It’s evening at Kalahari Resort in Sandusky. Barely 30 degrees outside with snow in the air, only the illusion of a summer night exists. Steam engulfs the outdoor hot tubs. This is the recipe for April Gajoch’s styled bridal photo shoot, a vision she executed in four days, thanks to diligent planning with the resort.
“The nighttime hot tub was something I wouldn’t budge on,” the photographer recalls. “That was really my kickoff for the inspiration.”
With over 215,000 square feet of convention space, Kalahari is no stranger to weddings. With customizable event packages, couples may opt for a ballroom or outdoor function space to capture their big day, but a bridal photo shoot like Gajoch’s was a first.
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(Courtesy April G Photography)
She comes prepared to take risks.
“We bought a piece of plexiglass to put in front of me so [the bride] could throw water at the lens,” she says.
The bride’s wet hair slicks back as she kisses her fiance under a waterfall, capturing beauty and whimsy at their rawest — camera unscathed.
Just in time to do it again tomorrow.
Now, it’s 8 a.m. The sun barely peeks through the indoor water park’s windowed ceiling. Bride and groom Stephanie Wisniewski and Joe Nehas are ready to be pampered. They have two hours before the park opens.
“I’ve never been in such a massive water park without a single soul,” Wisniewski recalls.
“I felt like a little ant in the world,” Nehas adds.
The couple met Gajoch last year, when she shot their bridal session in Public Square. There was immediate trust and chemistry between them.
“I knew they were my people,” Gajoch says. “They don’t say no. They’re fearless.”
So, when Gajoch conjured the Kalahari shoot, she knew she needed them.
“It was Stephanie’s birthday when we got the call,” Nehas says. “We were jumping around our hotel room. It was perfect timing, surprising her on her birthday.”
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Against a ticking clock, a DJ, a florist and stylists keep things on task as the couple cascades across the park. Making stops at the lazy river, wave pool and water slides, Wisniewski sports an eloquent white bathing suit, while Nehas rolls up his dress pants and dives right in.
(Courtesy April G Photography)
The internet struggled to choose its favorite, as the photos garnered plenty of attention between Kalahari and Gajoch’s Instagrams.
“[Kalahari’s] reel got over 5 million views,” Gajoch says. “It went viral within the week.”
Despite the lucky cooperation of everyone who made Gajoch’s session a reality, she says she and the resort anticipate this happening again.
“Couples that I’ve already married want to go and get back in their outfits,” she says. “They just think it’s fun.”
Wisniewski and Nehas will keep their August wedding close to home at Music Box Supper Club, though they’ll spruce things up on the big day with Gajoch’s photos.
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