6 month old Harry Potter Inspired Photoshoot

Pulling Mandrakes at Hogwarts during Herbology Class

followed by

Paper Boy style Vintage Portraits

““Mandrake, or Mandragora, is used to return those who have been transfigured to their original state. It’s also quite dangerous. The Mandrake’s cry is fatal to anyone who hears it.””

— Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

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   I am (and not so secretly, may I add) obsessed with Harry Potter. I mean, I flew all the way to Europe just to go to The Studio Tour and took a special trip to Florida not for the sunshine, but specifically for The Wizarding World. I don’t think it’s becoming a problem in my day to day life, but I can’t be too sure. haha
   Nicki, little Corbin’s mom equally loves HP and wanted to do a 2 part session for his 6 (ish) month session. So we did a Mandrake syle set up just for her, and an adorable vintage set for the rest of the family to enjoy.
   We set him up in our slightly over grown (we’ve been busy, ok!) garden and made a little version of the Herbology classroom. Corbin did GREAT! He even munched on some greens for the full experience. What a stinker.
   I was sad when I had to tear down the set, so the sign still stands in my garden!
   Next Mom changed him into adorable little old man suspenders and a cap and we went out and just sat in the tall grass in the back of the studio and played with all the old things I collect as a hobby and blame it on my job so I can keep collecting. Again, he did amazing. His cute, different expression... we captured so many different sides to him!

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Check out our full Family Gallery!

Want to see another adorable child's photoshoot? Check out Williams 1 year session!

For another vintage themed baby session, check out Mason's Photoshoot!

A Modern Engagement Session in Port Huron, MI

Celebrating the future Mr. and Mrs.
with a photoshoot

A young couple, their pup, and 1 hidden trail

   Bridget and I had been planning the visual journey we would take for her wedding for quite a few months before I ever got to meet Russell. Little did I know they also had a secret child they didn't tell me about that I would be meeting the day of their engagement shoot - Zelda! 
   Geometric shapes was the theme for their wedding, but they also love the outdoors, so I took them to the Blue Water River Walk in Downtown Port Huron. It was the perfect mix of both. The tunnel which created some stunning angles and shapes with the highlights and shadows, and then the nature areas that are fairly new to the area.
   We basically just went on a casual walk, stopping and grabbing fun shots when we saw something that caught our eye. When I say the process is natural and fun, I mean it, so stop being so nervous, guys!
   I LOVE couples that I don't have to direct, that I don't have to explain what it looks like to like each other. Sure... I can help you a little but I can't MAKE you be ridiculously adorable with each other if you just aren't, and Russell and Bridget were pretty stinkin' cute with each other so that worked out nicely! And Zelda, oh my goodness, what a good girl!
   Since we were photographing their wedding (one of the last two for this year, and I'm currently not booking more- heads up!) Bridget was unsure about getting engagement photos as well, but I told her, you're going to be happy that you have beautiful portraits of the two of you together, natural, the way you are every day, not in fancy wedding attire. I am SO glad they did this! Their Wedding portraits are gorgeous too (hopefully you guys will see those soon!) but these show off their personality and tell their story on an every day level, which I love.
   So now, let's go on a visual journey of what they looked like right before they said I Do!

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Check out our Full Love Gallery!

For another adorable couple in Downtown Port Huron, check out Corey & Erica's Engagement Session!

If you like this fun outdoor feel, check out Chris & Becca's Engagement Photoshoot!

Forest Fairy Photoshoot

Woman creates art with her movement during this Dance Photoshoot

Whimsical Beauty tucked away in the forest

   Barefoot and beautiful, walking through the crunched up Fall leaves and the dried Spring mud. It’s a whimsical, natural type of beauty we’re about to capture.
   Next on Pointe and running with tule, Kayla creates art through her movement and dance. Watching her flow, unplanned choreography is like watching water flow.
   The whole shoot reminds you of a stunning little forest fairy hopping around the forest ground. The trees folded to make perfect tunnels and the road turning up the hill made for a more modern version.

   I love shoots like these… natural, gorgeous, a bit over the top! Take this experience to celebrate yourself with flowers in your hair, jumping off rocks, dancing in the middle of the road.

   Kayla is lucky enough to own her own company where she literally gets to be a fairytale princess every day… no… really…. you can have Cinderella come to your birthday party and secretly, it’s Kayla, but ssshhh, don’t tell anyone. How fun of a life is that!? She's also a professional Dancer. This was to be a mature yet innocent and wondrous blend of both of those worlds- truly reflecting who she is. 

   See what we created together below:

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View our Full Beauty Blog!

If you like the whimsical look of this shoot check out Taylor's session!

For more dance sessions check out Hannah's Photoshoot!

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Submerge yourself into this dramatic and stunning experience through video. Watch below-

The Gift of Celebrating Life

This is more than a cancer story

This is the story of one man's life,
his passions, his wife, and 1 photoshoot to capture it.

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Often I write to myself when I don’t know what else to do with my emotions.
Here’s an entry I wrote a few days before I photographed Mark and Jodi
that I never intended to share with you:

I barely even know you and I’m crying for you.
I barely even know you and my heart hurts for you.
I barely even know you and I’m pissed off for you.

And I have to photograph you on Monday.

I remember thinking when they asked to give me a tour of the new Cancer Center in Port Huron… “I don’t want to see your cancer center. I do not want to see your money pit.”

I walked the halls with women I had just met who showed me the plush leather chairs sick and dying women, children, and men would sit in to get chemo, the big windows to let in natural light, the art on the walls, everything that was supposed to make everything that was happening in this terrifying building ok.

I realize now I walked into that building with the wrong eyes.

It’s not the caretakers IN the building that I should be mad at. It’s the leaders of the world that allow things to happen that cause cancer rates to be out of control, the money hungry pigs that won’t allow us to get our hands on that cure for cancer, and the sick idiots who, even if you do survive, think it’s ok to deny you health insurance in the future, so you remain hopeless.

That’s the people and the world I don’t understand.

But the kind, caring, soft spoken people I met in that building, no, I am sorry, I was wrong, and I am so thankful to have taken that tour. You are the angels of the world making the best environment you can for people in the worst situations of their life. You care. You fight. I thank you.

All I wanted to do was make a difference. I wanted to help people express themselves during a hard time, preserve a memory and a soul. I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking past that, because let’s be honest, past that wasn’t fun. Past that was reality, and like most of us, I can hate reality. I tried to keep a work mindset so I wouldn’t be emotionally overtaken. I had a job I wanted to do.

My goal was to take someone for a day and allow them to get away from reality, and in doing so, give them a beautiful experience and beautiful portraits. It was going to be the luck of the draw… we would choose out of a hat who got to do a session with me, as to not be overwhelmed by photographing EVERYONE who may have wanted the experience. As much as I want to give that to everyone I am only one person, and again, reality… I knew I couldn’t take that all on, so we decided on booking 3-4 sessions each year.

One of the ladies in the cancer center mentioned your names and also mentioned the word terminal.

Terminal. That’s such an ugly word.

I kept the idea quiet, didn’t allow anyone to contact me about a session and got a hold of the girls at the office and said, “The couple you mentioned, I want to photograph them.”

Mark, I will photograph you on Monday, standing strong, surrounded by the things that make you you. I really, really hope to do you justice.

Mark is sitting in my garage in his camo, the scar running across his head telling a dark story but we cover it with a hat as we sit among the things he was most passionate about... numerous guns, fishing poles, snow shoes, bows, trapping equipment, and wearing his normal dirty boots and sweatshirt he would wear out. We had hauled the outside in for him because we were not only afraid of the rain but at this point he was getting around mostly by wheelchair or a few feet with a cane. I'm so proud of him, how many times he got up and down out of that chair to hold and kiss his bride of nearly 25 years at the park, never complaining, and how later he would stand tall, arms crossed, strong, surrounded by his life's work and trophies. The next time I revisted that set Mark had already passed, and tearing it down was, well, ironic.

We photographed Mark on a Monday night after his wife called me, frantic that we were running out of time. He went into the hospital the following Wednesday, and passed Saturday.

So now Jodi, I speak to you. 

I cry while I write this. You are such a strong, fun, bad ass woman. I’m so thankful to have met you, even if it was through this process. Stay bold and beautiful you courageous and caring woman, and stop by any time. Thank you for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of your lives, and allowing me to be on your team. I didn't do this to gain anything, I wanted to gift something, but I've gotten so much from this experience, so thank you.

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Check out Jen's Story for another empowering cancer story