wedding – Lyell Photography

Best of 2015

So it’s March 2nd. It’s still within the first 1/4 of the year, so this post is still on time…by my standards. By the standards of a new mama (whose babe got sick 2x this winter along with 2x colds for mama and papa etc etc), I’d say it’s right on time! Haha. But enough about the excuses. This year has been so good to us. First of all we had our little baby boy Jonah. Being a parent is . . . INSANE! Oh my goodness, my world has been rocked. It’s amazing, hard, beautiful, tiring, and a million other adjectives. Professionally it was quite a good year to. We got to meet lot’s of amazing people, and come alongside them to photograph some really beautiful and special moments. And since becoming a parent, my whole view of photography frown as well. It’s opened my eyes even more to the importance of little moments and documenting and savoring the fleeting but glorious time we have been given. So here is my year whittled down (and if a couple Jonah photos sneak their way in…I’m sorry/not sorry:))

Helen and Adrian | Wedding

These two souls. They are beautiful souls. I only just met them on their wedding day, and from that brief interaction I already feel touched, feel a little bit better, they added beauty to my life. I love that about what I do. Each wedding I photograph adds to my life, to my list of experiences. And this wedding, this wedding added much beauty to my life.

Beauty in the form of holy tears shed during a shared and private prayer after the first look. Beauty in a girl seeing her Dad on her wedding day and not being able to keep the emotion in. Beauty in the form of a cross overlooking the ceremony, reminding Helen and Adrian and everyone else of the love that first loved us, that holds us all together. Beauty in the laughter during the toasts from dear friends, and beauty in the first dance of many as husband and wife. There was beauty in the glances they stole and the way they lingered. There was beauty in the love that was showered upon them as their family and friends laughed and prayed and danced along side them the whole day.

This and so much more blessed my heart and made it grow just a little bit more on the holy day that these two souls were forever bonded in love. Thank you both for the immense honor and privilege of documenting that day.

music : dear true love, sleeping at last

Lauren and Matt Wedding

Lauren and Matt were married about a month ago in front of family and friends, tears were shed, vows were made, and love was given from one soul to another. It was a beautiful day. From the moment I walked into the home where Lauren was getting ready to the very last song where everyone was dancing and smiling, I was overwhelmed with the sense of love. Friends love these two, families love these two, and these two deeply love each other.

A few sweet moments that stick out in my mind are the girls getting ready and Lauren’s Mom’s house and going around the circle sharing stories about Lauren through laughter and tears. What a beautiful thing to think about all the history and meaning shared between all the people that I photographed, some of whom I only got to meet for the day. I also loved watching Lauren do a first look with her Father, I felt I was looking in on a sacred moment, blessed to document it with my camera. Or what about watching Lauren walk down the aisle and seeing her groom waiting there with that look on his face. So many memories were made on this beautiful day, and I am so grateful to have been able to capture a few on camera.

Katie and Aldan Wedding

Katie and Aldan’s wedding was beautiful and oh so elegant. The were married at the Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati and celebrated their nuptials at the gorgeous Art Deco Continental Ballroom at the Hilton Netherland Plaza. The details were beautiful, but more than that, the love between Katie and Aldan and all of their families made the night shine brighter than anything else.

Traci and Kyle | Cinncinnati Wedding Photography

One of the first things that I think of when I think of these two is fun and laughter. Traci could make anyone feel at home and comfortable just by flashing that gorgeous smile. And Kyle seems to bring out that smile like no one else. I noticed it during the engagement session, during the portrait time of the wedding, and even during the ceremony there was laughter and smiles from check to check…the joy is overflowing from their hearts. I bet there is never a dull moment in their house.

I also noticed and was impressed by the value that both Traci and Kyle place on family. It was obvious that the people in those front rows watching have loved these two individuals with all their hearts for years and years. And again, this family loved to have fun together. I am telling you, it was such a joyous occasion, you couldn’t help be smile and be so thankful that you were able to be a part of it!

Katrina and Manuel | Full Post

It’s an amazing world we live in. Amazing for so many reasons.

It’s amazing that 2 people can find each other half way across the world and fall in love. Two hearts separated by land and sea for most of their lives, one fateful day were connected. These two people sent messages across the ocean through the wonder of the internet (which, by the way still boggles my mind) and started something that would end (well, really begin) in Lexington, Kentucky, in a church full of Americans and Austrians, and probably other nationalities where Katrina and Manuel fought back tears as they pledged their love to one another. Wouldn’t you agree, it’s amazing world we live in.

But to me, beyond the fact that they fell in love across the ocean, is the amazingness of love. It is amazing because we can’t explain it. It comes from something so much greater than ourselves. There is a Love greater than the love we have for one another, that just spills out and over, and into our hearts, creating these feelings, bonds, and emotions that we have a hard time explaining. It was a true blessing to be able to witness love spilling over into these two hearts. I wish them all the blessings in the world, and hope and pray for many years of this amazing, amazing thing called love.