Delia!!

Wedding | Lauren & Bill

2009-10-25T19:54:00.008-04:00

Just a very quickie post - lots to do! This is going to be really short.

Lauren and Bill got married yesterday and these were the last shots of the night.

They had sooo much patience with me, and I know I was such a pain in the butt!!

I hope you guys love these images as much as I do.

Hot Stuff, Lauren!!! Hot.

Wedding | Rings

2009-10-09T23:21:00.003-04:00

I think I just took my favorite ring shot a few hours ago!

Of course it helps that the ring is absolutely amazing....

Windsor Symphony - Brass Quintet

2009-09-25T23:34:00.006-04:00

Oops. Sorry I forgot to post these. I went to a summer concert by the Totally Awesome Windsor Symphony Brass Quintet.

Any of you who are thinking, "Ewwwwww, loud brass players make soooo much noise," I gotta tell you. They were absolutely fabulous. These guys aren't your high school band memories. These are your super-professionals, and when they play together, they create this beautiful, almost ethereal sound. They make the clouds part and the sun shine.

Yeah. I used to hate brass, too. But I changed my mind once I heard this amazing trumpeter. I never knew a trumpet could have such a voice-like quality and express so much emotion. It's like the world stops when he plays. The guy in the front row, on the right. Not to say the others aren't as cool as he is. They are ALL awesome, but nobody can make a trumpet sing like him.

YEAH, I'M BIASED. WHAT!?!?!

(Ahahhahahhaha.....)

Deliaaaaaaa Where Are You?

2009-09-04T22:59:00.005-04:00

Sorry, guys. I got buried. I'm trying to make my way out.

You know how you start something, then something else comes up, so you start the 2nd thing, then a 3rd thing comes up, so you start the 3rd thing... before you know it, you have fifty million things and none of them are done. This is where I am.

I'm feeling scatterbrained. Sooo frustrating. I'm digging out. I have to make a list!! Sorry, guys!! Thank you for your patience.

Awww Moment of the Day: Meet Chip. Chip lives in a hole in my backyard.

Wedding | Leah & Pete

2009-08-11T04:29:00.006-04:00

Do they look happy or what??

Leah and Pete were married at the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Michigan. These two are sooo incredibly happy together! They made me smile all day long.

Leah has a very clean, elegant look - but with a twist of Very Cool. Check out her headpiece.

She was surrounded by these two precious flowergirls...

... and her four closest friends were only interested in the mirror!!!

Hahaha!!! Bare feet!!!

I'm kidding, of course. It was obvious that these girls have been through some special times together.

I was doing double duty. I was the Photographer and the Note Delivery Chicka.

Leah had written a special note to her groom, for him to read before their ceremony.

In case you can't see it, the front of the card says:

"The truth is, I would rather do nothing with you, than something with anybody else."

I didn't read the inside -- I'm nosy, but some privacy is needed too -- even though the note didn't invoke any tears, Pete was smiling his sweet smile the whole time.

I think I'm getting mushy in my old age.

Ceremonies are starting to make my heart do the mush.

I think she's happy!!

AND totally gorgeous.

Off for a realllllllly fast portrait session. Reallllllly fast.

I'm in love with this one. I'm thinking poster size.

Since it was an early wedding, the reception was a nice luncheon at Daryl's, just down the street.

They had a Family Tree diagram - really cute idea.

Yummmmmm Blueberries!!!

And then I took two more favorite pictures:

I love this image. Look how full of life he is!

A bright smile and a glint in your eye will take you far!

Teeheehee!!!

Congratulations, Leah and Pete!! Thank you for letting me share in your wedding day! You two are exactly why I love weddings... I love people in love. It amazes me how much your love shows to the outside world. Love is so intimate and personal, yet it just pours out of you like... Niagara Falls!! I know you guys are in for an exciting time of life together... and don't forget, I want to take pictures of your six future children. ;)

Wedding | Kate & Lars

2009-07-31T21:06:00.012-04:00

I had another opportunity to shoot with Nicole Ladonne a few weeks ago at Kensington Court. She always gets such fun-loving, outgoing clients. Kate and Lars are a perfect example.

Here's Kate, right after she put on her extremely beautiful, intricate dress! She's so excited! And rightfully so!! She looked absolutely amazing.

Oh, and did you check out the shoes? Sexxxxxxxy heels!!!

So then it was time for some nice, normal portraits of the family.....

They had a very sweet and emotional ceremony. It was obvious how happy they were.

YAYYYYYYY!!!!!!

I love how warm and romantic this image is of Kate....

... but if you put it into context, it's really takes on a different meaning!

Kate and Lars are naturals for the camera. Nicole, who is a master at directing couples, just put them in a beautiful setting and look what happened. Just gorgeous.

Yummmmm.

These two moved effortlessly through their first dance.

Then they showed their stuff and had fun! I love dancing-faces!!!

Watching from the sidelines.

All together now: Awwwwwwwwwww!!!

Right before we were done for the night, Nicole scouted some great spots and these two images are definitely some of my favorites. Sooo romantic and beautiful.

Congratulations Kate and Lars! Thank you, Nicole! :)

Engagement | Meredith & Matt

2009-07-22T02:18:00.014-04:00

Ahhhhh.... Sparty. As we all know, Sparty is the well-loved statue of the Michigan State mascot.

Meredith and Matt found each other while they were students. Since I went to the Other College, and they're getting married at MSU, they were kind enough to show me around campus for a day. It was full of lush, green, beautiful trees... and shrubs... and grass and flowers and birds and bees, etc, etc, etc. It was like being at a well-landscaped park.

Back to the crazy good-looking couple.

Matt is going to be famous some day... so you'd better grab this offer while it lasts!!

... although I bet Meredith would have some words for you, if you tried.

She *looks* sweet, but there's definitely some spice.

This is where they first met, in the Department of Theatre. I think that's where they learned the facial-muscle-stretching-loosening -- what exactly are they doing?

Has anyone else noticed how airbrushed they look? I didn't do it. They both just have amazingly smooth, beautiful skin.

Meredith & Matt are my kind of people. Artsy and smart. Fun and practical. Crazy and real. Do you know how hard it is to find people like this??

If these two are your friends, consider yourself lucky.

I thought we were done, but then what did this fun-loving couple do?

Heyyyyyyyy.... Watch that hand!!!

FEET!! Meredith told me NOT to take a picture of her FEET!!

I think of this footprint like it's a step into the future... the very near future...

I'm looking forward to seeing you guys again REALLY soon! Excitement Time!!

Coma Day

2009-07-06T00:43:00.002-04:00

Coma Day: A day where all your muscles ache, you can hardly move, your brain is totally fried, you hibernate for 14 hours and don't remember anything for the rest of the day.

This July 4th weekend, I shot my very first multi-day Indian wedding with the famous Anne Ruthmann, and the day after we were done, I was Out. Done. Tired. Sore. Ouch. Coma Day.

I had a damned good time, though. It was a *PARTY* and the energy of everyone was sky-high.

I'd tell you all about it, but..... I need to..... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

Engagement | Lauren & Bill

2009-06-15T01:24:00.001-04:00

Lauren and Bill are such a sweet couple. They're getting married this fall and to be honest, they look like it -- Kissy Kissy Smoochie Smoochie -- gotta love all that snuggling!

I love Lauren's hair here. I know it's messy, but it's so cute. I hope she doesn't hate me for posting it.

I like the second one here because of the way Bill's looking at his bride-to-be.

Yup, he's in loooove!

A quiet corner for some more kisses...

My artsy side got a hold of me for this next series of black and whites.

But it's hard to keep thinking black and white when Lauren has gorgeous-beautiful eyes. The color of her eyes is so striking because it's such a pure, clear blue. Beauty!!

These guys are good sports. They came out to Ann Arbor and I dragged them alllllll over. We went to the UofM Central Campus, North Campus - we trekked up and down, hills and stairs, around in circles, getting lost (oops) and they put up with me through all of it! Here's the tuckered out couple, all relaxed and happy to be going home. I'm sorry for keeping you guys out so long :)

Thanks for coming out to see me and I'm super excited to see you guys again for the big day! Yayyy!!

Congrats on your engagement and on your love!!

Wedding | Molly & Robert

2009-06-13T22:00:00.030-04:00

I was so happy to shoot with Nicole Ladonne again so soon! Nicole is an awesome photographer, an awesome person, an awesome director, an awesome inspiration.

She's cool. I like her. I'm glad she likes me!! (I think she likes me...)

Molly & Robert were married at St. Rene Goupil Parish in Sterling Heights.

A roller-skating rink was *definitely* a unique idea!!

I was immediately transported back to the 80's and childhood birthday parties.

When Nicole and I arrived at The Gazebo for their reception, we were greeted with these brightly-colored yummies! It was soooo hard to keep my greedy fingers away from them!!

I love boys... this one was fun.

An artsy one...

And a fun one...

And my proof pic that I shoot with Famous People... Hi Nicole!! Thank you!!!

Wedding | Anna & Loren

2009-06-07T23:21:00.018-04:00

I was fortunate enough to meet another very awesome photographer who is worthy of admiration. Nicole Ladonne is SO easy to get along with, it's no wonder why everyone loves her. When she asked if I could shoot with her, I jumped at the chance.

Anna and Loren were married on a beautiful Monday afternoon.

Monday, you say? Hey, why not... I got married on a Thursday :)

Anna has a beautiful cat - very striking eyes.

They were married at St. Mary's Student Parish in downtown Ann Arbor.

After the ceremony, we went for a walk around the UM Campus and back to Kerrytown. I grabbed some extra portraits from different angles, and a couple silly candids. Nicole is a master at directing couples and picking spots.

I always have to have some sort of proof when I say that I get to shoot with Famous People.

Nicole, thanks for bringing me along :)

Anna and Loren, best wishes for a very happy future!

Engagement | Leah & Pete

2009-05-15T01:48:00.017-04:00

Aren't they cute???

Leah and Pete are one of the cutest couples on the planet. Honest-to-Goodness Cuteness is all right here. They're the perfect example of why I love weddings -- they are the definition of Love and Happiness! You can literally feel the spark between them... of course, the constant smiles is an easy giveaway, too!

This sweet couple will be getting married at the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Michigan - Leah's hometown. I was lucky enough to be invited to her home to shoot these beautiful pictures of them. It wasn't "springtime" yet, but it really was quite perfect anyway. Lots of trees and textures make for some nice pics! Mmmmmmm... kissy, kissy...

I used to be a very nerdy math geek. I postulate:

1 Very Happy Leah + 1 Very Happy Pete = 1 1 Very Very Happy Happy Leah Pete.

Yes???

Apparently there's a very good reason I went into photography and music instead.

(I'll try not to let my geeky personality show through too often.)

There was a little park/recreation center right around the corner, so we took a little ride in Leah's shiny new car! Yay!

Leah and Pete are practically high school sweethearts. They were both counselors at camp, right before they went off to college. So they *knew* that there was going to be a bit of rivalry between them! They're so cute, look at those ewww-hmmph-whaaa-canyoubelieeve-looks they're giving each other!

'Tis okay!! They still do lots of kissing. I have this habit of asking couples to kiss a lot.

What can I say... I like kisses!! What better way to show your love than through your kisses?

Yayyy!! Thanks for being soo awesome! You guys really show your love for each other.

I love your smiles, I love your connections, I love your sparks, I love your energy!!

I can't wait for your big day!!

Engagement | Maya & Clint

2009-04-22T21:30:00.039-04:00

Maya and Clint are getting married in September and they picked a very popular, super awesome, amazing photographer ... (no... not me) ... The Great Anne Ruthmann!!! Yayy!!! Anne has been a great friend and mentor for me. I pretty much learned the whole wedding photography thing from her. She made herself and is hugely successful - something that everyone should admire. Another thing that is special about Anne that no one can touch is her wonderful personality, the extra good-at-heart love that she has for everyone. And she attracts such nice people as her clients - this is a talent that I definitely want to have. I think I'm doing pretty well at it so far... I hope it continues!

But - back on track. Maya and Clint had an Indian engagement ceremony at a friend's house to celebrate the joining of their families, and I covered it for Anne, since she couldn't be here.

I am convinced that Maya is one of the sweetest people in the entire world. Every time she sends me an email, she makes me Awwwww. Even when I'm crabby!!

Very sweet, very cute, very graceful and very *patient* :)

She was all dressed up and stunning! She wore this rich, vibrant, red outfit from India which was very sparkly. There were so many details, I had a hard time getting it all. Needless to say, she looked amazing!!

Here she is, grooming her future hubby, Clint. Now, we all groom our men, but it's extra cute during the engagement time, isn't it?

I don't think he minds.

This is the look that I give my brother just before a tickle fight.

Maya and her family are much more civilized...

On to the actual ceremony - Maya explained to me that it was a short ceremony where the parents do a Tikka (red powdery stain) on their foreheads and give fruits, sweets, or other gifts to the couple. They also receive blessings from God and accept each other into their families.

They really got each other with the Tikka... even on Maya's nose! LOL!

So beautiful and graceful. Just wow! (Love the toes.)

I feel silly for not getting any nice portraits of Maya and Clint before they did any Tikka! I always thought it was just a tiny little red dot... I was wrong. In any case, they're a beautiful couple, they were made for each other. They're both very sweet, very patient, very kind.

Love is, Love is.... Love is Maya and Clint.

Thank you for letting me come and enjoy your engagement ceremony! Thank you for including me, giving me a bangle, and feeding me (yum)! But most of all, I want to thank you for showing up in my life. I don't want to get all mushy on ya, but it touches me to know that there are such sweet and kind people out there. You really are a bright spark of light and love, and it warms my heart to know that people are nice just because that's how they are, or that's how they choose to be, and... uh oh... I'm gonna go sniffle now... oh nooooo.... quick!!! Hugs for everyone!!!

Where's Delia?

2009-04-19T00:18:00.009-04:00

I know. It's been a long, long time. I've been in quite a funk. I had a lot of things bothering me and getting me down about myself, my life and my future. I'm a pretty private person, so usually when there's no news, it's bad news. I just bottle it up and bury it as far as I can... but obviously, you can't have too many bottles cluttering up your life... there's not enough room for it all.

Soooo? I did some cleaning up. There are a few bottles left, but I am happy to report that I am on the upswing of things. I'm very happy with where I am today and I'm excited to see where I go from here. I do have to apologize to all the people who have been waiting for me to get things done. I am more sorry than I can say. I'll be blogging this week... I am not going to sleep!!

To make this post somewhat wedding-related, I also want to thank my hubby, who has been so loving, helpful, and supportive - I don't know what I would do without him.

Marriage is awesome -- I highly recommend it!!

Wedding | Mary & Jarod

2008-12-13T02:43:00.031-05:00

Mary is soooooo ridiculously beautiful. She has this dark, exotic beauty about her... and she's so friendly and sincere, I would bet that she has about a million best friends (I wanna be one). I have no doubt that she's one of the most loyal, loving people in the entire world!! Jarod is a lucky one.

Absolute Perfection! Too bad boys, she's off the market now.

Look at these lovebirds!! They're SUCH a gorgeous couple. I've been playing with my black and whites because they're so perfect for that timeless, classy look.

They were married at Mother of God Church in Southfield, Michigan. Stained glass windows, intricate chandeliers, an amazing space.

Who's this goofball??? Pay attention!!

When Mary first contacted me about her wedding, she said it would be an informal, backyard ceremony and reception with just a few family and friends. I have to say that there was a slight change of plans!! This is the entrance to their reception hall:

Holy Cake, Batman!!

... and the little backyard reception had just a few friends and family...

I love this image of Mary. How can you be hot and cute at the same time?

And her dad is soooo charming. He's as lovable as Mary is! He made me laugh and put me completely at ease right away. He's a fun-loving guy who likes to have a good time!

Mary and Jarod's first dance was so romantic -- the atmosphere, their expressions, the love.

Congrats, Mary & Jarod! Thanks for letting me in on your wedding day!! You're obviously a great pair, and the connection between you is so sweet, it makes me smile just thinking of you.

Hugs to you and your whole family!

Portrait Session | Paul

2008-11-27T02:28:00.023-05:00

One of the best things in life is your friends.

You know when you meet someone, and you just KNOW that they're a good person? Paul is one of those people. He's all goodness. You can trust him. Pretty cool!!

When Paul asked me to take a few portraits of him so he could "shamelessly promote" himself, I was thrilled to help out. He has such a cool, clean look. And - of course - that violin thing.

(I'm a violinist-geek type too.)

I've been loving the classic black-and-whites these days, but just in case anyone thinks I always do the same thing and get stuck in a rut... I don't!! I have crazy ideas, too. See??

Hmmm... maybe not the best for your professional photos, but fun anyway!! Thanks for trusting me with your image, thanks for letting me pick your brain, and above all, thanks for being a friend.

(Hi Liz!!!)

Wedding | Lisa & Gabe

2008-11-10T15:25:00.068-05:00

I was lucky enough to have Jen from JoNa Photography ask me to shoot with her again. I absolutely *love* Jen and I wish I could work with her *every* weekend (not-so-subtle HINT)!

When we first met Lisa, I was WOWed by her. Tall, blonde, and beautiful!

One of the things I love about weddings is the funny stuff that happens when nobody's looking... except me... HA!!

Lisa and Gabe are such a sweet couple. They were so smiley and cuddly... it was like a fairy tale with the insane amount of happiness that was going on. They were literally glued together for all of their portrait session!

Usually, I get some of the biggest smiles during the recessional. But Lisa and Gabe? This is right at the beginning of the ceremony. Look at them - Happy, Happy, Happy!!

They spoke their own vows, which were so personal and heartfelt, it made me sniffle and want to snuggle! (I didn't think Jen was up for snuggling me, so I just took pictures.)

This little girl was looking at me... of course, I got in her way to make sure she did. What a cutie!

Definitely related, somehow.

Time to let it loose!!

They got everyone into it...

A late night portrait outside. Can you feel the love??

Congrats, Lisa and Gabe! Thank you for letting me in on your wedding day :)

And thank you, Jen, for being so incredibly amazing... AGAIN. I love you!! We need to hang out more!!

I am KILLING Mary!!

2008-10-31T21:34:00.009-04:00

That's right. She said that I am KILLING her!!! I normally don't post anything until I'm good and ready, but I'm going to let Mary win... a little. Here's a quick peek at Mary and Jarod in all their lovebirdie-hotness:

Wedding | Maureen & Glenn

2008-10-07T02:40:00.020-04:00

Maureen and Glenn had gotten married up north this past summer, and had a wedding blessing and reception with their friends and family at the Essex Golf Course. Maureen is quite possibly one of the happiest girls I have ever met. She was so full of smiles and giggles and was such a fun person to be around! I felt like I've known her forever. The boy is a lucky one!

I only had two hours with them, so we did some quick photos at Jackson Park before running off to the reception.

Isn't she beautiful?

The Proud Mommy is always closeby.... :)

I'm also really close with my mom, so I'm always trying to get tons of mother/daughter images. (HI MOM!!)

I turned around and spotted another two of my favorite models of the evening..... you'll see why in a bit...

A couple more details before running off to their reception.

When we arrived, the cake called to me. Deliaaa.... Deliaaaa.... Come hereeeeeeeee.... It was so pretty, and it smelled like YUM!!

I didn't have any (boo hoo), but the drinks looked pretty tasty too. Can you see Maureen's name etched in her glass?

I love kids, you can count on lots of kid photos. This little girl wasn't so sure about me, but she warmed up eventually.

Remember my two other favorite models of the evening? Look at these two.... they sure made me laugh!!

Possibly one of my favorite flower shots.

When I took this image, I had no idea that the second message of this guestbook would foreshadow anything!

Congratulations Maureen and Glenn! Thanks for letting me in on your celebrations... and...

ROCK ON!!!

Senior Session | Brian

2008-09-15T23:33:00.017-04:00

Last month, I was lucky enough to do a senior portrait session with one of my students, Brian. I've known him for about four years now, and he's always been one of my favorites (not that I play favorites or anything). He's really smart, athletic, and has a great personality too. He's always been a bit quiet and reserved, but he has that shine of life in his eye. I know that as he goes off to college, his inner self will come out with some serious strength. He is going to wow people.

He has these amazing colored eyes: hazel, brown and green, all in one.

I love the warm, golden light of early evening.

This is the last shot that I took, which also happens to be my favorite. He just looks so relaxed and happy.

I have a big fault when it comes to my students... I get really attached to them. It's pretty sad when they grow up and leave. Well, not really, since they go on to bigger and better things, but... *sniff* *sniff* I will miss Brian.

But, I have another whole year to torture the poor guy before he escapes....

Spontaneous Photography

2008-08-19T19:45:00.017-04:00

I just took these images in my backyard this evening, spur of the moment. Usually I plan things, but I just grabbed my camera and snapped some photos for fun. I thought they came out pretty nicely. I hope you like them too!

Here are some wildflowers that my sweetie husband planted back in June.

This is a Mexican Heather that we found at Downtown Home and Garden in Ann Arbor. It's a really cute, bushy little plant. One of my favorites.

And this, believe it or not, is asparagus!! I love the color on this one.

And let's not forget the Tomato Explosion that happened this week.

Cinderella

2008-08-02T23:11:00.014-04:00

I know, I know. You want to meet my other little furry friends... but Cindy happens to be the only one who doesn't mind being photographed. She was hanging out with me today, just laying around and relaxing (lucky bunny)...

Then she threatened to eat me!!!!!

Don't be silly, she was just yawning. :)

Anne & Delia on fire!!

2008-07-13T17:37:00.018-04:00

Over the July 4th weekend, I ran away with Anne Ruthmann to Rock Falls, Illinois. We stayed in a little motel together.... it would have been totally romantic if it weren't for that "work" part of it all!! Ah well. Good thing that I have tons of fun while working with Anne. :)

Oh, and one more thing??? Anne says I'm her favorite!! *brag* *brag* *brag*

Wedding | Amy & Shawn

2008-06-30T18:11:00.050-04:00

Last Saturday, I shot a wedding with Jen Dery of JoNa Photography. I had sooo much fun with her! Jen is an awesome photographer, she whipped off images quickly and flawlessly, capturing the spirit and emotion of the day, all while being a Totally Cool Chick.

When Jen and I met Amy at her parent's house, I was struck by how crazy beautiful she was! Her eyes, her dress, her hair, her jewelry... she was absolutely gorgeous! She filled every room with sweetness and warmth, and I literally stalked her the whole day. I had a good excuse, though :)

Shawn and Amy exiting the church. Gotta love bubbles! I should warn you now about my weakness for kid photos...

The groomsmen were definitely cooperative. (Thanks guys!)

A few candid portraits that I grabbed, and some different perspectives of Jen's shots.

I also have a weakness for sweets.

Congratulations, Amy and Shawn! Enjoy all the happy years to come.

Thank you, Jen, for being so incredibly awesome. We should definitely hang out more. :)

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz......

2008-06-25T16:54:00.023-04:00

This is one of my bunnies, Cindy. Isn't she cute?

She's sleeping peacefully by my feet as I sit here editing photos that I've been taking with Anne Ruthmann (Awesome Photographer Extraordinaire). I call her my puppy because she follows me around, begs to be petted and even plays chase.

Her full name is Cinderella. I found her on petfinder.org almost four years ago. The humane society had already given her to the Down River Guinea Pig Haven in Taylor, Michigan. They were kind enough to take her in, though they primarily care for guinea pigs (obviously).

I met Cindy and brought her home on July 4, 2004. She was 6 months old and didn't know what carrots were! I couldn't get her to eat any normal rabbit food whatsoever. I can't imagine what she was fed in her former life. She would not eat any hay, veggies or pellets at all. She pretty much starved herself in my home until I poked her with a carrot enough times for her to get mad enough to try and grab it with her teeth and push it away. Huh... that tasted pretty good... is that edible?

Anyways, she's a happy rabbit now.

First Post!

2008-06-13T01:58:00.001-04:00

This is my very first blog post EVER. I'm kind of a private person, so having a blog where anyone and everyone can read about me is a little weird. I'm sure I'll get over it someday!!!

I thought I'd say hi.

Hi!

So you'll stay tuned to learn about me and my many roles in life....