I work with a lot of out-of-town couples (like Katie and Mike) who return home to northeast Ohio for their weddings. Sometimes, all of the correspondence leading up to the wedding is via e-mail and telephone. It’s always exciting to finally meet these busy clients in person. Katie and Mike were married at St. Emeric’s Church in Cleveland. After the ceremony, the bridal party headed to Wade Lagoon for a quick round of fun and relaxed images. The day was capped off by an elegant reception at LaCenter in Westlake. It was great working with some of my absolute favorite vendors: 2nd Mile Productions and the one and only Larry from Classic DJ Service. Congratulations Katie and Mike. Here are a few quick highlights from your wonderful day.

Ethan has been asking me to remove his training wheels ever since the snow melted. This week, he said, “Daddy, I’m ready. Please get your tools.” Within five minutes of removing the training wheels, he was cruising up the street and doing circles in the cul-de-sac. Oh, there were a few tense moments. But he caught on quickly, and we were both very proud. Introducing the next Lance Armstrong:

The 2008 spring wedding season kicked off this Saturday with Kira and Dan’s late-afternoon ceremony at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Akron. I’ve been looking forward to this wedding since last September when I shot their engagement session at Stan Hywet Gardens. This couple has excellent chemistry – very classy, yet fun and laid back. Their reception at Glenmoor Country Club (one of the best venues in northeast Ohio) reflected their great personalities. The evening was filled with a wonderful mix of emotion. Scott Jones (one of the finest DJs that I have ever worked with) of Jerry Bruno Productions provided the entertainment.

2008 started off with two great weddings in January (see Tracey and Patrick and Rachel and Brandon below). But the traditional wedding season kicks off this month and gains momentum in May. To help keep my blog fresh, I will be pulling all of my 2007 wedding posts and moving some of last year’s favorite images to my main website in the next couple of days. So, enjoy the 2007 posts while they are up and please feel free to visit the blog as the new wedding season unfolds.

Happy Valentine's Day! In the spirit of romance, the first client (past or future event) to e-mail me through my main website contact form with the subject line “Cupid Shot Me” gets a FREE 11” x 14” print from your engagement session or wedding. Think someone beat you to the punch? That’s okay, send me an e-mail anyway. I will randomly select a second winner at the end of the day (2/14) from all who responded.

"Cupid Shot Me" Contest UPDATE: The Winners

That was fun. Thank you so much to everyone that responded. It was good to hear from you. Nicole and Mike were the first to respond, and Brittney and Richard won the random selection. E-mails have been sent. I hope that everyone had a great Valentine's Day!

My daughter, Eleanor, enjoying her Valentine's treats.

For the past two Sundays, I've had the pleasure of meeting several brides, grooms and parents at the January Today's Bride Shows in Akron and Cleveland. The Today’s Bride team (Jim, Jennifer, Rachel and several others) did an excellent job of coordinating both events. Thank you to everyone who stopped by my booths to learn more about my services. It was also great talking with other local photographers and wedding vendors.

The unpredictable winter weather in northeast Ohio stops a lot of couples from scheduling January weddings. But Tracey and Patrick (great people) took a chance, and Mother Nature cooperated by giving them a very nice, snow-free day. They were married at the Historical Church of Tallmadge, a very quaint and cozy location. A lively reception followed at the SYB Hall in Stow. Tracey and her father did the best rendition of the Pulp Fiction Jack Rabbit Slim Twist that I have ever witnessed – very cool.

The 2008 season started early with Rachel and Brandon’s wedding in Downtown Cleveland. You might remember this couple from their engagement session at the Shoreby Club. They had an elegant ceremony and classy reception at the Renaissance Hotel on Saturday. Ric Eickoff of PF Designs did a wonderful job with the décor, and Special Request filled the evening with music and entertained guests with style. A special “thank you” goes out to my good friend Andrew Jordan for second shooting with me during this great wedding.

2007 was a great year. I photographed 30-plus weddings and worked with some wonderful couples and families. I truly feel blessed to be making a living with photography, my true passion. But I could not do it alone, and I’m extremely grateful for several people in my life:

Family – My wife, Kyra, is a tremendous support. She has always encouraged me to follow my love for photography, and she has never once complained about me being away from the family so much when I’m shooting weddings and engagement sessions. She is also patient when I am in my office for hours on end processing images and designing albums (often during prime family time).

Our kids (Ethan 5 and Eleanor 2) have grown a lot this year. They are so stinking smart and full energy. It will be neat to see how they interact with their new sibling, as Kyra is expecting our third child this spring. We can’t wait to meet this new addition to Team Forrest.

Friends – Even with our busy schedules, we make a sincere effort to spend time with friends. I’m so glad that we have been able to stay in touch with our old neighbors from University Heights. We grew close to several families when we lived in that area.

I owe a big “thank you” to several friends and family members who worked with Kyra to pull off an amazing birthday surprise party in Las Vegas this December. I was totally blown away!

Colleagues – I’m very grateful for Kevin Chuey, a close friend and my trusted associate shooter for the past three years. His loyalty and hard work are extremely valuable to me and our clients. It has been a special year for Kevin. He and his wife, Gretchen, are the proud new parents of triplets (born in September).

During the year, I really got to know Andrew Jordan, a talented photographer and good friend. Andy and I shot together on a couple of occasions, and I really like and respect his style. You can find us sharing stories just about every Tuesday night at Luchita’s in Hudson. Feel free to join us for $1 tacos and plenty of fun conversation.

I was able to connect with several other photographers in 2007. I had the pleasure of shooting with Sam Carrington and David Chandler, who filled in for Kevin when the triplets were born. I also continued to build relationships with several members of the Digital Wedding Forum (an online community of photographers) and met other area professionals like Rob Drago (great guy) of RAD Productions.

Clients – Each year I gain another great group of clients and friends. If you’ve worked with me, you know that I have a passion for documenting weddings. This year, I worked with 30-plus couples. I shot at a variety of venues (some new, others very familiar), but each wedding had a unique flair.

2008 is setting up to be another great year. I’m amazed at how quickly my calendar is filling up. I have a couple of new products launching in early spring that will benefit clients. Stay tuned for more details.

Warm Regards,

Tom

It’s been a great holiday season. Meghan and Aaron’s wedding fit perfectly between Christmas and New Years. They had a wonderful ceremony at Cottage Grove E.C. Church in Akron. After their vows, they braved chilly temperatures for a romantic horse-and-carriage ride. The newlyweds met up with guests at the renowned Glenmoor Country Club for a beautiful reception. The night was highlighted by great toasts, tasty cuisine and a lot of dancing. Aaron pulled off a great rendition of Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire. There have been a lot of great singers this year.