Photographing Karen and Adam

Karen and Adam meet in an orientation group as undergrads at Eastern Michigan University. They became fast friends and
after a couple of years started dating. It was at EMU where the pair met, fell in love and eventually became engaged while
on an evening walk around campus.

This past weekend Karen and Adam went from being in love and engaged, to in love and married.  They were wed at Good Shepherd Methodist Church and held a beautiful reception at the Dearborn Inn, both in Dearborn, Michigan.

To Karen and Adam, I wish you a lifetime of love, happiness and laughter! Congratulations!

Here they sit on the porch of a Edgar Allan Poe replica house on the property of the Dearborn Inn. 


See the raven? Pretty cool, huh?








If it's one thing I learned about Karen and Adam (probably mostly Karen) it's that they love sandwiches.  Here the fellas
pose at the sandwich shop just down the street from their house.


Look at these rings! They are not only beautiful, but they were specially designed and handmade by Karen's best friend and
maid of honor, Jenna.




Not only were Karen and Adam's rings handmade, but so was Karen's dress. Her mother lovingly stitched her daughter's dress for the big day! 








Beatles cover band! Complete with wigs, tight pants and fake accents!

Photographing Shannon and Tony

Shannon, a well educated, traveled and independent gal met Tony, a talented musician and educator while they were working
at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra in 2007. The pair became engaged after Tony was inspired to craft lyrics and a tune. He performed his musical proposal for Shannon while they were on vacation and the rest is history!  Shannon recently moved to Chicago to begin her career as an attorney while Tony finishes up his obligations in Michigan. While they may be living in different states for now, it's clear they are meant to be together!

Shannon and Tony fell in love in Detroit and they have some major love for Detroit. So where else would we shoot their engagement photos? We hit up Belle Isle and made some of my favorite photos of the day.


I'm not sure if Shannon could smile any bigger in this photo! (Big ups for being extra prepared with boots suitable for running through the snow in mid-February!)


Love that Detroit skyline!


Definitely one of my favorites from our shoot! I couldn't decide between color or black and white, so you get both!






A trip down memory lane. Shannon and Tony shared their first date at Comerica Park!


We hit up Greektown and were welcomed with some sweet light!




We ended our afternoon with a stop at Hart Plaza and some photos in front of the sculpture "Transcending."


Congratulations, friends! Much love, laughter and happiness!

Photographing Juliana, Mark & sweet baby Laila J

I met Juliana when we both moved back to our home state of Michigan to work for AnnArbor.com. During that first month a group of us met up at a brewery to get to know each other better. I didn't notice it at the time, but Juliana was the only one drinking pop. Little did I know, but she was newly pregnant with a sweet little baby, Laila June.

Laila is eight-months-old now and Juliana and Mark decided to capture her cuteness in some family photos. We managed to squeeze in a photo session at their apartment just in time for the holidays. Here are a few of my favorites!



This photo was taken while Laila's special holiday dress was still special and before she realized it seriously hampered her mobility! Frustrated baby ensued! :)






Juliana had a second outfit for Laila and I stole this photo while she was being changed. The look on her face just makes me melt! What a sweetie.




Proud Mom and Pops!




Laila's nap was cut a little short so that we could take photos, her patience started to wear towards the end.

Ain't nothing but a number

On Monday I turned 30.

It's funny that as you age milestone birthdays go from being exciting, like becoming a teenage at 13 or old enough for booze at 21, to something you are supposed to dread, like leaving your twenties for the "big 30." Seeing as I can only speak on those birthdays leading up to 30, I'd like to turn the tables on age and embrace it.

Here is a self portrait I took for a photo class assignment in college at age 20. I am not sure what I was "trying to say" when I made this picture but it is interesting to come across it ten years later.



As I look back at the 20-year-old me, I'd like to give her some simple advice, perhaps the same advice I'd give myself now: 

- Be a good person, even to a stranger

- Appreciate what you have

- Work hard

- Learn

- Laugh

I've lived a lot of life in the last 30 years and in an optimistic stance, I can't wait to see what the next 30 have in store.

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Author Susan McCoy

I was recently contacted by one of my mom's dearest friends Susan McCoy. I've known her since my teen years when she was the librarian at my alma mater, Livonia Franklin High School. Susan recently published a memoir and asked for some promotional photos to use for her new blog and for her speaking engagements around the state.

I think it takes big courage to write things down on paper and even more to offer it up to the world.  Most importantly, Susan is following her heart and I think that's the biggest inspiration of all!


If you want to know more about why Susan is in this tree then you should check out her book!


I caught this moment of Rick, Susan's husband, and their dog George while Susan was getting ready for our shoot. Susan has spent the last seven years as a caretaker for her husband after he fell ill.

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Photographing Katie and Pete

Katie and I have traded over a dozen emails trying to make her engagement photos happen. You see, Katie is a teacher at a metro Detroit school and her fiance Pete is a sports reporter (at AnnArbor.com!) and they work completely opposite schedules. Throw in the fact that I have totally abnormal hours and we had a bit of a timing dilemma!

Turns out the scheduling Gods and the weather Gods had a conversation and decided to take pity on us. They offered up a beautiful Sunday afternoon and we took full advantage, ending the day high above downtown Ann Arbor with a amazing sunset!

This photo reminds me of a movie poster. Although, if you know Pete, he'd be on the cover of a comedy film. Easily voted the funniest guy in the newsroom.








We hit up a spot Katie found while researching photo locations on theKnot.com. Turned out to be a great place!










As I mentioned before, Pete is quite the jokester. And although I couldn't hear most of this discussion I know it had to be good!

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