“As strong as the woman next to me”
Valerie + Ashli
Detroit shines bright with these two gems.
Katie + Brandon
I am going to start this blog first by saying that the year 2020 was about growth.
We have all grown in someway, somehow through the roller coaster of a year. I am ever so thankful to have reconnected with my clients and friends, enjoying the slowness, the time with my family and self reflection. Life is full of challenges and without them we would stay in the same place. Thank you for inviting me to share these moments of life with you. From playing in Detroit countless times and watching the sunset over the city scape from Belle Isle to traveling north to Traverse City to the vineyards. Being #smitteninthemitten continues. There was a lot of joy, laughter, love and light. As always, you all amaze me. So cheers to moving forward and hugs in the near future!
Port Huron, Michigan
Carnival feels.
Christine + Simon
"Loving you is easy"
These words are still echoing in my ears from Christine + Simon , they are two of the most beautiful souls. The heritage brought from Simon's family was so special. Simon wore a bolo tie from Gallup, New Mexico from his father's friend who is part of the Pokagon, Potowatomi tribe and both wore Turquoise bracelets that were a gift from a family member.
I'll never forget this ceremony.. while Christine started to walk down the aisle with her father, the loudest crack of thunder echoed through the sky. It was wild. I wish I had the audio to the images, because it was just magical. The wedding vase used in their ceremony belonged to his Aunt Debbie Cayedito who is no longer with us. This is the best description of what it is: “One spout of the vessel represents the husband; the other, the wife. The looped handle represents the unity achieved with marriage. The space created within the loop represents the couples’ own circle of life.” There was actually tea in the vase that they both individually drank and then drank together. We did get hit with the down pour as soon as the ceremony ended, but only for about 15 minutes. Thank God for amazing friends, as one of my good girlfriends was a guest at the wedding and grabbed my umbrellas for me just as the ceremony started.
Both of the families were incredible, artistic and unique. So many beautiful things were constantly happening. So many smiles, laughs and watching Arnold, their pup, run around so happy, songs were sang by Simon's family and Simon himself sang to his bride. And as the evening came to a close, we chased the sunset.
Love is magic.
Detroit, Mi
Katie + Jake
Northern Michigan never disappoints, with the perfect weather and perfect sunsets happening on the fresh west shoreline.
Katie + Jake had one beautiful day. These two creatives shared some of the most beautiful vows I have ever heard, full of truth, they had us all in tears of joy to see the strength of their love. Siblings made up their wedding party and everyone was full of smiles and laughter. Petoskey is one of my favorite little shoreline towns, the cute hillside victorian homes and the Perry Hotel established in 1899 gives such a romantic vintage feeling. We had the first look in front of the porch at the Perry, portraits at a natural waterfall, vogue feels with the wedding party, tons of laughs from the speeches given by Katie's father and Jake's brother, dancing at sunset and playing on the shoreline in blue hour..
Yeah, I'll never tire of being #smittenwiththemitten <3
Jennica + Josh
Historical District Warren, Michigan
My best friend got MARRIED! It still hasn't sunk in all the way.. 2019 is our year!
Jennica and Josh have been friends for years and over last winter, sparks just flew. Josh came out to Port Huron to help Jennica pick up some bunnies from her sister as a Christmas present for her son Aubin, it's kind of where it began. We all hung out at our favorite Raven Cafe and I snapped the first image of the two of them together as "just friends".. well, look where we are now!
These two just fit. Josh and Jennica built and assembled their entire wedding space in the backyard of their home. Jennica is a natural when it comes to event planning, honestly she needs to make this her career haha! Josh built their new shed that they had their ceremony in front of and all the decor was basically right from the walls of their home. All of the special people in their lives where there.
From Aubin, Jennica's son walking her down the aisle, Josh's mother making all of the food, Jennica's sister Angie making the wedding favors and cupcakes, and friends bringing the music and love.. it was quite the perfect intimate wedding.
Thank you for making my best friend feel so loved Josh, I cannot wait for the future of this new family.
Hira + Matt
I am still just absolutely swooning over Hira + Matt.
It has been a long time since we all roamed the same halls in high school.. and who would have thought we would find ourselves here, many many years later. One of the most perfect days in December ended up on the 21st. Reconnecting and sharing such beautiful intimate moments with two beautiful families, first look at Port Huron Golf Club- a very meaningful place for Matt, taking portraits downtown and running into another beautiful couple (my fellow photographer friend on his wedding day).. revisiting Sperry's , now Sperry’s Movie house for a moment, where Hira and Matt had one of their first dates.. ceremony at sunset and to step back outside for the last minutes of this golden light, my heart was so full.
Looking at our little city with a different heart and fresh eyes, what magic.
Koryanne + Justin
Camp out for the weekend and have your engagement session wrapped together! Don’t forget to bring the bike!
Kori + Colin
Winter in Detroit, but first the Belle Isle Conservatory!
Detroit
Kara + Elise
Talk about an insane, long awaited union of two of the sweetest, most creative women I know. Saturday was one for the books. I have never witnessed such an intense feel of love when both Elise and Kara walked into their ceremony space. The entire room was hollering and over the moon with joy for these two. As Elise's father had stated a few times "This is the couple of the year.." and it couldn't feel more true. Kara and Elise met 11 years ago through friends, and it was seriously meant to be.
Our day was wild and laid back at the same time.. Starting with the beautiful view from the Greek town Casino hotel where the ladies were getting ready. We wondered around The Belt before the ceremony started, pulling off some incredible images of the most vogue looking group of individuals. After the incredibly emotional ceremony ended we drank champagne with the WOW factor still intact.. marveled in the beauty of The Gem Theater before dinner started. After gorgeous speeches with friends and loved ones we got down to a group of talented musicians from Detroit Institute of Music Eduction (where Elise has worked for the last 5 years) and Elise's DAD got in on the action!!!
The last moments of light from such a beautiful day was spent with golden hour portraits, and very last.. There was no denying the love between these two and even Detroit was showing us so much love from everyone we passed <3
I couldn't be more happy for you both, I love you, my friends.
Downtown Port Huron, Michigan
Belle Isle, Detroit
The Alli Bar
Port Sanilac, Michigan
Michigan love!
Eastern Market
Detroit, Michigan
The Year of 2019.
I think travel was in the cards for me this past year because I went back to the mountains in Breckenridge, Colorado for a gorgeous elopement. Flew out to Savannah, Georgia twice to capture weddings alongside my best friend and fellow wedding photgrapher Meghan Melia. We also stayed on Tybee Island for a few days and kicked off the season in the best way. I dove all over Michigan aka The Mitten State, from Petoskey to Detroit and everywhere in between. Besides hanging around the woods and Lake Huron in my home town for sessions, I practically lived in Detorit part time. Belle Isle and the architecture of Detroit really does have a piece of my heart.
Life continues to happen and even though I get to share a lot of incredible wedding moments with clients, I watched one of my best friends get married this year, while another celebrated their 10th year anniversary. I was able to capture the engagement session of my older sister and her love, which was a very different feeling emotionally. The collaborations with amazing musicians to create portraits for thier art and other brand creatives was at an all time high. I played around at the annual Port Huron to Mackinac race Boat Night carnival with friends, along with photographing and being in complete awe of the musical talent from my city. I made some of the best friendships with incredible people along the entire year. I watched and supported one of my other best girlfriends compete in a body building contest, amazed by her with such dedication. I’ve gotten to revisit with some of my previous couples with winter sessions and met the newest memebers of the family with others. I have gotten to experience seeing the once newborn babes, grow within the year. My heart is just filled to it’s seams.. from my seniors to my families, artist portrait shoots and new couples I meet. I’ve laughed, cried, danced and hugged a ton with you all while making new solid friendships.. Life is simply amazing, I tell ya.
This is the year that I would be able to say was my transformation year. I worked the hardest I ever have, I traveled the most I ever have for one year with 106 total sessions.. 20 of those being MY Wedding Days.. plus 2nd shooting for at least a dozen more with other photographers. My team.. assistants and 2nd photographers, you worked the hardest with me, I couldn’t have done it without you.
Talk about hustle. Most day I don’t know when to stop until life forcres me to. I’ve still been learning the balance of business vs. personal life and well, it is still a work in progress, haha. I just love being with my friends/clients, I am so truly grateful ... I love growing with you and being a part of all of the moments life offers us.
CHEERS TO YOU!
The War Memorial
Janelle + Matt
Janelle and Matt met on the sidewalk in NY.. already sounds like a fairytale, doesn't it? Janelle noticed Matt wearing Michigan State and chanted Go Green to him and he responded with Go White! This was how it all began. They had their first date at the Museum of Modern Art in NYC ( it's one of the little buildings on the cake top!) and they got engaged at the Philadelphia Art Museum. It only made sense that Janelle's sister Racheal wanted to incorporate art into some decorations for them. Hand painted little canvases on art easels, they were the cutest. The War Memorial in Grosse Pointe was a classic choice for the day. From the first look in the fern room, Janelle’s two piece wedding dress and that veil naturally blowing from the wind, to their first dance. These two were magical ❤
Lakeport, Michigan
If you’re ready to laugh and smile the whole way through a gallery, then this one is for you.
Angel, this beautiful and talented woman has been a dear friend since 19. She is ALWAYS laughing, always has a big beautiful smile and great energy. She and Kurt met at college in Michigan and moved to NY shortly after, I never was able to meet Kurt until the wedding day. One thing is for sure, this was a true match. Kurt smiles and laughs in equals measures with Angel. He also made their wedding cake, yeah.. talk about impressive!
They held their incredibly fun wedding in Angel’s parents backyard. I think I can speak for a lot of people who know the Assi’s, to say they are one incredible family. So many smiles, inappropriate and hilarious jokes combined with high energy.. I couldn’t help but laugh all day with them.
This partly sunny day was the greatest mix on top of the surprise belly dancer, our trip to the beach for portraits and Angel and Kurt’s first dance/head bang as husband and wife.
