Wedding and portrait photographer Chicago, Southwest Michigan, Italy.

Questions about Boudoir photography

2012-01-31T16:08:00.000-05:00

1. What is Boudoir photography?
2. Why?
3. For who?
4. I like the idea, but do not like my body. Is boudoir for me?
5. What should I wear?

1. What is Boudoir photography?
My simple description: Intimate artistic photos that capture and express the female sensuality.

2. Why?
Because we have only one body and we should celebrate it.

3. For who?
For yourself, for your husband, partner, for the one who loves the woman that you are.

4. I like the idea, but do not like my body. Is boudoir for me?
Enjoy the imperfect body that you have today. This imperfect body allows you to experience the life. Your body allows you to feel, to love and to be loved, to dance and sing, to smell roses and ocean breeze, to eat chocolate and drink wine, listen to music and sing. Your body is amazing as it is, does not matter what size or shape.

5. What should I wear?
Something that makes you feel feminine, something that is flattering to your body type, something that shows off your style or makes you look surprisingly different.
Here you find a few samples that I find tasteful, pretty and flirty.

Boudoir photos as a Valentine Day gift.

Valentine's Day Gift Idea

2012-01-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

Everybody loves Valentine's Day and what's not to love? Day dedicated to love, day filled with chocolate and champaign, fun and laughter. At least that's what I associate with Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and it is never too early to start planning and exploring some new and fun ideas for this year Valentine's Day celebration.
We know what we like to receive, but do we know what would make our guy happy?

Here is one fun idea

If you are interested, please contact me for more information.

Photo of the week

2011-12-30T11:36:00.000-05:00

Photo of the week comes from the fall wedding in Saint Joseph, Michigan, during the alone time with the bride and groom.
Time alone is my favorite to photograph, because it is a very special and meaningful time of the wedding day. It is a moment when newlywed couple is alone for the first time as a husband and wife. They feel and share the strong emotions and when allowing them this time alone, the special place is created, where nothing else exist, but the love they feel for each other.
As a photographer, I try to be as candid as possible, allowing the couple to enjoy this very private moment. When my clients trust me and allow me into their lives, I am able to capture the intangible, the LOVE.

Merry Christmas from Chicago!

2011-12-23T09:35:00.000-05:00

Christmas carols at The Bean in Chicago's Millennium Park.

Lake Country Inn wedding New Buffalo, Michigan

2011-11-16T11:16:00.001-05:00

Jan and Steve decided to get married on 11/11/11 at Lake Country Inn in New Buffalo.

It was a small, modern and elegant wedding, an intimate celebration for close family and friends.

Lake Country Inn is a wonderful little gem for occasions like this. It has much character, with every room in a different color and decor. I am sure all the guest had a wonderful stay in their brightly colored rooms. Bride and groom got the most beautiful of all rooms, the Tower room. I love this room, it is elegant, calming and bright at the same time and looks great in photos.

Jan and Steve had a little pre wedding photo. I like to included it with my couples as much as I can.

It is a special time for the new couple to enjoy a quiet moment together and celebrate the new beginning with a champaign toast. Beautiful Waterford crystal flutes were a wedding gift, a very nice gift I would say.

Toast to Jan and Steve! May their life together be as colorful, cheerful and happy, as the place they got married at.

VENDORS

Lake Country Inn

Classic Catering & Events

Millcreek Barns wedding

2011-10-25T05:14:00.000-04:00

Country elegance meets vintage charm at Millcreek Barns wedding of Lindsay and Tim.
Lindsay and Tim are a fun couple and their wedding was a very happy, colorful and fun celebration of love and family. Lindsay with her love for antiques and craftiness, she added many unique and personal touches to the wedding decor. She looked absolutely beautiful in her vintage wedding gown.

Millcreek Barns make a fabulous location for a wedding any time of the year, but fall is probably my favorite. You get to drive via charming country roads, lined with orchards and pumpkin fields and the beautiful fall colors add the special nostalgic touch to a country wedding.

This is Michigan at its best and this was Michigan country wedding at its best.

VENDORS

Classic Catering

Small Town Weddings

Music Unlimited

Beikman Associates Floral Design

Dee's Specialty Cakes

American Espresso

Romantic fall wedding - Saint Joseph, Michigan

2011-10-10T20:48:00.001-04:00

Wedding of Micah and Joal was a charming intimate event, held at Micah's parent's house in Saint Joseph, in a park like setting with a scenic views of St. Joseph river.

It was a beautiful fall day, with a blue skies and colorful trees, perfect day for a wedding. I love fall weddings, because of the spectacular colors that nature provides this time of the year.

Micah was getting ready at her parent's house. I like this scenario, because it makes everybody relaxed, it brings back memories, makes the time before the wedding ceremony special and some very nice photos can happened at this time.

Bride was transported from the house to the ceremony site by a pink golf cart, how fun is that?

Micah made a beautiful bride, a romantic and a fun one at the same time.

I love her "convertible" dress, long for the ceremony, and short for the party, how fun. How many times did I say fun already? Well, this was a fun wedding after all. Mica and Joal are not only super nice and in love with each other, but also a fun loving people. I believe, they will never be bored together. Every day is going to be a new adventure for them.

Wedding, Foundry Hall, South Haven Michigan

2011-10-05T11:26:00.000-04:00

Wedding of Alexis and Tyler at Foundry Hall in South Haven was a feast for the eyes and a great fun. Tyler and Alexis not only make a great looking couple, but they are also super nice and fun loving people.

The weather is always a big concern when planning the wedding and with this year strange weather pattern it was a concern once again. We were very lucky and after the days of very strong wind and rain, the weather finally improved. It was a sunny, but a very cold day. Because of that, the wedding plans changed and instead of originally planned water front ceremony with Lake Michigan views at Lake Bluff Inn in South Haven, the ceremony was moved to Foundry Hall, which was reserved for the couple's wedding reception. We canceled the plans to photograph by South Haven lighthouse, or on the beach as well and stayed at Foundry Hall exclusively. It was not a bad thing at all, it allowed for more time for photos and more time for fun. Everybody enjoyed the photo shoot and they made it a great fun for me as well. Thank you all.

Lago Maggiore - Romantic destination

2011-09-30T10:15:00.000-04:00

Everybody knows Lake Como, but Lago Maggiore deserves your attention as a destination for a honeymoon, romantic getaway or even a destination wedding as much as Lago di Como does.
Lago Maggiore is a place of breathtaking beauty, rich in history and natural beauty. What welcomes you are the great vistas of magnificent lake with Alps in the background, dramatic sunrise and sunset, charming little towns with beautiful gardens and parks. The most beautiful garden and the must if you are visiting Lago Maggiore is the one on Isola Bella.

I have not seen any wedding while visiting Isola Bella, but can very well imagine a fabulous wedding photos there. With the gardens in bloom, the palazzo and spectacular view, it all looks like a scene from a movie. Fell free to contact me if you are planning to get married there :)

The best little town for excursions on Lago Maggiore is Stresa. It is a charming little town, with a great connection to Milan. I could live in Stresa and would not even need a car. Everything in town is walking distance, for a transport around Lago Maggiore there is an excellent water transport system and you can get everywhere else by a train or by a bus. The EU train system is fantastic, the comfort, the speed, the cleanliness, the dependability, you can count on it all.

When visiting Lago Maggiore, you can also explore the wineries of Piedmont, take a scenic train ride to Alps, visit Lake Orta, Monastery Santa Caterina, take a train to Como, or Milan. For a lost's of usefull information visit Stresa Sights blog, it is where I found many great tips.

Engagement, Chicago

2011-09-06T17:54:00.001-04:00

I spent the Labor Day in Chicago, with a wonderful couple who decided to document their engagement in downtown Chicago, at the gardens that surround Buckingham Fountain, where the actual proposal took place. Very romantic proposal it was, with a picnic among roses. You have to love a guy who is so romantic and thoughtful to plan a proposal like this.
For the photos we wondered the streets of Chicago's Gold Coast with the great architecture and charming restaurants. We did stop at the beach as well, even thought the weather was not a beach day one. Much better was the park by Art Institute and the Buckingham Fountain, beautiful, peaceful and romantic, just like the couple in photos.

Day after the wedding, Silver Beach in St. Joseph, Michigan

2011-08-15T12:13:00.000-04:00

"Day After" photo shoot with newlywed Heather and Jack after their beach wedding and reception at Shadowland on Silver Beach in St. Joe.

I love "Day After" or "Trash the Dress" photo shoot with my couples, because it allows the new couple to have fun, alone, away from family and guests. It is a time more intimate, time for sharing some romantic moments and also to have fun in the wedding gown without the worries of damaging the dress. The feeling after the wedding is very different from before the wedding, it is a time of joy and love, it is a beginning of a new life together. Why not mark this day with a romantic photo shoot just like Heather and Jack did?
The wedding of Heather and Jack was a beach wedding, they both love the beach, therefore the Silver Beach was a location of choice for our photo shoot. We were very lucky with the weather, the storm that arrived at the shore just as we were about to get out of the car, even though very strong, was also very short. It left the sky dark and dramatic, which made the beach photos look really good. Heather and Jack had fun at the beach and the photos turned out beautiful.

Shadowland on Silver Beach where Heather and Jack hosted their wedding reception is located across from Compass Fountain, which looks really good after dark and that is why we decided to end our photo shoot there. We were not really sure how it was going to work out, since I did not photograph Compass Fountain with a bride and groom there before. I was happy Heather and Jack were both good sports and did not mind to get a little wet. My only concern was not to get my camera wet and it was a little tricky, but it was all worth it.

Beach wedding, St. Joseph, Michigan

2011-08-09T14:39:00.002-04:00

Heather and Jack wished for a romantic beach wedding and decided to have it right here in Saint Joseph, because of the short distance from Chicago where they reside and also because of the visual beauty of the beaches in Southwest Michigan. The reception was held at Shadowland on Silver Beach, which offers a great view of sunset over Lake Michigan and the Compas Fountain as well. Great location for wedding, with just a short walk to downtown and beach, for fun photos.
The couple stayed in a rented bungalow in downtown St. Joseph for the whole week, which made for a cozy and convenient place for the wedding party to get ready for the wedding. From there we were transported by the trolly to Jean Clock Park for the beach ceremony and also back to Shadowland Ballroom for the reception. The colors of the wedding were fabulous, happy, bright and romantic. Love the flowers! Hydrangeas and yellow roses, my favorite.
Heather and Jack had their hearts set on a beach ceremony, so the one thing they were really wishing for was a good weather. And they were very lucky, the weather turned wonderful and their beach wedding ceremony was everything they wished for.

There is a never enough time for romantic photos of the bride and groom on their wedding day. Heather and Jack decided to remedy this by having a "Day After" photo shoot day after the wedding right here on Silver beach.
Photos from "Day After" photo shoot with Heather and Jack coming soon.

4th of July Wedding, Pottawattomie Country Club, Michigan City

2011-07-05T08:58:00.001-04:00

4th of July weekend wedding of Stacy and Ryan at Pottawattomie Country Club in Michigan City was a beautiful and fun celebration of family and love, and as every good 4th of July celebration should be, it did include even fireworks.
While Ryan was getting ready at the cottage at Beachwalk Resort in Michigan City, Stacy and all the girls were having their hair done at Stacy's parents house by a talented hairstylist from Chicago. Stacy looked stunning in her beautiful wedding gown and an elaborate up do.

Pottawattomie Country Club was decorated in pink and black, with an amazing floral arrangements in pink, white and lime green. The big windows of the club house offered a great vistas of the golf course. Guest were able to admire the scenery and later watch the fireworks that Stacy and Ryan prepared as a big surprise. I did expect nice small fireworks, but these were some impressive ones. This is how you start your marriage with sparks and a loud noise. I am sure Stacy and Ryan will not have a dull moment in their life together, it will be one long party.

Summer beach wedding, New Buffalo, Michigan

2011-06-20T14:21:00.000-04:00

Romantic beach wedding of nice young couple, Jessica and Carl, turned into a fun and memorable, mostly indoor wedding at contemporary Mickey's Sports Bar and Grill in New Buffalo Michigan.
Jessica and Carl wished for a romantic beach wedding in New Buffalo. The nautical feel of Marina Grand Resort tied well with the theme of the wedding and young couple decided to stay there for the weekend. They could not choose better, Marina Grand Resort is fabulous, the rooms are modern, spacious and bright. We photographed the getting ready part there, it was a joy and the result is here for your enjoyment.
The weather seemed to cooperate quite well this past Saturday, with sunny skies and occasional clouds in the morning. That changed very quickly when we parked our cars at the beach. Suddenly it started to rain very hard, like it will never going to stop. I am sure this was a very disappointing moment for everybody. But nothing could stop Jessica and Carl from getting married that day. They are so much in love and rain is not going to change that. They decided to just go ahead and move the ceremony to the reception site at Mickey's. Family members quickly arranged for a ceremony site by the windows and even though it was not on the beach, the view from the large windows out to the gardens, with rain drops rolling down the windows made it quite romantic. There is something about the rain, so sentimental and romantic and as the minister said "The rain makes things grow and it will make your love grow stronger as well".

Eventually it did stop raining and we got a chance for some photos in the garden behind the Mickey's and on the beach as well.

It was a great wedding, fun and relaxed and the rain made it even more memorable.

Reception venue and catering - Mickey's Sports Bar and Grill, New Buffalo, MI

Accommodation - Marina Grand Resort, New Buffalo, MI

Hair - A Cut Above, New Buffalo, MI

Wedding officiant - Bonnie Corondan

Fashion Shoot with Incanto Bridal Boutique and Hotel Yasmin

2011-06-15T13:16:00.001-04:00

Promotional photo shoot at Hotel Yasmin for Incanto Bridal Boutique in Kosice, Slovakia.

Another successful project with Incanto Svadobny Salon, the best bridal boutique in Kosice.
The owners of this wonderful boutique, located in the historic downtown of Kosice, are always a joy to work with. They are very professional and pleasant and they have the latest in European bridal and evening wear. All the models were beautiful and joy to work with as well.

During my last visit in my hometown, Peter, one of the owners of Incanto, arranged for the photo shoot at one of the best downtown hotels, Hotel Yasmin. I was impressed with this modern, bright and beautiful hotel, a great location for the photo shoot and definitely a great hotel to stay during your visit in Kosice, and a must for dinner or a drink.

Incanto Bridal Boutique

Hotel Yasmin

Engagement, New Buffalo, Michigan

2011-06-07T10:20:00.000-04:00

I would like to share a few photos from a recent fun engagement photo session in New Buffalo, which for a change did not involve the beach and sunset, but instead we had trains, dogs and antiques.

Lindsay and Tim are a cute and fun couple and they wanted to included their dogs in some of the photos. Both of their dogs are well behaved, but they still managed to create some entertaining moments during the photo shoot. I had fun and believe it was a fun for everybody. I am sure Lindsay and Tim will have some nice memories from their engagement photo session in Michigan.

Destination weddings, Venice Italy

2011-06-02T13:47:00.001-04:00

During my recent visit to Venice, Italy, I saw another wedding, or rather bride and groom, on St. Mark's Square, the square that every tourist visiting Venice must see. This time, due to some construction work, the square was not so photogenic than it usually is, but it is still the must see place .To just stroll, have a coffee at Cafe Florian, or a glass of prosecco in the evening while listening to the live music. It is a romantic place especially in the evening and no wonder, every wedding in Venice does include a photo shoot with bride and groom on St. Mark's Square.

When I saw this bride and groom, curious as usual, I stopped and watched the the beautiful bride feeding the pigeons on St. Mark's Square. Two young photographers were photographing the bride and groom, while tourist were watching with curiosity. Everybody loves to see happy young couple, just married, bride beautiful in her wedding gown and I am a no exception. Plus the photographer in me is curious to observe the photo shoot.

After a while, the bride and groom and their two photographers were leaving and I was happy to had a chance to see a beautiful bride, but also a little sad that I was not invited and could not follow them on their photo adventure in Venice.

Later that day, while having a dinner in the restaurant nearby our hotel, to my big surprise, I see the bride and groom with two photographers walking down the street. They are not taking any photos now, just strolling and talking and their language is a little familiar. Curious again and now a little more brave, due to the glass of wine I had with my dinner, I decide to say Hi. I decide to approach four young people speaking some foreign language. I introduce myself, compliment the beautiful bride and handsome groom and congratulate them on their luck to have a photo shoot in Venice.
I am so happy I did approach them, they genuinely appreciated my words and shared their story. The bride and groom were from Romania and just celebrated their one year anniversary. They decided to have a TTD session in Venice. They had two young talented photographers to accompany them. And very talented they are. They showed me the images they took during the day and let me tell you, they were amazing. It was very sweet to see all of them get very happy and proud when I expressed my admiration over the work. It always feels good when a fellow photographer compliments your work. And the compliments were very well deserved, the work I saw was spectacular.
The young and very talented photographer's name is Ciprian Lupan and to see his work you can visit his website at www.ciprian-lupan.ro

I wish the young couple the very best and also to the talented photographer I wish a lot of success.
It was a pleasure to meet you all.

Pope in Venice

2011-05-31T17:24:00.001-04:00

Pope Benedict visited Italian lagoon city of Venice exactly the same time I was there. I was not aware of his planned visit, therefore it was a nice surprise. The first encounter with papal visit was Saturday evening when on vaporetto heading towards the St. Mark's Square. Suddenly, the vaporetto was not able to continue it's route, as well as all other boats were not allowed to move to close vicinity of the St. Mark Square. The square waterfront was filled with carabiniery on boats, jet skies, smaller patrol boats and big navy ships. Quite an different view of Venice.
Papal visit creating a traffic disturbance on Grand Canal, how exciting. I did not even mind to be stuck on a public transport. It is much more interesting to be on stuck on the boat, with a view of Grand Canal, than on the bus. But this did not last too long. After the big navy ship sprayed a geyser of the water into the air, as a salute to the pope I guess, we were back in motion, heading towards the St. Mark's Square. There we got off and saw some action from a close up. Caugth a glimpse of pope leaving the stage set up on the square, with a large screen to project the papal address to thousands of people who gathered on St. Marks Square.

The second papal encounter was Sunday morning and again unexpected. We choose to visit Accademia and Peggy Guggenheim Collection early morning to avoid crowds. First, we visited Accademia and then headed to near by Peggy Guggenheim Collection. While walking, we saw many people crowding the water front and bridges, but did not make the connection. Once inside the Guggenheim building, we headed outside and were surprised to see many people gathered there already, just in time for Pope Benedict tour down the Grand Canal. This time we were really close and in spite of many stretched out hands with cameras, I we got a good view of pope. The parade with decorated gondolas accompanying the boat with pope was really picturesque.

Wedding, Venice Italy

2011-05-30T18:16:00.002-04:00

Many engaged couples wish to get married in Venice, one of the most romantic places, and many photographers dream of photographing the wedding in Venice.
Venezia, the enchanted city floating on the water, seduces lovers, artists, musicians and writers by its charm and mystery. I love Italy and one of my favorite towns is Venice. So rich in history and art, a lifetime would not be enough to see all the treasures that Venice holds.
I love to visit this mysterious city again and again. To explore all the beauty Venice has to offer. I love to photograph this beauty, that is ever changing, never the same. And I, as many fellow photographers, dream of photographing a beautiful bride, a couple in love, in this romantic place.

During my recent visit in Venice, I was fortunate to see two beautiful brides. Off course, the curious photographer in me had to stop and watch the action. Normally I am not intrusive, but in Venice, which is full of tourist, one is never intrusive.
The following photos are from the wedding I saw on the Island of Torcello. This island is away from main crowds. Famous Locanda Cipriani is located on this island as well. Here, many celebrities used to find piece of privacy when visiting Venice. I was planning to have at least a drink in a famous Locanda Cipriani, but unfortunately, or fortunately, it was reserved for the wedding. Curious me, peeked through the fence, to get a view of some action. This is as close as I ever get to a paparazzi. Trust me, I was not the only one and we all were respectful of the couple and both couple and photographers did not seem to mind us at all. Very nice and polite people those Italians are. I was thrilled to not only see a real wedding and Italian bridal fashion, but also be able to observe Italian photographer in action. It was a real treat and I would like to extend my thanks to the couple and to the photographers, who allowed us to be an observers and take some special memories back home with us.

Chicago, Engagement portrait

2011-04-14T22:47:00.005-04:00

Spring is a lovely time for an engagement photos in downtown Chicago, if you are lucky to catch a nice day between the rain and possible snow that is. Stacy and Ryan were ready to take advantage of one sunny day in the middle of the week. They met with me after work in downtown Chicago. Ryan was our chauffeur, driving us around from one location to another. That was very nice and made the photo shoot go nice and smooth.
There is never a lack of photo opportunities in Chicago and both Stacy and Ryan had some good ideas.
Since it is a spring time, we got a pretty spring flowers in our photos as well. And that is perfect, because flowers add a nice touch to a date. And the engagement photo shoot is just like a date, plus the photographer to document it all.

Stacy spotted this M on a brick wall, M for her new last name initial.

Even on sunny days in spring, the air coming from Lake Michigan is fresh, as it was the other day. But would you know it looking at these photos? Stacy was brave enough to wear her pretty sundress with boots for a fun touch. Ryan was there to keep her warm and happy. They are so cute together, aren't they? Stacy and Ryan and not only cute, but also happy and nice people and very easy to work with.

I am looking forward to their wedding this summer.

Photos on the beach, with Lake Michigan and Chicago skyline in the background.

And here we are, back in downtown, where the setting sun is illuminating Chicago river and surrounding buildings. We stopped on one of the bridges for some last photos.

Winter in SW Michigan

2011-02-27T22:11:00.001-05:00

The winter might be soon over and I did not post any winter photos from New Buffalo area yet. I did go outside with my camera this winter, just was not motivated to blog. The gloomy, grey winter days are not my favorite. I need sun, I operate on solar energy.
But I finally made myself to do it and maybe by posting winter photos, I will make winter go away.
The following photos are taken at Warren Dunes state park on a coldest day of this winter. Now I think, how crazy to expose myself and the camera to such a brutal temperatures. But we both survived and have some nice photos to show.

Love the cute little footprints, but have no idea what kind of small animal could make these. Looks like they were racing across the pristine white snow, enjoying the sunny day.

Sunset at the New Buffalo beach. You can see Michigan city in the distance.

Light decorations are still on in New Buffalo, I like it. I wish I had a chance to photograph an engagement session this winter. The lights offer such an fun opportunity. But, there was no brave couple to be found, everybody seems to prefer spring and summer. I can not blame them.

Chicago Christmas Lights

2010-12-13T16:10:00.002-05:00

I am so glad I managed to see the Christmas lights in downtown Chicago, before we got hit by this brutal winter weather.

To stroll Michigan Avenue, when trees that line the street are all lit with lights, is magical. There is golden glow to the city this time of the year.

The Cloud Gate is a popular place to visit any time of the year and it is never the same experience. What you see reflected in the Bean, depends on the time of the year and time of the day. The night view of Bean in the Millenium Park is very dramatic, much different from a day view.

There was a crowd that gathered by the Bean for Caroling, while others enjoyed iceskating.

Michigan Avenue lights.

Chicago River reflecting lights.

Black Wedding Dress and More - Europe, Slovakia

2010-11-27T14:11:00.003-05:00

BLACK WEDDING DRESS, when I saw this amazing dress, I had to organize the photo shoot around it. The dress is so beautiful, like it just stepped out from a fairytale. All the books from medieval and Renaissance times I used to read, were reawaken by this dress. The dress is at home in narrow streets and cobblestone roads. The red dress and red rose are just a natural companion to the black one. Drama fit for a queen.

For those more traditional, there is always a white dress available and for those in between, how about a white dress with red roses, or grayish blue lace one. I want them all, and was lucky to have a wonderful opportunity to capture them with my camera.

The amazing bridal and evening fashion courtesy of a Wedding boutique ( svadobny salon) Incanto, located in the historical downtown of Kosice. The photo shoot was all walking distance from the boutique. That's the beauty of European towns, there is so much architectural beauty everywhere, just

waiting to be admired.

Kosice, Slovakia/ Architectural Tour

Bridal Portrait / Kosice, Slovakia

Kosice, Slovakia / Architectural Tour

2010-11-17T21:41:00.003-05:00

Bridal Portrait - Kosice, Slovakia

Black Wedding Dress - Kosice, Slovakia

Bridal Photography - Europe, Slovakia

2010-11-09T13:06:00.001-05:00

Europe, rich in history and architectural treasures, offers great opportunities for wedding and bridal photography. You don't have to have your wedding in a major European city and still, you will be able to find if not a major cathedral, then interesting church, castle, or some other fabulous piece of architectural treasure.

Black Wedding Dress - Kosice, Slovakia

Kosice, Slovakia- Architectural Tour

Bridal Portrait EU Style

2010-11-08T03:00:00.003-05:00

Sneak peek from my recent fabulous bridal portrait.

My Trip to Slovakia / Castle Betliar

2010-11-03T13:49:00.000-04:00

Let me introduce you to the beauty of my native Slovakia, rich in history and natural beauty.
Yesterday, while visiting my cousins in another town, we stopped at this lovely castle.
Castle Betliar was built in 18th century in baroque - renaissance style.

The castle would look fabulous in a wedding photos. I am not sure if they allow weddings on a property, but they do allow photography. That's just fine with me. Too bad I did not have a time to arrange for a bridal portrait, it would make my day. Definitely will plan for it the next time.

This is what you see when you sit on a canon.

View from the park towards the castle. Park is very large and offers great walking opportunities, while enjoying great vistas, admiring exotic plants or very old native trees. Waterfall, fountains and small lakes are scattered around the property.

Chinese pavilion just sitting there, in the middle of the forest. I assume, it served as a place to take a break when on a stroll, or maybe hide from the rain, or maybe a bear or wild a boar.

Beautiful ironwork.

View from the park towards the surrounding mountain range.

Japanesse bridge.

Interesting detail of the face at the end of the canon.

This interesting structure looks like some medieval prison, doesn't it? It's nothing like that, it is something much better. It is a well, named after Greek god Hermes, well of Hermes.

Blue Dress Barn wedding

2010-10-31T03:07:00.000-04:00

For more from the fall wedding at the Blue Dress Barn visit this link.

Blue Dress Barn Fall Wedding

2010-10-18T08:45:00.004-04:00

Blue Dress Barn is always a great choice for bride who wants a unique venue for her wedding day, something romantic, vintage, rustic or casually elegant, the barn can be all those things.
From all seasons, the fall is my favorite, because fall colors make a nice colorful background for a white washed building of the barn.

This past weekend we got the most beautiful autumn day for the wedding of Joanna and Steve, who traveled for their Blue Dress Barn wedding all the way from Phoenix. This wedding can be described as a vintage elegance with some rustic elements, in rich fall colors of red and deep orange.
Check out the red shoes Joanna wore, very cool. You have to love the bride who wears red shoes, she will be anything but boring. And that is true for both of them, Joanna and Steve make one hot and fun couple. I am sure there is never a dull moment in their future together.

Beautiful flowers by Crystal Spring Florist.

Delicious food from Maison Cuisine.

Congratulations Joanna and Steve and thank you for having me as your photographer. It was a pleasure to work with such a nice and fun couple like you.

Romantic fall wedding, Grand Beach, Michigan

2010-10-10T08:49:00.000-04:00

Recently I had an opportunity to shoot a wedding in Grand Beach Michigan. This area is popular not only as a summer destination, it is a great spot for a romantic beach wedding for couples from Chicago area. The beautiful beaches of Lake Michigan that are the main attraction and the close proximity to Chicago.

I was looking forward to the photos on the beautiful beach that this area is famous for, but unfortunately, the not so perfect weather forced to move the ceremony to the Grand Beach Clubhouse. Erin and Sean planned an intimate family affair with a fall theme. They are a beautiful couple and together they created an adorable new family. We managed to get few photos outdoors, around the clubhouse, that offers the view of the golf course.

I love the rich orange colors of this wedding, prefect choice for a fall wedding. Fall is the best season in Michigan, temperatures are not so hot, tourists are gone and we have the beaches all for ourselves. The only bad thing is that the days are getting shorter, no more sunset photos on the beach at 10 pm.

Galleria Marchetti, Chicago Wedding

2010-09-23T12:04:00.002-04:00

Few photos from recent modern elegant Chicago wedding, getting ready photos are taken at Fairmont hotel in downtown Chicago, the bride and groom alone were photographed at the North Pond and the reception was held at Galleria Marchetti.

Outdoor area of Galleria Marchetti, with park like setting made for a perfect setting for this summer wedding. It is surprising to find a peaceful oasis like this in the middle of city of Chicago. Outdoor area has a designated area for a ceremony, facing west and allowing for nice light. There is an outdoor tent for large wedding, or small reception can use the inside room. I love the interior and used it to get some dramatic shots of bride and groom and signing of Ketubah . During the whole day, there were so many different varieties of photo opportunities and I took advantage of them all. It was a beautiful wedding.

North Pond offers a great view of Chicago Skyline. Lincoln Park is a short drive from the downtown. It is a nice location for intimate and romantic photos for bride and groom alone. The natural setting is perfect for the first view, when the bride and groom see each other for the first time. To allow for the first view before the ceremony makes the moment more intimate, allows for more time for photos, makes the moment more relaxed and special for the couple.

Congratulations Abby & Ronnie and thank you for the opportunity to be your photographer.

Trash the Dress/Lake Michigan/New Buffalo

2010-09-16T10:29:00.003-04:00

Trash the dress on the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan, in quiet little town like my New Buffalo is, trash your wedding dress, trash the prom dress or trash one of your many bridesmaid's dresses.
What is Trash the Dress photo shoot about? It is a fun fashion shoot, you can have a concept behind it, create a little story, or just simply have fun wearing your favorite dress, or not so favorite dress.
You don't have to really trash it, but you can make it wet, that is always fun. Water is a nice choice for photos in a pretty dress and we have an abundance of it here in Michigan.

Now, when summer season is over, the beaches are pretty much deserted and we can have them all for ourselves. September and October are great months for beach photo shoot, with nice weather and soft light.

There are many other options besides the beach. The country and nature is always good and with fall the colors are getting more interesting.

Railroad tracks are popular. When shooting something that was done many times before, there is always a new way to do it, different angle, different mood. When we shoot on tracks, we always take safety precautions and shoot when the train traffic is minimal.

You can see more Trash the Dress here .

Trash the Dress is available in SW Michigan and in Chicago.

Chicago wedding / Galleria Marchetti

2010-08-11T23:08:00.003-04:00

Elegant summer wedding at Galleria Marchetti, Chicago's premiere event venue.
This beautiful summer wedding was planned and designed by Affairs with Linda.

You can see more from this wedding here.

Microbrewery wedding, Benton Harbor Art District

2010-08-04T10:51:00.001-04:00

Michelle and Dane choose a beach and beer theme for their summer wedding, with outdoor ceremony on a family property in the country and reception at the Livery a popular microbrewery in Benton Harbor Art District. The wedding was all what summers in Southwest Michigan are about, beach, fun, family and friends, music, good food and a beer or two.

Add caption

Happy newlyweds.

What a creative take on a groom's cake,

Livery building looks good in photos inside and out.

Green Engagement Album - Engagement New Buffalo, MI

2010-07-27T22:05:00.004-04:00

For those who love green, here is a fabulous lime green engagement album from the engagement session with Michelle and Dane at Warren Dunes. It is not only an engagement album, it is also a wedding day guest book. Your wedding guests can admire your engagement photos, while signing the book. You will get more comments like this, "You two are adorable together", "Love your engagement photos", "You look like models", "Wish I did not skimp on photographer for my wedding", "The coolest guest book ever".
I love this album, can't you tell?

Summer engagement on the beaches of Lake Michigan

2010-07-21T08:45:00.002-04:00

Engagement photo shoot in Warren Dunes State Park with Michelle and Dane.
Why Warren Dunes you ask? Michelle grew up near by and spend her summers on the beach or climbing the sandy dunes and those are her best memories. Both Michelle and Dane grew up in area, they love the beach and Lake Michigan. Since they moved to Arizona for college, they miss the lake and beach very much. That's why to have their engagement on the beach was very important. Until they move back to Michigan, these photos will remind them of what they love the most.
Michelle came dressed in cute dark pink dress paired with jeans capris and she looked adorable. Pink looks great against the green of the dune grass. The wedding colors are pink and green, paired with the beach theme. These photos will look fabulous in lime green guest book, a gift from Dane's mom. The wedding guest, while signing the book will have a chance to admire the cute couple's beach engagement photos.

Michelle and Dane had fun during the photo session, they were so cooperative, did not mind to lay in the sand, or get wet in the lake. They are so cute and fun together.

Walking hand in hand towards the sunset.

Sunset is the best time to be on the beach in Southwest Michigan. Since the sun sets over Lake Michigan, it always makes for an amazing view. The beauty of the sky, water, sand and not too many people, evening is my favorite time to be on the beach. Evening is the best time for romantic photos on the sandy beaches of Lake Michigan.

Engagement session on the shores of Lake Michigan

2010-07-19T09:15:00.000-04:00

My favorite photo from last night engagement photo shoot at Warren Dunes State Park.

More to follow.

My Heston Hills wedding featured in Shore Bride.

2010-06-27T19:22:00.000-04:00

Shore Bride featured me and my Heston Hills wedding on their website last week.

I am honored.

Real Weddings: Anna & Dave, Part II

June 25th, 2010 - Compiled by Ashley Boyer | Photography by Monika Caban Photography

Today’s post features more photographs from the wedding of Anna and Dave Bakker taken by this week’s featured photographer, Monika Caban Photography, at Heston Hills in LaPorte, Ind. Loves: the color combo {the hydrangeas in the bridesmaid bouquets complement the pale yellow bridesmaid dresses beautifully} and the bride’s hairdo {gorgeous!}.

Shore Bride would like to say a special thank you to Monika Caban Photography for sharing their beautiful photography with us this week! If you missed the the other posts this week, check out our Weddings page.

CREDITS

The Happy Couple: Anna and Dave Bakker

Reception Location: Heston Hills
1933 E 800 N, LaPorte, Ind.
219.778.9595; hestoninc.com

Photographer: Monika Caban Photography
447 S Whittaker St, New Buffalo, Mich.
269.231.5356; monikacaban.com

Marina Grand Resort - Portrait - Photography

2010-06-09T03:17:00.003-04:00

Marina Grand Resort in New Buffalo Michigan provides a fantastic background for portrait and wedding photography. You can even have your wedding at Resort, with ceremony or cocktail hour on the rooftop patio that offers spectacular views.

I had to have some photographs to show of this fabulous place and decided to use Marina Grand Resort for a portrait photo shoot with Leah.

New Buffalo, Michigan - Memorial weekend - Carnival

2010-05-31T16:13:00.003-04:00

During Memorial weekend in New Buffalo Michigan, kids of all ages enjoyed the fun time

at the St. Mary's Summer Festival carnival. I don't do rides, but always enjoy the spectacle that carnival offers. Rides are fun to look at after the sunset, with bright lights looking amazing against the dark sky.

Lakeside Inn Wedding, Union Pier Michigan.

2010-05-17T15:20:00.004-04:00

Charming wedding at Lakeside Inn in Lakeside, the celebration of love, with family and friends, good wine and food and good times. Jessica and Nathan will cherish the memories of this special day forever.

For lunch we all drove down the road to popular Timothy's restaurant in Lakeside. It's popularity is well deserved, the food was great.

Wine was handpicked by the bride. Note the creative label, very clever.

Congratulations Jessica and Nathan and Thank you for having me as your wedding photographer. It was a privilege to share this special day with you.

Wedding at Lakeside Inn

Spring wedding at charming Lakeside Inn, SW Michigan

2010-05-11T14:00:00.007-04:00

The spring wedding in scenic Southwest Michigan, at the historical building of Lakeside Inn in Lakeside.
The rustic charm of Lakeside Inn, combined with natural beauty of Lake Michigan shore is a favorite hideaway retreat for many from Chicago area and works great for smaller weddings, reunions and parties as well. Nathan's family loves to come here to escape the Chicago hectic lifestyle. Jessica and Nathan fell in love with the beauty of this place and choose to have their wedding at the rustic Lakeside Inn.
I fell in love with it as well, this hidden retreat is only 10 minute from New Buffalo. You can not beat the 10 minute drive home after shooting wedding the whole day.

It was a family affair, they rented the whole place out. Bride and groom had a lovely room with many windows and a big tub, very nice room for bride to get ready.

Love the elegant lace gown, goes well with the rustic, elegant, vintage feel of the whole place.

The front porch of Lakeside Inn is the best place to be, with a good book, with a drink, or with your loved one. One can enjoy the serenity this place offers, surrounded by tall trees, listen to birds and waves.

I was planning to take many shots here on this porch, but unfortunately the weather turned very cold overnight and not just that, but there was a really strong wind blowing from the lake as well. The wedding party was brave enough to go out for a few minutes. I know, they do not look like they are freezing, that's the magic of photography.

And these two love birds are not freezing, because they are so in love, they do not notice little details like cold.

Love this last shot on the front porch of Lakeside Inn. Looks like from a different era and it sums up the whole wedding, elegant, vintage, romantic.

Wedding at Lakeside Inn

Engagement Portrait in New Buffalo

2010-04-29T13:34:00.002-04:00

Where to go for an engagement photo session on a rainy day in New Buffalo? How about the ice cream parlor? And when in New Buffalo it has to be the famous Oink's.

Alexis and Cody are a sweet young couple, therefore the location suited them perfectly. Love and ice cream go well together.

Oink's is well know not only for the tasty ice cream but for the eclectic collection that decorates every inch of the interior. Fun to look at while you enjoy your ice cream.

Asheville, North Carolina

2010-03-10T22:17:00.006-05:00

Finally I visited Asheville , North Carolina.
Asheville is a great destination for those who love art, good food, vine, beer, live entertainment and nature. It is a perfect location for a romantic getaway as well. You can stay in one of many charming B&B.
Everything in Asheville is about enjoying the life.

They love bright colors around here.

Don't walk by if you are on a diet.

Would you expect fun sandals like these in a mountain town? I am moving there right now.

Enjoying my coffee break at the charming little cafe.

We stayed at wonderful Princess Ann Hotel and could not be happier.

When we arrived, we were greeted by Tori, very pleasant and helpful receptionist. She was always cheerful and ready to offer an advice on local attractions. When I saw the hotel, I though what a lovely place for smaller wedding and learned that just recently there was a wedding there and Tori helped planning it. She was very excited about it. I wish that she can plan many many weddings in the future.

Common area with antique furniture, piano and fireplace.

View from the lobby towards the dinning room.

Breakfast

The elegant and cozy dinning room.

This is one happy town, I will be visiting often.

Cafe Matisse, the best dinning experience in Nassau

2010-02-14T19:16:00.001-05:00

For the best dinning experience on island of Nassau, visit Cafe Matisse.

Well hidden from the cruise ship crowds, in this yellow building, hides the treasure of the island.

Cafe Matisse was the best dinning experience on the island of Nassau and made the whole trip even more special . It was everything one would expect a romantic dinner to be. The atmosphere was fabulous, tables lit by candles, live music with saxophone player walking around the tables to play romantic tunes to you, the very attentive server, who appears when you need him and does not interrupt you privacy.

View from the best seating in house, hidden terrace that is reserved for special guests only. For some mysterious reason we were offered seats here. And we most greatly appreciate it. We were treated like a special guests and felt very special. Cafe Matisse will be on my favorite list and next time when in Nassau, I will be visiting again. I will go for dinner and for lunch as well. I have to go during the daylight, just so I can take more photos of this wonderful restaurant.

My first trip to Bahamas

2010-02-09T10:16:00.002-05:00

Just returned from my first trip to Bahamas and it was absolutely beautiful. We visited island of Nassau and stayed at British Colonial Hilton . It is a perfect place for romantic getaway. British Colonial is located right in downtown Nassau, has a private beach, garden, pool, fabulous view and great service.

Love this pink house with white shutters.

The ocean around here really has that turquoise color as I seen on posters.

The palm tree on white sandy beach was my first favorite poster I hung in my room as a teenager.

Love the pink and green color combination, so bright, fresh and happy.

What a wonderful place for a romantic getaway. I can see why many couples choose to get married in Bahamas, making islands a popular wedding destination.

Mill Creek Barns- Wedding Photography - Special

2009-12-08T00:36:00.003-05:00

Book your wedding photography for Mill Creek Barn wedding before the end of 2009 and receive
2 additional hours of wedding day coverage at no charge plus $250 print credit.
Call or email to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Shadowland Ballroom and Silver Beach Carousel

2009-11-21T11:58:00.003-05:00

Today I was able to take my first photos of Shadowland Ballroom and Silver Beach Carousel,

the almost finished new and fabulous wedding venue located right by Silver beach in Saint Joseph Michigan.

Love the architecture, the shapes and colors are perfect for beach venue.

Location can not be any better, with spectacular sunsets over Lake Michigan
and walking distance to both downtown St Joe and Silver beach.

I am sure it will be a very popular venue with brides and photographers as well. All the perfect photos opportunities are walking distance, no need to drive anywhere.
Read more about the project.

Trash the dress vintage style.

2009-11-12T05:32:00.030-05:00

Fun vintage trash the dress / after the wedding photo shoot.

To have the most fun with the couple's photo shoot, it is the best to plan it the morning before the wedding, right after the hair and make up is done. If that is not possible, than next day is an great alternative and you can have what we call "The day after" photo shoot. If you already missed on both, than "Trash the dress" is always the fun option. It can be done even months after the wedding, or even year, to celebrate the 1st anniversary.

Flowers by Crystal Spring Florist.

Wedding at Whittaker Woods Golf Club

2009-10-29T09:23:00.020-04:00

Few photos from beautiful wedding at Whittaker Woods Golf Club , the premier reception venue in New Buffalo area.

One of the many flower arrangements, all amazing

Well maintained grounds of Whittaker Woods offer pretty places for outdoor portraits

Candy table that looks great and offers yummy treats

Engagement Portrait in Chicago

2009-10-20T20:50:00.024-04:00

Engagement portrait with Chicago skyline in the background, from the walkway of Modern Wing of Art Institute of Chicago.Gardens of Millenium park have many areas, where one feels away from it all, they are a perfect place for romantic date, proposal or engagement.Abby and Ronnie are adorable together. they are so nice, polite and very easy to work with. It was my pleasure to shoot their engagement portrait and looking forward to fabulous wedding next year.

Chicago Engagement, Millenium Park

2009-10-17T19:46:00.017-04:00

While in town for Chicago Marathon, Joanna & Steve decided to have their engagement photos done in downtown Chicago and Millenium Park. Their wedding is next year at Blue Dress Barn, I can not wait, it is going to be a great party.

These images were shoot in the lobby of the Marriott hotel in downtown Chicago where Joanna and Steve stayed for the Marathon weekend. Yeas, Chicago Marathon was the reason they flew in from Phoenix, not me. They are one hot looking couple and we had so much fun during the shoot. I decided to use the lobby because it was too windy outside and wanted to get some intimate shots. It is hard to feel romantic when you are cold, so the colorful lobby was a great idea. Look at Joanna, she is one sexy runner.

Steve is so romantic, like he stepped out of Sinatra era. How appropriate for Chicago enagagement shoot.

Kiss under the Cloud Gate.

Trash the Dress, SW Michigan Wine Country

2009-10-13T21:48:00.034-04:00

Rolling hills of southwest Michigan, fall colors, rain, winery, wedding gown, beautiful bride, handsome groom, this combination would make any passionate photographer's heart beat faster.
Linzi with her husband Brice willingly trashed the dress in rain and mud of scenic area around Round Barn Winery.
Aren't these photos a beautiful memento to the love they share for each other?

Trash the dress can be done right after the wedding, several moths later, or even years later. Couple can trash the dress as a celebration of one year anniversary of their wedding. It does not have to be a real trashing. It can simply be a beautiful romantic and passionate portrait of the couple, placed in interesting environment. Here in Southwest Michigan, the options for trash the dress photo shoot can include scenic beaches on the shores of Lake Michigan, rolling hills along the Michigan wine trail, charming little towns with antique stores and vintage dinner in New Buffalo areas, fields and orchard all over the Southwest Michigan, or urban architecture of downtown Saint Joseph, Coloma, Buchanan or Three Oaks for example. Art district of Benton Harbor offers many interesting opportunities for Trashing the dress.
So don't just hang you dress in the closet, so it collect the dust. Put on your fabulous wedding gown and show it to world, go to town wearing your gown, go pick apples in your wedding gown, go to wineries, walk the beached of Lake Michigan shore, enjoy your dress like it was meant to be enjoyed.

Wine Tasting - Karma Vista Winery

2009-09-30T00:00:00.010-04:00

This past Sunday the weather was perfect for drive in the country. So off I went to explore some winery I never been to.
Short 15 minute drive from my house to Coloma, I found Karma Vista Winery.
You have to check them out. Tasting room has beautiful scenic view, is nice and modern with cool gifts and nice selection of wine.
The most original are their wine labels. You will want to buy a bottle just because of the label. That's what I did. I purchased a blush wine, called " The pink side of the moon". Isn't it fun?

The photos document the fun tasting experience. When drinking outside on nice sunny day, look at your glass. The world around you is reflected in the wine, but it is upside down. And as looking at world though rose colored glasses, that's how feel when drinking "Pink side of the moon".

Is your glass half full,

Or half empty?

And this fun quote I found while tasting

"Wine improves with age. The older I get, more I like it ."

Wedding at Yarrow Golf and Conference Resort

2009-09-24T17:27:00.030-04:00

Beautiful wedding at Yarrow Golf and Conference Resort.
Lovely couple Ashley and Corey look great together and they are the nicest people.

Thank you guys for having me as your photographer, it was really a joy. Wishing you the best in your new journey together.

Wedding at Yarrow Golf & Conference Resort

2009-09-20T18:34:00.017-04:00

Yarrow Golf Resort is a great wedding venue with spectacular scenery, hidden in the countryside between Kalamazoo and Battle Creek.

I was shooting wedding of Ashley & Corey there yesterday and enjoyed every moment of it. They are such a nice people, always pleasant, good looking and so easy to work with. Their wedding was a beautiful and elegant event, relaxed and fun, set in the spectacular natural setting.

Trash the dress, St. Joseph Michigan

2009-09-17T18:26:00.022-04:00

Trash the dress photo shoot on the beach in Saint Joseph, Michigan and in the countryside of Southwest Michigan.
Day after the wedding, when music stopped playing and all the guests have left, there is two of you alone to enjoy this special day.
This is your first day as husband and wife, so let's put the fabulous wedding dress on once again and head for the beach or field of flowers to enjoy and celebrate this beautiful moment.
This is what Sarah and Garen did and I was the privileged one to document it.

Summer Wedding, St.Joseph, Michigan

2009-09-15T09:37:00.034-04:00

Sarah & Garen long anticipated wedding in St Joseph finally arrived and it was everything one can wish for, from perfect weather to beautiful outdoor setting. Sarah was stunning in her elegant lace dress and together with Garen they made a great couple.
To accommodate the large wedding party, they rented the party bus to take them from the church in Saint Joseph to North Pier for pictures. This is where Garen proposed to Sarah and the Pier with lighthouse has a special meaning for two of them. From Tiscornia beach the party bus took them to the reception site in Stevensville.
Catering was provided by Cravings Catering in Stevensville and the entertainment by Nicolas Hardy.
Guests entertained themselves if not in bar or dancing, than playing bean bag toss game or strolling the property.
Did I say how beautiful the setting was? How brilliant of Sarah's parents to offer their property in Stevensville for the wedding reception. What can be better than this?
We took only few pictures of Sarah & Garen at the reception site on the wedding day, because the next day was our fun day together, they had the Day after shoot schedules. So stay tuned for more fun pictures with this great couple.

MONIKA PHOTO = MONIKA CABAN photography

2009-09-06T15:48:00.002-04:00

I would like to clarify, once for all, that these two names both represent Me.
I started my business under my first name, Monika, and Photo as short for photography. It became little confusing, because some people thought Photo is my last name. Well, I decided to go with my full name and word photography.
I think it is clear now who I am and what I do.

Also I would like to point out, that since I am a photographer, I use my blog to show My work. Therefore all photographs posted on my blog are done by Me.
Some of you might wander why am I saying this? It came to my attention that some people are looking at my photographs and don't realize I took them.
I know, it puzzles me as well.
Sorry, for being frustrated, but to have a blog takes lots of work and time and if it is not serving the purpose it should, it is my time and energy wasted.
So should I continue blogging, or should I stop?

New Compass Fountain in St Joseph is Open

2009-09-05T22:45:00.013-04:00

Our new attraction, Compass fountain, opened today. Just in time for the new wave of nice summery weather we got this weekend.
Today, Compass fountain was a popular cooling spot for young as well as young at heart. I am sure many out of towners who are visiting Saint Joseph this weekend for Tri State Regatta, are enjoying our new attraction as well.
Next time I am going without my camera, wearing shorts and flip flops. Fun :)

Outdoor Portrait

2009-08-30T10:58:00.008-04:00

Few images from recent portrait photo shoot that was a real joy for me.
Model is beautiful, nice and great to work with. I wanted to try new location and some different ideas and I am really pleased with the result.

Whittaker Woods wedding

2009-08-18T11:12:00.009-04:00

Inspiration board from wedding at Whittaker Woods in New Buffalo,

Whittaker Woods wedding

2009-08-16T17:25:00.023-04:00

Jeanna did a very good job choosing hair stylist and make up artist for her wedding day. She went with one of the top hair salons in New Buffalo area, Heat & Company.

It was all worth it, the place is not only modern and comfy, their staff is truly excellent at what they do. Jeanna's hair was beautiful and the make up was perfect as well. Even though last Saturday was the hottest and most humid day, hair an make up up lasted all day and looked perfect at midnight when I was leaving.

Heat & Company is an Aveda concept salon and as we all know, Aveda products are really superior. Make up and hair are together with the dress the most important parts of your wedding day look. It is important to choose your stylist and make up artist with care. You won't be sorry that you did.

Wedding at Orchard Hills Country Club

2009-08-13T17:42:00.007-04:00

Inspiration board from wedding at Orchards Hills Country Club in Buchanan Michigan.
Happy and relaxed summer wedding in pink, red and purple. Pink for romance, red for passion and purple for drama, that's what I associate with these colors

Orchard Hill Country Club wedding

2009-08-02T21:16:00.012-04:00

The ceremony took place at St.Mary's church in Niles Michigan and the reception was just a short drive from Niles, at Orchards Hills Country Club in Buchanan. Both great locations with very nice photography opportunities.

Few favorites from yesterday wedding of lovely couple Jen & Erik. Jen was the most relaxed and happy bride I have seen.

Vintage Portrait

2009-07-24T13:43:00.009-04:00

I would like to share few images from the creative project I am currently working on.