Rae Ann and Keith are really sweet. A few times during our session, I caught Rae Ann leaning into Keith…like he was her rock. Keith would get this glimmer in his eye, like she was his entire world.

The weather was perfect — sunny skies with a slight breeze. People were out and about, enjoying their weekend, swirling around us.

We finished our session with a glass of wine at a quaint little restaurant.

Hope to see you there!

Their wedding day began on a hot morning at the Renaissance Hotel. She walked around her suite in her white robe with exhilaration, hugging her niece and nephew (the flower girl and ring bearer), and laughing with her bridesmaids, who were dressed in pretty, plum colored, floor length gowns. She had waited for this day — the day she’d say her vows to Jay.

Nicole and Jay were married by Nicole’s uncle, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Cleveland. Their wedding photographs were taken at East Fourth Street, followed by The Cleveland Art Museum. Their reception was held at the Renaissance Hotel.

The love and admiration Nicole and Jay hold for each other was apparent on their wedding day, and their fateful meeting at the restaurant was destined.

Second Photographer? Or Assistant?

Working in the Cleveland wedding photography industry, I’ve heard about a situation that’s more common than it ought to be. It’s completely unethical, yet continues to go on. The client requests an additional photographer, and has paid for services, yet they’ve received one photographer and one assistant.

How does this happen? Wedding Photographers often bring an assistant to help carry equipment, pose wedding party members, field guest requests, and to generally lend a hand. The assistant will use the primary photographer’s backup equipment and pose as a second photographer.

Potential issues:

• Assistant won’t be experienced in photography, leaving the client with duplicate, carbon-copies of the same moments.
• Assistant may get in the way of the guests’ view, as they may not have a background shooting with telephotos lenses from distances further away (behind guests).

How can you avoid this? When you meet with potential second photographers (if you have opportunity to), ask the same types of questions you’d ask to the primary photographer. Ask to see individual portfolios. Ask about their style. Just keep in mind, that if you truly have hired a full-time, professional second photographer for your wedding day, you’ll probably invest several hundred dollars for their services. A true professional, second photographer will never be “free” or added as a promotion.

300+ Guests = Hire a Second

Bottom line — If you’re having less than 300 guests, one professional photographer (IMHO “professional” means that the photographer has years of experience and training, and should specialize in wedding photography) will do an absolutely wonderful job recording the day’s events. However, if you’re having 300+ guests, I do recommend hiring a second photographer to capture everything.

The benefits of having two photographers will be:

• Ability to cover different locations at the same time, providing unique perspectives.
• Ability to be in the “right place at the right time”.

If you’d like more info, or have questions, please email pruitt.elizabeth@gmail.com.    (Below: That’s me — Photographing a 2011 wedding)

Session fee must be paid to reserve spot. Credit must be used within 2 weeks of online gallery posting. Marathon may be cancelled without notice if minimum number of spots aren’t reserved. 

At 2PM, Rachael walked across the courtyard to meet Steven. She promised to always be true to him, surrounded by the people that they loved most.

A little more than a year later, after Deanna had been “matched” with a residency spot, Dave took the opportunity to get down on bended knee and ask her to accept another “match”. His hand in marriage.

Their wedding was held at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Cleveland, Ohio, with a packed church of almost 300 guests in attendance, followed by a gorgeous reception in Chagrin Falls at The Club at Hillbrook. With flowers literally dripping everywhere, bridesmaids that looked like goddesses (they wore all white dresses), and the Club’s tudor charm, it felt like we were in a fairytale.

Four and a half years after meeting, in front of friends and family, Molly and Andrew exchanged vows to each other at Fairmount Presbyterian Church in Cleveland Heights. Their reception was held at the magnificent Severance Hall, in Cleveland, Ohio. Molly’s infectious energy carried them through the evening, as they danced the night away with friends and family.