New Blog!!

Hey everyone! Come check out my fancy new blog! I'll be posting to that blog from now on- the pictures from this blog will be archived in my new one. This will be tied into my website (which isn't done yet!) so don't click on the website button- but I know you will. That's ok. I don't mind!

Come and check it out!



Click HERE!

Have a great day!

Camp Carpenter

I had the pleasure of doing a family shoot in Galesburg (I didn't know where it was either!) with my dear neighbor's family.  What a fun place!  Despite the mosquitos, we got some great shots!  Thanks for having me at the compound- here are a few teasers!

Yep.  Loving her, big time.  What a honey!

I also got a new logo- I'm going to be switching over to a pro photo blog/website soon and needed a logo--- tell me what you think!  Courtesy of Miss Carly!  I love her stuff- she's so talented!

A wedding post tomorrow!

Up North...

Here in Michigan, everyone knows what it means to go "Up North"- You go up 75 or 127 and you go up!!

We'll the Martin's took a much needed vacation to the Little Bear Beach Cottage and had a great time- here is a peek of the week...

We learned by day 2 to never let Monkey go down to the beach without a bathing suit "or Baby Suit" as she calls it--- 2 year old + lake= laundry.

#2

This plus this plus this=

Mmmmmmmm... that photo collage was my shout out to PDub---

(The Pioneer Woman- if you haven't read her blog- go now.  Do it.  Then let me know in 2 days when you have come up for air and look around and realize that 2 days have gone by.)

When you follow the above recipe, you get this:

Yep- Zoe is drooling.  And wet.  She fetched for 7 straight days.  And begged for smores.  She's been asleep since we got back.  And she smells.  Anyone want to dog-sit?

Zoe in action, Daddy in action, I got off my chair long enough to take a pic of the action.  Whew.  Then I sat back in the chair to relax again.

Bug barely let me take this pic- he was too  happy to sit, must have been the 8-12 smores he had.  His smores consisted of marshmallows and random pieces of chocolate he stole from me. 

My world...

I'll be back soon to blog/post pics of 2 weddings, and a variety of kid/family/senior shoots as well!  Thanks for your patience if you are waiting for sneak peeks!  I just wanted you to all know that I was still here!

Have a great day!

Abbey + Eric 6-28-08

Wow.  I have to say it again. Wow.  What a day!  I know I have 2 other weddings to blog, but I had to prepare some images for something special (more later on that secret!) so they were ready and I had to blog them...

Abbey and Eric got married at the historic Gordon Hall in Dexter this past Saturday, this was the first wedding to be held there and to sum it up: amazing.  The details that Abbey put into her day were impeccable- it was a photographers dream wedding, the great formula:  beautiful location + stunning bride + groom in uniform + beautiful weather= over 2500 pictures taken!  Seriously, she was brought in on a horse drawn carriage!  The flower girls pulled a wagon that said "just married" , the list goes on and on!  I was thrilled to have a second shooter that day, Rachael and we had a blast!

Here are some detail shots...

  

Rachael and I call this shot "the Dustin" (you know you love it, D!)

They made their own wine for the tables-- of course I had to put the rings on them!

Love this old chair and the colors in her flowers!  The small beaded purple flowers were from her great grandmother...

The lush grounds of Gordon Hall were decorated beautifully- mason jars with candles lit up the evening... each detail was amazing... the flowers and decorations were done by Sandi Bostwick of Ruby Slippers Designs, they were simply perfect!

 

I DID NOT pose this picture!! This is one of the honey flower girls showing a butterfly toy to the ring bearer... so cute I could eat em...

Mom and her girls... mom was having a tough time- from tears to lost contacts to bloody noses!  But she got it all together! :)  I'd cry too if I had these gorgeous girls for daughters!  (I do have 1 gorgeous girl!)

 

The couple were married on the front porch of the Hall- it was beautiful...

I mean seriously- a photographers dream!  They cut the cake with a saber for god's sakes! I need more memory cards... please?  Anyone?

 

Their dance was choreographed by a great guy with real ties to Dancing With The Stars- I'm not kidding!

Both Abbey and Eric graduated from Dexter High and Abbey's mom teaches at the high school so they have many close ties with the Dexter area... we went downtown and had a ball with pictures- Eric was game for anything!  It must be the hockey player in him!

I love this pic... the light was yummy!

My urban bride...

 

can't decide which I like better- what do you think?

Stunning...

As we were walking down an alley, we came across this metal art sculpture/gate that was a man and a woman holding hands... how perfect!  I love the reds in it...

Before we lost the light, I asked Abbey if she wouldn't mind trudging through a field to get a shot- she was

great, replying, "I'm only getting married once!"  I love the results!

Thank you Abbey & Eric for letting me capture your day- you two were so much fun!  My MVC (most valuable couple! :) ) I could write paragraphs about the wedding but my arms are still in recovery from holding my big camera and taking over 2500 shots.... seriously, I'm amazed my computer didn't cry when I loaded them!  If anyone is planning a wedding in the future, you should check this place out- it was a perfect summer wedding--

More soon!

Hey if you are reading, leave me a quick comment- I'd love to know who's out there! Comments are a blogger's payday- we love 'em, and there is a possibility that if we don't get comments, we may be subject to random acts of  crying and irrational behavior. More than the usual. :)

Have a great 4th of July! Stay safe!

Where have I been??

Well.... My goal was to blog one or twice a week, but instead it's been too long!  I've been thinking about you, does that count?? Life has been a bit on the busy side.  I ended my school year on the 13th and packed up my career for the time being.  I'm taking next year off to be a sahm and a photog... guess I'll get my bon bon's ready and my matching workout outfits for each day of the week.  Right? Hmm... maybe not. But I'm happy to say that we are finally getting into a routine-- Daddy is home from Europe (a day late... which inadvertently caused me to get stitches in my knuckle... you know if your fault, Mr. Martin... ok, maybe not.) and we are done driving back and forth to Novi each day.  Ya-hoo!

I've had lots of fun sessions, kids, family- 2 weddings and I'm doing a huge wedding this weekend which will be big fun.  Oh yeah- and 3 shoots on Friday!  I'm bringing along a 2nd shooter, Rachael, to my wedding this Saturday , so that will be a ton of fun!  A big Dexter wedding with lots of surprises planned! Stay tuned for sneak peeks. 

Here is a sampling of what has been keeping me up editing till the wee hours of the morning.... god I love Starbucks.  Could they please put one in Dexter?

First off- I did this shoot of some of our neighborhood friends at their grandparents farm in Dexter- such cute kids- I can't stand it...  Their Dad is eagerly awaiting the whole session--- tonight for sure!

Then I did another session with one of my favorite teachers from Novi- her little one is so stinking cute--- I know Mommy is eagerly awaiting the rest of the pics... soon!

Then I went to a first birthday party/photoshoot at the Butterfly Gardens at the Detroit Zoo with this little cutie and her super nice family---

I also did 2 weddings which I'll post more teasers of as I continue to edit the massive amount of pics I took!  Seriously, can't I control myself?  Not when you have gorgeous brides and fun wedding parties like these 2 did!

And if all that wasn't enough fun- I did tons of Miracle League pictures for 2 weekends!

My friend Melissa Mooradian and I do the pics for them- team pictures and such.  This is our second year and we just love it- the families really like us- the fact that we are both special education teachers and photographers really puts them at ease, and hey- we take great pictures!  :)  On one Saturday, Jeremy Bonderman came out to spend some time with the kids and sign autographs.  I can't stress enough how wonderful this organization is... check out this link and see how cool it is!

How fun to have Jeremy Bonderman run the bases with you!

He was so great with the kids... they loved him!

So that's my monster post for tonight!

I hope this summer finds you so far with power, dry, happy and enjoying the sun on your face- we sure are!