Working at finding the best angle

The other day I was photographing the wedding of Molly and Chris at the O'Bannon Creek Country Club in Loveland, Ohio.  My second shooter saw me standing on a high stool to get a good angle of the bridal party just before being announced to the guest.  The group turned so I could get the shot.  If I took photograph standing at eye level I would not have been able to see everyone's face.

Photographer X Photographer

Tristate photographers photograph each other.

As part of the Cincinnati FotoFocus event for the month of October the portrait exhibit of local photographers who photographed each other will be on display at Xavier University Art Galleries, A.B. Cohen Center, 1658 Herald Avenue.  The opening reception is October 6 from 5-7 PM.  Join me, it is free.

For more information about the exhibit you can
call 513-745-3811
or
visit the website: www.xavier.edu/art-gallery.cfm

70 Years of Marriage

Recently, I was asked to photograph a family gathering to celebrate the 70th wedding anniversary of a local couple at the National Exemplar Restauran, Mariemont Inn, Mariemont, Ohio.  The celebrated couple are both in their 90's and still getting around on their own (with a little help).  I took several family group images, but when it came to the two being honored, it was so much fun.  The love was still there after 70 years!

Behind but good

I have not posted most the summer - I've meant to, but never got around to doing it.  It is so easy for other things to get in the way.  I have done a number of weddings, engagements, and portraits in and around Cincinnati which you haven't seen here.  Some are on my Facebook page: L. J. Franklin Photography.  Some will make it to my new website.  Some will never be seen again.  But below are a few.

Jenn and Doug married at St. Mary Church in Hyde Park, Cincinnati, Ohio and celebrated the reception at the Kenwood Country Club, Cincinnati, Ohio

A surprise proposal and engagement session was done at the Friendship Park along the Ohio River, Cincinnati, Ohio where LJ Franklin Photography captured the special moments.

A special ceremony between two cultures was celebrated at the Gloria-Dei Lutheran Church in Crestview Hills, Kentucky and the reception took place on the B&B Riverboats in Newport, Kentucky

Max: April 1997- August 24, 2012

It is always hard to see a pet suffer, and our 15 year old cat was suffering from kidney failure.  A fatal and common problem with older cats.  We could have let him die a long and agonizing natural death at home, but we decided that that was a cruel thing to do.  Today we had our vet "put him to sleep."  We then brought the body home and buried him in the flower garden next to the tiny frog pond.  He would spend hours trying to catch a green frog from that little spot of water -- sometime succeeding, but most the time failing. Now he can chase them forever.  He will be missed.

Max at his best.

                    Max the day before he died.

Trip to Oklahoma

Last month I took a few days to travel through the northern section of Oklahoma with my sister and father.  Not many people visit this area, but it has a beauty all its own.  I love the open blue skies, the large tracks of rolling hills, the wildlife roaming in the tall grass.

My Animoto Video - Siblings

My Animoto Video

This is a great program for professional photographers that has been around for awhile.  I am playing with the 30 second slide shows just for fun. Here is one of the three sibling I photographed recently -- click on "My Animoto Video" above to view the show.

Engagement session

I encourage couples to take advantage of an engagement session. Why?

An engagement session is a great way for a couple to get to know their wedding photographer and to become comfortable in front of a camera. If having your photograph taken is an uncomfortable experience, then scheduling an engagement session is just the thing you need! Your photographer will help you become more relaxed and provide you hints on getting those beautiful images on your wedding day.

Jessica & Brendan Wedding

It was a beautiful, but hot day when Jessica and Brendan had their wedding ceremony at the Embassy Suites, in Covington, Kentucky.  Jessica remained beautiful  with makeup done by Brideface and was open to outdoor images at Devou Park.  Here we found some shade and a great place for images.  Brendan arrived and the "First Reveal" or "First Sight" took place.  What a wonderful experience for the two of them! They had time to enjoy each other before the ceremony and photographs were taken without any post ceremony rush.

The ceremony took place outside the hotel on a balcony overlooking the Cincinnati, Ohio skyline.  They had a sand ceremony and exchanged rings as friends and family looked on.

As the evening light faded we were able to capture some great images of the two of them with the lights of the city behind them. The party continued into the night with music by Party Pleasers.

Children Photography at my Studio

Photographing children is fun for me.  How can it not be a great time!  Children are uninhibited and will quickly let you know what they do and don't like.  The three kids that showed up at  my studio, LJ Franklin Photography in New Richmond, Ohio arrived ready for their close ups.  All being 6 years old and under I knew their attention span would not last long.  Snacks and "run time" was allowed.

Just down the road was a place with tall grass and I asked the mother of the kids if it would be okay to go there to try some photographs of the kids running.  The two kids loved it and one of the images from that activity is attached below. 

The kids were great and their mom was so amenable to my suggested photographic locations.  Below are photographs of the children in a studio and in a few outdoor settings.  Too cute.

  

Acadian Flycatcher

As I sat looking over my garden contemplating what to do about the deer eating my flowers and the lily of the valleys taking over my garden I heard a thump against the house window.  I turned just in time to see a bird fall to the deck.  I found a dazed looking bird at the base of the window.  Quickly I tucked the bird into the folds of my shirt so it would be safe and warm.  I then went for my camera.  After a few minutes I could feel it moving about so I took it out and snapped a couple of images before it took off.   A beautiful Acadian Flycatcher.

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Trena & Terence Engagement

Linda of LJ Franklin Photography met Trena and Terence at the  International Friendship Park off Eastern Avenue, Cincinnati for their engagement session.  It was a hot Memorial day, but there was a nice breeze off the Ohio River to save us. We found many wonderful sites for great photographs. Trena and Terence were fun to work with and we created many wonderful images.

Memorial Photos

A couple of days ago a neighbor asked if I would scan some family photographs of her son for his upcoming funeral. He died in a one car accident. We spent three hours at my computer scanning old images for the slide presentation she had planned for the memorial. I did not know her son, but I learned so much about him in those three hours. He was loved and cherished.

My image favorite is the one above......

Out Standing in a Field

Patience.  This is one lesson a photography mentor taught me about photography.  You select a location,  decide on a composition, and then wait for the magic to happen. When everything comes together, you know it -- the light, the subject, and the moment you click the shutter!  It is magic, it is the decisive moment (Henri Cartier-Bresson).

Above is a photograph my husband took of me as I waited for the perfect moment.

Evening of a Full Moon

On the 5th of May I climbed up an open hillside near my home to photograph the full moon rising in the evening sky.  As I waited the light on the grassy open field turned golden.  I almost missed photographing to moon because the glow on the hill was so inviting.