Results tagged “wedding photography windsor ontario” from michele bowman ~ Windsor Ontario Wedding Photographer, London, Chatham Southwestern Ontario & Destination Weddings
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10 years ago, some friends of ours asked if we'd like to join them on a little trip to their favourite vacation spot.
Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
sure, why not?
every year since 2001, we've been making the 16 hour drive from Windsor Ontario, to the fabulous hidden gem that is the Cape Hatteras. we love sharing our rental home with family and friends!
ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.......
it is now 2010, and we just celebrated our 10th year of traveling to the strangest, yet one of the most beautiful places i know (i lead a pretty sheltered life, so i don't know that many places).
if you've been following my blog at all, or are a friend on Facebook, you know that i have a crazy addiction to the ocean and all the life that lives underneath the waves. when i grow up, i'd LOVE to be a marine biologist (well, the ship might have sailed on that one) and spend my days diving, studying marine life, and working as an activist to save such a glorious ecosystem.
my son has the same dream, so maybe i'll just have to live vicariously through him instead.
i've told him that i will hold his clipboard and record data for him one day.
i'm cool that way.
while we're in Hatteras, we spend our days at the ocean and we even love the taste of saltwater! not swallowing it, but just the slight taste of it.
oh, and just to be clear, i am also NOT a fan of getting taken out by a wave and getting a head FULL of water that continues to slosh around inside my sinuses for hours on end.
just thought i'd put that out there.
this year, we had the glorious idea that we would spend 2 weeks in our rental home, enjoying even MORE time just hanging out and getting a killer tan.
yeah, well Hurrican Earl had other plans and we had to be evacuated on the Wednesday of our 2nd week there.
as a side note~ we took a detour and landed in Washington DC during what was, i'm sure, the HOTTEST 2 days of the year!! i nearly melted about 8 times.
true story.
here are a couple of photos from our trip. i haven't finished going through them all yet, so this is just a snapshot of my life .
it's a good life.
this is my happy foot and my happy beach shoes.
we did a fishing charter one day, and a sea turtle swam close to the boat! it was lucky i had on my 70-200mm lens!
my nephew Lucas, playing some frisbee game
Darryl and I went diving one day, and this was the ONLY underwater photo that turned out. the dive was unique, and we were stuck in a HUGE current down at the wreck. unfortunately, i needed my hands to hold onto the wreck, and couldn't use them to work my camera at the same time! believe me when i say that i DID see sharks, just some small reef sharks though. this barracuda was 4-5 feet long, and he and his buddies hang at the 15 foot line under the boat!
what would a {my life} blog post be, without some photos of my kids!!
sorry, i know i go overboard sometimes.
my Emilie
my Josh
my Cam
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10 years and counting..... {my life}
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170
in the beginning , i was an underwater photographer
suddenly, i became a wedding photographer
but, weddings are just the beginning.
then.....
comes life.
each moment that makes up your day, will eventually make up your life.
it's those little moments, the laughter, the hugs, and the love, that will shape who you are and who'll you become.
recently, we had a tornado warning in Kingsville, and i asked the kids to gather their most prized possession to take with them into the basement (if the time arose) and what did i gather?
i gathered up all my photo albums, hard drives and cd's of photos. that was it.
in the last little while, i have been asked if i provided lifestyle & family sessions. during wedding season i am not really available for much else (other than the weddings) but i am going to be branching out a bit in the next few months.
this fall, i am offering a limited amount of 'your life' sessions, and i'd love to hear from you if you're interested in scheduling one.
sessions range from your basic, fun photo session to full 'day in the life' sessions.
please email me ~ michele@michelebowmanweddings.com for more information & pricing.
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169
i am a wedding photographer.
i document weddings on an almost weekly basis.
i am always telling my clients that marriage is the most wonderful, exciting, and fabulous journey EVER.
i know what i'm talking about.
a few years ago (27 to be exact) , i met and started dating a 14 year old boy. he was pretty cute. he played violin, i played viola, we became best friends, fell in love, and that was that.
at the age of 20 we got married.
we've been busy ever since.
today, i am celebrating my wedding anniversary.
21 years to be exact (i am NOT OLD!!!! i just got married really young)
i am not making things up when i say that marriage is wonderful.
a journey
an adventure
our life
i wanted to write a little post about the most wonderful hubby in the whole world, and thank him publicly for being the most amazing man EVER!!
Darryl is more attentive than i could have ever asked for, he's the most loving father to our 3 beautiful children, and our life has been filled with more joy than i could have ever imagined.
Darryl, these photos are for you. to help you remember our life together these last 21 years, and to get you excited about the next 21 years!!! if we've done all these things in 21 years, can you imagine what our lives will look like when we're 60?
here is a portion of my life in photos, with an emphasis on the most amazing man EVER . please ignore the quality of this photos, since they have been scanned from prints i had, and are not digital files.
Darryl, these are for you!!
here we are at 16 years old. please ignore the bleached hair (we had a run in with Sun-In)
our wedding day, August 19th 1989
yep, i was a bride once!!! YAY!
(i got my dress from Valencienne in Toronto and i loved it so much)
we didn't have professional wedding photography, and got posed, in midday sun, for our photos. nice squinty-face.
our reception was held at the Elmwood Inn & Spa in Toronto. We danced to 'Dream Come True' by Frozen Ghost
the birth of our first son, October 1991. this is my Josh.
i can't believe that we thought we were mature enough to have kids at age 22 !! LOL!
the Bowman's teach their kids to play euchre at a very early age. wow, someone led an ace of spades!!! good lead :)
daddy going off to work. Josh loved his daddy, and always painted him pictures or built him bozer-dozers with his big lego blocks (Josh called bulldozers 'bozer-dozers)
the day we came home with our Emilie, March 1993. Josh was still a baby at 17 months old, but it was all good.
we were all tired in our house, especially since Darryl had just gone back to school full-time and we had two babies at home. not sure what we were thinking , but it was a very tiring time.
Josh's first taste at playing a string instrument. he would go on to become an extremely accomplished cellist. always music in the house, since we didn't have a TV (starving students and all that jazz)
daddy always makes a great horse. they don't play that game too much anymore, especially since Josh is taller then Darryl these days (and just as hairy) i'm not going to say anything about Josh playing with a Barbie doll ;P
our little blond poopsie!!! Cameron loved his daddy too. imagine that!
building sand castles at the cottage in Bala. love these guys!
celebrating Emilie's 6th b-day. we have now moved to Windsor Ontario
Darryl and our bleach-blond Josh. big hugs.
our new passion as a couple ...... SCUBA DIVING!!!!
this was at our open water checkout dive, the weekend we got certified!!
it's a HUGE part of our lives now, and every holiday we take revolves around diving now. best decision EVER!!
i'm starting to learn underwater photography here. i love this face.
we camp in Tobermory, and there's nothing like getting hit by a freezing cold wave while posing for a photo!! 70 F water is a shock to the senses for sure.
more music. Josh, Darryl and I in the Windsor Community Orchestra a few years ago (Josh is taller than Darryl now) there was nothing better than having two of my favourite men in the same orchestra as myself. it's how Darryl and i met all those years ago, and it had all come full circle with the inclusion of our son. we performed a Brahms symphony. it was fabulous.
my handsome man just chilling out in Roatan Honduras, where we go for our diving adventures every year. we talk about the day's diving first thing in the morning, and then dive, dive, dive all day long!!
our life is one big, exciting adventure, and i wouldn't have it any other way!! God is good.
happy anniversary my sweet man.
love you.
Philip Hawkins Edinburgh Wedding Photographer:
Happy anniversary! That was a great post, I really enjoyed reading it :) My wife and I were married 20 years ago and didnt use a professional photographer either (my mother-in-laws fault! lol) and our wedding photographs were horrendous! So like you I speak from experience when I urge couples to use a full-time pro. Anyway have a really great anniversary!
(08.19.10)
Lesley:
Decided to drop in today and found the most beautiful post! Michele, music may have brought you and Darryl together, but you had me at euchre! Happy anniversary to the most fabulous photographer! May I suggest making up for lost moments and getting a photo session done of the two of you? :)
(08.19.10)
Barb:
Happy 21st Anniversary Michele & Darryl! All our love Barb & Don xox
(08.19.10)
amy:
happy anniversary!! we just celebrated 11 years.. what a great post thank you for giving us a peek into your life!!
(08.19.10)
Lisa:
That is an amazing blog Michelle......21 years!
(08.19.10)
ebphoto | Photographe Bruxelles:
Happy anniversary! I find it very cool of you to share these moments. 21 years of what looks like 21 years of happiness. Thanks for sharing these very personal pictures with us.
(08.23.10)
Loni Vanstone:
Happy Anniversary Michele!! =) Awww.. those wonderful family photos are all so beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us!
(08.24.10)
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my life ~ being married to the man of my dreams
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a few weeks ago i photographed Joe & Catherine's wedding here in Windsor.
(check out my blog post from a couple of weeks ago)
i am currently editing the wedding and designing their album, and i came across this photograph and i am in love.
my heart just melts when i capture a vulnerable, honest, intimate and breathtaking moment between a couple.
this is the type of moment that fuels my passion for wedding photography, gets me excited about each and every wedding, and helps me to keep striving to become the best that i can be as an artist and photographer.
Joy:
this is so sweet and you can tell they cherish each other. love it! you're so awesome, michele!
(08.26.10)
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makes my heart go ahhhhhhhh.......
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another windsor ontario wedding~
Mary & Rick got married here in Windsor, in a lovely Polish/Catholic ceremony here in town, with the reception held at St.Francis of Assisi Church Hall. i don't think i have ever been served so much food at a wedding before. it was impressive!!!
Mary contacted me last december, about the possibility of documenting her summer wedding, and i'm so thankful that she did! Mary is the good friend of one of my brides, Laurie, and the two of them talked about all things wedding when they climbed Mt.Everest last November.
yep, you read that correctly.
two of my clients are cool enough (and maybe a little bit insane enough) to have climbed not only Mount Everest, but they also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro a few years ago!! these adventurous pharmacists do these crazy things to raise money for charity, and i think it's fabulous!!
ok, sorry...... too many exclamation points in that last little bit. i'll try harder in the next paragraph.
Mary & Rick are not only adorable together, but they are goofy as well, and have the greatest sense of humour. even in the insane and unbearable heat of last Saturday, they both just had fun & joked around, laughed at each other, and i wouldn't have been surprised one little bit if they'd put one another in a headlock or something.
it was HOT HOT HOT, and i'm sure they were thankful for the air-conditioned limo.
if there had been a pool at Branteaney's B&B (where we took some photos), i wouldn't have put it past them to just jump in fully clothed. the bridal party was ready to run through the sprinklers (but they decided that an air-conditioned limo filled with cold drinks and brownies was a good alternative)!
i don't normally get quite as much time to just take fun photos of the bride & groom, as i did on this day, so there are quite a few more styled photos than i normally take. it was fun to just try some new ideas and make some quirky portraits.
i am so blessed to work with clients that are not only interesting and adventurous, but that are genuine and real. i just love people who can just be themselves and have fun, show me their love for each other and those around them. it's just such a treat.
when writing about each wedding, i try to think of something out of the ordinary that i got to experience, and there was one thing that happened at this wedding that made me smile.
for the reception, they hired a DJ AND a polish one-man band for the music. i have to say, that i have never heard polish disco before, and now i can say that i have. that guy was great!
Mary & Rick, thank you for just being you. thank you for allowing me to document some of the special moments of your wedding day, and to have a small glimpse into your lives. i know that you will have a marriage filled with love and laughter (goat chin moves & head-butts), and i'm sure that your new home will be fabulous. i wish you all the very best, and thank you for the heartfelt hugs when i left your reception. i love hugs.
church~ Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Windsor
reception ~ St. Francis of Assisi Parish Hall, WIndsor
decorator~ Soiree Event Extraordinaire
flowers ~ Flowers by Phil Sadi, WIndsor
cake ~ The Pastry Table, Windsor
DJ ~ Donovan Mariani, Open Air Events
gown ~ Bridal Couture, Windsor
make-up~ Nayeli Castellanos, Karitas for You
hair~ Megan, Unity Salon
Michael Toe:
Wow! Beautiful Pictures!
(07.21.10)
Lesley:
I love the bride's dress and bracelet! Gorgeous! Michele, some of my favourite pics you're doing these days are the compositions of all the wedding details (food, place settings, etc.). They compile all in one the vision the couple was trying to achieve, and you make it look so beautiful!
(07.21.10)
Photographick Studio:
Love the detail pictures, they are so unique and different, the angles are great and the colors pop off the page. Love the unique set-ups of the formals and bridal party pictures. Great set of images!
(07.27.10)
Marco Island Wedding Photographer:
Loved all of the detail shots, especially the teddy bears on the cake and the rings in the m and m's. Beautiful wedding .
(07.30.10)
Amelia Thornton / Flirt Photography:
OMG Michele...I am 100% in LOVE with every one of these images. Fantastic job!! So proud of you, my friend!
(08.06.10)
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a wedding in a backyard near Dresden Ontario~
i don't know how to begin this blog post, because there are just so many things that keep popping into my head about this wedding and how i feel about this couple! i'm finding it difficult to put it all into words.
please bear with me as i try to muddle my way through all of this.
today, eric & lesley are dear to my heart, but i didn't know them until they contacted me about documenting their wedding.
i have a confession to make......
you see, i grow attached to my clients, and when they get married, it just makes me smile from the inside out! i put every ounce of my being into my work, i try to make it personal and truly capture the essence and emotions of the bride and groom, and i grow attached.
when total strangers let me into their lives , like Lesley has, and allow me to get to know them even just a little bit, then i can't help but get all mushy about their FABULOUS wedding and all the lovey-dovey stuff of marriage.
not only has Lesley been sooooooooooo much fun to work with, but she took me purse and shoe shopping when i met her for lunch in Ottawa in June, and well........ that put me over the edge. i kinda (in a wee, small little way) like shoes and purses.
Eric & Lesley met on the train, Eric pursued Lesley with everything he had in him, Lesley was eventually won over BIGTIME, and they have been together ever since.
seriously? meeting on the train? awesome.
these two live in the Ottawa area, but they celebrated their wedding at Eric's family farm near Chatham.
it was the most charming wedding i've been to yet, mostly because of all the little touches of home and the effort of the community to make this an event to remember. jars of flowers grown in the neighbour's yard adorned the tables, homemade tarts for dessert, friends who fixed up their farms so that we could have beautiful locations to shoot photos, a tractor ride to the reception ,a local band to help this crowd party through the night, Eric's dad and his 'SURPRISE' wheel barrel of fireworks at 10:30pm, pulled pork sandwiches and potato salad for dinner, and the love and laughter of family and friends.
oh, and when you have a father that will dance AND do 'air guitar' at the same time, you know that you're having a great wedding. just sayin' !
the only downside to the day, was that i fell off the road when i was walking back to the reception after shooting bridal party photos. yep, i fell OFF the road!
i was walking along the road, carrying all my camera gear, minding my own business, when all of a sudden i twisted my ankle on the side of the road (which is at least 2 inches higher than the gravel shoulder) , and i found myself flat on the ground in a big cloud of dust, camera gear and all. first i looked to make sure that no one saw me (check), and then i limped back the to the tent. oh, did i hurt my knee!!! it's still purple and scraped, but oh well, i'm a clutz sometimes.
Eric & Lesley......
words cannot describe how thankful i am that you chose me to not only document your wedding, but to be a part of your lives. your joy, laughter, super-fun nature, and love for each other is contagious, and i am so grateful to have been a part of it all. i know that the next year will be a challenge with Eric being deployed, but you have such a great network of friends and family that will support you and hold you up until you can be together again.
my sincerest wish is that you have a lifetime of joy and happiness together!
thank you so much for everything.
here are a few photos from the big day!
Megan:
I absolutely LOVE her bouquets These pictures are so precious and it looks like the wedding was sooo much fun!!
(07.08.10)
Amy Malott:
I LOVE the Massy Ferguson Emblem with the rings, as a farm girl....love, love, love it. Great job.
(07.08.10)
CL Steele Studio | Portland Wedding Photographer:
Great images of a fun day! The man "playing the guitar" cracked me up! Great shots!
(07.08.10)
Emilie Bowman :
Wow, she is seriously beautiful. And you are so very talented momma :) Great job and awesome looking wedding :)
(07.08.10)
Olivia Weaver:
Fantastic job Michele! You did such justice to capturing the essence of the day and everyone's personalities. Thank you for the chance to relive last weekend! You are truly talented and Lesley is so lucky to have found you! (And of course we are so lucky my brother found her on the train)
(07.09.10)
Lesley:
Y'all are killing me with the lovely comments! I cannot stop looking at these pics. Michele's talent is so incredibly special. She just knows how to capture and make even more beautiful those moments that just draw you in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Eric's too!
(07.10.10)
Tracy Walden:
What a great day! What great memories are captured here! I'm so bummed Brent and I were not there to share in the experience. Especially to see Eric's dad playing air guitar! These pics are the bomb.
(07.12.10)
Lindsay:
Wow, guys... Beautiful, beautiful. The photos are amazing, so touching. For a brief second, I felt I was there sharing it with you. I so wish I could have been. Lesley, you're a knock out. Eric, handsome as ever. You look so happy! Congratulations.
(07.14.10)
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156
some wedding photography~
this past weekend, i had the pleasure of documenting Melissa & Steve's wedding here in Windsor.
i have to start my post by saying that it was was FLIPPIN' HOT outside on Saturday, and i found out that with the humidity (i think it was about 80-90%) it felt like over 110F !!
the other problem was, that it was an outdoor ceremony and it was surrounded by trees, so no breeze!!
i think i almost died 3 times during the day (i don't do heat/humidity well, and never have). if there had been a pool close by, i wouldn't have put it past us all to just jump right in and cool off!!
ok, enough whining and complaining. i'll get on with the post now.
i met Melissa last summer, when she and her mother drove out to Kingsville to meet with me about photographing the big day. i instantly fell in love with Melissa, and both her and her mom kept me in stitches during our whole meeting!! i couldn't remember when i'd laughed so hard!!
i couldn't wait for their wedding (and i can't believe that it's been a year since we met).
in October, i photographed Steve & Melissa's engagement session just before the leaves all fell for the season, and it was a blast.
steve & melissa like a good party, and i don't think their wedding disappointed. they were surrounded by good friends, awesome family, and a good mood that just wouldn't quit!
the day started at Steve's place, where the guys were in great spirits even though they knew that wearing a tuxedo in the sweltering heat might be the end of them.
at Melissa's parent's place, the party continued with mugs of champagne, some tears of joy, and HOT PINK Louboutin shoes!!! i love fabulous shoes!!!
the ceremony was held outdoors at Branteaney's Bed & Breakfast, and it was a beautiful service that was the shortest i've ever witnessed (which was probably a good thing for the guests in suits in that heat). i think i am now a huge fan of Branteaney's. it was such a nice change from an indoor ceremony, and the setting was serene and beautiful. other than the clouds of mosquitos (because of all the rain we've had recently) , it was picture perfect.
i didn't want to spend too much time outdoors if at all possible, because when the bride and groom have to towel each other off before each photo, you know it's too hot . we fought through the heat and a few rain showers, and got some photos on the picturesque grounds. i couldn't believe how everyone was being so wonderful and patient, but i did work quickly.
next came the air-conditioned party bus, the nicely air-conditioned bar in downtown Windsor, and the air-conditioned reception hall (Torino's in Tecumseh)
gotta love the invention of AIR-CONDITIONING!!!
oh, and i love that cold water and gingerale were invented too :)
the reception was a party to remember, and the first time that i've ever met a blow-up doll named Alejandro. he was quite the party animal!
i want to thank Steve & Melissa for letting me party with them all day long, it was a blast!! you have both been so much fun to work with, and it was an honour to be a part of your big day. i will forever remember Alejandro, the fact that i worked with a groom with quite a few rapper names, and a bride that is courageous and stylish enough to sport Christian Louboutin shoes in HOT PINK!!
you two are such a great couple, and i hope that our paths cross again very soon.
hugs to you both.
some fabulous vendors~
gown~ Bridal Couture, Windsor
make-up~ Esthetica Day Spa, Windsor
hair~ Youseff's Salon, Windsor
flowers~ Oak Farms, Leamington
ceremony ~ Branteaney's Bed & Breakfast, Lasalle
officiant~ Joe McParland, Civil Marriages
shoes~ Christian Louboutin
reception hall~ Tourino's Banquet Hall, Tecumseh
photo booth~ Perfect Shutter Photobooth
cake~ Renee's Fine Cakes
decorator~ Windsor Event Decor
DJ ~ A. Donavan Mariani, Open Air Events, Windsor
now for some photos!!!
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155
as i got to talk with this lovely young lady, i quickly realized that she was pretty awesome and i think we clicked right away. she knew that i was just getting my photography business up and running, and she needed a 2nd photographer for some weddings last year, so we hooked up and it was the beginning of a great relationship.
Arica Ingratta is younger than i am (by about 15 years i think.... man, that makes me sound old), but she is a fabulous artist and wonderful photographer in Windsor (her company is Manifesto Photography) . even though she is younger than i am, i was seriously impressed with her maturity and her love for God and serving Him. i couldn't wait to work with this great lady.
not long after the two of us met, Arica approached me one day and asked what i thought of this guy Josh. you see, i have known Josh for about 8 years now. i met Josh's parents when we started attending Heritage Park Alliance Church, and i think Josh was just finishing up high school or something. Josh's family are some of the dearest people around, and his dad can scale a tree faster than anyone i've ever met (it's quite amazing actually).
Arica seemed to have a little crush on Josh, and mentioned that they had gone out for coffee one night. i told her my opinions about this great guy and his family, and she seemed pretty intent on seeing him again.
because i got to work alongside Arica week after week, wedding after wedding, and we spent all day together shooting these weddings , i was able to hear about her budding romance and watch as the love between this couple blossomed and grew.
it was pretty evident early on, that God had set up this match, because the more Josh & Arica sought after God, then closer and closer they became.
i just loved seeing the sparkle in Arica's eye every time she talked about Josh, how he made her laugh and how he loved her so very deeply. they challenged each other on every level, and it was just so wonderful to watch this all unfold before my very eyes!!!
i am very blessed to be deeply in love with the most awesome man on the planet, and our love for each other grows deeper and deeper as the years go by. every time Arica spoke of her love for Josh, i just knew that it was the same type of love that i feel for Darryl even after all these years, and i couldn't have been happier for the two of them.
everyone deserves this kind of true and deep love with their spouse!!
last weekend, i had the honour of photographing Arica & Josh's wedding, in a log cabin at the top of some mountain in Tennessee (can you say, scary road?). it was quite the media circus, since Arica's good friend Stacey is a wedding photographer as well , and we were joined by the videography services of Iris and Light (from California). there were 4 of us with cameras, trying to NOT get in each other's way, and it made me chuckle a bit!! i think we were all pretty great and didn't get in each other's way too much, and i know that i was pretty thrilled to have so much creative talent around me. the only trouble is, that when you have so many artists trying to document such an amazing wedding, in such a fabulous location with such great people, you MIGHT end up being an hour late for dinner.
just sayin'.
the whole wedding was perfect from start to finish.
Arica & Josh were surrounded by the people they love most in the world, they made sure that their wedding was centered around God, through lots of prayer and worship, and i was deeply moved.
i have never photographed the wedding of a close friend before, and i do have to admit that it was challenging in a few ways.
first, the pressure to take great photos is pretty high, especially when the bride is a photographer herself, and secondly, because you are emotionally involved.
there are so many times that i was just crying, hiding it all behind my big camera, as i watched love unfolding!!! i got so carried away in the moment, that i would forget that i was even working, and i just found myself wrapped up in all the awesomeness of what God was doing. it was almost too much to take!!!
you know what?
i actually find that watching parents crying is the biggest thing that sets me off with my own tears. i can't take it!!
i guess i am imagining what it'll be like when my own kids get married and start their own lives.
oh great, i'm tearing up even now. how embarrassing!!
here are a few photos (ok, a bit more than a few) of Arica & Josh's special day.
i wish them all the happiness in the world, and i want to thank them for asking me to help document their wedding.
Arica, you are truly one of a kind, and the best wedding date around. i have been blessed to have you in my life, and i will always remember your sneaky-sneaky face as you steal cannoli from the dessert table, before dinner. i loved being your shield from the crowd.
Josh, you are truly a man of God, and i know that you will treat Arica with all the love and respect that she deserves.
thank you both for allowing me to be a part of your lives.
Brandon- Alaska Wedding Photographer:
Details, getting ready, portraits...all amazing. I just love all of your shots...especially the last one.
(06.01.10)
Birmingham Wedding Photographer:
Love the detail shots...the color is esp nice. Great job!
(06.02.10)
Milla:
GORGEOUS job Michele. I love the portraits of the two of them... awesome, awesome job.
(06.09.10)
Andy | Devon Photographer:
Its amazing to see these kind of shots only a talented hands can do simply a masterpiece dude.
(07.16.10)
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last fall, i met up with Gil & Kathy in Belle River, to discuss the possibility of traveling with them to Mexico in May, to document their destination wedding.
we hit it off, and i was thrilled that they asked me to join them, on what would be my very first destination wedding. of course, i was thrilled that Playa del Carmen just happens to be on the ocean ( the bestest thing EVER), but i was even more thrilled that i would get to have an adventure alongside two awesome people & their families!!
by the way..... going away to get married, next to the ocean and with just a handful of people, is a FABULOUS decision!!!
that's my public service announcement of the day.
oh, and if you're looking to get a dog, buy a hairless one. my house looks like a couple of dogs exploded all over it (not that this has anything to do with weddings, but it's on my mind and i just thought i'd share).
last Monday morning, i boarded a plane for Cancun, and started my journey to Mexico! did you know that shooting a wedding abroad requires quite a bit of advance planning and lots of gear!!
also, when you plan to go scuba diving as well as all the camera gear, it looked like i was MOVING to Mexico, not just staying for a few days.
(in my defense though, i was also heading to Tennessee on my way back from Mexico, to photograph my friend Arica's wedding).
i arrived in Cancun to the longest immigration line in the HISTORY of immigration lines, but after that it was much more relaxing.
the resort i stayed at, was The Royal Playa del Carmen and it was INSANE luxurious! i mean it when i say INSANE!!!
i was especially fond of the extra soft pillows that arrived in my 'magic box' (room service box) and the turn-down service every night. i think i need to pay my kids to turn down my bed for me at night, light a scented candle, and leave chocolates on my pillow. yep, that would be sweet!!
unfortunately, the weather wasn't quite as awesome as the people and the location, and it pretty much rained every day, all day, for most of the week. luckily, the rain stopped long enough for the ceremony to be outdoors, but quickly started up again and Kathy, Gil & i had to run for cover while we were doing some beach shots. oh well, it was hot, we were being spoiled, and i was near the ocean. who needs the sun anyways?
i want to take a moment to thank Gil & Kathy for your hospitality, for bringing me along to photograph your wedding, and for opening up your lives and your hearts to me. i loved having that fantastic meal with the both of you (we totally should have ordered more lamb chops) and
i was so happy that you were both so easy going and flexible with all the rain issues!!
Gil, i'm sorry that i didn't have time to give you more body surfing tips, but the waves kinda sucked that day!!
now, here are a few photos of our little adventure!
this was our first attempt at a beach session before the wedding. it started thunderstorming about 5 minutes after this photo was taken
we finally got a day without rain (my last day there) and i was able to get this awesome couple out for some day-after beach photos!!
Kathy Borovicka:
Love the pictures!!!
(05.30.10)
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150
a couple of days ago, i met Melissa & Nick in Kingsville, for their engagement session. i live in Kingsville, and i love shooting here, so these two adventurers made the trek from Windsor and out to the county. they really wanted to get some photos in a flowering apple orchard, but no such luck. the apple trees were flowerless, but that didn't dampen the mood one little bit.
these two are quite the pair!! i know i say it all the time, but i think my clients are the best around, and these two are no exception.
they laugh, and laugh, and laugh together all the time. they make faces at each other, they tickle each other, and they just adore each other to pieces.
it's wonderful to see, and i told them how i could just tell how much they truly loved each other.
i am really looking forward to documenting their wedding in WIndsor, this coming fall, and i'm so very thankful that they have trusted me with such an important job.
Melissa & Nick...... thank you for allowing me to get to know you, and to have to opportunity to be a small part of your lives. i can't wait for your wedding, and your love is truly inspiring.
now, let's get on with a few photos!!
let's start with the sweet faces.
it wasn't 2 minutes into our session when the laughs started!! awesome :)
tickle fight! (Melissa lost)
we wanted to go into the candy shop, but it was closed. bummer.
there's nothing like finding a cool doorway and taking kissy photos of a couple in love.
just sayin'.
yep, more tickling and a bear hug all in one!
Melissa:
Love the pics Michele! Can't wait to see the rest of them! Quite the teaser!!
(05.12.10)
Terri Minoletti:
Great pictures...can't wait to see the rest of them.
(05.12.10)
Uncle Dave & Auntie Brenda:
Very cool pictures:)
(05.13.10)
Ken Teo:
Beautiful couple. I love how you got them so relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera.
(05.23.10)
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148
last night, i met up with one of my super sweet 2010 wedding couples, and we braved the chilly temps for the sake of photography!
this great couple are getting married here in Windsor, this coming June, and i can't wait!!!
Matt & Christine are adorable, totally in love, and they can totally rock silly faces. Matt's version of 'Blue Steel' will go down in the record books. i know it gave me chills!!
we started out at Vito's Pizzeria on Wyandotte Street, which i HAVE to eat at one day soon. it smelled sooooooooo yummy!!!
afterwards, we had a stroll, looked for good light, and then ended up at Willistead Manor.
we grabbed some sunset and yummy light photos, spent some time hanging out with Matt's Jeep, and then played the silly face game.
i also found out that Christine loves nautical clothing. good to know.
i promised Christine that i would post a few photos from our adventure, so here they are!
Matt & Christine.....
i just wanted to thank you for hiring me to document your wedding and trusting me enough to allow me to be a part of your lives. i'm blessed to have met you both, and i'm very much looking forward to capturing all that makes your wedding day wonderful.
you are both adorable!!!
Christine:
THESE ARE AWESOME!! Thank you so much Michele!! What a huge sneak peak!! :)
(04.28.10)
Matt Curtis:
Alright, I'm dying now, bring on the Jeep pictures!
(05.05.10)
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147
this past weekend, i had the opportunity to shoot a wedding alongside my friend Arica Ingratta. We worked together a lot last year, but we are only getting the chance to work together a couple of times this coming year (very sad).
Fina & Nick got married at Assumption Church here in Windsor, and their reception was held at the Ciocarro Club at the south end of the city. it was a hopping club on Saturday, with ALL the party rooms filled with festivities.
one wedding even had 2 police officers standing outside their reception room. that one kept me guessing all night.
one of the things that i love about weddings, is the kids.
some people chose to have ring bearers and flower girls, and some don't, but there are ALWAYS kids at weddings.
they are SOOOOOOOOOOO much fun!!!!
at this wedding, there were 3 flower girls and a ring bearer.
two of the flower girls were old pros, one carried around her princess bag full of books, and the ring bearer was had a bit of stage fright.
all in all, it was a fun day to be a kid!!
it was story time during the ceremony. i had to laugh. they were TOTALLY oblivious to the wedding around them!!
this little one had had ENOUGH, and decided to abandon her books and look for a familiar face. too cute!!
these guys just had their own party going on. i wish i could tap into some of that energy!!
amy:
love the little girl coming down the aisle . my sister had 6 flower girls all in big puffy white dresses. soooo adorable!!
(04.27.10)
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145
July 2009
i get an email from Leslie, asking if i might be available to document her wedding to Rob, in the spring of 2010.
after a lovely phone conversation, i was excited at the possibility of working with this great couple from Arizona and we set up a time to meet on Labour Day weekend (when they were in town to book their wedding venue).
Christmas 2009
Rob and Leslie bundle up and we head outdoors for a snowy engagement session. I was able to get to know these two a little better, and they made my day when they agreed to have a snowball fight and take each other down in the snow!! it made for some wonderful photos and some good laughs.
April 3rd 2010
the big day.
i arrived at Caesar's Hotel in Windsor, to capture the girls getting ready. i do have to say that it's about a 3 mile walk (or so it seemed) from the parking garage to the hotel foyer, and that would have been fine except for the fact that i was carrying 100 lbs (ok, maybe 20-ish) pounds of camera gear on my shoulders . a rolling camera bag would have come in handy.
sorry, i digress......
oh, and i was entertained along my hike, by the zillion or so, slot machines that are all lit up and make fun sounds. weird.
the hotel was lovely, and the girls were ready for the big day.
Leslie was just glowing, and doing well to keep any nerves under wrap. i love being with the bride as she gets ready, since it's always a time of fun and friendship, and to have your best friends helping you get ready makes it even more special.
Leslie was surrounded by friends and family, and she was a stunning bride.
My assistant for the day, Arica, was with the guys as they got themselves together.
Onward to WIllistead Manor in Old Walkerville, for an intimate service and reception.
Everything was running smoothly, until the power went out right before the ceremony, due to the very gusty winds outside. Luckily there was a window in the room, the music was live, and i have a flash for my camera!!! Yay for camera flashes and live musicians!!!
the ceremony was lovely, and tears were flowing.
Rob and Leslie just adore each other to pieces, and it's very evident whenever you see them together.
unfortunately, due to the gusty winds outside, we had to stay indoors for photos, so i'm thankful that Willistead Manor is so beautiful.
the dinner and party continued into the night, and it was a pleasure to be among such a lovely bunch of people.
i want to thank Rob & Leslie, from the bottom of my heart, for allowing me to be a part of their lives. i also want to thank them for hiring me to document their wedding, especially when they knew that i was fairly new to the art of wedding photography. your support and trust in my abilities makes me feel so very humbled. it's clients like you that inspire me and the reason that i adore this job so very much.
Rob, i want to apologize to you for encouraging Leslie to get a 50mm 1.8f lens, which seems to have jumpstarted her love of good (expensive) lenses. i hope you still like me after you hear what some of these lenses cost!!!
awesome vendors~
cake~ Renee's Fine Cakes, Windsor
officiant ~ Royal Wedding Gardens , Lasallle
flowers~ Country Flowers & Gifts , Windsor
hair~ Estetica Day Spa, Tecumseh
DJ~ A.Corbett Productions, Windsor
dress ~ Destiny's Bridal, Arizona
ceremony/reception ~ Willistead Manor, Windsor
bride's shoes ~ Kate Spade
now for some photos....
something blue
i love the glistening in Rob's eye as he watches Leslie walk down the aisle
amy:
you captured some beautiful images!! love the ones of the bride and her father and the last one too!!
(04.05.10)
Brooke Letich:
LOVE Everything Michele!! Great start to the Wedding Season, Beautiful couple!
(04.05.10)
Amber:
LOVE the shoe/ring shot - so romantic and buttery (does that make sense??) And I LOVE the b/w with the priest in it during the ceremony. Looks like a photo shoot - too perfect to be a real wedding! You have the most beautiful b/w action Michele, it's so your signature style. You rock it every time. XO
(04.06.10)
Maryanne Grieve:
Love your photos such a fun couple. Congratulations!!!
(04.06.10)
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144
i haven't slept well in two days and my eyelid is twitching.
it's the beginning of my 2010 wedding season and i'm a ball of nerves!!!
my hubby was laughing at me last night, saying that he always finds the pressure that i put on myself, to be kind of laughable.
i love weddings, i love my clients, and i love this job.
it's my love of what i do that drives me to have such high expectations of my work!
it's the same type of feelings that i used to get before writing a big chemistry exam, even though i had studied like crazy and was TOTALLY ready for it.
i am also SO excited that i get to begin my year with Rob & Leslie's wedding at Willistead Manor here in Windsor. I can't believe that it was in July 2009 that Leslie first contacted me about the possibility of documenting their vintage inspired wedding, and here it is, April 3rd and it's GAME TIME!
weddings make me get all mushy inside, and the emotion of the day is almost too much to handle. i have yet to find mascara that will stand up to my tears during the vows, and then again during the slideshow and speeches.
people need to STOP making me cry during their speeches!!
i am too excited for words, and if i could just get my right eyelid to stop twitching, i'd be the happiest wedding photographer around!!
Bring on the fabulous weddings!
Jayme Morrison:
You are going to do great! Today's the big day so I can't wait to hear :)
(04.03.10)
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136
on Valentine's Day, i had the pleasure of photographing Laurie & Andy's engagement session.
it was a cold day, but Laurie & Andy were troopers, and walked through snow and ice so that i could get the shot!
Andy and Laurie are getting married in May at the Pointe West Golf and Country Club, which is in Amherstburg. Because their wedding is in Amherstburg, i decided that it would be fun to shoot their engagement session in the cute downtown streets if the quaint town. We had fun in the snow, and then ended our session in a little diner on the main street by the river.
here's a sneak peek
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133
i like flowers.
i like flowers A LOT.
as a wedding photographer, i am blessed to be a part of a couple's special day. i am hired to document the moments, the tears, the family, and the details.
i love me some nice details!
part of what i find intriguing about being the wedding photographer, is the way that each couple interprets their wedding day dreams.
flowers are a great way for a bride to show a little of her personality!
i know that sometimes, it's difficult to justify the purchase of real flowers, especially when there are so many expensive purchases to think about. sometimes the call of silk flowers, as the cheaper alternative, is a call too hard to resist.
if you have the strength, please resist that call and hang up promptly!
real flowers don't need to be expensive, and they are just too lovely to turn your back on!
find a florist that can work within your budget, and maybe even splurge on just a few stems of the expensive flowers to mix in with a few less expensive flowers. it's the colours in the bouquet that make a statement.
i know that there are some awesome florists in the Windsor/Essex area, that do some great work. go through bridal magazines, check out budget friendly wedding planning websites, and print off the photos of the flowers that you love. if you find a florist that you trust, then i'm sure they will do their very best to help you achieve the look you're going for.
i wanted to post a few photos of some of the lovely bouquets i photographed in 2009.
there were so many beautiful flowers, and here is a sampling for you to enjoy.
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131
being a wedding photographer is not only a joy, but it's a pretty important job too!
i know that i'm not a neuro-surgeon or an astronaut or anything, but couples are hiring me to document one of the most important days of their lives, and i take that seriously.
seriously, i take it seriously.
(sorry, my kids are always making fun of the amount of times a day i use the word 'seriously', so i wrote that to bug them, even though they don't read my blog)
i am a firm believer in open and honest communication, not only with my kids and hubby (and friends) but with my clients as well. sure, i'm being hired because my clients trust me and my abilities, but i would hope that if a couple has some things they wish to go over with me, that i would be open to hear those things.
i found a great article on another website, and it's specifically geared to making the most out of planning your wedding and planning your wedding photography.
the whole article is found here http://www.wedpix.com/articles/005/wedding-photographer-list/
if you are a bride or groom-to-be, please take a moment to read the article through, to make sure that you are optimizing everything you can get from your photographer and all the planning that goes into your wedding day.
on a personal note.....
yesterday we drove to Waterloo Ontario (which, from Windsor is a 3 hour drive) to visit our cute son and see him perform with the Laurier Symphony. as i've mentioned before, our Josh is currently studying cello performance at Laurier, and his orchestra puts on a concert every 6 weeks or so. i use these chances to bring treats and some food to my son, as well as get my quota of hugs for the month (i think i gave him about 8 or 9 yesterday, which isn't NEARLY enough). we also head out for dinner as a family, and just laugh with each other for a couple of hours. i do have to say, that i find it funny that my 18 year old son still LOVES animal crackers so much. he goes crazy when i bring him a bag of them as a treat.
now, a photo to make this blog post complete
there's nothing like a groom breaking into the "robot" while dancing with his new bride!
he's a dancing fool!
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127
there are times when i write about my escapades as a wedding photographer, and some days that i write about other stuff.
this is other stuff.
here are a few things i've realized lately.....
- every time my phone rings, my dogs jump up and run to the back door to be let out. i never trained them to do this, but they must have read the report about Pavlov's dog and thought it would be a good idea to test the theory on me. i think it's actually a reverse thing for them. i think they are actually training ME to jump up every time my phone rings, so that they can stop being ignored and let out more than once a day. smart dogs, but i'm onto them BIGTIME!
- i'm not as afraid if trying new foods as i once was. i tried Mulligwatany soup the other day, and not only was it curry based, but it was delish! i didn't try the sashimi, but come on people, FRIED EEL and raw oily fish? not gonna happen any time soon.
- i seriously dislike photos with vignetting all over the place. come on now......
does every single photo need to be surrounded in black blur? sorry, but i feel opinionated today, and i just can't take all that vignette!
- one more thing i don't care for is tilting. i was actually nauseous the other day, while i was looking at some photos that were all tilted to the left. it looked like everyone was just about to slide off the road or off the dance floor. too much, too much!!!! TOO MUCH TILTING!!!!!
- i am feeling the urge to sign up for Rosetta Stone and learn spanish. hey, why not?
- i think i might break down and get some artificial nails soon. my nails are so soft and split every time i try to grow them. it might just happen!
- i have never liked Shostakovich, but the orchestra that i'm performing with, is playing the 3rd mov't from his 10th symphony. it's actually pretty cool and i'm sorry for disliking this poor, misunderstood and oppressed composer. i will say, that if i am asked to perform something by Phillip Glass, then i'm walking out! Philip Glass's music makes me want to run over a cute little animal or something. shoot me now.
- i am excited about some new endeavours for 2010, and that includes advertising with www.everythingwedding.ca . i never really wanted to advertise with anyone, since i am a firm believer in word of mouth, but is such a good opportunity! YAY!
- i wish i could wear my Croc slippers everywhere i go, but i don't want to be judged by my footwear! oh, who am i kidding? i wear crazy shoes all the time, so why should i stop now!
that's the world according to me :)
what's a post without a photo?
it's my niece giving her baby a kiss!
HAHAHA!!!
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124
Engagement sessions are FUN!!!!
There is something exciting about getting to know my wedding clients on a deeper level, and nothing gets people to open up more, than to get them out in the snow!
Actually, since I'm a talker and i love hearing about what makes people tick, i don't really need a snow storm or anything else. One of the things that i adore about being a wedding photographer, is that i get to meet so many wonderful people.
If you are a potential bride or groom, and you are reading this post, please note that i don't like to talk about the weather, the stock market, or politics. Fluff conversations are not my thing, because i love to hear about where you grew up, how long you've been dating, how the proposal took place, and i especially want to hear all the gory details about your wedding! I want to hear about your wedding dress, the awesome bridesmaid's dresses, the gorgeous invitations and your honeymoon plans!
i like to be open, honest and real.
it's just me, and i can't change.
i guess that's why i adore engagement sessions so much. Engagement sessions are relaxed, fun, and a good time for me (as a wedding photographer) to get to know my clients a bit better. It's tough to talk on a wedding day, for obvious reasons, so during an engagement session, feel free to talk away!!
laugh, laugh, and laugh some more, and if you have time, nail your beloved with a snowball!
Rob and Leslie are getting married in April , at Willistead Manor (here in Windsor), and i have the honour of being their wedding photographer. i have heard a rumour that there might be muscle cars at this wedding, and i'm hoping that the rumours are true!!
oh, and i have a special place in my heart for Leslie, and it has nothing to do with photography.
as a special treat to my 2010 clients, this year i made each of my couples a homemade treat. i LOVE making candy at Christmas, and this year i made a few of my favourite sugary treats and mailed some off to each couple. Leslie and Rob ended up with some of my pralines, and i got the most wonderful compliment from Leslie.
Leslie grew up in the south, and she swears that my pralines are as good as any southerner can make!
yep, i am definitely tickled with that kind of compliment.
anyways, here are a few of the highlights from the day
isn't she GORGEOUS?!!
Julie :
Beautiful images Michele!
I love them all, but especially 10, 11 & 12!
What fun you all had!
(01.01.10)
Pamela:
Absolutely beautiful.
(01.02.10)
Ronni Haslett:
I love all of these! I haven't seen someone rock an engagement in the snow! You did a fabulous job!
(01.11.10)
Seattle Wedding Photographer Kirk Mastin:
I love these engagement images. What a great couple and a fun session. Looks cold though. They are good sports!
(01.18.10)
Sandi:
Love these! What wonderful pictures to remember this season of their lives together!
(01.18.10)
Knoxville Wedding Photographer:
I really like the ones that were next to the old, broken down building. The color in the bricks and in the siding really pop in the snow. Nice!
(01.24.10)
The Prague Wedding Photographer Kurt Vinion:
Wow! Beautiful images Michele! I am sure the clients are quite pleased!
(01.25.10)
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94
I'd love to hear from you, so please click HERE to get in touch. I look forward to hearing more about your wedding day plans and details.
You have just arrived at my blog, and I welcome you!
This blog is just a place where I write about my journey as a wedding photographer, as a mother, wife and friend.
I am an illustrative wedding photographer, located just outside Windsor Ontario. I have a huge love of photojournalism, black and white photography, and weddings that make me cry! I don't like the ordinary, I love being different, and I put my heart and soul into everything I do.
My kids are my greatest treasure and my hubby my greatest love.
I feel that this quote summarizes me and my outlook on business....
"Always hold on to the truth. Don't let others sway your heart. Don't compromise yourself for the sake of temporal groovyness. Be Deeply Funky. Be separate from the crowd that's awash with normality, by standing on a firm foundation. Never waver in your love or faith ...." - John Fluevog.
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