My # 6 & Little Miss Mya :: 6 months

Usually when I go to sleep at night, I dream. I'm one of those people who has really interesting dreams and sometimes REALLY detailed dreams. I even hold conversations with people, not knowing what I'm talking about or talked about the next morning. Todd has mentioned that one to me before, how embarrassing! I even have woke up doing things, like throwing pillows. Weird I know! But I do dream... A LOT! I not only dream at night, but I have many other dreams of my life and things I want to accomplish in my life. I dream in and out of sleep A LOT!

A couple years back I saw my first lighthouse in person. Being from Indiana, we never were near them and never went on vacation anywhere near them. After seeing one for the first time, I was in awe and fell completely in love with them. I wanted to see more and document them. Their structures and colors are all so different and unique, kind of like us as people, so different & unique, yet so beautiful our own way. There was one lighthouse in particular that I fell more in love with, and felt that I related to this one more than any other lighthouse. It was bright in color, red & white, stripes reminding me of a candy cane, the only one of its kind, out in the middle of Lake Michigan, only able to get to by boat. How in the world was I ever going to be able to see this one? The one I truly wanted to see and capture the beauty of this one in particular. Well... dreams do come true and I'm so THANKFUL for dreaming BIG!

This is Lolly on the most beautiful day of summer! (Yes, I nicknamed her Lolly. Lolly is short for Lolly Pop- it fits since she looks like candy! Ha!)





Mya is one of those beautiful unique individuals. She's at such a fun age, yet has so much personality. Her mom mentioned that she had a temper, and I was thinking, "How is that possible at six months?" But little did I know she was going to throw a temper when I got out the camera. Ha! She got all sad and pouty and even threw a little temper tantrum. They are going to have their hands full when she's a teen. Yikes! Good luck with her then you two! But she has the most beautiful blue eyes, and the cutest chubbiest cheeks. I love her!

Congratulations Danny & Jamie... you both are such wonderful parents! I know she's going to grow into more of a beautiful!

Blue eyed beauty!



She was totally in a zone...



So stinkin' cute!





Now she peaks a smile...



Ok... so her mom made this tutu, which was adorable, but I'm not sure she was a fan of it at first... (the next couple photos prove that she's pretty uncomfortable!)







Aggghhh... I LOVE IT!



Haha!



What a beautiful baby... those eyes are incredible!

I Love My #7...

I was told by my parents that ever since I was little, I was good at seeing things differently. My dad told me the story of when him and my grandpa were trying to get a chair into the trunk of their car, I sat close by watching them, as they struggled to find the exact position it needed to be in to fit. After a while and time went by, I mentioned moving the chair a certain direction. Low and behold it was the key to fitting that chair in the trunk. I am amazed to hear that, knowing that I might have always been destined to do something like photography. Seeing life differently and creating my own combination to make things "fit" perfectly.

I am so thankful to be given the gift of seeing those things differently and using the gifts with photographs to share the world (or at least the Michigan and surrounding states). To have a career in which I absolutely, without a doubt love with unconditional, deep intense love, is a blessing beyond belief, considering there are many people out there that are so unhappy with what they are doing. I thank God EVERY day that he has allowed me to be able to capture what he created and show everyone just how beautiful it is... it is plain and simple a dream come true! I love my number seven!

#8 and David & Kelly :: Wedding

If you haven't noticed, I talk a lot about being cold. Ha! The thought of it makes me want to turn on my spare heater right underneath my desk as I type this. Ok, so it's already on, but if it wasn't I would totally turn it on because being warm makes me feel soothed, peaceful, heavenly, and just so pleasant inside and out. This year hasn't exactly been known for it's warm months, now has it? Forget global warming, we are turning into a huge iceberg, which has brought me to my #8. I am o-so-thankful for all those WARM bowls of oats I have had this year. Those oats have not only kept me warm, but also kept me super healthy. I love a good bowl topped with cinnomon & apples, or some yummy creamy almond butter, or baked oatmeal with blueberries, oh my goodness my mouth is watering right now. Just let me know if you need an oatmeal suggestion... you can just call me the Oat Queen! Mmmm...




So speaking of cold, who would have thought that the middle of October would be COLD? I never thought that, but I also didn't think that we would have record low temperatures in July, right? It just so happened that one of those cold days of October was the day of one of the most beautiful weddings.

David & Kelly also never thought that the full year of planning for their October wedding they would need coats and hats for their day. But that didn't stop any of the fun and even added a little spunk to the photos! I have to say that I seriously LOVE this couple. When we first met, it just so happened that after talking a few minutes we realized that Kelly worked at the same company as Todd. Then a few short months after realizing that, they were placed on the same team together. What a small world!!! They were able to get to know each other better and at the wedding, we were like friends just hanging out. I love it!

David and Kelly met up that day exactly where their engagement started... the gazebo he proposed just right down the road from Kelly's house. I thought that was the sweetest moment! Both of them were so excited and so into each other, it reminded me of the movie Forces of Nature at the end where Ben is talking with his finance, Bridget, and there is a huge hurricane going on all around them, but they were in their own tunnel-like coversation, looking in each others eyes and not noticing anything around them. Todd and I were shooting right around them, Jamie from Jamie Honce Productions was all surrounding them, and their bridal party was all around them, but they didn't care one bit, so sweet! After getting some awesome shots over at Heritage Park, where we did their engagement session, we headed to the church. They were married at Kelly's parents church, Price of Peace in Farmington Hills, which was super sweet. I know it meant a lot to have their ceremony there, which just goes to show what kind of people David & Kelly are. Now you know why I love this couple... fun, sweet, thoughtful, all around people I can't wait to hang out with soon!

Congratulations you guys... we are so happy for you and wish you nothing but the best!!!!


Here are some of my favorites and a slideshow with more of their day!

Ok so to start off the day, Kelly's dad came down wearing this... ha! I knew it was going to be a fun day...



Kelly looked amazing...



How could you not love this one... (sorry Kelly, I had to! I'm such a mooosh when it comes to dogs!)



Their first look so sweet!





Absolutely stunning!!!!



David was pretty handsome as well, but honestly how can you compete with Kelly...



One of my favorites of the day... hilarious!



I always love a good ol' kiss while walking... mmm...!!!



They have so much fun together!




Check out more photos of their wedding...

My #9

Woof Woof Woof...

Yes you guessed it right, my #9 thing I am thankful for this year is my dog. If you are thinking that it is really lame to be thankful for something like that, think again! All you dog lovers out there can attest to being thankful for your four legged hair ball! My buddy Maddox is the BEST and I have to add WEIRDEST dog out there! He loves me unconditionally, even when I neglect him most of the day because I'm working or when I pretend he's my wild bull at a rodeo and I'm trying to stay on his back as long as possible, (he always wins!) or when I'm upset about something and he automatically knows something is wrong, he gets really concerned and starts whining along with me and sets his head on my shoulder. He has instincts like no other and I really believe animals are like your children. I have this never ending love for him and cannot imagine my life without his sweet face... Mwwaaa...

Chicago was AWESOME!

Chicago... Chicago... boy was it great!

I haven't been over that way in a while and it was just as I had remembered. Lots of people, lots of cars, lots of traffic, but lots of fun! I had an amazing engagement session, the couple was so sweet and so fun, they made my experience this time one to remember! Ha! (Katie, you know exactly what I'm talking about!)

I thought in honor of Thanksgiving coming just next week, I wanted to do a top 10 countdown of things I'm thankful for this year (in no particular order). Please feel free add what you are thankful for as well!

NUMBER 10: I'm thankful for amazing clients to work with! I've had such great experiences this year working with many beautiful couples and also those beautiful babies. It has been an amazing year of new friendships, that I will cherish so dearly! I have to say that it is really hard to relate to people when they say they really dislike the people they work with, and I'm so glad that I can beat those odds and not have that in common. It's a great feeling and one that I should be thankful for each day!

(Stay tuned for #9 tomorrow)

Here are a few of those clients that are going to be coming this week...

Kelly & David



Ryan & Alexa



Miss Mya



Katie & Steve

Windy City Here I Come...

Chicago is such a sweet city! I absolutely LOVE it... the mass amounts of people, the lights, the shopping, the adventures... all around a good time! Ok... not the weahter so much and you all know how I feel about being cold!

But I'm on my way to shoot a couple sessions over there this weekend and I'm so excited to be getting a different view and enjoy the scenes that city has to offer!

In honor of going to Chicago, I leave you with the sites I will be seeing and looking forward to showing you a sweet couple to go along with the sweet city!



Happy Weekend!!!

Jason & Julie :: Engagements

Indiana we reunite...

For those of you who know me, know I'm from the lovely state of Indiana. Standing tall and proud to be a Hoosier, yes sir! I actually kind of miss those days when I lived there. Yes, it has a lot of corn and it's so flat and boring to drive through. But it's home, and it will always be home to me. When you're out of college and move away, you dream of re-living moments in the past and hope that those memories never fade away.

Well I re-lived some of those moments with Jason & Julie. They both go to college in Indiana, and believe it or not, they went to Taylor University... our rival school. How funny! Good ol' Ivan Ho's and Upland's community garage sales... woo hooo! Jason & Julie know what I'm talking about, and anyone else who lived in that area. Love it!!!

Well anyways... I just have to say that Jason & Julie are hilarious together! Jason knows exactly what to do to make Julie start cracking up and smile, he's got these very exuberant facial expressions which makes anyone laugh. I can only imagine what their wedding is going to be like... all I know is that it's going to be extremely fun and so full of smiles. I am so excited and looking forward to May!

Congratulations you guys... you both rocked this session and the pictures just prove how much you are in love and so happy together!

Such a beautiful couple and a beautiful day...



Ha... one of many faces...



I love these next two..



Something about this photo makes me in love with it... it's as though he is so happy even despite the camera right in his face! Ha!



Bear hug huh?!



So romantic...



Good ol' laughs, makes you smile...



Now look at those colors... mmm... so great!



Love this...



Soooo in love...