Form submitted successfully, thank you.

Error submitting form, please try again.

Justin Ketchem Photography bio picture

Welcome to my blog!

This is where I post images and discuss what is going on in my world - mostly my world of photography. After a wedding, event or portrait session, I'm anxious to share my photographs. My blog is the first place they are seen. My customers know to come here a day or two after the shoot to get a glimpse of how spectacular their images turned out. I also use the blog to keep everyone up-to-date on new offers, featured products and special projects. 

Please take a few moments to look through my posts. I hope you like what you see and read and visit often.

 

Rock The House Open House

I’ve worked a lot of events with Rock The House, and I’m always impressed with their non-stop energy, unmatched ability to entertain and consistent professionalism. When Matt Radicelli (the owner and founder) asked me if I’d snap some shots of their open house, I was happy to do so. I was really floored by their operation. Their HQ allows them to showcase all their capabilities, and it’s easy to see why they book more than 300 events each year. The B&Gs that attended the open house were excited about RTH providing the entertainment for their wedding. I’m excited about photographing some of their receptions.

Here’s some of the shots from the very successful open house.

rock-the-house-100

RTH HQ is huge. This is the lobby area before people started arriving.

That's quite a rock

That's quite a rock

rock-the-house-102

rock-the-house-103

rock-the-house-104

rock-the-house-105

The light show was really impressive.

As much as the vibrant colors, LED lights and monograms rocked, the disco ball is still a must-have.

rock-the-house-107

rock-the-house-108

rock-the-house-109

Join me at the Bridal and Beyond Workshop

bridal-beyond-logo1_sbhj_n7t2

Bridal and Beyond is a fantastic resource for brides (and grooms) that offers everything from bridal fairs to workshops to wedding planning services. I’m excited to be conducting a workshop on how to have the “picture perfect” wedding, with the emphasis on the word “picture”, of course.  This workshop is for B&Gs that haven’t booked a photographer as well as the ones that have. I’ll discuss what to look for when choosing a photographer as well as tips on how to help make your wedding-day photography go smoothly.

The workshop will take place on January 16 at Catan Fashions in Strongsville from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. In addition to my workshop, Bridal and Beyond will be talking about the latest wedding trends, and Fitness by Debi will discuss her Bridal Fitness Bootcamp, and how to get fit so you look your best.

Details for the workshop are below. I’m really hoping to see you there!

Catan Fashions
12878 Pearl Rd - Strongsville, OH 44136

12:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Jennifer and Anthony

After the cancellation of our first shoot due to blizzard-like conditions, I finally hooked up with Jennifer and Anthony downtown. It was cold, but at least the snow wasn’t coming down sideways.

This was the first time I met Jennifer and Anthony and we got along wonderfully. They were really looking forward to the session despite the frigid temps. We shot all around Public Square, on E4th and explored an empty alleyway. We ended up back at the square for some shots with the Terminal Tower in the background.

I had a lot of fun and we got some really nice shots. Here’s a few of my favorites.

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

Stacy and Ryan

The rain stopped just in time for Stacy and Ryan’s engagement session. We met up in Little Italy at dusk and had a great time walking up and down Mayfield Road looking for fun places to shoot. Fortunately, it was much warmer than the day before and we actually spent about two hours taking photos. Stacy and Ryan decided to ditch their coats for a few shots and it worked out well. You can’t tell if it’s December or July.  I’m sure next July will provide even warmer weather for Stacy and Ryan’s wedding. I’m really looking forward to it. I had a lot of fun with these two.

1002

1012

1022

1032

1042

1052

1062

Caroline and John

So many of my couples are from out of town and schedule engagement sessions for when they are home visiting family. It’s usually this time of year, which offers opportunities and challenges. The opportunities include getting engagement photos and Christmas photos at the same time. There’s usually lots of colorful lights and the cold really forces couples to stay close and squeeze tight. The challenge, of course, is the cold.

And today, it was COLD!

But that’s OK, because I met Caroline and John at the Arabica in downtown Willoughby. We warmed up with some coffee and took some shots inside. They grabbed the best table in the place for photos, right in front of the Christmas tree. When the Christmas lights came on outside, we bundled up and headed to the square. It was really frigid and the wind was blowing hard, but Caroline and John managed to shrug it off and be totally natural for the camera.

I had a really fun time with Caroline and John and I’m really looking forward to their wedding in May. Here’s a couple shots from Caroline and John’s engagement session.

1001

100-3

101-2

102-2

1051

1061

1071

Monica and Amit’s Engagement Party

There’s engagement parties, and then there’s Monica and Amit’s engagement party, which was more on the scale of a wedding…a big wedding. The party was in Cincinnati at the Hyatt Regency. Guests traveled from all parts of the country to attend this important event.

Monica, Amit and their families were so nice and wonderful to work with. The engagement ceremony was beautiful, the music was awesome and the food was delicious. It was a fun experience for everyone.

Of course, a party of this size is best documented by two photographers, so Lance Anderson made the trek to Cincinnati with me to second shoot. We got a lot of great shots and had a blast doing it.

Unfortunately, I’m not shooting their wedding, but at least I know they’re in great hands with the Linczaks.

Here are a few pics from Monica and Amit’s engagement party.

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

113

114

115

116

117

118

Marriette and Mark

I had a great time downtown with Marriette and Mark. They were a lot of fun…and funny. It was exactly as an engagement session should be.. completely relaxed and carefree. We wondered around Public Square for a while, taking shots on the monument. Then we found a cool brick wall in the entrance of a parking garage. We shot there for a few minutes before we were kicked out for not having a permit. I have to admit, I like shooting in places where there is a good likelihood that I will be thrown out of. It’s all part of the fun.

Anyway, by this time is was getting dark enough to head over to E 4th and do some cool stuff with the lights and neon signs. As it got darker, the images became a little more dramatic and serious.

I had a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to Marriette and Mark’s wedding next summer.

1006

1016

1026

1036

1045

1055

1065

1075

1085

1094

Lisa and Jeff (Team Grabowski)

Lisa and Jeff were married on October 23, at St. Therese in Garfield Hts. The reception was at Windows on the River.

I had an awesome time with Lisa and Jeff! They were so much fun to work with. I knew it was going to be a great wedding because we had an excellent engagement session earlier in the summer. I started out with Jeff and the guys, and then jumped over to Lisa’s parents’ house. Lisa, her dad, sister, niece and I went to the Garfield Hts. Fire Department to take some photos with a big, red Sutphen. Lisa’s dad is a firefighter, so some shots with them in front of the truck was important. Then, off to the church.

We had a great time during the creative session at the Old Arcade in the Hyatt Regency. The bridal party was a blast to work with. They certainly weren’t a shy bunch, which is how I like it.  Lisa, Jeff and I also managed to slip out of Windows for a few shots during the reception.

Enjoy -

1005

1015

Jeff gave Lisa a beautiful pair of earrings that match her wedding ring. She was so excited.

1025

1035

1044

1054

1064

1074

1084

1093

1103

1113

1123

1133

1143

1153

1163

1173

1183

I have to mention how much fun I had hopping in the photobooth with Lisa and Jeff. It was provided by Memory Productions. It was a big hit with everyone.

1193

Kelly, Vito, Nino and Isabel

It couldn’t have been a more perfect day for family photos in the park. I met up with Kelly, Vito and their two children, Nino and Isabel, in the Brecksville Reservation. The area we shot in had a lot of options, but the most popular areas were the ones with a combination of small rocks, water and mud. Piles of fallen leaves were pretty popular too.

I had a great time with the Stassi family, and it was nice to spend time in the park on such a beautiful day. I wish I had more opportunities like this.

1004

1014

1024

1034

1043

1053

1063

1073

1083

Tierra and Dan

Tiarra and Dan are having a baby in November and wanted some maternity photos. We decided to do some photos that focused on just them (and their dog, Jet) first, and then do some photos that focused more on her pregnancy. We shot everything in downtown Willoughby. The fist set was right around the town square, and the second set was in a building I use when I need studio space.

I had a fun time with Tiarra and Dan. They’re really great people and are excellent with the camera. They interacted great together and had very natural, yet dramatic expressions when it was necessary. I enjoyed shooting them as well as editing their photos.

Here’s a few of my favorite shots.

1003

1013

1023

1033

1062

1072

1082

1092

1102

1112

1122

I think this is my favorite shot, and it was actually pretty hard to get. The room was really dark, with only a little light coming in through the window. The sun was almost down at this point. They were really patient with me as I attempted a hand-held shot at 1/10 of a second. I finally got one that was sharp enough.

1132

1152

1162

1172

1182

1192