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i met Kathy & Gil at the Tim Horton's in Belle River, to discuss their upcoming wedding plans, and then we headed to the Marina for a few engagement photos.
i think that one of the things i love the very most about being a wedding photographer, isn't really all about taking the pictures. i am finding out , more and more, that i am truly blessed by the people i'm meeting and the clients i'm working with.
so far, every couple that have booked me for their wedding next year, could all become good friends. every single couple is so different from the next, but they all have something special about them.
i didn't get much time to really get to know Kathy and Gil on the Sunday we met, but i know that we are going to have TONS of fun when i travel with them to Playa del Carmen in Mexico, to photograph their wedding next May.
yep, i'm leavin' on a jet plane for the sunny shores to photograph a lovely little wedding on the beach.
i know that the two of them will definitely be ready to get away, since Kathy is in her residency as she studies to be a doctor, and Gil is finishing up his degree in Engineering. i'm tired just thinking about the schedules they must keep!
to Kathy & Gil,
thank you for choosing me to be your wedding photographer and allowing me into your lives. i look forward to getting to know you even better in the coming months.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
kathy & gil { windsor ontario wedding photographer }
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there is something magical about being in love.
it's that feeling down deep in your soul, when you just know that you are meant to marry your best friend, and spend the rest of your lives making each other happy.
that's the kind of love that Josh and Arica share.
you might think that it's not possible for me to know how deep their love flows, but i beg to differ!
you see , Arica is a good friend and fellow wedding photographer, and i have seen her crush on Josh, blossom into a deep love, right before my eyes.
i have been working alongside Arica for quite a few weddings this year, and when we first started working together this past spring, i remember quite clearly the day she asked me what i thought of Josh. i have known Josh and his wonderful family, for about 7 years now, and Arica admitted to me that she had a crush on him and was hoping they would someday date.
well, the first date turned into many dates, and i quickly saw that they were meant to be together, forever and ever.
Arica has become a dear friend in the last 7 months, and i can't wait to watch her and Josh get married and spend the rest of their lives together.
one of the big reasons i am also super happy about Arica and Josh's upcoming marriage, is that i can tell that their love is just as awesome as the love that Darryl and i share.
there aren't many couples that can still say that they are more in love today than they were on the day they got married 20 years ago, but Darryl and i can say that. we adore each other, to the depths of our souls, and i can't imagine being married to anyone else.
from what i can see, Josh and Arica are just as perfect for each other as my Darryl and i.
they are truly blessed.
i am also thrilled to be able to photograph Arica and Josh's wedding next spring, at Heritage Village in Harrow Ontario (which is 20 minutes from Windsor).
i am blessed with great friends, and i count Arica as a true gift from God.
just take a look at how happy these two are. you can see it in their eyes.
oh, and if you didn't already know this about me.....
i LOVE eyes.
Melissa:
Oh, I LOVE these pictures! You've captured their love so well! Thanks for such a great job!
(11.02.09)
Julie :
Beautiful Michelle!
(11.02.09)
Bob D - North Carolina Wedding Photographer:
I love these images. The fall colors are lovely. It's been years since I visited southern Ontario but I remember it being very lovely. (Used to visit to dive the 19th century wrecks... primarily schooners... in the Peelee Passage area). We don't get a lot of fall color here in North Carolina... mostly pine forests along the coastal areas.
(11.03.09)
Ben Chen:
What lovely couple. I love the bride's expressions and you captured it all. Great job.
(11.04.09)
Wedding Photographer Somerset:
What a great session, how many goes did it take to get him to jump that high? Brilliant :)
(11.05.09)
megan:
i absolutely love these pictures
(11.08.09)
Jay Crihfield - Chicago wedding photographer:
Wow cool shot of the groom clicking his heels!
(11.11.09)
Jessika Feltz:
Michele, this session was awesome! These two look like they were super fun to photograph and you found some great locations! LOVE it!
(11.13.09)
Laura:
What a beautiful AND fun couple! Great images! I love the second last one.... vintage love!
(11.26.09)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
josh & arica { Heritage Village, Harrow ~ engagement photography }
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DISCLAIMER~ normally i don't post family portrait sessions on my wedding photography blog, but this is my family, so i hope you don't mind.
normally, i don't do very many portrait sessions, because i have been mainly focusing on building my wedding photography business. when a family member asks for a session, you give them a session, no questions asked.
Leanne and i, have known each other for what seems a lifetime. i started dating her brother when i was 14 (ummmmm.... Darryl was 14 too) and Leanne was the little sister, at 10 years old.
we're all grown up now, Leanne is married to Paul, and they have 2 beautiful little girls.
it was pretty insane having toddlers in our house again, and the mischief abounded! my dogs didn't know what to do with themselves, especially since Anika (the little one) kept trying to ride poor Simon ! HAHAHA!!!!!
the weather on Sunday was a bit cool, but we headed into Kingsville and to Lakeside Park. i love photographing families at a park or outdoors, since the kids can run off all their energy.
there definitely was no shortage of energy.
i think my nieces are pretty adorable, if i do say so myself!
Brianna is 3 1/2 and Anika is 1 1/2, and they are quite the pair.
I'm thrilled that Paul and Leanne trusted me to take their family portraits, and i hope they like them LOTS!
i do have to take the time to say, that i have the best in-laws EVER!!! i couldn't have asked for a better family to marry into, and the amount of laughs and euchre over the years, has been wonderful and truly a blessing.
you can just feel the love when we all get together. it's pretty spectacular.
ok, so i had to get at least ONE couple shot of the two of them, right? i'm a wedding photographer for crying out loud, i'm drawn to couples in love!
Darryl:
Don't I have such cute nieces. Good job Michele you're such a great photographer
(10.28.09)
Leanne Partridge:
Michele, these are fantastic. You did a great job, you really have a great eye for cuteness. Love that liquifying technique. Thank you so much. We had so much fun!!
(10.28.09)
Jodi S.:
These are so great Michele! You are truly a gifted photographer. It's been cool to how your business has gone from a dream to reality for you. awesome!
(10.28.09)
Bob D - NC Beach Portrait Photographer:
Love these... especially the portraits taken along the beach. ;) Letting kids be kids always makes for great family photos.
(11.03.09)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
the Partridge family { windsor portrait photographer }
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my dear blog readers,
I apologize for the long space between posts, but i am i have been away for a few days.
On Monday morning, I packed up my ugly minivan, with camera gear, computer and clothes, and drove across the border and to the town of Ann Arbor Michigan. Is it a city or a town?
I don't know, so sorry if i offend any residents!
i was on a journey to the Finao head office, where they were hosting a workshop, lead by the incomparable Chuck Arlund .
i have to admit, that 2 months ago, i had never heard of Chuck Arlund, let alone had the desire to take a workshop led by him.
that all changed when Finao decided to sponsor a workshop, and have Chuck come for 3 days to teach his rockstar skills and some off-camera lighting techniques.
i got the memo, looked up his website, emailed Zach Gray (who's also from Nashville and i thought he might have heard of Chuck) and quickly decided that this was the workshop for me.
off-camera lighting has always been something i've wanted to learn and perfect, but i've never met a wedding photographer around Windsor, that even uses an off-camera flash, let alone wan to teach me!
i knew i was on my own, but eager to learn. i've been reading blogs, websites, and forum posts about the elusive off-camera flash, pocket wizards, and the like, but it doesn't all make sense unless you can see it in action.
after i got lost and ended up on a little dirt road in the middle of nowhere, i made it safely to the Finao headquarters and met Chuck and my 6 other classmates 3 of whom i already knew (yep, small world).
i have to admit, that on Monday, i had the feeling (a few times) that my head was going to explode from all the data being shoved into the small space that i have left in there for new things. Chuck went over about a zillion items, from posing to photoshop, to art and beyond, and then out the door we went for a field trip! we were learning to find the perfect light, or the sweet spot and Chuck calls it.
tuesday was flash day, and after we all got over our fear of taking the flash OFF the camera, and learning about pocket wizards and radio poppers, ring lights and video lights. we had another little field trip, with a cute little model, and spent the day trying to learn the technique of having light on our side, and not fighting with it so much.
it was inspiring.
i didn't get very many photos with the flash (about 5 or 6) since there were a few people in the group that seemed to want tons, and we were sharing one set of pocket wizards between us all. it doesn't matter too much, since even in those 5 photos, i could see what Chuck was teaching us, and the by observing i learned even more.
it was a long day, but my head didn't explode, so that makes it another awesome day! LOL!
the 3rd day was mostly spent just going over a few photos in class, and then we all headed out the door and to the Detroit Institute of Art, for and Avedon exhibit.
wow, that's quite the exhibit!
i don't know what it is......
i just love getting the chance to meet new people, and make new friends. when making new friends is combined with learning and growing as an artist, then it's even BETTER!!!!
in my heart of hearts, i know that photography is my way of being an artist. i am thrilled to have had to opportunity to have my eyes opened to new things, be inspired by artists i'd never heard of before, and get to meet Chuck.
it was a wonderful 3 days.
here are 2 photos from the tuesday photo session.
i will be spending the winter, practicing and perfecting the technique, so that i can start bringing an edge to my art.
Amelia Thornton:
Hi Michele...super fun spending time with and getting to know you better. Please keep me posted if there are any get-togethers with the new crew as I would happily make the drive to hang out and be inspired again. Talk to you soon...
(10.25.09)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Chuck Arlund ~ a workshop report
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are you ready for another installment of "what Michele does every weekend" ?
i photograph awesome and super cool weddings !!!
can you believe it?
I have yet to shoot a wedding that wasn't pretty spectacular (ok, so there was this one weird one, but that was an anomaly) .
Laura-Beth and Rob just blew me away with all their cuteness and lovey-doveyness. there is nothing more wonderful, than when a couple just ooze love from every pore and ounce of their being.
Laura-Beth and Rob met when Rob sold her a car, her first car ever.
i love cute love stories too by the way.
anyways, they met, they fell in love, and now they are making Windsor their home.
i wish them every happiness in the world.
oh, and i worked with Arica Ingratta once again, and i have decided that she is the perfect wedding date! LOL! we always have a blast together, and i always look forward to working with her.
ceremony- Oakwood Bible Chapel, Windsor
photos - Art Gallery of Windsor
reception - Fogolar Furlan
wedding planner - A Perfect Day Event Planning
photobooth - Shutter Bug Photo Booth
DISCLAIMER- the following photograph has NOT been photoshopped!!! Laura-Beth has flawless skin and wears minimal make-up.
can you say "JEALOUS"?
yeah, so i like to stick rings in marshmallows. do you have a problem with that?
Lesley Warren:
One word: beautiful.
(10.18.09)
Jodi S.:
I always love the ones you do with their rings. Brilliant! I wish someone like you was doing weddings 18 years ago....
(10.28.09)
San Francisco Wedding Photographer:
Gorgeous wedding photos! I love the ring shot as well.
(11.03.09)
Houston Wedding Photographer:
What a beautiful couple! You did an awesome job covering this wedding. I'm salivating over the4 foot chocolate waterfall. You B&W conversions are awesome...keep up the good work.
(11.05.09)
Napa Valley Wedding Photographer:
Michele,
Great idea for a ring shot. Like the look of the bridal portrait on the stairs.
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
laura-beth & rob { Fogolar Furlan Windsor~ wedding photography }
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
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Beautiful pictures Kathy & Gil!!! I love them.
(11.04.09)Wow, that's going to be an amazing wedding! Love these photos, the last one is just so sweet!
(11.05.09)Beautiful couple, beautiful photographer! You guys are going to work great together!
(11.05.09)LOVE the fall colors in these Michele- nice job connecting the couple! Wish we had trees like this in Denver!
(11.11.09)Very nice set of engagement photos. Looked like the couple had a great time.
(11.15.09)I love the one with the star shaped flare! This couple looks so sweet and in love! Don't you just love photographing couples like that?! :)
(11.20.09)