Down & Derby to Princess Bride | Jackson, MI Wedding Photographer

Ellen (aka Lala O'Rage) tied the not to Mr. O'Rage!! Ellen and I play on the same derby team so to see her all dressed up and getting married was a complete 360 from the usual. It was such an honor that she asked me to photograph her wedding, I was completely stoked about it!! She said that her ceremony was going to be held in her grandmothers yard next to their family owned greenhouse, Beck's Flower & Gift Shop. I knew going into it to expect gorgeous flowers because they were obviously doing their own wedding, but I had NO idea the arrangements would be SO stunning!!! They were hands down the BEST floral arrangements I've seen at a wedding and I highly recommend using Beck's for any floral service (not to mention again that they're family owned and local...always a plus!) Both Ellen and Clive's family were so sweet, they are definitely surrounded by the most loving people. It's amazing to see two sets of families mesh so well. Everything about the day was special and the video below doesn't even begin to touch on the love Ellen and Clive share, but every time I watch it I still tear up :)

Vendors

Flowers: Beck's Flower and Gift Shop

Cake: Clive's mother (also the BEST wedding cake I've ever had)

Catering: Marchand's Catering 

(517) 769-2840 (amazing as well)

Reception Hall: Our Lady of Fatima Church

Great Fall Family Adventures | Jackson, MI Photographer

Are you looking for something fun to do with the family in the next couple of weeks? Well, I've got some great (and low cost) ideas!!

Cindrella's Brawl - Saturday, Sept. 17th
First, The Jack Town Derby Girls!!! Okay so I might be biased on this one because I'm part of the team, but still. They're Jackson's ONLY roller derby team and they have a bout (what a game is called in derby) TOMORROW! Tickets are only $10 in advance ($12 at the door) and kids 10 & under are FREE, limit two per paid adult. But that's not all, if you bring in an unwanted prom dress you'll get your ticket for $9. The doors open at 6p and the action starts at 7p. Be sure to get there early to get a good seat, you won't want to miss the action as they take on the Killamazoo Derby Darlins. Below are the important links to their bout.
Pre-Bout Tickets
Event Page
Facebook

Ella Sharp Museum 
The Nature of Dogs
September 17 - November 26
Perfect for the animal lovers out there! There's a FREE lecture tomorrow at 1p by the photographer, Mary Ludington. She's shown dogs in the AKC ring and has photographed nearly all 180 recognized breeds!!
The Nature of Dogs Info

Glimpses of Everyday Life Photographs by Jennie L. Green
May 21 – October 8, 2011
Donated to the Museum in 1984 by an heir, Ben Green, these photographs taken by Jackson resident Jennie Lovan Green capture a glimpse of her everyday life. This exhibition of just of few of the more than 300 photographs in the Jennie Green collection will be on exhibit in the Pyron Gallery.
More Info

Michigan Theater - Saturday, Sept. 17th
FREE family movie night!! The Michigan Theater is showing Hoodwinked Too! (Rated PG), which has humor great for kids and adults. Doors are at 5p and the movie starts at 6p. Admission is FREE..you don't get any better than that!
Theater Website

Flavor Fruit Farms - Sept. 17th-18th
It's animal weekend at Flavor Fruit Farms, come get your photos taken with baby animals that include foxes, kangaroos, and tigers!! Also meet Laura the Elephant (seriously how cute!!) They're open from noon-5p (weather permitting).
Flavor Fruit Farms webpage

Jackson Family Fall Festival - Sept. 23rd-25th
This event is FREE admission AND parking!! It takes place behind Jackson Catholic Middle School and there's something for everyone...Dinner Tent, Craft Tent, Bake Sale, Bingo Tent, Entertainment (Adults) Tent, Teen Entertainment, Midway Carnival Rides, Nite-n-Reno, Fireworks, PLUS Wine Tasting, Childrens' Entertainment Tent, and The Classic Car Show!
Event Website

Celebrating Labor Day | Jackson, MI Photographer

To celebrate Labor Day and have a day to relax, myself and a friend of mine went to the Renaissance Festival in Holly, Michigan. And of course I can't go to somewhere that has that many amazing sights and not bring my camera. The costumes are so ornate and beautiful, if it wasn't for the Black Plague and the horrible way women (or anyone that wasn't of royalty status for that matter) were treated, I would love to live back then. But that's neither here nor there, here are a few of the photos I took.

 Then after we got home we went down to Cascade Falls Park to watch the last fireworks of the season. I LOVE taking photos of fireworks, they just turn out so awesome. I was actually quite impressed with these because they were taken at a shutter speed of 1/15th and typically you can't handhold anything slower than 1/60th without getting camera shake. So here are my favorite ones...

My Little Sister is All Grown Up | Jackson, MI Senior Photographer

If someone would have told me when I was eight years old that I would be photographing my baby sister's senior pictures one day, I would have thought they were crazy. But here I am seventeen years later, my little sister is going into her senior year of high school and I just photographed her senior pics. I have to say it's definitely a little weird, not only do I feel old now, but for once in our lives we will be in the same stage...college. I am pursuing my second Associates degree in Graphic Design and she'll be working on getting her Associates as well. Since there is an eight year difference between the two of us, she'll always be that curly haired little girl that I grew up with, but looking at these pictures I realize that somewhere along the way she grew up and now she's an adult. Congrats for making it this far Jess! I know you'll do great this year and I can't wait to come to your graduation.

It's a Shore Thing | Jackson, MI Senior Photographer

This was by far the longest senior session I've ever photographed, but I had a blast doing it! She's my cousin so I kind of got to have a mini work vacation. We did her photos on Lake Michigan so I got to spend the day at the beach, hanging out with family and photographing her senior photos. This girl should SO model, I barely had to give her any direction at all and I'm in love with practically every photo I shot. Narrowing it down to these four was almost impossible :)

Also while I was up there, we decided to do a spur of the moment family photo because they hadn't had one since their son was three years old!! Even my own family's guilty of not doing a regular family photo, I really can't stress how important it is to get them done (and I'm not trying to drum up business either, go to whoever you want, I just want you to have them done). You're never guaranteed tomorrow and I know I would feel absolutely terrible if my family didn't have anything recent to remember me by. Okay, getting off my soapbox now lol.

Gosh this session makes me feel old, I remember when they were born and now Nicole's a senior in high school...that's just crazy!

Anthony - Class of 2012 | Jackson, MI Senior Photographer

This had to be one of the most unique senior sessions I've ever photographed. Anthony plays on his bowling team and wanted to do photos at the bowling alley, which of course I LOVED the idea. I really enjoy when people come to me wanting something completely out of the norm. I talked to the alley to make sure that me being there photographing was going to be okay and they didn't have anything going on at that time. Everything was a go! I learned SO much stuff about bowling that I would have never known, it was really awesome. Did you know those lanes aren't just polished, there's actually a layer of oil on them?! Me either until I walked barefoot down one haha.

Sandy Puc: Creative Edge Kids Tour

This was the fourth tour of Sandy's that I've been to and they never cease to amaze me. You'd think that she'd run out of things to teach us about, but no...every time I come back with an abundance of new knowledge that I am anxiously waiting to implement. This time the tour was about how to create AMAZING children's portraits with a focus on newborns to toddlers.

But that's not the only thing she talks about, she also helps photographers build their business to help them become more successful. She has an online "university" with video tutorials and a site called Certify with Sandy, which pretty much helps you step by step get certified as a Master Photographer with the Professional Photographers of America. This is a BIG deal because not many photographers take the time to do it and you're tested. It's like taking the BAR exam for lawyers, but in photography.

She's such an incredible person, I can't believe how she does everything that she does!! She's like Super Photog! She's got a pin-up tour coming around in September (but it's not coming to Detroit so I'd need to go to Chicago) and I'm hoping to catch that one as well, but if I don't she'll be back in the summer of 2012 so I'll be at that tour.

On a completely unrelated note, on the way home from the tour there was an amazing storm that was rolling through. So I pulled off on a country road and sat there for two hours playing with my camera and capturing lightning images. I adore storms, there's just something about them that calm me down, but I LOVE taking photos of the lightning. If you've ever tried to do so you know it's not as easy as it sounds. Here's a few of the successful ones...