Michigan Renaissance Festival | Jackson, MI Photographer

If you remember from last year (2011 post), I LOVE the Michigan Renaissance Festival that goes on annually in Holly, MI. The sights, sounds, and smells are a sensory overload! There's so much to do there and all kinds of fun performances to watch. This year we sat and watched a man balance a bench on his chin, the Ded Bob Sho (I definitely recommend this one if you're going to go. And get there early, he always has a full house), and lastly the jousting. The food they have is so savory and rich; my favorites are the turkey drumsticks and ginormous pickles they have. The drumsticks are so huge, I had left overs for lunch the next day!

I couldn't decide which version I liked better of this man, but I'm leaning toward the b&w. Every year I go, I see him and never have had the courage to ask permission for his portrait. This year, I did, and I'm so glad because his presence and the effort he puts into his appearance at the festival is just astounding.

Fall Activities for Everyone | Jackson, MI Family Photographer

This fall there are tons of local events going on that are great and don't cost too much money. I've made it easy on everyone and complied a list of just a few of those, feel free to add an event you know about in the comments! So get out there and enjoy the gorgeous weather while it lasts, winter is just around the corner.

Zombie Cult Classic Films

Tonight, Creep Theater and The Michigan Theatre present two cult classic zombie films AND a special screening of the short "zomedy" - 'Living Deadhead,' shot entirely in Jackson. The doors open at 6pm - Show starts at 7pm. Admission: $5.00

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Cascade Falls End of Summer Fireworks

Saturday, September 1st Cascade Falls will be doing their End of Summer Fireworks Show with live entertainment by Wheatfield Soul, offering a variety of music from artists ranging from the Beatles to U2 and Kid Rock to Adele. 7:00 p.m. show. Admission is $6.00 per person; 10 & under free when accompanied by an adult. (Rain Date: Sunday, Sept. 2nd)

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Michigan Renaissance Festival
Until September 30th the Michigan Renaissance Festival will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10a-7p. I go every year (usually I dress up in a full wenches dress!) and have an absolute blast! They've got amazing food and various handmade crafts. People come from all over the country to partake in the festival and dress up in some amazingly elaborate costumes. I was lucky enough to get a photo of the Queen from last year after the jousting match. Check out the detail in her dress!!

Admission:
$20.95 adults
$11.95 kids (5-12)
$18.95 seniors 65+ and students w/college ID

Website - Facebook
12500 Dixie Highway

Holly, Michigan 48442

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Fall Family Festival
The Fall Family Festival is happening September 21-23 behind the St. John Elementary/Jackson Catholic Middle School on Cooper St. The best part about it, is there's no admission fee, free parking, and TONS of fun to be had. Carnival rides, fireworks, and a car show are just some of the events going on that weekend. I've been in the past and had a great time, I definitely recommend going!

Website

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Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farm
Flavor Fruit Farms is open all week long from 9a-6p, and they have something for everyone to do. They open up their fall activities on September 17th from 12p-5p. Some of the fun includes a corn maze, hay rides, live farm, pumpkin patch, and so much more!

This year on September 29 & 30th they're going "purple" in support of Relay for Life and the weekend of October 12 & 13th they're going "pink" to support Making Strides. Two really great causes to help out while having fun with the family. Flavor Fruit Farms was even cool enough to turn the corn maze into the Relay for Life logo! Still not convinced? Maple Bacon Donuts...three little words that will change your life, how can anything get better than that?!

Photo courtesy of Meckley's Flavor Fruit Farms

Website - Facebook

11025 S. Jackson Rd.

Somerset Center, MI 49282

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Free Children's Movies
Goodrich Theaters in Jackson are playing free movies for all ages every Saturday and Sunday at 9a & 10a for the next few months. So whether you're young in age or just young at heart, stop on by and enjoy a great movie. Plus, you can pick up some favorite movie snacks for a great price; kids size popcorn, candy, and 12oz pop is only $3.50 or you can get a kids size popcorn, healthy snack, and a water for $4.50. The schedule is as follows (they say the movie is possibly subject to change):

• September 8 & 9 - Madagascar 3
• September 15 & 16 - Journey 2: The Mystery Island
• September 22 & 23 - Rio
• September 29 & 30 - Mirror Mirror
• October 6 & 7 - Rango
• October 13 & 14 - The Lorax
• October 20 & 21 - Ice Age 4: Continental Drift
• October 27 & 28 - Paranorman
• November 3 & 4 - Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

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Zombie Walk
Did you know Jackson has it's own Zombie Walk?! Me either! It's happening on October 13th downtown Jackson, registration is $10 and will help support the March of Dimes. The registration for zombies will be at 4:30p at Biggby Coffee on Wisner. I couldn't find out too many details as their still working out the kinks, but I know I will be taking photos of everyone and their scary makeup as they hobble the streets of Jackson.

Facebook - Facebook Event Page

Local Love | Jackson, MI Photographer

Every Friday night, the Jackson Coffee Co.'s downtown location has free live music from 7-10p upstairs. I love it because you can go relax on a Friday night after work, get some coffee from a local company and listen to a local artist/band play. 

Well last May I had the honor of photographing Alejandra O'Leary in Ann Arbor for some promotional material (here's the blog post from that session), so it was really cool that she came and played a venue here in Jackson. Her voice is really unique and the Broken Mirror Baby album is great to get work done to. I love to throw it on while I'm editing or cleaning. Not to mention, I absolutely adore the cover art to her CD's! She's definitely one to check out!

Website

Facebook

Buy/Download Her Music

Local Musician - Alejandra O'Leary

I was super excited to photograph Alejandra in Ann Arbor. Musicians are great to work with, they're laid back and creative people like photographers are so the sessions tend to go really smoothly. We had fun walking around A2, stopping to take pictures here and there. These are a couple of my favorite shots from the day.

If you'd like to check out her music feel free to visit her website:

Alejandra O'Leary

Buy/download her CD

The Whiskey Pilots

This was a day long photo shoot in Ann Arbor for up and coming band, The Whiskey Pilots. We spent most of the day wandering around to random places throughout the city taking photos. However, as laid back as the shoot was, I have to say this was one of the most interesting sessions I've been on. From hanging with the graffiti alley Michael Jackson impersonator, to the basement of Ashley's and finally a car robbery (someone hit about ten cars in the parking garage our vehicles were parked in and unfortunately one of them being the band's car). But despite the tragedy they remained in good spirits and finished out the day on the top of the Maynard St. Garage.

Check them out, you won't be disappointed:

Facebook or on Myspace

The Freaks Come Out in the Studio

My good friend, Slava loves to help me out by modeling for me. Well, the last assignment in Studio Portraits we had to capture a persons character. Slava is a very multi-talented person, she does burlesque, yoga, dancing, glass walking, and all kinds of other things. Plus, compared to the average everyday person, she's a little out there so I wanted to capture her talents and her weirdness all at the same time...I think these pictures were pretty successful in doing so.