How can I be photographing this gorgeous woman's engagement session and wedding coming up??? It feels like I just did her senior portraits yesterday! This coming year I actually get to photograph 3 weddings of my past seniors and I can't believe it! Time really does fly.

I met up with Ashley and Jonathon in downtown Van Wert before hopping out to a sunflower field where we captured the sky turning a crazy dark blue before our eyes as a massive derecho approached. It was so cool but I definitely felt like I had been dropped straight into the movie Twister as I pushed us to the very last second of shooting! Right as I hopped in my car and closed the door the first gusts of wind carrying a dust wall hit and rocked our cars...whew!! These two are so sweet and fun,  I can't wait for their big day at the gorgeous SoSerene venue!

Matias and I met in undergrad. I was his laboratory assistant for his freshman Zoology class. I immediately noticed how handsome he was but tried to keep everything strictly professional. It wasn’t until he asked me for help on his Organic Chemistry homework that things really sparked. After I sat with him at the library helping him with O-Chem, we stayed and talked until the library closed. We then moved to continue talking in the student union and talked there until it closed. Needless to say, we hit it off. He walked me to my apartment that night and asked to meet up again. Over two years quickly rolled by with countless nights laying under the stars on the soccer field just to catch up on our day, adventuring while rock-climbing and hiking, and studying hard for our future professions.

A lot changed in our relationship once I went off to medical school in 2019 while Matias was still finishing his undergraduate Biology and Chemistry double-major. Yet, his intentionality in our relationship never wavered. If we could not see each other on a weekend, we Skyped. If we could not Skype, we called. We began to talk about a forever future together pretty early on in our relationship. Honestly, it just felt like a match made in Heaven <3

Valentine’s Day 2020: Matias and I had been talking about getting engaged for some time now but I KNEW it would not be Valentine’s weekend. I told Matias on Friday night that I was absolutely sure he would not propose this weekend. I told him, “I know you are not cliche enough to propose on Valentine’s Day AND I have a medical school exam on Monday. You would not be cruel enough to make me miss a day of studying.” I was wrong! Matias knew that this was the weekend I least expected, so Saturday morning (February 15), I woke up to my best friend, Kristen, knocking on my bedroom door in my apartment. She walked in and told me to “Drop everything because Matias is taking you on an adventure today!”

Matias had left my apartment early that morning to create the first story of our forever future. He left notes at locations that were meaningful to us and sent me on a massive scavenger hunt to find all of the notes. Kristen was my chauffeur. Kristen gave me the first “clue” and it led us to a rock climbing gym. I had to climb a problem to get my second note. Next, the clue sent us to a public library where Matias had left a copy of the same Organic Chemistry homework that I helped him with on that first day we had talked. After that, he sent me to my favorite coffee shop and had a table reserved with a bouquet of flowers. He sent me to a local chocolate shop to treat myself and set up an appointment for me to get my nails done!! The next clue after getting my nails done lead Kristen and I to a park in Columbus, OH. He had included pictures of the area I was to find in the letter. I found the location, found my last letter and opened it. It said, “STOP! Do not open this letter. Put on a blindfold and let Kristen read the letter.” I put on the blindfold and Kristen started to read the letter. A few lines in, I felt someone grab my hand and Matias began to say his proposal to me. Kristen took off my blindfold and I was able to see the love of my life down on one knee promising to love me always and to stand by me even in the challenges that life brings. Of course, I cried, and of course, I said “YES!!”

I am beyond blessed to have this man as my partner in life, forever fellow adventurer, and the man who always points me back to realize what is most important in life. I love you earnestly, Matias.

Crimson Lane is such a beautiful venue! It also makes bridal preparations easy for the whole crew with ample space and beautiful suites to get ready in. The gentleman lounged in the men's suite, sharing stories and  listening to and singing worship songs. The ladies wore matching robes and  worked on each other's hair and makeup, laughing and chatting away. 

Madison wore a stunning sleeveless, A-line, lace gown with a plunging v-neckline and beautiful white fur stole. Her hair was pinned elegantly at the nape of her neck and finished with a delicate beaded hair piece and cathedral length veil. She wore nude heels and silver dangle earrings. Her something borrowed and blue was a sweet ring that belonged to her momma. Madison and her bridesmaids are incredibly talented and made their own bouquets. Madison finished hers off with a rosary that was given to her by a late dear friend.   

Who has 2 thumbs and has been terrible at blogging ... it's me... I have 2 thumb and have definitely been terrible at blogging 😬... Caitlyn + Wesley are so sweet and are going to be one of my 2021 bridal couples! For their session we visited my hometown. It was a little rainy at the start of their session but that didn't bother them one bit!

The ladies gathered in matching robes on the upper floor of the Stone Ridge Golf Club to get ready, sip mimosas, munch on pizza, and open their gifts from Allison. Allison wore a stunning long sleeved, a-line gown with a plunging lace lined back that met a small row of buttons. Her hair was pinned up at the nape of her neck and finished with delicate beaded hair pieces. She wore silver strappy heels, dangle earrings and a tiny blue & silver anklet . Her look was completed with a cascading bouquet filled with burgundy, cream and white flowers.

Jordyn requested a sunflower field for her first session and it was PERFECT timing for the new field in Lima. I adored her outfit and I am a TOTAL sucker for a hat 😍Love love love how these turned out!

I was so excited when Dan reached out to me about photographing a surprise vow renewal at his parents house! Holly and I cheered together in college and I was honored to be able to document their love <3

In exactly 2 months I will be joining this exceptionally sweet couple at their Crimson Lane wedding!!! These two.... oh man... what a joy to photograph! Madison will be my first bride that is ALSO a photographer 🤍 I didn't know what to expect going into their engagement session knowing this fact... I mean no pressure right?! HAHA any pressure felt, melted away 2.5 seconds into photographing them. They are natural cuddlers and posers and made my job so incredibly easy. I know their day is going to be exceptionally beautiful and just as easy and full of love as this engagement session was!

What a gorgeous fall day this couple had! Preparations for the day were split between Jordan's brother's beautiful home for the men and the Kenkade building in downtown Delphos for the ladies.

The ladies lounged around in matching jammies and the little ladies ran around and played in their matching robes with their adorable tiara hair pieces. Reece wore a gorgeous long sleeved, fitted lace gown with a sheer tattoo back and jeweled button details on both her back and sleeves. Her hair was elegantly swooped up and finished with a cathedral length veil perfect for the stunning church she was about to be wed in. Her look was completed with champagne heels, drop jewel earrings and a stunning bouquet full of  flowers in light pinks and whites, berries, and eucalyptus.

After preparations we headed to the church for a sweet first look with her dad <3

Umm these girls killed it AGAIN. If you all haven't shopped at Simply Torn... YOU NEED TO! She has the cutest stuff and her new shop located next to Tractor Supply in Lima is so stinking cute I just want to pack it all up in a bag and say here's my credit card bye lol. Check out some of her cute fall looks and then hop on over to her brick and mortar (3035 Elida Rd) or just shop online (thesptb.com)! She has a rewards system and even offers payment options through Sezzle!

I have never seen anything like Amber's dress! She wore a stunning sleeveless fitted gown that was covered in lace. The sweetheart neckline, straps, and plunging back were lined with a thick row of gorgeous beading and at Amber's waist was a short row of buttons. The most unique feature of her dress was the string of beads that draped down her back with a hanging pendant 😍 Amber wore her hair partially up with a beautiful hair comb, nude heels, and a set of matching pearl jewelry.

For the first time I am offering Christmas Minis!!! 🙌🙌 These will take place at my home studio. Of course I needed to show you what I have in store so I recruited my children and my niece. (My kids were really suffering from photographer's kid syndrome this day... sigh 🙄)

Sessions are available during the week between the hours of 10 + 3 from now till Christmas. If you need a weekend session I will be offering sessions the weekend of October 17 + 18 between 10 + 4 (only 10 sessions per day available on the weekend)

You can wear whatever you want but I thought jammies were fun for the bed! Each session is $100 and includes 30 mins and 5 digital images with print release. You will receive an online unedited gallery after you session to select the images you'd like. Additional images may be added for $15 per image.

A digitally signed contract and 50% retainer will be required to reserve your session time and must be submitted within 24 hours. Email me today to reserve your spot! capturedbylydia@gmail.com

Spencer and I are high school sweethearts. We have known each other for as long as I can remember, we both attended Allen East High School and were in the same grade. I remember when we were in elementary/middle school and someone told me that Spencer Miller had a crush on me. I instantly dismissed the thought, thinking it was so weird because we had the same name, you can't "date" someone with the same name as you (little did I know)! Spencer asked me out right before our freshman year in high school. There's not been a day since that I ever doubted he wasn't the one for me or that we wouldn't get married. It was never a matter of "if" but a matter "when" for us. Spencer (finally) proposed to me on March 5, 2019 on Fort Myers Beach, Florida. I have waited for years to marry my best friend and could not be anymore excited to do just that!

The bridal suite at Crimson Lane was a buzz when we arrived. Full of bridesmaids, moms, and of course the bride all getting ready. The ladies sipped on mimosas as they lounged around in lace trimmed robes in varying shades of pink. Spencer's gown was light and airy, perfect for an outdoor wedding. It was ivory with a lace covered bodice, tulle skirt, and the most delicate shoulder straps that also crossed her back. She wore her beautiful long hair partially pinned up with delicate hair combs. Her heels were stunningly covered in jewels across her toes and she wore simple pearl earrings. Her look was completed by a beautiful full bouquet of pink and white flowers.

Bridal preparations for the ladies took place at Natalya + Mark's lovely home in the presence of Natalya's favorite pups. Natalya hung out with her friends and family in her cute Mrs. Swetich jammies while they munched on Chick-fil-a and had hair and make up done. When the time came Natalya's mother helped her get into her stunning ivory gown. It was sleeveless with a plunging V-neckline, full tulle skirt with train, and delicate floral accents. She wore her hair up elegantly at the nape of her neck, completed with a live floral comb and beautifully beaded fingertip veil. Her look was finished with champagne sparkly heels, long jeweled earrings, bracelet and a stunning bright bouquet.

Oh I just loved Amber's dress 😍 These two were so incredibly easy and sweet when I met up with them a few months ago for their engagement session (yes, they got their pictures right away... I'm just a little slow on the blogging end 😬) We are only a few weeks out from their wedding and I am so EXCITED!!

Oh my gosh you guys!!!! Please send me all your grandparents. Pretty please 🙏💕 Ron + Elaine are just the sweetest and I had a WONDERFUL time walking around their farm capturing their sweet sweet love and passion for their homestead. This session was gifted by their grandchildren and I think it was a perfect gift!

I get the honor of photographing this sweet couple's wedding this fall and I am so excited! We met up earlier this spring for their engagement session and it was an absolute joy getting to know them as we explored their old college campus.

Alex and I met through a group of mutual friends, and it took about a year of our friends encouraging a relationship before we both finally complied. The rest seems like history. We both consider ourselves extremely blessed, despite the pandemic and change of plans, to be able to stand in a church before God and our families to make a promise to one another. The truth is, we almost did not get the chance to do this. We are eternally grateful to the neurosurgeons who were able to save Alex's life when he had an aneurysm rupture. We are so happy we have this opportunity and look forward to what the future holds for us.

The ladies arrived mostly ready, the finishing touches took place in the back room of the sweet little country church. The bridesmaids wore a variety of dresses in different shades of blue. Abbe wore a beautiful pocketed, A-line, grosgrain, off-shoulder gown, with buttons lining the whole back. Every wedding dress is special but this one was a little more so because it had been purchased by Abbe's late grandmother. Abbe's hair was elegantly swept off her neck and finished with pearls and eucalyptus leaves. She wore simple leave earrings and her grandmother's pearls. Abbe opted for fashion and comfort in a pair of pearl covered Converse. Her bouquet was a combination of white, cream and greens, wrapped in lace and finished with her grandmother's ring tied to the stems.

Kirstin wore a fitted off white and nude lace gown with a plunging v-neckline. The back of the gown had a small line of buttons, the train was long, light and airy with a delicate floral pattern. She wore her hair in loose curls and half up with jeweled hair combs and a fingertip veil. Her heels were low profile with jewels. She wore simple diamond earrings and a pearl covered necklace. 

2020 has been weird. << I think that sums things up. The world events have impacted SO SO many things, but in MY tiny part of the world, one of the things that had me holding my breath as the tidal wave of change came rolling at us, was how is this going to impact all the sweet couples in my life that are getting married??!!!! Thankfully (so far) the impact hasn't been tremendous. It did change two of the weddings I will be photographing this year and this was one of them. Sarah + Tyler opted to split their wedding between this year and next. Holding a small intimate ceremony this year and a reception next. Although it wasn't what was originally envisioned by the couple it was PERFECT... even with the rain 💕

Bridal prep took place in the stunning bridal suite at Crimson Lane. Sarah wore a gorgeous fitted lace gown, with a V neckline and a high, shear lace back, complete with a line of buttons from top to bottom. Her hair was swept up off her neck, completed with jeweled hair combs and a veil tucked up at the nape of her neck. She wore a string of pearls on her neck and wrist, along with a delicate golden chain that belonged to her grandmother. Her earrings were pearl and jeweled studs, she brought a turtle that was gifted to her to represent loved ones that couldn't be present and she finished off her look with a stunning bouquet of eucalyptus, berries, white and dusty blush roses.

I love maternity sessions but this one is special. This girl right here has been my best friend for 26 years! Isn't she freaking gorgeous!! This is her first baby and to say I am excited is a bit of an understatement ❤️ Right now as I type she is in the hospital working on bringing this sweet girl Earth side. I am so eager to love on her babe just as she has loved on my kids over the years. She has been the best Aunt Cookie  to her "cookie crumbs" and I can't wait to be the best Aunt Bird to sweet Zoe .

If you are wondering the back story to my name, growing up Sarah's dad called me Lyd Bird. Not sure where we came up with the name Aunt Cookie but it has stuck and pretty much anybody that knows her through me calls her that as well lol.

Hunter and her group of lovely ladies scored a beautiful little gem in downtown Findlay for the bridal prep. Main Events is a darling little rental area with such a cool look! The owners even came in the night before and decorated with wedding related items! All the girls wore the cutest robes with lace sleeves and munched on fruit and donuts while the talented team from Beauty by Jill worked on Hunter, her mother, and Tyler's mom.

Hunter wore a stunning lace fitted gown with a high neckline and gorgeous shear covered keyhole. The gown had delicate lace straps that graced her gorgeous shoulders and revealed a plunging back line that hit at her waistline where it was met with a line of delicate buttons. Her train was gorgeous and consisted of 3 different layers of lace. Her hair was expertly pinned up in gorgeous curls at the nape of her neck and topped by a gorgeous beaded hair comb. Her cathedral length veil was tucked up under her curls and fell beautifully down her back. She wore large jeweled drop earrings accompanied by a second set of earrings Tyler gave her as a wedding gift. She wore pretty pink heels and carried a gorgeous pink floral clutch. Her bouquet from the Petal Shed completed her look and was stunning with it's variety of pink, burgundy, and white flowers.

Next up in my late to be blogged, but not forgotten 2020 Seniors 😬 Is this sweet girl! Her laugh was infectious and it was a joy to get to know her. ALSO I was super stoked when she and her mother informed me that the second session would be taking place on their property that happened to be a location I have been wanting to shoot at for years! Caroline you are a special soul and I hope you achieve all you set your heart on ❤️

Ahhhh feels so good to be back! This is our 5th year of this model program! When we met with the models and the parents on March 1st and laid out the timeline for our upcoming shoots no one could have predicted what our would has gone through the last few months. Shoots kept getting pushed back as we waited for each vendor to be released from the health orders and when our final piece of the puzzle (salons) were released I jumped for joy! All the girls have been so patient and flexible ❤️ It felt so good to finally get a small taste of normal by having this shoot with this sweet group of girls! Cierra, Cyrus, Jordyn, Kyleigh, + Olivia KILLED their shoot and as always Simply Torn + Beauty by Jill did a stellar job with styling, hair and makeup! PLEASE if you don't already follow them click the names of these 2 vendors above and go follow them on facebook and Instagram! They are both so AMAZING at what they do and I am honored to work with with them and grateful that they donate to this program year after year!

Beauty by Jill MOVED! Their new salon is SO pretty! Go check them out 😍

Oh man the first time I met Kaitie I knew she was going to be fun to photograph. I loved her outfit and she was a natural poser. I remember her mentioning she wanted to do a snow session for her second session. Her mom wasn't as keen on that idea but I said I was down for anything so let me know! They decided to go with a fall session instead of snow.... but you wouldn't know it if I hadn't told you!!! They picked the COLDEST day in November with a 17 degree wind chill and snow everywhere! Kaitie ended up getting what she wanted in the end but her sweet little hands and legs paid for it! We seriously almost called it quits halfway through because it was so cold, but Kaitie channeled all her will power and pushed on! These seniors I tell ya... they are amazing! Congrats Kaitie on making it through one of the weirdest years of school! Hope college is all you want it to be ❤️