Shawn and Amy were married yesterday at Utica United Methodist Church and had a fabulous reception in Warren at The Gazebo. The rainy morning turned to blue skies just in time for some fun candids of the wedding party. The fabulous Delia joined me for the day...click here to view some of her awesome images.
Congratulations Shawn and Amy!
Thank you Delia for joining me!
The busiest 3 weeks of my entire summer are about to begin, so my responses to emails take a little longer than usual. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting little Joseph (and visiting with his big sister, mom and dad). Thanks guys for making the trip to Lansing.
I hope you guys enjoy your sneak peek!
As is the case with most of my newborn sessions, Joseph had no interest in sleeping during during the 2 hours we were shooting. I don't know how all of those newborn photographers get their subjects to sleep through the entire session.
Far and away, my most difficult subject matter is my family! I don't know what it is...but you just shouldn't try to take pictures of your own family. Whether it is my own son or my in-laws, it must be that they just don't take me seriously or something. I still love them, but I'd rather not photograph them especially in a big group. The only perk is that miraculously, I am not in any of the pictures that way...YIPEE!
Here's the graduating resident with the largest number of guests...some of whom, made this picture VERY difficult to take (Aunt MICHELLE!).
Proof...the actual diploma.
And if these two ER residents...now technically attendings, don't seriously make you reconsider whether you actually need to go to the ER or not, I don't know what will.
Congratulations again to my husband and his fellow graduating senior residents!
Tomorrow (technically today according to the clock on my computer), my husband graduates from is Emergency Medicine Residency. I am so proud of him and this little post won't do my feelings justice, but here's my feeble attempt.
John and I met in medical school. He started a year after me and I was his "Big Sis", serving as a mentor and giving him my test files (no wonder he liked me so much!). Tests and classroom based learning came easy to me...clinical years with direct patient care experience not so much. He was the opposite doing well the first two years but coming into his own the last two years of clinicals. Even before I knew I liked him more than a friend, and certainly before I knew I would marry him, I admired him. I admired his positive attitude, his outgoing personality (even though I am painfully shy), his very close relationship with his family, his sense of humor, his sense of respect, kindness and chivalry. He performed "acts of kindness" for friends and strangers alike on a daily basis. I know many people who don't know him think he does these things for "show" but they are sorely mistaken. My husband is THE most genuine person I know....period!
When I made the difficult decision to leave my residency, his support is the reason I came out the end of the tunnel and was eventually able to see the light again. For someone who loved so much, what I did not, it amazes me to this day that he could empathize and support me as much as he did and as much as he still does to this day.
His decision to come back to Michigan for his residency was good for both of us, especially since we would be closer to both of our families. We both knew what we were "in for" but it hasn't made the last 4 years any easier. We are blessed in so many ways, but it seems like many people think becoming a doctor is some sort of glamorous journey. I assure you, it is not. The exhaustion, the hours, the stress, the politics, the lawsuits, the debt...often outweigh the few patients who actually seem to appreciate what you are trying to do for them. Even with the money that comes after residency....I would trade it in a heartbeat for a few more hours a day or a week with my husband, who, despite where he may want to be, often has no choice.
During his 3rd year, he randomly announced to me one day that he even if he were "elected" he would not accept the role of Chief Resident his 4th year. I smiled and laughed and said, "GREAT!" knowing full well what would happen.
Shockingly, his fellow residents selected him as Chief Resident and he did not decline. If you don't know my husband, he has to blow status quo out of the water with anything he does and this was no exception. I am proud of all of his efforts and all that he has done for his residency. He has received several honors to recognize his efforts...and he fully deserves them. He has also dealt with a lot of grief despite his efforts, which he does not deserve...it's my blog, I can say it! My husband has picked up other people's slack without them knowing often times and without complaining publicly. That's the way he is....doing what has to be done for the greater good. I suppose it is a good thing those individuals don't interact with me on a daily basis, because his good intentions in many cases, have taken away from time with me...and I don't take to that lightly...GRRRRR!
Despite all of his responsibilities and his extra curricular activities, no matter how exhausted he is when he comes home, he always gives me and our son his all. If it were me, I would flop down on the couch and tune out the world, but not John.
It seemed like graduation would never come. I mentally had to tell myself it wouldn't come so I could handle the tasks at hand and stay afloat. Even though he still has shifts until the end of the month, I can't believe the day is here.
I worry about him. I worry because despite his efforts and how he has taken advantage of every learning opportunity possible...the change from resident (under someone else's watch) one day to attending (everything on your shoulders) the next must be a scary one. I couldn't do it. I hope he knows he is not alone in his feelings and I hope that if he can't share them with me, he will find someone who better understands.
He will get sued despite his best efforts, people will die on his watch despite his best efforts...we will love him forever, no matter what!
John, I am so proud of what you have accomplished and what you will accomplish in the future. I am most proud,however, of the person that you are and the fact that I get to call you my husband and best friend! I LOVE YOU!
Oh, I wish I had more time to play with my off camera flash! Finally got the kiddo a bath and in bed and I ran to find the sun had already set. I was hoping to do a little practicing with my willing model but like usual, time escaped me. I decided to quick throw up my flash on a tripod and take a few shots to test my radiopoppers.
I know these aren't very "artistic" but the model is cute don't you agree? And how about those poses...entirely his own creations! If only lugging a tripod, umbrella and extra flash weren't as cumbersome, I would bring them with me to every shoot! I need more practice but for a first-time trial and 5 minutes of shooting (lest I risk getting eaten alive by mosquitoes), I really like the potential.
Yes honey, I'm done.
Introducing little Miss Claire! She was such a good girl and put up with me for a LONG time.
At the beginning of the session, I mentioned something about putting Claire in the bird bath, saying it a little jokingly in case her parents thought I was off my rocker. Fortunately, at the end fo the session Claire's dad started talking about how he might go out and clean out the bird bath....YEA! I don't ever push parents outside their comfort zone...at least I try not to, but I hope they agree that the bird bath was worth it. I love these first two.
Of course, as is my luck with newborn sessions, Claire wasn't really interested in sleeping at all (don't let the closed eyes fool you), but I think we still got a lot of cute ones. Here are my favorites.
Thanks for having me over guys! Auntie Jen won't be so "demanding" next time ;-)
I was told this one is for Grandpa.
The happy family!
Let's see if I can make it through typing this without getting my keyboard all wet.
My dad means the world to me. A few words that come to mind when I think of him are: faithful, patient, loving, generous, understanding, strong, resourceful, intelligent, dedicated and funny. The thought of not having him around is unbearable. There is no way I will ever be able to thank him enough for all he has done for me as well as for our family.
I don't know why, but as a teenager, I didn't like the fact that anywhere we went, we always ran into someone who knew my dad (probably something to do with teens trying to get away with things without their parents...or anyone who knows their parents...finding out). But as I got a little older, it was something I came to admire. I know this will sound a little bold, but hey, it's my blog and its the truth...but if you don't know my dad, you are missing out.
Curious if I'm right? If you hang out at the 18th green of Sharp Park Golf Course, there is a good chance you can meet him...weekly ;-)
I love you dad with all of my heart. Thank you for being a the best dad, a wonderful father-in-law and the most amazing pappa we could ever ask for!
It amazes me that after dealing with me for 30 some odd years, you don't look like this everyday dad!
And if ever there was a child that loved his/her dad as much as I love mine, it would me my son's love for his dad.
Even photos can't quite capture the sheer joy and sparkle and amazement in the eyes of my son when he is around his dad. Observing their love for each other is one of the biggest joys of being a wife and mother to them.
I hope this slideshow shows him how much we both love him!
Click here to view the show!
This is the updated post to my sad photos in a previous post of Jenn and Jerry's wedding which is featured as a Real Wedding in The Knot Michigan Fall/Winter 2008 magazine which is on newstands now.
The kind people at The Knot sent me the nice files as seen below!
You can also the rest of Jenn and Jerry's story and a few more photos by clicking here.
Another one of my fabulous August brides, Erin, nominated the second winning family that I had the pleasure of photographing the other day.
A wonderful client of mine, Karen (stay tuned for her wedding pictures in August) nominated Roberta and her two daughters for my free photo session contest. It was a joy to meet them. The two girls were so well behaved, it was unbelievable. I asked Roberta if she would take my son for a couple months to "train" him, but I think she has plenty on her plate as it is.
Here are some excerpts from Karen's nomination:
"First I want to say that attitude is 99% what makes life as you see it. Now for my nomination, my closest friend in the entire world, Roberta.
We became friends a long time ago when we both got hired into Consumers Energy at the same time. In the years since then we've become very close. She grew up in a rural area and went through so many tough things in her family life. She managed to get through school and during highschool her best friend was killed in an auto accident. She went on to college but wasn't able to finish at the time. She had to start working 2 jobs to pay her bills.
We became pregnant at the same time. She miscarried while I delivered my youngest. She was there for me anyway. She then had twins just over a year later. One was perfectly healthy and the other was born with a rare genetic disorder known as Alagille Syndrome. Right before her twins were born her father passed away suddenly. That was the one thing that devastated her. He was so excited to see her kids and she was only a few weeks away from delivering. Due to her daughters illness she had to resign from her job to care for her medical needs. She ended up filing bankruptcy when financial issues set in and she lost her house...all because she needed to care for her children. She really did lose everything. She never took the 'Why did God do this to me' route. She picked up all she had, went back to school for nuclear medicine and had to do a 40 hour per week unpaid internship while providing for her children as a single mother. She graduated with her degree and started her first job in her field of study in May 2008.
She was also a pivotal person during some difficult times in my life as well. She took me and my three kids into her teeny two bedroom trailer and was my only shoulder to lean on. That meant more to me then words will ever be able to say. Through it all she is still a very strong person. It's very hard on her but she only says that in the end it will all pay off, and it's starting too. Her life is all about her attitude."
Roberta, you inspire me and your two beautiful daughters are so lucky to call you mom!
Here's a few more of my favorites from their session.
That would be me...the lucky one. Today I had the pleasure of meeting both families who won the little contest I held around the first of the year.
More to come, but here is one for each family!
We had a fun time with our family visiting the Detroit Zoo. I think my son's favorite part of the day was holding Auntie Hanna's hand....and the train ride, until we went through the dark tunnel.
This was our second visit to this zoo. Last time I tried to take pictures of all of the animals...and I don't think I ever looked at those pictures again. So this time I took lots of pictures of the REAL wild animals!
Some of these are out of order...sorry!
We attempted a "real" session with little Gracie today. She is a little over a week old so I was sure I would catch her sleeping for at least part of the session. Despite what it might look like from the images, she had her own plans in mind....until we were ready to leave of course. So out my camera came again for a few of her sleeping before we left.
Here are are my favorites!
Gracie's dad painted this adorable watercolor for his little girl. Don't you think he should go into business?
