I woke up this morning to the sun shining in my window and the birds chirping... and  instead of jumping out of bed running to the gym and starting my day... I stayed.. right there... and started reading a new favorite book... "Wedding Photography From the Heart"...

Now this book instantly grabbed me for two reasons... one... its my philosophy on life...I TRY to make it my goal to live and WORK "from the heart" (be it dancing at home or writing on my blog) ... so the title was perfect for me... and two... it's written by my favorite wedding photographer.. a man I greatly respect and admire.

First... a little about its author... Joe Buissink seems to do everything "from the heart"... his lectures, his photography, his philanthropic work... and the love he has for his family shines through in everything he does.  He is a man who openly shares his knowledge with the photography world without an ego or an agenda except to make this industry and the people in it better!!

So this book.... is inspiring to say the least... it just reaffirms what my goal has always been... to stop focusing so much on creating a perfect moment with the right lighting, background, pose, etc  . . but instead to wait and feel when that perfect moment arrives in front of me...  natural and real true emotion...  and really... how can I shoot from the heart if I don't know the hearts of my couples... which means we  become friends... and plus then its not work for me... its me getting to attend a friends' big party... and who doesn't like parties!!


A few quotes from the book:

I just finished the Mackinac wedding Expo weekend yesterday.. and it was soooo much fun!!!

I've been fighting off a bit of a cold... so to be honest was kind of dreading last night... I was a little nervous I would not be able to talk to anyone.. and that I would just sit in the corner and hide...  well NOPE!!  There were soo many cool brides and grooms... and parents... and grandparents... etc.  I swear I never stopped laughing!!  How often does an expo .. talking to strangers... make you laugh. 

Mission Point  (and Zoe!!!) did such an amazing job for the closing night event. It was a lovely dinner party with Dancehall Dj's  (James & Amy) playing the tunes...  Kim & Lisa from Bella e Dolce providing yummy cake... and Jay at Webers doing absolutely gorgeous centerpieces...

And a very special thank you and props to Mary and Chris with the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau for organizing and hosting the whole weekend... it is SUCH an awesome event!! 

I can't stress how much fun it was... I even forgot I had a cold!!!!

To all you brides out there who made it... THANKS!!  You really did MAKE the whole weekend.  I hope to hear from some of you...  feel free to email or call me anytime with any questions...

and by  the way ..LEAVE A COMMENT HERE ... (I was shocked to see how many of you actually follow my blog... thats awesome... thanks!!)

Have a great week!  I'll be MIA for a bit...  my computer is being shipping away tomorrow... and I'll be heading back west to my sunny Cali on Friday!!  yeah ... time to go home .. just before the snow hits!!

Love,
A

Okay... so they've been engaged for a while now.. BUT... last week I finally got a chance to meet them and do an AWESOMELY fun engagement shoot around the island...  we met at the coffee shop... I handed them my tandem bike ... and away we went..

It seriously may have been the most fun I have ever had with an engagement shoot.  We biked up around Mission Point (where their wedding will be in August), up the East Bluff, around the fort, on the dock...  soooo much fun.  A tour of the island on the back of a tandem... I had such a blast (I think they did too)... excpet of course when we decided to bike up Mission hill... pheeewww... this girl needs to get her bike legs back.

I really hope to do a lot more engagement shoots on the island... it is such a great way to get compfortable with the camera, see the island from a different view, and get pics in a completely relaxed environment!! ... 

**In fact... I am going to offer $100 off any engagement (casual couples shoot if happens after the wedding), for any couple that already has a package with me.. just send me an email.**

Love,
A

My favorite professor in college gave me a mini assignment years and years ago.. he knew I was getting pretty serious about photography and came up to me one day after class.. .handed me a book and said... read chapter 11...  (and then said... "I'm serious... just that chapter... you can do it" ... he knew I was a slacker when it came to finishing reading assignments).  In this chapter a professional photographer was so excited to be on a rare whaling expedition, they'd spent hours on the water, waiting to just catch one glance of this rare and beautiful sight... well, just as the whale was starting to appear this photographer went for his camera... messed with his settings, got everything perfect... and had MISSED THE MOMENT... not only as an image but in his life.  This story has stuck with me ...as a photographer I  find myself sometimes missing moments in life while they are happening because I am trying to "capture" it... its a lesson I think all photogs should take to heart...  what's more important shooting the moment.. or living the moment.. its up to each of us to make a conscious decision...

I tell you this little story because last night... the 4th of July, I'm on an amazing boat (the Mackinac Breeze) in the straights of Mackinac.. just yards away from the fireworks... a most surreal and beautiful moment.. I, then of course... naturally went to grab my camera... but I stopped.. and decided NO this is a moment I want to remember in my mind and completely enjoy it... and I must say it was THE MOST amazing and beautiful display of fireworks I have ever seen!!  All of my senses were engulfed by the awe of what was taking place around me...

Below is a quote I wear on a beautiful bracelet (thanks Kuz :)  every time I shoot a wedding...  may you all take this to heart and live every moment fully!!

"Teach us...that we may feel the importance of every day and every hour as it passes" (Jane Austen)...

BUT.. I won't leave you hangin'... I did shoot off a few pics before the show began...

 So...  there are a few pics..  this is "Duck, quack quack" ... heir to the Chief of Mackinac who was just inducted into the Smithsonian for his Native American walking sticks (He is definitely an Islander through and through).  He kicked off the fireworks from the back of the firetruck (a sight not seen too often on the island with no cars)...  again.. no fireworks... maybe next year!

Happy Holiday!
Love,
A

Earlier this week I went into my friend Nicole's AMAZING store on Mackinac LITTLE LUXURIES of MACKINAC ... and I am soooo not exaggerating...  its awesome...  my new favorite place to buy the perfect gift for anyone... girls, guys, brides, mothers, and even your little dog too.

She even carries my favorite product line AMBRE along  with tons of good quality lotions, candles, soaps, ... and some pretty darn cool postcards too (okay... they are mine... I'm a bit biased)... wink wink

Seriously if you are on the island you MUST check this place out...

AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!  Labor Day weekend Sept 5th I am going to be having a show with all my favorite Mackinac photographs... so come by the store (more details to come)

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

May your weekend be filled with all sorts of great fireworks!!

Love,
A