Brown to Bailey

My fiancé and I just recently had our first photo session done that wasn’t by me or my best friend. These images were taken by our wedding photographer, Marisa Henry, she allowed me to edit them but she did a wonderful job shooting! Check out Marisa’s work on her website.

I wanted to share these because I honestly cannot stop looking at them and I cannot wait to get some of these enlarged and hung up on the walls in our new house. For those of you that don’t know, we have officially moved to Ionia. We have been living here for about a month now and we absolutely love it. I must admit, I was so nervous to move back to Ionia. I loved living in Grand Rapids, having everything I could ever need right at my finger tips. However, now that we have been here I realize I truly missed that small town living. I just love that there is not much traffic to deal with!

I was nervous moving my business back to my home town but I think it will turn into one of the best decisions we have made! My studio space is roughly the same set up, its a tad smaller but hey we are making it work out just fine! My office however, is a bit larger and it is so nice being able to have a nice little set up that people can come visit. The end goal is to be able to have clients come over and see all of their photos how I see them, on my giant computer screen in full color! I can’t wait to have my first client over once the office is completely finished (its so close!).

Any who, onto these images that I love so much. These were taken right outside of our new home. To me, that makes these even more meaningful. This is Logan and I’s first official home that we own and having images near by really makes it special. I can’t wait to marry my best friend next October.

10.14.17 #browntobailey2017

Photos taken by Marisa Henry

Make up by Cydney Robinson

All images were edited by myself, does not directly represent Marisa Henry’s image style.

Love Is All You Need

Meet Ashley and Elizabeth!

Elizabeth came to me a couple months ago asking about wedding packages. Ashley and herself really enjoyed my work so I was excited to get them their welcome packet. They came to visit me at my office to discuss some questions they had and they decided to book with me.

The next day we were chatting about their engagement session. They both attended GVSU so they really wanted to include some photos over there in their session as well as downtown Grand Rapids. Their session was beautiful! The amount of love these two shared between them was amazing. They were so full of laughs and so comfortable with each other, it really shows in their images!

Their wedding is coming up in August and I cannot wait! Its going to be gorgeous.

I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. These two were great to work with!

Where Am I?

Hey everyone!

It has been quite some time since my last blog. It looks like its been about two whole weeks! That is far to long for me. However it has also been a CRAZY two weeks. We are officially moved into our home in Ionia! The studio is coming along nicely as well as all the other things that come with home owner ship such as painting, remodeling, and what not. I’m sure you could believe that we still have so much to do! Heck, I’m not even into my office yet, still working at my desk out in the cluttered studio space. Oh well, I’m just happy to officially own my own home!

I’m sorry if this blog becomes a bit lengthy but I wanted to share with you a little snippet of all the things I have been doing the last two to three weeks! I have had some wonderful sessions including two weddings, some prom photos, graduation photos, and more! I must say that all of my clients have been amazing during the session and with their patience while waiting for their final images.

Here are just a few of my favorites from different sessions!

 

Prom?

 

Prom.
One of high schools crazy traditions that every student feels they have to attend. Well maybe not every, but most. Now days the boys and even the girls sometimes come up with all of these crazy ways of asking their boyfriend/girlfriend/friends to prom. I always love seeing the videos of these kids holding their signs or doing something crazy to ask their significant other to the dance.

This wasn’t for prom but for their “Fling” dance, whatever that is, Sonja had one of her teachers pull Konner out of class to take him to the office. They made it seem like he was in a lot of trouble but once he got down to the office, she was standing there with a cute handmade sign she made asking him to the dance. Adorable right?!

Then came prom. These high schoolers and of course their parents spend all of this money on just one night of fun. But it is one very special night in every sophomore, junior, and seniors life that they feel like they need to do. The girls of course spend all day pampering themselves. Getting hair done, nails, make up, the whole shebang just to put on this expensive but gorgeous gown so they can go out dancing for a night. Its quite spectacular really. Konner here got all spiffy in his tux and he even got his wonderful lady a beautiful corsage.

When you have a couple that has been together for quite awhile and has gone through so many memories together you can’t help but see all of that young love between the two of them. I know they had a wonderful evening and I am so glad I was there to capture some photos of these two. They look amazing dont they?!

We did these photos at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids. It was a perfect spot for a few photos, plus it was near by to the spot they got ready at. I can’t believe my niece even went to prom though! She walked up those stairs in her gorgeous dress and I about cried at how beautiful she was.

I hope you can enjoy some of these photos from their prom night last month!

Hair done by Paula Guppy. Make up by Cydney Robinson

 

Apple Orchard Wedding

Hey there everyone! I know lately I have been slacking quite a bit on blogging. It has been a crazy couple of weeks though!

It’s official, Logan and I will be moving back to Ionia. My old home town. I was going to wait to announce it but who knows how many of you will even read this so if only a few of you know thats fine with me! We have already taken about half of our things over to our new home, we even started painting the new studio space. Woot woot! I can’t wait to share some pictures once we get all settled and everything looking the way we want.

Any who, enough about myself, I want to share with you some gorgeous photos from the McKeown wedding! These photos were taken at Meckley’s Flavor Fruit Farm in Jackson MI. It was a gorgeous day and we got so lucky that it didn’t rain!

Nicole got her dream of being married in front of the apple trees in full bloom and let me tell you, it was absolutely stunning! Nicole and Chad met at a church in Belding and they had the cutest little proposal story!

In the words of the bride herself when I asked about their proposal “THIS IS MY FAVORITE STORY. Chad proposed by taking me on a ‘surprise picnic’. He blindfolded me in the car until we reached the picnic spot. It turned out to be the marina in Holland (I have ALWAYS wanted to go sailing). I was shocked beyond belief, and still expected nothing. After about 2 hours of learning how to sail on Lake Michigan with our captain, he suggested that we sit on the edge of the boat and enjoy the view. While sitting, he started his speech and asked me to marry him. :)”
How cute right?!

Well, lets get on with it as I am sure you’re all dying to see some of their images!

How awesome that a rainbow appeared right before their ceremony!

The amount of love between these two was amazing! You could just tell every time they looked at each other that they were meant to be. It was such a beautiful day!

I had so much fun working with these two and their families, they are just all around great and wonderful people. The entire day was planned out wonderfully and everything was so easy!

I am now booking weddings into 2017! If you are interested in a digital welcome packet, don’t hesitate to ask!

Mr. & Mrs. Hardin

I had the privilege of photographing this adorable couple on their big day two weeks ago!

Kelley and Travis met in Greenville, MI in 2005. They dated & lived together for 5 years (2005-2010)…separated for a year/traveled ect. We reunited in 2011 and have been together ever since. We met April 2005 and having our Ceremony April 2016. They also have a beautiful little boy who came into this world not to long ago!

Kelley shared with me the story on how Travis proposed to her. It is just so sweet!  “Travis proposed on our property (We had recently purchased 12 acres of totally undeveloped land to “start our life on”). One day, we had to mark out the ‘intended driveway placement’ for city/building approval & permits… and Travis proposed there as I was placing the marker-flag. It was a big symbol of our future ‘path’, and I was totally surprised!”

Their wedding was held at the Ionia fairgrounds where they have worked most of their summers running their concessions stands. I first met Kelley and Travis as a couple at the fair when they had asked me to take photographs of them around the fairgrounds to remember their time there.

The fairgrounds is a beautiful location that the Grand River runs though. They got married right on the river with the bridge in the back ground. It was a gorgeous ceremony!

“Travis proposed on our property (We had recently purchased 12 acres of totally undeveloped land to “start our life on”). One day, we had to mark out the ‘intended driveway placement’ for city/building approval & permits… and Travis proposed there as I was placing the marker-flag. It was a big symbol of our future ‘path’, and I was totally surprised!”

Kelley and Travis decided to do a “first look” on their wedding day. The first look really gives the bride and groom a chance to be completely alone (aside from photographer of course) when they first see each other. It allowed them to have a private moment during the day where they could just talk to each other and have those special moments when the groom first see’s his bride.

In the words of Kelley “Those of you that know Travis and I, understand that ‘tradition’ is less important to us than doing what is actually best given the time and situation! Our Wedding ceremony held true to that also! We did a “First Look Session” with our Photographer and I’m so glad we did! A couple hours prior to the Ceremony, Travis and I met eachother to capture the intimate moment of seeing eachother all dressed up. These are just a few photos from the preview… I’m excited to see the rest ♡”

I can’t wait to share with them their entire album! I had a wonderful time photographing these two. You can really see how much they truly love each other. Its such a beautiful thing!

Emma: Senior Model Class of 2017

Meet Emma.

Emma is my senior model from Wellspring Preparatory HS. She applied to be my senior rep and her application sounded very interesting so I was excited to meet up with her and get to know her! When she arrived at her session, I could tell we were going to have fun. She was super bubbly and such a nice young woman! Her and her mother were a lot of fun to work with.

We did Emma’s mini session downtown Grand Rapids. She is a natural in front of the camera. I feel like I keep saying that about my models but seriously, they are all so great to photograph! I wouldn’t even have to tell her to change faces or to slightly move, its like she could read my mind and would just do it! Not to mention, this girl is absolutely gorgeous!

Emma can get you 15% off your total senior portrait experience! She will have her senior model cards by the end of the week!

Chloe: Senior Model Class of 2017

Meet Chloe.

Chloe is one of my senior models for Saranac HS. The minute I started talking to Chloe about being in the model program and setting up her session, I was instantly excited to start working with her! She’s a dancer, so that made me even more excited to try some new things that I haven’t done with previous seniors.

Chloe also has her own great ideas, she’s got some great locations in mind for her session and I always love when clients bring locations to the table. It really allows me to put my own creative thought on that location while still giving them all they want by going to that location.

Chloe is an absolute blast to work with and she’s definitely been in front of the camera a few times. She’s just stunning and so natural when it comes to posing. Really making my job a piece of cake 😉

Chloe can get you 15% off any senior portrait package! She will have her model cards at the beginning of May!

DrewAnn: Senior Model Class of 2017

Meet DrewAnn.

DrewAnn is one of my senior models at Ionia HS. I really enjoyed talking with her when she first decided she was interested in the program. She is super sweet and kind hearted. She also has a huge passion for animals, as do I, so this decision was an easy one. We got along great in our initial conversation and I couldn’t be happier!

DrewAnn and her mom met me at Fallsburg Park in Lowell for her mini session. They were so much fun to work with and to talk with. DrewAnn was easy to pose and it felt natural working with her! I can’t wait for her full sessions!

DrewAnn can get you 15% off any senior portrait package! She will have her model cards at the beginning of May!

Hope: Senior Model Class of 2017

Meet Hope.

Hope applied to be one of my senior models and I was instantly intrigued by her application. She said she was really into fashion and that is exactly what I was hoping for when choosing my senior models! No matter what type of fashion they are into, just as long as they like it works for me! I got to her mini session and saw her walking towards me and was instantly in love with this look she had going on! I was so excited for these shots all throughout the session. I don’t think there was one photo that I didn’t like!

Hope is my senior model for Central Montcalm HS and she is an absolute natural in front of the camera. She is so easy to work with and just absolutely stunning at her mini session! We did her mini session downtown Ionia with all of the historic buildings and architecture, they turned out beautifully!

Hope can get you 15% off any senior portrait order! If you know Hope or go to school with her, don’t hesitate to ask her how to get that discount! She will have her senior model cards at the beginning of May!

Get 15% off your senior portrait package by talking to Hope!