Portraits | Weddings & Portraits

2021 Holiday Gift Ideas | Photo Albums

Searching for the perfect 2021 holiday gift idea? Our albums are a perfect option!

In an age where people rarely print photos or invest in quality prints, our albums are the best way to show off your wedding or portrait session. We want to see the art as it was meant to be seen, printed to perfection.

Plus, our wedding or portrait albums make the ultimate gift – timeless, heartfelt, and something your loved one will appreciate for years to come. Our albums are the highest quality and made to last. We want you to keep these books on your coffee table and flip through them regularly.

Our albums are hand bound with fully custom cover options (premium leather, vegan leather, linen, and more). The press printed pages and photo luster photo paper make them the ultimate gift that keeps on giving.

How to Include Your Dog in Your Photos | The Dogs of C&Co

How to Include Your Dog in Your Photos - Carrs Photography

At C&Co we know that dogs are part of the family and we love when clients include them in their engagement sessions, wedding photos, or family portraits. Photoshoots are best when they represent who you are and even where you are at this time of your life, and your pet is a huge part of that. Plus, dogs add so much personality to your photos and by including them you will ensure you have some special shots to keep with you forever. So, why not include them in your next session?

If you are ready to snap some photos with your dog (or dogs!) here are a couple of tips:

Pick a dog-friendly location for your shoot. A park, dog-friendly brewery, and in-home shoots are all great ideas. You know your dog best, so make sure it is a place they will feel comfortable.
Bring an extra set of hands. Especially if you want to snap a few photos without your pup, having someone there to hold their leash while that happens is a must.
Give them a good groom or bath before the shoot. That way they look their best for their camera debut! Got a cute outfit or fun accessory for them to wear? Even better!
Get the energy out beforehand. This is especially helpful for puppies or high-energy dogs. A tired dog will be easier to work with.
Be flexible. You can’t always predict how dogs will behave in new situations. Go with the flow, trust your photographer, and you will be sure to get some shots you love.
Don’t stress about them moving around, it’s ok. The photographer will keep snapping.

Now bring on all the dogs!!

Clients for Life: Danielle and Todd | Dayton Family Photographer

Dayton Family photographer - The Carrs Photography

We get asked a lot, do you do family photography? The answer is a big fat, YES! It is the most wonderful feeling when a couple who hired us for their wedding calls to schedule a maternity session, newborn photos, or even just to grab some updated family photos.

We say it a lot, but we mean it, the best part of our job are the awesome people we get to work with. We truly care about our clients. Getting to know them and sharing in the special moments is such a gift.

Danielle and Todd are one of those amazing return clients. It has been so fun to watch this couple grow, change, and capture each life stage in photos.

We even offer special pricing for couples who have had weddings with us. We call them our “Clients for Life.” These couples get discounted pricing on our sessions for as long as they choose to work with us…don’t leave us!!

Didn’t know we offer this? No worries! Call and schedule your session today!

Hope to see you soon!

Michael & Grace’s 15th Anniversary Photoshoot | Dayton Portrait Photographer

Dayton Portrait Photographer - Anniversary Photoshoot

Michael and I just celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary and 17 years together! These years have been so full – 3 kids, countless trips all over the world, and one big kitchen renovation, it feels like it has gone by in a blink.

When Michael and I married in 2006, we started our crazy journey into the photography business at the same time. When I think back over our time, I see a potter at his wheel. Slowly taking a piece of lumpy clay and molding it into something wonderful. Both our marriage and our business have grown so much in the last 15 years. The road has been bumpy, full of missteps and plenty of setbacks, but we wouldn’t trade this crazy adventure together for anything!

To celebrate 15 years, we decided to spend an epic day together in Dayton. The boys made us a wonderful breakfast and we exchanged gifts. Funny story, we saw bracelets in a shop and I remember Michael really wanted one. I forgot the exact name but I was determined to find it, so I turned to Google. The real name of the company is Pig + Hen from Amsterdam, but the search that hit was chicken bracelets from switzerland. Thank goodness Google knew what I was looking for!

To toast to 15 years, I picked up a 15 year Scotch called Dalwhinnie. It was amazing and is definitely a new favorite. Staying with our 15 year theme, I also got Michael a 15 year cigar by Gurkka. Michael made me an appointment for a massage and facial at Square One Salon which was fabulous and much needed. And we shared a 15th anniversary wine from Coopers Hawk Winery!

Then we decided to head to Nordstrom rack where we had to find a new outfit for photos. We tried on lots of flops and went all over the map style wise, but ended up with two looks we both loved. We toasted at Tender Mercy, reflected on where we have been and where we are going, and of course did an amazing photoshoot.

Here are a few of the highlights from our photo session!

Vogue Inspired Maternity Shoot | Dayton Maternity Photographer

Nothing makes us happier than former brides returning for a maternity session. We loved shooting Rachel’s wedding, so when she emailed us she was expecting and wanted to do a Vogue inspired maternity shoot, we were so excited.

The looks that Rachel chose were classic and chic – a sleek black turtleneck, a white button down shirt, and a pair of hoop earrings. It created such a Grace Kelly meets Audrey Hepburn vibe. The simplicity allowed this mom-to-be to really shine. She looks elegant, timeless, and completely stunning.

If you are planning a maternity session, it helps to have some sort of theme in mind. Maybe you have an outfit you love or a place you know you want to shoot. Start there! Feel free to bounce ideas off us! We would be more than happy to help you brainstorm. And it doesn’t have to be local. Want an amazing session in the mountains or along the beach? Hit us up and find out about our travel schedule. Whatever location or style you choose, we recommend scheduling around the 7 month mark unless you have a specific season or idea that just won’t fit in that time frame.

We love a creative maternity shoot, so let us help you create something amazing!

Frank Family California Mini Session | Destination Portrait Photographer

destination portrait photographer - carrs photography

Believe it or not, a few years ago offering destination portrait photography wasn’t even on our radar. It is crazy to think a simple conversation completely changed our vision.

Several years ago, some of our former clients moved to California, had a baby, and said, “I wish you guys traveled, we would love to have you photograph our family.” The simplicity of that statement hit us like a ton of bricks. Why haven’t we been traveling for portrait sessions? We have clients, now friends, all over and we would love to be the ones capturing their lives.

Out of that conversation, the destination mini session concept was born. We have gone back to California every year for almost 4 years and each year we add more families and more stops. We have added Seattle, Minneapolis, and Montanna to our destination mini session list. We absolutely love offering these sessions to clients. Destination photography isn’t just for weddings, engagements, and elopements!

The Frank family has been with us for many years and they are such a joy to photograph. It is so cool to watch their family grow year after year! Each session we find a new location and explore a new area. We have photographed the Frank family at the Sutro Baths, Poplar Beach, and The Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco. I actually don’t remember how they even found out about our destination minis, but we are so glad they did.

Photography has brought such wonderful people into our lives, it’s one of the many reasons we love this job. And if you have a destination in mind for a portrait session, don’t be afraid to reach out! We are always up for a new adventure.

Glamorous Studio Maternity Session | Dayton Maternity Photographer

When your client is the bridal stylist behind Stylish Little Mrs, you get pretty excited about photographing her maternity session. Alex absolutely blew us away with her glamorous studio session ideas. Is high fashion fairytale an aesthetic? Either way, she nailed it.

Alex brought in one of Dayton’s best, Sherwood Florist, to create a bright and whimsical backdrop. She was stunning in a pink tulle dress by Manually Props, a fantastic Etsy shop based in Hungary. Her second look was a purple, one shoulder gown that was just as chic. Both looks were the perfect balance of soft and dramatic. Alex was absolutely in her element and that shows in every photo we snapped. It’s safe to say she can add a maternity stylist to her resume.

As you are thinking about looks and themes for a maternity shoot, we recommend going with something that is representative of your style. Is your vibe warm and cozy? Maybe a casual in-home shoot is for you. Do you like moody and shadowed? Let’s create a dramatic, vogue style shoot with looks to match. The possibilities are truly endless. Remember, you don’t need to recreate what is popular on Instagram at the moment. What matters most is allowing your personality to shine. We are ready to capture the authentic you, wherever that takes us!

Carrs Photography | Carrs Photography Studio | Stylish Little Mrs | Sherwood Florist | Manually Props

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Clients for Life | Alberto & Anne

Carrs Photography Client for Life Minnesota Family Photographer

Since the day we started Carrs Photography almost 15 years ago we have told our clients that we want to be their photographer for life! We love shooting engagements and weddings, but that is just the beginning. Your life will be full of adventures – new homes, new babies, new jobs, birthdays, graduations – and they all deserve to be documented with beauty, style, and rockstar photography!

Alberto and Anne are one of those clients who immediately captured our hearts. You know when you just have a connection with someone? When things feel easy, light, and comfortable? That is exactly how we feel working with Alberto and Anne! They live out of state so we didn’t meet face to face until their engagement shoot, but from our first FaceTime call we just knew that they were special people.

For their engagement shoot, they graciously hosted Michael in Minneapolis providing a tour of the city, taking him to some of the best food spots in town, and serving up some amazing looks for their session. This is a couple that epitomizes grace and style. Their outfits were inspired by a recent trip to Europe and everything about this shoot gave us a romantic Parisian vibe. It was also one of the most acrobatic shoots we have done at Carrs Photography with Michael hanging off the edge of a bridge to snag this epic canoe shot. But the resulting image was 100% worth it.

Not surprisingly, their wedding was just as perfect. This couple always looks good! And their first look might be one of our all-time favorites. You can’t fake the emotion on Alberto’s face when he saw Anne – pure happiness and joy. It doesn’t get any better.

Fast forward a few years and many visits and meals together, we got the news that they were expecting. I know that we always say pregnancy makes you glow, but seriously, Anne was radiant.

When Avalyn arrived, we were immediately smitten. We know our little Posy and Avalyn will be great friends. And check out her amazing mop of hair! I think we have another natural in front of the camera.

It has been such a gift to walk along Anne and Alberto in each of these life stages. It is a reminder of what we love about our job so much. Each time we pick up a camera we get to tell a piece of a story in someone’s life, the more pieces the better in our opinion.

Did you work with us for a wedding? We have special Client for Life pricing for you as you move through new stages of life… don’t forget about us!

Carrs Photography Client for Life Minnesota Wedding Photographer — The Carrs Photography is an editorial wedding & portrait photography studio specializing in documenting fine weddings and storytelling portraits in Dayton Ohio, Chicago and Worldwide

The Carrs Photography is an editorial wedding & portrait photography studio specializing in documenting fine weddings and storytelling portraits in Dayton Ohio, Chicago and Worldwide

Carrs Photography Client for Life Minnesota Maternity Photographer

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Small, Intimate, Downtown Wedding | Peyton & Corey

So, 2021 is warming up! An end of COVID is in sight and we’re all itching to get back out into the world! April is a month full of weddings for us, but March gave us this incredible experience with Peyton and Corey!

These two were full of infectious laughter and joy. It was easy to see the way they loved each other!

Between Becca & Alex’s amazing wedding at the new Dayton Arcade and Peyton and Corey’s small joy-filled celebration of each other we are stoked about what 2021 has to offer! Check out some of the shots below!