Isn’t she gorgeous?!

I was so THRILLED when Tayler told me about her dream to be photographed in a field with her cello. I have to admit, I *adore* these images!! It was the perfect setting with the perfect light and the most lovely lady I could have asked for. Just dreamy.

Enjoy this little teaser!

Dan and Nina are just the sweetest couple-with the most amazing love story!  Best friends in preschool, these two were inseparable until Nina’s family moved.  Fate had other plans and reintroduced them when they both landed in Grand Rapids.  As they say, the rest is history!  I think it’s truly remarkable that Dan and Nina were able to reconnect and fall in love. What an awesome story!

I had an absolutely delightful evening with you guys-I’m so glad that the weather was breathtaking!!  Your love just radiates from within you two-I’m sure the passersby in Grand Rapids could feel it!  I can’t wait to share the rest of the session with you both.  You are awesome and I can’t wait for your wedding next summer!!  Please enjoy this *tiny* little peek while I work on the rest.

Rain threatened to be an unwelcome guest at Chris and Crystal’s wedding but nothing could dampen their spirits!

With a warm embrace and cheery smile, Crystal’s ebullient personality wrapped me in joy when I arrived at her parents home where their wedding celebration would be held.  Even though the weather was imperfect to start, Crystal’s joy was overflowing as the curlers transformed her beautiful golden locks into an array of artfully arranged curls.

An amazing wedding celebration-and I have so much more to share!

For now, a tiny teaser-Chris and Crystal are such a fun loving couple and were game to try anything. Just a peek into a moment of lighthearted fun as Crystal chased Chris-this moment culminated in a tender embrace and sweet kiss.  In a big world, they have found a safe haven of love in each other.

We had to reschedule once due to RAIN but thankfully, we had a magnificent evening to work with last week.

What a marvelous day with a fantastic couple! I can’t wait for their wedding in September at Meadowbrook in the Pegasus garden

Enjoy this tiny teaser-more images to come!

Enjoy this tiny taste of Amber + Bud’s love story-I promise I’ll be back (on the blog) soon with more from their wedding and all the others I have yet to share the full, beautiful details of!

Things have been crazy busy around here!  My lack of posts is due to the immense amount of shooting and processing rather than a lack of beautiful images to share.

Since I have a back log of images that are longing to be seen, I’m making a point of at least sharing some teasers from the wonderful people I’ve had the pleasure of working with recently.  I know it’s not much and it’s very likely you’ll just want more but these lovelies are just begging to be shared!!

Today’s teaser is from Matt & Katie’s adventure on Belle Isle last month.  We had a blast on a perfect summery day down in the big city of Detroit!  It was the first time I got meet them both and I was blown away by how amazing they are. I can’t wait for their wedding later this month!!

I adore the deep aqua tones of the water paired with Katie’s impeccable ensemble of vibrant plumb-y pink and the warm stone beneath their feet.  You’d never guess this was the Detroit River swirling around behind them-it looks like somewhere else entirely!  And don’t you just love Katie’s heels?! I love how it all pairs so nicely together with Matt’s laid back deep denim and russet/chocolate leather shoes.  Divine combination!

I plan to do a full feature on their engagement very soon so check back for more next week!

A huge thank you to everyone who nominated me for WDIV’s Best Wedding Photographer category. Please show me some love by casting your vote now– and thanks in advance for your support!

I know you love me, so take a moment to vote for me!

Help me get into the top 5 places in WDIV’s “4 The Best” contest for Best Wedding Photographer in Metro Detroit

So cast your vote now!

Can’t wait to see you at the top!

I couldn’t do it without you!

P.S-Regularly scheduled programming can be found below

Voting is now over-thanks for all your help!

Isn’t this just a gorgeous bouquet of sparkly vintage buttons?!  Of course, such a work of art doesn’t come pre-made and the estimated wait time is 28 weeks so this bouquet would be ready for your winter wedding (which would be FANTASTIC with all the snow!!) or with room to spare for your 2011 spring or summer wedding.

This button bouquet is chock full of buttons and hand sewn flowers giving it a very textured and unique look.  What I love about it is not only is it incredibly unique (there will be only one of it!) but it will last forever.  Sure, silk flowers last but this bouquet packs the charm and character in a way that no silk flower ever could!

So what do you think winter brides & 2011 ladies?  Is this an inspiring and unusual bouquet or what?! Oh, and to seal the deal Letters4Lilly includes a coordinating boutonniere for your groom.

Order yours here: The Diamonds and Pearls Button Bouquet and by letters4lilly.

Sure, it’s a cliche.  I happen to think it falls under the heading of truism as well-because life really is too short.

Too short for what, you might ask-or perhaps you have a list of things in mind that fully demonstrate how short life is.  Today I was inspired by the ever radiant, authentic and influential Lara Casey and the blog post she recently penned on this very topic.  Through her masterful writing, she depicts something very similar to what I experience back in late January of this year.  Much of what she has written (not just this post but her previous thoughts as well) resonates with me.  I find her continually inspiring as she is a brilliant (seriously!!) business woman who truly has the power to change the world. And she is!

At the end of the post she wrote on the subject of life being too short, she challenged us (her readership) to finish this simple sentence: Life is to short to:

And so I begin. I sit down to type out a list of things I think life is too short to do.  Then I realize that this growing list is something I want to share-because I’m willing to guess I’m not the only one who needs to pay heed in my life today.

What do you think life is too short to do?  How would asking ourselves daily this question change us?  Would we focus more on the things that truly matter and let the rest wash away?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

My take on “Life is too short to….
stay down, when you’re broken or hurt
be kept small
accept defeat in any form
hide your brilliance
waste your talents
stand by idly
follow the crowd
ignore your passion
swallow your hearts desire and hide it
hide your light beneath a basket
let anything but love in your life
ignore your calling
allow yourself to be pushed down
remain hidden
hold onto past hurts
live life in fast forward
pursue anything without love
wait for things to make themselves happen
wait for approval
live for someone else
pursue someone else’s dream
say no to what your heart desires
say no to love
accept no as the final answer
pursue anything less than your passion
ignore yourself
be jealous
be unkind
wallow in pity

For me, the biggest thing that life is to short to do revolves around love.  I think love should be at the center of what we do. Everything we pursue and allow into our lives should have love as its focus, purpose or behind it.  Life is just to short to surround ourselves with anything less than love!

I’m grateful that in my own life I am surrounded by love-not only from family & friends but also from my wonderful clients.  To be a part of their joyous and love FILLED journey-that is something I truly LOVE.  I can honestly say that I pursue my passion, my calling all because of love.  Because I adore giving from a place of love to a couple in love.  I think that together, love grows.

So what are you holding on to today that’s pulling you down, or preventing you from pursuing love? What can you accomplish if you focus on love?  I’ve spent too much time in my own life waiting for approval-and today, I’m letting that go. Because life really is too short.

{I’m making the same challenge Lara did: finish this sentence-”Life is to short to….” and leave your answers in the comments section by clicking ‘comments’}

Perusing my favorite place (Etsy.com!) I came across these-how awesome would these silver cuff links be as a gift for your groom?

I love that they are simple and sleek on the exterior and your “I love you” message is tucked away on the backside. They even offer custom messages if you want to engrave a different expression.

Love these!

Get your groom a pair to finish off his wedding attire right here: secret message cuff links bright brushed finish by smashing.