more than 200,000 wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community throughout the US and Canada, the 2011 award recipients represent the top five percent in quality and service excellence within the wedding industry.

Recognition for the Bride's Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Awards are distributed to winning wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and are based on the overall professional achievements throughout the previous year.

"WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of our top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community," said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. "Over the past three years, the Bride's Choice Awards™ program has afforded WeddingWire, and the bridal community, the opportunity to recognize those professionals for their unparalleled service and commitment to the wedding industry. We applaud the 2011 winners for their professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience for couples throughout the prior year."

The Bride's Choice Awards™ 2011 winners will be notified via email on January 25, 2011. Recipients will be given the Bride's Choice Awards™ 2011 badge, along with access to additional marketing tools to showcase the award. A complete list of the winners will be available on the WeddingWire homepage in early February.

For more information on the Bride's Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.

WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

eSession Ideas { Glenwood Gardens }

Looking for great places to do your engagement photos in Cincinnati?  This is my second post in a long series - based on places I've been to or done other photo sessions.

My first post was about one of my favorite places for any type of photos - Ault Park.  But we have so many great options, and another one is Glenwood Gardens. 

GLENWOOD GARDENS PARK

Glenwood Gardens Park is located on Springfield Pike off I-75 (in Woodlawn near Glendale-Milford Road).  It is 335 acres and occupies land that was once the Burchenal family cattle and produce farm.  It includes a small wetland complex with fountain and rocks, gatehouse entrance, rock structures, beautiful plants and a gorgeous gazebo with painted foliage ceiling.

 

I did a mini eSession there in 2010.  I was actually scouting out locations to do pre-wedding photos and wanted to show the park to the bride and groom.  My couple, Brandon and Cindy, were having their wedding ceremony and reception at the Receptions location in Fairfield on Boymel Drive.  Since everything was indoors and at one location, we wanted to find an outdoor option for them.  We got so lucky with Glendale Gardens!

I told the groom that this photo looked like an ad for Men's Warehouse!  These large rocks are absolutely PERFECT for posing the men.

 

The bride, Cynthia, is actually standing on part of the fountain.  We did group shots with the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen in this area.  But it would be a great spot to do photos in an eSession, too!

 

One of the large, sweeping views - if you look over the wall and into the distance.  Great place to do some dramatic photos - or even some fun ones.

I consider Glenwood Gardens one of the free places to do engagement photos - however, it does require a parking pass.  An annual Hamilton County Park Motor Vehicle Permit (MVP) is only $10; daily is $3.00.  It's well worth it, since it gets you into any Hamilton County Park, and you get some coupons included.  More information >>

In summary, Glenwood Gardens is a great option for engagement photos in Cincinnati or pre-wedding photos, especially if your reception is at Receptions in Fairfield or another nearby venue.  Check it out!

=====

Looking for the best Cincinnati wedding photographer?  Contact Gardner Photography & Design today to get a custom package quote.  Ask about our "Try Before You Buy" engagement sessions.

Bridal Session { Diana O } - The Movie

Okay, so it isn't really a major motion picture or anything....just an awesome video montage!  I am loving my new Photodex styles - and creating some custom ones of my own.  Making video montages is becoming one of my favorite things!!

With my next eSession, I hope to capture some actual video snippets of the couple.  My Canon 5D Mark II and 7D both have video capabilities, but I'm so busy taking photos that I rarely pause to capture video.  I am hoping to have one camera (the 7D) doing some video work while I snap away with the 5D - and then merge the stills and video into a future montage.

Anyway, I digress!  As I said in my last post, we did Diana's bridal session at the Loveland Castle.  It's was perfect all around - beautiful bride, beautiful location, beautiful spring day!  Who could ask for more?

Check out Diana's bridal montage...




======

Are you a Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky bride looking for a fabulous wedding photographer?  We hope you will consider Gardner Photography for your 2011, 2012 and beyond wedding!  We can customize any package - and offer engagement, bridal and other sessions.  Just ask about our "Try Before You Buy" engagement session today.

Bridal Session { Diana O }

One of my favorite places to shoot is Loveland Castle - look for my write-up coming soon!  I was fortunate enough to do a bridal shoot there with Diana O in April 2009.  Her wedding was in May 2009, and she wanted to do bridal photos beforehand.  I was also doing her make-up, so it was a great opportunity to try make-up and hair (which I didn't do) and take some photos!

Diana got her hair done first and then met me at my house with her dress and veil.  I did her make-up, and then she got dressed.  I had actually done her and her bridesmaid's make-up a few weeks prior to that, so we had already done our "dry run."  I got Diana started on a skin care regime at that time, and her skin was just glowing by the bridal shoot!

So, why was her photographer doing her make-up, you ask???  In college, I worked for Clinique and did make-overs all the time.  I was the top producer in Ohio at one point - at 19 years of age.  Not bad!  I learned a lot about make-up and skin care during that time.  I told Diana about my background and offered to do her make-up.  Heck, I was there, so why not?

We got Diana all ready, carefully eased her into my SUV and headed for the Loveland Castle.  It was a beautiful day - although, a little windy.  There are some hysterical photos of Diana's veil being blown straight up! 

When we arrived, the awesome guys at the Loveland Castle were there to welcome us.  They really took care of us while we were there doing photos and even let us do some photos with their motorcycles and swords!

 

This bridal shoot was a fabulous time, and we got some many great photos!  I would highly recommend the Loveland Castle for engagement or bridal shoots - look for more information coming about the experience, their pricing, the castle, etc.

=======

Are you a 2011 or 2012 bride looking to have photos done?  Please contact Gardner Photography & Design.  We would love to talk about your upcoming wedding and schedule a session at the Loveland Castle or another great location in the Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky area!

Not All Weddings are on a Saturday

Here it is.  A Friday.  A great day for a wedding, right?  Sure!  Definitely!  ANY day is a great day for a wedding in Cincinnati, Ohio - or anywhere else.

I had my own wedding on a Friday night at the Krippendorf Lodge in Cincinnati, Ohio.  We picked a Friday in October to get married.  Actually, we got married on my birthday - so, my lucky husband only has ONE day to remember.

There are some big pluses to a wedding that isn't on a Saturday - first off, many wedding vendors offer discounts for Friday night weddings.  Or Monday weddings.  Or Thursday weddings.  Saturday is clearly the most popular day to have your wedding, so you can usually expect some sort of discount for any other day.

Another plus - many vendors unavailable on a Saturday are available the night before.  Or the day after.  This is great news if you have your heart set on a venue, photographer, DJ or other vendor who can only book one event per night/day.  (Not so much an issue with florists, bakers, etc.)

With my own wedding, we had many friends and family members coming from out of town.  So, we had the wedding on Friday night and then a small party at our house the next day for everyone who had traveled to be there.  Sadly, you don't usually get much time to talk to guests at your wedding.  This way, we had the entire day and night to spend with everyone.

In 2011, Gardner Photography has a first - a Monday wedding!  The date is incredibly significant to the couple, and it just happens to be on a Monday this year.  I love their story and what they have planned!  We'll be doing photos at Spring Grove Cemetery with the ceremony and reception at 20th Century Theater.  We love this venue and this couple - so, we're super excited about their April wedding! 

I think non-Saturday weddings often have a story behind them, too - which is the case for this couple and was the case for my own wedding.  As I mentioned, I got married on my birthday.  It was also the same date our house plans were drafted.  In the case of my April Bride and Groom - the wedding is the same date as their first date and engagement.  Clearly, this is a good day for them!  (And ironically, it's one of my best friend's birthdays, so one more reason to love this day.)

Did you recently get engaged and are planning a 2011 or 2012 wedding in the Cincinnati area?  We'd love to talk to you!  And we DO offer special discounts for weddings being held on days other than Saturday.  If you're planning your Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana wedding on a day other than Saturday, then be sure to ask about our special discounts!

Many 2011 dates are already booked, so please contact Gardner Photography today - we'd love to customize a package for you and hear more about your special day (whether it's Saturday, Friday, Sunday, Monday....any day)! 

We love weddings - any day of the week! 

Another eSession at Ault Park - We Had Fun!

This eSession was done during August 2010.  So, it was HOT!  But that didn't stop me, Mairi and Joshua from having a lot of fun during their engagement session.  Can't wait for their July 2011 wedding at the Savannah Center!

As you can see, an eSession at Ault Park is perfect almost any time of the year.  Next week, I'll talk about photos at Glenwood Gardens.  An almost free option.  Look for my Cincinnati Music Hall review and photos coming soon!

In the meantime, enjoy a little slice of summer.....

Before & After - When Photoshop Saves the Day

I wish every photo that came off my memory card was perfect, every time....but that doesn't always happen.  Heck, that never happens!  There are many factors that go into creating a photo, so anything can go wrong.  That's when Adobe Photoshop can sometimes save the day.

I had a wedding about a year ago and was asked to work some Photoshop magic.  A very specific image of the Bride and Groom didn't exist, so the Bride asked me if I could "create" this image.

It was a tough challenge, but I was up for it!  It would mean finding an image that was close and then removing people and recreating a background.  With something like trees or sky, it can be relatively easy to clone the background.

Not with this photo.

It had a lot of details that were in focus - the slats in the porch, the windows next to the front door, the vase of flowers....luckily, I did find two choices, and the couple looked great in both!

You can see the amazing "before" and "after" here....

This was a very rare and extreme case - but it shows that Gardner Photography & Design has the ability to work their "magic" behind the lens AND on the computer.

eSession at Ault Park

Yesterday, I mentioned that one of my favorite places to do engagement sessions is Ault Park.  And for good reason!  I did an eSession at Ault Park last Spring - everything was in bloom, and the park was simply gorgeous.

Check out Mindy and Danny's 2010 eSession at Ault park...



I'm also trying out some of my new montage effects.  I just added a new collection and have started doing more custom effects.  I love how this montage turned out.

=====

Did you recently get engaged and are planning a 2011 or 2012 wedding in the Cincinnati area?  We'd love to talk to you!  Ask about our engagement sessions - and get your own video montage!  Many 2011 dates are already booked, so please contact Gardner Photography today - we'd love to customize a package for you and hear more about your special day!

eSession Ideas { Kick-off and Ault Park }

Where should you do your engagement session in Cincinnati? As a Cincinnati wedding photographer, I get asked this question by many of my brides and grooms. Luckily, there are numerous awesome options available to you! I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite places and any costs associated with them and will post them over the next coming weeks - so keep checking back!

Let's start with FREE options.  Free is always good, right? And some of the best locations to do engagement photos in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky are free – but also outdoors. That’s great in June or October but may be an issue if you want an engagement session in January. Of course, a little snow can make for a fun eSession!  And some outdoor locations are always gorgeous.

I'm kicking off this series of posts with one of my absolute favorite free places to do an eSession (or any type of photos for that matter!).....

AULT PARK

Cincinnati is known as a city of parks, and Ault is its fourth largest at nearly 224 acres. Top attractions include the pavilion, lookout point and formal gardens. There's an outstanding collection of roses and a grove of trees chosen specifically for their ability to grow in the Cincinnati area.

 

I have shot weddings, eSessions, portraits, stock photography, families, senior sessions - you name it.  And every time, we get fabulous photos!

What's so great about Ault Park?  Besides being free, it's just beautiful almost all year long.  You have the paths, the foliage, the pavilion, lookout point, the fountain and more.  Sunsets on top of the pavilion at Ault Park can be spectacular.  Photos in front of the waterfall fountain when the lights are on are also beautiful.

 

Okay, I know - those are wedding photos.  It's because Ault Park is such a great place to have your wedding or do photos before/after the ceremony.  There's good reason why you'll see multiple limos in the park on any given Saturday during wedding season.

 

The best time of year to do photos at Ault Park is....all year.  Okay, seriously - it's probably in the Spring.  There's a few weeks when the park explodes with flowers, and the new blossoms are on every tree.  It doesn't last long, but it's beyond beautiful - everywhere you go.

Summer and Fall are also great times to do photos - the park offers so much each season.

So, if you're looking for a great, free place to do engagement photos in Cincinnati, then consider Ault Park!  Or if you're looking for a beautiful place for your wedding or wedding photos.  It's a popular spot for photos for good reason!

Next post - more free parks.  And a paid indoor option at Cincinnati Music Hall.  I'll be doing an eSession there on January 21, 2011, so look for photos and my review to follow!

=====

Looking for the best Cincinnati wedding photographer?  Contact Gardner Photography & Design today to get a custom package quote.  Ask about our "Try Before You Buy" engagement sessions.

Album { Kim & Matt } September 2010, Part Deux

In addition to several mini accordion albums, Kim and Matt got our Flush Mount Panoramic album as part of their package.  This is a GORGEOUS album with thick photographic pages.  It's a true flush mount, so the photos extend across the entire page without any seam to break them up.  Although we offer several album and book options, this is our most premium album.

I haven't made a slide show of the album before, but I thought I'd give it a try.  I didn't do all the fancy transitions - just some nice fades and a little music.  Enjoy!

Video Montage { Beth & Dan } July 2009

Fourth of July wedding in Cincinnati, OH! Everything was held at their church, Northminster Presbyterian on Compton Road. We loved doing photographs with Dan's motorcycle in front of the church - he had to quickly get it home before it rained, though!

We finished up the day with sparklers in front of the church - then headed off to our own Fourth of July celebration. It was a great day - with a super fun couple!

Album { Kim & Matt } September 2010, Part I

Kim and Matt had a beautiful wedding at 20th Century in Oakley (Cincinnati, OH). After the ceremony, we went to Ault Park for some gorgeous sunset shots. It was a fabulous event - and a great couple!

We delivered the album and some mini accordion albums to Kim before the holidays. She used the minis as Christmas gifts - they make excellent stocking stuffers! We did two different designs - one with more images from her family, and the other featured Matt's family.

Kim's Family Album:

Matt's Family Album:

Find Us on Facebook!

Looking for us on Facebook?  We'd love to add you to our family!  Check out Gardner Photography on Facebook - stop in, look around.  We add new photos and information all the time.  Hope to see you there!

Happy New Year!

Gardner Photography & Design wishes everyone a safe and Happy New Year!