Jessica Strickland, International Fine Art and Wedding Photojournalist | » Engagement

JOELYNN + JUSTIN

Jessica — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:54:57 +0000

I owe Joelynn and Justin a huge THANKS for their patience with this blog post! I always feel bad with how the insane busyness of the holidays always means slow blog posts for those shoots that happened in December, just before Christmas! So, thanks SOO much Joelynn & Justin for your patience! These two were incredible in front of the camera…and soo FUN! We had such a great shoot…even though it was cold and gray and muddy where we were. It didn’t even phase them…they had a blast together and we had a terrific shoot!! Thanks J&J for being soo great…I loved getting to photograph you!

SANDY + ADAM

Jessica — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:03:19 +0000

Sandy & Adam were serious troopers for our shoot….it was a cold, on and off rainy kind of day with crazy intense wind! After discussing trying to reschedule, we decided to just hope for the best and go for it! They were such good sports through the crazy weather and we had a BLAST together, despite it all! We even had a brief peak of sunshine during our shoot!! Sandy & Adam, you are both soo great, I really enjoyed our time together and I can’t WAIT for the wedding!! Thanks again for being soo fantastic for the shoot!

ELIZABETH+BRAD

Jessica — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:12:26 +0000

I had the MOST fun shoot with Elizabeth and Brad!! I hadn’t met them yet and so I was excited…and within seconds, we totally clicked and had an absolute blast together!! They came in from Fort Wayne for the shoot and I loved that Elizabeth knew exactly the vision the she had for the shoot, which was a fall scene…and that the IMA was the great fit as a location! When I saw Elizabeth in a perfect color for fall and we had a super awesome day with almost warm temps and it was an wonderful sunny evening, I knew we were going to have a fantastic shoot!! They were soo great at completely embracing the shoot, having a ton of fun and loving their time together! Elizabeth and Brad…you two are really fantastic, I soo enjoyed meeting you and spending the evening with you….and I can’t WAIT for your wedding next September!

HOLLY+BEN

Jessica — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:08:17 +0000

Holly & Ben pretty much captured my heart in about 3 minutes flat! It was the first time I had met them….and we instantly clicked! It was BRIGHT and early in the morning, thanks to a week of rain that forced shoots to get rescheduled into some crazy timing….and while we were beyond excited to see the SUN shining, it was still a BRISK 34 degrees when we met and began our shoot! Holly and Ben didn’t even mind a BIT….they were still soo fantastic and instantly engaged in our shoot, having an awesome time together and making me fall in love with them! I think we literally laughed and joked our way through this entire shoot…and we forgot all about how cold we were! Holly & Ben….really, you two ROCKED every last second of this shoot, I enjoyed our time SOO much and I think you are truly a fantastic, special couple!! I feel soo lucky to be your photographer and now, your friend!! xoxo!!

As I shot these next three images, Ben was telling me the story of how he and Holly met…and it was awesome! And cracking me (& Holly!) up!! I love these….

They were home for homecoming weekend, so naturally they had to represent…

It was 5 o’clock somewhere…

TARYN+AUSTIN

Jessica — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 18:40:44 +0000

I had the best time spending a perfect fall evening with Taryn & Austin! When Taryn called me and told me that she had an idea to incorporate a vintage car that was in their family, into the shoot….I said YES PLEASE! We already had a great plan of shooting in the evening, at a great barn…so to add a great vintage car was such a bonus! Special thanks to Jerry for being soo great and driving your beautiful vintage, restored Ford up from the south side!! It was a treat getting to see this car because my own Dad (a hot rod/vintage car buff) has talked about and loved this exact Ford (well, ’33 he says…and this is a ’28..or was it ’29, Jerry?) my whole life and talked about restoring one! Jerry, you did a tremendous job restoring that gorgeous car and I really appreciate you letting us incorporate it into our shoot! Now to the lovely Taryn & Austin! Just one look at them and you will see why I was smitten! They are both beautiful people…and when I got to know them and saw their love for one another….I grew to like them even more!! We had such a great, relaxed shoot…just talking, laughing and enjoying our time! Thanks soo much Jerry, Taryn & Austin for all that you did to make this shoot soo great and soo fun!! Can’t wait for the wedding!!

RACHEL+SAM

Jessica — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:39:27 +0000

From the first 5 minutes of meeting Rachel and Sam many months ago, I KNEW that I was going to LOVE them! We just clicked….it was effortless. They are just soo cool, it’s easy to adore them. And soo chill. And soo nice. And soo fun. Most importantly, they have IT. Just that certain something, that way of connecting, that certain magic about them. You will see it, they can’t HIDE it. And it’s a good thing because I LOVE capturing that kind of magic. Photographing them is like a walk in the park on a crisp fall day….easy, refreshing and good for the soul. We had an absolute blast on the lovely Friday evening that we shared. They were wise to start out their engagement shoot with a nice glass of wine, all shoots (well, not kids shoots! hehe!) should start with a glass of wine! And from there, we just spent hours hanging out, talking, laughing and having SOO much fun! We were even serenaded by an entire high school band during our shoot! NO kidding. Ok, maybe they weren’t there for JUST us, but nothing gives an engagement session some awesome energy like an full band busting out the tunes(current hits too! rhianna! usher! who knew!?)!! Rachel & Sam….I sooo enjoyed your company and can’t tell you how much I appreciate you truly embracing this shoot and your time together. Don’t ever loose that magic…. Can’t wait to capture it again in April!!

AMRITA + CHRIS

Jessica — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:40:04 +0000

I had such a great evening in Louisville with Amrita & Chris! They were patient through some weather struggles, rescheduling, etc!! Amrita and Chris are getting married at the end of the month, so we were simply out of time and while the weather appeared that it wasn’t going to cooperate for us on our shoot, it was completely tricking us because it turned out to be an absolutely perfect, warm, sunny evening! Good thing we didn’t listen to the forecast and we pushed on to do our shoot anyway!! Amrita and Chris are busy in the final stages of planning and I’m getting soo excited for their upcoming wedding!! Thanks for a lovely evening in Louisville, Amrita & Chris! I really enjoyed our time together and getting the chance to learn about what a fantastic, photogenic city Louisville is through your thoughtful planning and tour of the city…. can’t wait for the end of the month!!

YVONNE+BRIAN

Jessica — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 17:13:02 +0000

I was really excited to meet Yvonne and Brian for the first time. Every time I talked to Yvonne…or her family helping plan the wedding…it was just natural, easy and great. They are focused on creating a beautiful wedding, but doing it with ease and grace…and being very kind through it all. It’s wonderful when things start off like that and I know it’s going to be a great relationship and a wonderful wedding! We had a terrific time on their engagement session! It was soo nice getting to know them! We lucked out with a gorgeous evening and we spent the time just hanging out, talking, laughing and enjoying our time. Just as I already said…with ease, grace and kindness. And they are pretty darn good looking too, which never hurts! Yvonne and Brian…I’m really honored to be your photographer and I really enjoyed our time together…I can’t wait to see you become husband and wife next May!!

We started off at the IMA, which I haven’t visited for a while because of their new photo policy…and it was nice to be back on a picture perfect evening!

And then we were off to downtown for some funkier images! I think Yvonne and Brian look soo spectacular in these images! Great oufit choices, you two…and way to work it out on the posing!
And a final stop off at the spot of their first date…and where Brian proposed! I love incorporating meaningful spots into engagement sessions!

ASHLEY+JEFF

Jessica — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:30:33 +0000

Chitown and I are getting along juuuust fine these days! I loved my time there with Ashley & Jeff! I seriously think I laughed from the minute we started shooting until the last frame I took b/c Jeff had us in stitches the whole time! Ashley and I discussed shooting at some “off the beaten path” kind of places and I’m glad we did b/c I discovered some great little niches of peaceful, serene space within the big city!! (but of course we had to incorporate some Chicago spots b/c after all, they love their town!) Ashley & Jeff, you are both wonderful and kind…thank you for being soo flexible with the scheduling of this shoot and for being SUCH fun to work with and photograph!! Can’t wait until October!!

Would you even believe this lovely little getaway is smack in the middle of the CITY??

You know I couldn’t resist a little city action!

As our shoot came to an end, the city got that famous misty, hazy, cool feel that I think Chicago is known for. While we were a bit COLD (in JUNE! really!)…it made for a lovely dreamy feel to our final images of Jeff & Ashley dancing on the pier as the sun slipped into horizon through the mist.

SHANNON+SAHM

Jessica — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 16:56:53 +0000

I’ll admit it….the minute Shannon friended me on facebook and I took a peek at how gorgeous she was and how handsome Sahm was, I was excited to be their photographer! Then, when I met them for their engagement session, I learned of how great they are…how much they love each other…and how much fun they have together….and we just clicked, then I grew to love them for soo much more! They were major troopers…after seeing that the temps for our scheduled shoot day were a cool 95, we planned for a 9am shoot…and at 9am, it was already 85 and thick outside. You wouldn’t have known b/c they were rockin’ it, loving their time together and embracing it wholeheartedly! Shannon & Sahm…you are both soo fantastic! I loved our time together and hearing all about the wedding! Thank you for enduring the heat and being soo great to photograph!!

OH…and another girl after my own heart with a LOVE FOR COLOR! Thank you Shannon (and SAHM!) for making my blog look soo happy and bright!

Sahm: “I don’t actually think I’ve ever seen this in the daytime”, Me: “Seen what in the daytime?:, Sahm: BROAD RIPPLE. I think that is pretty true of most Indy residents and it cracked me up! (non indy peeps…it’s an area of town known for it’s bars and nighttime scene….it ROCKS by day, though!)

ERICA+DAN

Jessica — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:02:56 +0000

I LOVED this shoot!! Erica, Dan and I had a GREAT afternoon together in Chicago! They seriously embraced this shoot to the fullest and I think it totally shows in the images! We spent our time laughing, talking, touring Chicago and having an absolute BLAST! We stopped at some of their favorite spots around town, at the awesome new house that they just built and the incredibly cute restaurant where they had their first date! I love when shoots incorporate personal things that are also really fun! Erica & Dan…seriously, I adore you guys! THANK YOU for such a fun time in Chicago and being such troopers for an awesome shoot!! You two worked it OUT! Can’t wait for the wedding!! xoxo!!

First a stop in Lincoln Park where Erica lives and works…. (for now!) It’s a good thing that Indianapolis has my heart or else I would pick up my things and move to this uber charming neighborhood in about 1.3 seconds flat.

Then, off to the city… HELLO CHICAGO!

Who knew that the meat packing district could lure me in like a KID in a candy store….love me some COLOR!!

And their incredible new house! I was trying to figure out a way to disassemble this light that I clearly loved and pack it in my bag to take home with me…

Then we were off to their first date restaurant! Seriously, the restaurants in Chicago leave me LONGING for a day where I do nothing but tour cute restaurants and eat…. good thing I don’t live there or else…

And finally, a stop at some rockin graffiti in Wicker Park… Erica did a stellar job of picking locations after we discussed the vision for the shoot! KUDOS Erica…a girl who after my own heart who loves style, color and the city!

JANICE + CORY

Jessica — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:36:57 +0000

It was such an honor and a privilege to be chosen as the photographer for the first WISH UPON A WEDDING Indiana! Janice & Cory were the recipients of the wedding and they couldn’t be more deserving! They have a special and inspirational story….and being able to give them images to commemorate the joining of their lives meant soo much to me! They are two people who have a special, genuine love and passion for one another. They perservere through such frustration and difficulty with a spirit of gentleness, togetherness and love….it’s incredible to watch. THANK YOU, Janice & Cory for allowing me to witness and capture your love and THANK YOU, Wish Upon a Wedding for allowing me to be a part of this incredible event!!

We captured their engagement session and a bit about their story a while back and they have had my heart ever since! Stay tuned for their wedding coming up next!!

They did a sweet interview for the Wish Upon a Wedding organization and I couldn’t help but snap of few shots of them telling their story…

LINDSEY+ROBERT

Jessica — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 00:35:13 +0000

I traveled north to the quaint and super charming little town of Camden, Indiana for the terrific engagement session of Lindsey & Robert! Lindsey is a former employee of mine and a friend…and I was soo honored when she asked me to photographer her wedding and engagement session! I was excited that she asked me to come to the farm where she and Robert will live so that they could be captured with the surroundings that mean the most to them. We had such a blast shooting with Robert’s incredible tractor collection, at their farm, around some cool spots in town and at the covered bridges in the area! As I left Indy for their shoot, it started to snow without much mention of it on the weather forecast. Well, by the time I got to Camden, two inches of snow blanketed the ground and it was COLD….but Lindsey & Robert were awesome despite being freezing cold and snow covered for most of our shoot and not having feeling in their feet until the next day! Lindsey & Robert…you are both truly fantastic!! You have such a special love for one another and I thank you for allowing me to witness and capture it!! Sooo excited for March…

This one is for you, Robert…because it’s NOT John Deere green

JENNY+NATHAN

Jessica — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 03:44:32 +0000

I had a terrific shoot with Jenny & Nathan!! We had such a blast and laughed our way through the entire thing!! They were major troopers, though…we received about 5 inches of snow the day before their shoot and the temperature was due to be about 20 degrees, but feel like just 10 degrees that day! When I checked in to be sure they were up for potentially getting a little frost bitten during the shoot, they said YES and I was majorly impressed!! They endured through it all and we had a fantastic time together! I’m super excited for their wedding this coming summer…when we’ll barely be able to remember a winter day where we couldn’t feel our hands or feet and had a snowball fight!

What to do when you have 5 inches of snow in a clean blanket all around you??? DUH…have a snowball fight.

And then we were off to Buca Di Beppo…the spot of the official first date…

Then we were off to do a small tour of dowtown Indy…

MELISSA+MARK

Jessica — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 22:31:37 +0000

I had such a great shoot with Melissa & Mark! From the first time I met them, I knew I was going to love working with them! They are super fun, soo laid back, kind and warm, soo in love and also pretty tough because it was COLD, then rainy, then windy for this shoot…and they were total troopers through it all!! We did find some great fall color in November, though…which made it all worth it!! Melissa & Mark…you are both terrific!!! Thank you for such a great shoot and enduring the conditions like champs!! Can’t wait for your wedding!! xo!!