L Renee Studio

I've Moved!

2010-03-11T19:09:00.004-05:00

I am very excited to announce that I have a new blog! While it is bittersweet to let this one go, I know that you will all enjoy it! Please go visit, change your bookmarks, rss feeds, and google readers...and whatever else I am missing.

My new blog's address is: www.lreneestudioblog.com

The Advance Reporter

2010-03-01T11:34:00.005-05:00

The past couple weeks have been a complete whirlwind! That is what happens when traveling is involved. You always work so hard getting prepared to go, and then when you come home you are so behind again with work, housework, and laundry that you need another vacation!

The day before we left for Florida in the late afternoon, I got a call from The Advance Reporter. They were putting together a bridal section for the paper the next week, and they wanted me to write an article for it about wedding photography! I was so excited, but as soon as I hung up the phone I realized I was going to have to get it done that day along with all the other work I was planning to finish and also find time to pack. But it all got finished, and the edition of The Advance Reporter came out last Wednesday.

If you are a bride you should definitely go get a copy of it. It has articles from local wedding vendors including: Party Expressions, The Scrapbook Korner, Chubbies, Eagle Printing, The Bake Shop, Lucetta's Legacy, and Kinsmans Bridal Ltd. I am so honored to be included. I will post my article that I wrote in the near future, but for now you will have to go pick up a copy of your own.

Kissling Family

2010-02-15T11:29:00.014-05:00

When Miranda, owner and photographer of Gloria Photography, called me to photograph her family I was honored. Not just because she was a photographer herself, but because she is familiar with many photographers in the area, and she chose me. Thank you Miranda!

When we spoke about location, she knew she wanted the session held in their home. I was so excited! I love when a family chooses to do their session in their home, especially when they have little ones. I feel the session and the images become more personal. It is completely true to life and true to what they are experiencing right now as a young family. Children are most comfortable in their own home, and this way they can play with their toys while they become more comfortable with me and my camera. But the biggest bonus of all...when one of the many possible mishaps happens with children, you are right there in your home to grab a change of clothes or perform a diaper change!

I had so much fun with the Kissling family! I hope you enjoy the images!

Loving on his baby sister as she got her diaper changed.

Even the Grandparents joined in! Isn't it sweet? I would love to have pictures like this of me with my Grandparents.

Grandma getting her calmed down.

Q&A with Trevor

2010-02-10T19:49:00.013-05:00

There is an instrumental part of my business that needs to be properly introduced to all of you. He is not only the love of my life, but also my best friend, my support, my sounding board, my encouragement, and my second shooter. My husband, Trevor, has been a part of my business before it was a business. He was the first person there when it was still just a "someday when I'm all grown up crazy dream" of mine. He was there through every step, and he was the one to believe in me when I didn't even believe in myself.

I always had the dream of him becoming a bigger part of my business, wanting him to become my second shooter as I started doing weddings on my own, yet I kept this little secret to myself. He loves photography because he is surrounded by it because of me, but it is not his passion the same as it is mine. I knew I had some convincing to do, and when the time came to finally persuade him it wasn't as hard as I had imagined.

I love working with my husband! He makes everything more fun! It is so great to have the love of your life by your side as you are doing a job that you absolutely love. What could be better? The best part though...having him there to look at in those moments of true love at a wedding. There is always a moment, when the love of the bride and groom just makes my heart flutter, and I get to glance at my husband knowing we have that love too. I love it!

So, I wanted you to get to know him a little better. We did a short interview last night, and he even surprised me with some of the answers. I hope you will enjoy!

If you could change one thing about me, what would it be?

Your lists! You have lists about lists that you need to do each day. Just get it done!!! I LOVE how organized you are, but come on... you don't need ALL of those lists!

What are you passionate about?

I am so passionate about the Buckeyes! They are on my mind in some form every day. I also am a huge fan of Country music, especially Kenny Chesney. He is the man! I love my puppy Willie and my family is my world. But most of all my wife. I never knew you could possibly love someone so much! I only thought love this passionate was in the movies.

Where do you see our lives in five years?

Well, number one is children. (Yes future Grandparents, I am hoping for children (plural) in the next five years!) I also see Leah growing her dream into a successful business that provides lasting moments that families can cherish for many years to come.

Have you ever thought my dreams were or are crazy?

Every day! You have some of the most off the wall ideas that one could even think of, but I know how determined you are. There is no dream that I do not think you can accomplish. I only wish I had 1/2 the determination you show every day.

How do you feel when you are working for "your wife"?

I think it is great! It is really pretty easy...she is the boss. That applies to every day life as well. The faster I learned that, the better off my life has become!

Was it hard for you to learn the camera?

It was totally different than I have ever done before. I was always told to fit the people in the screen, hold the button half way down, wait for the beep, and then push the button to capture the image. Now I live in a world of ISO and shutter speeds. Shooting manual was something that was not easy to pick up at first, but I had a fantastic teacher with a lot of patience to help me through the entire process. Thanks babe!

On the day of the wedding, it seems you always know what I need or want you to do before I ask, how?

It is called marriage. We have been together for over nine years now. I better know what you want before you ask by now, or we have bigger issues.

Did you ever dream that you would be doing this with me?

Not in a million years! I always pictured you doing a wedding on Saturday afternoon in the July while I was playing a round of golf and enjoying the summer sunshine. Look at me now...I can't hit the ball straight, but I can capture some pretty darn good images on the wedding day!

What do you like most about working with me?

I just love being with you. I am so proud of you. I love to watch the way you interact with the Bride and Groom, and how you include the families in the special day. You are so professional, yet somehow get so comfortable with the couple that your images capture moments words can't explain.

What is your favorite part of the wedding day?

Hands down my favorite part of the wedding day is the couple's first dance. Not only do I love to capture the special moment, but I love to catch my wife's eye and fall in love all over again.

Also, there is ALWAYS a moment where my wife cries while shooting a wedding. At that moment, I know my wife is living out her dreams and I am so proud of what she has accomplished. I love you so much babe!

Here is Trevor in action at our last wedding:

And here are a few of the images that he captured throughout the day:

Kissling Family | Sneak Peek

2010-02-05T14:54:00.003-05:00

I have been editing away this afternoon, swaying and singing to some Norah Jones when I came across this little gem. I just had to share! Much more to come next week. Have a very happy Friday!

Showit Best of 2009

2010-02-03T22:12:00.007-05:00

Yesterday was one of those days...where I questioned everything that I have been striving for, wondering if it ever was going to be worth it...just plain struggling. There was no particular reason for the bad day, it just was. Life sneaks up on us sometimes.

But for whatever reason, it seems that when you just don't know how you are going to pick yourself back up, someone does it for you. Last night, they announced the Showit Best of 2009 nominations. I did not expect my name to be there, but it was. I have been nominated for "Brand Boost" which is described as the "coolest brand integration using Showit's share feature". After taking a minute to do a little happy dance around my office, I sat back down in shock. There are photographers that have been nominated that I admire and am just amazed how my name could even be listed next to their's. So, I am thankful for where I am at in life, and it has inspired me to do even more. I am thrilled to see what the future holds for my business!

If you are so inclined, please go vote for me! I'd appreciate it so much!

And you definitely need to go check out Showit Sites! It's awesome! You can even build a free site with their program! Check it out.

Blog List

2010-02-01T16:20:00.006-05:00

I am a complete list person, so there is no surprise that I would have a list of ideas for blog entries. Many times though, they never develop because there is simply not enough to write about the subject. I would compare it to the way I think of the iPad right now. It is not completely a laptop, but it is more than an iphone. Just like these notes are not quite an entire blog entry, but yet they deserve much more than the 140 characters that Twitter can give to them. So, here are some random things that are on my blog list this week.

1. My husband got me this awesome necklace for Christmas! I love it so much! On the little circle it says, "Vous etes mon destin" which means " You are my destiny."

2. I am so excited about my new Diana Lens. It's a plastic lens that goes right on my digital camera - so I get the ease of use that my digital camera provides, but I get the look of the old plastic cameras. I have not got to test it out a whole lot yet, but I can't wait to get outside with it. Here is a picture of Willie in the snow I took the first day I got it.

3. Ok, this is very hard to actually say out loud, especially to a large audience. I think I have to bite the bullet though. I am training for a half-marathon. There, I said it. I have been terrified to actually admit this to anyone because honestly, I don't know if I can do it. I have never ran a race in my life, but I have always wanted to do a half-marathon. Want may be the wrong word. I just thought it would be an awesome accomplishment. I am sure I will have many struggles along the way, and I will definitely keep you updated on my training. What's the worst that could happen? I guess quitting the entire training early, or not being able to finish the race. I sure hope neither of those things happen.

4. Because I am training for a half-marathon, my entire body hurts. (I thought exercise was suppose to make you feel good) The best thing that I have found to help with my aches is yoga. And I love the Namaste Yoga on FitTv! I had a bunch of episodes DVRed until my husband decided to switch cable companies. I just thought that I would have to rerecord them all. No big deal, right? Then I realized that our new cable company does not offer FitTv at all. I was very angry about this! So I have been searching everywhere to see if they were offered on DVD, and after searching for four months I found them today! I am pumped! You can get them here. So on those days when I know I will not be able to run without a great stretch, I will be popping in this DVD.

5. I am reminded over and over again that to be successful in my photography business (or most businesses for that matter) I have got to be myself. But there are so many times that I am looking at other photographers' blogs that I wish I could be like them, or take pictures like them, or be as successful as them. We all do it in every area of life. We can remind ourselves that life works best when you are you, but sometimes it takes something special for the advice to set in. Last night, watching the Grammy Awards it sunk in for me. The Michael Jackson tribute was unbelievable, and I kept thinking about how big Jennifer Hudson's voice is. Just absolutely gorgeous! And then when Jennifer Nettles performed with Bon Jovi I was reminded how distinct her voice is and beautiful. But Jennifer Nettles could never sing like Jennifer Hudson. The same as Jennifer Hudson could never sing like Jennifer Nettles. I will never be anybody but me. Being completely myself is what can make me distinct and help me stand out from the crowd because I know there is no one out there exactly like me.

6. And if you read my last blog post, here is a picture of the meal that I made about a week ago. It looks pretty, and it was good but not great.

Dinner for Two

2010-01-22T13:25:00.007-05:00

"The discovery of a new dish does more for the happiness of mankind than the discovery of a star." -Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Food brings so much happiness to my life in so many different ways. Almost every event I can think of in my life has been surrounded by food in some way, or even the food is sometimes the entire reason for the event.

I create events completely surrounded by food all the time. When Trevor and I want to do something but just don't know what to do (one of the problems of living in a small town), I'll think up this great evening filled with cooking, eating a wonderful meal, and enjoying each other's company with laughter and conversation. How can food create an entire evening? I don't know, but it does.

I really do enjoy cooking. At the beginning of our marriage I was always trying new recipes, but they were all new because I had never really cooked before that. I always said that I didn't cook because I didn't have to - my mom was and is a great cook. I was anxious and a little nervous about cooking when we got married. I was so afraid that I would be horrible at it and that we would never have a home cooked meal again. I'll never forget (maybe I shouldn't admit to this) but we were on our honeymoon, sitting on the beach, and of course I had my notebook along to make lists - I am such a list maker. I was asking Trevor to name every meal he could think of, and I would write it down because I thought that for sure, once we got home, I would not be able to think of even one thing to make.

I've come a long way from that, but lately I have not taken the time to try very many new recipes. Whether it has been because I've been busy or because I just haven't put the effort into it, I don't know. But one of my goals this year is to try one new recipe a week. I am sure we will find both good and bad recipes along the way (some probably ending with us ordering pizza), but it will also give Trevor and I one night a week where we can turn off the tv and computers, and just cook, talk, and enjoy one another.

Food is so much more than just food. And a new dish will definitely make me happier than a new star.

This is what I am going to be making tonight. (Now I feel like I am in the movie Julia & Julia) Maybe it should be Rachel & Leah because this recipe is from Rachel Ray. I love a lot of her recipes. This one is called " Teriyaki Chicken Legs" CLICK HERE to get the recipe. I will let you all know how it is, and if it is worth making either on my blog or twitter (follow me HERE). And if you have any good recipes that I should try, let me know in the comments. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Maggie + Brandon | Montpelier, Ohio Wedding Photographer

2010-01-21T10:26:00.020-05:00

My heart has always had a special place for winter weddings. The chill, all the sparkle, the glow of the lights, the snow, and the holiday love all make it so special. Maggie and Brandon were lucky enough to get a beautiful snow on the day of the wedding, and it made everything even more perfect. Their love for each other is so comfortable, and it has really stood the test of time already. They have both become very special to me, and I thank them for treating Trevor and I like an extension of their family.

Trevor caught this special moment. I just love the way he looks at her.

This image has become my favorite of the day. It feels like such a classic black and white.

These girls had so much fun! Their laughter was infectious!

I love this moment!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for Maggie and Brandon's slideshow!

Float Wrap Sale

2010-01-19T08:45:00.003-05:00

Attention all current clients! Float Wraps will be 20% off today (1/19) through Saturday (1/23). If you are interested in ordering one, Email Me or give me a call (419-551-6252).

Float Wraps are a great way to display your special moments because they become a focal point by standing out from the wall. They come in multiple different sizes and come completely ready to hang. Contact me for more information!

Here's to Three Years

2010-01-12T09:20:00.005-05:00

Our story. It is not only a story about love but mostly about faith. We always had love, from the very beginning, but faith is what kept us going; faith in each other held us together. Faith in you, faith in me, faith in love itself. Faith that God was holding us together for a reason.

I wrote this to Trevor three years ago. Three years ago we made a commitment to love each other forever, to have faith in each other for a lifetime. Every single day, I love him more than the last. I never knew it was possible to love someone so much. I am so thankful to have him by my side in this world.

He is my best friend. He believes in me when no one else does. He supported me before we even knew if this business would work. He thinks all of my crazy ideas aren't so crazy. I don't know what I would ever do without him. So, here's to three years with many, many more to come! Filled with laughter, stories, and love.

I love you Trevor!

A Better Story in the New Year

2010-01-06T09:58:00.006-05:00

There is nothing that I would love more this year than to work on making my story better. The story of my life, my everyday. I am reading a book right now that unexpectedly is the absolute perfect book to read at the beginning of a fresh new year. It is called, " A Million Miles in a Thousand Years" by Donald Miller.

If you look back on your life so far, are you living a great story? Great, not just average. Living a great story encompasses my entire list of resolutions or goals for 2010. But it is much more that that to me. I have been trying to figure out for the past three days how I would write about this, how to explain it. I have all these big ideas in my head of how to live a better story daily, but my mind spins so fast that it is hard to explain it into words. And then this morning, I read this quote from the book that described exactly what I've been trying to say the whole time.

... he didn't think we should be afraid to embrace whimsy. I asked him what he meant by whimsy, and he struggled to define it. He said it's that nagging idea that life could be magical; it could be special if we were only willing to take a few risks.

We all feel it, that idea that just keeps coming into our head. Some ideas are small like you should be helping that person that is struggling, or that you could be reading a great book but it's easier to just watch some mindless tv. Or the ideas could be huge like a trip that you have always wanted to take, or a race that you would love to challenge yourself to train for, or even a career that you would much rather be in than the one you are in now. Every single day we get these little (or big) thoughts in our head. I know many times, I ignore it. I push it back and tell myself that someday I'll do it. But when is someday? Why not now? I want to be able to look back at my life and know that I lived it to its fullest, no excuses.

So, while I sit here with a long list of goals for the new year in front of me, I know they all will help me live a better story. It will not be easy. I cringe just reading some of them knowing I will be completely out of my comfort zone. But, I am going to embrace a little whimsy into my life.

And because I want to have something pretty for you to look at too, I was trying to think of an image to show you and thought of this moment last year that describes this all perfectly. All fall, I would drive past these absolutely beautiful corn fields that would just glow in the fall sunlight. I kept saying in my head that I needed to stop sometime and photograph them, but I never had the time or was too busy to get where I was going. It was finally the middle of October, and I still had not done it. I was on my way home from an early Saturday morning photo session, when the voice kept telling me to stop at a corn field to take some pictures. I had my camera already in the back seat and the sun that day was gorgeous. But I wanted to get home so badly to spend the rest of my Saturday with Trevor so I kept ignoring it. Finally, all of a sudden I just pulled off onto a country road and took these images. Now, honestly, it took me less than five minutes to do this. Why hadn't I done it sooner? Why can things like this be so hard sometimes? Why don't we just do it? I am so glad I finally did. Now, I don't have to say, "I'll make sure to do that next fall", and I have these beautiful images to look at. Enjoy!

Best Image of 2009

2010-01-04T10:24:00.001-05:00

Wow! This was a really close contest, and the image that won only won by one vote. The winner is... Elizabeth and Justin, image #21!

Thank you to everyone that voted! Elizabeth and Justin will be receiving a 10x10 Canvas Gallery Wrap! Congratulations!

Best of 2009 Contest

2009-12-31T12:59:00.020-05:00

This past year has been amazing and unbelievable because of all of you! I have been honored that so many of you have chosen to invite me into your lives, not only as your photographer but as your friend too. I wanted to pay homage to this year by selecting the best images from all of 2009. It was difficult to say the least to narrow it down this far.

And because I know you will be able to decide way better than me, I want you to choose the The Best Image of 2009! The winner will receive a 10x10 Canvas Gallery Wrap (a $175 value) of the image that wins or an image of their choice from that session! To vote, leave a comment on THIS post, and the image with the most comments wins! Contest ends SUNDAY NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT! Only ONE comment per person choosing up to 3 different images. You are welcome to ask anyone you want to vote for you! Good Luck!

#1 - Elizabeth

#2 - Elizabeth

#3 - Lindsi + Justin

#4 - Lindsi + Justin

#5 - Anna + Mike

#6 - Anna + Mike

#7 - Anna + Mike

#8 - Brody

#9 - Brody

#10 - Jake

#11 - Gilsdorfs

#12 - Gilsdorfs

#13 - Maggie

#14 - Caleb + Natalie

#15 - Grady

#16 - Sayward + Blake

#17 - Sayward + Blake

#18 - Sayward + Blake

#19 - Elizabeth + Justin

#20 - Elizabeth + Justin

#21 - Elizabeth + Justin

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-23T09:13:00.003-05:00

With the holidays just around the corner, I wanted to send my love to all of you. I hope this holiday season is filled with warmth, love, and laughter surrounded by your family and friends.

Each year of Trevor and I's marriage, I have taken great pride in our holiday card. At first, it was just because I was so excited to have our own card to send out. Now, it is more because each year it becomes a representation of where we were with life and our family that year. I love looking back at each card to remember what those moments felt like, giving thought to how far we have come from that time and where we are headed. This year, it only felt appropriate to include our new home somehow, and of course, Willie. As crazy as I sound, he is our baby right now, and he makes our family feel more complete than ever.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season! I will be taking a little time off from the blog. See you all soon!

Maggie + Brandon | Sneak Peek

2009-12-21T16:17:00.004-05:00

When I woke up to a snow covered morning on Saturday my first thought was, "Oh no!". I felt that this was going to change everything we had planned for portraits on Maggie and Brandon's wedding day. But this just shows how wrong I was, and sometimes the unexpected in life is way better than what we have planned. It was absolutely perfect, but perfect does not even come close to doing it justice. Every single detail that they put so much thought into for their special day called for snow.

Snow has never looked more beautiful to me in all of my life. It sparkled surrounded by family, love, and laughter. I felt like I was in a dream world the entire day! Thank you so much to Maggie and Brandon and their wonderful families. Here is a small taste of what is to come. There will be so many more!

A Christmas Gift for Myself

2009-12-18T08:29:00.000-05:00

For years I have wanted my very own copy of the book "Family Pictures" photographs by Nicholas Nixon. Walking through the aisles at the Otterbein College Library, I found many wonderful art books to be inspired by, but this book changed my life. And any book that makes an impact on me, opens my mind, or changes the way I think about something in life needs to be on my book shelf. I love to see these books on a daily basis to remember the way I felt, the time in life when I read it, the way the pages felt, and how they changed me. How I became a different person because of the words on each page.

Nicholas Nixon's "Family Pictures" is one of these life changing books. This book found me while I was in my Sophomore year of college. We were assigned a photography project called "In the style of". We had to choose a photographer and complete a series of photographs that were in the style of that photographer's work. I don't think I had ever really known who Nicholas Nixon was until I started roaming the art section in the library for this project. I found this book, this tiny little paperback book. It was not like most art books that are large and extremely heavy. The images attracted me because they were different, natural. Nixon did a series on his family at home, his wife and two children. It was filled with photographs of simple, everyday moments. Moments that were not anything particularly special, just moments in the life.

That weekend I went home to photograph my family, specifically my four little brothers. Nothing happened the way I wanted it to happen. My brothers didn't want their picture taken, then they didn't want to stand next to each other, and then a few cried. I was upset, but I just kept capturing the moment. When I returned to school and got in the darkroom, I never wanted to leave. I spent hour upon extra hour making print after print. I had found my direction. I always knew I wanted to focus on photographing people, but this book showed me how I wanted to photograph people.

I have hinted to Trevor for years that this book would be a very special gift. Finally I decided that I was not going to wait any longer. I bought it for an early Christmas gift to myself. And I love looking at it everyday. It gives me inspiration, and when the craziness of my business takes over, it reminds me what I truly love about photography. I love capturing people's lives, the real moments.

Here is some of the work that developed throughout the final 3 years of my college career all stemming from the single project based on this book. I apologize for the quality of these images. They are all from slides.

I Am My Business, My Business is Me

2009-12-17T08:49:00.009-05:00

I love to write. When I have something really weighing on my mind, I journal, because I never want to forget where I have been - happy or sad. I was encouraged in college by one of my professors to take a writing class because I enjoyed integrating writing into my art so much. It was a creative writing class, where there are no rules, and I loved it!

Blogging is another outlet for my love of writing, but I feel like I have been holding back. And the thing is I never hold back with anything, what you see is what you get. I talk about my images, my clients, my business announcements, but I rarely have talked about me and my life. And really, I cannot define where I begin and my business ends. The line is completely blurred. I am my business and my business is me.

So, with that being said, I am going to start saying more. Saying more without holding a whole lot back. It is not going to be easy. My stomach is in knots just saying it because when you put yourself out there like this, it is easy for others to judge you. But I want you to know me because when you schedule a session, me is exactly what you are going to get. I want my blog to be a journal of my life, loves, art, photography, and my business. Maybe not exactly like my seventh grade journal, but just as personal without so many juicy details.

And because a post is nothing without a picture, here is a couple of personal images from October. Trevor and I took two of my brothers, Sam and Gabe, to an apple orchard. It was so much fun! It was the first time I had ever picked my own apples. And boy were they delicious. I wish I had one right now!

Our Home

2009-12-14T13:28:00.045-05:00

This blog post has been a long time coming. Finally, my house feels like it is in order. And, actually, I feel kind of lost without any projects to be working on in the evenings. Knowing me though, I will begin another project soon enough.

I'll never forget the day we got the keys to our first home because it was my birthday, August 23rd. From that moment until the last week of September we were working on the house 24/7. There was always someone here. It was a form of exhaustion that I have never felt before, and it seemed like the longest month of my life. But we made it, and like everyone told us along the way, it was definitely worth it.

To fully appreciate this post, make sure to go back and look at the before pictures. This is by far the longest post I have ever done. I thought about splitting it up into two, but I have promised this to you for so long that I decided to package it up as one big present! So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy a tour of our house!

Living Room:

I love these birds. Everything about them makes me happy. I got them at Green Awning Gallery in Stryker, OH.

Luckily, we had all of this furniture somehow squeezed into our apartment.

This print hanging on the wall was given to me from a fellow classmate at Otterbein, very close friend, and one of my very first brides this summer, Anna. I absolutely adore it! The lamp, I fell in love with at T.J. Maxx and just could not go home without it.

I made a major trip to IKEA right after we moved in. The hall tree and magazine hanging rack are both from there.

Kitchen and Laundry Room:

One of the major projects was painting all the cupboards. I think it made a big difference to the look of the room though.

My little brother got these for me for my birthday at an auction. They belong in this kitchen.

I am so happy that I added these shelves. They are added storage that will never go to waste.

Sitting Room:

Found these great frames for free, and then I spray painted them yellow. They work perfectly for the images of Trevor and I at the fair that were taken by C Studios.

This table was another one of my great finds. I got it at a garage sale for ten dollars and then spray painted it.

This is one of my favorite pieces of art that I own. The artist is Kelly Goode, and you can find more about her here. I bought this in Savannah, Georgia, and while I was there I actually got to meet the artist and talk to her for awhile. Our lives seemed to be running parallel in so many ways. All of this makes this piece very special to me.

And the lamp is from IKEA.

Extra Bedroom:

Hallway:

Pictures are obviously a very large part of my life. I decided that this was going to be my picture wall. I am going to continue to let it grow and change.

Bathroom:

This is by far the biggest change in the entire house. It went from my most hated room to my favorite. We painted the cupboards and walls, new flooring, new shower, new faucet, and new toilet.

And, of course, my shower curtain from Anthropologie that I chose before we even had the keys to the house. It was my inspiration for the entire bathroom.

Oh, and new lighting fixtures, new mirror, new towel and toilet paper racks.

I got all of these frames for free too and just spray painted them.

Office:

It is so unbelievable to finally have a room that is completely dedicated to my business. I love it!

The art on the wall is mine that I did in College. I had them framed because they were accepted into the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition. Ever since then I have had no where to hang them since they were so large until now. I am so happy to see them everyday now. They are acetone photo transfers that I did from images that I had taken of my brothers.

I got these chairs at a garage sale this summer for $4 a piece. Then I found this fabric, and my mom recovered them for me.

Tables from, of course, IKEA. I have seen these on just about every show on tv because they are only $7.99 a piece. Amazing! And somehow, Willie slipped into one of the pictures.

I got all the office furniture from Sauder Store and Outlet.

All of the vintage cameras on the book self are from garage sales, and each one has some kind of story behind it. The green boxes and the curtains are both from IKEA.

Bedroom:

This definitely has become my favorite color of paint in the entire house. I just love it.

I took these images on a road trip through Virginia and thought that they would work perfect in this room. The shelf and the frames are from IKEA.

This is more than a house now, it is our home.

Jace | Kids

2009-12-11T11:02:00.014-05:00

Jace is one of my absolute favorite little guys to photograph! He has such a big personality for only being two years old, and he provides friends and family with plenty of laughs. At the beginning of this session, he just wasn't having much fun being outside, but as soon as we went into the barns he had a ball! I guess his true farmer came out. Only problem was, he was concerned about his boots getting dirty. I guess he is not a complete farmer quite yet. Enjoy!

This is one of my absolute favorites! How can it not make you smile?

Jace | Sneak Peek

2009-12-01T09:29:00.002-05:00

The sunshine this morning makes me very happy, and so does this picture. I just had to share it to hopefully brighten your morning too. There will be many more to come very soon! Enjoy!

Black Friday Deal

2009-11-26T16:47:00.000-05:00

Many people will refuse to step out their front door on Black Friday for fear of being run over by the frenzy of people. I definitely used to be that way. I would shop any other day, but not Black Friday. Soon I realized though that some deals are just worth it. I am not the one in line at 4am, but I am willing to go as long as I make sure that I am filled with patience.

I did not want anyone to be left out on Black Friday, whether you will be out of the house most of the day or not at all I have something special to offer. This will be a once a year opportunity so take advantage of it. It will offered starting a little early at 10pm tomorrow (Thursday - Thanksgiving) until 11:59pm on Friday. And that's it!

If you purchase a gift certificate for one session fee (cost is $100) you will not only get a session, but you will also get a $25 gift certificate, a free 8x10 from the session, 10% off all product from the session, and I will donate $15 to our local Fulton County Toys for Cheer. The options for this are endless. It would be a great gift for family, friends or yourself. Or keep one gift certificate and give one away. It would be perfect to use for pictures of your family, your child, of a couple for their first anniversary, a new baby, a day after session for a bride and groom - the options are endless. The gift certificates will be good until November 30, 2010, so there will be plenty of time to schedule your session.

To purchase this gift certificate, go to my blog (www.lreneestudio.blogspot.com) at the designated time and there will be an online purchase button. Everything will be able to be done online. Make sure to provide you address, and your gift certificates will be sent to you. If you have any questions at all you can Email Me or call me at 419-551-6252.

Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T09:00:00.000-05:00

My life has been so truly blessed this year. I need more than one day to give thanks for all the things I have been given this year. And there is not one day that goes by that I don't think about it, and today I will be spending the day giving thanks for all that has been given to me.

- Our family of three, including my husband and my puppy. I love them both so much! I have been lucky enough to have my husband along side me this year at weddings, which makes it so much fun. And our puppy has completely changed our lives this year. We love him more than anyone should love a dog. Willie is treated like a King and he knows it.

- Our new house, words cannot describe how thankful I am for our beautiful new home. It is more than I ever expected, everything about it makes me smile. We have been so lucky to be able to fix it up the way we had dreamed it to be. It has really become our home, and it feels so good. And without my entire family, none of it would have been possible. So I am extremely thankful for all of their time and energy they gave willingly for an entire month.

- My business, the joy it brings me is unbelievable. Absolutely loving what you do is priceless. Nothing is better than to be excited every morning to start working. And I have to thank all of my amazing clients this year for making it all possible. Each session and each wedding holds a very special place in my heart.

I hope each one of you has tons to be thankful for today! Enjoy your holiday and eat lots of turkey for me! I love turkey! Another thing to be very thankful for.

And since a post would be nothing without a picture, here is my adorable puppy!

Gilsdorf| Family

2009-11-25T11:19:00.018-05:00

Everything about my first session with this family was amazing, and I was so excited that they called me to schedule another one this fall. Oak Openings had so many things for Mason to get into that I definitely got my workout that day chasing him. It was worth it though and so much fun! And having their two dogs there was an added bonus. I just love dogs! Enjoy!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow.

Elizabeth + Justin | Engagement

2009-11-23T13:54:00.030-05:00

I have never been so excited for a photo session! When I got this email from Elizabeth, one of my 2010 brides, I literally jumped up and down!

Just wanted to let you know that Justin and I are super pumped about our
engagement pictures! After much contemplation.... We are going to try for
a 1970's look... not crazy, bright, loud, hippie, retro 70s... but more of
a classy vintage style.

Along with the email she sent me this image as their inspiration.

I was speechless for awhile. I have been wanting to do something like this for so long and know the right couple had come along! After more planning and lots of brainstorming, I don't think the session could have been any better. Justin is wearing a three piece vintage suit that he borrowed from a friend, and Elizabeth got her dress off of ebay and then had it altered. They brought along a record player and some old records, and I brought along my thrift store suitcases that I bought months ago waiting for just the perfect session. We chose to go to downtown Bowling Green for the session. It became the perfect background to create the vintage 70's look.

Thank you Elizabeth and Justin for not only stepping outside the box, but challenging me in a whole new way also! I cannot wait for your 2010 wedding!
Enjoy!

I loved Elizabeth's shoes, and she just found those at a local thrift store the night before our session!

We stumbled upon this record store, and I could not pass up an opportunity like that.

This is another idea that they found while looking at images online. (They did their research!) They handmade this quilt with their wedding date and are going to use these images for their Save The Date. How cute is that?

And if you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Gilsdorf Family

2009-11-16T11:48:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, I was working on the images from this family session when I can across this image. I stared at it for awhile. It reminds me of the illustrations from Where the Wild Things Are, and now also the movie. I think it is because of the trees. I am just in love with it though and thought you might also enjoy it. More to come soon!

Grady | Kids

2009-11-13T14:15:00.017-05:00

I was so excited to photograph this little guy because not only is he my little buddy, but he is also now my next door neighbor. I love being able to see him more often now with being so close. His first year of life just flew by, and somehow he just keeps getting cuter. Enjoy!

If you want to see his newborn session, click here, or his 6 month session, click here.

Natalie + Caleb | Kids

2009-11-05T14:27:00.011-05:00

Sometimes I find myself inspired in a way that I wasn't quite expecting - pushing me to create in a new way. Photographing these two adorable children at a location that I had never been to before helped me to see each image a little clearer. These two children just warmed my heart with how they interacted with each other. I could really see just how much they loved each other. Caleb definitely looks up to his older sister, Natalie. Enjoy!

They were so excited the whole session because when we were done they were going to get to ride their bikes. Natalie was especially proud because she just learned how to ride her bike without training wheels!

Amspoker | Family

2009-11-04T15:00:00.000-05:00

I just cannot get enough of this family! I have so much fun photographing them and always look forward to see how much the kids have grown. The day of their session was a perfect, crisp fall morning. We did their whole session in the backyard of their new home. They have beautiful apple trees that provided a perfect setting along with the striking morning sunlight. Enjoy!

Beck | Family

2009-11-04T09:06:00.016-05:00

For some reason this morning I am having a wave of emotions. I just feel so very lucky to be doing what I love. I have been so busy the month of October, and I have had the most wonderful clients. I am so blessed to have clients that trust my creativity and want to be creative along with me - bringing ideas, props, and a relaxed feeling to each session. They all make my job amazing!

This is one of the families that always gets me excited! In September they added another little boy to their family, and I had been looking forward to photographing him throughout the whole pregnancy. Little Brody is a sweetheart, and he has a pretty great big brother too! Enjoy!

And I just had to show you the Baby Announcement that we created for little Brody!

Work In Progress | Part 2

2009-10-28T20:59:00.015-04:00

Right now I am very upset that there are no studs in the wall behind my toilet. Random, I know. But it is what I am upset about tonight. I had wanted to hang two white shelves on that wall and now it just isn't possible. This changes everything! Now I need a new place for my shelves and something else to put on the wall behind the toilet. This has been my life for the past two months. Lots of little decisions and big projects.

And because of my perfectionist tendencies, I wanted my after pictures of my house to be of it completely put together and decorated. But, then you would be waiting forever. So here are some pictures of the house right before we moved in. Soon, I will be posting pictures of each room fully put together. Hopefully soon, because it is hard living in a house that is not perfect when you are perfectionist. Enjoy!

Oh, and to remind you of what it looked like before, CLICK HERE.

Kitchen - painted the walls and painted all the cupboards.

Laundry Room and Half Bath - painted the walls and also the cupboards.

My feet on my wonderful, soft, new, beautiful carpet! I love it so much that the first day I just had to do a snow angel in it. Or would that be a carpet angel?

The Dining Room - we are using it as an extra sitting room.

Living Room - I am so happy with the one wall of wallpaper.

Extra Bedroom -

Bathroom - This is the biggest transformation of the entire house! It was the room I hated the most when we bought the place, and now I think it is my favorite room in the whole house. I love it!

My office - This is really exciting to have a room completely dedicated to my business. My office before was also the room that anything extra fell into. Not anymore!

Bedroom - This is my favorite paint color of all. It turned out better than I even could have imagined.

Sayward + Blake | Wedding

2009-10-27T17:35:00.027-04:00

Sayward and Blake just look at each other, and you can feel their love. Their comfortable laughter makes everyone around them comfortable. And this comfortable love for each other made their wedding the most beautiful day. I hope you enjoy!

This ceremony site was the most beautiful I have ever seen! It was cold, but it never rained until the last guests were filing inside.

Blake loved his surprise Groom's Cake!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE to see a slideshow!

October

2009-10-26T08:18:00.007-04:00

This month has been filled with sessions! So where are all the images? I promise they are coming. There is going to be so much to see in the coming days and weeks, and I hope you will come back to see them all! And to make your Monday a little brighter, here is an image I am in love with from a recent photo session at Oak Openings.

And, if you are still thinking about having a session before the holidays, there is still time. And the colors outside are gorgeous right now, so it is just the perfect time. Write me (leah@lreneestudio.com) or give me a call (419-551-6252) if you are interested.

Matt, Isaac, Gabe and Sam | Kids

2009-10-08T15:00:00.000-04:00

It is becoming so interesting how my brothers react to a photo session with me because they have literally grown up with my camera in their face. I've always wondered if I have some how traumatized them because of that. Or changed how each one of them feel about a camera and getting pictures taken of them. The one thing for sure is that they are expecting more and more each year out of me. The pressure! At age ten, Sam is telling me that my locations are too boring. What is he going to expect for his Senior session or his wedding day?! Who knows? They definitely keep me on my toes though.

One of the sad parts is that they are really growing up. I actually got an image with all four of them, and (hold onto your seats), they are all smiling! As much as I have always begged and pleaded for that to happen, now that it has, it's not so sweet.

We definitely had some fun along the way. I finally got to be in a picture with them. In every single picture filled album I have, it looks like I am never there. I guess that is a story of any photographer.

Marla + Steve | Wedding

2009-10-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

When Marla called me to see if I would be available to photograph her and Steve's small, intimate Labor Day weekend wedding I was ecstatic! Not only were they an amazing couple, but they had an amazing family as well. They were all so much fun to be around. Enjoy!

Sayward + Blake | Sneak Peek

2009-10-07T17:39:00.003-04:00

Blake and Sayward hold a very special place in my heart. They are one of those couples that just make your heart leap every time you see them together. Their love for each other radiates as does their love for their family and friends. I have loved being a part of their lives throughout the past months.

Their wedding this past Saturday was perfect. There will be many more images to come, but I wanted to make sure to get one on the blog before they head off on their honeymoon! Have fun and relax!

Willie

2009-10-07T10:13:00.017-04:00

I'm back! Back to a life of normalcy - whatever normal is anymore. And I am so thankful for it! Only one house to take care of, my hands aren't covered in paint, and I am getting back to what I love most - my business! I feel just as guilty about letting my blog slide to the bottom of the to do list this month as I do about skipping some much needed workouts. But just as I am going to get to the gym to kick my butt to make up for all of last month, I am also going to be blogging lots! I have so much to tell and lots of images to show.

One of the biggest things that I have been just dying to tell is that we added a member to our family. A puppy! His name is Willie, and he is a Yorkshire Terrier. It has been so hard to hold this in as he has become such a big part of our lives, but we technically were not allowed to have him in our apartment. We got him back in June before we even had bought our house. And now that we are all moved in I want to tell the whole world about him! He is just the best! You will be hearing lots about him now that I can, probably too much. Look how cute he is!

This is the first night that we got him. He was so tiny! Only two pounds.

This is Trevor's very first pet. How cute?

He has become part of our entire family. The boys absolutely love him!

He loves to look out the window when we drive. Yes, we are now those drivers.

Our little family!

He's experienced all the new house craziness with us.

I hope I haven't bored you with all this, "Oh, my pet is so cute!", but I couldn't hold it back any longer.

Holiday Card Sessions

2009-09-09T16:34:00.003-04:00

Is it that time of year already? Not quite yet, but the holidays are going to be here before you know it. I don't have to explain to you how fast time flies. I don't think anybody has a slow life these days. Every second seems to be filled with something that has to get done. Right now with the new house craziness that is going on in my life , I am the biggest proponent of accepting help. And to help you this holiday season I am offering Holiday Card Sessions.

It will include:
* 45 Minute Session
* 30 Day Online Gallery
* Two Boxes (25/Box) of Custom Designed 4x5.5 Holiday Cards
* One 11x14

The total investment for this is $250. Not only will this relieve some stress by not having to take your family holiday card photo or having to create your holiday card, but prints from your session will make great holiday gifts to so many people on your list. If you are interested, make sure to book your session soon because there will only be a limited number of sessions available. Sessions will need to be held between September 14th and October 31st.

Sayward + Blake | Wedding

2009-09-08T22:48:00.020-04:00

When Blake emailed me about a month ago to say that him and Sayward had decided to get married in two weeks time because his dad had taken a turn for the worse my heart sank. There was nothing I could say to make it any better other than, of course I will be there.

Blake and Sayward planned a small, intimate, family centered wedding in the small chapel of Blake's family church. Even though it was never directly spoke of, everyone knew they were there not only to see Blake and Sayward declare their love for each other, but so that Blake's father could also be there to see it.

Sadly, Blake's father passed away this past Saturday. In celebration of his life, and Blake and Sayward's new marriage, I wanted to post these wedding images. Please keep them all in your thoughts and prayers now, and as Blake and Sayward have their October 3rd wedding.

Work In Progress

2009-09-02T14:23:00.013-04:00

The last week and a half has been somewhat of a blur. Every spare waking moment, including some moments where I should be sleeping, have been spent at our new house. There is so much to do before we move in at the end of the month. Of course, being the over organized control freak that I am, I want everything perfect before we are actually living there.

I have been wanting to get these "before" pictures up here for the past week so that all of you could see our home. But the real reason I want all of you to see the "before" pictures is so that when you see the "after" pictures, you will understand the amount of work we put in and why the skin on my fingers has split open from scrubbing so hard. I just want you to fully appreciate it!

I am basically just going to give you a tour of our house. Here we go!

The front of the house. We have a very large yard, and we are very thankful for our wonderful neighbors that are allowing us to borrow their mower for awhile.

Laundry Room and Half Bath: This is to the left when you come in from the garage. I am excited to have our laundry in a separate room.

Kitchen: Yes, we are keeping the orange counter tops and the floor. We are going to be painting the walls the sunwash color (that color is also going in the laundry room and dining room) and we are also painting the cupboards. Those are going to be painted the color "weathered wood" which looks more brown than it does here.

This is my kitchen flooring that I actually LOVE! Call me crazy, but I liked it right when I saw it. Trevor and every one else on the other hand does not enjoy it as much.

Dining Room: We are going to use this room as a sitting room. There is a patio off to the left here, which we are really excited about. We both love to be outside whenever it is warm.

Living Room: I love how large the living room is. This is the wallpaper that is just going to be on the one wall that had wallpaper there in the beginning, and the other walls and hallway are painted the darker tan.

Bathroom: This room has been the most work, but luckily not for us. It is going to be wonderful when it is all finished!

Below is the paint colors for the bathroom, and my new shower curtain. I am more excited about this shower curtain that anything else. It was my one splurge.

Extra Bedroom: My brothers have already claimed this room. It sounds like they will be staying over quite often. I decided to go a neutral color for this room just so that I don't have to buy all new stuff for it.

Office: I am ecstatic about having an office that is purely an office! Right now my office seems to be the overflow room for everything at our apartment. My new office is big, has a great closet, and lots of light shining in. It is going to be painted this great yellow, and I am hoping to pick out some new office furniture soon. If you have any suggestions on furniture, I would love it! I cannot find what I am looking for right now.

Master Bedroom: I don't know why I only have one picture of this room. It also has two windows in it. It is going to be painted the "Autumn Fog" color below. Hopefully, very calming. And then I got a new oversized deep navy comforter for our bed. I want to either accent the room with orange or green. Not quite sure which one though yet.

Hope you enjoyed seeing it all! I cannot wait to start getting some "After" pictures up here. I guess just stay tuned.

Raegan | Baby

2009-09-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Baby Raegan is a precious little girl. When I arrived for our photo session she was lying on her changing table as content as can be. She was happy the entire time, and even fell asleep for the last half hour I was there. What lucky parents, huh? I think I can be pretty sure in saying that they feel pretty lucky to have her in their lives.

You just have to have one crying picture! This is the only time she cried the entire time.

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Lindsi + Justin | Wedding

2009-08-31T15:21:00.015-04:00

Lindsi and Justin's wedding was so beautiful, and all of their family and friends were so much fun! I don't know if I have ever laughed so hard throughout a wedding day. It was a blast! We didn't expect for it to rain throughout out all of their portraits and be cold on an August day, but it all worked out in the end better than we ever imagined. I hope you enjoy! I think I am in love with every single image!

Lindsi and Justin chose to do all of their pictures before the ceremony which I highly recommend. These are images from their First Look. This is the perfect example of how romantic it can be to see each other for the first time on your wedding day. Spending an hour of portraits of just the two of you on your wedding day may be the only time that you are alone all day, and I just think it is precious. I had a first look on my wedding day, and I wouldn't give that time we spent alone together up for anything.

My absolute favorite image of the day!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Raegan | Sneak Peek

2009-08-24T16:37:00.004-04:00

Raegan is one adorable little girl, and I know all of her family agrees. There will be much more to come, but I just had to give you a little peek today. Enjoy!

Kristin + Cole | Wedding

2009-08-24T12:01:00.018-04:00

When I first spoke with Kristin she told me that that they had gotten engaged at Hiney Gate. I think my husband was drooling because of jealously over this little piece of information. After learning more about Kristin and Cole, I just knew that Ohio State had to be a big part of their wedding day. Being a fan is a big part of both of their lives. It showed through with every detail of their wedding. Congratulations Cole and Kristin! Enjoy!

The girls decided that they wanted a picture of them doing O-H-I-O, so we also took one of the boys to match.

But, of course, the boys had to take it a step further and spell out OHIO STATE completely!

Mmmmm....buckeyes!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow.

Lindsi + Justin | Sneak Peek

2009-08-21T12:31:00.004-04:00

Without sounding cliché, Justin and Lindsi are a beautiful couple inside and out, and their wedding was a gorgeous reflection of them both. Much more to come. Enjoy!

Our New Home

2009-08-20T11:21:00.004-04:00

Finally here is some of the big news I've been talking about. I have just been dying to tell everyone, but I didn't want to jinx it. Trevor and I just bought our first house this morning! All the papers were signed today.

We have been looking at houses since this spring, knowing that right now is the perfect time for a first time home buyer. There were many highs and lows along the way, and this house came to us at just the perfect time. And, completely crazy, we are only moving four houses down the road!

I will be giving you lots of updates along the way because in the next couple of weeks a transformation is going to be happening. We are going to be doing a lot of painting and redecorating. I am sending out an open invitation to anyone who would like to help. We will be paying in pizza. But really in all honesty, if you have expertise in any area that would help, I am willing to trade services.

Here is a picture of our new home, and a picture of me and Trevor by our new front door so that we can always remember this special time in our life together. Enjoy!

Kristin + Cole | Sneak Peek

2009-08-14T10:30:00.005-04:00

Life has become more than busy right now, and there is so much news that I will be telling you all soon! News about my business and news about my personal life. There is just so much going on in my life right now, and it will all be announced on the blog in the coming weeks.

And so that you get an image today, here is a sneak peek of Kristin and Cole. Enjoy! I will talk much more about their scarlet and gray wedding when I create a full post for their wedding. Happy Friday!

Grey Likes Weddings

2009-08-11T11:10:00.003-04:00

To say I am excited is an understatement! I follow a lot of blogs, and Grey Likes Weddings is by far one of my absolute favorites! It has been a dream of mine to be featured on such a blog, but I never quite believed that it would actually become a reality.

While I was editing Anna + Mike's wedding, the thought briefly crossed my mind that it would be the perfect wedding to submit for the blog. I decided to just go for it because, as I always try to tell myself, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Luckily, I gained a lot and the wedding is now featured on Grey Likes Weddings blog! I am so thankful, and it is one more moment that I can take a deep breath and realize that I am living out my biggest dreams!

CLICK HERE to go check it out! And I highly recommend to you all to regularly follow this blog, but especially if you are planning a wedding!

Anna + Mike | Wedding

2009-08-05T19:20:00.028-04:00

Words cannot describe Anna and Mike's wedding day. The day was simple, but each detail had a piece of Anna and Mike added to it. The day was very peaceful and loving. Anna and Mike were surrounded by close family and friends, and you could feel the love that was wrapped around them. The entire day was filled with laughter, tears, hugs, and smiles. The emotion of the day was so precious.

I tried to soak in every moment, but I especially loved the feeling I got while I photographed Anna and Mike together. The way they would just glance at each other gave me chills. Congratulations to Anna and Mike! I feel very honored that I got to be such a big part of your wedding day. And I am so privileged to be able to call you both friends! I love you both!

This is one of my favorite images from the day! I adore it!

Anna told me months ago that she got this bird cage veil because she knew how excited I would be! It did not disappoint!

Her little brother made these bride and groom birds himself! They were so perfect!

Anna and me - so glad we got this picture!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Alec | Senior

2009-07-31T10:13:00.002-04:00

Wow! Where have I been? It is just that time of year - weddings every weekend, photo sessions during the week, and all of the craziness in between. And because of it, my blog has suffered. I wanted to make sure to give all of you a little something though on this absolutely gorgeous Friday! Enjoy the images from Alec's Senior Session!

Anna + Mike | Sneak Peek

2009-07-22T14:51:00.003-04:00

I am still flooded with emotions from Saturday's wedding. Not only is Anna a dear friend (and Mike now too), but the entire day was just simply beautiful. Everything was relaxed, calm, and simple - just like Anna. Hopefully this image can explain it a little bit better. It gives me chills!

Mello Family

2009-07-15T14:29:00.002-04:00

When I was a little girl, me and my sister were always playing pretend. I was always saying, "Pretend I'm an olympic gymnast, a beauty pageant queen, a school teacher, or a college student." We were always in another world, and would spend all day just creating that world to be as real as possible.

When I saw the location that they had chosen for their session, it seemed as if it was ripped right from the pages of a fairy tale! It is a little girl's dream pretend land! I can just imagine all the stories that could be dreamed up. Enjoy!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE to see a slideshow.

Become A Fan!

2009-07-13T16:08:00.002-04:00

Every day I try in some way to improve and grow my business. It continues to change daily in small and, recently, big ways, and I want you to be one of the first to know about it! One way to do that now is to become a fan of L. Renee Studio on Facebook. Once you are a fan you will be able to see images from recent sessions, hear about new products, join in on discussions, and get special promotions. CLICK HERE to become a fan, and you will have the opportunity to take advantage of the very first fan promotion!

Mello Family | Sneak Peek

2009-07-09T14:25:00.002-04:00

Much more to come of these sisters and their mom and dad! Enjoy!

Sayward + Blake | Engagement

2009-07-07T08:46:00.004-04:00

"Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh everyday, ah, now that's a real treat." - Joanne Newman

My heart was bursting with love while I watched Blake make Sayward laugh. And not just any type of laughter. It was the throw your head back, uncontrollable, stomach tightening type of laughter. A laughter that was full of comfortable, timeless love. Blake and Sayward have the type of love that withstands the test of time. A smile comes to my face every time I think about it.

Blake and Sayward met at college while they were both attending Bowling Green State University so they chose to have their session there. It was a beautiful summer evening! I cannot wait to photograph their fall wedding! Thank you Blake and Sayward for sharing your laughter with me.

This one makes my heart melt! I think it is my favorite.

Have you ever seen such gorgeous hair?! Wow!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Gilsdorf Family

2009-07-02T11:54:00.003-04:00

On the drive home from this family session I realized just how tired I was. Little Mason had me running after him the entire time. He definitely has a lot of energy - much more than I have! But chasing after him was so worth it! I am absolutely in love with these images, so there is a lot to see. Enjoy!

Isn't this just the reality of having kids? Love it!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow.

Gilsdorf Family | Sneak Peek

2009-07-01T22:22:00.002-04:00

I cannot wait to introduce you to this family! I fell in love with them at first sight. Much more to come tomorrow! Enjoy!

Kristin + Cole | Engagement

2009-06-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

Within just the hour of the photo session with Cole and Kristin I learned that they are a couple that likes to laugh together - at each other and with each other. They also have a fun competitive nature as a part of their relationship which I absolutely love because that is how me and my husband are. I think that a little bit of competitiveness and some humor mixed in with a strong friendship makes for a great marriage. Cole and Kristin have all of this. Their relationship makes me smile, and I thank them for that.

And did I mention that they got engaged at Hiney Gate?! My husband's dream! Enjoy!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a Slideshow!

Kristin + Cole | Sneak Peek

2009-06-25T11:52:00.002-04:00

What a fun couple! Their competitive, fun-loving nature definitely shined through when they broke out their Ohio State jerseys! More of that to come tomorrow! And how cute are their two dogs?! Enjoy!

Molly + Chase | Wedding Part II

2009-06-24T07:30:00.001-04:00

Wow! I can't even describe how exciting this wedding was for me. It will always hold a very special place in my heart as being the first under my business, L. Renee Studio. I will definitely never forget it! Thanks so much Molly and Chase! Enjoy.

All of the flowers were amazing thanks to Weeping Willow florists!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Molly + Chase | Wedding

2009-06-23T14:13:00.003-04:00

I am so excited to show you all the images from Molly and Chase's beautiful wedding! It was so much fun! The entire day was filled with excitement. Here is a sneak peek - I will be posting more tomorrow! Enjoy!

Lindsi + Justin | Engagement Part II

2009-06-15T10:45:00.004-04:00

There are many times that my clients will suggest locations for their sessions, and I absolutely love it! Each new location is a great challenge for me - always keeping me on my toes. When Lindsi said that she would like to spend some of our session time in her aunt and uncle's backyard, I never expected to get all this! I went in with some back up locations but there was no need.

I could not wait for Lindsi and Justin to see their images, so when I saw this email that she sent me I just knew I had to share it.

Leah,
I LOVE them! I have been soo excited to see them, and I don't think
they could have turned out any more perfect! Thank you sooo much!
Lindsi

So sweet! Thank you Lindsi and Justin! I cannot wait for your August wedding!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Lindsi + Justin | Engagement

2009-06-15T10:25:00.002-04:00

As I was looking through my viewfinder, I had butterflies in my stomach. As I was first uploading their images, I got butterflies in my stomach all over again. And, still now, every time I look at them I get butterflies all over again. I am just in love with this engagement session because you can feel the love radiating from this couple! I had so much fun with Lindsi and Justin! And, yes Justin, I got plenty of pictures with your eyes open.

I decided to first show you a few of the black and whites from this session because I really am in love with the look of them. The color images will be coming soon. Enjoy!

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer

2009-06-08T11:10:00.003-04:00

I just came across this article, and I think it is great! No matter who you choose as your wedding photographer, you should feel comfortable with them. Your photographer is a big part of your special day, and you want to be able to have fun with them. One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to know each couple as I would a new friend and many times staying friends. This article will be very helpful to all of you brides out there or any future brides - to read the article click the image below.

Bates | Family

2009-06-07T10:00:00.002-04:00

I so enjoyed photographing this young family! These little girls are just so adorable. I had a great time just sitting and playing with them. I really fell in love with the black and whites from this session. There is just something about them that gets me. I hope you enjoy!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow.

Big Dreams Come True

2009-06-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Right now I guarantee I am feeling anxious-excited with my stomach in knots, but also so proud to be living out my dreams! At this very moment I am photographing my first wedding under my business name, L. Renee Studio. (And just in case you were wondering, I am not posting this from the wedding...I wrote this yesterday and scheduled it to be posted today.) Each big moment like this the past year, I have taken a moment to take a big deep breath and realize that it is really happening. My dreams that I have dreamt over and over again are coming true. Each event makes me feel that I am getting closer to arriving and at the same time makes me dream even bigger. This is only the beginning! I know there are even better things to come!

Congratulations to Molly and Chase! Dream big!

Bates Family | Sneak Peek

2009-06-05T16:00:00.001-04:00

Little girls...I definitely don't get to photograph enough little girls! I had so much fun photographing these two. Enjoy! More to come soon.

Business Boys

2009-06-05T12:17:00.003-04:00

We could all learn a thing or two from these three boys on marketing our businesses. They set up a lemonade stand this morning, and as I have been sitting back watching them work, I have been amazed how their brains just keep spinning with ideas to get more business. They started out with just a table with lemonade and bags of peanuts. Right away, by selling peanuts, they were offering a product that no other kid had in the neighborhood (and believe me, there is more than just this one lemonade stand today, so they had to be competitive). Then they made their sign with their products and prices. They didn't just write peanuts - but that they were "Fresh Peanuts". The next thing they wanted was a tablecloth, and they claim that after they fixed up the table a bit their sales soared. I guess looking the part helps!

The one thing that melted my heart though is that they didn't just want to promote their business today, but they also wanted to promote mine. They came in the house wanting to give out my business cards. Now, they give my card with every purchase. How cute is that? They even wrote L. Renee Studio at the bottom of their sign. I just know they are either going to be entrepreneurs or sales men someday! They just have what it takes!

Jace | Kids

2009-06-04T08:30:00.000-04:00

One and a half is such a great age! New tricks, new words, and mass quantities of energy! Jace makes me laugh more than anyone, and he knows it too. There was no lack of laughing during this photo session - whether he was making one of his silly faces or trying to eat the wrong side of his lollipop. Enjoy!

This one cracks me up because he looks like he is posing for his senior pictures!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE to view a slideshow.

Jace | Sneak Peek

2009-06-03T11:33:00.003-04:00

Here's a great little series of my favorite little guy! I layed him down in the grass during our photo session thinking it would be great to get some close up shots of just his face with the bright green background. But, he absolutely hated it! I managed to get these though, which are still pretty cute! More to come tomorrow!

Trevor | Graduation

2009-06-02T11:17:00.004-04:00

I do know that it is Tuesday, not Monday, but I am just now recovering from my non-stop weekend. My brother, Trevor, graduated on Sunday, and his party was on Saturday. I also had a photo session on Saturday (images to come soon) and a friend's wedding to attend. Needless to say, our house was a disaster zone! The only time that we were home was to change clothes for the next event.

I am just so proud of my brother that I had to share some images from the weekend. He is an amazing young man. I only wish I had his work ethic, drive, and determination. If there is something he wants he works for it, and his best is never good enough. I know that if he works this hard towards all of his dreams in life, he will accomplish more than he can even imagine.

Here is all of us kids at his party. I was so amazed that we got one of everybody looking at the camera and smiling.

Trevor right before the actual graduation.

The two adorable graduates, Melinda and Trevor!

The entire family! I am so glad we got a good picture of all of us!

Now, I know Trevor might wrestle me to the ground for doing this, but I just had to. I get all emotional when events such as this come along. I love my family so much, and everyone is growing up way too fast! I don't want to bore all of you, but friends and family might want to take a little trip down memory lane. This is a slideshow I put together for Trevor's Graduation Party. Enjoy!

Anna + Mike | Engagement

2009-05-27T16:36:00.004-04:00

I was so honored when Anna asked me to photograph her wedding. Anna and I became great friends in college. We were both art students that were a little more organized than most normal art students (with our calendars outlined and highlighted). We each had long time relationships that started back in small towns at small high schools. And we both love to sit and talk over a good glass of red wine. She is the type of friend that I can go without talking to for months, but as soon as we do find the time to talk, it feels as if we never missed a beat and can just talk for hours. It is the best type of friend to have.

In college, Trevor and I kept talking about wanting to meet her boyfriend Mike. He went to another college a couple hours away, so it was difficult to find the time that we were all in town. It was always a joke of ours that Mike was really just a make believe boyfriend of Anna's, and he really didn't exist. We were finally supposed to meet him at Anna's Senior art show, and after an hour or so he still was not there. We kept cracking jokes that we were right and that he really was make believe. But he did come, and we were both so happy to meet him.

It was even nicer to be able to see my best friend with her one true love. Seeing them interact made me believe in love all over again. They are perfect for each other. I definitely approve, and I am so glad that he is real!

If you want to see more, CLICK HERE for a Slideshow.

Anna + Mike | Sneak Peek

2009-05-27T08:14:00.006-04:00

I will have lots to say about these images when I post more. I am falling in love with each one, so it was difficult to just give a sneak peek. Enjoy!

Loving My Life

2009-05-19T09:56:00.008-04:00

Wow! I have really disappeared from my blog lately! And I apologize...let's just say it hasn't been the at the top of my to do list the past week. It's not that I don't have anything to talk about; it's actually because I have too much to talk about and not enough time to do it! And I am loving it!

Here's a little overview of what I have been up to:
Saturday, May 9th, Trevor and I attended the Archbold High School Prom. We had the pleasure of photographing the high school students. We had so much fun! We did formal portraits throughout dinner, and then had a Photo Booth during the dance. I really think they enjoyed it. Here are some of the images from the Photo Booth (an evolution of the craziness), and if you would like to see more CLICK HERE.

All throughout last week, I had lots of editing, designing, booking of photo sessions, and meetings with brides! So exciting! I am loving my life and am so very thankful! And then to top it all off, I had the pleasure of traveling down to Columbus for an engagement session of my best friend from college, Anna, and her fiance, Mike. Those images will be coming later this week! I can't wait for you to see them!

This week continues to be busy, and there will be lots of photo sessions in the coming weeks. There will be so much to see as long as I keep up! I will do my best! Have a great Tuesday and enjoy the wonderful weather!

If I had to...

2009-05-08T13:33:00.003-04:00

If I had to go back to high school, which in all honesty I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, I would have to take Taylor Swift with me. I was the type of girl in high school that if I had a great day, I went to my room and blared my music and danced. But if I had a horrible day, which usually involved a boy, then I went to my room, laid on my bed, listened to the Dixie Chicks and cried. I replayed track five on their Wide Open Spaces cd over and over and over again. It was a really sad song, and a great one to cry to.

I wish so badly though that I would have been able to listen to Taylor Swift. She has the greatest mix of songs for a teenage girl. She has happy love songs, sad break-up songs, and fun songs about getting even with boys that have hurt you. What I love about many of her songs though is that they show that you can get through the sadness. Whatever happened that day at school, believe it or not, is not the end of the world.

I love one of her recent songs, White Horse. The story begins with her absolutely in love with a boy, but then he does something that hurts her. She can no longer trust him. He asks her for another chance, and she says no, hangs up the phone, and then starts crying. I love it because as a teenager in this situation sometimes you feel like if you don't give this love of yours another chance your life is going to be over. She had the strength to say no, but at the same time it shows that it was hard for her to do - but not impossible.

Tomorrow night, I am going back to high school. I will be going to prom to capture those signature prom photos. I am very excited about it and part of the reason is that I get to take Taylor Swift with me. (I will smile from ear to ear if they play one of her songs at the dance - but who knows what the kids are listening to these days...)

Enjoy the video!

Jake and Elizabeth | Kids

2009-04-30T15:55:00.008-04:00

Ecstatic does not quite describe how excited I was when I was called to photograph these two cuties again. When I first met Jake and Elizabeth back in October, I could not get over them. If you have looked at my website at all, you probably noticed that they are plastered all over it. They are just two of the most adorable and fun little kids I know.

The entire time I spent with them Jake was entertaining me with his many silly faces, and Elizabeth was crying. (I don't quite think she likes me as much as I like her) I was a little nervous when I got home to see if I had clicked away fast enough to catch a few of her not screaming. I was very pleasantly surprised, as you will see below.

This photo session really reminded me why I love to photograph children so much. Even though I have to work a hundred times harder to get that perfect shot, it makes it that much more rewarding. And they are images that will be treasured by families forever. I love my job!

Brooke, Thank you for allowing me to photograph your children. I had such a great time!

To see more, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!

Jake and Elizabeth | Sneak Peek

2009-04-29T21:03:00.004-04:00

Jake and Elizabeth are two of the cutest kids I have ever seen! I just can't get enough of them! Enjoy this sneak peek and there will be much more for you to see tomorrow!

Big Week

2009-04-28T10:22:00.005-04:00

Last week was a crazy busy week. With trying to get to the hospital to visit my Grandma, helping out my mom with the boys while she was at the hospital, photo shoots, and trying to get some work done my head was spinning. But we also had two big events that had been planned for months that we weren't about to cancel just because our week had taken a crazy turn.

Last Wednesday was my brother's thirteenth birthday! What a big deal for a kid - becoming a teenager! So Trevor and I wanted to do something fun for his gift. We picked him up from school and surprised him with tickets to a Mud Hens game. We drove to Toledo, went out for pizza, and then went to the game. It was raining off and on and cold, but leave it to Trevor to know someone in one of the suites! Matt loved it, and he especially loved the dessert tray that they brought around towards the end of the game.

Here are some snapshots from the evening. He is looking so old!

Then on Saturday we went to the Ohio State Spring Game. This is the third annual trip to the game that we have taken with the boys. They have so much fun seeing the game and being in the Horse Shoe! We left at 6:30 am with four very excited boys. I take that back - five very excited boys! Trevor loves the spring game. We had so many good laughs on the way down. I love these days that I know we are going to remember forever.

I was mom for the day, so I was trying to take good care of them by lathering them with sunscreen all day long. I leaned over at one point during the game and asked Matt if he needed more sunscreen. He looked at me completely serious and said, "Leah! I am so oily right now!" Right then I laughed and realized I might have gone a little too far. They are getting old enough to take care of themselves.

Molly + Chase | Engagement

2009-04-27T10:21:00.012-04:00

Molly and Chase were so much fun! It was so great photographing them on their farm. It was a way to show who they are together as a couple. They laughed, and I got to be the lucky one to laugh along with them. I cannot wait for their wedding coming up quickly in June!

Who doesn't love a girl that can wear amazing heals like that and not be afraid to get a little dirty sitting in the wheel of a tractor?! My kind of woman!

I was so excited when Molly and Chase wanted an image spinning off of "American Gothic".

To see more of their engagement session, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!