Welcome to Photography Cincinnati

Photography Cincinnati may seem like an unusual name for a blog, but photography in Cincinnati, Ohio can be challenging yet exhilarating.

Cincinnati Ohio has so many great places for photo shoots whether they be for weddings, family, engagements, senior portraits, or event photography that it’s hard to choose. Cincinnati photographers have their own favorite haunts in Cincinnati, but the best cater to their clients if they have a preference for their photography shoot, whether it’s a location shoot or in the studio.

Photography Cincinnati – Offering photography in Cincinnati for all occasions

Whether shooting seniors, children, family, bands, weddings or anything in between, Cincinnati photography should be your greater Cincinnati photographer’s passion.

I understand too well that life passes quickly and it’s essential to capture those precious memories, whether it’s a growing belly to birth of your child, through their growing up years, becoming a Senior, college, and one day marrying that special someone. Be sure you choose a photographer who wants to grab those moments, and turn them into images that will last you a lifetime and continue through generations.  Photography Cincinnati will help you to do this and more.

Clients should become more than a “client” to the photographer. The best Cincinnati photographers want to build a relationship with each individual that contacts them to photograph his or her special moment. They seek to become the “family photographer”, to give clients exactly what they want so when the next big event comes, that photography studio or photographer’s name and number is the first one they contact.

Photography Cincinnati – More than just a picture taker

Here you’ll find my favorite greater Cincinnati photographer, see images from some of the best locations in the surrounding areas for photo shoots, and even get some tips on services whether you need complete photography services or just specific specialty. Our tri state area photographers provide specialty services, digital images, choices between studio and location portraits, Cincinnati wedding, special photography services, or anything in between.

We’ll also cover Dayton Ohio, Northern Kentucky, West Chester, or even destination travel.  We hope you enjoy Photography Cincinnati and come back soon.

My love of wedding photography began when I was a little girl. I remember going to my grandmother’s house and dragging out her photo albums. I always sought the album that contained the pictures from my Uncle Dale and Aunt Dot’s wedding. Carefully turning the pages, there she was – my aunt standing alone looking radiant, her wedding gown, the train carefully wrapped around her. I remember thinking every time, “When I grow up, I hope I have a wedding dress that beautiful.”

As fate would have it, when my turn came to get married, I got to wear my Aunt’s wedding dress. It had aged beautifully to a gorgeous ivory color. I felt like a princess. When my mom stepped into the dressing room for the first time, the photographer snapped a picture of my mom and me looking at each other, both of us just fully realizing what that day truly meant. We both started tearing up, and the memory was captured on film.

Why do I shoot wedding photography? Because I want to be able to capture those same memories for the next princess on her special day.

I’ve been a photographer with Ron Shuller for 5 years. Last year alone I shot over 30 weddings. Each wedding brings it’s own memories.

Last year I shot a wedding when the bride’s father was in such advanced stages of cancer, that he could barely stand. I shot the father/daughter picture with him leaning against a column, and told him he looked “GQ” and awesome standing next to his radiant daughter.
I stood in the front shooting pictures of the processional, and watched as he, with each agonizing step through shear determination and will power proudly walked his daughter down the aisle. Those pictures will be treasures.

I want every bride and groom I meet to know that this is their day for making memories, and the photo part of the day will be fun and memorable, because it’s those pictures that capture the memories of their special day. I may have ideas, but welcome ideas from the bride and groom. I come to a wedding with a checklist the bride and groom have put together and an open slate. After all, it’s not my day, I’m there to make sure each bride and groom have memories recorded that tell the story of their wedding day.

It will be 28 years this June since that photographer shot the picture of my mother and me just before I walked down the aisle. Now that she’s in heaven, that image is more of a treasure now than ever. That’s what I want for each bride and groom.

When is the best time to book your wedding? For the 2012 wedding season, now is the time to set the date and book your photographer. Otherwise, you may have a date in mind, but you hesitated to call the photographer and now the date is taken. Don’t let that happen to you.

ImagesByLynnette.com is the first place to start. You’ll find everything you need to know to get you on the right road to a perfect day.

Sure, I grew up loving the Dallas Cowboys, “America’s Team”, even subscribing to the Dallas Cowboys’ Weekly. I remember knowing who everyone was, and the guys looking at me funny because I could quote stats.

Twenty some odd years later, I found myself approached by the Johnson family to be the family’s personal photographer to take pictures of Bart Jr., a Free Agent at Cincinnati Bengal’s training camp. I readily agreed to the shoot, and wasn’t disappointed by my experience.

Bart (Bengal #13) attended Texas Christian University with Andy Dalton (Bengal #14) and close friend Jordan Shipley (Bengal #11). Bart was a key player in TCU’s Rose Bowl victory in 2011.  During that Rose Bowl, he put the first points on the board with a 23 yard catch from Andy Dalton, and ended the close game by recovering an onside kick after Wisconsin had pulled within two points.

Johnson’s a wide receiver who’s been catching passes from Andy Dalton for 3 years. Their chemistry on the field makes them brilliant. You can practically feel the camaraderie all the way to the stands.
But what sets Barto apart from the pack? I believe it’s a combination of a lot of factors – his determination, his dedication, his intelligence, and his priorities.

Determination – I watched Barto dig a throw out of the dirt to make the catch. He hustles. He’s able to put distractions aside and focus on the play, doing his job giving every play everything he’s got. Yeah, he knows making the team is a long shot, but  Bart goes out every day as if it’s already a done deal and works hard to confirm he belongs here.

Dedication – Barto was a walk-on at TCU. No one was looking at the kid from Brownwood Texas High. Before training camp, if anyone in Cincinnati said, “Bart Johnson”, not many but the die hard Bengals fans would know who you’re talking about.

One of the days I went to training camp, it was a non-stop, adrenaline filled practice. When it was over, Barto went over to the fence to sign a few autographs, but unlike most of the other players, instead of going back to the locker room, Barto stayed on the field to catch some more passes. He doesn’t just give the minimum – he exceeds what’s requested of him.

Intelligence – How many in the NFL can say they graduated Magna Cum Laude with a GPA of 3.777? Johnson’s goal is being a success, whether it’s on or off the field, and his backup plan after the Bengals is law school. He can memorize a play book quickly, or read a playing field and instinctively his brain makes the adjustments required to do his job on that specific play.

Priorities – Bart Johnson, Jr. is a man who understands you can’t succeed without your priorities in place, a virtue most likely defined by his tight knit family. One of Bart’s priorities is his faith.
As a matter of fact, shortly after joining his Fraternity at TCU, he started the Fraternity’s first Bible Study. Bart understood if you put God first, then all the other things in your life will fall into place.

What a great role model for our youth, put God first, trust Him, and keep that your first priority. After that, education and football were both priorities, keeping his grade scores high and his football stats key. He also took time to visit Middle Schools and Elementary Schools to speak for Student Athletes for Christ.

I once asked a very wise man how to know God’s will for your life. His answer: Number 1 stay as close to God as you possibly can. And as long as you are doing Number 1, do what comes naturally, and if God wants you doing anything else, He will let you know.

Barto’s a natural at football, with the determination, dedication and intelligence to have a great year by keeping his priorities in line. He’s excited about the future – he can relax because he’s put his future in God’s capable hands and all he has to do is listen, and obey.

Personally, I hope Barto’s stay in Cincinnati is a long one.

I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite things about summer is the daylight lasts longer, giving me more opportunities to shoot after work. One of my least favorite things is that there are so many pretty places in Cincinnati, it’s hard to decide where to go! However, I will make a few suggestions.

Scenery Photography

If you want landscape shots, or photos of pretty flowers, there are numerous choices. I might start at Mt. Echo Park, just off Elberon because it has so many possibilities – beautiful flowers, a view of Cincinnati, a wonderful pavilion, and hiking trails.

Then of course there’s the Krohn Conservatory for more flowers and beauty than you can imagine. Just the orchid room itself, as well as the collection of bonsai trees makes it a clear stand out – and that’s before you get to the waterfall in the back, complete with Bridge. If you remember you tripod, you can experiment with slow shutter speeds to get that flowing water look.

Eden Park is big, and offers a number of great places to get shots. If you like ducks and geese, this is also the place for you.

Across the river is a different view of the city in Devou Park where you get a totally different perspective than at Mt. Echo.

Portrait Photography

For portrait photography, whether you are shooting children, Seniors, families or bridal parties, the places to go are limitless. My recommendations for pretty locations in Cincinnati for portraits I would leave up to your photographer of choice. A professional photographer can help you discover your perfect Cincinnati destination based on your personality and what you like, whether it be a beautiful setting like Ault Park, or one of the professional photographer’s little known locations for a more urban look and feel to your images.

One of the best photographers to contact that listens to you, getting to know you before making her recommendations is Images By Lynnette. She’s driven all over Cincinnati, having lived here for more than 25 years. She can find locations you would have never imagined and provide those images that last a lifetime because she captures her subject’s personality in a setting where they feel comfortable.

Call her today for a free appointment – 513-646-7545.

Family photographers in Cincinnati

Finding family photographers in Cincinnati who works well with families can often be a challenge. A professional photographer who shoots family portraits must be able to relate to individuals of all ages, often all at the same time. This isn’t always easy when you want a portrait of a three year old, teenager, and grandma. The professional photographer must know what to do to keep everyone focused on the camera, while getting great expressions.

Images By Lynnette has a great advantage in the Cincinnati area. Not only is the primary photographer a mother, but she also holds a degree in Elementary Education and has worked with children and teens for years.

Images by Lynnette also has the advantage of knowing the best Cincinnati photography locations to take great family photos, but can also offer a studio setting along with props to get the image you want.

Finding Family Photographers in Cincinnati Despite a Busy Schedule

The sad truth is that most parents get so busy, that the only pictures they have are candids by amateurs, or the school photo taken once a year when the professional photographer spends 5 minutes with your child expecting a good photo. As a rule of thumb, professional family portraits should be a once a year occurrence. Appearances change every day, and having an annual photo means you will have a quality heirloom that will outlast you into future generations. Do you really want to leave that up to the school photographer or the $15.99 package a Walmart?

Great family photographers like Lynnette know that it takes longer than 5 minutes to get a good shot of a kid – whatever the age.
The great family photographer will always bring her own bag of tricks to keep the focus of the child where she needs it to be.

Whether you’re looking for family photographers in Cincinnati, or just images of your child(ren), you won’t regret contacting Lynnette at Images By Lynnette or by calling 513-646-7545 for a free consultation.  Hopefully this has been helpful in your quest to find family photographers in Cincinnati.

Senior Portrait Photographers

Your teen’s high school will have selected a senior portrait photography company to shoot the senior pictures for the yearbook giving you the option to purchase several packages.

When my kids hit their Senior year and it came time to schedule their appointment with the Cincinnati photography company chosen by the high school, we went through the process and they returned home with a portrait package selection sheet with pricing of various packages. I have to admit I had major sticker shock. Seriously, these photography studios know that since this is a once in a lifetime event, they feel they can gouge as much out of you as possible.

We went through the process, so the teen could be in the yearbook, but also knowing we weren’t planning to select any package. It was a relief to know that we’d already secured another option for our kid.  When we saw packages in the $500 range, we were so glad we already had a Plan B.

Our Senior told us about her experience at the school. She said they spent about 20 minutes tops with her, just shuffled backgrounds around, and then told her thanks very much and that was it. Thankfully, our Cincinnati photographer spends no less than an hour with a client, and makes sure that client is the most important person in the world at that moment.

A Senior portrait photographer should have these characteristics.

• Has worked with teens for many years and can develop a rapport with them quickly
• Offers options of studio photography as well as allowing the Senior to select locations for the photography shoot which includes clothing changes and provides ample time for great photos
• Offers package options that include all the digital images in high resolution

In case  you’re wondering, the Cincinnati photography company that took my kid’s photos had none of these characteristics.

In the greater Cincinnati area one of my favorite senior portrait photographers is Images by Lynnette. She has raised two teenagers, been involved in youth organizations, and knows how to relate to Seniors to bring out the best in them. This is reflected in the images she takes. Not to mention, she’s got 7 years of professional photography experience and the photography equipment to make the images amazing even before Photoshop.

A quick look at Lynnette’s website will show you that she has a great way with all ages and has the experience it takes to get great shots of your Senior. A bonus is that along with her experience, she understands special moments should not cost you a limb. You get experience, personal touch, and a photographer that cares about her clients.

Her photographer philosophy is not just to get great senior portraits, but to gain a client for

Lovely Senior

life, so that whenever a special event is being planned, she’s the first name you call, whether it be childhood photos, senior pictures, wedding photographer, pregnancy and new baby, or any other special moments. Lynnette’s clients come back because her photography is more than a digital picture, it becomes art.

Contact Lynnette at 513-646-7545 for a free consultation for your senior portrait photography, as well as all your photography needs.

Best Senior Portrait Locations Cincinnati – A Review

Cincinnati is one of those towns where there are limitless possibilities for Senior pictures.  I am not sure how you found this page but I am glad you did!  Maybe you googled Best Senior Portrait Locations Cincinnati or something like that – I have all your answers here!

To get the best location for your senior, it’s first important to get the right photographer. The photographer you choose should be able to relate well to your Senior. Look for the photographer to ask lots of questions about the Senior which will help in selecting the best locations to meet your Senior’s personality.

My favorite photographer for Senior pictures is Images By Lynnette. Not only is she great at establishing a repoire with that age, she can make suggestions based on what she learns about your Senior. Lynnette has done photo shoots all over greater Cincinnati and can provide you with solid locations you’re sure to love.

I could simply list many of the great locations for Senior pictures in and around Cincinnati. But without the photographer having knowledge of your Senior’s personality, you wouldn’t get the best location recommendations that suit your Senior best..

Where’s the best location for your Senior’s pictures? Talk to the photographer of your choice. While often money is an underlying factor when making choices, when it comes to a once in a lifetime event like Senior pictures, you don’t want to leave it in the hands of someone who isn’t going to make sure your Senior isn’t shown at their best, relaxed and having fun.

And be sure to check out Images By Lynnette. You’ll see sample images in the portfolio, but you can also go to the Galleries page to view recent photography shoots. After a little browsing, you’ll be able to see what makes her knowledge and style ahead of the pack! Best of all, her prices are reasonable and you won’t break the bank or your budget to have lasting memories.

Hopefully you enjoyed our Best Senior Portrait Locations Cincinnati post.

A flash bracket is a camera accessory that you mount onto your camera. It serves at least two primary purposes – it moves your external flash away from your camera, providing height in order to reduce or eliminate red-eye and unwanted shadows in your photos.

While there are many flash brackets manufactured and some sold in photography stores such as Cord Camera, Ritz & Wolf, and Camtron, you need to make your choice carefully.

When I started out as a photographer, I was told in order to be a wedding photographer, I had to have a flash bracket. Professional images often require specific equipment.

In this case, wedding photographers must frequently shoot in low light situations, particularly at the reception. The Primary Photographer at a wedding will have a checklist as well of posed wedding images requested by the bride and groom. In order to get the best out of camera shots, requiring less time in the “darkroom” or in software, use the right equipment in the first place to greatly reduce post-production processing.

With this in mind, you need to purchase a flash bracket. You can search the photography businesses in town, or surf the internet to find your flash bracket. While your budget will somewhat dictate which you purchase, my recommendation is to save up your money until you can afford the best – the one that will last, includes a warranty, is easy to use, and the company has a solid reputation.

In 2006 I was hunting for a flash bracket for the upcoming Cincinnati wedding season. I had a couple of lenses that I also needed to purchase, and I was on a budget. With weddings close approaching, I started my search on eBay. I bid on a couple of flash brackets, and ended up with one right around $60.

You get what you pay for. From Day One, that flash bracket and I were at war. It swiveled positions when I didn’t want it to, cut into my hand if carrying it anywhere but the side mount, and when I set it down, it fell over, expensive camera, lens, flash and all.

That’s when I went with the flash bracket initially recommended to me by a photographer with 30 years in the wedding photography business. I went to www.JustRiteBracket.com and ordered the light version. Putting my camera on, it was immediate satisfaction. This flash bracket even has feet! So your camera doesn’t fall over when you set the camera down to go adjust something on the bride’s dress. With the quick release from my tripod, it comes on and off with ease. I never experience red-eye. I don’t have ugly shadows. I have a sturdy piece of equipment designed by a photographer for photographers, after experiencing the same frustrations we have.

Gary Justice, founder and developer of the Justrite bracket tinkered around until he had a flash bracket that suited his needs. When others saw it, they wanted one too, and JustRite Bracket was born. He treats every customer as if they’re his only customer. I sent a message the other day asking about a quick release for the camera from the bracket itself not just from the tripod, and he gave me a follow-up phone call within 20 minutes. He knew when I’d orderd my first bracket, what model I purchased, and advised me what bracket I wanted to upgrade to.

If you’re serious about taking your photography to the next level, a flash bracket is a must. Don’t settle for inferior quality or customer service. Check out www.justritebracket.com and see why I’m raving about these brackets. The price list is currently a link at the bottom of the page.

UPDATE: My new flash bracket arrived yesterday and I had my camera mounted to it within a few minutes. The updates are exactly what I needed and I couldn’t be happier. Within just a few sessions, or less than one wedding, this flash bracket will have paid for itself and I will be set for any situation with this amazing flash bracket.

The Justrite Bracket

Cincinnati Photographer – Q & A for High School Juniors

It’s that time of year when Cincinnati  Juniors around the tri-state are receiving information about their Senior year. Part of that is information about scheduling their Senior Portrait session with the Cincinnati photographer selected by the school to handle the pictures for the yearbook.

I personally know one parent with an only child who spent $1000 on Senior pictures. I polled high school Seniors and parents from Cincinnati school districts to find out how much they spent on Senior pictures. I was shocked to find the average price for a portrait package was $450 – $500.

When my Cincinnati Senior went to her scheduled appointment, I asked her to tell me about it, since I do Senior Portraits. She told me they spent no more than 20 minutes with her, snapped a few shots, changed the backdrop, snapped a few more, changed the background, a couple more times then said “here’s your receipt and ordering information, we’ll let you know when the proofs are in.”

I was blown away, not only with the cattle mentality of getting through the daily schedule, but also by the manner in which the Cincinnati photographer was so impersonal.

Obviously, I recommend making an appointment with the Cincinnati photographer selected by the school. But you would find me hard pressed to justify spending $500 for images that were fake smiles and quick background/ outfit changes. That’s not what I want to spend my $500 for.

Cincinnati Photographer Recommendations

My recommendation is find a Cincinnati photographer who knows the area, is comfortable shooting Senior portraits, one who has a lot of experience working with teens, and takes the time to get to know your soon to be Senior. That Cincinnati photographer will then be able to recommend locations, or if you have a favorite place, is willing to go there.

The Cincinnati photographer should be ready to spend no less than an hour with your teen, have a personality that engages the teen, getting real smiles and letting their personality show through. A few outfit changes should be included, so you can have a casual look, classy, even fun. The images can include what your teen loves, be it basketball or AP Chemistry.

The Tri-State’s Top Cincinnati Photographer

My favorite Cincinnati photographer who knows how to bring out a teen’s personality and is experienced in providing heirloom portraits is Lynnette Stevens of  www.ImagesByLynnette.com. She has a great reputation and the experience with working with clients to give them exactly what they want. Her goal with every client is to get to know them so they get everything they want from the photography session, then also provide portraits that will make your Senior shine.

Cincinnati photographer Lynnette Stevens just published a Prom shoot she did with some lovely ladies from Cincinnati Dater working with the Prom theme “Vintage Hollywood”. You can view those images at http://www.imagesbylynnette.com/#!prom-night—april-30. You can view other Senior pictures in the Portfolio at http://www.imagesbylynnette.com/#!portfolio.

You can contact Lynnette using her Contact page http://www.imagesbylynnette.com/#!contact-us or give her a call. She’s running a special right now with the PROMO code from her website receive 15% off the booking price and she also has an incentive program for referrals.

You’ll receive heirloom quality images and it won’t cost you $500!  Here is a sample of Lynnette’s work!

Hopefully this post about finding the best and most affordable Cincinnati photographer has been helpful.

Cincinnati Photographer – What to Expect from the School

Your teen’s high school will have selected a senior photography company to shoot the senior pictures for the yearbook giving you the option to purchase several packages.  Which Cincinnati photographer would be the best choice?

When my kids hit their Senior year and it came time to schedule their appointment with the Cincinnati photography company chosen by the high school, we went through the process and they returned home with a portrait package selection sheet with pricing of various packages. I have to admit I had major sticker shock. Seriously, these photography studios know that since this is a once in a lifetime event, they feel they can gouge as much out of you as possible.

Cincinnati Photographer – A Plan B for Cost Savings

We went through the process, so the teen could be in the yearbook, but also knowing we weren’t planning to select any package. It was a relief to know that we’d already secured another option for our kid.  When we saw packages in the $500 range, we were so glad we already had a Plan B.

Plan B didn’t include Sears or JC Penney, where we knew we would get the same in/out process as the company hired by the school. Sure, the prices are bargain basement, but is that what you really want for your once in a lifetime experience? We wanted natural pictures of our Senior that captured her essence allowed her to have fun, and enjoy the time so we would have captured that moment in time when she felt on top of the world, that feeling Seniors have we and we all wish we could put in a bottle to savor.

Cincinnati Photographer – What Your Senior will Experience at School

Our Senior told us about her experience at the school. She said they spent about 20 minutes tops with her, just shuffled backgrounds around, and then told her thanks very much and that was it. Thankfully, our Cincinnati photographer spends no less than an hour with a client, and makes sure that client is the most important person in the world at that moment.

A Senior portrait photographer should have these characteristics.

• Has worked with teens for many years and can develop a rapport with them quickly
• Offers options of studio photography as well as allowing the Senior to select locations for the photography shoot which includes clothing changes and provides ample time for great photos
• Offers package options that include all the digital images in high resolution

In case  you’re wondering, the Cincinnati photography company that took my kid’s photos had none of these characteristics.

In the greater Cincinnati area one of my favorite senior portrait photographers is Images by Lynnette. She has raised two teenagers, been involved in youth organizations, and knows how to relate to Seniors to bring out the best in them. This is reflected in the images she takes. Not to mention, she’s got 7 years of professional photography experience and the photography equipment to make the images amazing even before Photoshop.

A quick look at Lynnette’s website will show you that she has a great way with all ages and has the experience it takes to get great shots of your Senior. A bonus is that along with her experience, she understands special moments should not cost you a limb. You get experience, personal touch, and a photographer that cares about her clients.

Her photographer philosophy is not just to get great senior portraits, but to gain a client for life, so that whenever a special event is being planned, she’s the first name you call, whether it be childhood photos, senior pictures, wedding photographer, pregnancy and new baby, or any other special moments. Lynnette’s clients come back because her photography is more than a digital picture, it becomes art and your best memories. 

Hopefully you enjoyed this post about selecting a Cincinnati photographer.