Samantha + Justin — *Wedding

Samantha and Justin was the first wedding of the summer for me this year. (Shhhhh, it’s really not almost winter, right? Say it isn’t so!) It was a great start to an incredible summer with two very awesome weddings and with two brides who meant a lot to me, going back to grade school and college.

The unique factor to this wedding for me was that Samantha and I go way back, like really way back. Like first or second grade—way back. I tried to explain the awesomeness of this to my 3rd grade daughter when I booked this wedding in 2010; I told her “just think about one of your very best friends now ... and think about going to and being a part of their wedding 25 years from now.” What an awesome opportunity I had! Sam and I had touched base/emailed each other during our college years, and then thanks to the marvel that is Facebook we reconnected again. When I heard she was engaged, I knew I wanted to be a part of her day in the way I knew best, taking photos!

Samantha +  Justin’s wedding was at Deer Creek State Park Lodge and Conference Center in Mount Sterling, Ohio. An early summer outdoor wedding that had beautiful coral colors, gerber daisies in mason jars and a picturesque lakeside setting. Because the ceremony was early in the afternoon, I was also thrilled to have incredible natural light still around for the reception/dancing; this wedding photographer's first!

Below are some of my favorites of Sam + Justin’s storybook day; and some more photos can be seen in this online slideshow here.