Dec
31
Be You.
Photography
Aug
29
Luke and Rose // Charleviox, MI Wedding Photographer
Rose and Luke were happily married August 18th at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Charleviox. Rose had asked me earlier this spring to be their photographer so I planned my trip to Spain so I would be back in time to be able to shoot the wedding. My second wedding on my own, the butterflies were still firmly placed in my stomach. The nervousness didn’t leave until I got a message on Facebook from Rose yesterday.
Thank you so much for the pictures!!!!! They arrived just today! You did an amazing job- we were so lucky to have you!
Lots of love!
Rose
Rose was a glowing bride. I have so many pictures of her just smiling, smiling, smiling and giving hugs all around. Luke is her strong and quiet man, and they are starting their new life together a long ways from Northern Michigan in California, where he is from. They had a lively reception with lots of big band, swing dancing and even a fun smoochin’ game! Instead of kissing whenever we would clink our glasses you had to get up and sing a love song at the open mic!
Luke and Rose, thank you so much for asking me to be your photographer. I had such a fun time. Blessings on your marriage!
Aug
29
Holly, 2013 Senior // Petoskey, MI
Last week I had the pleasure of taking Holly’s senior pictures. Holly is an amazingly gifted musician and songwriter with a cute little smile and beauuutiful blue eyes. Check these photos ouuuut! We started off with a drive in the country to my grandpa’s property to catch some of the late afternoon light, then headed to Petoskey’s waterfront where Holly wanted to do some shots on the docks overlooking the bay. P.S. Her mom is an amazing seamstress and handmade both her dresses. Talk about skill.
Aug
26
Wesley and Danielle // Alivia Duran Traverse City Wedding Photographer
Wesley and Danielle were married late June at the New Hope Church in Traverse City, Michigan. They were married a week before I left for Spain, so in the preparation for leaving I decided to leave this post until later. I was so occupied in Spain that I could barely get away to blog about my trip, so here it is August and I am finally getting the photos up.
Wesley is also a photographer and make sure that his dad was close by with his camera so he could take some shots of his beautiful bride ;) This was my first wedding on my own as the primary shooter, and I was honestly preeetty nervous. I shot so many photos, not wanting to miss anything. I packaged the discs up and mail them off to the newly married couple a few days before I flew out to Valencia and a few days later got this message from Wesley, “Thanks, I got them, and they are AMAZING! Fantastic work, I love them. :)” Made my day =) I shot my second wedding on my own the week I got back and was even more nervous than the first time. I’m still new at this and the pressure to capture someone’s wedding day, for me, is huge. I suppose it’s not professional and well-thought of for photographers to disclose their personal feelings on their blogs but I think when you hire someone to photograph your wedding you need to have a good relationship with them and be able to communicate well. I like to be honest and open. If you don’t both share the same vision the couple isn’t going to be happy and neither will you when you get negative feedback. Working in photography you not only have to sell your work, but in one way, sell yourself. No one wants the obnoxious photographer making a scene with a blinding flash and ordering the bridal party about! But enough chatter, I take pictures and am not a writer for a reason. =)
Wes getting a shot of his bride :)
Wesley and Danielle, blessings on your marriage! Thank you so much for asking me to be apart of your day.
Aug
03
Jordan and Crystal {Bay View, MI Engagement Photographer}
Crystal is my vivacious, bubbly, gorgeous, passionate, blonde ;) best friend. I can’t say that we “hit it off” right away, but through a few mutual friends, one AP Literature class, 5:30am swimming, a bible study and a few summer hangouts at the breakwall awkward 16 year old me and the outgoing country girl from the UP became fast friends. So far our friendship has survived her moving to Indiana, my living in Mexico, our crazy full-time school + full-time work schedules and weeks without talking only to come out all the stronger.
Senior year of high school Crystal met a boy. A rather special boy at the time. They dated for a while, and Crystal headed off to school. Down at school, she met a steady, calm man named Jordan. He was just a good friend. Nothing more, nothing less. All the while Crystal was dating this other fellow (who turned out to be a lemon) she was oblivious to the fact the Jordan was falling, fell, fallen for her beautiful self. So just a few short months after Crystal broke it off with Mr. Wrong, Jordan, in no short time, made it clear to Crystal how he felt about her.
On my way down to Florida for spring break, I got a call. The call. A well planned hike filled with chocolate covered strawberries, monopoly money, and a shiny diamond led to what I had seen coming for a couple months ;)
Spring came with a flurry of wedding planning that is going to continue until their wedding next June. After a hilarious Skype session Crystal asked me to be a bridesmaid and photographer. Summer is now here, and brought a proposal of its own.
Sitting in the grass at the bay front park we were talking wedding, family and life. Then Crystal scurried off to her car mumbling about forgetting something, then came back with a little slip of paper. “I don’t know why I didn’t ask you to begin with!” She told me.
Crystal– I love you chika–yes chika with a “k” ;) I’m so happy for you and Jordan. He’s the perfect man for you, and it’s so clear the love and concern you share for each other. I can’t wait for your wedding next summer!
* * *
We did their engagement session last minute when Jordan was up north early this summer in Bay View, Michigan. It would have been wonderful to do their pictures at the university they met at, but it’s in another state so it wasn’t an option. I thought John Hall Auditorium in Bay View and the surrounding campus would have a similar university-feel and I loved shooting there. We even went inside and took some beautiful shots against the dark wood and glass windows.
