Since Zade was so eager to have his pictures taken with his new family, we moved our session up a few weeks and captured some of that newborn yummy goodness, with a dose of 2 yr old older brother flavor.

Trying to keep Asher from jumping on Zade was fun…..the rest of it was cake, and frankly, exciting for me to watch this family grow!

Dana & Jason met as competitive skiers, and their mutual love for the sport is just where their relationship started.  I thought it would be fun to play off that initial connection, that continued interest, and celebrate that through their engagement photos.

You see, engagement photos (in my mind) serve two purposes: for the clients & myself to become more comfortable with each other, and to capture this stage of their journey together.  I also like being able to pull an element, or two, from their story and using it as inspiration for the shoot.  I have photographed couples on raceways, running side-by-side, and in the locations that are important to their history.

I want to thank Dana & Jason for not only braving the cold weather, but for helping out in the little post-shoot adventure (the keys have still not been found!).  Your patience & understanding, and willingness to help is greatly appreciated!

This is just part 1 of their session….or rather, part 2.  Part 1 will come later, but these images were my favorites.  I’m so excited for your August wedding, and if I lose my keys that time, I have spare ones now!).

Thank you again for a fabulous day, and for being a part of making this little vision, that started over a cup of coffee, come to life!

Overall, lizzie photo fans and my clients, YOU ROCK. Rock beyond rock.

In the span of a week, over 130 new people joined the fan page. About 500 of you shared it, commented, or liked photos (WOW). It was so fun to see all the excitement and energy around this, and I look forward to announcing, in the next few days), who the winner of the family session and Rustic Poppy frame is, so stay tuned!

But for now, join me in congratulating Nikki & John on their upcoming 1st Anniversary photoshoot!

How you can participate:

1) “Like” lizzie photo on facebook.
2) Vote for your favorite couple by liking and/or commenting on their photo: (VOTE HERE)
3) “Share” lizzie photo with others & promote the contest!
4) “Like” The Rustic Poppy.

How it works:

Couple with the most comments/likes on their photos wins!

What do they win?

1) An 18×24 canvas print of the image of their choice.
2) A first anniversary session to celebrate their first year together.

What’s in it for you?:

1) The joy in knowing I had a good day. Just kidding, that’s not all.
2) A winner will be chosen at random from the comments and new “likes” on facebook, and will receive one family/individual session worth $150  and a $50 print credit to use or give as a gift.
3) A RUSTIC POPPY frame size 11×14, to display your new family photo in!

Fast forward to their August 27, 2011 wedding in Detroit. So many fun details….

When Josh lived in Detroit, he had a condo right downtown, that had a lovely rooftop patio….this is where they chose to get married, overlooking the city they both love so much (Sarah’s family lives in Detroit). Immediately following the wedding (officiated by Josh’s own father), we ran over to the DIA for some pictures, then up and down Woodward Avenue with the whole wedding party.

While stopped in front of the Fox Theater, in heavy traffic nonetheless, Josh ran out and stopped a guy with a fabulous car so i could get that one shot of the classic car in front of the classic Fox Theater….

Next stop was the final stop – their FABULOUS reception site, Cliff Bells – an old jazz club. Definitely nontraditional, and right up my alley!

All in all, it was a fantastic day in the “D” with a couple very much in love…..and a fun wedding party, and an incredible location. Thanks for letting me be a part of it!

When she got engaged and told me she was going to get married at the top of a ski hill and wanted me to be a part of her day….I picked my jaw off the floor and shouted hooray! I knew it would be a blast.

To make me even more eager to shoot this wedding, at one point she says “I want to go in Lake Michigan in my dress.”

Umm, ok.

I guess.

If you must.

WHAT? Are you for real? (This is what’s playing in my head) I mean seriously, how amazing can this girl get? After my own heart….

Skip to the wedding. Gorgeous fall day. Beautiful sunny day on the lake. Happy bride and adoring groom. Friends and family loving & supporting. Some tender sweet moments filled with tears, and some outright laughter (insert snowboarding reference here). It was a good day.

The next morning, I got to have a late lunch (burgers) with Bridget, Jesse, and Art & Emily. It was the first time I got to spend the morning after with a bride and groom like this, and it was fun to share their day with them in a mini-preview.

Now a few months have passed, and here’s a preview for you.
To view it from start to finish, visit their full gallery here: http://lizziephoto.zenfolio.com/p1047508799

One of the things I tend to say to people is “if you want the picture of your hands with rings over the bouquet, I’m not your photographer.” I think you can create a beautiful photo that captures the ring, but can also creatively show off another detail of your wedding – flowers, program, SHOES, environment.

Let’s face it, you probably aren’t likely to frame a photo of your ring….but maybe you are. Check out a few of these beauties from the past few years.

This year I photographed a former high school friends’ kids, watched babies grow from birth to almost 1 year old, met, fell in love with, and photographed two little spanish boys, Nico & Santiago, in Madrid, Spain, and had a whole string of cuties in Vicenza, Italy.

While most of these adventures were close to home, I must say it was fun to have all new scenery for the ones abroad. Regardless of where I was, it was fun getting to pull out little personalities, and even capturing those subtle serious moments.

To all my clients, thank you for letting me share in all these fun stages of your children’s lives.

Umm, because they needed to be…..not to “save” the photo, but because I had to. Had to. I’m slightly obsessed with this heavy/grainy/filmy black & white, and a selection of Amber & Nate’s photos was begging for it. Really, they were.

It was so much fun to be a part of this wedding. Nate & I used to work together (briefly), and best man Kyle Bultman (of Kyle Bultman photography) and his wife, my friend Katie, were there to lend a hand (or a fong) and to capture a different perspective. Kyle and I both know that even when a different duty calls, it’s difficult to put down that camera.

Anyway, back to the day…..Amber was sweet sweet sweet from the beginning to the end, and being able to witness the depth of love they have for each other, and for the Lord, was amazing. And their families? Oh, don’t even get me started, because I’ll probably cry again. They were inspirational.

If you want to see some of the gorgeous colors of the day, go here. But for now, just enjoy (hopefully as much as I have) this little preview!

I love your dresses. Your updos. Your SHOES (I’ve had two Stephanies with Uh-MAZE-ing footwear. Coincidence? I think not).

But most of all I love how well you all listen when I say “trust me” and you get into that pose that may seem a little odd to you….not what you are used to doing….maybe uncomfortable…or seems a little umm, well, you know. Each of you has helped me define what I call “rock the frock.”

It’s not trashing the dress…oh no, just the opposite (insert numerous clear plastic bags sacrificed for the good of the dress here). It’s OWNING what you have….it’s WORKING what you have….and CELEBRATING that on your wedding day, you are your most confident and your most beautiful.

Even though you aren’t all featured here on this blog……I’d love to, but it would be eight pages long…..It has been a joy over the past few years to see each of your faces on your wedding day. You have all, in your own way, rocked the frock.

Thank you for helping make THIS girl’s day, each and every time!