Our photographer (Amanda Donaho) just posted a "sneak peak" of our engagement pictures on her blog, and I just thought I'd write up a short review of the vendors & locations we used to make these possible!
First off, here's the blog post (entitled "Julia & Craig"):
http://www.amandadonaho.com/julia-craig-cincinnati-wedding-photographer/Photographer -- Amanda Donaho: AMAZING! I've been stalking Cincinnati photographers blogs for months, and have realized that there is some incredble photography talent in this city. What made us choose Amanda is her amazing ability to capture very candid photos that look natural and non-posed.
Hair -- Sam Hills from High Five Salon: I would recommend that any bride should consider getting her hair trimmed & styled on the day of their engagement picture shoot. (These pictures last a LONG time... so why not ensure that you look great for them??) Sam is a fantastic stylist... very pricey, but I was willing to allow myself to have one guilty pleasure in my very budget-conscious wedding.
Make-up -- Nancy Dawson with Brideface: I've already booked Brideface for my wedding make-up, and Nancy allowed me to use my wedding "trial run" for my engagement pics. I would also recommend that any bride should consider getting professional make-up with SOMEONE for their engagement pictures. I have never looked this good, and it was sooo worth it to have a set of photos of my FI and I that I can feel good about sharing with family & friends.
Location #1: Mainstrasse in Covington -- Super cute location! Only the first pic on Amanda's blog post is from our photos in this location, which doesn't really do it justice. There are tons of cute, colorful buildings and neat areas for a more "urban" picture setting.
Location #2: Friendship Park in Downtown Cincinnati -- Our photographer LOVED this location because it has a lot of variety, which makes each photo look as if it was taken in a totally different area of the city. I would suggest this location to anyone is looking for a "non-traditional" park scene.
Good luck to anyone with upcoming engagment shoots!