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