Nathan + Mandy - The Slideshow

I promised myself to be in bed by midnight tonight...and despite what the blogger time stamp says, it is 2:49am. I am having some technical difficulties with my server and I am NOT a technical person, so I hope this slideshow works!

Thanks again to Mandy and Nathan for allowing us to document their special day!

Edit: I finally figured out how to embed the show, but it starts automatically with loud music when you connect to the blog...and I don't want to get anyone fired if you are viewing this from work!

So if you are at work (or you don't want to hear the music)...mute your computer's volume and then click on this LINK or on the title of the post.

If you're gonna do it...do it right!

The wedding this past weekend included a bouquet and garter toss, but the results of the two tosses was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. These two wedding party members put on a show that had everyone cheering!

Ugly pictures...hidden beauty!

These might be the ugliest pictures I have ever taken. I should have at least cleaned off my countertop...but I just made a salad and unpacked some groceries (and it's 2am and I should be in bed, or at least grading tests for my students). I couldn't wait any longer, I had to open up the UPS boxthat came today and start sticking velcro on my flashes (which kills me by the way...I like to keep my gear looking exactly like it did when it came out of the box).

Why? Because THEY came today and I had to try them. No more unreliable, line of sight for me. Off camera flash, here I come! I can't wait to play with them outside of my kitchen.

Mandy + Nathan

We had a wonderful start to the wedding season spending the day with Mandy and Nathan. They were surrounded by friends and family for a beautiful ceremony in at St. Michael in Grand Ledge and then a fun-filled reception at Royal Scot.

Here's a sneak peek for the bride and groom before they leave for Jamacia. Congratulations Mandy and Nathan! Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon!

Mandy's dress was gorgeous...especially the crystal details.

Sometimes the beautiful gowns are harder to get on they you would think!

And she had some SERIOUS shoes. They made my feet hurt just looking at them, but they were hot! And did I mention she had not one, but two pair (actually three), but here are the first two pair she wore (white for the ceremony and fuschia for the reception).

Mandy seeing her dad for the first time with her dress on.

His reaction (and mom's too).

Nathan's first glance as Mandy and her dad walk down the aisle.

Some fun candids after the ceremony. We had some serious "on-lookers" watching us.

A while back, I saw this incredible photo on another photographer's website. I think it was Kelly Moore of a bride standing still in a pool of awesome light with her bridesmaids moving around her in all directions, giving a great sense of tranquillity yet constrasted with the hustle of wedding preparations. I always wanted to attempt a similar shot, but I kept forgetting at weddings. More recently I saw an equally awesome shot on my friend Anne Ruthmann's website, so I wrote myself a note to give it a shot at my next wedding. Thanks Anne! I didn't get quite the "blur" I wanted, but I still think it is fun.

I love this one.
One for the paper.
The beautiful bride and handsome groom!

Royal Scot is also and golf course and bowling alley. So......how could I resist.

The wedding was on 4.19 in case this wasn't obvious ;-)

Baby Shower

Yesterday I helped host a baby shower for my dear friend Sara who is due in June. (I told you everyone I know is pregnant.)




Awww...isn't she a cute mom-to-be?

We hired an expert videographer. (Go Allie!)

Allison's new little boy was so good. He slept through the whole thing.

Can't wait to meet him/her Sara! Hope you had a great time!

Mini Me

Ever since I left "corporate america", I have never really liked business cards for some reason. Many photographers spend a lot of time and money on branding, logos and fancy marketing materials, but it just hasn't felt like the right move for my photography business...yet, at least.

For some reason, as this wedding season is about to begin for me, I didn't want to repeat a common occurence during past events I have photographed.

Guest: "I was wondering if I could have your business card"

Me {with a shy grin}: "Sorry, I don't have any, but my website and contact info is...."

So this was my compromise, a little something different, but accomplishes the same goal if somoene wants my information without having to find a pen and jot it down on the back of a napkin.

The outside of the box.


A few of the pictures on the front of the cards. You can have each card with a different image.
How fun is that?


The back of the mini-cards. It does have my phone number, but call me paranoid, I didn't feel like posting it on my blog so I blurred it out.


Maybe someday I'll splurge on some letter press business cards, but for now, these are perfect for me!

Rock it!

When we were in California, my son spent hours playing with toy dump trucks, loading and unloading rocks my parents had collected around the beach.

After we left, my dad had special project in mind and surprised my son with them when he got back to Michigan. These are just a few examples of his artistry. Boy, does my son love them! Aren't they cute?

This one, is of course, his favorite.

My favorite.

Guess who?

Pwiblige?

That is how my son says "privilege". He earns them and loses them on a minute to minute basis and I chuckle every time he says it.

Yesterday he earned a pwiblige by being a good boy and not crying during his haircut. I guess it was more of a bribe, but it got us through the haircut...and that was all the mattered to me at the time.

This was the prize for being a good boy....his name is Monty (and his brother Max), but I wish you could hear my son say it....Moooounty.

Spoiler

These are a few snapshots from back in January. The ones of my son make me laugh seeing how long his hair was. He just got it cut today...never a simple task, but 2 adults, one stylist and one redheaded child later, we made it out of Fantastic Sams alive.

Oh...and the spoiler is for those of you who thought my super hot husband was only in his early twenties!


That is a present for my husband, not my son, in case you were wondering.

Oh Baby!

I sure do have a lot of friends and family members who are pregnant!

Today I had the pleasure of hanging out with my fabulous photographer friend Nicole to do a maternity session here in Lansing. I have to admit I was nervous photographing a photographer, but she is so much fun and has the BEST attitude and laugh, so she made it extra fun. You should have seen all the on-lookers. It was like they had never seen a pregnant woman before.









This one is for Nicole's 2 year-old son who apparently LOVES the billboard in the background.

Thanks Nicole! I can't wait to meet little Hudson!