Dayton Weddings | Echo by Design | Wedding + Portrait Photography

..Some Client Cheer + Packaging | Dayton Wedding Photographer..

My clients mean the world to me. So I take extra care in making their experience with my services the best they can be. That includes spoiling them every now and then! So the last couple of years I have taken the opportunity to put together a gift for their first Christmas. {I know, I know…how late is this post?!?} It takes a little extra time and a lot of extra effort, even while I’m decking my own halls and enjoying the wonderful Christmas time. But it is SO worth hearing the love that I get back from my bride + groom’s! Usually something they don’t expect from me, which only fills my happy tank until it overflows!

I wish I could have been in each of their homes when they received their gifts. To see their faces light up. Because that is always my favorite part! This year their “Our First Christmas” ornament was sent in a beautifully adorned white box, wrapped in turquoise ribbon, and nestled in a bed of turquoise tissue paper. Stuffed away with a little love note thanking them for allowing me to be with them on their most special day.

And even while I was doing my best to spread some client cheer, I think I finally discovered just how I want to package all of my Echo by Design products!

I had a blast creating these sweet little gifts and I know that each and every one of my couple’s will appreciate it for years to come!

..CLIENT CHEER..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Reagan Elizabeth | Newborn Portrait Photographer..

Megan and I go back. Like wayyy back. We stood in the doorway of her house and realized we hadn’t seen each other since 8th grade. We met and played on a traveling volleyball league in each of our school’s off season. We loved volleyball, and to have that time on the weekend to play game upon game was just plain fun! So here we were years later and she had found me via Facebook. {Shocker…right?!?} We caught up and she told me her and her husband Matt were expecting! As always, I was thrilled for them and told her to keep me updated.

Meet little Miss Reagan Elizabeth, one very loved little miracle. She just so happened to be the first little girl born at her hospital on January 2nd at 5:29 p.m. After making her arrival by emergency C-section, she was weighed in at 8 lb. 9.6 oz. and was measured in at 20 inches long. Although not due until the following week, for her momma’s health she needed to meet the world. And her Mommy + Daddy were more than ready to meet the child that they had tried for for so long.

Megan shared, We figured it would be somewhat difficult to have kids due to me having PCOS, but it took us almost a year before we got that diagnosis. It was a hard pill to swallow when we were told we had to seek the help of a specialist. Fortunately we had a great doctor and it didn’t take long before we found out that we were pregnant. While it wasn’t how we thought we would get pregnant and it hasn’t been the fairytale I’ve had in my head, I wouldn’t change it for the world. During our session, she revealed this with me, expressing that no one likes to talk about it. She said, It’s almost like it’s supposed to be hush hush. But if it wasn’t for a friend of hers that mentioned her struggle too, they would have never met their specialist. Spilling her heart out, Megan stated, This little girl will never wonder whether or not she was wanted! She is our baby and will always be! {Insert deep breath + tissue break now!}

Asking her my favorite question of new parents and how it’s going, she went on to say, There are days when I feel like we are flying by the seat of our pants when it comes to this parenting thing. Then there are moments we are like okay we got this. We look at see this little girl who is completely dependent on us for her every need and we are in utter awe. She was completely worth the wait. She is such a good baby, we are truly lucky. Matt is amazing with her. She certainly has him wrapped around her little finger. We are also so lucky to have our parents so close to give us extra support plus all of our friends and extended family. This little girl sure is loved!

Thank you so much to Matt + Megan for allowing me to spend time with your beautiful daughter! Such an amazing blessing and I pray nothing but happiness over your household as she learns and grows! They grow so fast. Faster than you can imagine, so take in each and every sweet and not so sweet moment.

..LITTLE MIRACLE..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Jake + Liz | Winter Engagement Session..

Snow was falling and all I could imagine was these perfectly beautiful snow laden grasses, untouched and just ready for some engagement session fun. Two days, it just had to wait two days. Of course by the time that Saturday rolled around the snow had melted. All of it. Gone. I was bummed, but who ever said you can’t have fun in the middle of winter without snow? Right?!?

Meet Jake + Liz. They are perfect together! No really! Like marshmallows meet hot chocolate kinda perfect! I could tell from the instant they got out of the car. I have known Jake for years and I knew instantly that Liz would fit like a puzzle piece into the Kohring family! Her smile is enough to make anyone’s day a thousand times better. She met Jake at BGSU’s campus ministry called IMPACT in 2010. Jake explains, We teamed up for a mission trip to Guatemala in the summer of 2011. Although they both knew they liked each other, they waited on the Lord for confirmation for their relationship to move forward. Jake continues, In August of 2012 we took that next step and 3 months later I knew.

Liz tells the story, On the evening of November 17th, right before we ran the Hot Chocolate 15K together…{aka-America’s Sweetest Race}…Jake asked me to be his wife. On the edge of Mirror Lake on Ohio State Campus, Liz knew without a doubt he was the one. They hadn’t been together long, but when you know, you know! They started the race together and the journey of what is to become a very sweet ride. Jake said, I could’t believe it was happening. During the whole race I kept looking at her finger to make sure the ring was still there! {Seriously!?! Too cute!}

Although they had initially planned for a June wedding, they chose to move their date up to March! Jake was extremely excited, as he couldn’t wait to marry, and kiss the woman he had asked to be his wife. Waiting on marriage and being the purest of pure to each other, their wedding day will be the first time Jake gets to kiss his bride! The anticipation and love that surrounds them both was more than I could handle during their session. They were bursting at the seams and I was doing my happy dance…more than once!

Like the beginnings of any tree, your marriage will also be. The tree stump that I used for this photo had weathered many years! The rings on the tree show years of growth and years of much harder times, probably filled with droughts. Marriage is a wonderful thing and I hope this image always reminds you of that, no matter which type of season you are in! Praying for you always!

Jake + Liz! I am BEYOND excited for the both of you and the new adventures that you have in store! I know that God is going to overly bless your marriage for your patience and willingness to wait for each other. Thank you for allowing me to spend some time with you and I can’t wait for your upcoming wedding day! So much love and blessings to the both of you!

..HOT CHOCOLATE..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Looking Back + Being a Mommy | Talking Business..

Wowee! I feel like I am finally able to take a breath from the end of 2012! I have been ever so grateful for the amazing clients that helped make it such a fabulous time. Seriously! It was such a blessed year, both in business and my personal life. I learned more than I could ever ask for, and I know that there is so much more to come for 2013! I am beyond pumped for what is in store for both me + my future clients.

In this last season I was able to photograph in Michigan, North Carolina, and D.C., work with some really awesome couples + families, meet and connect with some great photog groups in my area, and continually define where I want my business to go. Each year is getting better and better than the last, and I am constantly being taught that my leap of faith was meant for such a time as this. I am beginning to see 10 fold the promises that were given to me, right in front of my eyes. Because of this, I have such a deep appreciation to those who consider and put their trust in me for such special memories, and I’m reminded every day why I document the love that I do. Because just like myself, I want it to be remembered for lifetimes.

One of the greatest lessons I learned in 2012 was how to juggle being a full time mommy and a business owner. I had set such high expectations for myself at the beginning of the year, to smash deadlines and be a regular blogger 3 times a week. While most times I was able to exceed my clients expectations, at times, I felt like I was struggling to keep my head above water. There is a fine balance between the two, and I never wanted either to ever feel neglected. Both depended on me equally. I could easily say that the first year of having Elijah was a challenge as he learned how to crawl, walk, get into things I never thought he could, and constantly build his immune system. There were days I felt like I was on top of the world in both aspects, and then there were days I felt like I wanted to crawl in a hole and give up completely. The amazing part about it all, is that I had the absolute best clients who did nothing but encourage and support me! Their faith in me drove me forward. I wanted nothing more than to give them the best customer service that I had always promised them. On the easy days I counted it as a blessing, resembling a steam engine that couldn’t be stopped. And on the tough days, I pushed through, knowing that the next day was a new day. A new beginning. A fresh place to start. I constantly reminded myself that I was doing my best in both realms and that was all that mattered to my clients and my son.

I love this picture I took in the Smokies. I find symbolism in the bare + full trees, the shaded + sunlit mountains, and even the blue skies that lie ahead. I count every day as a chance to learn something new in myself, as a mom + wife, and as a business owner.

In this next year, I know that I will be entering new season’s, both in business and my personal life. So be sure to join me in a few more destination get aways, as well as with some pretty awesome couples who are sure to make your heart melt! All the while, I get to be a bridesmaid in my youngest sister’s wedding and learn what it’s like to go through the terrible two’s! {Wish me luck, or leave me some advice!} From now until the end of this year is a journey. A journey that I am excited to face, head on. I’m ready for growth, challenges, triumph’s and all!

..JOURNEY..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Baby Jordan | Columbus Newborn Photographer..

A few months back I shared my friends Curtis + Kelly’s ..maternity session.. and journey of becoming parents! Although it hasn’t been an easy road for them at times, their sweet pea has made ‘it’s’ arrival. Although they had hoped for a November birthday, just like all the other members of their family, they were pleased to have a safe and healthy delivery!

Since they had chosen not to find out their baby’s gender, they found out in the delivery room. At Kelly’s request, Curtis would be the one to tell Kelly what the gender of their baby was when s/he made his/her arrival. Kelly told us from her perspective, After the doctor showed our baby to Curtis and he told me we had a boy, we both started crying and I instantly looked over at our beautiful baby as the doctor asked if I wanted him. I yelled “yes” though tears. They then put him on my chest and Curtis and I just started talking to him and touching him. We were so incredibly happy to have a healthy baby. After their emotions calmed down, Kelly looked at Curtis and laughed. The whole time they had somehow known it was a boy.

When they had come to Dayton for their maternity session, they had seen one of Eli’s jackets hanging by the door. Kelly put one arm of the jacket in each arm spreading it out while it rested on it’s hook. With a smitten grin she glanced Curtis’ way and said, we are sorta obsessed with boy clothes right now. They went on to say later, We both had a feeling we were having a boy the whole pregnancy. We have no idea why we thought we were having a boy, just a feeling we both had.

Curtis + Kelly welcomed their sweet little man into the world on December 1st at 2:21 p.m., I would still say an honorary November birth! He weighed in at 8 lbs. 5 oz. and measured 20 inches long. The feeling of having Jordan Lee, healthy and in their arms was a feeling they had waited for for too long. Losing Jessie wasn’t easy for them, but now they truly have the opportunity to experience parenthood at it’s greatest level. Curtis states, Parenthood is exciting and I love making memories with my son. The nervewracking part of parenthood is at times, trying to figure out what he needs so that I can always make him happy. Kelly followed in saying, Parenthood is amazing and we feel so blessed to have our daughter and now our son. Every time, I look at my son’s face, I can’t believe that he is here and he is ours!! We are so in love with our two children! She went on in sharing her feelings, Each and every day we feel more and more blessed to have Jordan in our lives and don’t know where we would be without each of our children. They have both touched our lives so much in different ways and we look forward to seeing how they will continue to touch our lives. We can only hope that we will be the best parents we can be to each of them as Jordan continues to grow and as Jessie continues to watch over all of us from Heaven.

Curtis, Kelly, Jessie, Jordan, + yes even Toby! Thank you for letting me come into your home and share such an awe-inspiring time with all of you. All of you mean the world to me and it brought tears to my eyes just watching you love Jordan. I know Jessie + Jordan are so blessed to have you as parents and I can’t wait to be a part of his life and watch him grow! So much love to all of you and I wish you only the absolute best for now and always! XOXOX!

..WE HAD A FEELING..

love, echo

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echoes of love