Dayton Weddings | Echo by Design | Wedding + Portrait Photography

..Event Cards | Talking Business..

Today I wanted to take a moment to spot light a very useful product on our Echo by Design a la Carte Menu! Many times I get a client that inquiries about our products, but are unsure of what they look like. I don’t always have the opportunity to show them in person, so for whatever reason my website and blog are their eyes. If your a client or even a future client, you have the chance to get a pretty good glimpse here on the blog or on ..EchobyDesign.com.. (under the Legacy tab) at some of our featured products.

So today I would like to show off our event cards. They are these A-MA-ZING eye-catching half-sized business cards that showcase your event, whatever that may be. They also have a double use for the opposite side to share where your photos will be hosted online. This would include your event name (i.e. Matt & Ami Schreiber) and the event pass code to access the site. This allows for a private online viewing where only your family and friends with the code can access your images from your session, whether that be your wedding day, engagement session, or newborn session etc. Many brides have used these to place on the reception tables for their guests to view their wedding images. Some have chosen to wait to send them in thank you cards after the wedding day. They could also be used in baby shower thank yous with your newborn’s portrait. These little cards are small, but what they can do for you is so much more!

Explore your ideas for event cards and let me know if there is any way in which I can help! Enjoy the rest of your Monday and hope it’s a sunny one!

..IDEAS..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..CLC Live Worship Concert | Just Because..

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to photograph our new church’s live worship concert. I was really excited about the opportunity to serve the people who have really made the Dayton area feel a little bit more like home. We are slowly getting plugged in while still balancing my schedule of weekend sessions and weddings, which honestly was expected. So I was deeply honored when Dirk, one of the concert coordinators, asked if I would be interested in capturing the live moments that were going to happen while they recorded a CD. The CD was going to be sold to raise money for their ministry in Swaziland, Africa. If you would like to get more information on how to help, head over to ..Christian Life Center.. where you can find out more on their mission to help Swaziland!

The lights were brought up and out walks Dustin, the lead worship pastor at our main campus. He took a few moments to introduce himself to any visitors and then dove into what their mission was for the evening. Once the crowd was pumped up and ready to use those voices in song, they brought out the band members. Cheering came from all around the sanctuary and not one person wasn’t standing and ready to help create a CD that would benefit a country. The first strum of a guitar was played and the smiles that lept across the crowd were contagious. All of a sudden “two-three-four” as the concert began. I love that feeling that conquers your soul and that is ready just to sing at the top of your lungs no matter how badly you or the person next to you can’t carry a note. The fortunate thing is that it doesn’t matter because we were praising the one who sees are heart and created our voice for all or as little as it was worth. Three bands took the stage through the night, rotating in and out to each give their voices the rest it needed and deserved. Through it all I was so glad that I had a chance to be a part of this night and this event. It blessed me in so many ways and I’m excited to see what the funds will do that were raised to help better a country in Africa! Enjoy!

The exciting part about this all for me is that Dirk contacted me again, he wanted to tell me not only would some of these photos be used for the CD sleeve that they recorded, but also to be printed and hung in the brand new connection center that they are building for our Little York Campus. I am beyond stoked!

..VOICES..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Baby D 20 week Ultrasound | Just Because..

Last week was an exciting week in our household, we were going to see our baby for the first time in 12 weeks! That doesn’t normally seem like a long time and if your life is anything like mine, it usually flies by. However in our case, waiting that long to see our child again seemed like eternity! Even though we are going to have to wait EVEN longer now to see our baby again, but this time it will be even more exciting to meet him or her in person! That is soooo crazy to even think about.

Tuesday we drove 15 minutes to our doctor’s appointment and arrived just a few extra minutes before in case we could get in early. Unfortunately for us it felt like the longest wait known to man, because about 5 other women along with myself and Brad were waiting all for the same reason! Finally, the ultrasound tech came and called my name! It was our turn! My palms were sweating and my heart was beating out of my chest. I laid down on the ever so comfy chair as she applied the warm jelly to my ‘bump.’ Then the moment we were so anxiously awaiting came, there was Baby D curled up and comfortable within me. It didn’t seem real, almost as if every woman saw the same image in each appointment. That was quickly shot down once the tech started poking and prodding at our little one, for the movements on the screen were felt simultaneously inside of me. I think if I wasn’t so excited and in awe of God’s creation I probably would have been in tears!

We sat there and watched as the lady checked each of the baby’s vital parts, she counted all 5 fingers and toes, looked over the brain to make sure it was developing perfectly, and even scanned over the spinal cord. Baby D wasn’t being exactly cooperative and kept moving each time she went to observe something that was important for our checkup. At one point Baby D moved his or her left foot all the way up near his or her head while the right foot was stretched out. We had to be very careful at that point that he or she didn’t reveal any particular areas! Before we knew it, it was all over. Brad and I just didn’t want to leave! The report went great, everything was growing proportionally well and the baby’s heartbeat dropped to 144.

On Thursday we went back for our followup appointment. Again, our doctor confirmed that everything was going well! I asked the dreaded question of how much weight I had gained. Shockingly, in 4 weeks I had gained 6 pounds! I have no idea where that went because you sure couldn’t see it in my belly! In 16 weeks I had only gained less than 2 pounds, so I was surprised by the jump. I was happy to hear that it was all a healthy weight gain though! After measuring the heartbeat we were informed that it had decreased once again to 129. We are so blessed to have a healthy baby and couldn’t be more thankful for these great checkups!

Baby D was scratching his or her head, it was so amazing to watch…

This one is my favorite! One hand is up by the face and then his or her left foot wanted to join the party…

Both tiny feet…

Baby D finally being cooperative! This just amazes me to see our baby’s profile.

We wore him or her out, rubbing his or her eyes…

Thank you so much for everyone that has been continuously asking about Baby D and me. It is very appreciated!

..SIX HEALTHY POUNDS..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Matt & Ami 3.26.11 Part II | We Said I Do..

I am so excited about all the comment love that you have for Matt and Ami!! Their day was beautiful in all ways and I’m sure I could speak on their behalf by thanking all of you who could and even could not be there to celebrate with them. Your well wishes for the beginning of their life together is all they could hope for!

After the beautiful ceremony that took place, we were able to steal away all the bridal party members and our lovely bride and groom. Matt and Ami chose a charming little gazebo on the other side of town for the first portion of their portrait session. Secondly, we were able to use a really old iron doorway that was still in place on the local town library for the newly married couple. Due to the chilly air that swept past we tried to make it as quick and painless for everyone as possible, while still capturing the memories that they would hold dear for a lifetime. Let’s just say we let them snuggle a lot!

One of my favorites from the day!

Two from Jaylene’s perspective…

Another one from Jaylene…

If you are family and friends of this beautiful couple make sure to get in touch with them to see the pictures online!! They will all be available soon. Ami and Matt, thank you, thank you, thank you, for allowing me to be all than just a portion of your beautiful day! Many blessings to you and your forever together!

..SNUGGLING..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Matt & Ami 3.26.11 Part I | We Said I Do..

All week I had been watching the forecast like a hawk, is it going to be sunny, rain, snow, cool, etc? One could never really know with Ohio weather. One day it’s 55, gorgeous and not a cloud in the bright blue sky, and then the next day a front comes in and the temperature drops to 30 and snow begins to fall. This particular Saturday I was praying for sunny skies and 50 degree temps. Unfortunately, such was not the case and the chilly March afternoon proved to be just that. Go figure, right?

I arrived in Zanesville where Matt and Ami chose to share their special day with family and friends. Ami was the perfect bride-to-be, she was nothing but cool, calm, and collected awaiting her moment to walk down the aisle. Matt was much of the same, joking in the youth room of the church with his groomsmen by his side. The guests began to arrive and excitement was building in each room as the time neared for Ami’s walk down the aisle. Jaylene and I made our way through the early afternoon capturing everything leading up to the infamous moment.

At last, the processionals began and both mom’s came out and presented sand on the alter, symbolizing them giving each of their children away. The two Pastor’s led Matt and his groomsmen out to the front of the church. All of a sudden the crowd in unison said, “awww” as six beautiful little girls made their way towards the alter. Some walking slow and others rushing towards the finish lines of baskets full of toys. Each bridesmaid followed and began her decent down the aisle in elegantly chosen navy blue tea length dresses. The music began to build and the back church doors were shut as Ami and her father stepped into the hallway. Finally, the doors were swept open where Matt was able to view his beautiful bride for the very first time. I don’t think anyone could have wiped the smile off his face as each of them caught the other’s eye. Ami’s father gently gave her hand over to Matt and thus started the rest of their lives.