I cannot say enough wonderful things about this couple. I traveled up to meet them at the Toledo Botanical Gardens for their engagement session last year and we had an absolute ball. I will never forget how Jacob held his "silly face" for an epically long time lol [If you haven't seen their beautiful engagement session click here]

Jacob and Mallory met at her first full-time job out of college in October of 2011. They both worked at an advertising agency in Sylvania - she was one of 3 account coordinators and Jacob was the media coordinator. Right off the bat Mallory knew she found Jacob attractive, funny and all that good stuff so over the next few months she worked her butt off trying to catch his attention. They even went on a "date" to see the most recent Twilight movie in December of 2011 where she tried to hold his hand and he was just not having it - haha. So, come March 2012 Jacob finally started giving Mallory some attention. They begin chatting and over time begin hanging out and by April 2012 he decided to go for it and ask her to be his girlfriend. Over the next 3 years they would go through some tough yet fun times - Jacob went back to school to get another degree from the University of Toledo (which took a large chunk of his time) and he took some time off working to focus on finishing his degree. They also adopted their cat Lizzie (their sweet, lazy, old girl) in January of 2013. Then, Jacob moved into Mallory's small, 750 sq. ft. house (that she was renting from her parents)  which was a little cramped to say the least. Around the summer of 2014 they "finally got their stuff together" the next year - enough to save some money and plan a trip to London and Paris during Christmas of 2015. Since that trip they both  found themselves working at the same office again, bought their first home in September 2016 in Sylvania, OH and adopted their second cat, Kit (their rambunctious little boy)

I ask all my couples this question because who doesn't love a good "popping the question" story?? This is how Jacob popped the question as told by Mallory:

​While on our trip to Paris during the Christmas 2015 holiday Jacob and I planned to visit the Eiffel Tower on New Years Eve (you know, to close out the year on a high note and give him a chance to pop the question in the best place ever, if it was ACTUALLY going to happen). We arrived at the Eiffel Tower around 11:00 am (Paris time) and took our time walking the grounds and taking a close look at the tower. We took a walk further away from the tower and spotted some benches near the Joffre statue in Joffre Square (in front of École Militaire, which is a military school) to take a rest. We sat for a bit and chatted about how thankful we were to be seeing such sights and that we were lucky to be there and after about 10 minutes Jacob stood up. Thinking he was ready to leave and move on I stood as well but as soon as I was up, Jacob dropped to one knee. Ring-less and nervous, Jacob asked (something to the extent of) "Mallory - I love you and you're my best friend. Will you marry me?" (because, lets be honest, nobody remembers what they say when they're at the most nervous point of their lives!). I was so overwhelmed that he decided to ask me right then and there I'm pretty sure I said "Yeah, yeah - yes of course" and the rest is history! Also, may be good to mention that Jacob decided to pop the question literally 5 minutes before he did so. He says, and I quote "I wanted to be sure so I waited until the absolute last second!". Upon our return to the country, we went together to Jeffery Mann Fine Jewelers in Toledo, OH to pick out my Simon G. engagement ring.

What a gorgeous day they had! It was a little on the hot side and definitely windy, but hot and windy is better than rain any day!
​
​Mallory wore a Sincerity Bridal gown from ​Belle Amour Bridal and was absolutely ravishing.

Her beautiful bouquet from Bartz Vivano completed her whimsical look wonderfully

Mallory & Jacob's beautiful invitations were done by their good friend, and owner of Pip & Cricket [how cute is that name???]

Gosh Jacob! You clean up nice ;)

Emotion filled the air during the preparation. Mallory, her mother and bridesmaids were fighting back tears of joy with every addition to Mallory's beautiful and final look. Just minutes before the walk down to the grotto the couple exchanged gifts and the waterworks really let loose.

Nazareth Hall is breathtaking! The Mansion is glorious and the grounds are stunning. Mallory and Jacob chose to hold their ceremony in The Grotto and it was perfect!

The ceremony was sweet and full of laughter.

I just knew before getting to meet the bridal party that they had to be as fun as this amazing couple and I was right! What a great group of friends :)

Mallory + Jacob <3

Following the ceremony the reception was held in the Cadet West Ballroom within Nazareth hall. It was a fun filled night of celebrating this amazing couple.

Soon these two will be heading out to Ocean Maya Royale in Cancun, Mexico! All-inclusive, adults-only resort for their honeymoon. I wish you two many many years of laughing together. Enjoy your honeymoon <3

Florist: Bartz Vivano
Ceremony venue: Nazareth Hall - The Grotto
Reception venue: Nazareth Hall - The Cadet West Ballroom
Hair: Reve Salon and Spa
Makeup: Natalie Pohorecki Makeup Artist
Dj/Band: The Class Act by Bob Norris
Cake: Wixey's Bakery
Bridesmaids dresses: 2B Bridal Boutique
Invitations: Pip and Cricket

 Stephanie and Ricky are so sweet on each other and quite the joy to photograph. their love story began when Ricky's father purchased a local restaurant from Stephanie's father. Stephanie continued to work at the restaurant after the transfer and eventually Ricky and Stephanie's paths crossed. Ricky said it was a little awkward at first because he had to use his brother as a bridge to talk to her :D Once the connection was made the rest is history.

​Ricky popped the question at Stephanie's favorite restaurant Rossilli's. Even though Stephanie knew the big question was coming, they made it special by having both their immediate families join them.

​The day turned out to be a beautiful (hot and windy) but beautiful day! Stephanie is so talented and tackled her own hair and makeup, and I think she did a stunning job!

Ricky looked absolutely dashing in his black tux and silver tie

Their ceremony was held at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Findlay, Ohio.

Following their ceremony we headed directly to The Center in Bluffton, Ohio for their beautiful reception. The couple arrived in style with a full band following them as they entered. The music was so fun and filled the night as everyone ate and enjoyed the celebration.  

This gorgeous couple will be heading out shortly to Cancun for their honeymoon! I hope you two have an amazing trip and enjoy every second of your newlywed bliss!

Gosh!! Isn't she just beautiful??? Julianne, her sweet grandpa and I walked through the downtown alleys capturing her beauty. Grandpa was so nice and helpful and even jumped in a few of the photos. We ended up over by the convention center where her graduation ceremony will take place and took the fun picture in her cheer outfit and gown. Grandma jumped in after that, which I loved. And let me tell you what...I only got to talk with Grandma for about 5 minutes but she is a crack up lol. Julianne you are very lucky to have such amazing grandparents and I am so happy they are a part of your senior photo experience <3

Jade is one of our Class of 17 senior models! This is part 2 of her senior session so if you happened to miss her first session check it out HERE! Jade really wanted a sunflower field for her session but that just doesn't work in May :( so she decide that Amherst Green House would be an awesome substitute! I love how bright and colorful this session is! I also love how she incorporated her Bible and a quilt her grandma made into the end of the session. It was wicked windy and cold but Jade's bright personality warms up all the images <3

I am IN LOVE with how this year's model shoot turned out!!!! We were so fortunate to have such a sweet (and gorgeous, I might add) group of models apply this year. I could tell right away at the icebreaker shoot [click here to see] that they were going to blend perfectly. 

​The day turned out to be a beautiful 66 degree sunny spring day. I couldn't have asked for anything better! This year our hair and makeup was completed by the VERY talented team at Beauty By Jill on Main street in downtown Lima. Beauty By Jill is a salon offering all hair services, facials, massages, manicures, pedicures, body waxing, and private spa parties. If you haven't checked them out make sure to do so! Jill decided to do an edgy editorial style and I LOVE it! She warned the girls in the beginning that it was going to be different and they weren't going to show them the inspiration photos :)  She even asked me half way through if they were scaring me yet. I laughed, heck no! I couldn't have come up with those looks but I could see her vision in my head when she described it to me. I had total faith <3

Again this year, Jamie Burger owner of Simply Torn, an awesomely sweet boutique for women, teens, and children, did a stellar job of styling outfits from head to toe for our models. Simply Torn is located on Elida Rd in Lima and is AWESOME so stop in or swing by their Facebook page to see their stylish clothing and accessories! Jamie and her staff are so talented when it comes to fashion and they are more than happy to help you when you come into their store (which I am grateful for since I am style challenged lol) 

​I am so thankful for Jamie and Jill and their amazing talent and vision for this years shoot. It came together beautifully and seamlessly. Our models embraced their edgy looks and fell right into character. They were incredibly easy to pose with general direction and fine detail tweaks. This year was a HUGE success and I am in LOVE <3

Big thank you to The Hollander for letting us hang in their sweet outdoor patio area! The Hollander is a new restaurant downtown with healthy and delicious breakfast and lunch items, wood fired pizza and in-house, homemade ice cream. I can't wait to visit and eat outside!

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​If my pricing works for you shoot me an email at capturedbylydia@gmail.com to start the booking process!

People!!! Is he not the cutest thing??!! Ben was so fun to photograph. I just loved his style and confidence. And can we talk about his hair swoop for a second? The first time I saw him do this I was like "Oh man, that is going to be used often!" I would say "Ok now do the hair thingy" lol. His posing was so natural and he had the model walk down pat. I don't get to photograph many senior boys...I'm not sure why, but I photography MANY girls, so having this session with Ben was a wonderful break from the norm. Ben I know you only have a few weeks left of school! Congratulations and thank you for allowing me to be your photographer!

This is the 2nd annual Senior Model Paint Fight; this time with our Class of 2018 models. This year for our big group shoo we are teaming up with Simply Torn again for the styling, and Beauty by Jill will be joining us to do the hair and makeup. I am so excited to see what these talented ladies come up with for me to photograph! We have a sweet and beautiful group of girls to work with, I know it is going to be amazing!

Finding the perfect day to hold the paint fight is always a challenge. I came up with the paint fight idea to be an icebreaker for our girls since most of them come from different schools. During our upcoming group shoot they are going to have to act like besties so what better way to break the ice than throwing stuff at each other lol. This means we have to have the fight sometime before the group shoot and this time of year weather (let's face it...any time of year in Ohio is a toss up lol) can be a challenge. It wasn't freeeeezing that day but it was cloudy and about 42 degrees but hey... no rain!

I like to start the girls out before the fight with a mini session with me so they can get used to how I direct and also posing together. These beautiful ladies were naturals and we done in 10 minutes!! While I was editing their pictures I just kept saying to myself  " THEY ARE GORGEOUS!!!" YEEE I can't wait for the group shoot!!

Special shout out to my friend Melissa for being my 2nd shooter for this so I could jump in for some of the fun. [I'm the old one below ;) ]

Aren't they stunning???!!

^^^Jordan with the sneak attack bahahaha...sorry Emma, this was funny!

^^^ I'm in there trying to capture the action for our Snapchat story!

Practicing laughing on command...it's a lot harder than you think!!

Annnnnndddd if you aren't following me on Snapchat you need to hop on over and follow me: capturedbylydia !!!! The video below is the stuff you are missing out on! This is the 1st of several senior takeovers, where I give my Snapchat story to the girls to show the behind the scenes stuff.

How freaking adorable is this little guy??? I am honored to say I have known him his whole life :) Corbin was my first (and probably only) birth story and it was an AMAZING experience. I really wish my life was set up to be able to take on birth stories full time, but it's not :(  Anyway! Corbin and his family came to visit me to document this milestone in the first year and he was as cute as ever! There is no lack of love in this family and I enjoy watching them grow and hope to continue for years to come!

Cameron is so sweet and such a beauty! She will be graduating this year from LCC where she played soccer and runs track. She has the cutest dimples (I know she never hears that lol) and was a joy to photograph. She pushed through the 40 degrees and wind with no sleeves like it was nothing!! These senior girls I tell ya...tougher than nails ♥ 

I met with Lydia and her mom a few months ago to shoot her second session. I know, I know...I got lazy with my blogging in my down time. I guess I go into a mini hibernation during these months to recover from the craziness of fall! Anyway, it was 40 degrees out which is a dream for an Ohio winter...but MAN was it windy. You wouldn't know it though from Lydia's pictures! Complete champ...I think I may have whined the most that day because she didn't complain one iota. We decided to shoot downtown Kenton, and then the middle school theater because theater plays such an important role in Lydia's life. I like the moodiness of some of these images, I feel like they show off the different sides Lydia can pull off. Love this girl! So glad she joined my modeling team last year. Lydia, I hope that your dreams come true! Dream big ♥ 

This is my brother Zach and his beautiful family. If you know my brother at all you will see the proof in these pictures that there is no denying my niece :) I love her ornery little butt! ♥ Thank you guys for being patient and allowing me to push you to the bottom of my editing pile ♥♥♥

This girl is AWESOME! Her name is one of the prettiest used in all of humanity ;) and this year she has been a volleyball player, baton twirler, member of the homecoming court, musical lead of her school's Little Shop of Horrors musical, and one of our beautiful senior models [see that shoot here]

Lydia is a natural when it comes to posing and was so easy to work with! The weather was perfect, the colors were perfect, and she just looked amazing! I'm super excited that I get to do another session with her this winter ♥

​Makeup by: Hayley Palmer

I know I have talked about it before, but one of my favorite parts of this job is getting to watch families change and grow. I have been photographing this family for few years and I am so excited to get to meet the newest member in the next few weeks!! ♥♥♥

This beauty is so much FUN and has accomplished some things I can only dream of! Elizabeth is another of our stunning senior models. Her personality is bubbly and fun and shines through in her images, but MAN this girl's serious look is to die for ♥♥♥♥  If you missed her senior model shoot check it out here >>> 2017 Senior Model Shoot

Makeup by: 12 Month Beauty

Such a sweet family with awesome kids! I met Julie when she signed me up as a vendor at an event she was helping with for the newspaper. I was thrilled when she was one of the people to call me to set up an appointment! This family was a breeze to photograph and good looking too! 

These lovebirds are going to be getting married in St. Pete Beach, Florida this April and I know it is going to be absolutely gorgeous!  I had a wonderful time with these two and I am in LOVE with the intimate moments we were able to capture, I love when a couple can let their guard down and kind of forget I'm there for a second :)  

 Adriana + Matt
 
Ada Ohio
Together: August 10, 2012 
Engaged: October 19, 2014
Wedding date: April 14, 2017

Adriana 
Hometown: Woodland CA
Favorite food: anything Mexican/Italian 
Described by Matt: beautiful, intelligent, hard headed hahahaha. 

Matt 
Hometown: Ada, OH 
Favorite food: Pizza/Mexican 
Described by Adriana: Hard working, stubborn, life of the party, beyond amazing. 

How did you meet:
Have been friends for many years but decided to take a chance
with our feelings and ran with it. Best decision we ever made. 

How did he pop the question:
He asked me at a pumpkin patch. It was our first time going together
​and it was even more special because we had our son Maverick with us.

Jade is one of our gorgeous Senior Models for the class of 2017. She attends Allen East High School and is an active member of their girls' soccer team. Jade was absolutely stunning in our model shoot this past spring [see here] so I was really excited to shoot with her again this fall! And once again she killed it!

For her senior session we traveled to downtown Wapakoneta where we played around with a vintage bike, movie theater, old yellow payphone, and all the neat nooks and crannies downtown Wapak has to offer. Liz Flowers of 12 Month Beauty did an amazing job on the makeup and then joined us for the session, which made me a HAPPY girl! I ♥ when my Liz comes to work with me ♥♥♥ we always have fun!  

Here's another of my favorite families! I truly love watching the kids grow year after year, and I hope to capture many more years to come ♥

The McDonald's are one of my favorite families to photograph, and I love seeing the kids grow year after year! It was cloudy for our fall minis but the sun popped out for their session and I love all the colors it pulled out of the field around us! 

I love Fall!!! Here's another fall mini with a beautiful family! This is the sweet Burger family ♥ I met Jamie this past year and fell in love with her styling! She is truly talented, and I was so beyond happy when she agreed to team up with me to create an epic Senior Model Shoot! [missed that shoot? see it here...ahem...after you see Jamie's adorable family of course!!]

This family was so fun to work with. Kinley was so sweet and patient and Knox was ridiculously ornery...and even though I know personally how it feels as a parent to have a child with an ornery spirit during a session... as the photographer, I wouldn't have it any other way ♥ 

Hey! This is my wonderful friend Stephanie and her sweet family ♥ I met Stephanie last year about this time at a field trip for my son's preschool. I'm slightly awkward and find it hard to make new friends (well I do when I don't have a camera in front of my face, it's my security blanket...weird I know...we can dissect my issues later lol) But Stephanie and I just clicked and we volunteered for lunch duty together on a weekly basis so we had lots of time to get to know each other and it is soooo refreshing to find another adult that "gets me" ♥ ♥ ♥ Plus our kids love each other so that makes play dates a MUST! Phelps fam thank you for trusting me with your family images I think you guys look great!

 

These are my friends Deena and Hailey. I meet Deena when we worked together a bajillion years ago at Kennedy Graphics and we just clicked. I have taken pictures of these two since Deena was pregnant with Hailey (gosh I feel old). Deena has been one of my main cheerleaders from the beginning, encouraging me as I grow in my photography skills. Thank you Deena for being a great friend and someone that believes in me ♥

I love Britney and Blaine ♥ They are so much fun to work with. Blaine acts like he doesn't like to take pictures....but I think it's secretly his most favorite thing to do in the whole wide world ;)  Regardless of his true feelings, this couple is always fun to be around. Britney decided about a week before their session to add a gown session! I am so glad she did. WOWZA!! Britney & Blaine, I can't wait to meet little Carson soon! You two will make great parents ♥