artistic wedding photojournalism

Jon & Heather | Rancho Palos Verdes Wedding

Heather and Jon were married in sunny southern California on a gorgeous summer day last August. This was a very special wedding to me(Nelli) because it was my younger cousins wedding! It was a time that all my family would be coming together. I always get a new prespective whenever I get to photograph a family wedding. Being with family the week before, anticipating the wedding and having our children as part of the wedding is so special. It shows me how to relate with the couples that we photograph and to value those special moments of family being together. Our daughter Alicia was my second shooter, which made it super fun:) It was also a special day because my parents were there, and it was their 40th wedding anniversary!!

Heather and Jon are both very talented musicians and actually met from being cast in the same musical production! The wedding was a very special day for both of them to bring together their families. They knew they wanted a beach themed wedding, so they chose the location, Point Vincente Interpretive Center in Palos Verdes that overlooked the Pacific Ocean. The day couldn’t have been more beautiful with all the handmade decorations, perfect weather, awesome music and loving family. Heather and Jon put together a band of very talented musicians and even surprised everyone with a guest appearance of both of them singing to wrap up the night! Everyone who attended was totally blown away by their musical talents and also the love they share.

Congrats Heather and Jon!

Please click on any individual photo to see a full size gallery slideshow. Also be sure to check out Jon and Heathers full photo gallery here: Jon & Heather

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Theresa & Miguel | Married

Miguel and Theresa are both living in New York City these days, but celebrated their wedding at a few of my favorite downtown Cleveland locations: St. John’s and the Old Courthouse. We started the day off at the Hyatt Arcade, where both Miguel and Theresa were getting ready. I could tell as soon as I met all the groomsmen, family and bridal party that this was going to be a fun day. You could see right away how happy everyone was for these two. Nelli and I both really appreciated Theresa and Miguel’s style. From the planning packet they sent out, to the decorations, to their avatar logo – it was all super stylish. You could tell that they were artists that used their wedding to express their style, and I love that. Here’s one of my favorites…

Thank you so much Miguel and Theresa. It’s was great to be able to spend this day with you. It was great meeting all of the family and guests. Congrats to you both! We’re looking forward to hearing about the honeymoon.

Jessica + Matthew | 1 YEAR!

Jessica + Matthew | 1 YEAR! Jessica and Matthew’s wedding a year ago was one of my favorite weddings. I remember editing the images was a difficult task because they were all looking good. They are really good subjects to photograph – naturals. I consider making people feel comfortable one of my strongest points and love using my camera to show the joy and beauty of people. These two make photography really easy. I like shooting weddings and engagements, but Anniversary sessions have to be my favorite of all. Isn’t it great to see a couple who is even more in love the next year? Marriage is a journey with an lot of ups and downs. Anyone who’s been married for very long will tell you that it’s not always easy, but love grows deeper through every trial and every tough decision. We have a tradition where couples hire people like me to help capture the celebration of marriage (falling in love) – the initial commitment. I think it would be great if couples utilized photography as a way of celebrating staying in love. That’s what Matthew and Jessica did. I hope you enjoy the images for Jessica + Matthew | 1 YEAR!…

Congrats on year 1 Jessica and Matthew. We had a great time with you and look forward to seeing you soon.

Jason + Alison | Married

Through the years of capturing the memories of couples in love, I’m fairly certain that I have never seen a couple more excited to get married than Jason and Alison. They had a short engagement, but made the most of that time by planning one of the most beautiful weddings I’ve ever had the privilege to attend and document. The first time I sat down with these two I felt like I could talk with them for hours. They felt like friends almost immediately. We knew the flowers were going to be amazing. Once again, Peter Bouterse Studio made some exceptional arrangements from the orchids. The ceremony and reception were both held at the Intercontinental. The rooms looked elegant and classy. The highlight was witnessing Jason and Alison’s love for one another. I’m sure for everyone who witnessed Jason and Alison’s wedding day, it was a healthy dose of joy and inspiration….and orchids:) We are so thankful we could be a part of it. Here’s one of my favorites of the day pictures for Jason + Alison | Married.

Jason + Alison | Married so Congrats Jason and Alison! We wish you a blessed life together and look forward to seeing you again soon.

Kyle + Allison | Married

Kyle + Allison | Married. Kyle and Allison had their wedding ceremony at the beautiful St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Cleveland and their reception at the Union Club. For a mid-November wedding, I think we were all pleasantly astonished by a perfect day. Though they had previously reserved a few spots to do indoor photos, we stayed outside the whole time and enjoyed one of the last warm days of the year. The week leading up to the event was difficult for Allison and Kyle. They lost power for several days following the storm and fought through some sickness, but they both agreed that the beauty of their wedding day made all the trials worth it. Here’s a look at one of my favorites from the day…Here is Kyle + Allison | Married photos.

I hope you enjoyed the photos as much as I enjoyed working on them. Thank you Allison and Kyle for choosing us to capture these moments. I’m excited to show you the rest.