Instant Film Negative of Autumn Leaves
October Senior Portrait Session – Patience
Just Go Shoot – House Show
In life & in the creative process, take what you’ve got, limits & imperfections, & just go for it. Step over the fear of the outcome you expect & do it anyway. Fire off a shot you know -by the numbers- isn’t expected to work well. Take it. Hold your breath & wait a moment.
Let it flop. Let it be ugly, imperfect, unfocused, a waste of your finite energy and irreplaceable time. Just don’t let it slip by.
So what if it doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped? Here’s proof you were there, you put your life into something that you gave a damn about, you were creating, not for anyone but yourself, for whatever reason you like, or no reason at all. Proof of life when motivation feels like it flatlined months ago.
Let it be a reminder of that time you saw an opportunity & took it. It cost you something, but it was worth it.
. . .
If you’re still reading & we’re still talking cameras, #justgoshoot
Old #fp100c in a far older #Polaroid in an even older living room. . . .
#fujifp100c #polaroid #instantfilm #vscocam #vsco #shootfilm
Living room sets at House Fitzgerald by Qajaq (pictured), Every Day, Woolen Lover. Handheld Polaroid Automatic 100 camera with expired Fuji FP100c instant film.
Fall, in Love – 10 Septembers Ago – Rose and Jeremiah
Today marks the first decade milestone for this photo hobby venture turned career move as I began telling wedding day stories through digital images and design. But enough about me…
Happy 10th Anniversary Rose & Jeremiah!
My slanted hip shot of the father of the bride and two groomsmen. I hoped to catch them candidly but the expressions, body language, and camera tilt turned out an intimidating snapshot of this rather imposing trio.
(One serious time warp I noticed looking back 10 years is that while there are guests holding cameras as the bride enters, there are not swarms of illuminated phone, tablet, and small television sized screens at arm’s length capturing her every step to be tweeted, live streamed, and hashtagged. Those were the days…)
Congrats again, newlyweds, on your first decade! Here’s to all the years ahead!
Fall, In Love – September Wedding on a Lake Michigan Beach
The time machine is still churning, back to before this blog was up and running.
Eight years back I joined Emily and Drew as they celebrated their September wedding day at Silver Beach along Lake Michigan in Saint Joseph, Michigan. A stormy day may have dampened the dunes but it didn’t stop the Newlyweds and their guests from having an unforgettable time along the lake shore.
Tiki torches lined the aisle to their ceremony in the sand.
Congratulations, Emily & Drew, and happy anniversary!
BONUS – the nontraditional wedding ceremony runner.
This guy was making tracks along the shore during the ceremony and made his way back during portraits. “Runner” shirt, running shorts, headband, headphones, sunglasses, knee wrap, high socks, gleaming smile… He was way too accessorized NOT to get a photo with the groom & groomsmen.
Fall, in Love – Outdoor September Autumn Wedding with Handmade Decorations
Autumn has been in the air around here since at least last weekend. Warm jackets are out, the colors on the trees are starting to turn, and apple cider is a regular beverage. My favorite season has begun.
Meredith and Chris’ wedding day was full of beautiful handmade personalized decorations, sculptures, pottery and floral arrangements. Some of my favorites are below…
I’ve enjoyed seeing so many different takes on the traditional unity candle symbolism in wedding ceremonies and this unity tree planting was the first of its kind for me. The bride, groom, and their parents joined in planting a tree during the outdoor wedding ceremony.
The morning’s rain stayed away for the outdoor wedding ceremony, gave overcast lighting and a glimmer of moisture to all the lovely floral decor. (Photo tip: rainy days yield saturated colors and contrast!)
Finalizing the list of personalized decorations is this Indiana University IU monogram cake table piece, complete with the newlyweds’ wedding date. Go Hoosiers! Congrats, again, newlyweds, and happy anniversary!
Love what you see? Drop me a line to have me tell your love story with engagement and wedding day photography.
1945 Pinup and Sailor Themed Engagement Portrait Session
I’m a fan of incorporating my clients’ ideas into their photo sessions. The more excited about your photos and involved in the creative process you are, the more my energy behind the camera is fueled back into your photos. One of my favorite conversations about a customized engagement session turned out to be a time warp to 1945 to spin a classy take on the famous “Kissing the War Goodbye” sailor and nurse photograph. Victory curls, polka dots, and a (modern day) US Navy dress blue uniform were all upstaged by smiles and laughs throughout these themed engagement portraits.
I put together the vintage Guest Book post and Facebook samples -both a hit- while the rest went into the album, Save the Date cards, and print samples without sneaking online since! Here are more of my favorites from this shoot in classy black and white.
Kiss ordinary photo shoots goodbye and drop me a line here to see your ideas turn into the images you’ve always wanted.
November Outdoor Engagement Session at Notre Dame Campus – Emily and Tomas
After a busy Thanksgiving week it was a great treat to spend a holiday weekend afternoon out for a very leisurely engagement session with Emily and Tomas. Between an away football game day and Thanksgiving travels, Notre Dame University campus was unusually quiet this afternoon. Even with occasional wind gusts it was an unseasonably nice late November afternoon to start telling a wedding story with an Engagement Session.
I’m looking forward to their wintry wedding in December! Congrats, Soonly-weds!
More photos to come! To get a notice when the Engagement Session is ready to view check out the Proof Gallery and preregister for a reminder here.
Children’s Outdoor Autumn Portraits – Stella
It’s been a while since I overloaded the blog wrote about the First Friday Fashion (fail) contest from September, or the photo shoot prize our winner received.
In late October I joined my contest winner Aim for the photo shoot giveaway. She contrived a clever and generous plan to enlist the help of Facebook friends to vote for her photo entries to win the shoot for her daughter Stella.
Here are a few favorites from Stella’s outdoor fall photo shoot around Beutter Park and Battell Park in downtown Mishawaka, Indiana.
Just Married – Katie and Lawrence
Congrats newlyweds Katie & Lawrence!
To get a reminder when their full wedding day photography gallery is ready you can get a reminder here.
If you dare to see snowy engagement portraits on such a warm summer-like October weekend, check them out here