Jess and Rick, Autumn Ohio Wedding

I'm REALLY trying to make more of an effort and keep this blog up-to-date. Recently there have been so many weddings and just not enough time to do it all!! So we've decided to highlight one wedding every few weeks!

Jess and Rick were married the weekend following Thanksgiving.  Jess planned the wedding herself and knew exactly what she wanted.  She dreamed of warm autumn colors mixed with a rustic theme, to highlight the beautiful pavilion she and Rick were married in.  The pavilion sat on a golf course overlooking a beautiful lake in Southwest Ohio.  The day was too good to be true with temps in the upper 50's and a warm golden fall sun!

We met the bride at her home not far from the venue.  She was a little nervous and needed a few comforting words.  We assured her we had everything under control and she seemed to begin to breath deeper.  Jess asked me before she got dressed how I thought we could incorporate a small golden locket that Rick had given to her before they were both deployed (military couple) years ago.  I suggested wrapping it around her flowers...and she and her bridesmaids loved it.  Jess' mother then gifted to her a token from her grandmother, a small golden angel which we used on the flowers as well.

Jess' bridesmaid were her two best friends and sisters...some of the silliest and most relaxed girls we've ever had the pleasure to photograph!  They sipped white wine and helped Jess slip into her gown before heading to the venue...where we met the most adorable flower girl and two really goofy ring bearers!

The ceremony was sentimental, as the couple lit a candle for those that couldn't be with them, and had a officiant who involved the guests by asking for a prayer from them as a whole.  Our backdrop for formal photos was just outside the pavilion.  We set external lights on each side of the group, as the outside light was rather dark, however made for amazing sunset photos!

We stayed for a few hours into the reception, making sure to photograph the couples' first dance and the tear jearker mother/son and father/daughter dances!

The Alfords Family Christmas

We've had the pleasure of photographing their family twice now and their wedding!!  TALK ABOUT LOYAL CLIENTS!!!  All our love!!!

Your Photographers for Life,

Bill & Rachel

Holiday Photos by Thirteenth Moon

As many of you know it's our goal to become our clients photographers for life!!  Don't ever worry about when or where to have photos done again...you have us!!  We've had a lot of requests for Holiday Photos so we're announcing our CLIENT APPRECIATION SPECIAL!  Book now to receive the same amazing service from our team for your Holiday Photos!  Don't need any done, we'll allow each of you to buy the session for someone you love!

$150.00 for 50 minutes, plus editing and all images on disc with copyright and 25 5x7 folded and personalized cards!!!  Email us to schedule your appointments now!!!

NEW LOGO!!!!

Yes!  That's it! It's been in the works for awhile!  I've had a few attempt it...but nothing came out quite right...so I did it myself!!!  I like to say it's inspired by Florida Sunsets...a marvel I think can't be seen anywhere else!!  So let the campaign begin... expect to see this everywhere, t-shirts, stickers, business cards...a TATTOO?!?!

Two Great Reviews

We really wanted to share two reviews from some recent clients...both made me cry...Bill smiled...like I said I'm the emotional one!!  So Amy shared this with us and we wanted to share it with YOU..but for such a beautiful family and autumn themed wedding everything came together so perfectly!! 

"where do i start on writing a review for thirteenth moon? If you don't hire thirteenth moon for your photographs, u are out of your mind! I have never done business with anyone, anywhere who has done a better job than this company did! First off anytime i had the silliest or stupidest of questions they responded back to me right away. They came all the way to Ohio to do our wedding start to finish.... Looking back on the day I would whole heartedly say that all you have left to remember your important moments in your life are either etched in your mind, captured on video or in photographs. Having been through my wedding day now I would say the only way I am able to remember it is through the photographs. The day truly is a bustle and blur of activity. I would recommend to any Bride and groom that your most important vendor is the photographer! The music only lasts for so long, the food digests in 24 hours, the flowers wilt away, and the dress gets put in storage. But what i do have left are wonderful photos. I don't care how poor you are, I would definitely recommend that if anything you splurge on the pictures! Rachel and Bill where there to run every moment of the show with the use of their walkie talkies they made sure that the groom and I never saw each other even though we were in the same vicinity. They are very creative and unique. As one of my friends put it after seeing some of my wedding photographs, he said you look like you are in a wedding magazine! I feel this team far out shines any magazine, and you will not be disappointed. They have actually exceeded any expectations I could have ever had. Thank you so much thirteenth moon photography for capturing an incredible moment i our life! Love the Woodys 9-17-2011"

And for Mrs. Enquist and her new husband, Nick... the bride wrote a general thank you to many of the people in her life but really highlighted us and what we did for her.  As with every client we feel like family and we do everything we can to be there for everyone...but it's always nice to hear "thank you"!  Even though the day was HOT, HOT, HOT (back in Florida) Alley and Nick's Gothic themed Alice in Wonderland wedding was fun and memorable!

"I wanna thank every1 that came 2 our wedding!!! I had an amazing time and it was all thanks 2 u guys!! Thank u all 4 the gifts, but most of all thank u 4 ur presence, which meant more 2 me than any amount of money or gift i could ever receive. It was the most perfect day ever and I wouldnt change a thing, well maybe a few things lol. I'd like 2 send a few special thanks 2 Kaytie 4 amazing hair and makeup (and speedy travel lol), Thanks 2 Krista 4 keepin me calm thru all the b.s., Thanks 2 Carrie 4 threatenin the officiant so she didnt leave lol couldnt have done it without u, Thanks 2 Nicole 4 lettin me borrow ur kid lol she stole the show, Thanks 2 Chad 4 bein in the wedding, Thanks 2 Jillian and Priscila 4 bein there 2 support me!!, Thanks 2 all Nicole, Carrie, Jillian and Priscila 4 gettin me in my dress lol we r much better friends now, Thanks 2 Charles, Chris, Aaron, Kaytie and Krista 4 helpin clean up cause we would have been there 4evers!! But most of all a huge thank u 2 Rachel 4 movin into mom-mode when i needed it the most, u r an amazing person and i cant wait 4 the pictures!! All-in-all i have the most amazing friends in the world and i love each and every 1 of u more than u could ever imagine!! We're gonna make crazy memories!!"

We can't wait for baby photos!!!!

Much Love,

Bill and Rachel

Your Photographers for Life

:)

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY BEES

The team here at Thirteenth Moon has been CRAZY busy for the month of September!  We've photographed six weddings in 3 weeks time, plus two commercial shoots and one of those weeks was in OHIO!  Some people say we're crazy...and I know I AM (that's what helps me be creative)!  We had a blast photographing so many people and so many experiences!  We'll update the blog soon...we promise...but for many of you who had gotten use to seeing me blonde... I've changed it up...you'll need to look for me now with darker hair!

So you'll be hearing from us soon! 

Rachel & Bill

Rusty & Jessica - A Couple filled with Love & Light

Ohio holds a very dear place in my heart!  I was born and raised in the beautiful All-American City of Kettering, Ohio (just outside Dayton)...I love my OSU Buckeyes...I love the weather, the trees, the grass, the cows, the pumpkins, the snow, the festivals, the sidewalks, the air...I LOVE IT!  I love Orlando too.. and being a Floridian now for 11 years has made me appreciate the differences.  I'm blessed to be able to take my life and what I've made a success in Florida and bring it back home.  It's the best feeling in the world.  My goal is to split my time between Ohio and Florida equally with maybe a "vacation" in Tennessee and North Carolina (what can I say -- I'm def an East Coast girl)!  I'm blessed to have a husband who supports my countless dreams and just smiles and says "let's do it" when I come up with a new plan!  Soooo with that being said Rusty and Jessica were our "first" REAL wedding couple since we started our official advertising in Ohio as Thirteenth Moon Photography...besides a gazillion family and friends...these were people that put their faith in trust in our marketing, our past reviews and our promise of giving them the best photos IMAGINABLE...and yes we came through!

Rusty and Jessica...WOW..I mean what I said when I titled this entry "A Couple filled with Love and Light"...they are a couple grounded in their love of Christ and wanting to share nothing but smiles and their passion for living with everyone they meet!  Anyone that knows me knows that I am the biggest CHEESE BALL ever...but I met my match with Jessica and she made me laugh so many times and so hard that I had to pull away the camera to wipe the happy tears from my eyes!  We brought along my sweetheart cousin, Lisa...who will soon become the OFFICIAL Ohio Thirteenth Moon Photography REP and we started TEACHING HER RIGHT!  Lisa and I were so moved to tears throughout the day that we both had to remind ourselves we were "working" and had to stop! (Below is some of our "Behind the Lens" photos from the day)

Here's Lisee making sure Jessica's dress is PERFECT!

Here I am having too much fun with the blindfolded Bride & Groom

 At least I let them sit for this series :)

I can't explain this one -- but I know I make these faces often (but not ON PURPOSE)

 And My Bill -- taking a knee during the reception!

ANYWAYS....

Jessica's "preparation" photos we're the best and most fun I've ever been able to capture.  Her girls laced her dress and checked over every detail just as good bridesmaids should!  The bride had fun with it and made them laugh and I was lucky enough to capture it all!

One of Jessica's creative requests was to be able to hug and kiss her hubby-to-be before the ceremony...but they didn't want to see each other.  With this light-hearted and fun family we had a little fun with it and blindfolded the two and made them FIND each other.... we put them in a back hallway at the church and had them seek each other out (what a great metaphor, huh?)!  Needless to say, it didn't take but a minute for them to find each other.  Rusty said, "Jessica, you feel so beautiful!"

The ceremony was memorable and beautiful...Jessica's flower girl was ready to go and became the icing on the cake for me as she was a picture perfect and handed me some of the best flower girl pictures I've ever had!

With such a big sanctuary and the many guests, Bill took time to set up plenty of off-camera lighting and it really worked well!  Bill photographed from the balcony and got some amazing shots thanks to his technical engineering!

And I stayed as close as I could and zoomed in....

The reception was classic, filled with everyone that loved the bride and groom!  Rusty and Jessica showed off their mad dance skills and thanks to each of them it wasn't just their feet that caught our attention, but their animated faces and loud bursts of laughter!

Cutting the cake and ending our time with this couple was bittersweet! 

We hope very much to stay connected with Rusty and Jessica, have the honor of taking belly pictures and soon-there-after baby pictures...and as much as they'll have us around for!

Thank you, Rusty and Jessica for making US smile!!

With Much Love and Many Blessings....

Your Photographers for Life,

Bill & Rachel