the art of being

new blog...

2009-08-12T22:07:00.000-07:00

hi friends!

my blog is moving...http://www.kellypowersphotographyblog.com/

welcome to the world baby l!

2009-08-02T16:07:00.001-07:00

I don't know what is more delightful...my dear friends welcoming their little son into the world or me getting to photography this amazing family! We'll call it a tie...

he's the grand finale!

this is my absolute favorite...

already such a funny little guy!

brooke and dave {engaged}

2009-08-01T17:39:00.001-07:00

nobody can be uncheered with a balloon...winnie the pooh

something about a couple in love and a bunch of colored balloons that make a delightful pair!

how can you not love brooke's piercing blue eyes and dave's sweet smile...

as much as i love the actual wedding day, i really love engagement sessions! they are a chance to be a little playful and relaxed. and i get to know my couples personalities...brooke and dave are as sweet and laidback as you can get. their wedding day will be about their love and family and friends, not all the superficial wedding hype. i am so delighted to be a part of their day!

enjoy the rest of their balloon love affair...slideshow

i adore my couples...

2009-07-23T20:01:00.001-07:00

can't wait to share with you lisa and bart's beautiful celebration at the blue dress barn!

stephanie and dj...part deux

2009-07-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

As promised here's day two of Stephanie and DJ's celebration...

Despite the rain showers Steph and DJ were still game for going down to the beach for some sunset pictures

The soft pink and bright green were a perfect combo

I adore twirling girls...

I love a reception where people show off their dance skills...

this would be the groom!

Want more? Then enjoy their slideshow...

**This was my first wedding of the season which has significance. Many of you know that almost ten months ago my husband unexpectedly passed away. It is a moment that altered my life and continues to impact my journey. A big question was if I would continue wedding photography. I had to make the difficult decision to end my contract with many of my couples for various reasons. But I choose to keep some of the wedding for special circumstances but it wasn't without a hesitate heart. Would I be ready? Could I enter into the wedding day with my full heart and creative energy? As a photographer, an artist, a celebrator of life I couldn't do this job half-hearted. But picking up my camera has been very healing for me...Mike, my husband, was my biggest fan and I knew it would dishonor him and his love for me if I quit photography. And the couples I have been able to work with are nothing short of amazing! I truly feel like God meant for me to capture their days.

I have found life and joy again in photography. And I know that my personal loss will enrich how I "see" things...Every image I capture holds more intimacy and love.

With this new sense of affirmation I am excited to re-create some aspects of my photography business. I will continue to capture weddings, so please send me a note if you have an upcoming event. I look forward to entering into your story...

stephanie and dj...part one

2009-07-21T07:17:00.001-07:00

It was one of those days when I found myself several times feeling so grateful to be a wedding photographer. The couple, their family and friends, the location, my amazing second shooter (kelly braman) all added up to an amazing day.

It was my first time shooting at the Michillinda Lodge and I hope it won't be my last...Tucked away through a long tunnel of trees is this summer retreat that sits on Lake Michigan. It reminded all of us of the summer lodge featured in "Dirty Dancing".

Stephanie and DJ live in California but have family here in the midwest. So the location was perfect for their destination wedding. The event was so fresh and bright. The whole day had a great intimate feel. I have so many favorites that I'm going to break this up into two parts. So for now enjoy some delightful details and images of Stephanie and DJ's wedding celebration...

Can you guess what day their wedding was?

DJ is the definition of fun-loving...truly a sweet guy!

Stephanie just radianted the whole day...and her dress was divine!

A is for...Mr. & Mrs. Ahlstrand

part deux coming tomorrow!

becca & dan {e-session}...

2009-07-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

Chicago is my hometown so I was thrilled when Becca and Dan decided to do their engagement session downtown. They are getting married this fall in St. Joseph but they wanted their engagement pictures to capture the city they call home...Sweet Home Chicago!

We hit up some local favorites, including Dan's favorite Wrigley Field. And despite the hot temps they looked great and were so fun...

Enjoy their slideshow...

michelle & michael...{e-session}

2009-06-28T11:09:00.000-07:00

You know you have an amazing couple when they are so forgiving of their photographer (that would be me!) is over 30 minutes late for their engagement session in Ann Arbor cause she's ridiculously lost! It's a fact that I'm directionally impaired and not even a GPS seems to help me find my way...

But despite a rocky start to our session, it was a delight to spend time with Michelle and Michael! They just fit together...

Enjoy their slideshow on this lazy Sunday...

sandi...{lifestyle portraits}

2009-06-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Our truest responsibility to the irrationality of the world is to paint or sing or write, for only in such response do we find the truth.

madeleine l'engle

I had the delightful pleasure of capturing some images for Sandi, who is an amazing woman and writer. A few years ago she lost her love to cancer and is now putting words to her story of loss and healing. I found a kindred spirit in her as we shared some of the raw and honest experiences of being a "widow" (a word we both agree is just awful!)

She lives in her grief with grace and beauty and I know she will bless others with her book "In His Hands".

a sweet, honest love letter...

2009-05-27T19:06:00.000-07:00

i love this song by kate nash and the delightful video...

nicest thing

dayton...{family session}

2009-05-24T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you.

Dr. Seuss

be cute~ture...

2009-04-10T10:25:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons why I pursued photography was to celebrate what makes us each unique, beautiful, real. So I was delighted when my new friends Betsy and Shawn invited me to be a part of their new company, Be Cute~ture by photographing their designs. A fun and playful clothing line for young girls, they get to create their own "couture" fashion. Each piece can be designed with different fabrics, colors and trimmings to match their style and personality.

We had our first photo session with some lil' beauties...The girls loved wearing all the different outfits and they're not too fancy that they couldn't play around in them.

Here are just a few favorites from our session...

Be Cute~ture will be having a launch party next month and I'll be sure to share details soon!

looking for fun, unique models...

2009-03-15T17:27:00.001-07:00

I am looking for four seniors who'd like to be reps for kelly powers photography. You will receive a free photo session, images to post on facebook, and print credit for each referral you give. If you're interested send me an e-mail (kellypowersphotography@gmail.com) sharing with me what makes you unique, fun, simply you.

warm hugs {family session}

2009-02-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

can't think of a better way to fight the winter blues than an impromptu family session! they are some of my dearest friends so it was a delight to pull out my camera.

my favorite shots always tend to be the real, fun, playful moments...

my friend is expecting baby number three...

i love the joy of this moment...maybe my favorite pregnancy shot

it's rare to find myself in a picture but i had to get a shot with my favorite girls!

thankful for the warmer weather that's coming through michigan...means we're closer and closer to spring!

through my new lens...

2009-01-27T14:20:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have been following my personal blog, some of you may have heard I've had a family loss, some of you may have no idea why I've been absent from my blog.

Four months ago my husband unexpectedly passed away. Since then I've been wrestling through the messy and painful business of grief. Life doesn't look the same. My lens has been changed.

And many things have had to pause for me...specifically my photography. This has been bittersweet because the company was really starting to flourish and no one was a bigger fan of me than my husband. He loved bragging about me, my work, forcing his co-workers to check out my latest blog entry. He helped me believe in myself, as an artist and a business woman.

So as I'm trying to heal I'm also trying to figure out what place photography will have in my life...

At this time I will be accepting new clients for portraits...babies, children, seniors, family. I will be sharing soon about some new portrait collections and products.

In regards to wedding photography I will not be booking any new events. This will be an area of my company that I will continue to evaluate and I hope someday to offer this service again.

Lastly, I want to extend my gratitude...

To my amazing clients, who have been patient and supportive. Who have offered me their words of encouragement and prayers. This is why I do photography...To connect with people's lives, to honor their stories. My clients have turned around and honored me.

To the phenomenal community of photographers and wedding vendors. Your support, generosity, willingness to help with projects, encouragement. I wish I could list everyone who has blessed me but there are so many (known and anonymous). But I do want to say a special thanks to: Alexis Crandell-Blackmer, Jen Kroll, John Pottenger, Mindy Peterson, Sam Vanderlist, Ben Arendt, Ryan Prins, Jen Badalamenti, Amy Carroll, Kerri Banyas, Summer Osborn, Aletha Vandermaas, Jessica Pennington, and the OSP community.

Update on memorial service...

2008-09-30T17:57:00.001-07:00

The time to remember and celebrate Mike will be at Wabisis Park at 3pm. For those who want to map quest, the address is 11220 Springhill Drive, Greenville, MI 48848. Vistations will be held at Pederson Home in Rockford MI. Thurs 2-4, 6-9, and Friday 11-1 pm.

We met this morning with a dear friend of Mike's, Matt Krick, who will be officiating his memorial. It was a bitter sweet time as we remembered Mike. We laughed, cried, shared funny and amazing stories that brought joy to our hearts and souls, while at the same time sadness and loss. We want to extend this opportunity to those who have been impacted by Mike at his celebration of life memorial on Friday. If you would like to share a thought, story or memory, we will have a time where you will be invited to speak and ask it to be under 2 minutes. We also covet any thoughts you may want to share with us as a family and would love anything written so we can have that to remember him by.

Because of the impact Mike has had on so many, we are concerned about seating. Those of you who will be attending this memorial are asked to bring a folding chair "just in case" there is not enough seating.

Also I know many have inquired as to the cause of Mike's passing...The official finding is "natural causes", but I can't see anything natural about Mike's death.

The ache and pain is for us to have to wrestle through...

I will say again how much i am clinging to your words, your prayers, your offers of love. And it have been a blessing to Mike's family to read the many messages and memories. It brings up a bit of peace to know how well he was loved and the impact he had on so many.

making it through minute by minute...
kelly

a time of remembrance for Mike Powers...

2008-09-29T15:24:00.000-07:00

It is overwhelming and so so good to receive all of your loving words and to hear all of the memories you had of Mike. It affirms to me what an amazing, extraordinary, one of kind person he was...

The visitation hours for Mike will be at Pederson Funeral Home in Rockford Thursday 2-4 pm, 6-9 pm and Friday 11 am-1 pm. We are waiting to finalize the location for the memorial service which will take place on Friday late afternoon and once I know I will pass that information along.

Also in lieu of flowers we ask that you offer contributions to our dear friends Chad and Marlana Smith who are in Guatemala serving and loving on orphans. Checks can be me made out to Blythefiled Hills Baptist Church c/o Chad and Marlana Smith.

So grateful for your presence...clinging to your prayers,
kelly

Life stilled...

2008-09-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

This weekend I tragically lost my husband....This is unexpected and of course devastating, but I am surrounded by amazing family and friends.

At this time I will not be taking any new inquiries and if you have already arranged for my services you will be contacted shortly with details to rescheduled or to connect you with another photographer.

Thank you for your prayers and love...

mark {senior}...

2008-09-24T20:12:00.001-07:00

For ten years I worked with high school and college students...mentoring, counseling, listening. i love this season of life for them...they have a lot of questions, a lot of possibilities.

Mark has a great spirit...he talked about wanting to travel and experience life before heading to college. He knows good music, good art, and has a witty sense of humor. Thanks for sharing one of your favorite "thinking" spots Mark...

Mark and I share an appreciation for Sufjan Stevens...so I had to use of one my favorites for the slideshow. enjoy...

ashlee & kyle {engagement}

2008-09-17T21:04:00.000-07:00

at the end of our session ashlee gave me one of the greatest compliments...she said they were dreading having their pictures taken earlier that day, but after our time together they felt so relaxed and had a great time. it felt like they were just on a date...

and that's what i hope all of my couples experience with me...i'm not there to create an artificial moment but to capture what's true in your relationship.

i was smitten with these two after our night in saint joseph (named the most romantic city in michigan you know). i can't wait for their wedding in october!

can you guess what date their wedding day is???

enjoy your slideshow!

a day at the beach...

2008-09-15T18:12:00.001-07:00

It was such a delight reuniting with my freshman year roommate Sarah and her whole extended family for a day at the beach...

It's really hard to believe that I will be celebrating my 10 year reunion at Taylor University. College for me really was an amazing time...of growth, learning, and a lot of playing. It's fun to see where life has taken all of us over the years (I certainly did not dream that I would be a photographer ten years ago!)

I loved seeing Sarah as a mom of three...She's a fun and engaging mom, just like I remember her from our college days. All of the kids were too too cute!

Hope you enjoy the slideshow...

shaina & jesse...

2008-09-09T11:26:00.000-07:00

It was a perfect end to a full summer of weddings...Jill and I traveled to the other side of the state, to Saginaw for Jesse and Shaina's wedding. Again the weather was brilliant, with blue skies and a cool breeze.

Their story started at the workplace where Jesse spied the new intern and despite warnings from his mom to not pursue a "student" they were meant to be together (and his mom is delighted!). I love the friendship between these two...and when they look at each other there is pure love and joy for each other.

Jesse and Shaina wanted to wait for their first glance to happen at the ceremony...so we headed out after the ceremony all around town to capture some great pictures. My favorite spot was the zoo where Matt, one of the groomsmen, worked his charm and got us in for free. We had so much fun on the carousal and matching up the guys in their "penguin suits" with...well the penguins!

The celebration ended at the Temple theater, another new favorite venue. It's a historic theater that has been converted into a reception hall. My favorite detail of possibly all my weddings is the marquee with Jesse and Shaina's names up in lights! The reception was so fun and very emotional. I don't think there was a dry eye after the speeches.

Enjoy a few favorites and the slideshow at the end...

i LOVE these vintage shoes!

bisou, bisou little liam and finley!

she is so stunning!

shaina and jesse, i'm so delighted to have been a part of your day...you have an amazing community of family and friends and i loved capturing every moment!

the felt estate...

2008-09-07T16:35:00.000-07:00

I will admit that when I drove up to the Felt Estate with my friend Mindy, we squealed with delight! A stunning house nestled in green fields, flanked with giant trees. It was an impressive sight...

Once the home of self-made millionaire and inventor Dorr E. Felt, it has now been restored and is available to rent for special events. I loved all of the vintage touches...The mansion itself has several rooms for dining, dancing, and a beautiful bride's room. The ballroom is on the third floor and is air-conditioned which created a cool atmosphere for some hot dancing. The grounds are just as stunning...They have a water park and several other gardens with dozens of butterflies dancing. At one point I thought I was in a Jane Austen book it was that romantic!

If you haven't booked a venue yet you should consider the Felt estate for your ceremony, reception or both! Just a few miles from Holland and Saugatuck it's a delight spot for wedding...

The bride's room was decorated with several mirrors, antique furniture and vintage dresses. Plus the lighting was a photographer's dream...

tara and bjorn...

2008-09-07T13:21:00.000-07:00

their story started in maine, amongst the beautiful water, hills and the rigors of graduate school. introduced by a mutual friend, bjorn thought tara didn't even notice him, when in truth she knew the moment she saw him she was going to marry him.

their first date was almost canceled by a blizzard but they ventured into the white weather anyway and enjoyed an intimate dinner (and then bjorn spent an hour digging his car out of the snow).

and now a couple of years later they decided to celebrate their relationship on the shores of lake michigan...a perfect reflection of their mutual love for nature and water. (tara's an aquatic ecologist and bjorn is completing his PhD in environmental engineering...smart and green!)

the thunderstorm held off until ten minutes after their ceremony...families and friends rushed to their cars and to the felt estate (which is my new favorite venue that will get it's own blog posting...). the rest of the day was a fun and intimate celebration.

since tara and bjorn live in maine (one of my favorite places...) we couldn't do an engagement session. so we did an "after glow" session a couple of days after their wedding...i love these kind of sessions cause the couple is more relaxed and we can do some really fun and creative shots without worrying about messing up the dress. i took them down to reed's lake where we enjoyed the beautiful afternoon.

parking garages are one of my new favorite spots to shoot...

i think we even captured a little "maine" in some of these shots...

tara and bjorn...it was a delight being a part of your day. i wish you all the best as you finish school and look ahead to what's next. and if i find myself back in maine we need to do some kayaking!

have a lazy day...

2008-08-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

i hope everyone enjoys an extra long weekend..i have a wedding tomorrow, a photo shoot on sunday and then i am going to have a lazy day with my husband on monday. so if you e-mail me over the weekend i will return your messages on tuesday.

delights...

2008-08-28T16:33:00.001-07:00

alicia bock is an artist that always inspires me...she just posted these new number postcards on her etsy store. oh what do i love most...the vintage image, the rounded corners, thinking of which friend i could mail this delightful little note to???

grand rapids bridal show...

2008-08-28T13:36:00.001-07:00

come meet me at this year's Grand Rapids Wedding Affair...it's my first bridal show and i'm looking forward to meeting lots of new friends! it should be a delightful evening...

amanda & brian...

2008-08-27T12:35:00.001-07:00

"lovers must not, like usurers, live for themselves alone. they must finally turn from their gaze at one another back toward the community. if they had only themselves to consider, lovers would not need to marry, but they must think of others and of other things. they say their vows to the community as much as to one another, and the community gathers around them to hear and to wish them well, on their behalf and its own. it gathers around them because it understands how necessary, how joyful, and how fearful this joining is." wendell berry

i am so endeared to this couple...from the first moment we met i was so drawn to their sincerity and depth. after a little last minute change in the wedding date due to a job opportunity i was so delighted that i was able to be present to their celebration.

i know that my pictures can't fully express the intimate, playful, emotional, and authentic spirit of the day. it was an honest celebration...not everything was primmed and polished. but what was beautiful were the hearts of these two amazing people. i have never heard a couple speak their vows with such conviction. and what was true throughout this whole day was how they delighted and honored the community around them. as reflected in the passage from wendell berry that they included in their program, they testified that their relationship is stregthened by the presence of their family and friends.

i walked away from this day inspired to be more for my husband, my family, my friends. thank you amanda and brian for the honor...

maybe my all time favorite...

i called her my anthroplogie bride...

the reception at her parents home had a field of sunflowers...delight!

okay i love this picture...amanda's dad is a serious hunter. this is only a small section of the trophey room...and amanda had at least one up there.

i love running into past couples...i captured ryan and sarah's wedding last summer and they were kind enough to recommend me to amanda and brian. happy anniversary friends!

and a big thanks to my friend sam for second shooting with me...it was a delight!

hannah {senior}

2008-08-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

have i mentioned how much i love senior sessions? i met hannah through her big sister, jackie who's wedding i shot a couple of years ago. now hannah is looking ahead to her future, with dreams of pursuing the graphic arts.

we spent a delightful summer evening shooting around downtown rockford and found so many fun spots. hannah worked it out and i think her sweet spirit really shined!

hannah i know that God will bless the road ahead of you!

{welcome} baby eli...

2008-08-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

it's such a joy to watch my friends receive a blessing like a new baby...and what a delight when jay and kristin asked if i would be interested in taking some pictures of their growing family!

their lives are full and rich with a curious and active two year old, a sweet baby boy, a new job, and hopefully soon a new place to call home...so thankful to call you friends!

enjoy some favs...

LOVE IT!

you got to wonder what this little one is thinking...

welcome to the world eli...

ashley & mike...part two

2008-08-21T14:03:00.001-07:00

The connection between Ashley and Mike is so sweet...Mike actually started off as Ashley's brother's friend. It was an interesting conversation when Mike asked Rory if he could date his baby sister...So it was fitting that Rory stood up as Ashley's "man of honor". Mike's brother was his best man and they kept each other laughing all night long.

Now Ashley and Mike are starting a new life in Iowa as Mike pursues his dream job of guiding hunting trips. It's a big change for them both, far from family, but they are so supportive of each other you sense it will only strengthen their relationship.

Rory is the quintessential big brother...he's protective, teases Ashley, but really adores her!

A favorite moment...Rory dancing with Grandma

Thank you so much Ashley and Mike...It was such a delight!

ashley & mike...part one

2008-08-20T20:58:00.001-07:00

The day was cool and refreshing, unusual for Michigan in August. Ashley got ready for the day with a relaxed spirit while her Mom paced around to release her excited nerves. Mike and Ashley wanted a simple wedding party, so they each asked their brothers to stand up for them. So instead of the usual giddy bridesmaids hovering around myself and my second shooter Jill got to ooh and aah over Ashley, her dress, and all the other lovely details.

The ceremony was simple and classic, with Ashley and Mike surrounded by family and friends offering their blessings.

The celebration ended at Aquinas College where there was laughter, toasts of hope and blessings, crazy dancing and just delight for the new couple.

Here's part one of some of my favorites (thanks for being so patient for these guys...you get double the blog love!)

i love bobbi brown makeup...

Ashley wrapped her grandparents' wedding rings to her bouquet in remembrance...

Ashley was stunning!!!

Mike was great too...(despite the heckling from the boys!)

I love this shot of Mike "feeling" out his new ring...

Can't wait to share the rest...stay tuned for more tomorrow!

sweet home chicago...

2008-08-18T20:38:00.000-07:00

i will be "out of the office" till wednesday afternoon as i'm heading into chicago for a photography seminar. so know that i will return e-mails/phone calls as soon as i return.

i have lots of fun blog posts coming up this week (as long as my photo uploader gets fixed...hence lack of any eye candy with this post)

till then...

a little inspiration...

2008-08-14T11:43:00.000-07:00

when i spend hours and hours in front of my computer editing, well sometimes i need to take a break and get some inspiration...

aside from the many photography blogs that i "stalk" i find inspiration in other forms...like paper. i LOVE paper...stationary, cardstock, wrapping paper, handmade, fiberous, vibrant paper. so yesterday i lingered at a scrapbooking store picking out some delight vintage prints.

and then today i made a quick stop at home fabrics to look for supplies for a project...and i was smitten with this pattern. (and on a side note home fabrics is having a clearance sale additional 40% off and all of their in-store fabrics are 20% off...the salesperson says they are clearing out all of their fabric supplies and will be only be doing special orders for fabrics. so if you're in GR and love fabrics check them out)

and lastly i've been working on my culinary art using our weekly vegetable crop from a local farm. we love veggies but this experience has stretched me to incorporate more greens into our daily meals. as fall is approaching the weekly crops become more and more abundant. this week carrots!!!

so what's inspiring you?

katie & dan {love}

2008-08-12T11:27:00.001-07:00

It seems like I've been anticipating this wedding forever...I shot Katie and Dan's engagement session last fall and knew it was going to be an amazing celebration. Despite the hot August weather, the skies were brilliant blue and everyone was in high spirits.

My friend Mindy tagged along to second shoot for me...Here are a few favorites!

The girls practicing their moves...

love this...

katie baby-sat for these two cuties...

one of the best wedding parties ever...

the guys were a riot!

the girls a little sassy...

poor dan was roasting in his tux...

let's get married!

both dan and katie's families were so warm and welcoming...

grandma was just beaming watching her granddaughter dance...

dan's parents were rockstars on the dance floor...

"down, down do your dance" (i think i've heard the "cupid shuffle" at every wedding)

thank you so much dan and katie for inviting me to be part of a delightful day!

erin & jessie {senior session}

2008-08-11T11:12:00.001-07:00

when my cousin erin contacted me about doing a senior session, i admit i was in disbelief that she was old enough to be graduating...oh how time flies!

this was another session i did in downtown naperville. it was fun seeing my hometown with new eyes...erin brought along her friend jessie for a double session. i loved watching their friendship, how they could make each other giggle. no matter where life may take these two they will always have these pictures that captured their friendship with each other.

and these girls were crazy gorgeous! i don't think i looked that put together when i was in high school...

my cousin (who tells me she's been "stalking" my blog for this sneek peek...thanks for being patient!)

sweet jessie

erin's part of a group at school called snowball...they promote affirmation and encouragement within the school and they use these fun yarn balls!

i love swinging...

thanks for a fun evening and being so willing to "play"...i hope this final year is amazing!

kelly & russ {e-session}

2008-08-07T20:10:00.000-07:00

i found myself back in my childhood hometown of naperville, IL for this engagement session. kelly and russ are planning an intimate wedding celebration on michigan's lakeshore this fall (and i'll get to work with jessica of stella event design. so fun!). it just seemed meant to be when she contacted me for photography because well she has a great name and to discover that they live in naperville...too fun!

i loved this session...kelly is sassy and chic (check out her killer shoes!) and russ is calm, cool and collected. a perfect balance. and to make it even more delightful they brought their lil' puppy frankie along too! frankie was the one who "checked out" the new neighbor russ...and gave her doggie approval. and it was when they were out walking frankie that russ proposed to kelly. she's their very own cupid...

FAVORITE!!!

doesn't kelly look like eva longoria??? too cute!

thanks guys for a great evening and for treating mike & i to a lil' vino! really can't wait till your celebration...

kelly & matt...

2008-08-04T09:45:00.001-07:00

I connected with Kelly right away during our first meeting when she talked about how much she loves photography and how she and her mom spend hours making scrapbooks. So I knew going into this wedding how important the pictures would be...

And it was a pleasure to shoot...both families and all of their friends brought such great energy to the day! So much joy and celebrating!

the first meeting...

matt is a quiet soul but he knew how to work the pictures...

these girls had sass!

matt presented the guys with personalized pocket watches...love it!

another favorite grandpa...workin' the aviator glasses!

matt has a delightful habit of sticking out his tongue when having his picture taken. kelly and her parents decided to turn the table on him...

such a sweet mother daughter relationship...

matt, his brothers, and dad were rockin' these amazing black cowboy boots...

the one detail matt was REALLY excited about was wearing his black hat to the reception and making their entrance to a lil' johnny cash...

a fun little detail that my second shooter jill devries captured...

kelly and matt...THANK YOU for a great day! it was such a delight to witness your celebration and capture so many beautiful moments!

and i can't wait to see the "volumes" of scrapbooks that you will produce!!!

bliss weddings...

2008-08-04T06:56:00.001-07:00

now that i'm in the midst of weddings i see more and more how important it is to have someone take care of the "details". flowers get misplaced, a groom is hungry, a laptop won't work...you name it, it can happen on the big day.

so it's my delight to invite y'all to check out bliss weddings...a michigan wedding event planning company located over on the east side of the state. they actually gave me a little photo love last month! amanda also has a great blog where she shares yummy details and ideas...(she immediately found a place in my google reader list).

and to double your blog pleasure amanda of bliss weddings and aletha of pearl events (our lovely local planner) are trading spaces...they will be sharing on each others blogs. so be sure to check them both out this week.

and coming soon...

kelly & matt {sneak peek}
kelley & russ {e-session}
erin & jessie {senior session}
katie & dan {sneak peek}

winner of photo love is...

2008-07-31T14:26:00.000-07:00

leesh!

i will be sending your gift card in the mail soon...

and thanks to all the fun comments! i promise to have more fun contests in the future...

kari {senior session}

2008-07-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

it's nice in the middle of wedding season to take a break and shoot a senior session...

senior year is such an interesting time. there's a confidence being the top class in the school and then the curiosity (okay anxiety) of what's to come. the possibilities and the uncertainty. i always enjoy talking to my seniors about this season of their life. some know the path they're taking, others are still clinging on to the last days of summer.

while kari may not know exactly where her path is going, she didn't appear to be anxious or worried at all. in fact the girl was all smiles. one of the sweetest spirits i've encountered! days before our shoot she had just returned from a missions trip. and i could tell that's a passion for her...people and serving others.

thanks for spending the evening with me kari...we beat the big dark rain clouds and captured a little bit of your happy and kind spirit!

when i asked kari to give me a more soft, serious look she just couldn't contain her smiles! love it!

favorite!

many blessings on what is ahead kari!

** i still have spots open in september and october for senior sessions. send me an e-mail if you'd like to schedule a session.**

last chance for give-away...

2008-07-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

here's your last chance to submit your name to win a $25 gift card for any of my services or products....just leave a comment after the photo love entry. i will pick a name tomorrow at 5 pm and announce the lucky recipient.

debbie & rick...

2008-07-29T21:15:00.001-07:00

ever since their AMAZING engagement session i've been looking forward to debbie and rick's wedding celebration...

the skies threatened rain but the bride and groom were all relaxed. delighting in each other, enjoying the presence of their many family and friends, celebrating with good food and beverage. it's the kind of party you feel honored to be a part of...

here are my many, many favorites!

first glance...

the ceremony and reception took place at post family farm. it was simple, rustic and beautiful...and the staff were so hard-working and accommodating! a new favorite spot of mine for sure.

debbie is someone who just shines!

debbie's mom created all of the bridesmaid dresses...i adore the rich plum hue!

lovely little details...(my favorite were the blueberry favors!)

debbie and rick...thank you for the delight of capturing your day! i know you will have a life-time of joy and blessings together...

give them some photo love...

2008-07-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

i love celebrating people and one of my favorite ways is to give presents...birthdays, christmas, babies, and sometimes just because. and instead of always giving "stuff" (cause don't we have enough "stuff" in our lives) i like to give "experience" gifts. a spa date, trip to the zoo, date night gift cards.

so i'm so excited to now offer gift certificates for my photography! what a delight gift to give for a baby shower, as an engagement present or for a wedding. to a soon-to-be high school graduate. to celebrate a 25th wedding anniversary or just because. brides, add a album to your registry...

these gift certificates can be purchased for any of my available services and products:
* baby bump session
* trash the dress
* high school senior portraits
* family portraits
* coffee table albums
* leather bound wedding albums
* print credit starting at $25 and up

and to start the giving i will randomly pick a name from my blog comments for this post and give a $25 gift card away that can be used towards any of my services or products...i'll pick the winner a week from today.

alexis & kevin...anytime

2008-07-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

i have been looking forward to this session for months! my delightful friend alexis (who's an amazing photographer and has second shot with me) asked me if i would be interested in shooting a session ala "trash the dress" for her and her man kevin. and when she showed me the location i was giddy!!! a broken-down, rustic, perfectly distressed church...my dream location!!!

and they were the perfect "models"...alexis is so sweet and graceful and kevin is just a riot. he pulled off some killer looks but had us laughing non-stop. thank you friends for an amazing experience...i can honestly say that all of these pictures are my FAVORITE!!!

crystal & mark...

2008-07-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

four years ago when i was working as a resident director at calvin college a freshman named mark moved into the hall. he was the type of student who jumped into all of the hall activities right away, helped lead worship, developed some amazing friends. later he went on to serve as the hall president and helped create one of the best years for our community.

so jump ahead another year and i hear "through the grapevine/facebook" that he's dating a girl named crystal...and next thing i know they're engaged and asking me to be a part of their celebration! but i can't help but still remember lil' freshman mark! oh how time flies...

this was an AMAZING day! not only to celebrate mark and crystal, but it was a chance to reunite with old faces...this past spring i captured crystal's brother, kyle's weddin g. and i just adored this family! plus connecting with some past calvin students. and the day ended at the beautiful frederick mejer gardens.

so here's just a few favorites...

how sweet is crystal's grandpa...homer performed the ceremony (and he's the grandpa i feel in love at kyle and joanna's wedding)

i won't tell what we had to do to get this picture...but it was worth "breakin the rules"

this wedding was full of laughs...the wedding party would rate the couple every time they kissed!

go grandpa homer! (can i adopt you???)

thanks friends for the honor of being a part of your day! your family and friends were so delightful...i wish you all the best as you look ahead to law school, new jobs, and the beginning of your life together!

rock the reception...

2008-07-14T11:59:00.001-07:00

I LOVE to dance...as a little girl I dreamed of being on broadway. i was on a dance team in high school. and one of my favorite shows is "so you think you can dance".

so i was so so excited to hear about this new show "rock the reception" on TLC. the show is about professional choreographers teaching the bride and groom and sometimes wedding party a fun dance to perform during the reception...this new trend was started when some couples posted on youtube their amazing and fun "first" dances. if you haven't seen any of these here's one of the more infamous ones.

check out this new TLC show...and get your groove on!

kelley & stephen...

2008-07-12T17:38:00.000-07:00

this is LONG overdue...but i had too many pictures to choose from.

kelley and steve's story started as a summer love and grew deeper as they traveled the globe to be with each other...steve is from australia and kelley is from oklahoma but they found each other at a little summer camp here in michigan. their relationship and faith is so inspiring, so i really felt honored to be a part of their day. i met them only a few days before their wedding but knew instantly that the day was going to be full of joy and laughter!

i love the brown suits...a fun alternative to a black tux

check out these urban ninjas!

steve has amazing friends...so many of them traveled from australia (a long and costly trip) to celebrate kelley and steve.

steve is a part of an amazing band wintersound...they just released their first cd (which you can find on itunes). i love their acoustic, rock sound...plus these guys are hilarious! let's just say one of them was sporting a way-too tight pair of goodwill pants...

i love this moment...kelley and steve decided to wait to see each other at the ceremony.

the girl was smiles the whole time...later she told us that steve kept cracking jokes throughout the ceremony!

we headed to the beach to capture some more pictures...but it was a short trip as there were dark rain clouds heading our way. we just made it back to our cars when it started to downpour...but i think we got some great shots!

my new favorite wedding favor is the candy bar...it's fun and playful and you get to choose your favorite sweet treat!

steve using his wild hair to entertain little finley (the cute blue-eyed girl below)...

the in-laws presenting steve with some michigan fan-fare

the aussie crew...i just feel in love with them! and steve's mom was so warm and caring...she'd give me a kiss on the cheek as a greeting! both kelley and steve felt so blessed by the presence of all their family and friends. and say the word, i'll hop a plane down under to shoot any event!

and the award for the most amazing reception dancers goes to...

i had an amazing experience and i could have stayed all night celebrating with kelley and steve...
i wish you much joy and blessings kelley and steve!

and the day was even better because my delightful friend mindy was my second shooter. she blesses and inspires me! thanks friend...

...and we're back!

2008-07-12T08:24:00.001-07:00

the technical problems seem to be fixed...

so now i can get to posting a couple of amazing weddings and other fun stuff! happy weekend!

out of order...

2008-07-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

so i came home tonight after shooting a wedding to discover that my web-site and e-mail are down...so if you sent me a message today please be patient while i await some technical support.

ah, the joys of living in a modern (i.e. we're dependent on all things electronic) world...

my daily highlight...

2008-07-02T19:54:00.000-07:00

i love mail. i mean a real, authentic, hand-written letter. working from home i spend hours staring at my mac, editing images, "stalking" blogs. but i always take a break late afternoon when i hear the creak of my mailbox and the thump of our daily mail hitting the floor. sometimes it's a gentle thump but some days it's a loud plunk (which usually means my real simple magazine or catalog from anthroplogie).

i can't believe it's already july...a lot has happened this past year. we moved into our first home, became owners of two crazy cats, and i took the plunge to pursue photography full-time. and now after months of planning and anticipating with so many of my couples the wedding season is in full swing. and i know every photographer thinks they have the best couples...but i really do have the BEST couples!

i am almost completely booked for 2008...i have a couple of possible dates still open in November and December. as 2009 couples begin to make their wedding plans there will be some exciting changes in my wedding collections that will be coming this august.

i still have plenty of dates available for family portraits and senior sessions...

hope you have a festive fourth! check back soon for pics of my wedding featuring some mates from australia...

jennifer & dan...

2008-06-28T06:34:00.001-07:00

the first wedding i ever shot at was a beach wedding in michigan for some friends...so i have a special affection for beach weddings. they are sweet, intimate, vibrant, romantic, playful...and this wedding was all these things and more. my friend jen came out to be my assistant/photographer in training and my other friend alexis rocked it out as my second shooter! we had a great time capturing all the little details of this day...(and at one point we were "caught" by the bride and her matron-of-honor being camera geeks taking random detail shots at the reception...what can i say we love our jobs!)

the flowergirls were picture perfect in these blue polka dot dresses...i heard they came from one of my favorite stores, target! i just adore them...

the whole wedding party was full of personality!

a reunion...a year ago i shot jackie's, the matron of honor (and a friend of mine), wedding. so it was such a delight to be reunited with this family for another celebration!

the groom...all relaxed and full of smiles!

stunning!

most beach wedding you'll see a sand ceremony as opposed to lighting a candle...i love how they incorporated their wedding colors!

yummy little treats!

congratulations jennifer and dan! it was a crazy-fun day, full of a lot of laughs and a few tears. thanks for the honor of being a part of your day...enjoy your trip out west!

brian and amanda e-session...

2008-06-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

from the first time i met with brian and amanda i was so drawn to their unique, sincere and grounded personalities. they know who they are, they are intentional about their relationship, they value the presence of community in their lives. and they enjoy an evening at a pub talking about literature and life...i think i have a friend crush on them!

while they started off planning a fall wedding a job offer up in canada quickly changed those plans...i am so glad it worked out with my schedule to still be a part of their day!

i love these series of pictures...i'm addicted to books and bookstore. so when brian and amanda named themselves as "nerds who like to read" well i thought we make the perfect team!

i love their engagement story...instead of just brian presenting a ring to amanda they both proposed to each other, offering rings, inviting each other to share life together. i think this really reflects the respect, affection, and delight they hold for each other...

okay this is a little quirky but it's a homage to one of my old roommates and a photographer i admire...danielle took our engagement pictures almost nine years ago and did a similar picture layout. i loved it...so here's my version.

amanda has an affection for all things red and abnormally over-sized...so it makes sense that she loves, loves, loves the giant red button in grand rapids. i'll admit i didn't know this thing existed, but it is so fun! and this is the spot where brian and amanda proposed to each other!

it's been a delight getting to know you both...thanks for letting me explore my own creativity while capturing your relationship. i feel so honored to be a part of your celebration!

jon & kerrie e-session...

2008-06-25T09:35:00.001-07:00

jon and kerrie can be summed up as infectious joy! their faces and personalities just wouldn't stop smiling...i've known jon for a couple of years and he has such a kind and encouraging spirit. kerrie is a perfect fit for him...and i can't wait to see how big their grins will be on their wedding day!

stunning inside and out!

it didn't take much for these two to ham it up for the camera...

i love a couple who isn't shy to show their affection...

one of my favorite locations of the session was pal's diner...love me some retro!

thanks for sharing your "date night" with me, jon and kerrie...your winter wedding is going to be such a delight!

staggs family...

2008-06-23T19:40:00.001-07:00

while spending the evening with our friends the staggs i captured a few "real life" portraits...here are a few favorites!

we ended the evening watching a dance recital...she really sparkled!

more pics to come this week....

i spy...

2008-06-18T22:27:00.001-07:00

two little delightful girls! here's just a sneak peek of one of my latest sessions...

2008-06-09T21:33:00.000-07:00

we should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy,
even if it is only picking grapes
or sorting the laundry

e.b. white

mark & crystal e-session...

2008-06-08T22:38:00.000-07:00

i love these two! i've known mark since his freshman year at calvin college. and i can't believe he's now getting married!!! i've just started to get to know crystal, but can see what a great fit they are together. here are just a few favorites from our session last week...

can't wait till july friends!

laura & dave...

2008-06-08T07:08:00.001-07:00

i really believe that a wedding day matches the personality of the couple...and laura & dave's wedding was the perfect mirror of their kind, joyful, and relaxed spirits. with brilliant blue skies and lots of smiling faces it was a great event to shoot!

future photog!

this lil' guy was too young to be in the wedding, but with his fuzzy hair and blue eyes he was the focus of a lot of pics...

they had their reception at fallasburg park in lowell...it was simple, rustic, and beautiful!

for dancing the couple did contra dancing, which is a folk dance similar to square dancing. there were two callers, some twirling, a lil' dose-i-do, and a lot of laughs! i love that dave and laura did something different...they chose the contra dance cause they tired it out one time for a date night and got hooked!

so i mentioned that the day was filled with blue skies...well that's not always the perfect formula for portraits. so here's a pic of what i looked like during half of the portraits, checking the sky for the next big cloud to give us a little shade. and a cute pic of my second shooter jill devries. she just graduated from college and is a gifted artist, both in graphic design and photography.

just because...

2008-06-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

for years i've had a love for old stained glass windows...the history, the vintage beauty, the idea of taking broken pieces to create art. sometimes i feel like a broken mess, but somehow my husband always sees the beauty in me.

can you imagine the delight i experienced when i came home the other night to find a window displayed on our mantel..."just because" he said.

i love my husband for so many reasons and sometimes just because...

elsbeth & rob...

2008-06-04T17:03:00.000-07:00

i had the pleasure of second shooting for jen badalamenti of jk photography this past weekend. i was so excited to work with jen and learn from her...

even though the skies threatened rain, it didn't dampen anyone's spirit. rob and elsbeth's story started over in england...and now here in michigan they gathered with an intimate group of their family and friends to celebrate their relationship!

i got to hang out with rob and the guys for most of the afternoon...rob is such a character! he was always hamming it up for the camera, but i manage to get some "normal" shots of the groom...

love the english fashion!

one of my favorite moments during the wedding is when the groom receives his ring...

it was a great way to start the summer wedding season...a big thanks to jen for this opportunity!!!

the sandison family...

2008-06-04T11:01:00.000-07:00

before pursuing photography full-time i served as a resident director at a calvin college. my biggest joy from this job were the relationships i formed with many different students. i especially became close to my resident assistants...they feel like my lil brothers and sisters. so when one of my RA's, kyle, asked me to shoot his family's pictures i was delighted! it was a perfect evening and this family was so fun and so easy to be with...kyle always spoke highly of his parents and his siblings and i can understand why!

kyle and chris are AMAZING musicians...

chris brought his girlfriend laura to shoot, so of course we had to grab some shots!

kyle, chris (who didn't stop smiling the whole time), and katie (who is a natural model!)

the sweetest parents...and i caught them holding hands!

thanks for a delightful evening!

photoshop CS3 for sale...

2008-05-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

i'm selling my photoshop CS3 extended for Mac's. asking $300. you will receive transfer of ownership. i've only owned it for a couple of months, but am getting the whole creative suite so i don't need two copies of photoshop.

a lil' purple love...

2008-05-30T08:27:00.001-07:00

sometimes i have to remind myself to capture beautiful things with my camera, just because. for the simple joy of it, to play.

hoping this weekend you do something just because...

stella event design...

2008-05-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

last week i took a quick road trip down to st.joseph, michigan to meet jessica from stella event design...i think one of the most important elements of a wedding event is to have someone who will organize and oversee all the little details. so i love meeting wedding planners that i can recommend to my couples!

jessica has a great energy, a delightful laugh, a dedicated spirit...i can tell she loves to develops relationships with her couples, ensuring them that they will have a smooth and stress-free day. if you're planning an event in the saint joe area or down into south bend you should seriously consider her services.

here's a fun little interview i did with jessica along with some portraits i took during our visit...

* where do you live? family?

I live in St. Joseph with my husband Josh. If you've never been to St.Joe, it is the textbook definition of a summer-town, nestled along lake michigan. it's absolutely charming in the spring, summer, and fall, and pretty dead during the winter.

* what are some quirky habits/hobbies/guilty pleasures?

I am a huge fan of scrapbooking, and am currently working on scrapbooking my wedding. I started with our engagement (back when we got engaged in September 2006, but have been pretty slow about doing it---mostly because I'm such a perfectionist, and find myself spending hours on just one or 2 pages! I could spend hours (and a ton of money!) in a scrapbook store, and be a very happy girl!

* how did you get into wedding planning? what do you love about it?

I got into event planning first. I took courses while I was at Grand Valley, and also worked as their special events intern for a year, which involved planning a lot of campus events for 100-2000 students, which was a lot of fun. Through Grand Valley, I also worked with the event coordinator at Warner, Norcross & Judd, to plan their holiday party in 2004 at the Amway Grand for 300+ attorneys and legal assistants. Helping with friends weddings, planning social events, and a few non-profit events, led to my desire to open Stella Event Design in 2007, after moving to St. Joseph. Currently I only have weddings booked, but would love to tackle corporate and non-profit events as well in the future.

The thing I love the most about wedding planning is the sense of gratification you feel when you help someone plan such an important life event. I love being able to take someone's vision and dreams for their day, and help them turn it into a beautiful, successful event that really shines with their personality.

* why do you think it's valuable to have a wedding planner?

For a lot of people, it's a real challenge to pull together all of their ideas, and create an overall design that doesn't just look like a hodge-podge of pretty things. A wedding planner can help you pull together all of your ideas, and help to create an event that has a feeling of continuity. More importantly, a wedding planner can help you to coordinate the logistics of a wedding, so that you can relax and enjoy your wedding day. A wedding planner is also a fabulous resource to connect you with quality vendors that fit not only your style, but also your budget. A lot of people view a wedding planner as a budget-buster, when in reality, a wedding planner can help you make the most of your budget, and save you money in the long run!

* what is your favorite moment in a wedding celebration?

I have 2 favorite parts---the first, is the moment when the bride is waiting to go down the aisle with her dad. It's so fun to see a bride so excited and giddy to go down the aisle---I think that is the moment when it hits most brides that this is actually happening! The second, is when the bride and groom get ready to leave the reception, after everything has gone smoothly, and just as they expected. This is when all 3 of us get to look back and say, "we did it," which is a great feeling.

* favorite thing to do in the spring?

Anything outside! I love to grill with my husband---he does most of the grilling, but I love to sit outside with him and hang out while he grills up something delicious!

* what is one piece of advice you'd give to brides?

Stay organized! If you're planning a wedding on your own, the best thing you can do is get a head start on things. Don't wait until the last minute, and make sure you're wrapping up any projects several weeks before the wedding, so you can enjoy yourself! If you've got a wedding planner, let her worry about the details, and just enjoy your day!

check out her blog too for inspiration and resources for your event!

debbie & rick e-session...

2008-05-27T14:19:00.001-07:00

it was a chilly sunday but the sun was out and the skies were brilliant blue...a great day for some engagement pictures! debbie and rick love downtown. they live just a few blocks away and have trained for marathons along these streets. and they were more than willing to go along with my ideas for shots...can't wait for their wedding day in july!!!

debbie has this million-dollar smile and killer blue eyes...plus a joyful spirit!

i was so sad to hear that a new building will be going up that will cover the coca-cola wall. good thing we've documented it!

soon they will be "one"...

wow...

rick was such a great sport, even despite us teasing him. and he's such a gentleman...he offered me a ride to my car so i didn't have to walk in the light rain!

i love this nose-scrunchy moment!

weddings begin to kick off for me this weekend...let's just hope the predicted thunderstorms don't make for soggy celebrations!

jesse & shaina e-session...

2008-05-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

jesse and shaina traveled from saginaw to meet me in grand rapids to capture some engagement pictures. jesse was actually the one who contacted me...it's not often grooms are setting up details, but i love it! this session was as close to "picture-perfect" that you can get...an amazing couple, perfect lighting, fun new locations.

jesse and shaina met a little over three years. she was working a co-op at jesse's work...he finally worked up the nerve to ask her out, but she didn't even realize it was an actual date. years later shaina is graduating with a degree in nero-science (smart and gorgeous!!!). even though jesse always said he was waiting till she finished school before he proposed, he had other plans. with a stunning ring in hand he devised a plan to set up the scene while she was in class...but wouldn't you know it, she decides to skip classes that day (a rare occurrence...)! quickly finding means to distract shaina, jesse finished his plans. with surprise and delight, she said yes. and now they are just months away from their day of celebration!!!

it was a delight spending the afternoon with you two!

favorite!!!

love it...

these two have no idea how gorgeous they are!

i love the matching duck couple in the back!!!

sometimes i think it's not fair that i get to spend my days doing something i love, love, love...what a blessing!

the conrad family...

2008-05-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

our friendship was formed while white-washing a picket fence to raise money for a youth group trip. i was new to the church and kara was this confident, energetic, and mature girl that i admired. soon we became the best of friends...sleep-overs, concerts, boyfriends, broken hearts, life-dreams. we shared a lot of these moments together.

years later she's married to nate, a perfect match. they have two beautiful girls with baby #3 on the way. she continues to be such an encouragement to me and i'm so thankful our friendship still remains over the years!

i love twirling girls...

weeeeee........

2008-05-15T23:39:00.001-07:00

check out our new ride...

i need to take some lessons since when we were test riding i crashed...but it sure is fun!!!

adam & raquel...just because

2008-05-14T16:35:00.000-07:00

isn't fun to see a relationship in it's beginning stages...there are a lot of smiles, giggles, endearing glances. i know it always inspires me to keep my relationship with my husband fresh.

well i shot these pictures of adam and raquel last week just because...to celebrate their affection for one another, to enjoy the spring landscape, and to "check out" my bro-in-law's new girlfriend! adam is my husband's lil' brother and he came in from california for a little vacation. adam and raquel have been dating for just a few months, but they are so at home with each other. adam was his usual crazy, fun-lovin self and raquel's smile told us that she felt delighted by him.

isn't she gorgeous??? and she has the sweetest spirit to match.

wish you guys could have stayed longer...