Unforgettable Images

It was winter time in northern Michigan...

2011-06-19T16:44:00.000-04:00

Some of you have asked from time to time what it is that a wedding photographer does in the dark, cold winter months when weddings in Northern Michigan are fewer and farther between.
That is an excellent question...
thank you for asking.
We play!
Photography is an art and ever changing challenge. The more I can use and become familiar with my camera, lenses and other equipment, the better able I am to capture amazing but fleeting wedding day moments.
Now for the challenge.
I am a people photographer.
For me, fewer events means fewer exciting and energizing reasons to shoot...
thank goodness for talented friends who encourage me to play and push myself photographically.
It was on one long, blustery day that a fellow photographer and amazing talent encouraged me to try shooting something out of my normal area of expertise...something not wedding related (gasp)!
WHAT FUN!
And I am not saying that sarcastically, I mean it...it was fun!
I set about creating something beautiful using her collection of vintage pocket watches and sheet music...
taking another step in my lifetime process, evolving my shooting style into something that is mine alone...
one winters day, one fun idea at a time.

It's raining...it's pouring {Traverse City engagement session}

2011-06-17T09:44:00.001-04:00

What sass!

I am a silver lining junky! So what, you may ask is the silver lining to shooting on a misty, rainy morning? Well shiny, rain made, reflective goodness of course!

FAVORITE!!!

Hard to believe...

58 DAYS until these two lovey birds become Mr. & Mrs.!

What better way than to spend some time focused on one another and the awesomeness that is their relationship?

Sometimes it feels like a wedding happens to a couple...it's a muss of family and ceremony and fancy clothes.

Sometimes I feel like couples lose touch with one another during this absolutely crazy day.

I'm not worried about that with these two:)

There is a deep connectedness here.

They look to one another with sureness.

They share secret looks when they think I don't see.

Fingertips brush as constant reminders...

"I am here.

I am for you."

This is love.

Tote bag lady...

2011-05-09T18:26:00.000-04:00

Well isn't this a lovely surprise!
When I went to the mailbox today I found an extra something special stuffed in with the bills and sales fliers...something so much better.
As I stood at our kitchen table unwrapping my treat I couldn't help but revel in the tiny details of an unexpected gift.

The gift is from my dear Aunt Carol on the west coast and the card said simply...happy spring.
I really wish she had been there to see it...
the warm sunshine flooding over the kitchen table...
bouncing off the deep red tablecloth and landing in the bright, yummy-yellow forsythia branches.
Then five sustainable tote bags in fun and funky patterns!

What a great gift in honor of cutting Mother Nature some slack.

Here's to fewer wasted plastic bags...

Happy spring indeed!

And great thanks to my Aunt Carol for knowing I would enjoy such a gift:)

The Storybook Album...

2011-04-25T00:59:00.000-04:00

Isn't it beautiful?
I know this is the Internet...let me help you with the details.

First of all, I am super excited about this...the Storybook Album.
The first thing you notice about the album is the weight and super high quality overall feel of it.
As soon as you hold it in your hands you will get that this album is important and holds important images!

Each Storybook Album is created with your preferences and style in mind.
Photos are arranged into beautifully designed layouts to tell the story of your day.

Images are photographically processed on metallic emulsion paper for the best possible vibrancy and color. Talk about pop!
Page layouts are gutter-less, meaning no distracting space down the center seam to interrupt breathtaking panoramic images. Love that! You can see in a few of the sample images above how beautiful a full spread image looks.

Photo spreads are permanently mounted on non-warp board contributing to the overall substantial feel of the album.

Once an album is designed it will be proofed to you online. Pending completion of any changes or "tweaks" that might need made, and your final approval, the album will be printed and in your hands in 3 weeks.
That's where it gets good.

Once it is in your hands, your challenge is to make it a tool.
To remind yourself of the day you became husband and wife.
The day you became a family.
And to share the memories of your amazing beginning.

Album design...

2011-04-19T16:19:00.000-04:00

Albums! You want 'em, I got em!
Finally...I know.
One of the funny things about the new wedding-images-on-DVD craze is that most of you hardly print any at all. Sure you have tons of amazing images to pour over...reminding you of all the beautimous wedding day moments...but for many, this is only possible when sitting in front of a computer screen!

What gives?

Alright, I'm not judging you...my own wedding album is hundreds of 4x6 prints stuffed into a plastic sleeved album...I am a prime example of what NOT to do! I think the apt phrase is "physician, heal thyself". But this isn't about me...it's about the future of your wedding images!

Was that dramatic enough to get your attention?

Unforgettable Images is now offering amazing, custom designed wedding books and albums. In the next few days I will roll out details along with pictures so you can drool over the wedding loveliness like I do. I searched far and wide for an album company that could offer the quality and options that I knew you would love. After exhaustive searching...really, many a late night spent in the online search...I have found truly beautiful book and album options for you!

Squeeeeee! (that was an excited squeal which is how I feel about this)...

I can't wait for you to see!

Since you always ask...

2010-08-20T11:25:00.000-04:00

Can you feel it?

Fall is right around the corner and I know many of you are starting to think about doing family pictures in the glorious northern Michigan colors!

I often get asked the question...

"So, what should we wear?".

Here are my suggestions...

and with illustrations no less!!!

Denim bottoms work great on just about everyone and give you lots of options...same with khaki's.

Then, pick a color family and stick with it! Check out the color family groupings above for great inspiration. The most important thing is that if you are wearing muted, earthy colors..you should ALL be wearing muted, earthy colors. Unless you want one particular member of your group to get all the attention. Then feel free to wear that neon pink shirt while everyone else wears black. You go ahead and be all that you can be:)

Girls...special advice to you. In almost every case, 3/4 or long sleeves are the best choice. Trust me on this. And please be aware of exposed bra straps or undergarments that don't fit well/leave a line/are exposed when you know your parents hate that...you know who you are.

Fun accessories add pizazz...you heard me...pizazz, to a portrait. See the samples above? See the accessories? Note the pizazz!

A note to seniors...bring a few outfits and even props if you've got them...instruments, sports equipment, hobbies...whatever, you know what you're into. A variety of outfit styles and colors is the very best and will give you the best options. Feel free to bring clothes that are casual as well as formal and we can have some fun!

Last but not least (for now...I can already think of more that I want to go on about!)...please, for the love of all that is good in this world, iron your clothes!

That is all.

*special thanks to koppi write photography in Texas for sharing the above images with us...you rock girl!

Here a bok...there a bok...

2010-06-16T00:11:00.000-04:00

Well, here is a new dilemma! June has been so jam-packed with summer greatness that I can't decide what to tell you about first. So with an overwhelmingly happy heart I will just start...not at the beginning but a start none-the-less.

Several months ago our dear friends Amy & Tony decided to get into the chicken business. Only very recently, it became legal to house a few feathered friends in Traverse City proper...thus was born the Urban Chicken Movement. Along with a group of dedicated chicken enthusiasts, they scratched and pecked their way through TC law, learned all there was to learn about raising their own mini-flock and were on their way. During this process, Tony began his own blog describing the trials and tribulations of becoming a computer specialist/mini chicken farmer. Well the chickens aren't mini...I just mean that there aren't many of them. Anyway, you can read all about it at TCBokBok.blogspot.com if you feel so inclined. And I hope you are.

Just this past weekend, the cycling of the first ever Traverse City Coop Loop took place and Hubby and I were proud participants. The idea was to meet at a local park, ride our bikes around to the coops, see how different members of the community were housing their peeps and see what happened along the way.

So, "WHAT HAPPENED? I have to know!" you are thinking.

What happened is that about 200 folks showed up for this "little" tour that could!

200!

And those folks shared ideas.

And shared laughter.

And shared good mojo.

And shared snacks:)

And so in one tiny, little way the community became just a tiny, little bit more of a community.

And that is egg-cellent for us all.

Recapturing your 11 year old self...

2010-04-25T23:58:00.000-04:00

Remember being 11?

Not JUST 11...but 11 on the cusp if 12!

So 11 that you might as well BE 12 already!

Being fearless with the knowledge that the world was yours for the taking.

Old enough to realize that this moment, this permission to be a child and a little bit grown-up at the same time, was something to be treasured.

Confident enough to sashay around in vintage high heals in front of a full length mirror...with the full belief that you are beautiful and completely deserving of these beautiful shoes. If you can only get a grown-up to buy them for you...

Bright and clever...

Full of promise...

Remember your 11 year old self?

She is still there...

Reclaim her!

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends...

2010-03-25T14:08:00.000-04:00

I wanted to take a moment to give a great big THANK YOU to two men who helped me out with my booth at the 2010 Spring Bridal Expo at the Grand Traverse Resort.
First of all, a huge thank you to my darling husband Jeff.
(Always thank your husband first ladies.)
He is the worlds best wing man for my life and my business!
For loading and unloading my display,
for standing by my side and believing that I am great at what I do,

(it sure is nice to have someone support and believe in you that much)
for stopping on the way home in a white-out snowstorm so we could help push a car out of a ditch,

for all of that and a million more things,
thank you!

Secondly, another great big thank you to Steve of Art of Framing and Gallery on 14th Street in Traverse City.
When I started preparing my display, I knew I would need some easels for a few of my images. Since I don't do a ton of wedding shows, I called and asked the owner, Steve Baas if he had any ideas about renting some from somewhere.
When he found out my plan, he was generous enough to offer to lend me a few of the display easels from his gallery!
He is the kind of guy who encourages and supports artists in the Traverse City area and does what he can to help. In a smallish area like this, there are some who would see someone elses success as a threat to their own.
Not this guy!
While I was picking up the easels, I had the opportunity to nose around the gallery a bit and saw an amazingly diverse selection of art pieces...from traditional to abstract and everything in between.
If you are ever in the area and have a few minutes to check it out, you will not be disappointed in the beautiful things that you will see there.
And if you love something enough, Steve will even let you buy it and take it home:)

Out with the old...

2010-02-23T16:37:00.000-05:00

RIP old Columbia boots...
you have served me well.
We have clomped through rain and muck, snow and ice.
You were there when I raised my arms and face to the snow, heavy sky and let the new flakes kiss my cheeks.
You were there as I followed Lucy through woodsy hollows and down early Spring paths.
You kept me warm through the winter so I could enjoy the gift of simply being...outdoors.

For the first time in my adult life...really being.

While I breathed deeply in the night air and cherished the act of living...while I let my spirit soar and remembered how lovely it is to seize the day and sometimes the night, you kept me firmly rooted to the earth.

All this for boots, you ask?

Of course not, silly!

All this for adventure and experience and living in the moment...and a healthy amount of thanks for the little things that make the journey all the more comfortable.

Busy, busy, busy...

2010-01-10T01:26:00.000-05:00

Hello dear friends!

How can it possibly be that I have left you for so long?

I owe you the sincerest of apologies!

To make it up to you, I am redesigning my website and blog.

Just for you.

You are that special to me:)

Although I still have some work to do before I will be 100% satisfied with the new look and feel of Unforgettable Images, I humbly submit the site for your approval.

You can't imagine how much fun it is for me to look through all of the images from 2009...all of the amazing events that I was lucky enought to be able to be a part of.

And you can't imagine how excited I am to dive into 2010 and soak up all that my camera lense and I can take in!

And I promise that I will check in here more often.

I would pinky promise but that might be cheesy.

WHO AM I KIDDING? I LOVE CHEESY!

E...my favorite baby boy

2009-10-17T00:31:00.000-04:00

This baby boy is so sweet that he makes my teeth hurt.
I just want to eat him up but I am enjoying watching him grow so much that I try to control myself...
but when his mommy looks away, sometimes I nibble a little.
But just a little:)
Thank you to E's mommy and daddy for being such a positive force in the world.
E is one luuuuucky little monkey to have amazing parents like you...
And Hot Husband and I are lucky to have the three of you in our lives.
Luuuuucky.

10.4.20009 Jenny & Jake 's E-session

2009-10-08T15:04:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe that we thought about cancelling this session due to weather.
OK, so it wasn't a warm Indian summer day.
So, it had been raining for several days prior to our session.
Did we give up?
Heck, no!
Amazing pictures are about capturing the connection between people who love one another...
that can totally be done rain or shine!
I love the feel of these images.
They scream fall and hugs to stay warm and pumpkin pickin'!

I am drawn in by the emotion in the large image that I posted.
You can just feel the natural way that Jenny & Jake fit together.
There is a saying that fits the feel of this image for me...
"When I say I am going home, I mean that I am going to where you are."
Congratulations on finding your hearts home in one another!

Elizabeth...sen{10}r

2009-09-30T01:06:00.000-04:00

Here are two more cuties that I have been photographing since they were in diapers.
What a blessing it is to be able to see your beautiful babies grow into amazing young women...
from taking their first steps to taking their first steps toward independence and self discovery.

Janelle...sen{10}r

2009-09-29T12:41:00.000-04:00

I know I have said it before but I feel compelled to say it again...
Can you imagine being this beautiful?
Just walking around everyday with this face?
To you Janelle I say this...
I hope that you see and know how truly beautiful you are...
inside and out.
Though I haven't known you long, I can see in you an amazing spirit and bright future.
Keep rockin' it girl!

8.29.2009 Callie & Ben...

2009-09-28T00:25:00.000-04:00

I have to admit that I met Callie long before I met Ben.
I knew she was young but she possessed a certain maturity that I respected right away.
The more I talked with her, the more I realized that her maturity comes from a deeply ingrained understanding of the world and her place in it.
An even deeper love of the Lord and an understanding that with Him, all things are possible.

I always encourage the couples that I work with to find creative ways to make their wedding a very personal extension of the things and people that they love.
You can't imagine how much fun I had capturing their day as it unfolded!
Camo details on the guys and adorable olive & black dresses for the girls.
Natural grasses in hand-tied bouquets to decorate the church.
A passionate prayer from family ministers.
The offer of eternal salvation.
The love of family and friends.
Camo Hershey kisses...camo umbrellas...camo cake.
And Callie's amazing lime green shoes for a touch of fun!

Chad...sen{10}r

2009-09-24T14:35:00.000-04:00

Meet Chad.

Snowboarder.

Photographer.

Producer.

Skin boarder.

All around cool guy.

We had a great time kickin' around the State Hospital grounds, Mom and girlfriend in tow, finding very cool places to shoot. There are so many amazing and somehow creepy spots there...plenty that give you a cold chill and raise the hairs on your arms.

I can't explain it but everyone that has been there says the same thing.

Chad was able to show me some great spots that I had never been to before...and although we may have bent the rules to get to them...I doubt that any actual laws were broken.

I mean I hope not.

Good gravy this is a good lookin' bunch!

2009-09-16T01:01:00.000-04:00

Must be Fall again.
I know this because that means it's time to update the Wilson Family portrait!
Dee came up with the best idea this year...I love it when folks come up with something fun and different.
The whole good lookin' bunch of them were decked out for a night on the town..or, an evening at the old library with me:)
Dee has the most beautiful displays of portraits on her wall and this B&W idea will look amazing.
I know it's early but I am already dreaming up a really cool and elegant Christmas card for them...
you just wait and see!

Nikohl...senior 2010

2009-09-13T11:49:00.000-04:00

Let's just get this out there in the open.
Can you even imagine what it must be like to walk around and just be this beautiful all of the time?
ALL THE TIME!
And she is not just easy to look at but a really nice girl.
It is not an exaggeration to say that I have been waiting to take Nikohl's senior pictures for years already.
Her tall, willowy frame paired with an easy smile make her such a great subject.
And a very willing subject too...it's always extra fun to work with someone who is game to try fun new ideas and get a little dirty in the process.
We shot most of these images at the State Hospital grounds and got permission to work in some really amazing places. I owe a huge thank you to our tour guide for getting us behind the scenes...and in the tunnels!

Lisa & Jeff...8.15.2009

2009-09-13T11:31:00.000-04:00

Every couple is different.
Another of the things that I truly enjoy about working with couples on the biggest day of their lives is seeing how they work together.
How they have chosen to communicate to one another that they are the center of their hearts desire.
Some coupes go the goofy puppy-dog route.
Nothing wrong with that way, it is perfect for some folks...it's sort of my choice to show my hot Husband how much I love him.
But these two chose something different...a quiet, steady, sure way.
And it is perfect for them.

The looks to one another.
The hand on the small of the back.
The small gestures that express...I love you and am here for you always.

It conveys without words the love they carry for one another.
And that is a beautiful way to go through the world.

Sarah...senior 2010

2009-09-03T00:14:00.000-04:00

Another breathtaking beauty!
Am I not the luckiest photographer in the world?
Sarah is my step-daughter's Aunt but being only a few months apart in age, they really have been raised almost more like sisters.
Sarah is another amazing girl with so very much to offer the world.
I love that Sarah and Taylor are like yin and yang...
totally different and yet somehow they make it work...
even compliment one another.

My favoritest subject ever...

2009-09-03T00:06:00.000-04:00

This is my amazing step-daughter Taylor.
For those who may not know, I started dating her dad when she was only 9 years old.
It's hard to believe that it's been 8 years since then and it would be hard to put into words the blessing that having Taylor in my life has been to me.
She is beautiful...as you can see.
But what you can't see is all of the important stuff.
That she is so smart.
And kind.
And funny.
And has the capacity for greatness.
I am thankful everyday that she is part of my life and that her mom has been gracious enough to share her with me.

Clarissa...senior 2010

2009-08-31T00:27:00.000-04:00

Holy moly, the eyes on this girl!
And she can move too!
We had a great time on our photo field trip around downtown Traverse City looking for cool places to shoot and found some really great spots.
Good luck narrowing these pictures down to your favorites...you are going to need it!

Tesha...class of 2010

2009-08-31T00:12:00.000-04:00

It's hard to believe that I have been taking pictures of this beauty for over 15 years! It is one of the great joys of my life that I have been blessed enough to watch as so many of the babies that I have worked with have blossomed into amazing young people.
(How old does it make me sound when I say "young people"
...next thing you know I will be saying pocketbook and slacks!)
We had to postpone our session by one day due to the wet, late summer weather but it totally paid off with blue skies the following day...that's the price we pay for working in fun locations outside of a boring ol' studio!
Tesha is such a beautiful girl with such amazing auburn hair.
And tall! And a fellow guard chick!
Isn't it fun how we all have something in common no matter how different we think we are?

Erin & Josh...8.1.2009

2009-08-30T22:42:00.000-04:00

A country wedding.
A wedding under the beautiful, blue summer sky.
Overlooking all of the splendors of God's great big Earth.
A stunning bride in a custom gown.
A handsome groom in a taylored sand suit.
A family full of love and fun and ready to celebrate the beginning.
This is why I love what I do.

Sigh.

I have been keeping something from you...

2009-08-27T01:41:00.000-04:00

I have something to confess...I have been keeping something from you. But now I love her so much and she is such an important part of my daily life that I must shout it from the rooftops...well, at least the blogtops.
" I kissed a girl and I liked it". OK, so it was a girl dog.
(It's a song for those that don't know...this news isn't that big, I still love my husband with all of my heart.)
What's new is that though I still love him with all of my heart, my heart has actually grown to accommodate this new ball of fluff called Lucy.
We adopted Lucy from AC Paw through our local PetsMart back in May and she immediately brought so much to our lives that we were helpless to resist her. I am not going to lie...I had a few really rough nights when I just lay in bed wondering if adding a dog to our lives was the right thing to do. But Lucy worked her mojo on me and I knew she would stay.
So here we are almost 4 months later and she is so much bigger already! But as you can see from the picture, she loves boating and her lovely, lime green life-vest...yes, we are that kind of doggy parents.
Thank you to AC Paw for keeping her safe until we could find her. And thank you to Carol, her primary foster home, for doing all of the hard work (house breaking, socializing her, carting her around for adoption days). We appreciate all you do to find loving homes for doggy's without them.

8.19.2009 Christy & Matt E-session

2009-08-27T01:09:00.000-04:00

Can you believe how long it's been since I posted? It's a shame really since I have so many images of great couples to share. I am very sorry that I have been hoarding all of the yummy romance for myself...
So in honor of trying to be a better bloggista...
I present to you Christy & Matt (and a few extra munchkins) staring in their first professional performance as a family unit.
I met these two at the bridal show at Park Place last January and I remember it because of two fun things. First of all, Matt had invited Christy to the show but they were not yet engaged...ummm, I was thinking, better get a manicure Christy, there is a ring comin' your way! Secondly, Christy loves photography and has even photographed a few weddings herself so we had lots to talk about. Once we figured out that we are both color guard geeks (and LOVE to talk...how do you think we discovered the CG thing?) we knew I would be the right girl for their event when the time came. I wanted to call after Valentine's Day to see if it was official yet but thought better of that. Good thing! Once he did POP the question, we were off and running and the wedding was well on it's way!
Christy & Matt have a gentle sweetness about them that really shows how meant for each other they really are. I was glad for the opportunity to shared their E-session with Matt's 3 boys since this wedding really will be the creation of a new family. These guys really earned their pizza dinner that night...you should have seen their faces when I asked them to jump in the air for a shot or two!
Enjoy these next few months gang...the wedding will be here before you know it!

Carrie & Ryan E-session...

2009-07-28T22:18:00.000-04:00

Here's a math problem for you...
one fun and adorable couple
+one beautiful day at the bay
+what's left of the downtown zoo
+one photographer with mad skilz (lol)
=this amazing engagement session!
I'm so glad that I got to spend some time getting to know Carrie & Ryan better...they really are such a cute couple! With their wedding coming up in October, we thought it would be fun to get some really summery shots for the E-session. We cruised around the old zoo, took a walk along (and in!) the bay and took some fun pics in town by the Martinek clock. Photo field trips are my favorite way to shoot and these two were up to the challenge:)
I had them leaning in a doorway with a wasp nest...note, they didn't have to but I did shoot quickly!
Sitting on dirty old wood steps with a mound of mushrooms growing at the bottom.
Lean here!
Sit there...it's just a little bird poo, just push it over!
Get in the freezing water!
And they just did what I said. Amazing. I had better not let all this power go to my head!
I love the images that we got and would love more to show them off to you! As usual, you can see all of my my newest sessios in the "online ordering" section of my website.
Happy browsing!

A little TC royalty...

2009-07-24T00:09:00.000-04:00

The bridal beauty on the left is the very sweet Jenny and the bridesmaid beauty on the right is Ms. Megan.
"Yes Siri...we know...you blogged about Jenny & Mike's wedding already, remember?"
OK, OK...just bear with me for a minute.
I had the opportunity to meet Megan, the 2009 Cherry Queen (see how I capitalize it...it's a VERY big deal here in Traverse City, Michigan!) at the Park Place Bridal Show waaaaaay back in January. So of course the first thing you notice about her are her stunning blue eyes...but right after that you realize something else, she is actually listening to what you have to say and is genuinely interested. Now I am not meaning to sound like I am so very interesting that everyone should listen with rapt attention to my every word...heck, if you know me you know that I talk A LOT and some of if hardly makes sense! What I am pointing out is what an impact this perfect stranger made on me by just paying attention and being nice.
Fast forward to June and Megan pops up again as a bridesmaid in a wedding I am photographing. Now I see that I am in the company of lots of nice people as nice begets nice so naturally all of these great folks have come together to celebrate their nice friends wedding.
(See what I mean about sometimes not making sense?)
And then...here is the kicker...
About 1 week after the wedding I receive a thank you note from Megan. She basically thanked me for being nice to her friend The Bride...went out of her way to thank me for doing what I do and for the way I treated everyone while I did it.
So here I am to tell the story and ask the question...
Are your actions/body language/words impacting those around you in a positive way and are you making lives better by being in them?
Megan is.
Thank you to all of the folks out there who consider the thoughts and feelings of others and thank you to Megan for making me think about the whole thing.

Adventure on the high sea...

2009-07-22T01:16:00.000-04:00

...OK...there was no actual high sea involved but I certainly did get to enjoy a beautiful day on Grand Traverse Bay! Many thanks to Branden's folks for taking us out for some fabulous scenery and a great start to our E-session adventure. I have to admit that this was my first sailboat ride and I can certainly see the draw...wind in your hair, sun on your face...and more noticably for this powerboater, no motor noise to drown out the sounds of the day. And our sail around the bay was just the start...we ended up playing in the park, hanging out on the docks, showing off The Heli and just having a good time.
Jessica & Branden are such a great couple to spend time with! An E-session is time to really connect and focus on the reason for getting married in the first place...because you care deeply about your partner and just can't imagine your life without him or her. You can really sense that J & B are happy and comfortable being together...they definitely compliment one another:)
Thank you both for choosing me to capture your wedding moments to come...
and for sharing a beautiful day and beautiful connection with me during your E-session!

2009-07-15T00:01:00.000-04:00

I am so very proud to say that I was able to photograph these senior images for my dear friend Christian. Did you read my post about how some things come easily? Well some things just do not. It would have been easier for this kid to throw in the towel...just give up.
BUT HE DID NOT!!!
He dug in and did the hard work and earned his diploma and for that his "Aunt" Siri is very proud.
Congratulations Christian!

Just what is a TTD session anyway?

2009-07-14T18:42:00.000-04:00

The wedding is over.
The dancing is done.
The cake is eaten.
Now you start thinking... what am I going to do with the dress? Of course you could just have it cleaned and store it in a special box under the bed for all of eternity (I know, I am being overly dramatic). Maybe someday your daughter will want to wear it? Did you wear your mom's dress? Just askin'...
Or, you could do a Trash The Dress session!
OK...these sessions aren't for the faint of heart or for those who paid a small fortune for their gowns. This session is for the bride who wants to have a fun, modern photo shoot...more like a modeling gig than the demure wedding day shots we are all used to.
Or for those who love the idea of this kind of fun session but just can't stand the thought of trashing their actual wedding dress, how about picking up an inexpensive prom dress from somplace like Deb or Charlotte Russe at the mall? There are so many fun posibilities!
I owe a big thanks to Erica for being such a fun and adventurous bride and for going on this little TTD field trip with me!

The Young Family...

2009-07-14T17:59:00.000-04:00

I just love 6 degrees of seperation! The idea that we are all connected in some way and that we can be a part of so many peoples lives.
Case in point, I got a call last month from Laura, part of my extended Bluecoat family. (For those of you who don't know, The Bluecoats are one of the countrys top drum & bugle corps and I was a VERY proud member of the color guard from 1991-93). While Laura and I never actually marched together, we have several friends in common so I have seen pictures of her and her family including one very amusing Christmas card from last year.
It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to photograph the whole family while they were visiting the area recently. With 3 year old Anna and almost 1 year Bobby, this was one quick session (as most sessions involving small children are)! You should have seen us, one wanted down, then Mommy...one though everything was the funniest thing she had ever heard...Laura and John were the best, always ready and smiling in case. All of their hard work paid off and we got some great images of them all...including their stunning blue eyes!
What a great family and what great kids...full of giggles and mischief, just like kids should be!

Check this out...

2009-07-10T15:19:00.000-04:00

Introducing my newest Spencer Family victim...Jonathan. I met Jonathan when I photographed his sisters wedding back in May and knew right away that taking his senior pictures would be easy work. All in all, I'd say we wad a pretty good time taking these...I pretended to know anything about soccer, he pretended to want to be there getting his picture taken...what he didn't have to pretend was his great smile and easy going attitude.
Jonathan, you are a pretty cool guy.
And I will pretend that really means a lot coming from me. LOL.

Jenny & Mike...

2009-07-07T12:50:00.000-04:00

Sometimes things are just right. No fuss, little drama...and it all just falls into place. Take Jenny & Mike for example. They have been a couple for as far back as anyone can remember and are now embarking on a life together. They have always been there for one another and always will be...see? It all just falls into place sometimes.
Don't believe me? How about another example? I met them through the bridal show at the Park Place in downtown Traverse City on January 4th and by the end of the next day, we had met twice and I was on board to capture their wedding memories. I guess that when it's right, it's right and you have a choice to make. You can either over-think it all or just go with your instinct...it's usually a safe bet to trust your gut.
Want to hear about the wedding?
"Oh, of course!" cries the chorus of brides who stalk this site for ideas:)
The wedding was at beautiful Empire Beach and the day was just about perfect for pictures, bright but overcast, just a little easier on the eyes. The orange and teal looked beautiful against the beach...if it weren't for the cool Lake Michigan breezes, you would have thought that we were someplace tropical. The flowers and decorations were done by a family member and were just amazing! They included so many great details...check out the online ordering section of the website for tons of images! I keep thinking of things to tell you about but I'd better keep this short before I start to bore you!
On the way to the reception at The Williamsburg Creekside, we pit-stopped at Moomer's for some ice cream (thank you for the ice cream treat by the way!). I had never been to an event at Creekside and was very pleasantly surprises to see how beautiful this venue is. Again, the decorations were amazing, the food was top notch, the cake by Kingsley Cakes was fabulous as always and the DJ, Doyle Pendock did a great job keeping the party rockin'!
What a gift these two have been given in one another and what joy they bring to their families. And then those families spread the joy to others and then we spread it on further...are you doing your part to spread the love? Thank you to both the Neihardt and Gilyard families for their positive acts on my life.
And thank you so much for singing "Happy Birthday" to me...it was a joy to spend my birthday celebrating life with you!

Matt...senior session

2009-06-27T21:47:00.000-04:00

One of the fun,artistic challenges of doing senior sessions is finding the right places to photograph the subject...someplace that they are comfortable and free to be themselves. So when I heard that Matt is a future famous snowboarder, I knew a visit to Mt Holiday was the perfect thing! What I didn't expect were all of the amazing photo-op's that Mt Holiday provides and the fantastic job that Matt would do turning those locations into amazing images. Great job Matt!

Tammy & Matt E-session

2009-06-18T00:06:00.000-04:00

The last time that I saw these two there was at least two feet of snow on the ground and glare ice on the roads...you can't imagine how glad I was to see them this time under better conditions. With their September wedding looming in the near future, we headed out to the lighthouse for a little romantic E-session...time to capture images of them just being them without all of the wedding day fluff. Not that the fluff is bad...I am a fluff connoisseur of sorts. But sometimes it's good to just dig your toes into the sand and remember the day that got this whole ball rolling.
Matt asked Tammy to marry him out on a little peninsula that stretches out from the lighthouse. Stone by stone, bug by bug, through muck and sand...to a beautiful view of land and water. I can only imagine what was going through her head as he lead her out there but she trusted him. I'll just bet she is glad she did.
So here's to trust.
And to love.
And to Tammy & Matt and a wedding worthy of their biggest dreams.

Erica & Adam 5.24.2009

2009-06-17T22:05:00.000-04:00

This was the second wedding I got to photograph over Memorial Day weekend and I loved it just as much as the first! One of my favorite things about my job is seeing how very different couples and families choose to celebrate the beginning of their lives together. There was a time ,in the not so distant past, when weddings were cookie cutter events..same venue, same big dress, same, same, same...blech! Thank goodness that times have changed and couples like the very sweet Erica & Adam can begin their lives under the big blue sky with all of the heavens to witness.
We did lots of Erica & Adam's pictures before the ceremony with the beautiful Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor as the backdrop. The rolling beaches, blue water and distant dunes helped keep us warm in spirit (if not in body) while the cool spring breezes blew in off the water. I have to give it to the girls...you did a great job not looking too cold! Even though we did pictures ahead of time, we of course let Erica have her 'Ta-da!" moment...every bride and groom deserves that! Adam and the entire wedding party looked on as Erica came walking across the sand. It was a really nice moment and they looked so very in love...yup, still lovin' my job.
Of course weddings at the Homestead are famous for the chairlift ride to the top of the mountain and the ceremony overlooking Lake Michigan. And as I have said before, it is the attention to detail that the couple puts into their wedding the makes it truly their own. From Erica's classic, purple, tulip bouquet to the lavender ring bearers vests...the simple and heartfelt vows that they exchanged with one another...the great trio that played, the opal glass candle votives that I heard Adam MADE! All of these things came together to create a fabulous wedding. Thank you both for letting me come along on your adventure with you...may this be only the beginning!

Laura & Chuck...

2009-06-12T12:10:00.000-04:00

I have to share a few of the images from the amazing wedding of Laura & Chuck! These two were so much fun to spend the day with and gave me lots of fabulous places to photograph them at. The wedding was at St. Francis of Assisi in downtown Traverse City and I have to say, I had forgotten how truely beautiful this building is. Check out the image of Laura in front of the stained glass...sigh, breathtaking!
The spring flowers were in full bloom (thanks to the diligent gardening efforts of the St. Francis staff who were hard at work making sure everything was in order for the wedding day) and provided a great backdrop for our pre-wedding shots. I really appreciated the efforts of everyone involved, from their friends and family to the Reverend himself, to give this amazing couple such a great wedding day.
After the ceremony, we loaded up the limo and were off to do pictures at Clinch Marina and The Old Library building. We were blessed with a great day for pictures...if you want to see all of their pictures, check out the "online ordering" section of my website http://www.unforgettableimages.biz/ as there were just too many to post here!
After a quick carriage ride around TC, the newlyweds celebrated their marriage at the TC Opera House...and what a fabulous place to party! The opulant ceilings and lush red velvet of the seating along with all of the painstakingly attended to details really gave this reception an elegant feel. And what a first dance...on the stage with dramatic lighting as all of the people they care the most about in the world looked on. Double sigh...
Thank you both so very much for allowing me to be a part of your Big Day!

Sarah & Manan...

2009-06-03T20:31:00.000-04:00

Sarah and Manan met at the wedding of her sister to his cousin...how romantic is that? So now, through the magic of love and marriage, the Thoreson Girls will now be the Bhatt Girls...I just love that twist to the story! WAIT! There is more! The E-session I just posted of Liz & Chris...Chris is Sarah's brother. I know, right? I have always joked that in northern Michigan, the 6 Degrees of Seperation theory is more like 4 degrees but in Leelanau it's like 2 degrees. Well this family has lots to celebrate and will have plenty of opportunity to do so in the coming year!
It worked out great that Sarah & Manan were also visiting Memorial Day weekend and were able to join Liz, Chris and me on our E-session fieldtrip. It was so cute...while I was working with one couple, the other couple would be off smooching and being all lovey. I had lots of fun with everyone even though all that love and those fabulous locations made me miss my own Dear Hubby a little.
And as I always do, I thank you for allowing me to be part of creating these memories for you. I hope that I will have the opportunity to waork with you both again!

Liz & Chris...

2009-06-03T20:04:00.000-04:00

Liz & Chris were Up North for Memorial Day so we took the opportunity to have some fun with an engagement session in Glen Haven. We could not have asked for a more beautiful day! With their wedding looming in the not too distant future...trust me guys, October will sneak up on you pretty quickly...it was a fun morning to celebrate love and them being up to their eyeballs in it!
Since Chris actually proposed to Liz atop the Empire Bluffs, we made the trek to the top and got some gorgeous images. At one point, Chris actually told me that the Bluffs were "not too steep" and "just a little walk"...well Chris, I think you may have had some adrenaline pumping when you climbed the dunes to ask Liz to marry you because they are more than a little walk! I loved every minute of the climb though and I thank you both for allowing me to capture these moments for you.

Have I mentioned I love it here?

2009-05-21T00:08:00.000-04:00

What a great afternoon I had! When you live in a fabulously beautiful place the way I do, sometimes you forget to take a nice long look around and really soak it all in. Today was a great day for a soak!
With a big blue sky calling us out to play, my dear friend Amy, her doggy Tia and my puppy Lucy loaded into her SUV and we headed out to the Old Mission Point Lighthouse to see what we could see. As we wound our way out along the peninsula...past wineries, cherry orchards in full blossom and ancient farms...we talked about nothing and everything the way that girls can do. I have to thank Amy for humoring my frequent requests to "STOP...I have to get this shot!".
Today was also a welcomed reminder of how much I love looking at the world through my cameras lense and how much I am looking forward to capturing images for many weddings in the coming summer.
Standing here, on the edge of a season full of beautiful moments...no two alike except that they are created with love...I feel so thankful for all of the blessings that have been heaped on my life. Thank you to all of you who have asked me to capture your wedding day for you...thank you for my friends and family for supporting and loving me...but most of all , a big thank you to my Dear Hubby Jeff for being my own favorite groom ever!

My new best friends...

2009-04-08T13:08:00.000-04:00

Say cheese! I mentioned in my last post that I had recently returned from Oklahoma attending a meetup of photographers from across the country. What a blast! I can never thank them all enough for their kindness, friendship and willingness to help me become a better photographer.

Photography is a constantly evolving art and there are so many fun and challenging ways to grow...be it through creative ways to capture the image, light the subject or even process it on a computer. It would be impossible to learn it all on your own but pool the talent of 80 experienced photographers and you have an amazing wealth of knowledge. We spent one fabulous weekend learning new tricks and tools and it makes all of us who attended better for the experience.

It is going to be a long year until I get to see all of my new friends again but you had better believe that when the meetup rolls around again, I will be there!

(Did you find me in the picture? I am on the left side toward the back. There are 4 of us standing by the mantel, I am the 4th one in. Hi!)

Check out her beautiful brown eyes...

2009-04-07T16:07:00.000-04:00

I recently had the opportunity to photograph an amazing beauty...Ms. Lindsey. Lindsey was a model at a recent photography conference that I attended in Oklahoma. I had the best time working along side and learning from my fellow photographers and got to take some great shots along the way! Thank you to all the photographers who gave so that the conference could be a success: provided equipment, taught lighting technique, posing, artistic processing, etc.!

Say "sure" to soup...

2009-02-18T16:37:00.000-05:00

On Valentine's Day I was able to get to the Cherry Capital Winter Wonder Fest in downtown Traverse City. They had blocked off part of Front Street for bed races, ice sculptures and an amazing opportunity to taste the best of TC's soups... they called it Soup'r Bowl...funny, I love that cheezy stuff. It was a fun time to warm-up with good eats and check out some of the new shops downtown. In case you wonder who won...
1st Place: Maxbauer's Market - Seafood Chowder (I heard it was amazing but I myself am not a seafood chowder fan)
2nd Place: U & I Lounge - Reuben Chowder ( this was my fav...yum-o!)
3rd Place: Bubba's - Zucchini Grogonzola (OK...this was my favorite too! Cheesy...mmmmm!)
As always, my thanks goes out to folks who find that the long Michigan winters are more fun with lots to keep us busy! I love TC!

Romance in the great, white north...

2009-02-18T15:54:00.000-05:00

It's been a little while since my last entry but get ready to hear more from me. I am fortunate enough to be working on several sessions and can't wait to show you what I've been up to!

First up...love is in the frosty air! After dodging show showers all afternoon, the sky cleared just long enough (but just barely!) for us to get some great shots. These two are lots of fun and clearly care deeply about one another...their wedding in April is going to be great! With beautiful blue eyes like these two have, you can't blame me for having some fun with selective color.

"C" is for cookie...

2009-01-14T21:44:00.001-05:00

...that's good enough for me! What happens when a photographer spends the day baking cookies? Pictures, of course! This year I took on a few new cookies and now have a few new favorites.

Some of the pictures are from making church windows, one of Dear Hubby's favorites. Marshmallows in chocolate and rolled in coconut...how can that be bad? I can definitely see why he picked this one.

The other images are of raspberry cookies made from Dear Hubby's Grandma's special recipe. She passed away unexpectedly in October 2007 and is sorely missed by all who loved her. Making these cookies was my way to help him remember and to celebrate the great joy that she brought to our lives.

Another cookie that I tried to tackle was one from my own childhood. The strong and wonderful Mock women DO NOT mess around when it comes to chocolate. The deeper and richer the better! My Auntie makes a thumb-print type cookie, rolled in crushed walnut and filled with rich chocolate...but here's the tricky part... I haven't had these cookies since I could check the "18-24" box on a survey. It's amazing how hard it is to pin down a memory for a recipe you haven't had in 18 years! Somehow I figured it out and the results were tasty if not photo worthy. There is always next year!

Beautiful...just beautiful.

2009-01-14T21:05:00.000-05:00

I am proud to show off to the world, my beautiful Goddaughter Aili. Dear Hubby and I were proud and honored to accept her parents request to share her life in this way and are so thankful for the opportunity.

These blessings of friends and family bring to mind one of my mom's favorite saying (from an unknown source):

I thank God for the blessings
That his mercy has bestowed
I'm drinking from the saucer
'Cause my cup has overflowed.

Mt Holiday up, mostly, and running...

2008-12-07T13:09:00.000-05:00

It's beginning to look a lot like...time to ski!
I took these images at Mt Holiday ski area in Traverse City, MI last week. One of the groomers was kind enough to take me up to the top of the main hill so I could capture the breathtaking view and boy was it a cold ride! After getting that first whiff of the sled exhaust I had to ask my hubby "when are we getting our sleds out. "? You can see one of the reasons we love to live in northern lower Michigan , the beautiful views of sky and water. Even on a grey and blustery day you can tell how amazing it is. God has truely blessed us!

Baby Kline's First portrait session...

2008-12-02T23:08:00.000-05:00

I had the best time photographing The Kline Baby Bump! Amy and Dave were so much fun to work with and we tried lots of new and fun poses. I was so fortunate to have such a great place and couple to work with. The warm yellow of the nursery and the beautiful hardwood floors really complimented the homey look we were going for. I should have taken a shot of the side of the room we weren't using...I had shoved and stacked all of the baby stuff and my equipment into the corner! It was a mess!

I have to give an extra big thank you to Amy for letting me exercise my artistic vision. I had that poor girl in some crazy poses and she went along with it without complaint. And have you ever seen such a cute Mama at 32 weeks? Her spirit is as beautiful as she is and this baby is gonna' be on lucky little one to have such great parents!

Wilson Fest "08

2008-11-03T23:24:00.000-05:00

Have you ever seen four more beautiful girls? These four cutie apples certainly don't fall far from the tree...don't believe me? Check out how good lookin' their parents are!

It is always a treat to photograph the Wilson Family and this session proved it, yet again. We lucked out with a gorgeous (but chilly) late fall day and despite the cold, the girls did GREAT. Lots of putting on and taking off the coats later, we got some fabulous shots of the girls, family, mom & dad and each girl alone. I can't wait for them to see all of their images!

And later, in business news...

2008-11-03T00:14:00.001-05:00

Look, ma! I finally have a logo! After wasting way too much of my own time trying to come up with a business identity, I have hired a very talented graphic artist to help me pull it all together. I owe her tremendous thanks for her patience working both with, and despite me. She is putting the finishing touches on my new arsonal of marketing pieces as we speak!
I would also like to give a big shout out to my dear friend Tony and his hottie wife Amy for hooking me up with Lightscribe technology. I am so blessed by the support and encouragement of my friends and family. THANK YOU!
I have been extra busy trying to squeeze in a few late fall sessions and have lots of images to work through over the next few days. Stay tuned for a sneak peak...

Busy, busy, busy...

2008-10-16T22:38:00.000-04:00

I love this time of the year! The air is crisp, the leaves are all the hues of fall and the amazing fall weddings are in full swing. As some of you may know, Dear Hubby and I just celebrated our 2nd anniversary on October 14 so you can imagine the special love I have for fall celebrations. Here are a few shots from some sessions I have been working on this week. Enjoy the great colors!

Who told these love birds that they were not photogenic?

2008-10-06T00:18:00.001-04:00

On Saturday I had the pleasure of spending a beautiful fall afternoon with M & M creating their engagement pictures. As you can see, we got some great images of this very attractive and very in love couple. I can't wait to photograph the wedding in July! Hopefully it will be warmer then...despite the smiles, there was some teeth chatterin' going on. You guys are real troopers but look how well it payed off!