NaNoWriMo

Details on a new project can be found HERE.

the art of fall

I love Fall.  I grew up in New England, in a small town in NW Connecticut, surrounded by foothills and forests and the beauty of Fall colors.  It's my favorite time of year with the crisp cool air and the earthy smell of decaying leaves...I can't get enough of it. Not only is it the most beautiful time of year, but it's also the shortest, it seems.  The first part of Fall is still too hot and the last part is barren and cold (although I love that too). We really only get that sweet spot in the middle, a couple of weeks in October, when the weather and colors are in perfect alignment.   I try to take as many pictures as possible during this time and this year was no exception---I had a ton of scheduled photo sessions--- but I also managed to take a few Art photos.

My sister used to live in German Village and for her birthday (last week) I took some photos in her old neighborhood....giving her a piece of one of her favorite places during her favorite time of year...

I was digging around some old files and came across this collection of photos I did in Blendon Woods last year.  I'll definitely be framing some of these...

And this one, I think I shot in Uptown Westerville about a year ago, but it just looks very Halloween-y to me...

I'll be updating my Fine Art Gallery soon with some of these photos for sale.

Fall Mini Sessions - Quick, Affordable, & totally worth it!

The other weekend, on a gorgeous (though a little windy) Sunday afternoon, I held my first ever Fall Mini Portrait session event.  It was so much fun---spending the day in great weather, outdoors in a picturesque park with some really awesome friends and families. 

I'm doing it AGAIN, this Sunday, October 28.  Contact me TODAY to reserve your slot. I'll be doing portraits from 12-4 at Sharon Woods Metro Park in Westerville, OH. The cost is only $80, and you'll receive a 20-30 minute session, a disk of 10 great portraits, and online viewing of the "outtakes".  You can bring as many friends and family members as you want---and I'll shoot as much as I can within the alotted time! 

Use your photos for wall art, gifts, holiday cards, and more. This is PERFECT for families, couples, picture sof the kids, even a quick Senior Photo session!

Book Now!!

Below are some of my favorite photos from the last Fall Mini Session event:

Fall Mini Sessions! (part 2)

This past weekend I had my first ever Fall Mini Session event and it was a huge success! I was a little worried about weather--rain had been forecasted, but we dodged the bullet (mostly). The WIND was a bit intense at times, but we worked around it and overall it was a gorgeous day. Only a few drops near the end of the day got in the way.  I'm still editing all of the pictures and will post some soon, but my kids stopped by for a few photos and here's Cherie looking adorable as ever~

Since a couple people couldn't make it due to scheduling, I decided to do it all again on October 28! This time, with two package offers, just in time for the holidays!

With the Holidays just around the corner, I know a lot of people are looking to have photos made for their Holiday cards. New thisyear-- I'm adding custom designed cards to my product line.  With the fall mini session, you can receive 50 folded cards with envelopes for just $180 (session, CD of photos, and cards).

If you are a previous portrait client, you can also take advantage of this offer and order cards in sets of 25 for $40.00 (or 50/$80).

I'll be posting card samples here within the next few days!

Rest in Peace...

The photography community is mourning today. We lost one of our own.  Last night, Jen Burgess Thompson lost her battle with ovarian cancer.

I didn't know her, but I still feel the loss. The photo community can feel so large sometimes with so many names and faces, it's hard to know everyone. But it's small too.  There are names we all recognize, blogs we all frequent, people who inspire us all. I know that when in the company of photographers, I am among my own.  I didn't know Jen at all, but she was still my sister. A sister to us all.

Jen's story can be found HERE.

Watch the video below....it's a wonderful and inspiring tribute to Jen's LIFE and her FIGHT and her SPIRIT. And it's impossible to view without tears.

We Won't Be Defeated from Benjamin Edwards on Vimeo.

I'm reminded of this amazing community of loving, brave, strong creative people and I'm so proud to be a part of it.  I'm so inspired too....by this video, by the out-pouring of love from Jen's friends and the photo community, and by the memory of Jen's life. I'm inspired to be a better friend, a better mother and wife, to take better care of my health, and to be and a better photographer. 

Jen's legacy will live on through us all.

slow-cooker oatmeal

I love Fall and now that it's getting a little cooler outside, I just feel like making delicious warm meals that make me feel good. It's comfort food season, the time of year where you can just curl up on the couch with a big bowl of something hot and yummy, while looking at the blustery weather outside. I love it.  

I came across a recipe for Overnight Cinnamon Apple Oatmeal and decided to try it. I adjusted the recipe a little for my own tastes and I thought it came out pretty well.

Imagine waking up to the smell of warm apples and cinnamon and having a hot breakfast ready for you.

Here's the recipe I used:

3 cups water
1 cup milk
1 cup steel-cut oats
1/2 cup brown sugar (or more if you're like me and have a wicked sweet tooth)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
dash of nutmeg
1/4 tsp vanilla
pinch of salt
2tbs butter
1/3 cup raisins
a bunch of apples, cored and diced*

Mix it all together in a slow-cooker on low for 8 hours.  I added more liquid than the original recipe because I like my oatmeal a little looser and also, I started it at about 10pm, knowing no one would be awake to eat it until at least 6am, so I didn't want it to get too thick and clumpy.

*I used apples from a tree in my backyard and the apples are pretty small. I used about 4 or 5, which seemed like kind of a lot, but we LOVE apples, so it certainly wasn't too much.

We love breakfast foods in my house, but we're more of the 'breakfast for dinner' kind of people. No one really eats a big a breakfast before work and school, but EVERYONE took the time to eat this before they left this morning, it was nice that there was something healthy and warm, ready for them before they left for the day. I'll definitely be making this again soon!

fall mini sessions!

Thought I'd try this out this year...

I know how hard it is to get the family together for a family portrait...but a short session would work with most schedules. One location, lots of shots, memories for a lifetime! Sounds easy enough!

Book your session now!

abby ~ class of 2013!

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a few hours with Abby, talking, laughing, and of course...taking some incredible pictures. I've known Abby for a several years and I've watched her grow into a beautiful young woman.  She's smart, sweet, funny, and an incredibly talented dancer.  Shooting her senior session was an honor.  I can't wait to see where life takes her...

 If you want to book a Senior Session...contact me today!

anne & michael

I shot Anne & Michael's engagement session a couple of months ago. It was a beautiful late afternoon in Westerville, Ohio and we wandered around Inniswoods Metro Gardens and Upton Westerville.  Just the other week, I had the honor of photographing their wedding as well. Here are a few pics from their engagement session and a preview from their wedding.  I'll post more of their wedding photos here soon.

a new family!

I don't think I could ever get enough of photographing babies. And photographing a brand new happy family is just as awesome.  The Keller Family invited me to spend a little time with them on a sunny, but surprisingly not-too-hot August afternoon.  Here's what we got---