• 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: February 2010

93 years young. {Elsie Jane}

Today the mother of my Daddy turns 93 years old, or young if you ask her.  And trust me, if you knew her you would agree.

My grandma is the type of person you meet and you never forget.  She stands out from the crowd.  She holds her own.  She has a voice that longs to be heard.

In a way you could say that my love of photographs comes from her.  From the time I can remember, she has sat me down with a stack of old photographs, pointing each person out and sharing their story.  When visiting her it is something you can count on- she will have somehow received new photos that she is eager to share.  Her love of history and genealogy is like no one else.  I find the stories so fascinating that she recalls from being a little child growing up deep in Kentucky.

One thing I love most about her is her sense of humor.  When she had a stroke and was in the hospital a few years back, part of her recovery became “dancing” in the hallways.  She often pulled in nurses and doctors to show them how to do the moves.  She is full of jokes- often a bit *ahem* “rough on the edges”….but her zest for life amazes us all.   She loves to have fun.

These are a few photos below that I snagged off of her Facebook.  If you follow me on twitter then you saw my tweet last night.  She called me and told me to go check out the new “hot” pictures of her on Facebook. :)

In the first one she was 17 and had a 5 month old baby.  She is quite proud of that figure!  The second photo is of her and my grandfather.

The little boy in the two bottom photos is my Daddy…isn’t he a cutie?  And I’ve always thought my grandma was hot stuff in that bottom right photo.

Here she is with my Grandpa- probably in the early 90′s.  They were married 63 years before my Grandfather passed.

5 kids together

13 grandchildren

24 great grandchildren

1 great great grandchild, and 1 more coming soon!

(correct me if I’m wrong Grandma!!)

My three kiddos loving on Grandma at her 90th birthday.  Look how little Riah is!!

I didn’t mention how talented my grandma is with quilting and sewing….She has made so many amazing works of art.  I am honored to own a couple myself, and will always cherish them.

A recent photo of my babies with their great-grandma. :)

Love you Grandma!!! You are loved by so many.  Hope you have a great day today! :)

Please leave my grandma some birthday love…..I know it would MAKE her day!!

February 25, 2010 - 12:14 pm

Jen - Happy Birthday!!! I love hearing all about you from Ashley and the times I got to hang out with you were definitely unforgettable- you are SO loved! :) And… you ARE one HOT MAMA!

February 25, 2010 - 12:29 pm

betsy - I love this post! Happy Birthday Grandma! You are one hot mama!!!

Wow, a 5 month old at 17!

February 25, 2010 - 12:52 pm

bobbi - uhm, wait… rewind… i quit reading after I saw YOUR 93 YEAR OLD GRANDMA HAS A FACEBOOK?! WOWWW TO THAT??!?!!!?!

Okay, back on topic… Happy birthday grandma! Those ARE hot photos… Jess has your amazing legs! :)

February 25, 2010 - 1:07 pm

April Cochran-Smith - Awwww… you are SO lucky to have such an amazing Grandma! What a great post – it definitely made me miss my own Grandma. Happy Birthday to Grandma! :)

February 25, 2010 - 1:41 pm

Gail - Can I just say that if MY grandma got in a room with YOUR grandma, I think we could guarantee a good time. Did I mention my grandma will turn 93 in June? And LOVES too quilt and sew?

This post is just precious. Love EVERYTHING about it. And can we be your grandma’s Facebook friend? I’m serious ;)

February 25, 2010 - 4:37 pm

Kelly (Daphne Photo Studio) - Such a precious post!! Yay to grandmas on facebook!! I hope I’m half as hip as she is when I’m 93 :)

February 25, 2010 - 5:15 pm

Michelle - your grandma is on facebook? I love that! And how lucky you are! There is nothing like a grandma’s love! happy birthday!!!

February 26, 2010 - 5:09 pm

Rachel B. - Oh, Happy, Happy Birthday to you, Ms. Elsie Jane! I love these photos of you! All sassy and styish. Why can’t we wear awesome bathing suits like yours? I am so glad that you have such a large family to gather around you and love you. It is clear that you have a life well-lived. Cheers to you and I hope you have many more happy birthdays!

March 1, 2010 - 9:54 am

AmyPunky Photography - Beautiful memories… Happy belated birthday to your grandmother! :)

March 2, 2010 - 9:57 pm

oneshotbeyond - I love these old photographs…such beautiful memories even when aged!

May 17, 2010 - 8:21 pm

sweet lenora mae {newborn} | Magazine - [...] their baby when it arrived, I was giddy with excitement to meet her!You may remember the blog post I did about my Grandma on her 93rd birthday and I mentioned she had her 2nd great, great, grandchild on the way…..HERE SHE IS!Isn’t [...]

featured on clover & bee.

We were so excited to see the launch of the site “Clover & Bee,” which is an amazingly stylish resource site dedicated to Midwest weddings (such a great idea!).  We were extra thrilled when Rebecca of Clover & Bee asked us if they could feature Ashley and Adam’s engagement session on their site. :)  If you’d like to take a look and read some more about them (through the words of my sister Ashley), click HERE or on the photo to be taken to Clover & Bee’s site.

If you are a bride to be, or just like looking at pretty things, you must check out Clover & Bee!!

March 1, 2010 - 9:56 am

AmyPunky Photography - Congrats!!! :D

April 21, 2014 - 8:57 am

Sarah - I am pretty obsvissee, and when I find myself in front of a patch of clovers I forget where I am about to go and see and keep searching, and still have never found one the only conclusion I get from this is that you will spot it immediately if it is there no use for searching something like happines and joy.

a wedding shower {for my baby sister}

You may remember my little sister Ash’s engagement session a few months back.   This past Sunday (February 14th)  my Mom, sister Angie, and I, threw a shower for our sweet Ashie! :)  It was at my house, and I had so much fun (with a touch of stress involved) preparing for it.  I really have this secret love of throwing parties…..It’s an illness from my mother.

I was in charge of decor, and my mom and sister Angie were in charge of food.  I decided to make most of my decor and use lots of candles.  I did buy this paper bird garland on Etsy. I fell head over heels when I saw it.

My most time consuming decoration (yet easy as pie at the same time), were these fabric “pom-poms.”  Click HERE for the link to where I found the recipe. :)

p.s. I love how lady-like my daughter is in that photo below.

We had a great fruit tray, meat and cheese tray, and desserts galore.  My mom made blackberry cobbler, apple pie, and her amazing German Chocolate cake, which I think I would get in a fist fight over (and win).

Priya made her “famous” pear tart too. ;)  OHHH, the food was good.

Our favors were little boxes of Aglamesis’s chocolates.  YUM.

We recently redid our kitchen nook (aka schoolroom) with chalk board paint.  It fit Ash’s vintage vibe perfectly.

and of course flowers….

My Mom surprised Ashley with a barbershop quartet!!  They sang 3 little love diddies and made Ashley feel all good and uncomfortable.

Here’s the gift Brett and I got them….a canvas from their shoot.  I almost decided to keep it for ourselves instead. ;)

Their wedding is in 2 weeks!!! And I still have a TON of shopping to do.  All 6 of us are in it. I can’t believe it’s almost here.  Can’t wait.

February 17, 2010 - 7:13 pm

betsy - Oh my goodness! I wish I was there! I want on the next invite list! ; ) What a fabulous party!!!

I got choked up at your gift to your sister. There is something about her shoot that just makes me so emotional! I can so feel their love. (I think it reminds me of my relationship with Andy, actually, for some reason.)

You are an awesome big sis!!!! Can’t wait to see the wedding pics!

February 17, 2010 - 7:21 pm

Lauren - Great pics! :-) LOVE the ASHLEY + ADAM decor on the chalkboard photo!! Soooo cute!

February 17, 2010 - 7:22 pm

katie elfers - love it all!!! Can we use the bird garland for the wedding?! can’t wait :)

February 17, 2010 - 7:40 pm

kelly beane - You have an awesome design talent… I love it all!!!

February 17, 2010 - 8:13 pm

Barb - Sensational photos, party, and food! And I have seen those very same barbershop guys sing before too. They’re really good!

February 17, 2010 - 8:22 pm

Gail - YEAHHHHHHHHH… that looks like one HECK of an awesome party girl! And the poms? Oh, you ROCKED those! I love that idea!

Her engagement session is probably my FAVORITE thing you two have ever done for a couple. I’d be DROOLING over that canvas if it was mine!

PS – How CUTE is your sister’s outfit?

February 17, 2010 - 8:56 pm

Axelandrita - 2 weeks !!!! you have a lot of things to do…. we wait for her wedding pics ;) and the canvas is amazing !!!!

February 17, 2010 - 9:00 pm

holly - you’re the superest woman. that canvas, those decorations — AMAZIN’!

February 17, 2010 - 9:14 pm

Mom - Wow….I LOVE these pictures! Your house was the PERFECT setting and you were such an awesome hostess (Priya, too)! We did have fun, didn’t we?

February 17, 2010 - 9:26 pm

cblackstone - love the poms. love the canvas. i only want to know who the photog is. who did you trust enough to refer her to?

February 17, 2010 - 9:58 pm

meredith - wow and double wow. can you plan my next party??

i love how the one picture of the barbershop quartet makes one of the guys look like he’s wearing big pink flowers on his head :)

February 17, 2010 - 11:50 pm

gina@kiwistreetstudios - hey jess! congrats to your little sis and what a great party i’m sure! how exciting…2 weeks!

February 18, 2010 - 10:10 am

Katie - The photo of the chalkboard corner looks like something right out of an Anthropolgie catalogue! I am an Ohio girl that lives in North Carolina and your blog is one of my daily stops on the internet. I was super surprised to see one of my best friend’s dad in this post! He is the guy with the mustache in the barbershop quartet! Made my day! :)

February 18, 2010 - 10:20 am

Maggie - I love your gift to her and the way their bodies almost make a big heart when they’re sitting together like that. Two weeks? That is awesome…congratulations to her! I’m trying those poms too!

February 18, 2010 - 11:26 am

shannon selim - wish i was there :(

February 18, 2010 - 12:49 pm

Kelly (Daphne Photo Studio) - Wow beautiful party!! You really nailed it with the details! If you weren’t so busy with your kids & shooting I’d say you should be an event planner too :)

February 19, 2010 - 5:58 pm

Rebecca - cutest shower EVER! yayy!

February 20, 2010 - 2:59 pm

arenda - ooooh, love the canvas print! that was one of my faves from that session!

February 21, 2010 - 2:26 pm

Maya Laurent - What an awesome shower! I looove that garland and the fabric poms poms, keeping that link for later. Way to throw a beautiful shower.

February 28, 2010 - 8:10 pm

AmyPunky Photography - You have a lovely house!! I loooooove the canvas!! Gorgeous!!

March 11, 2010 - 2:12 pm

Elaine Gates - that canvas is AWESOME!!

christy+chris {married!!}

You may remember Christy and Chris from their lovely engagement session this past summer.  They are a fun and super kind couple, and we had a great day with them- meeting their friends and family, and having the honor of capturing their wedding day.

Christy’s shoes were AAA-MAZING!

gorgeous dress!

Chris with his finishing touches…

The guys!   :)

The gals!

Christy’s dress looked like it was made especially for her….It fit soooo perfect.

Loved this moment of Christy with her Mom.

Meeting up for the first look…

the groom serving sandwiches…but of course.

Christy’s brother + Chris.

made me :)

These guys rocked it out despite the 20 degree weather that day….WOW was it cold. You all were WONDERFUL. (Big thanks!)

Heading up to the ceremony at the gorgeous St. Xavier church.

We were blown away by the inside of this church.

After the ceremony, we had to take advantage of the amazing architecture with a few portraits of the newlyweds.

Their reception was held at the Drees Pavilion overlooking downtown Cincinnati.

I just adored her two sisters, and their speech!

My most favorite winter cake I’ve ever seen!  So beautiful.

Thank you Christy and Chris for having us be a part of your day!!  Your wedding went so smoothly, and everything was just perfection.

Brett and I wish you two all the best together throughout the years.

:)

jess+brett

February 15, 2010 - 1:25 pm

Libby James - beautiful couple! great church!

February 15, 2010 - 1:29 pm

adam - stellar shots :)

February 15, 2010 - 1:56 pm

Gail - GORGEOUS sweetie!

I really really adore her dress and the bridesmaids. Talk about a classic elegant look. They’ll look at those dresses 20 years from now and still think they’re cool :)

February 15, 2010 - 2:45 pm

angela - I love it!!! i can’t pick a favorite because I love them all!!!

February 15, 2010 - 4:12 pm

Christy - Jess and Brett – We LOVE the pictures!!! They turned out so great! You made that whole day so much fun! Thanks for everything! We can’t wait to see the rest of them!

February 15, 2010 - 6:49 pm

melanie - ahhhhhh!!! love them!! christy- the girls dressing are so COOL!! im not really sure how theyre even staying up? so flattering! and your dress!!! omg- stunning! sad we missed seeing it all in person. jess and brett- way to ROCK IT OUT!! and the cold- whew- better you than i;) excellent work everybody! perfection.

February 16, 2010 - 1:16 pm

bobbi - LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVE THESE!!!!!!! This was THE most perfect dress ever. Christy, you’re flipping GORGEOUS! Oh and Chris… you should live in HOT TAMALE TOWN, USA!!!!! And Jess, your detail shots… well, you know how I feel about them… you’re amazing at it. And like Melanie said… those portraits in the COLD?! Way to WORK THIS OUT! You two SO rock!

February 16, 2010 - 11:06 pm

Maggie - Love the ring shot and the spiral stairs! You guys got some great moments!!

February 26, 2010 - 2:15 pm

Alex - Great job! Love the 4th one… it’s so stylish!! Best from Germany, Alex

March 8, 2010 - 3:52 pm

Mallory - Wowww, those colors are stunning; the details are epic! That dress is beautiful, and the couple is hot :) Gorgeoussss work! Seriously.