Here are some of our favorites from their day.

While the girls were getting prettied up….

……the guys enjoyed food and sports, but of course.  Shanaka had the guys wear their favorite jerseys.

Then they watched game 6 of the 1986 World Series between the Mets (Shanaka’s favorite team) and the Red Sox.

Tracy’s sweet mom helped her tie her sash perfectly.

Stunning bride.

Handsome groom.

First looks…..

Tracy is such a natural beauty. She has to be the most patient and laid-back bride we’ve ever had. 

“A wall that matches you perfectly!!!!!!”

Ahhhhh, you two are ADORABLE together.

Beautiful job on flowers by Courtenay Lambert.

And the view of downtown Cincinnati was beautiful.

Prayer before the ceremony.

I just ADORE the look on this little guy’s face.  

Tracy’s brother was the officiant. How cool is that?!

They did a tea ceremony where they served tea to their parents, honoring their two cultures.

Two very beautiful, and proud mamas.  This makes my heart so very happy.

This may be one of my favorite wedding ideas I’ve seen.  This is their “wishing tree” and they asked their guests to sign a note, leave advice, or draw a picture.  I loved watching its transformation over the night into a beautiful and meaningful work of art.

Gorgeous setting, with a very personal twist….Tracy’s mother handmade all of the vases.  They were each a masterpiece!!

They surprised everyone with a “same day edit” by Studio Z Films.  It was FABULOUS!

We were lucky enough to work with a fabulous team of vendors, who all did a wonderful job.

Hair: Jen Nally

Makeup: Jean Folchi

Video: Studio Z Films

Florals: Courtenay Lambert

Venue: Drees Pavilion

Tracy and Shanaka, thank you so much for including us in your beautiful day!  You are a wonderful couple, and we wish you many years of happiness together.

All the best,

Jess and Brett

Of course in the midst of all of this, the kids get sick.  They are feeling a bit better today, but last night I began losing my voice, and by the time I went to bed I sounded just as sexy as Demi Moore- maybe sexier.

Today all I want is to rest, when in the back of my mind I have guilt of work that needs to be done.  But I’m going to take it easy. I’m sitting here holding my sweet little cuddle bug boy, and doing what we do so well together- snuggling (yes, while I type and he critiques my editing).

Here are some photos I took a couple months back.  One of his favorite things to do is act like he is “napping” at the vent below my feet.  I look down from my office chair and see this:

It’s so funny….I remember pushing my first two to grow up, and get out of the “baby” phase.  Now I find I am just savoring my moments with my three year old who still wants to snuggle and suck his fingers.  I am very happy with my baby boy taking his sweet time.  (Yes, I see the whole “baby complex” in the making- and I’m ok with that.)

Here’s to illness passing quickly, and lots of love in the meantime. 

Hope your Monday is off to a great start!

And that brings me to you….

We are traveling to Chicago, NYC, and New Mexico this fall, and we currently have room for one session in New Mexico, and NYC. Here are our travel dates:

New York City: September 3-6 (Labor Day weekend)

New Mexico (Albuquerque, Taos, and Santa Fe): October 5-13

Please email me at info@studio3z.com if you would be interested in a photography session!

And I leave you with this little photo I shot while on a shoot last month….I looked over to my side and saw this beauty.  We were completely DEEP in a industrial junk yard, and I just thought, “How beautiful.”

Every little detail of this beautiful  outdoor wedding, complete with barn and old fashioned cake reception, made my little  artsy heart *swoon*.

Micki was beyond stunning in her Calvin Klein dress that so perfectly fit her summer wedding theme.

And the girls!! Just ADORABLE.

The boys, hanging in the room beforehand.

Troy, and his famous “million dollar” smile.  Well, it’s famous in my book. 

Rocking the socks.

The super shy flower girl! 

The happy Mr. and Mrs!

Every little detail was so well thought out….

I was in love with their cake! All 10 of them!

Troy’s family has a restaurant in Yellow Springs and did such a great job catering.  The food and cakes were WONDERFUL!

Beautiful old barn at dusk filled with twinkling lights = perfection.

They had very touching toasts….(a photographer I know may or may not have been crying behind her camera)

Troy also surprised Micki with a poem he wrote for her. 

Micki’s sweet little sister.

You may gather from this photo that the cake scene got a bit messy!

Such a beautiful night, beautiful wedding, and one amazing couple!  Micki + Troy, we can’t thank you enough for having us as your photographers!  We’ve loved our time with you two, and being a witness to the amazing love you have for one another.  We wish you much joy through the years together.

jess +brett

I can’t wait to share the full post next week!

Six years ago today our little Riah boy came into this world, and without a doubt, it was completely brightened!!

Of my four births stories, Riah’s is the funniest.  From me vacuuming our entire house while having major contractions (I would pause and breathe, and then resume), to waiting too long to head to the hospital and having a policeman ask me if I wanted to get out of the car in stopped traffic to “squat”….I kid you not…..to arriving at the hospital and having him within 10 minutes.  He had a black mohawk of hair, and he won me over from the first second.

We went bowling to celebrate his birthday, which he has done since he turned three.

I am working on allowing my kids the freedom of dressing themselves (this a a HUGE step for me).  Therefore, I take NO credit for this awesome ensemble he is sporting.  He was killing me with the buttoned down white shirt…Oh well.

Silly band mania!!!!

Gabe tried bowling for the first time. 

Then we came back home for some cookie cake.

Last week Brett was testing his  lighting and Riah and I sat in.  I loved these.  I love my boy. 

Your smile and energy are contagious, and we are so blessed to have you.

Happy birthday sweetheart!!

We were THRILLED to go out to their new home and do a fun family session of them.  They have dreamed of having a home with a piece of land to raise their kids on, and recently they got just that!  It really is a lovely home and property, and I’m sure they will make many happy memories as a family together there.

This is Sarah    She’s my buddy.

I love how loving and carefree the kids seem here.

Sweetie pie Sophia  She had just turned *1* a couple weeks before we took these.

Caution: A little too much of this…..

…..may lead to THIS.  (Trust us on this)

OK, so we were a little OBSESSED with smiley little sweetie pie….Can you blame us???!

Noah, doing the boy thing.

I remember we had to say some gross and mildly inappropriate things….but look at their faces.     

and this is their plot of land they are walking…

Sarah got tired of photos and took a 10 minute swinging break.

Pretty, big sister Naomi.

Noah, or mini-Eric as some call him!

Jill, Eric…..I love these two photos SOOO much!!  They are just completely you two.

Ahhh, such a fun night with such wonderful friends.  Love you guys!

P.S. Happy early birthday to my birthday buddy Naomi!! 

]]> http://www.studio3z.com/blog/2010/07/eric-jill-naomi-noah-sarah-and-sophia-studio3z-family/feed/ 6 http://www.studio3z.com/blog/2010/07/gail-rich/ http://www.studio3z.com/blog/2010/07/gail-rich/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:16:43 +0000 jess@studio3z http://www.studio3z.com/blog/?p=6532 Gail and Rich were married earlier this year in Boston, but came home to Cincinnati and held a fabulous celebration at Via Vite, on Cincinnati’s Fountain Square.  Before their dinner celebration, we met them at their AMAZING Mt. Adam’s home to take some fun portraits of the newlyweds.

The food at their reception was divine!!

They had many friends and family join them to celebrate their love and marriage….

These are their adorable niece and nephews.

It was a steamy, but gorgeous, Cincinnati night.

Thanks Gail and Rich!  Seeing so many come out to celebrate, it is evident you both are very loved.  We wish you both all the best.

jess+brett

This frozen scene is magic to me.

Today I am reminded to watch for these moments….they are all around, every day of our lives.  We choose to notice them or not.

So today I say goodbye…

To twitter, to facebook, to itunes, to netflix, to word press…..

to editing, to email, to album design.

I’m heading outside with 12 little hands to hold (My niece and nephew are here to add to the mix).

If you think you don’t have a moment to spare….

You may be having a busy day, feeling stressed, maybe even depressed- in these cases I encourage it even more:

Step outside to breathe deeply for a moment.

And most importantly, don’t forget to look up.

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