David and Izzy's wedding.

A wedding in late November can be particularly challenging, not only for the bride and groom, but the photographer as well.  The unusually warm fall we've had finally gave way on Black Friday as David and Izabel tied the knot at San Francesco Church. Cold winds, rain and seasonably appropriate temperatures were in full force!  Surprisingly, that did little to stop these two from having a little fun outside in their wedding attire! Throughout the outdoor photo session, I had to remind them (and myself) how important it was to get some outside for the memories.

Well, it totally paid off! The outdoor portraits are some of my favorite because they're so not typical. I'll be honest... it was all David and Izabel.  They're an energetic and fun couple willing to do what it takes to get the job done.... all with a smile on their faces!

Afterwards, their reception was held at the beautiful and scenic Cherry Creek Golf Club.

A tribute and lesson.

Often times, I post personal stories and reflect on my life using this blog as an outlet.  It's because my photography business is just a small part of who I am as a person.  This is one of those posts.

His brothers and sisters called him Billy. His friends called him Bill. We called him Dad. On the morning of December 3rd, 2015 at 10:31 am, he took his last breath while we held his hands, hugged him and said all the things we wished we would've said more when he was able to listen and speak.

Premium 4x8 Christmas cards now available!

Out with the old and in with the new.  The 4x8 greeting cards I offer have now gone premium!  These come in packs of 20, 50 or 100 and include envelopes for stress-free holiday greetings.  There are many designs to choose from and come in 3 different finishes: Matte, felt and pearl.

• Matte: At 110# paper weight, matte finish has a more traditional feel and appearance for excellent photo reproduction.

• Felt: Ultra bright white 100# paper that will make your cards pop!

• Pearl: This unique, 98# paper has a pearlescent finish with a smooth feel.  Definitely the most premium of the bunch!

Visit your gallery today and choose Create a Card from the pop-up menu to start your order.  Happy holidays!

Logan turns 3!

Logan turns 3 for our fall photo session.  He's already got the GQ smile nailed and it's sure to be a hit with the ladies once he starts preschool.

Below are my favorite photos of the little man:

Making apple cider.

This morning we met at my uncle's house to make apple cider using his rebuilt apple press.

Cameron and Alyssa.

These 2 kids had the best energy for their fall photos!  We met in Mt. Clemens for a fun, silly, semi-serious-but-not-really-serious session and they did great.

They laughed and played through the session and I'm not quite sure they knew I was actually taking their photos.  It was totally a win-win session: Easy for them and easy for me.

The supermoon eclipse from Southeast Michigan.

I was a little toddler when the last supermoon lunar eclipse occurred in 1982, so I have no recollection of it.  According to astronomers, the next one won't happen until 2033!  That's exactly why I made sure to see it in all it's glory last night.

Click on image for high-resolution

And it was super cool!

Current Sale: Get 15% off any print order!

From now until the end of fall, save 15% on any print order by entering FALL15 at checkout! This deal includes loose and mounted prints, wrapped canvas, standout mounts and merchandise like photo mugs, buttons and bags!

No minimum purchase required. Discount does not apply towards shipping cost and coupon cannot be combined with any other coupon code. The discount cannot retroactively be used on any completed orders. Items must be purchased through the online proof gallery.  This deal will end on December 21st, 2015 at midnight EST.  Q books, framed prints and Mini Books do not qualify.

Alyssa.

I love photographing this little girl! She is such a natural in front of the lens and knows how to smile just right.  Here are some of my favorite images from our session at Stony Creek.

Rivers family.

The Rivers family with their beautiful 1 year-old, Melania.

Emma and Frank at the park.

Emma and Frank had fun, fun, fun at the park today!  Here are some photos of these awesome kiddos:

Canvas Flash Sale!

For a limited time only, enjoy 30% off all 1½" canvas orders from now through August 10th, 2015.  In order to receive the discount, any canvas order must be placed through myself.  Email me the details of your order and an invoice will be sent directly to your email address for payment options.

Discounted canvas prices can be found here.

No minimum purchase required. Discount cannot be combined with any other discount. The discount cannot retroactively be used on any completed orders. Items must be purchased through myself and not the proof gallery. This deal will end on August 11th, 2015 at midnight EST.

Lillian and Brendan.

I love photographing these two! They're such naturals in front of the camera and make my job way too easy.

Here are my favorites from their session:

Pizza on the Big Green Egg.

Aside from smoking at low temperatures, another thing the Big Green Egg does really well is get HOT.  And to someone that loves making pizzas at home, the-hotter-the-better.  The flavor of a pizza cooked on the Egg is awesome.  It tastes just like it came out of a brick oven.

Chad and Jill's Traverse City wedding.

If there only were one Pure Michigan spot in our great state, it would probably be located in Traverse City. Beautiful views of nature surround you at every corner. From the deep woods to the beautiful shoreline, Traverse City packs a big outdoor adventure into a small town feel.

I was really excited when Chad and Jill asked me to photograph their wedding in this beautiful, utopian paradise. They chose Traverse City because it aligned with their love for the outdoors and wildlife.  The day began in Interlochen at a home located on Duck Lake before ending in Frog Pond Village for the ceremony and reception. From start-to-finish, their beautiful wedding was a success and I was honored to be able to capture it.

Congratulations Chad and Jill on your awesome up-north wedding!

The twins turned 1!

These two are fun to watch and they have such different personalities.  It's always an adventure with them!

Here are some pics from their photo session with Mom and Dad:

Not your Dad's ribs: Smoked on the Big Green Egg.

Up until a couple of years ago, I fancied myself as a decent griller of hamburgers, steaks, pork chops and chicken breasts. But I could never get ribs to turn out and wouldn't even dream about doing a pork shoulder or brisket. To get that authentic barbecue flavor, I needed an actual smoker. After doing my research, I decided on a Big Green Egg (BGE) ceramic grill and automatic temperature control unit called the DigiQ DX2 by BBQ Guru.

One of the biggest benefits of owning a ceramic grill like the BGE, besides versatility, is its ability to maintain low temperatures for long periods of time. Pork shoulders alone can take 15, 16 or even 20 hours to cook depending on their size. The BGE does a great job on it's own but with a little help from the DigiQ DX2, it's even easier. I'm able to set the temp and forget about it, just like an oven. But unlike an oven, I get to have the flavor of real charcoal and wood smoke. If there are two things I love, it's technology and good barbecue!

Madelyn.

At almost 2 months old, here is beautiful baby Madelyn posing for the camera:

Current Sale: Get $15 off off when you spend $100!

For the summer season, when you spend $100 or more in your proof gallery, get $15 off the total by entering summer15 at checkout!

$100 minimum purchase required. Discount does not apply towards shipping cost and coupon cannot be combined with any other coupon or print code. The discount cannot retroactively be used on any completed orders. Items must be purchased through the online proof gallery. This deal will end on September 22nd, 2015 at midnight EST. Q books, framed prints and Mini Books do not qualify.

My little love.

It's Father's Day and I couldn't be more proud to be this girl's dad.

Waggoner Family.

This was a great family session with the Waggoners.  I love the real emotions each child shows and the energy that they bring into every image.  Here are a few of my favorites:

Mattera Family.

Here is another fun session with the Mattera family in the park.

Walker is 6 months old!

It's hard to believe this handsome boy is 6 months old already!  What a happy little guy he is too.  Here are a few pics from his session:

Welwarth Family.

Five family sessions in 3 days started with this awesome group at George George Park:

Leah's first fairy garden.

Leah and I created her first fairy garden today!  It was a lot of fun and super easy.  Until this spring, I had no clue what a fairy garden was.  I first became curious when Leah gravitated to the miniature accessories every time we visited the garden store.  Then, her little friend started talking about them.  The next thing I know, Leah is asking to make one. It wasn't until I searched online that I actually found out what a huge hobby it is.

An added bonus?  You really can't mess anything up.  Fairy gardens are what you make of them and for a 4 year-old girl, they can be quite magical.

For the supplies, we already had a flower pot, top soil, aquarium rocks and miniature tree stumps (I cut cross sections from a branch from a dead tree).  So we ended up purchasing some small mushrooms for extra color, a mini birdhouse and watering can for interest, little birds to go with the birdhouse, a whimsical fairy and 3 dwarf plants.  The moss was taken right from my paver stones. I knew that moss would come in handy!

Vivian turned 1!

Vivian has grown so much over the past year from when we did her newborn session!  She's walking, grabbing, bossing and smiling... a lot!

Here are some images of beautiful Vivian from this past weekend:

Backyard Barbecue.

Memorial Day weekend marks the first day of summer in my mind.  The warm weather is here for good.  The ups and downs of spring have come to a close and the hot, sticky, almost-unbearable Michigan summer weather is right around the corner.

What a great day it was too!  Our backyard barbecue filled the air with smokey-goodness and the kids played games and ran around like maniacs.  We love when Leah comes into the house with a messy face and dirty feet.  That's the kind of childhood we remember having.

The long, cold months of Michigan were soon forgotten as we sat back, kicked-up our feet and enjoyed a cold one over smoked meat, coleslaw and corn on the cob.  Oh, and we can't forget about the cheesecake and brownies.  As Leah would say, "It was yummy!"

Bryan and Meggan's Wedding.

Meggan and Bryan officially tied the knot in front of family and friends this past Saturday in Warren, Michigan. They said "I do" at the elegant White House Wedding Chapel before heading to The Gazebo for a celebration. From getting ready in the morning until the last dance of the night, Bryan and Meggan rocked it out and were awesome to work with. Their families were great and I think I speak for everyone when I say that "Uncle Don needs to be a standup comedian".

Colt turned 4!

Here's a few images of Colt from a quick session in my backyard today.

What a handsome little guy! It's no wonder Leah played "sleeping beauty" and wanted him to wake her with a kiss. Well, he must not had seen the movie because he sprinkled grass on her face instead. It was one of the funniest things I had ever seen.  She was so mad!

Travis, Lindsay, Kellen and Kaley.

I got to catch up with old friends over the weekend at George George Memorial Park in Clinton Township.  The morning started off dark and gloomy and then turned into a beautiful afternoon.

The park was immaculate, the kids were excellent and I got to see Travis and Lindsay again.  I couldn't have asked for a better session.

Jeb and Brynn.

Joseph, Joe, Joey, Joe Joe, Joss, Jeb, Jebster, Jebby, baby boy- all nicknames for this adorable little guy. He was the perfect model for his first photo shoot.  Bring on Hollywood!

Leo is 2 years old!

Leo is a man of many talents: moonwalker, professional duck spotter, trike rider, breakdancer, singer and bubble blower to name just a few.  The one skill he falls short on, however, is sitting still.  My man can move!  There was so much action that I'm fairly certain I sprained my focus hand during the 1-hour session!

I've never seen a little kid moonwalk for a minute-and-a-half without taking a break.  Thankfully, mom used her ninja skills to help keep him on track.

Ben and Chrissy's wedding.

Set inside the uniquely beautiful Planterra of West Bloomfield, Ben and Chrissy officially tied the knot in front of their family and friends. Hundreds of plants artistically lined every inch of space in this greenhouse-turned-wedding ceremony. The warm sun beamed through the glass walls and ceiling creating a soft glow throughout the afternoon. It was the perfect spring day in Michigan.



The fun part of wedding photography, for me, isn't always taking photos. I find that some of the best parts are making new friends and sharing my photographic vision with them. By spending one of the most exciting and important days with a bride and groom, I get to know them on a more personal level. To be honest, being able to spend the day with Ben and Chrissy was really my pleasure.  From the time I arrived, they treated me like one of their good friends.  With the instant connection, it put them at ease when it was time to take photos which helped make for some great images.  What is really special about them is that they genuinely care for each other's happiness and also for the happiness of those around them. It was a wonderful experience to be apart of it and in the presence of true love and kindness.

Robert.

Robert's parents are very proud of their new family member- and why wouldn't they be?

He's such a handsome boy that already packs so much personality in his tiny, little body. His features were so small and delicate. I love the detail that the macro lens picks up on his hands and face

Cohen is 6 months old!

This little man is a professional smiler!  At 6 months old, he doesn't go half-way with just a smirk. It's 100% and his whole face lights up like he just won the lottery!

Current Sale: Mini Books are 25% off!

From now until the end of spring, if you schedule a portrait and/or newborn session, you'll receive 25% off the regular price of all Mini Book orders from that session.

No minimum purchase required.  25% off regular price for (3) Mini Books.  The discount cannot retroactively be used on any completed orders.  This deal will end on June 20th, 2015 at midnight EST.

Lilly and Drew are 9 months old!

These two are growing so fast!  From newborns, to babies to now bigger babies!  Their bodies aren't the only thing changing; so are their enormous personalities!  Drew has sweet, shy charm while Lilly makes it known that she is in charge of the situation.

Places I've been.

Here are some of my favorite landscape images that I've taken in recent years...

Yates Cider Mill, Rochester Hills, Michigan

A children's book: Princesses.

During a cold day this past January, Leah and I decided to make a book about princesses. I asked her to name things that princesses do and I wrote them down. When she finished, we had a decent list of random (yet cohesive) thoughts about princesses. I stapled sheets of construction paper together to form a little book and wrote her name on the front and that was that... or so I thought.

Snow day.

Building snowmen, making snow angels and throwing snowballs. The only thing missing is a hill and sled. I love her excitement and enthusiasm in moments like this- it makes me feel like a kid again.

Grace.

The first newborn session of the year happened to be the smallest newborn I've ever photographed.  She was just under 6 pounds!  That didn't fool me a bit, though, because this little meatball with noodle arms sure was a mover!

A drying rack for hockey equipment.

There are only a handful of smells that can literally bring a grown man to his knees and make him beg for mercy. While most of these smells are things I experience in the emergency room as a nurse, there is one in particular that's just as evil: Smelly hockey equipment.  The sweet, garlicky flavor of dead skin cells and bacteria excrement can be quite nauseating... not only for the person wearing the soiled garments but also for the people skating alongside him.  This kind of evil needs to be stopped.