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The new digital collage type coffee table books are so popular right now – we are starting to offer the Graphi Studio line form Italy -  Book with us this summer and if you choose this option,  I am offering 2 FREE small 4×5 or 4×4 “clone” albums when you order the large album. These are Exact duplicates of the primary album, printed in the Digital Offset Smooth Paper (4 color press) with Regular Continuous Page binding and a  personalized cover jacket.  FOr example, the 10×10 or 10×13 size album, with 20 sides, the base price is only $4400 – this also includes about 1000 – 1200 proofs in the magazine style preview albums and 9 hours of coverage. (Pricing will vary depending on the time, Proofing options etc)  Take a look on some of the albums we have designed like this on the “albums” section of our website. (Digital albums from Art Leather will have comparable specials)

Pat and Steve’s grand daughter Sherry Ann was visiting in July and spent some time with us for summer family fun. This is Fort Fraser playground by Julie – the 3 cousins had lots of fun playing together and I love being with my grandsons and family.  I love playing witht he camera even in normal settings – what better way to preserve the memories.

I love sitting on my swing in my backyard to relax- I’ll bring out my meals, and even work sometimes. I love to watch the birds, squirrels, rabbits, etc scramble around – it’s amazing how much “nature” abounds so close to the big city.  Last summer I was watching a yellow parakeet play around with the regular sparrows – they were really accepting him as one of their own.  This summer he’s still out there – doing great -  he sure stands out – as pretty as he is but he sure is surviving.  He’s taken up company with what I was told was actually a wren – also brightly colored so probably another male.  I’ve named them and Peppi and Sammie (the martin type birdhouses are actually in my neighbor – “Sam’s” yard). These 2 buddies are always together and seem to be having a lot of fun…  I couldn’t help but bring out my camera and long lens….

Last Sunday we photographed Amy and Ken’s engagement session at the beautiful Henry Ford Estate. Their wedding will be at the beginning of September.  We had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the grounds.  We took way too many shots  as usual – but really ended up with some great images. I played with some special effects on a few – especially the “pencil” and soft pastel rendering. Lots of great black and white and sepia also.

Last week Julie and I were honored to be asked to take some photography for the new brochure they are working on for the Henry Ford Estate.  We already have quite a few images in the Hawthorn Publication they give out for wedding and other corporate events – but this is for the Estate itself. We had a lot of fun and hope some of our images make it into the brochure.

If you’ve never taken one of their tours – you really should – we have such a historic landmark here – this is where Henry Ford spent the latter part of his life – the history of the building and its people  is so fascinating and  interesting. Did you know he had a one lane bowling alley, and a tunnell to lead to the power house and 15 car garage with a turntable.  Edison and Firestone were friends and frequent guests. The grounds are a great place for relaxing walks.

The “Poolroom” is open for lunches during the week – we certainly enjoyed our delicious lunch! 

We really love working here for weddings – but we also really love and appreciate the historical significance.  I used to be a guide at Greenfield Village many years ago – as a college student during the summers.

We have been working hard on updated some sections of the main web site.  Check out the "Albums" section – I added more album desisgns with Album Showcase Slide shows to music – More are coming – let me know what you think.

We added a whole new "Testimonial" menu tab.  This new section showcases some of the great heartfelt testimonials we have gotten from our couples – along with their images.  So Read what Jackie – our "Sunflower Wedding bride"  had to say about working with us and Ericka and Matt's raving revue – along with many other recent comments.  Check it out!! 

Julie is working hard on updating the "As Published" section – we have been so fortunate to be published in the local and national bridal magazines and this will soon be updated with our more recent published work! 

Last weekend I helped my brother Gunther photograph a family wedding in Muskegon.  His wife’s Sandy’s niece Heather was getting married and their daughter Candice was her maid of Honor.  It was a very nice small intimate wedding at a gazebo and Meeting House in a nearby park. It was finished before 9pm, so I was thrilled when they agreed to take some more romantics on the beach on Lake Michigan close by.  The Muskegon Lighthouse, dunes, and spectacular sunset were awesome.  I love lighthouses so I was in my glory.

Gunther did the editing and put some the best of their images on his site www.gunagraphics.com    – check out his site.  I now have all their edited proofs on the proofing section of our site – use their new last name as a password. 

After the wedding Gunther Sandy and I stayed at a beautiful Victorian Bed and Breakfast in Saugatuck and then enjoyed the next day in this quaint and artsy town.  They had stopped at the Fred Meyers Gardens by Grand Rapids on the way in – I used one of Gunthers close up flower images as a background here.

I wish you all a very happy Fourth of July – hope you're enjoying it. I had my grandsons here and after going out to eat joined more family at our favorite spot to watch the Clawson fireworks – they were really very good this year 

On Sunday June 25th we photographed the beautiful and very personal wedding of Jennifer and Richard.  Jen worked with us helping Julie edit, so she was like one of our own. They has a very touching ceremony at the  Christ Community Church in Roseville and a great reception at the beautiful Blossom Heath Inn on Jefferson.  We had some great romantics outside – despite the fish flies that we’re not as used to ourselves.

My wedding with Jane and Chris was great – I worked with my brother Gunther; Shawn joined as at the house and church, and Julie joined us after her wedding was done,  at the church.  Everything was gorgeous and I loved working for a great family that I already knew so well from Susan and Nick's wedding a few years earlier.

The LuigiBruni salon in Birmingham was a bustling, busy "happening" place – the atmosphere, music, and friendly people really impressed me.  Luigi, one of the owners was right there working with everyone and the girls – Jane and Susan and their mom Arlene loved the service and looked terrific. That was fun!

Jane and Chris saw each other at the house and we had some time for some great romantics and family group photos before heading to The Academy of the Sacred Heart Church for a beautiful ceremony.

The reception at the Townsend was magnificent and lots of fun. 

The weekend of the24th and 25th was fantastic, very busy and productive. Julie and Brian photographed Cindy and Ken for their morning wedding at the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn – one of our very favorite places- the Mansion and grounds  are so  beautiful. They  went on to have fun hopping around Detroit for a fun "Urban Shoot".  We always love that as much as much as they do!

I photographed Jane and Chris that same day with my brother Gunther.  I started out at the eclectic "luigibruini" hair and makeup salon in Birmingham (what a fun place) with the girls.  I had photographed her sister Susan a few years earlier so felt so very much at home. Shawn and Gunther joined us at the parents home and then we had a beautiful ceremony at "The Academy of the Sacred Heart" in W. Bloomfield.  The reception at the "Townsend" was elegant and fantastic.  Julie joined us at the church and stayed with us for the rest of the day – (Shawn went home after the end of the ceremony) That made a long day for all of us – especially Julie – almost 17 hours in total – She's awesome!

Sunday Julie, Brian and I photographed another wedding for Jennifer and Rich.  Jennifer worked with us last year helping Julie edit – so she was like one of our own.  A very personal touching ceremony at the  Christ Community Church in Roseville and a great reception at the beautiful Blossom Heath Inn on Jefferson.  We had some great romantics outside – despite the fish flies that we're not as used to ourselves.

Congratulations to all – we will be featuring them all on the blog – sorry it has taken us a while to get the collages up – we average over 2000 images at a wedding – so that's a lot of images to go through!