Brett and I were so excited when we found out we would be shooting Mallory and Anthony’s wedding at the Cincinnati Zoo. We are HUGE fans of our zoo (go Cincy!), and the photo possibilities are just endless there.

Mallory and Anthony wanted their engagement session there as well. Why you might ask would they want all this zoo goodness? Well, for a couple reasons. If you are from Cincy, you know every spring they always talk about “The Zoo Babies.” (Insert commercial from the 80’s of zoo animals with James Taylor singing, “Smiling Face.” Remember?) Well as Brett said, Mallory is an original “zoo baby.” Her mother has worked there since before Mallory was born, and basically Mallory has spent her entire life running around and growing up at the zoo. (No, she does not act like a monkey, but she can answer any question about ANY animal there.) Also, she and Anthony both worked and met there. So you can see they have major history here, and it is oh so special to celebrate this next chapter in there life in such a beautiful setting. (WE CAN’T WAIT FOR THIS WEDDING!!!)

Here are some of our favorites from the session. It was a very beautiful but hot night. Luckily we were there after hours and Mallory’s mom escorted us around in a golf cart so we didn’t have to walk. We got the royal treatment. :)

The Cincinnati Zoo has such amazing gardens.

It was only like 95 degrees and sticky, sticky humid out so we decided go into the plant conservatory. If you have ever been in one you know they are HUMID (like you feel wet walking in) and it actually was cooler to us because of how hot it was outside! Since we were there at the zoo after hours, the Macaws were not very pleased we were interrupting their down time. They were CRAZY loud.

My angle of shooting….

Brett’s Macaw eye view. :) We both love this shot.

The cute carousel at the zoo. Mallory chose the hummingbird.

Ok, so I asked about shooting in the bamboo, and Mallory said that was always a favorite place for her growing up. WE WENT A LITTLE NUTS. The lighting, the bamboo…as my pal Bobbi would say, “Are you kidding me??!!” It was perfect. Like I could have done the whole session there.

My favorite.

Brett’s favorite….

As the sun was going down we went over by this huge, beautiful tree. I have an absolute crazy love for trees. Anthony told us it was an Oak that was probably about 500 years old.

Another favorite. It is so evident how much these two are in love. They are just so sweet with each other.

To close the evening we worked in Anthony’s one request…an Ohio State jersey shot next to the Buckeye tree. (It’s that little tree to the left of them.) Anthony is a major Ohio State fan.

Thanks guys for a wonderful evening. You two are awesome. We are excited for October wedding, and I know it going to be just beautiful. :)

We hooked up with Melissa and Brandon through my buddy Chloe. Melissa is sister’s with Chloe’s Mama Jessica, and I remember about a year ago when Jess said, “When my sister gets married, you have to do her wedding!” Well, Melissa got engaged, and soon Jess began helping her with wedding plans which included booking us. Currently Melissa and Brandon are living out of state, so having Jess handle the wedding planning worked out great for Melissa.

It wasn’t until a few days before our engagement session that I even spoke to Melissa. She told me about how she had met Brandon, how they had their first date in downtown Cincinnati eating dinner at the famous Montgomery Inn, and then taking a walk across the Ohio river on the Purple People Bridge. She had mentioned liking the idea of having the session on and around the bridge, and Brett and I LOVED the idea! Anytime we have the opportunity to make a photo session more personal and memorable, we jump at the chance.

Well, we found out the day of the session it was PARTY time down by the river, and was jam packed. We met them, and began walking around. It was within the next few minute that we realized that Melissa was a weeeeeeee bit camera shy. :) I told her I would do anything- a dance, stand on my head, whatever I could do to humiliate myself if that would make her feel better and more at ease. :) We got some good laughs out of her!!  So despite the shyness, the party on the river, and the heat, we had a great time and got some great images.

We had a pretty good walk to the bridge, so we shot at places along the way.

Isn’t this ground cool??

What are they laughing at??

What????

Ohhh, it’s the crazy studio3z stunt man. Of course.

Seriously. Insane.

Finally made it to the bridge.

and we went a little bridge crazy….. :)

Brett got this shot looking over at the Ohio river and the Serpentine Wall. It’s beautiful.

Thanks Melissa and Brandon for putting up with us in your face, pushing and bugging you!!  We are so glad you made the suggestion to go to the bridge- it was an amazing location. You two are beautiful people, and we loved having the chance to get to know you. Looking forward to next April’s wedding! :)