Hope on the Slopes was this past weekend.  It is a fun event held at Boston Mill ski area and hosted by the Kylie Jane Long Foundation.  The creators of the foundation are lifelong friends, who created the organization after losing their young daughter to a prolonged fight with cancer.  It is always wonderful to see old friends and so some skiing, but the event is always bittersweet for me.  It brings back the memories of Kylie's fight, and how impossible it must have been for her family.  
     The Kylie Jane Long Foundation provides support for pediatric patients and their families by providing assistance, improving spaces, educating parents and medical staff, and raising the awareness of rare pediatric cancers.  It was an honor to be a part of this year's silent auction.  Want to learn how you can donate, or just find out more about the Kylie Jane Long Foundation?  Click here.

Ryan

     We had another exciting weekend in Northeast Ohio.  We attended Monster Jam in Cleveland as a fundraiser for The American Cancer Society.  I donate photography to several events a year, and this was one of the coolest!  We had pit passes and were able to go onto the floor of The Q to see the trucks up close.  I posted some of the photos below.  Thanks to ACS for a great night.  We, and more importantly, all the survivors and volunteers who attended had a real thrill!

Ryan

PS     We also met Tommy's uncle Grant at West Side Market before the show.  If you have never been, you are missing out.  Gyro's, meat pies, crepes...  I posted some photos below, and here's a link if you want to go down and check out the West Side Market.

PPS   The Market, and the whole Ohio City neighborhood offers a ton of great locations for a session.  Got an idea?  Holler at me here.

     The Smas family had a big weekend.  We traveled a pretty good chunk of Northeast Ohio and had a blast visiting with Family.  A couple of the high points were meatballs with Nonni and Pappy, ice cream at Jeni's in Chagrin Falls, and a trip to the Cleveland Aquarium with crazy aunt Jenny from Brooklyn (my little sister...if you've met her, you know).  I posted some photos below.
     What does this have to do with photography?  Not much.  Winter will be around for at least a few more weeks, and I thought I would share a few fun "inside" activities.  Here's the links to Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and The Greater Cleveland Aquarium.

Ryan


PS     I had the Queen City Cayenne at Jeni's.  Chocolate with Cayenne pepper...different but very yummy.  What's your favorite ice cream flavor?  Share on the Black Dog Photo Co. Facebook page.

PPS   Jeni's would make a great stop for a Play Date Session with your child/children.  Want more info?  Get a hold or Ryan here.
Or hit the link for the lowdown on the Play Date Session.
    

     It seems that potential clients searching for a wedding photographer are asking if they really need a wedding photography album more often.  In fact, I have read several blogs recommending that brides forego a traditional wedding album and opt for a disc of image files.  What is the answer?
     First, I'd like to say that we provide a disc of images with a license to reproduce those images for personal use to each of our wedding clients.  If that is the case, you ask "Why would I need anything else".  Read on.

The Art of the Print.    Your wedding photographs are intended to be presented as professional prints.  A digital file is similar to a film negative.  If your photographer shot film, would you be satisfied with a roll of processed negatives?  A print, on the other hand, is a re-touched, enhanced, and processed finished product.  Creating quality photographic prints is a skill that separates professional photographers from amateurs.  All of Black Dog Photo Co.'s wedding albums are created with archival quality, professionally printed, photographic prints.
It is your first Heirloom.     A properly cared for wedding album will last for generations.  Your wedding photography album will hold it's value, becoming a family heirloom for your children's children.
Your Story.     A wedding photography album tells your story in a way unmatched by any other medium.  Individual prints capture a single moment in time.  A disc containing hundreds of images is essentially unedited footage, lacking the storytelling an album provides.  

     At Black Dog Photo Co. we believe that capturing the photographs on your wedding day is the beginning of telling your story.  Creating a custom wedding album captures your story so that you can share the emotion, memories, and experience of your wedding day for years to come.  And isn't that the point of having your wedding photographed...to share your story?

Ryan

PS     I posted a video slideshow of a sample wedding album below.  Enjoy.

PPS   Ashley and I had a fellow photographer create beautiful images of our wedding and provide us with a disc of those images.  "We know what we are doing" we thought "we'll just make our own album".  Guess what?  We still had a disc of gorgeous images for five years before we got around to making our album...  Don't leave your memories to your spare time.  

PPPS  Want to know more about our photography, or wedding albums?  Shout at Ryan here.

     Valentine's Day is a time of year with which I have some definite associations.  Chocolates, champagne, fancy cards, and of course flowers.  I tend to avoid the classic red roses for my wife Ashley, and go for something a little more playful.  By the middle of February here in Cuyahoga Falls we are ready for a burst of color.  A brightly colored bouquet goes a long way toward bringing some life to the kitchen!
    This got me thinking about wedding flowers and how many options there are for brides and grooms planning a wedding.  Being a wedding photographer, I like to stay abreast of the trends each year.  I thought I'd take a minute to share some ideas about different styles of wedding flowers.

Soft and Romantic.   The soft, romantic bouquet is made up of soft colored garden flowers, such as pastel roses and other dainty flowers. This bouquet is intended to offer a delicate fantasy look, and contribute to a soft ambiance.
The Playful Bouquet.  If you are looking to convey originality and spunk, consider using a design with a playful and bright color scheme. Colours such as hot pink, navy blue, and magenta, not only offer a modern appeal, they also help create a fun and playful ambiance, which breaks free from tradition.  In addition, you may consider choosing a brilliant color, such as yellow for example, with accent colors such as black or silver, in order to make the primary color stand out. By mixing different hues a vibrant bouquet can be created which will complement the fun, playful bride.
The Green Bouquet.  The green bouquet is achieved through organic form and colors that offer an airy, free-flowing look. Complimentary and contrasting foliage and branching is used, giving the overall look a simple, elegant appearance. 
The Passion Bouquet.   For many years, the colour red has illustrated love, passion and romance, especially as it pertains to marriage and weddings. The red and white bouquet is not only a trend for 2012, it is also a timeless design that can be both traditional or contemporary. 

These are just a few of the styles that appear to be "hot" for a 2012 wedding.  I posted some of our wedding photography showcasing each of these styles below.  Happy Planning!

Ryan

PS     Hungry for more?  Hit the link to check out more ideas from Today's Bride.  

PPS   Ashley's favorite bouquet flower is a Stargazer Lilly.  What is your favorite?  Share it on the Black Dog Photo Co. Facebook page.

Time is running out, but you can still take advantage of the Today's Bride Wedding show special.  Black Dog Photo Co. is excited about the opportunity to become your photographer, so excited that we are offering a complimentary parent album in addition to your wedding photography collection.  All you need to do is book your event by Valentine's Day, or, since Valentine's Day is rapidly approaching, anyone who schedules a wedding photography consultation before 2/14 will be eligible for the special.  Hit the Today's Bride special link for more info, or get in touch with Ryan to schedule your wedding photography consultation.  Thanks for checking out Black Dog Photo Co.!

     Wow, what a fun day shooting portraits at Main Street Cupcakes in Rocky River!  We spent the morning photographing mini-sessions and noshing yummy cupcakes.  The kids were all happy (maybe it was the cupcakes, but I like to believe they just liked the photographer), and it seemed like the mommy's and daddy's had a good time too.  Take a peek at the fun in the slideshow below.  Black Dog Photo Co. extends a big thank you to everyone who came out for portraits and cupcakes!

Ryan


PS     Thanks to Jeanine and Sarah for all their hospitality, and especially to Main Street Cupcakes for inviting us to be a part of this event.


PPS    If you have a business in the Akron area, and are interested in partnering for a similar event, e-mail Ryan.  We are always excited about new ideas!

     My son Tommy and I took advantage of the nice weather, a rare event for February in Cuyahoga Falls, to work on a new project.  We had our own Playdate.  The Playdate is the newest photography session available from Black Dog Photo Co..  It is an 1.5 hour session at a location of your (or your childs...) choice.  We can travel to Akron, Cleveland, or really any Northeast Ohio location for a Playdate with your child (or children).  We will shoot candid photos of your child playing at the park, eating nuggets, going on a walk...anything they choose.  We will also photograph more traditional portraits throughout the session.   After the photography is wrapped up, we custom design a ten page album with your child's images.  The Playdate is a complete package, and captures your child’s (or children’s) unique personality.  Tommy's Playdate album is below.

Ryan

PS   If you are interested in more info on pricing and availability, click here and let Ryan know.

PPS I like Tommy's album as a photographer, but I love it as his daddy!

     Okay campers, rise and shine, it's Groundhog Day!  Phil saw his shadow this morning, and we have six more weeks of winter to enjoy here in the Akron area.  I have some wedding photography for those of you pining for a more tropical climate.
     Clint and Molly were married in Siesta Key, and we were lucky enough to join them for their wedding.  The sun was bright, the ocean was like bathwater, and the ceremony on the beach was beautiful.  The bride and groom planned a very cool, laid back event (shoes were optional, even for the photographer).   I love the way people's personalities come through in the details of their wedding.
     You may recognize Molly from the wedding portfolio, check it out here.  Enjoy more of their wedding photography below.  Thank you Molly and Clint for having us as a part of your big day!

Ryan

PS     Molly and Clint also happen to be our good friends, and Clint and I manged to catch a few fish with Capt. Chad  while the ladies were at the salon.

PSS   If you are planning a destination wedding, give me a shout here.  We travel.