Annika will be getting her high school diploma very soon! I cannot imagine how excited and ready she is for high school to be over.  I recently got a FB group invite for my high school 20 {YES 20} year reunion, I wondered why in the world they were planning it 2 years in advance. Hmmm, Angie do the math! Yes it has been 20 years. Time flies. TOO fast.

It is so funny and cool how through texting my seniors, I get to know them and their personalities. Annika was beyond trusting in my “professional” opinion regarding rescheduling her session once due to rain, and then due to 30 mph winds. I can’t imagine how her long pretty hair would have looked in that wind! Thanks for your patience and trust! Annika works at Mark Pi’s and plans on attending Indiana University for Chinese Business.  She has her goals set, knows what she wants, and is going for it!  Not to bad for a high school senior, it took me until I was 35 to make up my mind on a career I must say she was one of the sweetest and most mature seniors I have ever met. Her parents should be beyond proud.  Good luck little lady! XO!

PURE SWWWWEETNESS!

Kaitlyn will be a senior next year at Columbus North High School. She is on the Dive team, and teaches swim lessons with my daughter. I couldn’t wait to meet her after Shelby kept talking about her and telling me how beautiful her eyes were.  I wish you could have seen the look on her moms face when she seen the property where we met for our session.  There were no ” no trespassing” signs, SOOOO! You know what that means. Her poor mom was pretty sure some one was gonna come after us with a gun! ha.  Of course Shelby helped with the session …. we laughed like a bunch of idiots!   Kaitlyn’s laugh is so cute.  If you don’t follow Y U NO on Twitter, you should!  We made up our own “Y U NO’s” the entire session. I even text Kaitlyn after our session, and ask ” Y YOU NO hug me, you no like me? We like hugs.”  Yep, we are silly crazy!  Kaitlyn, thank you again!

I spent quit a bit of time watching Nicolás work with his artistic talent. I was astonished and amazed with all his abilities.  His mother and sister are true gems. WOW!

I won’t blog his story, yet. My camera and I plan to spend more time with him and his family very soon!  Nicolás Lyford Pike

Did you know …

• Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys
• Autism prevalence figures are growing
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer combined
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.
• Autism costs the nation $126 billion per year
• Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• There is no medical detection or cure for autism

Columbus First Annual Autism Walk was held April 15th at Columbus East High School Track.  The funds raised are to support programs and resources through The Arc Center For Excellence for individuals who have Autism and their families, along with our community. The weather cooperated with lots of sun and ferocious wind! Approximately 250 people attended the event, some with babies, other with pets. Some were parents of an autistic child, others were family and friends, but all were there to support an amazing cause!!  I must say is was a heart felt event for me to photograph. These parents carried such joy, love, patience, and many smiles. The first annual walk raised an estimated $11,000 – $12,000!!! Congrats!

While the girls were at the salon, I went over to Heather’s moms house and photographed her shoes and dress. Pretty cool to have these images in the house where you grew up.

So they really didn’t want to see each other before the wedding! But knowing that it really would be best for photos and their guest, we arranged for a “special moment.” Heather was going to think of an idea, and it HIT me right then! Tyler is a golf fanatic, and we were photographing the guys at the golf course. SHE COULD WALK UP BEHIND HIM WHILE HE PRETENDED TO BE TEEING OFF! Perfect!! We thought so. It was a pretty sweet moment.

Love how Heather is playing with her ring!

Inside of Tylers ring was engraved “you’re amazing.” (Heather tells him that all of the time).  It really is the little things that matter.

Heather is a school teacher, and her students made all of the cranes that they used in the reception decorations

Heather made all of the beading on the cake!! She seen it on Pinterest. She ROCKED it

How did you and Tyler meet? When?  Tyler and I met in college from a mutual friend, Kelly. A bunch of friends met up and went bowling, but the real romance and dating didn’t begin until the summer of 2009. We started hanging out as friends in the summer of 2009. Things became more of a relationship in the early fall of 2009 with one of our first offcial dates being at an Indianapolis Indians baseball game.

I didn’t expect this because that night we were going out to Indy to Moe’s for dinner to celebrate our two year “anniversary.” I thought something was up, but never thought this was!

One thing?!?! My most memorable moment was walking down the aisle. Yes, we had seen each other before the wedding (which I don’t know if I would do that if I could redo it all), but seeing his face, being arm and arm with my daddy, and trying to hold back my tears was all very overwhelming and exciting. The day went fast but I took it all in and could replay it all minute by minute. We had so many people telling us it would go by so fast that I took mental notes of just about everything. Also, my carriage ride around town after the wedding was like being Cinderella. But, wait, I really liked my dog, our son, being able to share in our special day. Or was it….well you get the point. It’s too hard for ME to pinpoint one thing.

My shoes….*sigh* I love my shoes. I got my shoes from Figgie Shoes in Canada. They were custom made for our wedding. It’s an amazing website and Deborah is so great! I bought the actually shoes on clearance (and we’re talking dirt cheap) at David’s Bridal. I shipped them to her and she worked MAGIC on them! PERFECT! Although they’re dirty, but still wearable.

With Heather & Tyler’s wedding already a month and a half ago, I still remember some pretty fun things. Heather could not decide on flowers for her reception, so she had a cake for every table (should I add that there were over 350 guest)!!  She wanted Graham (her beloved dog) to be a part of their day, and I love how she talks about him like he is human.  Heather was such an excited bride! She would text me and tell me she found her dress, or she picked up her shoes! SO fun! She even text me that day when she was in the limo in front of me. I LOVE when brides don’t stress, but just relax and enjoy the moments.

“Although tomorrow is a busy day, Dad and I are going to our last unmarried daughter and father breakfast then he’s graciously taking me to a yard sale!! Yes, all of this on the day I get married.  Hair isn’t until 9am, breakfast at 7am…I think so!“

It was soo good to actually meet Leah & Daniel! They have booked me for their wedding in September, but we have never met in person. They have been moving, changing jobs, and settled into Knoxville, but will be getting married in Columbus.  Leah’s mom kept telling me what an amazing couple they were, and just how special their relationship was.  She couldn’t have been more right! I loved photographing them, they seem perfect together!  AND LOOK AMAZING TOGETHER

I am happy to be part of your big day, it will be here before we know it

OHHH MY GOODNESS! I could hardly pick which images to post, Sophia is so so sweet. Her personality is awesome. She reminds me of my daughter Shelby when she was little. Her smile changes her whole face.

Poor Sophia had been sick, and was recovering, but didn’t have a afternoon nap the day of her session. SHE was such a big girl. Thank you Lori and Brad for allowing me to photograph your beautiful daughter!

{andrea. columbus north high school senior 2012}

Alyssa & Will~ 9.29.12

Alyssa & I met back in January for a bridal consultation. I was so jealous that she had just moved to Florida! I have ALWAYS wanted to move somewhere warm. I love warm weather but add sunny pretty beaches… and I am in heaven. Every single time we go on vacation, I come him sooo depressed.  I really do not like where we live at all, but we stay close to family. I WILL move someday. During the consult, we talked about engagement photos, and she said she would love beach pictures.  (I knew I would work that out!!) ANYWAY, Alyssa decided quickly she wanted me to photograph her wedding, so the next step was to get engagement photos taken.  She mentioned that her apartment complex rented out for apartments for weekly travelers so… I checked dates for spring break, she checked for availability, and BAM! I booked it and told my hubby he better look at his schedule, if not, the kids and I were out of here! I couldn’t wait to do a session on the beach! We had beautiful weather all week, and colorful sunsets until the day of their session! It was pretty all day, and then got kind of cloudy. Then the sun JUST set, NO color in the sky at all. The wind had been insane the last 2 days & no one was even allowed to swim in the ocean due to the waves.  30 mph winds coming off the beach made it really difficult to photograph (Alyssa’s hair obviously shows the wind). My hair (even pulled back) kept blowing in my eyes, sand was blowing, and something we never experience in Indiana, is sea salt residue on the lens of the camera. I had NO idea what was in focus while I was shooting, and had to stop and clean my lenses. I had never had this happen in Mexico on the beach. WoW. IF YOU COULD ONLY SEE THE BEFORE AND AFTER SHOTS, you would be amazed.  You would realize just how much can be done in editing for magazines. I love these images though!

Alyssa & Will met by mutual friends, and if I remember correct, they may have even dated each others friends before. They started hanging out and wondered why they had never dated before then Will took a job in Destin Florida after college, and Alyssa went with him. I love how Alyssa described their relationship… he is mathematical & technical, and  I am the artsy colorful one.  we balance each other.

I can’t wait for your wedding in September and we should still move the location to the beach (minus the wind).  XO