Let the Holidays begin!

I got to photograph these girls last year for Christmas and we had so much fun throwing snow! This year we went a little more stylish. I went out and bought scarves, hats, ear muffs...the whole winter works! I couldn't ask for better models!
Thanks girls!!

Pray

If you are reading this, I ask you to pray. Pray for healing for this young girl. Pray for her family, pray for her pain to go away, pray for total healing. Pray everyday, pray for the life that she still needs to live. Pray that her cancer will go away. Pray for Kelsey.
Thank you

Christmas is on it's way!

I know it's not even Halloween yet, but the Holidays usually get crazy around here. Why not get things done early this year! Book your Christmas session now!

Christmas is an amazing time of year, and with all the stores stocking up early, there are plenty of props to go and buy! I think last year I was at Hobby Lobby and JoAnn's everyday. What I like to do is customize each session so that your cards aren't like anyone elses. Last year we had a bed with cookies and milk, stars hanging from the ceiling, snow falling from the sky, pajama parties and formal dress portraits! It's great to have all that variety! It keeps me from pulling my hair out doing the same thing over and over!
So, when you call about Christmas portraits, let us know what you will be wearing and what you have in mind. I will try to go out and find the perfect setting.
:)

A good book

My friend and fellow photographer Juliet Jarmosco has been educating me on better health. I went to a seminar on Growing Healthy Kids this weekend and it was very informative. I know no one likes to hear about how bad things are for us (especially my family) but I have been getting a wake up call lately so I thought I would share a book with you.

It's called Eat Healthy and Feel Great. It's a childrens book targeted at teaching them why they should eat healthy foods. I don't know about you, but it's hard enough to get kids to eat, let alone get them to eat well.
Just thought you might like this. You can order it at www.amazon.com or see the copy here at the studio!

Trash the Dress?

You're probably asking "What the heck is trash the dress?" Well it's exactly that. You photograph a bride in her dress (preferably after the wedding) in places that you wouldn't normally. The beauty of it is, you don't have to be careful about getting the dress dirty. Which is great! I have been wanting to do this for a while now, but haven't had the chance. Until Now!
Andrew and I were up to Boyne City the beginning of this week at our PPM Fall Seminar. We went to 3 seminars and hung out with all our photography friends. It was a great time!
Sunday evening I went out to dinner with some friends, and we decided we wanted to do trash the dress. With 30 minutes of light left, we drove out to the beach, grabbed an old wedding dress I've had for awhile, and dressed our friend Lindsay.
She was a great sport. She was tired from the night before, no make-up and hair just loose. She put her hair up, pinched her cheeks pink, and we put a little color on her lips and she was ready to go!

My friends Deb Trombley and Juliet Jarmosco photographed too. It was like the paparazzi! Lindsay look here, over here! :)

Luckily, the water was VERY shallow, so it wasn't too cold. But try having a wedding dress on, with 4 layers of fabric and getting in the water. It was very heavy and a little clingy. She was a little cold by the end!
Lindsay, thank you so much for being our model! You are beautiful!

Here are a few of the images we did!







No, this wasn't MY wedding dress. I had bought this way before then just to use.
It's always good to have a wedding dress on hand. You never know when you might need it!:)

So, did we actually trash the dress? I thought so. There was so much sand in it!
But I rinsed it out, and hung it to dry and amazingly enough, it came out pretty good. Just a little dirty. I guess we'll have to try again :)

Another baby boy in the family!

No, it's not me:) My younger brother Jonathan and his wife Kristin are expecting!
They found out yesterday that they are having a boy! We are all very excited! The first Duke baby in the family.
Congratulations guys!


Look at that profile! How Cute!



Proud Parents: Jonathan and Kristin