Rye Designs

josh is one

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:45:00 -0600

There are not enough words in my vocabulary to describe the way we feel about this family. We adore them. We are inspired by them. We relish our time with them. We are blessed to have them as friends, but also as Rye Designs cheerleaders (mascot costumes, anyone?). Any time that we can have a session with them is a time to celebrate because they deserve to be captured and remembered. And that's what we did one lovely, July evening.

You may remember Scott & Mary Ellen's little miracle from last year, or their graduating senior from earlier this year. Now, their little miracle has grown into a walking, talking, one-year-old flurry of cuteness. What we planned as a sunset session at one location actually turned out to be an overcast session at a totally different location, which worked out really well. We had a few sprinkles here and there, but the rain held off as we chased Josh around a little playground. He adopted a pine cone right away, and was so happy to be there.

I had such a hard time figuring out which images to blog, so you get to benefit from my indecisiveness.

Check out the entire collection of images to see the story of their session: http://ryedesigns.com/josh-at-one-year

sneak peek: josh

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:24:00 -0600

I'm sorting through yesterday's sunset session, and wanted to share the cuteness with you. You may have met Josh here before, but now he has celebrated his first birthday and learned how to walk. Watch out world, he's fast! After we premiere all of the images to his mom and dad, I'll post the full story. Until then, say hi to Josh...

[a] family session

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:30:00 -0600

Whether I realize it during a session or not, every family that we meet leaves an impression on us. Even after the craziest sessions I find myself sorting through images and realizing the impact. It's in all of those imperfect moments that a family really shines—when they're not looking at the camera or giving their best smile, but enjoying each other—and I feel that they've taught me something. That's the easy part, just taking in the lessons. The hard part? Trying to put those impressions into words every time I write about a family's session. This family is no exception.

The [A] family found us through a referral who, oddly enough, has never had a session with us (but we hope to remedy that soon). We had planned for a sunrise session, but it started storming the night before and we were afraid that we'd have to postpone. By some kind of miracle, we woke up that morning to find the bluest skies and not a drop of rain. The park we wanted to go to for our session doesn't really have a parking lot, so we met at a lot nearby with a little park attached to it. There were some flowers and trees, so we decided to walk around and look for nice backgrounds before going to our original location. We actually spent most of the session at the small park because it turned out to be a great spot!

Following this family around was such a breeze. Mom and dad were all smiles and laughs, and the love they have for each other and their little girl was... well, you can see it radiating from the images. Even if I can't put my lessons into words, the images will show you the fun we had that early Sunday morning.

[a] family preview

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 21:11:00 -0600

Here's a little preview for the adorable [A] family that we got to meet last Sunday. Enjoy.

our may getaway

Wed, 19 May 2010 22:12:00 -0600

A couple weeks ago Dan and I were able to put down our task lists and deadlines (for the most part), and take a little trip to New York City. We were mainly there to celebrate the wedding of our friends, Sonya and Eddie—you may remember them from their Save the Dates, but since Dan's birthday and our anniversary also fall in the month of May we decided to extend our stay. Our hotel was in a wonderful, little historic district within walking distance of the reception, and even though we spent a lot of time relaxing (me) and working (Dan) in the hotel, we also took some time to see the sights and eat delicious food. Oh my, THE FOOD. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. There were tourist spots that we didn't get to see, but that simply means we'll have to plan another trip there.

The first place we visited—besides the baggage claim at LaGuardia Airport—was Sonya and Eddie's apartment. Eddie took us to the top of the building, and the next three images are what we saw. It was an amazing view. I see some new wall art in my future.

On the second day of our trip, we went to see a taping of the Jimmy Fallon show. Cameras weren't allowed, but I have great mental images of the Rockefeller Plaza and the guests. The full show is online, too, if you want to watch it and see us in the audience. We were sitting in the fifth row, smack in the middle, and Dan was wearing a light green shirt.

Next is the church where Sonya and Eddie got married. The camera came with us to the rehearsal, but not to the wedding. I can't even put it into words, but their rehearsal and wedding were fabulous. They did a tremendous job with the details. If the sun would ever come back to Cincinnati, I could take pictures of the stationery pieces we worked on with them. I'm excited to post everything.

Normally I don't post images of myself because 1) I'm behind the camera, or 2) I never like pictures of myself. This time I'm included in a few shots that I actually like, and I'm so glad that Dan took this one in Times Square. I don't have the best expression, but I can't get over the movement. I can totally remember being there with the hustle and bustle and lights.

We also visited Central Park on our way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There were some beautiful bridges and trees.

This is the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art). It was pretty neat to visit in general, but my favorite area was the modern art. As much as it fascinates me that jewelry and statues were made centuries ago, I'd much rather see paintings by Dali, modern sculptures and funky furniture. I would've liked to visit the Modern Museum of Art, but we'll have to do that next time.

After the MET, we walked down Madison Ave. (hello shopping district!). We eventually ran into the cube Apple store. It's an underground store made from a LOT of glass. This was the view from the elevator, looking up to the ground level. Starting at the top and going to the right, you can see people on the stairs. It's a good thing that both Apple stores we visited that week were sold out of 3G iPads. We would've had a major decision on our hands—to buy an iPad or not to buy an iPad...

Overall it was a great trip. I'm glad we took the subways and walked everywhere, too, but it was ex-haus-ting! I could get in shape in no time... as long as I don't see any gelato shops.

kale's senior session

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:13:00 -0700

Kale's session is one that we looked forward to for many reasons, even before it was scheduled. We've known his family for several years, and we've recently been able to see his creative talents and the person he is becoming. It's equally shocking and inspiring to see some of his Facebook updates because he has such a great faith and wants to share it with everyone. Sometimes I find myself wondering where in the world he came from, and other times I'm just speechless—in a good way.

The location was another reason Dan and I looked forward to this session. We started indoors with a serious smorgasbord of textures and colors. After that, the weather was nice enough to check out the (mostly) abandoned buildings next door. Throw in Kale's fun ideas, some trespassing, a little climbing, and trekking through the snow, and you have one hilarious and memorable session.

Oh, and I can't forget to mention the cool shoes. His had purple on them, but I wonder if they come in turquoise...

If the authorities come looking for us, we have proof that Kale entered first! Funny enough, Dan and I both work for the company that used to be here. If we were caught, Dan's plan was to flash his company hat and jacket to say, "Hey, we work here!" HA!

After Kale sat in the metal piece (on the right), we asked him to climb on top of it for the shot on the left. It was a HUGE, cone-shaped thing. I think it was worth it, but I wasn't the one 10 feet high on a rocking metal cone.

Kale: We're blessed to know you and to capture such an important part of your life. We can't wait to see where life takes you next.

Thanks for bringing your ideas to the table, and for trying some new things. Hope you like what you've seen so far. :)

kale's sneak peek

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:08:00 -0700

I thought it would be fun to stop by tonight and show you an image from the session I'm sorting. We had a senior session with Kale this weekend, and if you keep up with our Facebook or twitter then you've already heard what a rad guy he is. Our session involved some jumping, sliding, and even trespassing! Here's a little sneak peek for Kale until his official blog debut. I can tell that choosing favorites is going to be tough!

to give and receive

Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:57:00 -0700

Compared to the fall, things have certainly slowed down for us in photography land. It's a welcome change, and time that we're taking to recharge our batteries a little. While we're busy with other things, I wanted to show the fun gifts that we gave to some of our 2009 clients.

First up: photo calendars. We chose a favorite image from each session and paired them with color-coordinated 2010 calendars.

Each calendar was printed and then mounted on foam board.

Next up: we couldn't forget our major design and development clients from 2009. For them, we decided to use their logos/designs on custom stamps. We have stamps of our own, printed with our stars, and it's really neat to see that special touch on an envelope--especially when it pulls together a business' branding, a wedding's decor, etc.

Looking for stamps of your own? Let us know because we can help. There are a handful of places to get them, but so far we've used stamps.com without any problems. If you make stamps, send along a picture so we can see!

getting settled

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 21:07:00 -0700

If you followed us over the past year, and subscribed to our new blog feed, you have been added to Santa's Good List! (Wouldn't that be nice?) But really, you may have noticed some things posted recently that you've seen in the past. I have been backdating some of our 2009 work for those who haven't seen it yet. That's why, even though we just launched this blog on New Year's 2010, there are archives for months in 2009. I think that my backdating is done for now, but I may add more as I have time.

Otherwise, we're getting settled into this new space and will post more new things soon. One thing I'd like to do is a "get to know Dan and Vicki" feature. If you have any burning questions about us—individually or combined—leave them in the comments. I think it'll be fun. Ready...GO!

haiti relief

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:44:00 -0700

If you are like me, you want to be cautious when donating to a cause, especially one that is so well known. Because of this, I want to tell as many people as I can about the Jean R. Cadet Restavek Foundation. I can only vouch from a third person perspective, but I'd like to share a good friend's testimonial about this organization. She will include donation information at the end of her message.

Dear Friends,

I don’t typically send e-mails with such a broad harvest of my address book, but this is something I feel very passionately about.

You are more than likely aware of the current shocking events occurring in Haiti. However, you may, or may not be aware of my tie to the Jean R. Cadet Restavek Foundation. I have been involved with the Restavek Foundation for a few years volunteering help with efforts here in Cincinnati, as well as making a trip to Haiti in August, 2008, along with my sister-in-law Sue and my niece Katie. Katie returned in February, 2009. The foundation has been working with children in and just outside of Port au Prince, Haiti for the last few years. The foundation was founded by Jean Robert Cadet, a former slave in Haiti, to help children in restavek (slave) conditions to attend school, and overall improve their quality of life. In fact, the organization’s founders and leaders, Raymond and Joan Conn, have been in Haiti since just before the earthquake struck. Jean Robert rushed there to assist with rescue and relief. While fortunately all are safe, they have been communicating via email, describing how gruesome and desperate a scene it really is. The recent turn of events have created both fear and heartache for many, including those trying to make a difference in this impoverished country. However, while much is grim, those same people are only further inspired to do more. Here is the most recent piece of communication we received from Joan Conn which depicts some of the efforts that have already begun as well as some of the fears:

“We are glad to report that we have found 6 of our staff members. As of yet, we have not located any of the children. We had a container that we have been trying to get into Haiti for months with much stress and complications, it actually arrived to the compound where our office is located the morning the quake hit. We have over 70,000 meals in the container, which was possible through the Go Cincinnati project last May which they will distribute. We know that the Nazarene compound where our office is located is standing and in good condition. This is where we are going to set up camp. Fuel is becoming a HUGE problem. The generators will not function which means loss of communication completely.”

I travelled with Joan and Jean Robert a year ago to interview children and enroll them in the foundation’s child sponsorship program. This trip was one of the most heart-breaking yet rewarding things I have ever participated in. One of my closest friends is adopting a little girl from the sponsorship program, and I was lucky enough to share a hotel room the week of my trip with my friend Kelley and her daughter Valerie. The hotel where we stayed (and Joan and Ray kept an apartment) is decimated, and approximately 200 people were killed in its collapse. Due to the extended adoption process, Valerie is still in Haiti, but I am very pleased to share that Joan and Ray located Valerie on Friday and she is safely with them. But many more of the children in their program remain to be found, and once found provisions for their care will need to be made. While there are many adults and children in need of help, I am particularly concerned for these kids who are at the bottom of almost any priority list that may exist besides this foundation’s. The conditions they lived in prior to this tragedy were beyond words, I cannot even bear to fathom their situation now.

I have spoken with some of you who have asked, “If there is anything I can do, please let me know.” Some of you have spoken about your own plans to give and do what you can. There are many organizations through which you can give to this tragedy. If giving money is something you are planning on doing, I would like to encourage you to give to an organization with which you can trust and believe that your full contribution is going to those in need. I can personally vouch for the Jean R. Cadet Restavek Foundation and can assure anyone that their donation will completely and directly go to those in need. The foundation is a grassroots and hands-on type of organization that is run by a group of people who have proven success in operating at maximum efficiency, with minimal waste. Please check out the foundation’s website at www.restavekfreedom.org. In case you are interested, here are some of the ways in which you can give:

By check via mail
Jean R. Cadet Restavek Foundation
11160 Kenwood Rd.
Cincinnati, OH 45242

By credit card via phone (this eliminates some processing charges)
(513) 530-9844 or (513) 475-3710

By Credit Card via the internet
www.restavekfreedom.org
Go to the donor page. You specify under “other” that you would like your donation to go to relief efforts.

Please feel free to pass this on to your family and friends who are interested in donating to relief in Haiti. Again, I can assure you that your gift will be used to the max if you were to choose to give through this organization. I am happy to share more details or answer questions you may have. Thanks for caring in whatever way you may choose to respond.

Warm regards,

Carole Landgrebe

enjoying the snow

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:18:00 -0700

It's no secret that I love snow. It always brings back memories of snow days and my mom's snow ice cream. So, when I heard that we were getting the first White Death of 2010 last week, I was ready and waiting. I happened to work from home the second day of the storm and was able to get some shots through the windows. I may love the snow, but I had no desire to bundle up and brave the cold that day.

aaron + susan = claire

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:21:00 -0700

Aaron and Susan had to wait three days after their due date, and endure many (MANY!) hours of labor, before meeting their little one. She was perfectly happy staying put, and with the freezing weather of the Midwest I don't blame her one bit. But she finally arrived, and we got to meet her this past Sunday. I'm happy to introduce you to Miss Claire...

Besides vetoing a couple of poses, she was really content throughout the afternoon.

Look at the tiny, pink boots!

And the details in her nursery...

She somehow knew exactly when the cameras were pointed at her face, because this was her reaction. :)

Aaron and Susan: thank you for letting us meet Claire and hang out with your little family. We can't wait to show you the rest of the images.

nice to meet you

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:27:00 -0700

Hello 2010, and hello to the readers of our first blog post! I'm excited to have this little space added to our website so we can share business updates with you. I hope to share some personal updates, too, for those who want to know what's happening in the Rye house.

First things first, I have to thank my web developer for making this blog—and the entire website—possible. I think you know who I'm referring to. Let's face it, folks. I can design my heart out for this site, but without Dan the designs never come to life. I know that I'm his toughest client, and I'm indebted to him forever. He is my favorite developer, business partner, and husband, so he gets the first and most important round of thanks. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The second round of thanks goes to everyone who has supported us. You know who you are. Our family, friends, fans, followers, clients who have become friends, and those who are out there encouraging us and spreading the word. We are motivated by you, and our dreams are not possible without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

With that, 2009 was a great year for us. Here are some key things that happened:
    •    We revamped our branding
    •    We worked on establishing a look and style that's recognizable
    •    We launched a new website
    •    We worked to infuse our branding into new packaging, marketing materials, etc.
    •    We learned a lot about ourselves and business
    •    We had repeat business as well as new business
    •    We opened our Etsy shop
    •    We had some fun giveaways for our Facebook fans
    •    We had a great time establishing new relationships and nurturing old ones

That's seriously awesome! I put together a quick slide show to recap 2009. Even if you have followed us this year, there are some new images included just for you. :) If you haven't seen your session images yet (ahem, Joe and Maura) you may want to divert your eyes when your images appear, or watch later.

2009 Review from Rye Designs on Vimeo. Music from Craig Lyons. Find him on iTunes and Facebook.

While 2009 was a great year, I'm ready to see what 2010 brings! Let us know how you like the new blog and if you encounter any issues. Also, feel free to subscribe to our blog, sign up for our newsletter, or suggest upcoming content while you're here. I hope you have a wonderful new year!

joe + maura = owen

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:23:00 -0700

On Sunday, we had the pleasure of meeting Joe and Maura's adorable baby boy. Even though he had grown in the 11 days since his birth, he was still so tiny to us. He was a great sport throughout the session, which included a little nap for him while we ate lunch. Joe and Maura have such wonderful colors in their home that, combined with the outfits they chose, made the images look very soothing. I couldn't think of a better turn-out.

I hope Joe and Maura enjoy the sneak peek of their beautiful family. And with that, I'm happy to introduce you to sweet Owen...

Look at those squishy cheeks!

And those little feet!

Joe and Maura: thank you for letting us invade your home and hang out while meeting Owen. Hopefully everyone was able to nap after we left. :) We're looking forward to seeing you next week!

joe + maura = baby boy

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:44:00 -0700

Last week I explained a bit about the group of friends that are connected to Dan, and you got to meet Aaron and Susan. This week, you get to meet another adorable couple from the group. In fact, their two due dates are only days apart, so it'll be interesting to see who arrives first.

Meet Joe, Maura, and their baby boy...

Getting Joe to smile naturally was a feat in itself, so getting him mid-laugh was like a triple score. I'm not sure what we were talking about here—probably something about making sure he ends up on Awkward Family Photos in 20 years.

I'm glad that Maura wanted some bare belly shots during the session. We were losing sunlight fast, but we got a couple cute ones. Sorry internet, but this is as revealing as it gets for you...

aaron + susan = baby girl

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:15:00 -0700

I'm not sure I've thought much about it before, but I married into a good-looking group of friends. I really did. Some of them grew up and went to school with Dan, while others met through college or other avenues. And now that a few of the couples are expecting, I'm sure their little ones will be too cute for words.

One such couple, Aaron and Susan, had a maternity session with us over the weekend. Let me tell you—I can only hope for an ounce of the glow, peace, and beauty that Susan has. Their little girl is only about a month from being due, and they won't share her name yet, but we're all really excited for her arrival.

Meet Aaron, Susan, and their baby girl...

fun on a farm

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:20:00 -0600

Last weekend we had fun hanging out on a local farm and chasing around a family with two adorable boys. You may remember them from last Fall, especially from the teeter-totter shots. Since this family happens to be one of our neighbors and we see the boys all the time, it wasn't until I went to find last year's session links that I realized how much the boys have grown.

This farm was a new location for us. Mom put a lot of thought into a place that would keep the boys occupied, and this farm did not disappoint. There was a petting zoo, pony ride, hayride, pumpkin patch, corn maze, bonfire for cooking s'mores—you name it.

I really had to restrain myself from posting more of the session. There were a lot of cute moments. Say hello to the C family...

One look at these big eyes and my heart melts to the floor...

This was sweet while it lasted... :)

To the C family—thanks for allowing us to hang out with you at such a fun farm. We're really excited to show you the rest of the session, and see how much the boys grow by next Fall. :)

last bit of summer

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:14:00 -0600

Now that we're a couple weeks into Fall and the weather has decided to take a dive, this session was like a little goodbye to summer. This session almost didn't happen, but we're so glad it did. When Angie called to check our availability, she mentioned buying white dresses for all of her girls. She really wanted a summer session with the girls in their dresses, and it looked like that weekend—the last weekend in September—would be the last possible chance.

Session day came along and it was a drizzly, chilly, mess of a day. To us, an overcast day is great as long as it's not raining. While we love sun flare and the right kind of sunlight, the images from an overcast day are—believe it or not—absolutely fabulous. But mom really wanted the sunlight and a warm day, so we decided to cancel the session and watch for a better weekend.

Long story short, I was able to convince mom that the images would turn out great with the overcast day and white dresses, as long as it wasn't too cold for the kids, and as soon as we decided to give it another go the chilly weather turned around for us. Dan and I got to meet such a beautiful family. I can't imagine having five kids, but the patience and love we saw during that hour was truly inspiring.

I have more images I want to post, since I know Angie is looking for certain shots, but I'll keep some a secret for now. :)

Meet the R family...

I have a fetish for the footsies. Dan kindly obliges my fetish. This was his view:

This was my view:

A huge thanks to Todd and Angie for jumping in so quickly when we were so unsure of the weather, and trusting us to capture their beautiful family doing what they love to do. It was a great way to say goodbye to the summer.

sonya & eddie save the date

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:04:00 -0600

Sonya came to us pretty early in the summer, soon after Eddie proposed, asking if we could do their wedding invitations and some other pieces. Seriously?! We'd love to! I had a lot of questions to ask her so I could visualize her and Eddie's big day and the details of the stationery, but since they both live out of state I needed to whip up something she could fill out digitally. Sonya was fantastic with her feedback, giving us suggestions if things were confusing, etc., and that's something we're glad to hear so we can make things better.

I found out that the wedding décor would include cherry blossoms and contemporary details. Sonya, Eddie, and I collaborated during the month of July to come up with a Save the Date that they both loved, and that the recipients enjoyed as well! You may not be able to tell, but the paper for their cards and envelopes is all metallic with a great shimmer.

Sonya decided to do a magnet with flat backing card. I think these are really great because they're so versatile. Recipients can use the magnet to attach the entire card to their fridge—or in our case, a chalkboard where we keep our important notes—or just keep the magnet itself as a reminder. Even after the wedding is over, guests can keep the magnet as a memento. Since it doesn't say "Save the Date," it's rather timeless. The hand-drawn cherry blossom branch was carried through the card and the magnet:

Next, we'll be working on the formal invitation, rehearsal invitation, program, and other goodies that will pull Sonya and Eddie's wedding together and make it uniquely them. I'm really excited that they chose us to create their wedding stationery, but I'm even more excited to see how everything comes together.

scott + mary ellen = joshua

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:15:00 -0600

I got to spend some time Saturday with Joshua and his parents, Scott and Mary Ellen. Joshua is and has been such a blessing to their lives, but I know that he's even more blessed to have them as parents. They are wonderful people who have impacted our lives greatly in the few years we've known them.

This session was extra sweet because it was Rye Designs' first newborn session and my first solo gig. It's hard to believe that, but Dan and I always shoot sessions together. Since he was out of town, I had to be confident and bring the awesome. I missed having his angles and ideas, but I had a good vision going in and I'm pretty proud of myself.

Meet Joshua and his fabulous green nursery...

Once we went into Scott and Mary Ellen's bedroom for some shots, I could have stayed there all day. The sunlight coming in through the windows was heavenly.

Toward the end of the session, we headed to the living room couch for some relaxed family shots. Here's mama with her baby...

and her other baby. :)

So what do you think of our first newborn session? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Scott and Mary Ellen (and Josh!), thanks so much for letting me come into your home, move things around, and place Josh in positions he may not have cared for. Your little family is a big reminder of how great God's love and timing really are.