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Hocking Hills Engagement Proposal

This Hocking Hills engagement proposal had so much emotion!! I love it when you can see the total surprise. Riley’s expressions when she saw Connor get down on one knee was AWESOME!! To top it off, their family and Riley’s friend were hiding in the bushes above the waterfalls watching it all unfold.

If you are planning a Hocking Hills Engagement Proposal (or any location), you should check out some of my previous blog posts such as these:

https://amyrebecca.com/upper-falls-proposal/

https://amyrebecca.com/hocking-hills-photographer-proposal-at-upper-falls/

https://amyrebecca.com/proposal-in-hocking-hills-upper-falls/

https://amyrebecca.com/photographing-a-proposal-in-hocking-hills/

I have fallen in love with these sessions. Even though many are in the same location, the couples and the emotions are always unique. Every couple has their own “personality”. I like to embrace that and go with the flow to photograph it.

If you are planning such an event, please send an inquiry to me through my website and we can start planning. I am happy to help in any way I can!

hocking hills proposal hocking hills photographer

2026 Fall Family Photo Session

Are you thinking about your 2026 Fall family photo session? Wondering about a cute location for your family with small children? Slate Run Historical Farm might be right for you. I photographed one of my favorite families last week at the park and even with getting caught in the rain, it turned out so cute!

Things to keep in mind for doing a session at the farm:

Farm Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues, Wed, Thurs, and Sunday. 9-6 on Saturday. and closed on Mondays.

There are live animals so there may be mud.

Be respectful of the animals and the people working there.

It does get busy as the day goes on, so earlier is better.

Please check out their website: https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/slate-run-historical-farm/

Tips for planning your outfits:

  1. Color coordinate within a palette. This family below did a great job of not being too matchy-matchy but yet it all still looked cohesive. Also, these were great fall colors!
  2. Make sure your kids are comfortable. If they don’t like ruffles and elastic bands, stay away from that. Or if one child wants to express their own personality, let them!
  3. Patterns make that person stand out more than the others. There’s nothing wrong with that, but just be conscious of it and ok with it 🙂
  4. Shoes tend to get wet on morning and Fall shoots. Be ok with that or wear shoes that will work….Or go barefooted 🙂

For more tips, you may like my previous blog post: https://amyrebecca.com/tips-for-planning-your-family-photo-session/

For a 2026 Fall Family photo session at Slate Run Park, I offer a 30 minute session for $275. If you would like to book, just send me an email at amyrebeccaphotography@gmail.com

ohio family photographer canal winchester photographer

Tips for planning your family photo session

If you have ever tried to get the everyone on the same page for photos, you might wonder what to wear, where to take the photos, what time of day is best for light, etc. Below we are going to talk tips for planning your family photo session.

What to wear

  1. The most common question I get is what should we wear. My suggestion is to find a color palette that everyone can work within. Think beige, light blue, and peach. Burgundy, dark green, and cream. The colors that I don’t suggest are black and white.
  2. Large patterns make that person stand out. If everyone in the group is in solid colors and there is one person in a pattern, that person will stand out. If you like patterns, I would suggest everyone get on board with the same type such as all plaid or all floral.

Location

  1. If you are in Hocking Hills for your family gathering, then I generally go to the cabin where you are staying. The trails in the hills can get really crowded and make it difficult for large groups of people…too many distractions in the background. If you are a small family of 3 or 4, Upper Falls or Ash Cave could still work.
  2. If you are from the Columbus/Lancaster, Ohio area, parks such as Inniswoods Metro Garden, Jeffrey Mansion in Bexley, or Chestnut Ridge park in Carroll are some of my favorites. Inniswoods and Jeffrey Mansion do not allow pets so keep that in mind if you want your furry family member in the photos.

Time of day

  1. Early morning or early evening works best for soft light. Mid-day tends to have harsher light if it’s a sunny day. Cloudy days are my favorite.
  2. Each season has it’s best time of day. Winter shoots are generally best around 4 p.m. whereas summer shoots are best around 8 a.m. or 7 p.m.
  3. Lastly, if your session falls on a super sunny day we may be limited to our shooting area. A deck at the cabin may be our best alternative or a tiny, shaded area. I do bring lights to supplement if needed. This does bring a more posed feel to the photos as we can’t just run and play with a lot of movement.

Lastly, remember that all sessions will have a different feel depending on your family dynamic, time of day, weather, and location. I always do my best to make everyone feel comfortable and work within the circumstances I have that day.

I hope these tips for planning your family photo session are helpful. You can check out my other blog posts about family sessions at https://amyrebecca.com/family-photos-in-hocking-hills/ https://amyrebecca.com/hocking-hills-family-sessions/

Please enjoy a recent family session in Hocking Hills…

hocking hills photographer hocking hills photograpy
hocking hills photographer hocking hills photography
hocking hills photography hocking hills photographer

Family Photo Session

What does a family photo session mean to you? Well, after being a photographer for over 25 years I have realized that it means something different to everyone. Perhaps you love a traditional posed session with everyone looking at the camera. Or maybe you are drawn to something more relaxed with family members interacting with one another. Some people chose to have their session at a park, their home, or even a rented studio. I am here for all of it!!

Tips to plan your family photo session

  1. Decide on a location. I am happy to help you see what fits best with your style. The weather can also play a large part in this decision. The park, a studio, or even your own home are popular options.
  2. Plan a date/season. Do you love Fall? It is best to start scheduling Fall sessions months in advance as those dates fill up quickly.
  3. Organize your family’s clothes into a color scheme. If you want to skip the denim on denim (although I see it’s back in style;) then try to pick a color palette that everyone can stay within. For a Fall family photo session, that might look like navy blue, burgundy, and cream. Just remember, if one person wears a print and everyone else is in a solid color, that print person will stand out the most.
  4. Decide if you’re family is happiest in the early morning or early evening 🙂 Those are my favorite times of day to shoot because the light is softer. Mid-day is not generally great unless it’s very cloudy. And if the clouds are out for your photo session, just know that I am a happy girl. I love the soft light of cloud cover.
  5. Let me know what style of photography you prefer. Mostly portraits, mostly candid fun shots, or a little mix of both. My default is a little mix of both.

Below I would like to share a few photos from different family photo sessions. Each section shows the location. Let’s meet for your family photo session soon!!

Chestnut Ridge Park Carroll, Oh.

carroll ohio family photographer ohio family photographer
carroll ohio family photographer lancaster ohio family photographer

In-Studio at Be Changed Studio Westerville, OH.

columbus ohio family photography
columbus ohio family photography

Inniswoods Gardens Westerville, OH.

At Home Mini Session

Upper Falls Proposal

Are you thinking of an Upper Falls proposal? You’ve got a great start! It is one of the prettiest and easiest locations to hike to in Hocking Hills. Christian started planning his proposal to Emily months in advance. He set a date and contacted me to photograph the surprise. Keeping the secret is always a task but he did it well. Emily was so happy as you can see in the photos!!

Before we get to the photos, let’s talk about some suggestions to helping your surprise proposal go smoothly.

Upper Falls Proposal-suggestions for planning

  1. Set a date with your photographer. Hopefully that will be me 😉
  2. Plan to do the event early in the morning. Christian and Emily’s proposal was at 8 a.m. in the month of May.
  3. The time of year matters with the time of day. Hocking Hills gets really crowded as spring approaches… all the way through to the super busy Fall months. Work with your photographer to get the best light for that time of year and beat the crowds.
  4. Good communication is key. I like to know what the couple is wearing before they get there. Christian texted me and let me know what outfits they would be in and when they were heading down to the waterfall from the parking lot. That way I could keep an eye out for them as they approached the waterfall.
  5. Putting the photographers name in your phone in a secretive way. “Amy proposal photographer” might give it away if your partner grabs your phone for some reason haha.
  6. If your fiancé gets their nails done regularly, try to make sure they have just been to the salon in the last week or so. They will have a new ring to show off and nice nails are great for photos!

This is meant to be such a fun time so most of all, enjoy the planning! Think of ways to make it unique to your special someone. And if you are thinking of other areas of Hocking Hills, you can look at this blog post about a proposal at Ash Cave : https://amyrebecca.com/photographing-a-proposal-in-hocking-hills/

Please enjoy a few photos from Christian and Emily’s Upper Falls proposal and mini photo session afterwards:

proposal at upper falls in hocking hills
proposal at upper falls in hocking hills
proposal at upper falls in hocking hills

Hocking Hills Elopement

What a joy to photograph this Hocking Hills elopement at Ash Cave! This was my first time meeting Nichole and Randy and their 2 dogs. Turns out we are all nature lovers and love to take our pups everywhere!

We spent about an hour together from ceremony to photos afterwards. This is typical for a short ceremony. I love being able to wander around a little bit for photos post ceremony. An hour gives time for the “I do’s”, a few group shots, and some photos of the newlyweds (including the dogs).

I am thankful for such a nice Google review from Nichole:

“Amy was AMAZING! She captured our wedding perfectly 🩷💒 from start to finish, she stayed in touch, and is so so kind. The turn around was extremely fast to get our photos back. We can’t thank her enough.”

What you need to know before you go:

A Hocking Hills elopement is perfect for the couple that wants to promise their love to each other and share an unforgettable moment in nature. There are so many location choices but a couple of the most popular ones are Ash Cave and Upper Falls. You will need a permit, an officiant, and of course, a photographer 🙂 I am happy to be that photographer and also share the name of a nice officiant, Liz Teegarden You may want to check out Liz’s info on Wedding Wire: https://www.weddingwire.com/biz/weddings-by-liz/dd9feb49b658c499.html You should also be prepared for any type of weather. Look at the forecast a couple days before. If you see rain in the forecast, don’t be worried. Umbrellas and rainboots generally do the trick or a slight time change that day could be a possibility. I have also done quite a few of elopements at the cabins the couple is staying at. So if a rainy wedding day isn’t your scene, then consider your cabin. This is something to have in the back of your mind when booking a cabin. Will it be a nice plan B in case of bad weather? Does it have space to accommodate any family members there to witness the occasion? Or does it have a nice deck that overlooks the hills? Whatever you decide, I try to be as flexible as possible.

If you have any questions about your Hocking Hills elopement, feel free to ask. I look forward to hearing from you and planning your special day in the Hills!!

Newborn Sessions

There’s has been a little baby boom lately and I am here for all the newborn sessions! As an Ohio newborn photographer, this makes me happy!! I thought it would be a good time to talk about what in-home newborn sessions are all about, some tips to help it go smoothly, and a few photo examples.

In-home newborn sessions…why might this be for me?

  1. New parents are tired. They don’t want to leave the house any more than they need to within those first couple weeks. Having me come to your home to do the session is easier on you as a new parent.
  2. If this is your first baby, you are just getting settled into a new way of life. If you have other children, they are adapting, as well. People of all ages tend to be more comfortable in their own home.
  3. In-home newborn sessions with me are more cost effective than studio photographers have to charge. This is understandable since they have overhead costs that I don’t have. I used to own a studio so I know this is a factor. I can keep my prices lower even though it involves more leg work on my end. So if budget is a factor, in-home sessions are something to consider.

Tips to help your in-home newborn session to go smoothly.

  1. Communicating with me before the baby is born is a great start. If I know the baby’s due date, then I can have it on my schedule. We can touch base when the baby is born and plan the shoot as soon as possible. Which brings me to my next point…
  2. Plan to do your session within the first week after the baby is born. Baby is sleepy and less wiggly 🙂
  3. Heat up your home a little warmer than normal. I generally have a small space heater on hand if needed but having your home warm to start with will help baby be more comfy. Babies don’t like to be cold! I don’t either.
  4. Please feel free to incorporate your own sentimental items. I bring props, hats, etc. but anything that is personal will add a uniqueness that is completely yours.
  5. Send me some photos of natural light in your home. I bring additional lighting to use if needed but natural light is my favorite!
  6. Don’t expect baby to be perfect. I take it slow and let baby direct the session. Relax and enjoy this special time.

Please check out my blog post with Jadyn & Tyler maternity session and their in-home newborn session. These are the direct blog links: https://amyrebecca.com/maternity-jadyn-tyler/ https://amyrebecca.com/in-home-newborn-sessions-info-jadyntyler/

Below are some examples of recent in-home newborn sessions.

Proposal Mini Session

Did you know that after you pop the question, I love to do proposal mini session? It’s the perfect time to capture a few memories of that special day. The excitement and emotions are at a high level. These photos are meant to be fun! Which brings me to Ben and Meghan 🙂 After Ben proposed at The Ohio State University campus, we made our way around to some of their meaningful spots. Both of them attended OSU and so this was the perfect location to do a proposal mini session and show off that ring.

As you can see from the photos, Ben and Meghan weren’t afraid to be silly, try new poses, and just have some enjoy the time together. From the proposal to the end of the mini session, I generally spend an hour or less with the newly engaged couple. This gives enough time to walk around and be relaxed. It also allows time to see what feels natural to you as a couple. I have suggestions for posing but I love to hear any ideas that the couple has as well.

If you are the one planning a surprise proposal, don’t forget about the photo session afterwards. You can sneak your partners favorite lip balm and hair comb in your pocket since they are not expecting to be photographed. Anything to make them feel more relaxed 🙂

Ben and Meghan-The Ohio State University Campus

Ben’s Google Review: “We hired Amy to do our engagement photos and she did an incredible job! She was extremely flexible and helpful in planning the surprise moment, and she created a fun, relaxed environment during the photo shoot afterward. The finished photos were delivered very quickly and looked amazing. We couldn’t be happier with the experience and would highly recommend her!”

For more ideas about planning a surprise proposal, please check out my previous blog posts. This one in particular will be helpful: https://amyrebecca.com/photographing-a-proposal-in-hocking-hills/

And depending on the location of your proposal, there may be other factors to keep in mind. This next blog post was about a proposal at the Columbus Museum of Art. There were some rules to shooting in the museum and since each space has it own set of rules, it’s good to check beforehand to make sure all is good to go. https://amyrebecca.com/proposal-photo-session-in-columbus/

Proposal in Hocking Hills Upper Falls

Let me tell you how happy I was to see fog for this proposal in Hocking Hills at Upper Falls!!! Very Very Happy 🙂

This day on 3.6.26 I was driving to Hocking Hills in the rain. I was watching the fog nestle into the mountains. My hopes were for it to last till the proposal at 10 a.m. And to my delight, the fog was till there. Along with the fog comes sun beams. My day was made.

Tips for planning your Hocking Hills visit:

I usually suggest proposals in Hocking Hills (or any type of shoot for that matter) to be earlier in the day. As the hours go by, the crowds come to see it’s beauty and that makes it a little more difficult to photograph. The earlier the better, especially on the weekends! The weekdays are generally slower and of course, the off-season. Even the winter is exceptionally beautiful with the ice formations at the waterfall areas. Always bring good hiking boots, have your phone charged, and watch your step. Going slow can prevent injuries and also gives you time to take all the sights in. And don’t be afraid of a little mud…it’s going to happen and that’s ok. In fact, it’s a sign that you are living life and not letting a little dirt stop you from enjoying nature. Go take a hike. It’s good for the mind, body, and heart.

I have some more blog posts about proposals and tips for planning. You can check out these: https://amyrebecca.com/hocking-hills-photographer-proposal-at-upper-falls/ https://amyrebecca.com/photographing-a-proposal-in-hocking-hills/

There is so much to see and visit in Hocking Hills. I recommend looking at the official website for more ideas: https://www.hockinghills.com/

This is a little preview of highlights from Blake and Olivia’s morning proposal in Hocking Hills at Upper Falls. As you can see, she was definitely surprised! If this looks like a dream to you, contact me to set up your photo session in beautiful Hocking Hills.

Proposal Photo Session in Columbus

Are you hoping to plan a proposal photo session in Columbus, Ohio? If so, I hope this post gives you some great ideas!

These photos are from Robert and Gabby’s recent surprise proposal photo session at the Columbus Arts Museum. Robert contacted me to plan this special event and we had a great time coming up with ideas. There were a few twists and turns but we communicated well together and everything went wonderfully! Gabby said YES and off we went to do a relaxed little photo session afterwards.

There are some rules you have to follow if you are planning to photograph at the museum. Examples: No flash, no tripod or extra lighting equipment, and no camera backpacks. I made a make-shift tripod to video the proposal with my phone out of a camera lens hood 🙂

You also need to be aware of the fact that there are other people enjoying the art and they may step into the photos unknowingly. This happened to us and I just worked around them, did the best I could, and realized that it was all part of the story. At the end of the day, the important thing is the event itself and I have a goal of making it as fun as possible on my end.

Congrats to Robert and Gabby and may you have a wonderful time planning your big day 🙂 I had a blast photographing this special moment!!

If you are planning a proposal photo session in Columbus, Hocking Hills, or on a mountain top in Colorado;)-you can get more info from my recent blog post: https://amyrebecca.com/photographing-a-proposal-in-hocking-hills/