At lunchtime the other day I met the Bauman fam for their annual family portrait shoot. It was an awesome day at an undisclosed location. Really!!! I didn’t have any idea where I was. Somewhere in the backwoods of Lambertville, Michigan area. All I know is I took a ride with the fam in the car and we drove down a skinny path marked private and pulled up to a spot that looked like it belonged in a book. All you needed was a blanket with your reading material and it would’ve been a perfect afternoon. Instead though I grabbed my camera and photographed this family to celebrate Phil and Holly’s 15th wedding anniversary. What a milestone and what better way to remember than with some family portraits.
Thanks you guys! Always love taking your pictures especially in secret locations! 
Kenzie, her mommy and I met at Schedel Gardens in Elmore the other day to capture some 4 year portraits. This was my first time shooting at Schedel Gardens although I’ve always heard great things about it. If you’ve never been there I would suggest going. Grab yourself a special someone, walk around the grounds, sip something hot or cold, sit under the willow tree (the JEM girls love willow trees) and enjoy an hour or two at this place. It’s beautiful! A wedding would be gorgeous there for anyone trying to think of a different place. Kenzie loved getting her picture taken and what a perfect little subject to photograph at such a beautiful place. As we were walking back to the car at the end of our shoot, Kenzie looks up at me with these pretty green eyes and said she had a surprise for me. It was adorable. So she gets in the car and starts searching around. I quickly figured out that there was no surprise, but she was really trying to find something. Her mom suggested she give me silly band. Which by the way I have yet to receive one of those. I heard there’s one that spells the word love. That would be cool. Anyway, after digging around in the car for the perfect surprise for Jen, Kenzie pulls out pizza coupons for me! Ha! It was so funny! Anyway, great day, great place and great little subject.
Thank you Patti and Kenzie!!!
Photographing at an old airport hanger has been on my mind for a long time now. There are actually two in the area and every time I drive by I think what an awesome backdrop for a guy! It wasn’t until the other day when the owner of our building came in and told us a story that it really inspired me to try and convince someone to see what I see. The owner of our building (actually there are two, a father/son duo) stopped by the other day to see our improvements and see how things were going at JEM. As we were talking, I noticed he was wearing a jacket and a hat with an airplane on it. I asked him about it and was engrossed in his response for the next 20 minutes or so. He proceeded to tell us that back in the 80’s he flew a single engine plane with a group of other single engine planes around the world! That’s right, AROUND THE WORLD!!! I was so amazed and couldn’t stop asking questions. What an experience! Right? Just the listing of stops and places he visited was amazing. I bet we could spend days together and not hear all the stories. So that gets me to Derek, a senior at Woodmore High School. He trusted me enough to meet me at this very old airport hanger for these portraits. He took all of my instructions so well except the smiling part. It’s alright Derek! The straight/tough face looks great on you!!!
Thanks Derek for letting me be creative with your backdrop and trusting me. I know you must have questioned the location at least once. Thanks for bringing your closet of clothes to pick from too.
I have had the pleasure of photographing these two for quite some time now. Each and every time I’m with them I leave saying, “what nice kids”. I know they probably hate it when I say that and it makes me sound old, but they really are nice kids. Meet Danielle and Jonmorgan who both will be graduating from Anthony Wayne High School. They are fraternal twins and for anyone that knows me I have a special place for them as I have a twin brother also. We met in downtown Grand Rapids a few weeks ago for what was supposed to be a mini senior session but of course my camera and I get going and I can’t stop myself for getting all these fun shots.
Jonmorgan I can tell you’re going far in life. Your personality and sense of humor is awesome and your ability to talk to people is such a great trait.
Danielle. Oh Danielle. You have no idea how beautiful you are. So there’s this song out there, its called Ohio. In the song a girl is nicknamed Ohio. Ever since I’ve heard this song I’ve always wanted to be called Ohio (for those of you who don’t know me, I love nicknames). Of course I’ve never been called this but I think I’ll pass this nickname on. You look like an Ohio to me Danielle!! Don’t worry, it’s a compliment. An all-american girl with a smile that lights up a room. Did I just embarrass you? Ok, I’ll stop now but I’m still calling you Ohio.
Thank you to both of you. Have a great time this year!
This girl is stunning. Emily is the girl that if I were in her high school would be voted most likely to succeed (though I just met her and I never told her I was going to put that on the blog, I got the vibe). Emily, you are intelligent, beautiful and down to earth. Those are some awesome traits for a high school senior. I loved roaming around Botanical and photographing you! You have a contagious smile and you take a breathtaking photograph. It was, as I thought it would be, difficult to choose which ones to share.
