OP Love: Pre-Deployment

I thought there was a big deployment coming up, I had been getting a ton of requests for OP Love shoots. I'm so happy that the word is getting out there! Unfortunately due to their location and my schedule I had to turn some down. More than I would have liked. I did my best to find other photographers for them. (If you're a photographer reading this and interested in helping out, head over to the OP Love website and click on the link for interested photographers to sign up.)

These phone calls and e-mails always leave me with mixed emotions. I get excited knowing that awareness of OP Love is spreading and I get excited that I'll be able to photograph their family and provide the military member stationed away with an album filled with images of their family. But then after the excitement wears off I get sad. I think about what it would be like to be a military family, watching your loved one deploy not really knowing for sure when the next time they will see each other. Yeah, they give you return dates but as any military family will tell you these are not always set in stone. Seeing these wives and children knowing that in a short time their communication will be limited fills me with so much emotion, I often shed a few tears after each session.

A few days before Father's Day I received a call from a man that was about to deploy in just a few days. He was part of a Reserve Unit out of Bay City leaving for Afghanistan the day before Father's Day. He had just heard about OP Love and wanted to get a session before he left and I was grateful to have a free afternoon that week. We met up at Memorial Park last week for a quick session so they could get back to spending time together before leaving. Here's just a few of my favorites...

Click here for a slide show of some more images from our session.

Thank you so much for everything you guys go through to protect the freedom that we all have. It's the people like you guys that really make a difference!

Geri & Lindsey's E-session

Geri is my cousin and I am proud to be photographing hers and Lindsey's wedding next May at the Spring Grove Park in Ottawa. Really I can't believe she's all grown up and starting her own life. I remember when she stood by my side at our wedding, and now she's almost done with college and starting a life of her own! Where does the time go?
In college at Ferris State University is where she met Lindsey and although Lindsey was dating someone else at the time, they started a friendship that would eventually turn into more. They were in town last weekend and they met me up at the Detroit Zoo for their e-session.

To see the rest of the images from our session, click here for a slideshow

Bill and Jane's 60th Wedding Anniversary!

Last week I had the opportunity to meet a very special couple and capture a huge milestone in their life. Their 60th Wedding Anniversary! WOW 60 years! And I get all giddy thinking about celebrating mine and Scott's 10th anniversary in a couple of years... It was such an honor to be there to capture this event for them. The party was held at the Detroit Zoo and there were so many friends and family there to celebrate with Jane & Bill. Even some of their wedding party was able to make it. It was a simply amazing day....

The happy couple...

Not sure Jane could look any happier in this moment...

Jane with her Bridesmaids. Looking good ladies!

I love this moment I captured between Jane and her Maid of Honor Jean. They have been friends forever and Jane stood next to Jean on her wedding day too. Back in the day they were Jane & Jean Smith and I have to imagine that they really shook things up together. Although they swore that they were "good girls". :-)

Every family that was there had me take family portraits of them. This is my favorite of the bunch. Owen is Autistic, and we weren't sure that he was going to cooperate for their picture. I love the smile I caught here!

Just look at how happy they are!

The Brook's Family

And one last image of all of the guests that were there.

Congratulations Bill and Jane! Wishing you many more happy years of marriage!

Shelby's Graduating!

Last week I had the opportunity to meet Shelby in Algonac for her senior portrait session. I always get so nostalgic when I go out there, so many memories of growing up. It's such a beautiful town... We met up at her house and then headed up to the boardwalk. Here's some of my favorites from our session!

Deb & Tom are Engaged!

I really couldn't be more excited about this session. A friend's wedding, a beautiful location, vintage bicycles...

I love shooting in new locations and I absolutely love it when clients make their sessions personal and unique, so when Deb & Tom said they wanted their e-session at Cranbrook and they wanted to include their vintage bicycles too, you can imagine that I was pumped!

When we first got there we were slightly disappointed because everything was under construction. The museum and library were closed and even the reflecting pond was fenced off. I say slightly because being the rebels that we are we found our way in. Then as we were walking we saw other "rebels" in the garden area. Hmmm, there must have been another way in we didn't know about! :-) The grounds were absolutely gorgeous and the lighting was perfect! We were having so much fun I could have photographed them for hours!

They are getting married this September, and I'm really looking forward to their wedding. I love their style and I know that it's going to be killer.

I love how freely they laugh with each other!

Work it Deb!

Click here for a slideshow of the rest of their images!