• studio3z photography {the blog}

    If you have landed here...bless your soul.  Welcome to our little tiny corner of the cyber world, based out of Cincinnati, Ohio. Below you will see favorites from our sessions we do professionally, and also loads of personal nonsense that we hope at least will entertain you.  If nothing less, you can keep up on our adorable children.  Really, they are worth the trip back here time and time again in and of itself.

    My name is Jess.  My hubby is Brett.  We are crazy about each other, our 4 babies, and our art.  Welcome to our world.

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Monthly Archives: November 2009

nicole {a studio3z senior}

Nicole is an adorable girl I had the pleasure of photographing for her High School Senior portraits.  She is bubbly, sweet,  and full of life.  Being an actress and singer she was extremely easy to photograph since she is used to being in the spotlight.  We met up at an outdoor amphitheater and she began by taking the stage.  I can’t imagine having the poise and confidence that she has when I was in High School! :)

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I love that she brought some of the pieces she is currently working on.

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My favorite color fall tree looked just perfect beside her.

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Nicole, you are stunning my dear.

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“Embrace the moss Nicole.” ;)  My favorite.

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Adorable, with a capitol “A.”

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We played around “my house” which is a home for sale that I have been drooling over for months.

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Girl can work it…

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Thanks Nicole for choosing us!  You were such a pleasure to work with.  I wish you all the best in your future, and all that you do. :)

P.S. I am announcing the winner on the post before in a moment.  I will add it to that post. :)

November 30, 2009 - 10:35 am

holly - nic is also a friend of mine! the recruiting last year worked! these are GREAT — wishing i’d had mine done in the fall.

November 30, 2009 - 11:18 am

jaz - WOW. beautiful shoot. fall = love. and that doorway is insane. i want shots there with the kids next time. where is it?

November 30, 2009 - 12:39 pm

Nicole - This session rocks my socks off – her outfits are fab!! and the photos are gorgeous! :)

November 30, 2009 - 12:57 pm

Christine - These are beautiful! I absolutely love the light. I wish I was confident like her when I was in high school! lol.

November 30, 2009 - 5:01 pm

Nicole! - I LOVE THEM they turned out sooo great! thank you so so much.

November 30, 2009 - 5:41 pm

Emily - I LOVE NIKI!!!! And of course her pictures look gorgeous!!! They’re very artsy and edgy…just like my bestie!

November 30, 2009 - 10:37 pm

Yvette - Nic..absolutely breathtaking. You are very photogenic. I expected nothing less. It would be hard to pick a favorite.

December 1, 2009 - 5:16 am

Eddette S - Fantastic colours and composition. Love it.

December 1, 2009 - 11:33 am

Gail - WOW – she is STUNNING! And OH so stylish! You and Bets have the most stylin’ senior girls! I wish I was dressing like that at 18. I still can’t pull it together that well and I’m going on 28! haha

December 1, 2009 - 12:54 pm

gina@kiwistreetstudios - just love this session! ***the one of her standing amongst the trees, *** in front of the door and ***in front of the stone wall…fabulous!!!!

December 2, 2009 - 10:02 am

Perel Alexander - Very beautiful girl, great photography work, like the shoot with a tree, amazing!!!

December 2, 2009 - 3:31 pm

lucy - wow, what an amazing senior shoot! she’s gorgeous and you rocked her look at every place, in every shot. seriously, love.

December 3, 2009 - 8:49 pm

Roberta (Missy) - Amazing! I liked my own senior pictures, I LOVE yours!!!

reasons for thanks.

I woke up this morning feeling groggy.  Brett was heading out to run the Thanksgiving day race downtown like he does every year.  He had kindly asked me to go make some coffee when the alarm went off.  I attempted to drag myself out of bed and walk down the stairs.  The kids were already up and screaming- fighting over what they wanted to do, and who was going to do what first.  I ignored it and kept walking towards the coffee pot.  Brett came down and began stretching in the kitchen.  It was silent so I asked, “So what should I post on the blog today for Thanksgiving?”  I heard nothing.  Switching my words up a bit…..”Any ideas of what I could post on the blog today? Maybe something fun?”  Eyes glazed over, I think I received the equivalent of a grunt.  He had “RACE” written on his face.  So, I moved on.  Pouring the water I was thinking, “I am so not in a thankful mood.”

Being an introspective person I typically use this day to remind myself of life’s blessings.  Not only the simple things in life like the air we breath, the legs we walk on, and the food we are blessed to share….but to think deeper.  To think about the journey we have been on, the trials we have been through, the experiences that were extremely hard- these core ingredients that came together to make us who we are today.  Standing at the coffee pot I said to myself, “I have a choice. I choose how I see and live my day.”  So my attitude changed.

Finding the joy in life is not easy to do, but it’s something I’ve been working on. The easiest way for me to be joyful is to begin the day going over my blessings.  Each day we have countless reasons to be thankful, if we just make the choice to open our eyes to look around.

So here is my list from A to Z of things I am thankful for:

A new day.

Brett by my side.

Coffee.

Dancing.

Eating dessert.

Freedom.

God’s grace.

Holding hands.

Intimate conversation.

Joy.

Keepsakes.

Laughing.

Music.

New beginnings.

Old friends.

Painting.

Quiet times.

Random reasons for red wine.

Sanity.

Taking photos.

Unconditional LOVE.

Vision.

Warmth.

Xavier. (for Brett)

Your face.

Zwolinskis :)

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*photo by the wonderful bobbi+mike*

What are you thankful for?  I would love to hear from you.  In fact, it would bring me joy.:)  Leave a comment below telling me what you are thankful for or how you feel blessed, and I will choose one entry to win this cute little letterpress sign.

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Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! :)

EDIT TO ADD WINNER!!! I had my kids pick a number between 1-20…then I took those 4 numbers and put them on paper.  Then I had Gabe choose one of the four.

Lauren J is the winner!  Lauren, I’ll be sending an email your way! :)

thanks for sharing your wonderful blessings!!  I completely enjoyed reading them.

November 26, 2009 - 1:39 pm

Erin - I am blessed by the little footprints I hear pitter patten around my house. I am blessed by the good lord putting me on this earth and giving me an amazing life. I am thankful for it all!

November 26, 2009 - 3:16 pm

michelle - I am thankful for the peace in my heart. I haven’t always felt it and I am so glad I do now!

November 26, 2009 - 4:47 pm

Julianna Collett - I’m thankful for 4 kids in my house and a camera in my hand!

November 26, 2009 - 8:50 pm

Lori - I am thankful for having had a father that taught me what grace, kindness, and love are.

November 26, 2009 - 10:09 pm

Kel Lee - I am so thankful for my wonderful friends, my wonderful family and such beautiful memories of 2009. I will be sad to seeit end soon but will always have beautiful memories!

November 26, 2009 - 10:14 pm

Marissa - I am thankful for a year that made me question who I was to the very core, and because of my family … I’ve come out on the other side with nothing but courage to face it head on. :)

November 26, 2009 - 10:54 pm

Kellyrosenhagen@gmai - I am thankful for finally finding the courage to dive into photography, for a supportive husband to encourage me, for amazingly beautiful kids who help model for me :) , for great friends who help spread the word and help find business for me, and for my awesome clients who trust me and have so far (knock on wood) loved the results. It’s been a pretty damn good year :)

November 26, 2009 - 11:36 pm

meg duerksen - i know exactly what you mean about your morning…i was like “do we REALLY have to this whole thanksgiving thing?!” but of course it was wonderful.
i love your site. and your list is so cute!
i am thankful for……my husband. he is my very best friend….forever. :)

and that letterpress is precious!

November 27, 2009 - 6:46 am

Konul - In as much as God showered me with countless blessings, almost every night before I close my eyes I think of these three things I am thankful for: The Bible, my family and that I live in the United States.

November 27, 2009 - 8:01 am

Lisa K - I am thankful for my morning sickness, because it is a constant reminder of how much God has blessed my husband & myself!!!

November 27, 2009 - 10:07 am

betsy - I’m reading this a day late as I was up to my armpits in house guests yesterday. I really needed this post today. Thank you sweet soul sista!!!

I’m thankful you are in my life, i only wish it were in REAL life!! ; )

November 27, 2009 - 10:37 am

Lauren J - I am thankful for your blog, haha (I’m ohh so cliche) I am thankful for my relationship with the Lord. And, of course, my wonderful family. (:

November 27, 2009 - 12:22 pm

Juan Rubalcava - I’m thankful for the gift of eternal life in Jesus, and blessed to teach my childrens the Only Way to reach it…

November 27, 2009 - 5:58 pm

melanie - i am thankful for my growing family (and belly). :)

November 27, 2009 - 11:11 pm

Nichole - awww, what a beautiful post, I love the idea of the ABC’s of Thankfulness–I may have to steal this idea!
I am thankful for good food, good health, a great family and great friends, a wonderful husband, three beautiful, energetic, hysterical little boys, and an even better GOD, He is awesome…life is good!

November 28, 2009 - 6:21 pm

Maggie - I am thankful for belly laughs, hug attacks, little eskimo kisses, the perfect fitting jeans, prayer and the feeling you get when you’ve just helped someone. Happy (late) Thanksgiving! I hope yours was superb =)

November 28, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Ashie - you.

November 29, 2009 - 9:17 am

bobbi - perfection.

November 29, 2009 - 8:05 pm

Mamaw Patty - I’m thankful to have had one more year with Ray.

November 29, 2009 - 8:11 pm

Michelle Davies - I am thankful for being able to be creative and make a living at it! My childhood dreams came true this year.

December 1, 2009 - 8:05 pm

Lorenzo - simply … Christ.

eveline mae {before + after}

I have had the same group of girlfriends for what seems like forever.  We all went to a very small elementary/high school, and we formed relationships that resemble “sisters” more than just “friends.”  Most of us met at different stages along the way, but the group of us have been tight ever since.

Nearly 11 years ago, I was young. :)  Tracy and I were in the same prego boat.  We had no clue what we were doing, but we managed to bring a little boy and a little girl into this world just 5 months apart.  We were kind of pioneers in this new world of motherhood amongst our friends, but we had a lot of fun together trying to figure things out.  We spent many days hanging out together with our little ones, and together watched them grow.  She also watched as I had another, and another, and another….she took her time a bit more. :)  When my girlfriends found out that Tracy and her hubby Jason were expecting their second baby, 10 yrs. after their first, WE WERE THRILLED!

A couple weekends ago I hosted a baby shower for her.  Tracy’s sister was due just a couple weeks before her and it was great seeing two beautiful pregnant ladies. :)  We had a fall theme, and Brett made some fantastic squash soup.  One of my favorite things we did was each decorate “onesies” for the baby.

Tracy wanted to be surprised on the sex of the baby, which I think is rad and is what we did on all 4.  I’ll tell you, it’s the best surprise in the world!!!

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Here were our little shirts when we were done.  Can you guess mine?

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I had to snap a few of the beautiful belly. :)

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Minus a couple of “the girls,” here we are.

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And then….SHE arrived one week after the shower!!!  Eveline Mae graced us all with her presence in this world a little earlier than expected.

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Dark hair, and a tiny little body.

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Mama and her girl…I have to say how odd it is saying that, since Nate has been their only child for 10 years.  But what a wonderful blessing.

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The whole family.  They are all just smitten by her. :)

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Nate is going to be an amazing big brother!  He is very sweet with her.

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She is so precious….my ovaries were starting to hurt. (just kidding mom!)

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Ok, no I’m not.

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LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this family photo.  This is so precious to me.

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Jason, you are such a good Daddy.

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*OH MY GOODNESS*

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This one just melts me.  I hope Eveline can always look at this, and know how incredibly LOVED she is by her family.

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Tracy, Jason and Nate…God has blessed you, and I am so overjoyed!!  The day she arrived I was on such a “joy high.”  (My sister got engaged that day as well!)

I can’t wait to watch her grow, and watch the kiddies play together.  I love you guys!!  And I love little Evie! :)

~jess

November 23, 2009 - 3:23 pm

Barb - So beautiful and so intimate!

November 23, 2009 - 4:06 pm

Jen Hauer - OH MY GOSH! Jess- these are beautiful!!! Apsolutely Stunning.

November 23, 2009 - 4:37 pm

Jessica Gast - I can’t wait to meet her! She’s beautiful! Congrats Tracy and Jason!

November 23, 2009 - 8:36 pm

Adrienne - i’m gonna guess you made one of the moon ones!?

November 23, 2009 - 10:52 pm

lucy - she is so beautiful…just like her mama. love.

November 24, 2009 - 2:36 am

kelly beane - love the fall shower decor and stunning images!!

November 24, 2009 - 8:59 am

Julie Massie - These are absolutely gorgeous! I came across your blog a couple of months ago when starting my photography business and I always love checking in and seeing your latest work. You take beautiful photos, and your heart seems just as lovely. God bless!

November 24, 2009 - 10:43 am

Hannah Gebhard - Wow absolutely gorgeous she is so cute I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE NEW BABIES AT CHRISTMAS TIME :)

November 24, 2009 - 11:44 am

Lisa Boland - The richness and beauty of these photos is outstanding.
Evie is gorgeous! The natural light captures every detail of her amazing baby-ness. I especially love the one of Evie and Nate looking at each other on the blanket.
Congratulations Hauers, on the expansion of your blessed family.

November 24, 2009 - 10:14 pm

holly - so adorable. time for another one! ;)

November 26, 2009 - 11:18 am

jess w - She’s perfect. So beautiful with all that dark hair. I can’t wait to hold her! So happy for you guys!!

November 29, 2009 - 2:39 pm

Maya Laurent - Love the decorated onesies. And what beautiful photos to capture her birth.

August 3, 2011 - 6:00 pm

patty - (i’m joining the party a little late! can’t imagine how beautiful she is by now!!) what beautiful shots… beautiful family, and that last shot… oh my.

December 10, 2010 - 10:20 am

happy birthday, evie mae {one year} | studio3z photography :: Cincinnati Wedding Photographers :: Destination Wedding Photographers - [...] a little over a year ago, this sweetie pie girl was born to one of my dearest friends, Tracy. Evie is such a fun, outgoing, [...]

pint sized sailor talking paint slinger.

If you follow me on Twitter then you know I was going through a paint color dilemma for our new office last week.  After many paint samples plastered on the walls from orange, to army green, I settled on grey.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about the sample I painted, but I decided to just go for it.  I’m not completely done yet because finding the time to finish (even a small room) is crazy hard.  So my little guy offered to help….

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He grabbed my paint brush and went to town.

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It was really heavy for him, so he dropped it every few seconds.  We also found out during this time what our curse word of choice is….since every time he dropped the brush, he said it over and over again.  **Note to new parents: You may not realize it, but babies pick up on EVERYTHING you say, and begin repeating at 2 yrs.  Be warned.**

After crying from laughing, we worked things out. ;)

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my sweet (sailor talking) little helper. ;)

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Oh my goodness….I am thinking I may have gone crazy when I look at our schedule for the next 3 weeks.  Lots of stuff to be blogged before year end, but even more work here behind the scenes on the editing part, so I will do my best to blog when I can.  Thanks for your patience-both on the blogging, and the editing! :)  Stay tuned.

*and Gabe, Brett and I are learning to watch what we say a little more.*

November 19, 2009 - 11:11 am

andrea - Love the color and the cute boy of course! We’ve had the same problem recently with the curse words… really I don’t curse all that often, but apparently I have one go to word and my 4 year old can tell you what it is! ;) (can you share the paint color?)

November 19, 2009 - 11:13 am

Gail - He is so adorable I want to eat him with a spoon! I hope to meet your kiddos someday!!

PS – Love the new wall color. Very you!

PPS – So glad you got to meet the Turtles! Amanda said she just loved you :)

November 19, 2009 - 11:23 am

betsy - SO CUTE!!!!!

PS Is he potty trained? Way to go, still a process here!

November 19, 2009 - 12:48 pm

Maggie Bensch - Ha! I love this…he is so adorable.

November 19, 2009 - 3:42 pm

Maya Laurent - I like that grey! And can you send him to our house to paint? ;)

November 19, 2009 - 5:47 pm

gina@kiwistreetstudios - too cute…and are those tiger undies???!!!

November 19, 2009 - 8:13 pm

amanda reynolds - I want to eat him with a bigger spoon!!!! hahaha….PRECIOUS!!

November 20, 2009 - 5:00 am

Nielen - He’s an artist too :)

November 21, 2009 - 4:37 pm

ash - thanks so much for the kind comments on our blog! I’ve never followed the link back until now and your work is lovely, and your family looks just wonderful! :) beautiful color, and much life. well done, and nice to “meet” you!

November 23, 2009 - 12:25 pm

clary - It’s so good to see the paint color, looks perfect but even better your little guy helping you out. Gotta love this stage in life, even though you have to watch what you so because they really do repeat everything!

December 2, 2009 - 4:44 pm

the new office {old playroom} | Cincinnati Wedding Photographers - [...] pint sized sailor talking paint slinger. [...]