Fun and Simple Albums

I just received this album the other day for a portrait client. It is a simple, slip-in type album, but it is so cute I want to keep it for myself. I was a little nervous ordering the color pink since you never know on web images what the color calibration is like. Would it be salmon, pepto-bismol, fuchsia....???

It is really the perfect pink, especially for portraits of little girls.

Here's few pictures of it since blog posts without pictures aren't very much fun.

p.s. And the satin lined box was just the icing on the cake!

A close up to see the texture.

The inside.


Nice thick pages and a rounded spine for extra durability.

Check it out!

I received such a nice email from Aletha of Pearls Events the other day regarding some recent wedding pictures I had taken. I was flattered when she asked if she could feature me on her blog. To check it out, click here.

Aletha is the owner of Pearls Events, an event consulting, coordinating and planning firm, specializing in West Michigan weddings (but I think you could probably convince her to come Lansing too). If you have it in your wedding budget, you should seriously consider her services whether you need full event planning and coordination or a "day of" coordinator so you can relax and enjoy your special day! Check out her website here.

Thanks Aletha for the little spotlight feature!

Fried Chicken?

Well my text just got deleted and it is too late to retype. Here's the summary.

Thank you to the service men and women of our nation as well as their families.

Great weather this weekend.

Snuck away to Frankenmuth one night without our son! Thanks Buffy, Beans and Grandma and Grandpa.

Found out on our trip after paying for an expensive fried chicken dinner that neither of us likes fried chicken. (The whole story was a little more amusing.)

I only took a few pictures. Here they are ;-)

Grace Madeline

Awww...I'm an Aunite again! On the way home from our anniversary trip, we had to stop by and see our new niece Gracie, who is just three days old. She is just the sweetest little girl and we are so excited for her parents!

Here's just a few since I had my camera in the car (shocker...I know!).

In case it mistakenly appears that infants like to have their pictures taken by me.

Gotta love a binky that tells it like it is.

I love him because...

...the only sport he really enjoys watching on TV is hockey.

...he is addicted, fanatical, obessed about the TV show LOST.

....he thinks the TV show SCRUBS is the story of his life (he does have a point).

...he hid my last box of Thin Mint cookies so I couldn't find them.

...he chooses to do things that are "right" for his patients at work, not what is "easiest" for him.

...he is the best father to his son (just ask our son).

...he knows how to use "fuzzy foot rests" appropriately.

...he likes planning surprises...even though he can't keep a secret.

...he pretends to like sushi way more than he really does so that I can get my weekly dose.

...he doesn't care what I look like, how much weight I gain or lose, or what I am wearing..he still loves me.

...he opens doors for me.

...he shoots weddings with me even though I don't pay him (his uncle told me not too).

...he learned the words to a very difficult DMB song just to impress me when we first met.

...he is humble.

...his is the best friend I could ever ask for, even though I don't always reciprocate.

...he is patient.

...he lets me beat him at every game we play.

...he treats me better than I could have ever imagine being treated.


...oh, and he's HOT!

There's a lot more, but I have probably embarrassed him enough already.

Happy 5th Anniversary to the LOVE OF MY LIFE!

The Knot Michigan : Fall/Winter 2008

It's fun to see pictures of another wedding in the newest edition of The Knot Michigan magazine. Jennifer and Jerry's wedding was such a colorful and fun wedding from last summer at Eagle Eye Golf Club and Banquet Center.

Here are some really bad pictures until I get the nice files from The Knot.

There are supposed to be more pictures in their feature on theknot.com/michigan some time soon.

On a less pleasant note, my website company, that also hosts my site, is having server issues and my main website is temporarily down. Sorry for any inconvenience!

To be 1 again!

If I ever get to "go back" I would like a party like this...including a yummy buffet filled with foods that every kid likes!

I had the pleasure of seeing Miss Rachel again today. It's hard to believe she is one already. How time flies! It has been so much fun watching her grow up!

One of my favorite things to photograph is details. Yes, I like to photograph people too, but there is something about "cute" or "interesting" personal touches...that sit still and don't blink...that are so fun to photograph.

So today, I was like a kid in a candy store today. Here are some of the fun details and one of the birthday girl. Stay tuned for a few of the birthday girl daintily eating her birthday cake.

The party was at Franklin Hills Country Club.


The buffet with all sorts of children's favorites.


The party room. Am I the only one who has never seen party balloons that big?


The adorable cake.


The tables with pink checked table cloths, a teddy bear, pink flowers and pink candies.

The birthday girl's seat.


What's a birthday party without party hats?!


And a favor ot two.


And of course, an adorable birthday girl!

Happy Birthday Rachel!

Nichole + Jarod

I had a great time getting to know Nichole and Jarod today. As we finished shooting, I got in my car and heard rain drops start to hit my windshield, so I guess we were very lucky since they made the drive down to Lansing from Chesaning. Thanks for making the trip you two! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. See you in July!

MSU EM Residency and Delta Fire Department

Who IS that handsome guy in the middle?

My Boys

I love them...that's all.

Happy Mother's Day!

I have the most giving, kind, patient, loving mother in the world! If ever there was a role model on how to be a mother, my mother is it. I hope that one day, I am a fraction of the kind of mother she is. I have been far from the perfect daughter on many occassions and have often failed to show her how much she means to me.

Mom, I love you and appreciate you more than I can ever express with my words or actions. Thank you for all you do! Thank you for showing me how to be the type of mother I hope to become.

Sara

Sara and I have been friends since high school. We went to college together and have stayed in touch ever since. Sara however, never listens to my advice. She asked me what I thought about her deciding to go to medical school. She asked me about having kids (okay, maybe she didn't ask...I just told her my opinion). Don't tell her, but I am glad she didn't listen to me on either count. She is going to be a fabulous OB/GYN....oh, and a great mom, which is what this post is about.

Today while I was in my hometown celebrating Mother's Day with my mom (love you mom), we met up for a few maternity pictures. I am pretty sure I am the only one who will find humor in a couple of these shots.

Happy Mother's Day to every mom out there...especially this mom-to-be!

p.s. If you are a dad and you come to a maternity session....you WILL be in the pictures ;-) Thanks for being a good sport Adam!



And a few less traditional ones.Since Adam was such a good sport, I obliged with a shot of his fancy new belt buckle (don't worry little one, Auntie Jen will protect you from your father's fashion sense).

Does anyone besides me get this one and think it is even a little bit funny?
I understand if I am the only one who thinks this is funny. I just wanted to remind Adam what his days of kicking back and watching a good sporting event will become very shortly.

Love you guys! Can't wait to meet him/her!

Isabel

Before I move on to the fun stuff, just a few notes.

I have been having some issues with legit emails being sent to my spam folder. I am trying to check my spam folder every couple of days, but if you email me and you don't get a response in a few days, please try again. It is finals week for me so I am a little more busy than normal with my day job, but I still try to respond to all emails within 48 hour max!

I am still wrapping up some images from my last wedding, but as I do that, here are a few sneak peek images from my other portrait session this weekend.

I have known Isabel's parents since they were married several years ago. I took a few extra pictures at their wedding, in additon to their primary photographer, and we have kept in touch ever since. I was thrilled when they asked me to photograph their little girl shortly after she was born and even more excited when they invited me back to see what she was up to now that she is 8 months old. In terms of photographing babies....give me a 6-9 month old any day! Chubby, expressive, able to sit...but not run away from me!

What a well behaved, happy baby Isabel was! (Did you hear that son?)

Thank you Andrea and Mark for having me back! I hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

This one just makes me laugh...note the cat's expression.

Mother's Day

I met a lovely little girl named Brooke this weekend, as well as her mom and dad. Mom wanted to have some pictures of Brooke done for her mom for Mother's Day. I love when people see photographs valuable enough to be a gift to someone.

Technically, lack of almost any shade combined with an energetic 2 year old made for a photographic challenge for me. I am not big on the use of flash unless I have to (although I am working on the off-camera flash thing), so I was sweating a little and most of that didn't have to due with the temperature.

Here are some of my favorites.

Thanks Amy for inviting me to your home to document your beautiful family!