Striewski Weddings

Wendy and Pete share a special day...

2011-10-18T12:03:00.000-04:00

It was an ordinary day in October, except that the stars were aligned, the moon rose over the bay, the clouds parted and most of the leaves on the maple trees turned golden and amber just for October 8th, 2011.

Maybe it was an exceptional and EXTRAordinary day!!

Everything was perfect! The weather, the leaves, the mood of everyone, even the amount of time that we had to take pictures was so luxurious...
how could we not get beautiful pictures?

I know that Wendy and Pete felt that it was a special day!

I love this photo of Pete and his groomsmen... serious and thoughtful while the gals in the background play in the water!

mmmmm....

What a glorious start to a wonderful marriage!

Congratulations Wendy and Pete!!

Congratulations Ashley and Mike!

2011-10-12T09:57:00.000-04:00

When you think about the perfect wedding... what comes to mind?

Wonderful family and friends sharing special moments...?

Maybe walking barefeet on beeches that lope along the clear, deep, blue waters of Lake Michigan...?

Perfect weather on a late fall afternoon? Pumpkins and candles that light the way on a path under the trees with red leaves and orange leaves and crimson roses...?

Oh, this was a perfect wedding.

Ashley and Mike shared a joyous and glorious day
at The Homestead in Northern Michigan.

The weather was perfect for a walk on the beach...

Not to mention a chairlift to the summit to exchange vows, and the very first walk on the beach as husband and wife...

and a very first dance on the beach.

How perfect.

Congratulations Ashley and Mike!

May your lives always be filled with special moments.

Wendy and Pete at the Lighthouse

2011-08-30T16:29:00.000-04:00

Summer is all about weddings and engagements and fresh fruit and beaches, so when I'm asked to do a portrait shoot during the summer, I can only find a minimum of 25 locations to satisfy me. One of my favorites for late afternoon summer portraits is the lighthouse located at the northern end of Old Mission Penninsula in Traverse City.

I took Wendy and Pete there for their engagement sitting portraits and we had a blast!
Wendy and Pete are the perfect beach couple... with casual clothes and barefeet...

It's difficult to tell, but they are standing inside of a heart made of rocks on the beach.

Playing on the beach makes me think of warm sunshine smiley romance . ( Is there such a thing?)

I love photos that are unstaged, real- as though i am catching them in their life, living those moments that are special to them.

Wendy and Pete make a handsome couple and I can't wait to photograph their wedding this fall!

Aubrey and Justin's Album Published!

2011-01-04T11:32:00.000-05:00

Here's the cover and part of the spine for their beautiful album!

Here's the back cover and the rest of the spine for their album..

and here's a spread too...

I've been getting into making albums a little more unique and special... I like them snappy too!

Steve and Marcie link hearts!

2010-10-01T09:37:00.002-04:00

It probably isn't much of a mystery as to why I love shooting weddings. But if I had to, I'd say that it is impossible for me to ever tire of watching couples radiate love to each other on their wedding day (or any other time, truth be told). It's the one thing that I always look for and try to capture.

Steve and Marcie were wonderfully tender and playful when they looked at each other. When their eyes met, their faces softened, and they radiated love. Their faces are open, can you see it?- it's as though we are able to look directly into their hearts.

And love is so evident. I treasure the ability to witness this spark. It's so satisfying to me on a personal level-as though I am a "voyeur of love".

I guess there are worse things to be. And there are certainly worse things to photograph. But, I have to say that it's great to have an insider's seat at a wedding. I never tire of it. I love to be able to photograph a romantic and passionate couple. I would venture a guess and say that Marcie and Steve will have a vivacious and spirited life together.

And I was there for the beginning.

Sail Away with me!...

2010-08-25T22:00:00.000-04:00

Every wedding has it's own flair and with Stephanie and Chuck's wedding, I just wanted to sail away with them and listen to the many ( apparently SO MANY) fun-tastical stories about this crazy and wonderful couple. (Oh my, if you know them but you don't know the story about the broken Christmas tree stand, make sure to ask them about it! :-) ) Oh well, but i digress...

But, can you imagine marrying someone that sleepwalks and walks into your roommate's room or bumps into trees in the middle of the night?

Oh well, that doesn't matter, really...

Or what about falling in love with someone who has tattoos of girls on his arm? Even if they are of you! And what about dating someone that didn't exactly "break" the law, but kind of "stretched" it, in order to test the limits, say....

Oh well, this is all to say that none of us knows what it is that will make us fall in love with someone or why or even when. It is the crazy magical mystery of life. With no apparent rhyme or reason. And that my friend, is the spark we call life.

And the beauty of love.

Stephanie and Chuck have so many sparks and so much beauty! May they live long and prosper!

Betsy and Martin's "Day at the Beach" Wedding

2010-08-13T09:51:00.000-04:00

It's so much fun to have a wedding and a day at the beach all in one !
Betsy and Martin really planned it perfectly- with the help of Betsy's mom, Mitzi. They even arranged for a perfect, beautiful, sunny warm day to get married against a backdrop of blue, light blue, turquoise and dark blue! Oh, and fluffy white clouds! (Although there was a moment, around 5 a.m. that morning, when the rains came and everything seemed a bit dicey...) But, in traditional Northern Michigan fashion by daybreak, the sun came out, warmed up the beach and all of the outdoor party plans resumed.
The Harbor in Elk Rapids was the perfect backdrop for their nuptials.

Betsy and Martin even frolicked on a sailboat in the marina.

But before the celebration ended, there was still one more guest that needed to be included in their special day. Someone, or maybe I should say "somedog" that was a part of the family but, still left behind.
Well... temporarily.
Mr. Boomer was not forgotten!

An Upscale Campstyle Wedding for Aubrey and Justin

2010-08-05T16:19:00.000-04:00

One of my most favorite things in the summer is to enjoy the outdoors in a natural, campfire style way. You know, rivers, picnics, s'mores. So, I was thrilled to learn that I would be photographing a wedding celebration at a genuine family lodge. Aubrey and Justin, who live in Massachusetts, traveled to Michigan to be married at the family lodge.

Their loving family built a wooden pergola style church on a bluff that overlooked the South Boardman River. It was here that Aubrey and Justin exchanged vows.

The day was overcast and even occasionally rainy, so Aubrey was prepared for rain. Her Matron of Honor, Kelsey went as far as purchasing mud boots in case of mud and also to splash about in the river. HOw fUn ! :-)

I always tell brides and families to not worry about weather because even overcast skies make for beautiful and flattering light as well as opportunities for unique photographs.

And, what would make an upscale campfire style wedding complete? How about a real campfire with marshmallows for s'mores!

Sparty Crashes Lauren and Eric's Wedding!

2010-06-24T12:00:00.001-04:00

What would you think if a very large guy, dressed in a green trojan outfit crashed your wedding party?? Peeved? Upset?

But I think that Lauren and Eric really liked it!

(P.S. they are big MSU Spartan fans!)

Hands down he was the most important ( and most interestingly dressed!) guest of the evening!

So, the spirit of this wedding was that of a team! Of coarse, Lauren and Eric make for a wonderful team or perhaps they were the coaches for this wonderful team; the bridal party - in any event, this team was always cheering for their "fans" !

And despite all the "playing" around, the wedding was a huge success with cooperative weather, a beautiful venue (The Spartan Club atop MSU football stadium) and a wonderful couple.

Lauren and Eric are off to a fabulous beginning since they are part of a winning team!!!

If the Shoe Fits...

2010-06-23T09:53:00.000-04:00

Ashley was a beautiful bride- but, i was a little concerned when i noticed that her shoes were different colors!Is she color blind? Did she have two pairs of shoes, i wondered?

She explained to me that her shoes were the colors of the Coast Guard and that she was marrying a Lieutenant in the Coast Guard, Michael Panter.

Their wedding was held on a beautiful and warm Michigan summer day. Michael was dashing in his Coast Guard uniform and Ashley was stunning in her white layered satin dress.

The sun was warm and blessed their special day. They are an absolutely handsome couple!

And I love this picture of their rings!

Jessica and Bill are united in marriage!

2010-06-04T14:52:00.002-04:00

I photographed Jessica and Bill's long anticipated wedding last weekend. They were engaged for 6 years. Enough time for Bill to graduate with a law degree and for Jessica to graduate with a veterinary degree.

Oh, the things that you remember from a wedding;
Like the crazy limo driver that got a chicken bone stuck in his tonsil ( no, i didn't share that with you Jessica and Bill...) Made my drive over to the Detroit River so much more entertaining...

And the lovely playful mood of everyone in the wedding! And sunglasses! I love sunglasses on a bride!

The ever so beautiful flowers that Jessica chose for her wedding colors reverberated joy and vitality!
And the wedding party at the river... we got some lovely pictures.

Congratulations Jessica and Bill! May you live happily ever after!

Granddaughter Roan

2009-12-17T14:14:00.002-05:00

I'm in Denver now, having escaped the darkness of December in northern Michigan to spend lots, and I do mean LOTS of quality time with my son-in-law's family for the holidays. (Well, that's another story) But, the holidays have always been special. Oftentimes for me, the pleasure and magic of Christmas settles around the joy of the "little ones". There are lots of "little ones" in my life, and Roan our granddaughter, is a vibrant and larger than life "little one". This is a special Christmas portrait of her.

When the KISS fits!

2009-10-12T15:20:00.002-04:00

Sarah and Rick are a couple that fit together like puzzle pieces. They were he and she, left and right, up and down and yin and yang. When they move towards each other to kiss, their faces line up to form one face, one familiar "Place". Their kisses were sincere and beautiful and I've never seen two faces that meld together so well.
When the kiss fits so well, the marriage is off to a glorious beginning! Congratulations Sarah and Rick!

Eagles, Hawks and Owls

2009-09-28T16:25:00.003-04:00

How often do you get the opportunity to get up close and personal with an eagle? Not too often, I'm sure. But this weekend, with the assistance of Alison from NorthWings and the first ever workshop called Bird's Eye View, I was able to spend a few zen moments with some very large birds of prey.

When your best friend can't come to the wedding...

2009-09-16T13:40:00.004-04:00

What do you do when you find out that your best friend can't come to your wedding? Well, the short answer is... you make sure that you have a really good photographer that can capture all of the beauty of your day so that you can share your pictures with them on some other occasion! (hint,hint)
Amy and Marcus' best friend Andy could not come to the wedding, even though he really wanted to be there. He even tried to hitch a ride on the train of Amy's dress at one point during her formal portraits.
You see, Andy is their dog. OK... their BELOVED Fur child- and even though they love him dearly, he still couldn't come to the wedding.
So, Andy, these pictures are for you!!

Shawna and Torry get married at Metro Park

2009-09-16T13:15:00.004-04:00

When I learned that Torry and Shawna were planning their celebration for the beach at Metro Park, I had crossed my fingers, spun around two times for good luck and prayed to heaven almighty for good weather, for what good is a beach park wedding if the weather is gray and crummy. Michigan in August is generally pretty dependable, but a last minute thunder storm or a cool dreary day is not unheard of.
So, it was with great appreciation that I photographed Shawna and Tory exchanging vows on a sparkly clear day under the gazebo next to the water at the Metro Beach Park on August 29th.
The wedding celebration was fun and festive. Guests and the wedding party even got to ride to the gazebo on the park train. What fun!

It's all about ... THE GROOM!

2009-08-31T20:23:00.003-04:00

Those of you that have been reading my blog know that I write about all sorts of things... but, I don't think that I have highlighted a Groom ever! But, if a groom should be mentioned it would surely be Chris Terry. Chris and Bobbie Anderson married each other at The Crystal Gardens in Southeast Michigan last weekend and had a lovely wedding. Chris was an especially handsome and gracious groom, who truely loves his bride. Bobbie wore a frilly pink wedding dress, yes pink! Their colors for the wedding were a stately pink and black. And even though not many men would care to be seen in pink, Chris and his groomsmen looked like a polished group of gangsters- which added to the frivolity of the evening. But the coup d' etat was the gift that Chris gave his groomsmen. Personalized bobbleheads! A delightful surprise!

Soccer, Acorns and Paper Parasols

2009-08-24T20:58:00.008-04:00

What do soccer games, acorns, and paper parasols have in common?
If you had been at the Lost Lake Woods in Lincoln, Michigan over the past weekend then you would know that what these items have in common is...
Diane and Marshall!

Diane and Marshall met each other while playing soccer.
They got married on a misty Saturday evening under an oak tree.
And Diane provided paper parasols for her guests to carry while walking from the Pfahler family backyard over to the Lodge at Lost Lake Woods Resort.
I loved the paper parasols that Diane and Marshall included in their celebration. They were colorful and just the right touch for a bright, sunny afternoon or a misty, sprinkly evening. It was a lovely celebration. A perfectly meaningful northern Michigan summertime "love at the lodge" affair.

Eat, Drink and be Married!

2009-08-03T11:48:00.003-04:00

I was anticipating this wedding for a while. In speaking with Megan, I understood that Bernie was a police officer, that the wedding was in downtown Detroit,(I hadn't been there in a while), that she was Irish, and that funny, unexpected things could happen at their reception.
Most often, unexpected things do happen at a wedding! In this instance, Megan had hired a lovely classical trio to play Pachabel at the ceremony. What she didn't expect was that the Reggae Rap Music Party Boat was anchored just feet away from her ceremony location! But horror of horrors aside, she and Bernie stayed focused on their love for each other and thoroughly enjoyed the unique moments of their celebration!
Moral of the story: Go with the flow. It makes for a more stress free day!

Sara and Nick

2009-08-03T11:27:00.004-04:00

I think that some of my favorite photos from Sara and Nick's celebration, were their preparation photos. I loved the house that we were in for Sara's preparation photos, I think that it was Nick's parents' house. There were mirrors and gardens and lots of space to move around. And I love this photo of Nick's groomsmen- they look like a gangster mob! Oh, but how handsome!
The preparation time is often where some of the most beautiful portraits originate. Everyone looks fresh and at their best, emotions are high and intense, and the anticipation for the rest of the day makes for a uniquely special time. If you are getting married in the future, don't skimp with your photographer's time and limit the preparation photos. Though it is often overlooked, the preparation time before the wedding ceremony is a key time for beautiful portraits, beautiful moments.

It's All in the Details

2009-07-30T17:13:00.003-04:00

All weddings are beautiful but sometimes it's the details that make a particular wedding stand out for me. (OK, the details... and maybe if i see a full technicolor rainbow sometime during the evening!)
Lauren and Mike celebrated their wedding at the Greystone Golf and Banquet Center in Romeo, Michigan. Their celebration included rich colors of pink and orange sprinkled throughout the details of their wedding. There were the flowers, big pink peonies with roses and orange daisies and the party favors. Even the meal incorporated Lauren and Mike's desire to celebrate with a loud punch of color. It was a beautiful celebration for a wonderful couple!
And one could say that God blessed this union too. Around 6:30 or so, a bright and beautiful rainbow could be seen in the eastern sky.

MidEast meets the MidWest

2009-07-21T12:06:00.003-04:00

When Nourim and Mateen decided to get married, they wanted to celebrate their marriage with the customs and traditions of their parents, but they also embraced their american life and wanted the wedding to reflect their modern choices. So their wedding was a three day celebration, combining their cultural heritage wedding along with a modern American wedding. On July 11, they made it official- Nourim and Mateen are now married!

Red, White and ZOO!

2009-06-29T15:06:00.002-04:00

Mary said "What if we did our photo walk at the zoo?" "The ZOO??" I replied... "Yes, the zoo!"
Hmmmm. I thought about animals and crowds and cages of course... could it work? Would it be the right backdrop for formal wedding portraits?
Well, you be the judge. I think that our walk through the park was a beautiful setting for this brightly colored bridal party. And of course, it provided just the right and mostly fun backdrop for our lovely bride Mary and her handsome groom Derek.

Do you have a wedding in your future? Take Mary and Derek's advise and think about the possibility of shooting your bridal party shots in a location that is special and unique to you.

"Barn Formal" Wedding at Cherry Basket Farms!

2009-06-23T15:10:00.006-04:00

Have you ever considered celebrating your wedding day by holding your reception at a refurbished farm property in the country? If it was in Leelanau County in Michigan you would. Megan and James did and what a wonderful celebration! "Barn Formal" is what her father called it; with a fabulous dinner served under an elegant tent next to a large white barn that later held the band and dancing. Megan wore an elegantly simple white dress with pink high heel shoes, perfect for a barn dance! The food was fresh, locally grown and beautifully prepared by Epicure Catering at Cherry Basket Farms.
It was quite a night, quite a wedding and a heck of a good barn dance!

Cristen loves Aaron, Aaron loves Cristen

2009-06-09T19:30:00.005-04:00

I just love this couple and I love these photos. They were married in a forest garden filled with flowers and lanterns and rose petals, it was sooo beautiful. But everything about this day was beautiful! The light, the flowers, the couple, the vibe! However, I have to say that my all time favorite color of bridal shoes would have to be RED!

Alana and Dustin exchange vows

2009-06-09T19:09:00.003-04:00

Alana and Dustin exchanged vows on a beautiful afternoon at The Lakelands Golf Course in Brighton, Michigan.

Traditions!

2009-05-25T12:32:00.005-04:00

A traditional macedonian wedding is something special to photograph! The wedding celebration was filled with ethnic traditions, like drinking wine out of a shoe, like auctioning off flowers so that the bride will come out of her room, and kicking a can in front of her parents house, on the way to the ceremony. There were so many cultural customs being practiced, that it was a fun and satisfying shooting day- and a wedding that begins the fabled story of Danny and Priscilla.

Barefoot in the Park!

2009-05-12T07:35:00.003-04:00

What a wonderful feeling to walk in the park, barefoot! right after you get married!
I just reveled in the relaxed and comfortably romantic pose of this couple walking barefoot in the park and the cool grass right after their ceremony! Crystal and David have known each other for 12 years and finally decided to tie the knot at a church in Wayne, Michigan. Immediately after the ceremony we went over to Goudy Park for some photos with the bridal party and the couple. It was here that their personalities really came through, romping in the grass, smelling the flowers and the blooms on all of the trees. Their white attire really popped out from the green of the landscape.
How lovely!
How romantic!

Getting hitched in Texas!

2009-05-06T16:21:00.003-04:00

So where does a woman from Los Angeles and a guy who works in Nigeria decide to get married? Why , Texas of coarse! Marla and Steven exchanged nuptials at the All Saints Catholic Church in the Heights and then moved their guests over to the Heights Fire Museum for a lively and spirited celebration of their marriage. Marla had eleven attendants- that might be a record number of attendants in my book! After the ceremony, we took a few moments to make some lasting memories outside the church in the gardens. The daylight was almost gone, but with modern technology, a super fast ISO and a super fast lens dark twilight is no longer an obstacle. I happen to love the blue tint to the photo

Jessica and Matthew

2009-04-29T18:27:00.007-04:00

Golf courses can be romantic places! Lots of people get married on golf courses. Why? They have beautiful grounds that are peaceful and manicured. They almost always have banquet facilities. So, if you prefer not to have a denominational wedding, a golf course may be the perfect setting for you.
Jessica and Matthew were married in April at Fox Hills Golf Course in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The weather could not have been more cooperative. In between lots of coolish and grey days, one special Saturday the sun decided to shine, the mercury in the thermometer rose and family and friends gathered in the late afternoon for one of springs first weddings.
How divine!

The Spontaneous Spin

2009-02-17T20:19:00.005-05:00

Often I am asked to describe my style. I like to think that I have my very own "style", one that doesn't fit into the prescribed definitions of what's popular these days.
We hear "Photojournalism" is in. "Traditional" is out. Posing is blaze'. So, what do I call myself?
My long background in editorial portraiture carries over into my weddings. I take the "magazine" approach. Set up a nice environment, maybe even a moment and then give my subjects something to do. Oftentimes, it is the moments that happen right before or right after that are the ones I love to capture. This photo of Brian and Julie happened when I asked Julie to model her dress for Brian. They were so close together and her spontaneous spin along with Brian's greatful gesture make this photo a winner in my book!
I'll be at the Michigan Bridal Expo this weekend at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-13T13:54:00.004-05:00

Happy Valentines Day World!! A day to celebrate Love! How wonderful...
I was thinking of favorite Valentine's Days... and I don't really have a favorite. I remember some awkward ones. The time that my husband picked out a pot of wilting tulips to give me ( I had a fit!). Or the time in high school when i snuck a secret valentine to my love interest only to have him step on it.
Mostly, I remember that my friends always made valentines cards together and for each other about a week before the big day. We never wanted anyone to ever feel left out if they didn't have a boyfriend or a husband. Friends. What would we ever do without them?

Olive

2009-01-22T08:10:00.002-05:00

We love them for so many reasons. They teach us how to love; unconditionally and every day with no reservations. They teach us the value of the simple things in life; a good meal, a walk in the woods, a swim and a stick. They devote themselves to us, even when we can't or don't love ourselves. They watch out for us ,they don't ask questions and they don't complain. Our lives are richer because of them. While we walk this lonely planet they are our forever faithful companions and we are theirs. We want them to live forever, but alas, they can't.
In memory of my little, loving Olive, our lifetime friend. Born sometime in February of 2001, passed to the great big dog bowl in the sky on January 21, 2009.

Christmas

2009-01-09T11:49:00.005-05:00

Holidays. Family. Gifts.
This Christmas is a special, snowy one since we now live in northern Michigan. It makes for a different vibe- all draped in white with red globes and blue lights that illuminate the snow when darkness falls. It's dark alot too now. It helps to have a fireplace. So, we've carefully hung our stockings with care so that old St. Nicholas will soon be there...
I'm thankful for the life that I have, for the caring of friends of family, for the richness that tradition brings. These are my gifts and I look forward to a bustling and busy 2009!

Sleeping in a Refrigerator

2008-12-03T17:11:00.003-05:00

It's cold now. And it's snowing. Boy, oh boy, is it ever snowing. I've never seen so much snow. "Lake Effect", that's what they say. Now, I understand why absolutely everyone I've ever met here has asked, upon learning that we are new to Traverse City, "Oh, so you haven't been through a winter yet".
It all makes me so sleepy. I've been sleeping alot more now. Like the desire to hibernate is born of the deep snow and long nights. Time for introspection. And Christmas becomes the turning point to spring.

I want to photograph houses in the snow. Snowmen. Christmas lights. Ice Skating.

Inside the Painting

2008-10-27T16:12:00.003-04:00

The air is crisping up now, the leaves blow around my feet, the dogs love the chill and everything is red, yellow or orange against a carpet of green. I walk out the door and step into a colorful world. Where did this come from? It smells like cinnamon and someone is having a fire in their fireplace, maybe even toasting marshmellows or hazelnuts or certainly glasses of champagne. Everyday is different now, it's cool, it's frosty, it's 58 degrees. Sunday means roasted chicken dinner with hot apple cider at almost every restaurant in town. But today is Monday and we start our week a little sleepy, a little transported into the world of autumn.
I am thinking that I live inside of a painting.

Katy Abraham marries Eric Oliveri

2008-10-21T14:32:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, Katy Abraham exchanged vows with Eric Oliveri at the Sweetest Mary Sacred Heart church in Detroit, Michigan, an old and elegant, historic church situated in downtown Detroit. Their reception was at Petruzello's later that evening. Their wedding was a photographer's delight in that the wedding ceremony was held earlier in the day and the reception followed later that evening, leaving lots of time for photographs in the afternoon. That is really the way to schedule a wedding, I have now determined. We had at least two hours for photos in between. In addition, the colors that Katy chose for her wedding party were a luxurious shade of cinnamon and ivory; beautiful colors for a fall wedding in Michigan.

Portraits in Houston

2008-10-13T14:57:00.007-04:00

I'm thinking that this series of portraits done for University of Houston Clear Lake represents some of my best commercial portrait work. I'm thrilled with how the series has evolved. Sometimes, when I am shooting alot, every day, I see my portrait solutions so much more clearly. Here are two representative portraits from the full page collection of ten. On the left is Charles Milby whose body is surrounded by the piano, much as he is in life, surrounded by his music. On the right is Rose Zacaro from Geo Control. Her company trains engineers and other personel for NASA and supporting businesses. I placed her in a dark chair in front of a painting of the earth from the vantage point of the moon. I thought of her head and face as a planet within a universe.

Apples and ponies

2008-10-04T11:26:00.003-04:00

Traverse City is abloom with apples, pumpkins and red leaves and cool frosty air. The leaves are dropping randomly, rythmically from the trees now and everything smells of cinnamon.
I've made a few friends this fall. Most of them coming from Jen's family. Jen runs a shelter for horses called Horse North located in the Fife Lake area of Northern Michigan. Her children help her with the horse chores. Her "fur children" ( horses) number anywhere between 6-16 at any time. She's told me that the winter can be especially bad for the horses- with many people surrendering thier animals because of the high cost of feeding them. Something to look forward to.
This is a picture of Katelynn feeding an apple to one of the ponies.

Brian and Julie get married in Escanaba!

2008-09-18T16:23:00.004-04:00

What's a gorgeous girl from Escanaba doing in a place like this? Well, marrying Brian Savoie for starters!
Brian and Julie have known each other since she was 13. In fact, Brian was around alot at that young age since he was best friends with Julie's brother Mark. So, did Mark introduce them? Or did they just happen to bump into each other in the kitchen and hallways at Julie and Mark's house?
Hmmm... I forgot to ask them that. But, what i did find out while photographing their wedding is that this young couple is fun and full of energy... not to mention love, lots of love!
Julie and Brian flew in from Denver to get married in the backyard of Julie's parents house in Escanaba, Michigan on September 13, 2008. The entire wedding party consisted of the two families, twelve people in total. Their intimate family wedding went off without a hitch, except for a little rain. But rain never hurt anyone and nothing would stop them from playing, romping, loving and posing for pictures on their most memorable of days!
What a delightful couple!

Houston

2008-09-11T20:16:00.003-04:00

Houston, you're in my thoughts. I am thinking of your beautiful streets with stately oaks and lovely city sculptures. I am thinking of my friends and tracing their steps of preparation while this monster storm creeps closer. Ike. Set to come ashore near Galveston on Lauren's birthday. What a way to remember a birthday.
I was in Houston recently photographing sculpture for the Houston Arts Alliance. The organization purchases and maintains the community's art. So for four days, four days of relative sunshine amidst a spate of rainy days, I drove around Houston with Rebecca Trahan of Barking Dog Design to photograph 13 pieces of art and two portraits. We photographed the Mel Chen piece down by the Wortham Theatre, we photographed the Wortham fountain on West Gray, three pieces at the zoo and a piece in front of the library.
So, I am thinking of Houston. Of her art, her restaurants, her people, my friends and I hope and pray that everyone weathers a most ferocious storm.

Light

2008-09-11T20:09:00.004-04:00

It's all about the light. Morning light, crisp and clear. Sunsets with pizazz, color. But for a photographer, it's all about the light.
Traverse City, I've noticed has some of the most beautiful, radiating sunsets. Almost every night is a display. Peach cobbler with cherries on top. Deep red strawberry with sprigs of lemon mint. The light wraps around the contour of the hills and along the streets with corn stalks and I want to photograph everything.

My Birthday!

2008-08-13T07:36:00.003-04:00

One of the things that I love more than anything in the world is looking up at the sky and seeing the milky way, the big bright moon, a shooting star. I now actually live in a place where almost anynight ( on a clear night anyway) I can step onto my porch and look up into the sky and see stars! Well, not only stars, but the milky way as well!!! It is central to my being. Stars talk to my soul. I sleep better after seeing the night sky. Anyway, my birthday request was to have a campfire built in the firepit and a sleeping bag laid out by the campfire so that i could stare up at the sky.
24 shooting stars later, i was fast asleep.
By the way, this isn't me, but i photo that i did for UHCL - doctored up to represent this post!

Rebecca and Eric get married in Traverse City!!

2008-08-06T14:09:00.002-04:00

Rebecca Cox, a sweet downhome Texas gal, married her fiance Eric Kraimer in Michigan. Rebecca met Eric in Austin, Texas after Eric moved there on loosing a bet to his friend, Richard (aka Best Man). They got married in a small, neighborhood church in Sutton's Bay, Michigan in a quintessentially lovely seaside town on the Grand Traverse Bay. Their reception, attended only by family and very close friends was held in Leelanau, another lovely seaside town on the Lake Michigan side of the Leelanau Penninsula. The evening was perfect, the locations (Emanuel Lutheran Church and The Riverside Inn) were as lovely as lovely gets, and the wedding was a celebration of family and enduring love.
My thanks to Kima for inviting me to photograph her brother Eric's wedding!

Lighthouse and sunken ships!

2008-07-30T10:58:00.002-04:00

After Arwen, Heather and little Roan left for Colorado, guess who came to visit next? My sister and her husband! (sans children!) It's been a long time since I have spent any time with my sister and her husband without their two kids, so it was quite lovely to spend all this time with them all to myself! We took a boat out to South Manitou Island and hiked about 6 miles. What a perfectly lovely island! We saw a sunken ship, the most beautiful lighthouse i have ever seen, and swans! Swans in Michigan... there are lots of them!!

Arwen and Heather with little Roan visit TC!!

2008-07-30T10:39:00.002-04:00

Oh my gosh... our beautiful granddaughter and her parents visited us recently in TC... well, like back in the beginning of July... Roan is an active, curious, headstrong little girl with lots of interests and desires that include flopping ontop of Olive and scuttling back and forth throughout the house, and eating cherries (doesn't everyone love cherries?). Much of our activities involved exploring new territory NOT at nap time... However, we were able to sip wine on the mission and we drank coffee afterwards at Higher Grounds, a free trade coffee bar. We also sat on the beach one day with Roan, who just totally loved the sand, the water, the air. Our time was good... family is good...life is good.

Behind!

2008-07-30T10:30:00.004-04:00

Okay, i'll admit it... i'm not the best blogger in town... I'm very behind!!! let's see if i can catch up!!

Freshhhhhh Food

2008-06-09T18:30:00.002-04:00

One of the best things about living in Traverse City is the readily availability of fresh, organic, farm grown produce. You can get so much produce directly from the farm here... I love it! All foodies would love the summer in Grand Traverse Çounty!

Nurses in New Orleans

2008-05-13T10:47:00.002-04:00

Well, yes, i went to New Orleans to photograph nurses for Matria... But there is so much to see and do in New Orleans that any photoshoot that you HAVE to do is always accompanied by a photoshoot that you HAVE to do ( for yourself!). To me, New Orleans looks as though it has recovered from Hurricane Katrina, yet under the surface lurks hurts and pains that haven't quite healed. But, it is good to say that the city has recovered enough to put it's best face forward for all of the tourists, all of the visitors. I photographed nurses for Matria and Design Coup in Atlanta on Thursday, then had beignets and coffee on friday...then fabulous seafood, then more beignets, then walked the streets, then more beignets. I thought I better come home before I started to look like a beignet! Anyway, here is a nurse, a photograph of my beloved beignets and just another touch of New Orleans!

My UHCL! RTC 2008

2008-03-30T21:32:00.002-04:00

Every year I look forward to being busy when many of my photographer friends are still in the Christmas Holiday lull. I owe it all to University of Houston Clear Lake's Report to the Community photo shoot.
This year Summer (freshly married) Russo along with Rebecca Trahan designed a book to reflect the personal attachment that many alumni feel towards University of Houston Clear Lake. The photography took place over 3 weeks in the late winter season, sometimes outside, always incorporating the two University colors of blue and green. My assignment was to photograph each person within a setting that represented their personality and a loyal connection to the school. And oh yes, the designer wanted a "vertical"!
The success of these photos depends a great deal on the team that puts it all together, from the concept, to the environment to the scheduling of the portrait, lots of people are involved in pulling off a flawless photoshoot.
I love all of the pictures that I took for this project. Here are two that will probably be added to my portfolio.

A beautiful bride... Whitney!

2008-03-30T21:10:00.003-04:00

Whitney is a classic beauty! She has the sophistication and elegance of Grace Kelly.
We met for a photo session in front of the Cancer Memorial in front of Hermann Park on a blustery cool Wednesday morning during spring break. She arrived bare shouldered early in the morning after a long drive into Houston for a 7 am hair and makeup appointment. I thought she would be very chilly and she was. But she never complained, never asked for a sweater, always eager to try out any idea myself or her audience might request.
The result? A photoshoot to top all photo shoots. She looped her arm over a statue of a brass family strolling along Main street, she posed in front a garden full of azaleas, kicked her heels at the fountain across the street. She was playful and exuded such polish and lovliness. The shoot was fabulous and this shoot will be a highlight of my portfolio and my website. Thanks Whitney! I can't wait for the wedding, and I bet Steven can't either!

New House

2008-03-30T20:54:00.004-04:00

We are well on our way to totally changing our lives. We are headed to Traverse City, Michigan.
"How far is that from the North Pole?" Jim's dad asks us one afternoon during a visit. I chuckle along with everyone, but silently wonder if we are doing the right thing. "It snows up there, doesn't it?" a friend asks innocently enough..." You better have snow tires on your moving van" our friend Carrie warns us..."Are you sure you want to do this?" my father asks, while irritating me beyond measure. It's enough to plant the seed of doubt into this decision.
Whether we meant to or not, we have committed ourselves to spending at least two years in Traverse City, Michigan. We found a fabulous house. A house that feels so much more akin to who we are than even the Singleton house did, and we designed and built that house.
Our life is sure to be different. Different good. Different new
How did that happen?

We jumped off a cliff. We didn't know where we would land and what would happen to us. We trusted our instincts. We decided to "live life large", as my friend Rebecca often says.
I knew we would be fine when jim said as we rolled into Traverse City on the very first day, "It's a lot prettier than Houston".

Frank and Larissa tie the knot!

2008-03-30T20:20:00.002-04:00

Frank and Larissa were married at the Church of the Latter Day Saints in the Woodlands on March 8, 2008. Frank is the brother of Jose Hererra, who was married in December to Monica Lopez. It was really nice to be able to photograph a family that I was familiar with. Frank's parents must be very proud of their young but very mature sons.
I took a gamble and took Frank and Larissa to Market Square in the Woodlands on the afternoon of their wedding. Larissa was demure as she walked around Market Square in the Woodlands with her handsome groom Frank on her arm. They walked along the promenade, met up wth a policeman's horse and sipped coca colas near the fountain in the heart of Market Square. Frank walked Larissa along a flower draped wall and Larissa jumped into Frank's arms. It was a romantic yet very public place and I think that their photos are some of my favorites from a wedding portrait session.

End is Near

2008-02-22T18:05:00.003-05:00

Oh my gosh. What in the world are we doing?
I've counted the boxes a couple of times now and I can't believe that we have boxed up 140+ boxes. We disconnected the washer and drier today. Packed the coffee pot- boy, that really signals the end.
Spring is definately here and I linger around the walkways and the back porch. It's so peaceful here, even though the rush of the freeway is just steps outside the door. Sometimes you don't hear it though. You hear the birds, maybe one lonely car on the street behind the house.
Jim said today that he's always loved the views from our house. It's true. We are up in the trees and watch the birds, the squirrels, the wind rustle leaves. We make coffee, watch the sun come up. Where will we be next?
I'm about to disconnect the computer. My umbilical cord to everyone. Well, here we go. Don't know where we will land. What we will do. What's next.
Wow, are we insane?
Goodbye life that we know, life that we have loved. Goodbye house. Goodbye birds and trees and garden. Goodbye.
I loved you well.

saying goodbye

2008-02-08T06:12:00.001-05:00

It's hard to say goodbye. I've had a little too much practice with it lately, but this one, this one is the hardest.
There are so many things that I love about my life in Houston. Yes, I've complained vehemently over the years, the heat, the traffic, the pollution. But my friends are here, my life is here. It's like, we are all in this crazy place together- along with the best mexican food, oddball art events, pleasant spring weather. And my house, this wonderful house.
There is nothing that will shake you out of your complacent shell than to uproot your life, take it elsewhere. I'm glad for our fortitude, for our willingness to push a little harder, make life a little more exciting and move out of Houston to something, somewhere that we idealize and hope will bring us new adventures. But all of the looking forward, all of the new dreams can't take place until we say goodbye here.
And I have just never had to feel such a sorrowful, all encompassing bittersweet goodbye to so many things, to so many friends, to a house i love, and to clients that i would rather keep.
So, if I just pass it all over and I don't seem to be able to utter a goodbye to you, know that in my heart of hearts I love you more than I can even say and I find it just too dang painful and that I would rather remember my sweet times with you, hold you dear to me and in my heart. I will never let go of you. You are the sweetest part of me.
I hope I am making the right decision.

Photo Rescue

2008-01-29T22:33:00.000-05:00

i am walking to the edge ... i am looking over the edge.
it's a far drop. i can't see. i see now.

I am falling. I don't want to. I want to. I don't want to.
I want to live more than one lifetime.
the wind is blowing.
oh, i forgot my fear.

Super Soapranos Soap!

2008-01-28T20:18:00.000-05:00

So you think it is easy photographing soap? It is if you have a beautiful bathroom! And I do! So when Ilanit asked me to do a shoot on behalf of her company "Soapranos", I was excited to finally put my beautiful bathroom to good use! (That is , if you don't count showers and teethbrushing as putting your bathroom to good use!!) Soapranos makes over 50,000 bars a month selling mostly in the Houston area but wanting to expand via the internet. Their soap is luxurious and beautiful, so their soap and my bathroom were a perfect fit.
As a photographer, I am always aware of perfect locations for photo shoots.

Married At Last!

2008-01-28T20:09:00.000-05:00

Monica and Jose, whose engagement was noted in earlier posts, finally got married right before Christmas. This wonderful couple waited 10 years to take their vows. They have been in love since high school but they wanted to finish college and take time to plan their future! So many family and friends attended their wedding in Houston, Texas. What alot of good feelings and lots of fun!
I celebrate their marriage!

Don't forget! Holiday Promotion

2007-11-19T19:01:00.000-05:00

Just a quick reminder of my holiday promotion... This month's special is a continuation of last month's special- a 20% discount off of the sitting fee, along with 2 5x7's of your choice. The normal $250.00 sitting fee is now on special for $200.00! A $50.00 savings!

Monica and Jose'

2007-11-19T18:35:00.000-05:00

I've photographed Monica and Jose twice now, in anticipation of their wedding in December. We've gone out to Galveston for a sunrise shoot and yes, Monica and Jose showed up for their first shoot at 6:30am. They've been so enthusiastic about their photography so I've wanted to give them somthing really special. The second shoot that we did, we shot in the Brenner's Steakhouse gardens by Bayou Bend. That was a beautiful setting made even more so by shooting early in the day. Once again, we did a sunrise shoot. But, by the time of the second shoot, daylight saving time had not yet occurred so meeting at sunrise at 8:30 am wasn't really a problem.
I'm really looking forward to shooting Monica and Jose's wedding. Check back on the blog in a couple of weeks!

Summer's wedding to Andrew

2007-11-19T17:36:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite clients, Summer Skinner got married last month to a long time beau... She works at University of Houston Clear Lake and in-between my Egret assignments, we would occasionally talk about her plans for her wedding. We started talking about this event more than a year ago and I imagined things unfolding in a certain way. So,on a beautiful fall afternoon and with great anticipation, I met her at her hotel in the afternoon in Seabrook. There were many special unanticipated moments. One was a boat ride over to the venue on the other side of the bay in Seabrook.
The sailboat ride was so leisurely and unique, special for Summer, her close friends and attendants and me. Of coarse, I photographed alot. We landed on the dock of the Villa Capri for a late afternoon wedding. The ceremony took place as the afternoon sun warmed the dock. These photos were taken after her ceremony on the dock while the sun was setting. A perfectly natural backdrop for a lovely, personal wedding.

Holiday Promotion announced!

2007-09-21T12:05:00.000-04:00

It's fall! I promise the cool air is right around the corner. But, it's still quite comfortable in the studio! Studio or on location, don't wait until the last minute to get your photos done. Why not start thinking about your fall family photos if you want cards and presents in time for the holidays! I'm sending out various coupons this year, so if you want to be on my email list, email me by clicking on the little envelope next to the pencil at the bottom of this post!

I'll be running family, kids, pets and couple portrait sessions for $250.00 now through January 15th, 2008. This session will come with 2 5x7 custom prints made from Pictage.

Stay tuned to the blog for a preview of some of our custom holiday cards and the current special!

the people around us...

2007-09-13T20:15:00.000-04:00

I saw my old friend Jana today. I don't mean that she is old!- she is NOT! But she has been a friend over a long period of time. I visited her studio and saw her new artwork. She is a collage artist who works with paper and has a studio called Studio Paper. Very nice.
She inspired me today. Her art is genuine and heartfelt. One doesn't notice the artist in her work- one notices the "message" , simple and elegantly stated, surrounded with lovely embelishment. After our get together, i couldn't wait to rush over to Texas Art and find some elements for my own collages.
I'm home now, and having played with the things that I bought, I realize the gentle genius in her art. Her collages are approachable, inspirational and I instantly felt a connection to the message, the art. I felt so close to her designs- like they could be mine too. I had to try it for myself. Her genius is that it is hers, and hers alone. Try as I may, I couldn't make it look like hers, without directly ripping her off. How UNinspiring.
I bought 3 books from her . They are the first of my christmas purchases. I only hope that I can part with them when december rolls around.

Bathing

2007-09-06T21:08:00.001-04:00

I was reminded today of living over in the Willard house when Jim would only take a bath. as opposed to a shower, in case you are wondering. Anyway, that's not true anymore... he loves showers and mostly takes those. But here he is after some cajoling on my part to indulge in a bubble bath.

visiting the ranchito

2007-09-06T15:20:00.000-04:00

Labor day weekend just isn't complete without a trip to El Ranchito with my good pals Linda, Pamela and Brenda...
Linda's farm is located in Bellville, a short hop up the road from the Alexander Ranch. She has done quite a beautiful job of creating a hideaway, complete with donkeys, goats, a pond and cowgirl games...(smile). What a perfect respite to an otherwise hectic home in houston... So, i took some photos of my friends, and her friends; goats and donkeys and such. I'm trying out some new photo techniques... adding some more contrast and saturation to the photos, and shooting a little more from the "hip"... what do you think??? Oh, by the way, i know that it is 2007!!!!