Our first wedding of 2012 was a great one thanks to Daryl and Kerry and their wedding at Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Center. While it was windy, it was an amazing day — blue skies, warm-ish temperatures (for Cleveland in January), and that ever elusive sunshine. Everything for the day came together seamlessly, thanks in large part to the help of Heidi Baumgart of Heidzillas. But the beauty of the day should be attributed mostly to Daryl and Kerry — their relaxed demeanor, combined with their enthusiasm gave us great material to work with, and we all had a great time together. The couple really enjoyed themselves throughout the entire day, and it showed! It was so great to spend the day with them, to experience their relationship, their love for each other, and their excitement at starting this next chapter in their lives. These two compliment each other so well, and I loved seeing how thrilled they were to finally marry each other and how happy everyone was to be there celebrating.
They’ve been engaged for a year… their wedding’s not for another 6 months… but Tal and Brian picked New Year’s Day for their engagement photo session! It was cold, it was wet, and I was tired… and I loved every second of it!!
Tal is my sister-in-law, and has become a great friend. One night, a few years back, I decided to try a little something and introduced her to my long-time friend Brian. Knowing each of them for so long, and knowing them so well, it was so much fun to get to take their engagement pictures! I knew that they were a great couple, but seeing them through the lens gave me a new perspective on their relationship. After the session when I had the chance to flip through the images, I had a smile on my face, and honestly may have been a bit teary-eyed… they are just so cute together, are such good friends, and are so in love.
They were great sports during their photo shoot– from walking through muddy/soggy woods, climbing down a pretty steep ravine, standing within smelling-distance to a whole lot of horse manure, to posing in the rain… we got a lot of great shots that not only represent their individual personalities, but who they are as a couple…. all thanks to me! :-)
I love you guys!! Here are some of my favorites…
Engagement photos can be done for so many reasons… you want more photos than your wedding day will allow for; you want to take photos in a fun location you wouldn’t DARE go to in your wedding gown; you want great photos with your fiancé that show a less formal side of you… the list continues.
I love doing engagement photo shoots because it’s a great way for us all to get comfortable with each other before the big day; for the couple to get used to having us around snapping away; so we can see how the couple interacts with one another; and for us all to get to know each other better!
Allison and Sam are getting married on New Year’s Eve… I can’t wait to photograph their wedding! We recently did their engagement photos, and it was so much fun driving around to different parts of downtown Cleveland that have meaning to them as a couple. Whether they choose to include these photos in their wedding album, to make a separate album of just these images, or to get a great wall portrait to put in the new home they’ll share together, they will now not only have photos of Allison and Sam: Bride and Groom, but as Allison and Sam: The couple.
Here are some of my favorites — See you Saturday!
January 13, 2012 will mark 3 years, 3 months and 6 days since my first day at Kim Ponsky Photography, but it will also be my last.
I was 22 years old when I started working here and I never imagined that after 3 years I would be where I am today. I had a degree with no job from a prestigious university and yet I thought that I would be handed a job on a silver platter. That wasn’t going to happen, especially not in June of 2008. It was probably one of the worst times to graduate but I knew everything would fall into place as it should. No matter the company, the city or the job, I was determined to find something that made me happy. And I did.
It has been an incredible journey, intellectually and personally. Aside from learning the great uses of Photoshop, more than I ever learned in college, I have experienced the innocence of children, the unique and special interactions amongst families, the joy that photos bring, that sometimes it’s okay to throw a ball at your boss’s head if it brings a smile to a child’s face and that even adults find poop jokes funny. But all kidding aside, I have also grown as an individual, recognizing my insecurities and finding a way to move past them. I am truly happy with who am and proud of how far I’ve come. But the truth matter is that sometimes we owe it to those around us for helping us along the way.
Kim,
I gotta be honest, you have exponentially grown as a photographer the last few years and I know that you will continue to be the best that you can be. There is not one person I’ve spoken your name to that has not known who you are and that is worthy of recognition alone. You have taught me tricks of the trade and allowed me to expand my love of photography. You have brought me into your family and have introduced me to some amazing and wonderful people. You have been there for me through happy days and even some sad. For being a cool boss and a great friend, Thank you!
To the clients of Kim Ponsky Photography,
You have become my friends and my extended family. I have come to see your families grow and celebrate joyous occasions. I have seen your children laugh and sometimes even cry. But the best thing about my job is getting to hand you your finished photos. There is not one photo that goes through Photoshop treatments without my love and care. Whether you’ve ordered some stand alone prints, composites, albums, or holiday cards, I enjoy making them each picture perfect. Sometimes I like them so much I would love to keep them for myself :) So, thank you for allowing me to be a part of capturing the special moments in your families’ lives.
If there is anything I have learned with saying goodbye it’s that it goes hand in hand with saying “thank you”. Goodbyes wouldn’t be so hard if we didn’t care. Whomever we say goodbye to has probably impacted our life in some way and we owe it to them to express our gratitude. So THANK YOU!
Don’t worry I won’t be leaving our beloved city of Cleveland, I’m just going up the road only a few miles to Associated Estates to pursue my passion in design. So keep smiling because I’ll be checking in!
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened”- Dr. Seuss
When the snow came pouring down this past Saturday, many Clevelanders sneered, while others curled up in front of a fire… there was one person, however, who got her winter wedding wish. Alissa and Michael were being married not only on the anniversary of the day they met… but on the anniversary of the day they got engaged. While that December date provided a meaningful day for their wedding, Alissa had a vision of a beautiful, snowy winter day. Well, Mother Nature sure did deliver!
The couple kept each other warm and were such great sports braving the elements! It was a wonderful day, filled with fun, love, Christmas Ale, and yes… plenty of snow!
