Dayton Weddings | Echo by Design | Wedding + Portrait Photography

..Coke or Pepsi | Free to be Me..

So many people debate over this question on which is the better cola. Then there are those out there who say that Coke was around first and Pepsi just copied off of Coke. But honestly if it’s good who cares which one comes first? I look at Coke and I feel like they have the better branded material with the cute little polar bears, old style bottle caps and 50’s diner style. But then Pepsi has the newer updated look with the pretty blue cans, I like the color blue.

In my household we hardly ever purchase pop, not because we don’t like it but because it’s not always the healthiest choice. Brad and I prefer water, tea, or juice for the most part. But there are times when you just need an extra jolt of caffeine. Personally I can drink either one but if I absolutely had my choice of which one I would rather drink….my vote goes to Pepsi! I love the sweetness that Pepsi has and it fulfills me. With Coke I always feel like I am drinking more and that isn’t always the best solution.

Unfortunately, right now I have had to set my occasional love for dark cola aside and stick with caffeine free sodas. I have given up pop before for long periods of time, but I have never gone 9 months without it. I would be lying to say that I didn’t miss it with my sandwich at the local burger joint. But it’s just teaching me sacrificial love…a little extreme I know, but whatever is best for the baby. So for now I will stick to my water, juice, or occasional Sprite.

Thought this was comical! Which do you prefer and why?

..WATER..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Tyler & Meagan | She Said Yes..

What sounds better than a vacation to Hawaii with your best friend and his family? In 2005 Tyler agreed to go on vacation with the Burkin family. While in Hawaii he met Meagan, whom eventually became the love of his life. As odds would have it Meagan was in Hawaii for the same twirling competition that the Burkins were there for. Nothing came of it right away, but a few years later they reconnected and began dating.

On November 23rd Tyler had plans to take Meagan out to dinner at ..Nagoya.., her favorite restaurant. The drive towards home from work seemed liked eternity for Tyler, as he transported an ever so special diamond ring. He was going to present the ring to Meagan after dinner, but decided after an hour drive he couldn’t wait any longer. He walked into the house and presented Meagan with a wedding planning book. She said, “I was so confused when he handed it to me. Then I looked up and Tyler was down on one knee with the ring!” Of course after she said yes, they went on to enjoy dinner at Nagoya.

Days later Tyler contacted me telling me that him and Meagan were planning a wedding for August. They wanted to be sure that I was available and were willing to plan their wedding date around dates that I had open. I was soo honored! We met at a local coffee shop and talked wedding details, there was no question about me photographing the wedding. But just a few short weeks later I found out that I was expecting, and due just about two weeks before their wedding date. Since they just booked I gave them a choice to keep or terminate the contract. Almost without hesitation they agreed that although I may not be able to be there, they still wanted Echo by Design to photograph their wedding day! I was so blessed by that decision.

To make sure they sent out their save the dates with plenty of time before the wedding, we agreed to meet at the ..Franklin Park Conservatory.. in Columbus for a warmer setting. Columbus was also a destination of choice because Tyler graduated from OSU. However, due to the nasty weather we never made it that far. So think summer and enjoy this tropical warm winter session…

We made it outside for just a few…

Congratulations to Tyler and Meagan on your engagement! I love your determination to support ..Echo by Design.. thank you so much. Praying that I’m going to make just a portion of your day.

..HAWAII..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Love or Money | Free to be Me..

The Free to be Me series is all about you getting a chance to know me just a little bit deeper than face value, digging beneath the surface. I want my clients to know me even before they meet me, it tends to start a great relationship. Almost like Internet dating!

I was going to save this topic for Monday’s ever so special Valentine’s Day (I can see you either nodding your head or sticking your tongue out in disgust), but I have a special session I would like to share instead! So today’s ‘get to know me’ question is, “Love or Money?“

What a silly question this is! Not that I am absolutely head over heels for Valentine’s Day, but I’m ALL about what it stands for. I mean after all, what kind of wedding photographer would I be if I chose money? But it’s not just about that, it’s that feeling of floating in the clouds because you know that someone special cares about you. It’s knowing that when times are tough that no matter what, you will make it through because “Love Never Fails.” It’s slipping your fingers into theirs getting that butterfly feeling through your stomach. And when the last thing you want to do is go to bed upset, it’s what brings every fiber in your body to kiss goodnight on good terms. The way that I see it, money can’t fulfill any of those emotions.

Love can be so powerful, and not just in a cuddly way. Just think, if we put away our need for material things brought to us by money, that love would be so much easier to accomplish. I won’t disagree with the fact that we need money to make the world go round, but what if we just believed in it a little less?

I had a chance to take this photo last spring. I loved how the morning glories on my back balcony inter-weaved themselves as they grew. The leaf on the end symbolized and looked just like a heart. I was instantly reminded of the verse in Ecclesiastes 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. But a cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Love is exactly that! And that is what I choose.

Have a great weekend everyone! Don’t forget to tune in Monday 😉

..THREE CORDS..

love, echo

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echoes of love

..Small Shoot Changes | Talking Business..

Last year was a GREAT year, I will say it over and over again. I was so blessed by the amount of people who thought it pertinent for me to be with them in all of their life’s special events. I was also able to travel to some different places which was refreshing and at the same time allowing me to get out of the ‘ creative box’ I was in.

Because I was so willing to travel, all of my shoots mostly took place on the weekends. I had people schedule weeks in advance so they knew that they had a time slot, and some weekends held up to six sessions. Unfortunately, there were weekends where one thing or another happened and things came up and the slotted sessions didn’t occur… for whatever reason. I was pretty flexible about it last year, but with the circumstances that lay ahead with my pregnancy in these next couple of months, that can no longer be the case.

So there are going to be a few changes coming for booking a small shoot session. Those changes would include:

Retainer Fee. A $75 non-refundable retainer fee to hold your session date and time slot with me. This will be due before the session takes place. Unfortunately, your time slot will not be held until retainer fee is in hand. The $75 will go towards the remaining balance due for the session, which will be paid the day the session occurs.
Rescheduling. If for some reason you are unable to make the session time that was slotted for you and must reschedule because of a sickness, family emergency, or in climate weather, the $75 will be transferred to the next date and time available for each of us. If you should choose to reschedule within 48 hours of our time together due to reasons other than sickness, family emergency, or in climate weather then the $75 will be paid to me as damage for the lack of time to rebook your session slot. This ultimately will be my call.
Cancellation. If in the event you choose to cancel our session together after already paying forth the $75 retainer fee, that money will be considered non-refundable. This will insure that if I travel for your session that my expenses will be compensated.

(This is the Wagner family. I had the opportunity to photograph them a couple months back and never had the chance to share.)

I thought long and hard about these changes and realized that my time is just as valuable as anyone’s. And more valuable now that I have a little one on the way. These new changes are going to make sure that if you choose to hire me that you are serious about the session that will take place. It was put to me this way… “It’s kind of like a doctor’s office. If you can’t make the appointment without a valid amount of time to reschedule, you still get charged.” And although I as much as everyone else dispise stipulations and rules, it’s what is best for EBD.

..SMALL CHANGES..

love, echo

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echoes of love

.. Xavier Mark | Newborn..

The week after Christmas I stayed home with family to enjoy the time and not rush into the New Year. Unfortunately, Brad didn’t get to stay because he still had to report to work in Dayton. The day after Christmas was our dear friend’s Mike and Lyndi’s due date. We were hoping that the baby would come before Brad had to return to Dayton. The 27th came and went and still no word about the arrival of Baby Woods, so he made his way to Dayton for work. The next day on December 28th word came from Mr. Michael Woods that a son had been born to him and Lyndi at 5:03 a.m. He weighed 9 lbs. and 3 ozs. and was 21 inches long. I went on to congratulate them and decided that I would be up later that afternoon to visit the ‘little’ bundle.

I arrived at the hospital finding out that I was only the second visitor that day to meet the new little man that Mike and Lyndi named Xavier Mark. The couple had decided to not find out the gender of their child on the way and also decided to not reveal the name they had chosen in case it was a boy.

I was curious, and like many I decided to ask, “So how did you decide on the name Xavier? And why was it so special to keep it a secret?” Lyndi shared, “I was on the playground with Dominick one day and decided to ask a lady the name of her little boy. She told me his name was Xavier. I loved it and Mike and I talked about it. We researched it and found out that Xavier meant a ‘new house.’ We were in astonishment when months earlier a Pastor told Michael that within a year he would be getting a ‘new house’.” LOVE IT!

So here we are a few weeks later after Dad, Mom, big brother Dominick, and Xavier have gotten all settled and in the swing of things.