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.....

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!

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:

Video Montage { Amanda & Chris } May 2009

This video montage is from Amanda and Chris's May 2009 wedding at beautiful Ault Park. We started with photos in the gardens, but a pop-up shower caused us to make a mad dash for the pavilion. The couple originally planned to have the ceremony outside but had to move everything under the cover of the building and tents.

Luckily, the rain didn't last long and gave us the opportunity to take some very cool umbrella photos! Amanda and Chris were such great sports and took it all in stride. And were rewarded with a beautiful sunset.



I LOVE Ault Park - it's one of my favorite places to shoot, and I do photos there all the time. I would love to talk to you if you are planning your wedding at Ault Park - or any park, for that matter! We have several 2011 weddings scheduled at local parks, and my camera loves taking photos outdoors.

Also, all 2011 packages now include the video montage - let us know if you want to discuss your 2011 Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana or destination wedding. We'd love to hear from you!

Engagement Shoot at Ault Park : Mindy & Danny

Mindy and Danny's engagement shoot at Ault Park was an absolute blast!  We had so much fun and got some great photos.  Can't wait for their wedding in a few weeks!  Here are some of the highlights of their shoot:

Site Visit : Receptions Loveland, Lake Isabella

We have an upcoming wedding at the Loveland Receptions.  The ceremony and reception will both take place there, so the couple is considering pre-wedding photos at another location.  Yesterday, I called the Loveland Castle (aka Chateau Laroche) to see if they were available for photos.  It's less than four miles away - maybe a ten minute drive.  And photos at the Loveland Castle are always spectacular.

Another option is Lake Isabella.  One negative to the Loveland Castle - they charge $50/hour to do professional photos.  Lake Isabella is free - and closer.  We could practically walk there!  I'd probably be willing to split the cost for the Loveland Castle - just not sure if the timing will work out for us.

I've never been to Lake Isabella - just driven by it.  So, this will be a fun adventure as well as a valuable site visit.  I'm always on the lookout for new places to do photos - and it sounds like Lake Isabella could be a great option for future weddings in the Loveland area or at the Receptions in Loveland.

Tonight, I have an engagement shoot at Ault Park - boy, it's windy!  I hope it calms down between now and 5:00 - when I meet with the couple.  Can't wait to see how Ault Park looks with all the new blooms!