First associate wedding of the year...  this year I decided to sporadically offer associate packages for specific weekends that seemed to be busier then others... and I was stoked, blessed, just plain lucky enough to have some of my AMAZINGLY talented photography peers from around the country fly into this little island to help me out!!

So first up this year.. is Kelly Segre, this girl is awesome!! She used to focus much of her life and business on weddings but in the last couple years she had been developing an extremely successful career in commercial and boudour.  Lucky for me this gives her the flexibility to come help me out and play around with weddings...  thanks again girl you rock!!

Just a little explanation of how my associate packages work.  Basically when a couple contacts me... and I'm booked we chat... I get to know the couple and if one of my associates would work well for them.  In Sara and Jeremy's case... I instantly clicked with Sara and had to be involved in their day somehow!!  They have the most amazing love story which involved, missed flights, wrong connections.. and ultimately a long road trip out of Chicago ...  any love story having to do with airports and travel always gets me... (and gives me hope... as I do tend to spend a lot of time in airports)...

So..  once Sara and I decided that Kelly would be a great match her and I met up ... chatted a few times. Then the three of us met up and I handed the reigns over to Kelly for the day. I was still involved the whole time... only difference was Kelly was the photographer day of.  Kelly and I worked together on the post processing as to make sure the quality and style still matched with my photography.  Only... I must pay huge props to Kelly for all the extra post work she did..  awesome!  I then take a bunch of the pics and add a bit of an Andrejka twist...  so there you have it.. kind of a long explanation.

Thanks again Kelly...  if you want to check out more of Kelly's solo work check out her website HERE

Sara and Jeremy,  It has been so much fun getting to know you two.  You looked absolutely glowing in the pics... such genuine joy!!  I loved looking at the pics. Please let me know next time you are up here and we can go sit at the gatehouse again.. in the sun.

Love,
A

Last month when I was back home in Santa Barbara I was asked by my dear friends Lisa & Mike to take 1 year portraits of their little baby boy Chase.  I can't believe he is one already.

Originally we were going to go to a park... but I always love photographing families in their homes so much more. Its more natural... the baby is happy, the parents have every they need... and most importantly it captures what their lives actually look like at a time and space. 

So... Mike might kill me for saying this... but our nickname for Mike is "model mike"... well... watching the way Chase works the camera... I see the apple didn't fall far from the tree... this boy knows how to work it like Zoolander.. every time I went to put my camera away... there he was looking adorable again. Mike you've got some competition on your hands...  I just wonder if he can dance to Single Girls in the same way... hahahaha

Lisa & Mike... it was so much fun to hang out with you and be able to capture your lives with Chase. You two are such beautiful, caring and amazing parents.  The joy and love you have for each other and Chase is so clear and evident in the pics.  Can't wait to see you again very soon!

Love and miss you guys
A

 A few weeks ago I went on a little excursion around Michigan and Ohio to photograph some previous clients and their adorable families.  I just love seeing how my couples' families grow and I'm honored that they would welcome me back into their lives to capture it all again!!

First stop was Jackie & Aaron... a couple years ago I photographed their little boy Brady... well now Brady is a big brother to Chase... the newest member of the Cook family.  ..and I must say Brady is becoming quite a little charmer. We went out for sushi after the shoot and he was charming the pants off the entire staff...




Then the next day I was off to Dayton, OH to a super cute and really fun park to meet up with Jennifer & Toby (who may remember as being featured in The Knot wedding magazine a couple years ago).  I photographed their wedding on Mackinac a few years ago and now they have little Max... who just LOVED the camera. It was so great to reconnect with these two (I mean three).  They are just as lovely and fun as I remember!! 

 

Man, I may be biased but I think I have the best couples and families ever!!

Love,
A

I've only got a quick second but I wanted to post this sneak peak of Katie and Tom's wedding. 

I met with this adorable couple last year and totally clicked with them and their families...  amazing people through and through... in fact one reason I have to run is because their parents have returned to the island and I'm off to meet them at an art show...

I will definitely be writing more about this wedding and all their special additions when I post their slideshow in a little while... but for now...  hopefully the pics speak for themselves... in how cute and fun and simply adorable these two are.

(plus a side note they are the same couple I did an engagement shoot with in Chicago back in October)

Katie & Tom...  I must admit I was a little sad when your wedding was over ... but at least I know anytime I'm back in Chicago we can meet up at POPS...  ;-)  . . but no "grandma" this time :-)

Love
A

Even though its officially summer and its our third day of gloomy rain on Mackinac  ...I don't really mind.. its a great day to edit... FINALLY catch up on blogging a bit... and drink my favorite tea...

French Blue Earl Grey... from Mariage in Paris... I picked this up last spring when traveling and doing a little work in Europe.

Since I'm never quite sure when I'll make it back there I savor every minute ... the smell is amazing like spicy earl grey mixed with the sweet and floral scent of lavender and violet... mmmmmmmmmm