Absolute Photography

It's time for a Playdate!

2011-10-18T18:36:00.005-04:00

The weather is cooling off and even though our schedules were packed during the summer, they somehow seem even busier now! And we all know with the holidays coming up quickly that's not going to change any time soon.

However, this is the perfect time to schedule a Playdate Session for your little one! Between the colorful trees, the leaves on the ground, the awesome outfits you can layer together in the cooler weather -- it doesn't get any better than this!

Give us a shout today to schedule your session! :) Happy fall everyone!

~Heather

Holland, MI child portrait photographer

Evan -- [ Holland, MI Newborn Photographer]

2011-08-04T15:23:00.005-04:00

Meet little Evan!

This first shot is my favorite. This kiddo's got it all -- hair, those cheeks, those LIPS and the awesome baby rolls already. How sweet is he??

~Heather

Holland, MI Newborn Photographer

Martha & Joey -- [Holland, Mi Wedding Photographer]

2011-08-03T15:21:00.011-04:00

Only a handful of times a year do Jason and I actually get to photograph a wedding together. I wish that we could more often -- our styles compliment each other extremely well and because we are SO familiar with how the other shoots, we get a better variety of images.

Martha and Joey were married at the United Methodist church in downtown Holland and the reception was held at the Butternut Event Center. This was the first time for both of us photographing in both locations, which doesn't happen very often.

I am a huge fan of birdcage veils. I always get excited when the bride pulls one out because I know that I'm going to get some awesome shots. Martha's eyes popped with her veil -- loved it!

See?? This is why I love these veils!

A little preface to these reception pics. The first one is pretty awesome. You will first notice the bride's expression -- shocked! Why? Because the dj was counting down to the toss, however she threw the bouquet early. But the real story is what those ladies are doing in the background. Honestly, if I hadn't been there I would have thought there was going to be riot.

And now you have the groom. Doing the worm. Need I say more?

And finally, Jason's (always will be better than mine) ring pics.

~Heather

Holland, MI Wedding Photographer

Brianna & Joey -- [Holland, MI Wedding Photography]

2011-08-03T15:09:00.008-04:00

Brianna and Joey can be summed up in two words -- absolutely adorable.

Jason and I had a blast photographing their engagement session, and the wedding wasn't any different (except this time I had Jessica shooting with me for the day)! They both were extremely low-key, and just looked as if they were thoroughly enjoying there day. Yes, I know you're suppose to enjoy your wedding day -- but you would be surprised at how many couples have trouble just relaxing!

The wedding was held at the Central Park Chapel here in Holland and the reception followed at Boatwerks (yum!). I really enjoyed the details in this wedding as well, including the cookies from deBoer Bakkerij right across the street from our studio (double yum!).

~Heather

Holland, MI Wedding Photographer

Ella Turns 3 -- [Holland, MI Children's Photographer]

2011-07-04T14:33:00.005-04:00

I'm not going to talk much about this session -- not because there isn't a ton to say (LOVE the outfits, Ella is an absolute doll, and how lucky did I get with that field of flowers??) but rather because it is the fourth of July and I'm going to scoot back home right now to be with my family!

Hope you enjoy the holiday-- happy 4th everyone!

:)

~Heather

Holland, MI Children's Portrait Photographer

A Night Wedding - [Holland, MI Wedding Photographer]

2011-06-27T15:05:00.008-04:00

I have a confession to make. I may have acted as cool as a cucumber, but I was shaking in my boots (well, flats --they are much more comfy after being on your feet all day. But I digress...) at the thought of photographing this wedding!

I can't count the number of times I've heard wedding photographers (me included!) complaining over low light venues-- churches, reception halls, etc. Anyone who's been in the business, even for a short amount of time, knows the tricks of the trade. Diffuse the flash and if you're really lucky, you'll have a fairly low white ceiling to bounce the light off of.

But I had agreed to photograph a night wedding. Outside. Midnight. There was going to be no bouncing for this chick, no little tricks or cheats or anything. One chance, do it right or EVERYONE will know you messed up. Now I'm sure you can understand why I was as nervous as when I first started photographing wedding years ago!

That said, I am extremely pleased with how this turned out! Apple Blossom has DEFINITELY got a sweet setup for outdoor night weddings (isn't that gazebo gorgeous?).

Enjoy!

Check out these bouquets -- CANDLES! How awesome (and appropriate!) is that?

Ok....the image below isn't typically the kind of image I usually post in the blog. However, it's pretty hysterical. I will leave you, dear readers, to decide what the man was wearing (or not wearing?!?) under his trench coat.

~Heather

Holland, Michigan wedding and portrait photographer

Baby and Bellies -- [Holland, Mi Maternity and Newborn Photographer]

2011-06-22T15:17:00.007-04:00

Jason photographed Kalista and Pete's maternity session a couple weeks before she was due. It's not uncommon for him to photograph these alone, however it is uncommon for him to be SO excited about a session after the fact.

I fully understood why, after meeting them, when they came in for their newborn session. They are a gorgeous, genuinely happy couple (which makes our job easier!) and we had so much fun shooting.

Today's blog features some images for you to enjoy from both sessions!

~Heather

Annie & Rick -- [Holland, Mi Wedding Photographer]

2011-05-26T10:50:00.005-04:00

Just wanted to quickly pop up a sneak peek for Annie and Rick! This couple was ADORABLE and even though the day didn't go exactly as planned (the groom may or may not have arrived to the wedding in a t-shirt and left his suit shirt back at home!) they were cool and collected and visibly IN LOVE. Love that.

The ceremony took place at the lovely Apple Blossom Wedding Chapel in Fennville, Mi and afterwards we ventured down to Pier Cove (my FAVORITE beach) for a few shots on the beach.

Enjoy!

~Heather

West Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

One Year Later -- [West Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer]

2011-05-23T11:20:00.005-04:00

Nearly a year to the date after I photographed their wedding at Apple Blossom Wedding Chapel, I met with Nikki and Adam to photograph some couple portraits!

The weather was not the nicest, however the rain did hold off for our session (yippee!) and they were troopers for just about everything I suggested (climb that wet tree? ok!).

Congrats on your one year anniversary guys! Can't wait to see you again next year! :D

(One year -- yay!)

~Heather

Holland, MI Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Real Men Wear Spandex!

2011-05-18T11:59:00.003-04:00

Do the clothes make the man? Well, I don't know, but I know these spandex clad warriors of the Cross Country Cycle triathlon team are some of the toughest and most dedicated athletes I've ever met. So before you knock our flashy outfits, try running a 16 minute 5k, or cruising down the road at 30mph - on your pedal-bike!

What a fun shoot this was, we are proud sponsors of the Cross Country Cycle triathlon team, and I myself am a member(handsome, dark-haired devil in the lower left) so this was a rare opportunity for me to actually be a part of the photo-shoot on the OTHER side of the camera!

~Jason

This was kind of an intimidating shoot for me. First, I've never done team shots like this before and I was given a lot of links of other team pics with comments like -- "I like this", "this is awesome" and "this is terrible."

Next, there was the weather -- it rained all weekend and with a group this size, finding a time to get everyone together had been near impossible, let along trying to reschedule! My fingers were crossed all day that we would see a break in the weather long enough to shoot.

And finally, Jason was part of the group and goodness knows that if I messed something up or he didn't like the way he looked I would hear about it for a while. Or not hear about it, which is somehow worse.

However, once we got going, I realized the pressure I was feeling was all in my head! The guys were fun to work with and joke around with. The image below is a good representation of the joking around part -- take special notice of the "moose antlers" in the middle, a modern day take on the classic bunny ears. :)

~Heather

Holland, Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Beach Playdate Sessions -- This Saturday!

2011-05-09T11:17:00.008-04:00

This Saturday I will be photographing mini-Playdate sessions down at the beach! This is booking up quickly and I now only have 3 spots left! (9:30, 10:15 and 10:30am)

Cost will be $25 per kid for a 15 minute session. This usually yields approximately 20 final proofs, but can be as many as 40 depending on the child! (No prints or disks are included in the session price).

Need help picking the perfect outfit or want to go with a theme? Just give me a shout and we can come up with something incredible! I've been itching to get my hands on a little super hero and just finished photographing my own little bug!

Check out Emma's session on the beach HERE.

Ella had a blast with a dozen balloons on the beach (You can view more portraits HERE.)

First communion or just hanging out...

Sessions are booked first come, first served. Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday! :)

~Heather

West Michigan Child and Family Portrait Photographer

Ladybugs on the Beach -- [Emma]

2011-05-05T14:27:00.004-04:00

This morning started out like any other...get up, coffee, breakfast, some 'Go Diego Go'...you know the drill. Shortly into our routine, I spotted something that was a little different than most mornings-- Emma wasn't arguing with me quite as much. Given her bossy two year old attitude (especially lately!) it was a welcome treat.

The sun was shining and I started thinking...."I wonder how she'll hold up for a quick shoot on the beach?" Long story short, she held up like a trooper and we both had a blast! We ran, jumped, and twirled around. And, because we had so much fun "takin' pictures" we celebrated afterwards with M&M's. All in all, a pretty awesome morning!

~Heather

Holland, MI child and family photographer

Why I love three month sessions

2011-04-26T10:46:00.003-04:00

There was a point in time when I secretly dreaded three month old sessions. I found the babies difficult to position, and more times than not it seemed like they were crying or cranky-- or turned there soon after arriving at the studio.

There were those "miracle" sessions when everything went smoothly, but it was such a gamble it physically caused me anxiety. Yuck!

We, fortunately, came to the realization that the babies who were able to support their heads (this milestone is usually reached sometime in the 3rd to 4th month of life) where our "miracle" sessions. After that, we started recommending that our clients wait until little one is comfy on their belly and able to support their head-- even if it means pushing their session back a couple weeks. I mean, really, what's more important-- the specific date or the super cute, smiley portrait of your baby??

I find three to four month old babies to be one of my favorite sessions now -- they are always SO happy (and who can not smile back at those big toothless grins??) Their personalities are beginning to show through and their clothes now fit! (It's nearly impossible to get a newborn outfit to fit right!)

One thing has not changed however -- the attention span and tolerance level a three month old baby has for portraits is SHORT! For this reason, Jason and I both fly by the seats of our pants to get through these sessions as fast as we can. Not to "get it over with" -- but rather, because we know we're on borrowed time.

The portraits below of little Reese were taken when she was 4 months old-- and they are a great example of why I love three (or four!) month sessions.

Oh, and I love hats! :)

~Heather

Zoe the Bunny

2011-04-22T12:21:00.007-04:00

Last Sunday, we opened the doors to the studio and welcomed over 50 children to have their portrait taken with Zoe the Bunny. Thank you SO MUCH to V.I. Pets here in Holland for allowing us to borrow the bunnies!

In exchange for a donation (100% of which went to the Holland Community Action House) we did a portrait of each child with Zoe. AND everyone also received a free 5x7!

Please, take a moment to visit the Community Action House's website and learn a little bit about what an amazing organization this is for our community!

While the majority of the day was filled with smiles, there were a couple of kids who didn't quite know what to make of Zoe. I love this one of the poor little guy definitely NOT liking the bunny while big sister is perfectly content!

And my favorite, this progression as she realizes that this isn't a stuffed bunny. Her reaction was PRICELESS!

Thank you so much to everyone who came out and helped this great cause! It was so awesome to have the studio packed with people!

Also, a special THANK YOU to Jason and Kate who volunteered their afternoon to helping us collect information and donations! Your help was invaluable in making the day go as smoothly as it did!

A Week in Portraits

2011-04-20T21:22:00.008-04:00

Here is a week in portraits (almost anyway, we had a couple of "secret" gift sessions this past week that we don't want to spill the beans on!) and also not included in this is our charity Easter shoot with Zoe the bunny! That event will warrant a blog post of it's own -- there were so many good ones to choose from!

Here you go, a glimpse of our sessions from last week! Enjoy!

~Heather

Holland, MI Family and Child Portrait Photographer

Charlie -- [3 Years Old]

2011-04-13T19:40:00.005-04:00

When Charlie's mom contacted me, she said, and I quote, "he is a pretty active guy" to which I replied something about the studio containing him better than outside....yeah, I ate those words.

Betcha never would guess from the portraits below that this little guy REFUSED to enter the camera room in the studio to get his picture taken.

Enjoy your sneak peek (there are a TON more cute ones waiting for you to view soon!)

Sticks and stones may break my camera, but.....wait, what?? No photographers were harmed in the making of this session. :)

~Heather

West Michigan, Holland, MI Child Photographer

Da & Tony -- [Engaged!]

2011-04-12T16:13:00.005-04:00

The week before our session, I was watching the weather forecast for Saturday -- and every time I checked it, it read something different. Rain, clear skies, rain, mostly cloudy but dry, rain...round and round we go! Where it lands, nobody knows!

I'm SO happy that the weather decided to cooperate for us, because Da & Tony were driving in from out of state for their engagement session! Sure, we could have shot the whole session in the studio, but where's the fun in that?

Downtown Holland was hopping with photographers (nice to see everyone enjoying the spring just like we are!) but thankfully we didn't have to wait for any of my typical haunts.

Enjoy your sneak peek guys -- I had a blast!

~Heather

Holland, MI Engagement and Wedding Photographer

Ella -- [Playdate Session on the beach]

2011-04-04T10:54:00.005-04:00

Guess what....it's that time of year again! The snow has (for the most part) melted and the beach is looking gorgeous! Also, there's hardly anyone out there right now too -- perfect for portraits!

So, whatcha waiting for? :)

Playdate sessions are $50 per child and are a very unique opportunity to capture your child's personality! Give us a shout to schedule yours today!

~Heather

Holland, Michigan Child Photographer

The Daniels Family -- Holland, Michigan Family Photographer

2011-03-21T14:41:00.003-04:00

Hey all-- just a really quick sneak peek for the Daniels' family.

Can you believe this was their first family portrait session....EVER?!?

Enjoy!

~Heather

Holland, MI Family and Child Photographer

Newborn Photography -- Holland, MI

2011-03-09T19:51:00.006-05:00

We love babies.

We love it even more when we get little babies in the studio like the little lady featured in today's blog post (7 days old!).

We love babies so much, we offer a special portrait package called the New Baby Club which is perfect for expecting parents (and makes for a great baby shower gift too!) And at only $50 for the WHOLE FIRST YEAR, how can you say no?? :)

~Heather

Holland, MI Newborn & Family Photographer

Amanda & Nate -- [Engaged!]

2011-02-04T12:28:00.007-05:00

I am a firm believer of "sucking it up" to get the shot -- I frequently lay on the ground (even when it's wet) and have found myself in puddles, snow drifts, mud and even waist deep in the lake to get "The Shot." Even on both sides of the camera, we take this philosophy -- for our Trash the Dress session last month, Jason and I were thigh deep in 40 degree river water to get the picture we wanted!

My clients however, don't always take the same view. Thankfully, Amanda and Nate didn't fall into this category! Amanda was rocking a pair of heels and didn't even hesitate when I said, "Why don't the two of you go stand in that knee deep snow in the alley?" LOVE THAT. We froze our tushes off, but got some spectacular portraits-- totally worth it!

~Heather

Holland, Michigan Engagement & Wedding Photographer

Jacqui & Aaron -- [Married!]

2011-01-25T13:17:00.008-05:00

When Jacqui asked us to photograph her wedding, I was excited. This wasn't a destination wedding for her, however it is for us! Both Jason and myself LOVE Arizona, in fact, this was our third trip in the past three years!

I had visions of cacti and desert (which is awesome when you don't live in the desert). However, Jacqui had a more tropical background in mind and the venue she choose (Val Vista Country Club) was gorgeous, both inside and out.

Congrats to you both! We were so happy to be able to be a part of your day! Enjoy your sneak peek (and your disks are in the mail!)

~Heather

Destination Wedding Photography -- Holland, MI

Jenna & Ross -- [Married!]

2011-01-13T14:40:00.008-05:00

It's very possible when Jenna and Ross, years down the road, think about their wedding photographs, that they reminisce about that time when their photographer went careening down that ice covered hill towards that giant tree.....yeah, that photographer would be me. And I was scared. Scared that I would not be able to stop and hit the tree. Scared that the bridal party following me would continue to follow me down the hill and crash into me! Scared that I NEEDED to finish shooting this wedding and what would happen if my car was disabled or worse, I was hurt?

However, I did stop, and thankfully the bridal story watched from atop the hill as I struggled with my antilock breaks down the ice. It didn't occur to me for quite a while, however, how I was going to get BACK up the hill. Yikes!! Long story short, Ted (bride's brother) drove my van back up the hill (but not until after he made it half way up, started sliding down-- of course right towards the crazy big tree-- and scared me so badly that I think I lost a couple years off my total lifespan). Thanks Ted! :)

That said, here's a sneak peek for you guys! Enjoy!

~Heather

West Michigan & Holland, MI Wedding photographers!

Our Wee Ones!

2011-01-13T13:59:00.008-05:00

Once a year we attempt to take our kids out and try for a group portrait. With four kids who vary in temperament as greatly as they do in age, trying this any more frequently would make me prematurely grey.

This year, however, we decided that we would stack the deck against us and go to Muskegon (a 45 minute drive away) without feeding them lunch first, AND just to add another degree of difficulty, DURING NAP TIME.

Honestly, I couldn't be happier with the images we walked away with! Not only did we rock out the group shot right away (check out my new green chair! Isn't it awesome?) but between Jason and myself we got nice pics of all the kids as well, including little Emma! And, we found an awesome new location for outdoor shoots!

Here's a set that cracks me up-- every time I look at these I can't help but grin. Look at her face and the PURE JOY that's there. Seriously folks, if I could bottle that we would be millionaires. The reason why little Emma was so happy? To quote her, "I run in snow! Snow! I run in snow!" And she ran back and forth and back and forth during nearly the entire session.

~Heather

Holland Michigan Children's Photographer

Jenna & Ross -- [Engaged!]

2010-09-21T19:43:00.005-04:00

Jenna and Ross were driving out to West Olive for their engagement session by the Pigeon Creek and I was glued to weather.com -- it wasn't looking good. As we arrived at ground zero it was starting to rain. Looking back south towards Holland the sky looked more clear so back we headed -- and it was a GOOD call! Holland was DRY!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Sunshine Films is my favorite place to shoot! Check out these images!

Guess who went wading in Lake Macatawa for this shot? :D

~Heather

West Michigan Engagement & Wedding Photographer

Megan -- [Senior Session]

2010-08-27T10:05:00.006-04:00

I love it when seniors are comfy in front of the camera! Megan took direction so well and sucked up the spider webs (even when I didn't) just to get the shot. What a trooper! :D

~Heather

Holland, MI & West Michigan Senior Portraits Photography

Kali -- [Playdate Session]

2010-07-24T11:56:00.005-04:00

I've been rocking out the Playdate Sessions the past couple weeks! What's awesome is that I really, really enjoying shooting them. Enjoy a little preview!

~Heather

Holland Michigan Child Photographer

Jackson -- [Newborn Session]

2010-07-20T11:49:00.006-04:00

Finishing up an extremely busy day at the studio last week, Jason and I were in the middle of our last session of day when Crystal and Ken walked in with their brand new little one, Jackson.

Ken was shipping back out to Iraq (today actually -- safe travels!) and they had hoped to schedule a session before he left. We decided to just photograph their session that day -- and here are the (absolutely adorable) results! :D

Thanks so much for bringing in your little cutie! Enjoy!

~Heather

Holland, MI Newborn Photography

Sydney's Sneak Peek - [Newborn Session]

2010-07-13T14:00:00.008-04:00

Hey Everybody! I was doing so good at updating the blog and then BAM....nothing again. Sorry about that! I will curb your appetite with one ADORABLE little lady today and have a couple more posts with more pics coming in the next couple of days.

Enjoy!

Did I ever mention that we LOVE photographing newborns? Let us "play" with your 1-2 week old baby in the studio and the session is complementary -- that's right, COMPLETELY FREE! Don't hesitate to contact us for more information!

~Heather

Holland Michigan Newborn Photographer

Austin & Leah | Family Portrait Session

2010-06-27T16:00:00.006-04:00

Austin and Leah were at the perfect age for sibling portraits. Both Jason and myself knew we were going to have to work fast before they lost their patience with pictures, and I think we whipped out a full session in less than 20 minutes! Nothing like jumping around, clapping, whistling and looking like an overall crazy person to get some exercise in during the day -- oh, and get the kids smiling :)

Here's a quick little sneak peek for Mom & Dad (and all of you who check out our blog!) -- can't wait to show you the rest of them tomorrow!

~Heather

Holland, MI children's photographer

Little Ryan -- [Six Months Old]

2010-05-28T17:58:00.006-04:00

I can't believe that it's Friday already!! It feels like I was just posting a day or so ago. This week has definitely gotten the better of me. So here is, yet again, another quickie blog post! Enjoy!

~Heather

West Michigan Child Photographer

Andrea & Mitch and their new little addition!

2010-05-21T14:49:00.005-04:00

I've been meaning to post a couple images from this session for a while. We're packing at the moment for a weekend vacation, so I'm going to let the images do the talking themselves :D
Have a good weekend everyone!!!

~Heather

Holland Michigan Wedding, Senior and Infant Photographer

Nichol & Adam - [Married!]

2010-05-16T11:48:00.007-04:00

After photographing weddings (A LOT of weddings!) for a living, I was pleasantly surprised yesterday to come across something new. I found myself at Apple Blossom Chapel & Gardens in Fennville for the very small, very intimate wedding of Nichol & Adam.

What was incredibly unique was the butterfly release during the ceremony. This is what was said:

"According to an American Indian Legend -

If anyone desires a wish to come true they must first
capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it.

Since a butterfly can make no sound, the butterfly can not reveal
the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit who hears and sees all.

In gratitude for giving the beautiful butterfly its freedom,
the Great Spirit always grants the wish.

So, according to legend, by making a wish and giving the butterfly its freedom,
the wish will be taken to the heavens and be granted."

It was AMAZING how the butterflies hung around. While we were shooting outside after the ceremony, I could still see them. They also loved Nichol's bouquet. Very cool!
Enjoy your sneak peek, and thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day!

~Heather

Holland Michigan Wedding & Portrait Photography

Isaac

2010-05-14T18:20:00.004-04:00

To say Isaac is into BMX would be an understatement. 17 years old, and already sponsored by a local pro bike shop, Isaac is just generally awesome! So when he came in for senior pics with his bike in tow, I knew it would be more than a prop, it's an extension of who he is. Isaac is immensely talented, and one of the nicest young guys I've met in a long time. I had a blast shooting this, and if there's any other BMXers out there, give me a shout!

I actually taught him that jump....lol

~Jason

Holland Michigan wedding and portrait photographers

Lindsey and Mike

2010-05-11T10:44:00.006-04:00

Lindsey and Mike are an awesome couple Sally and I headed out to photograph on a blustery Saturday last weekend. I have to say that these two were not only one of the cutest couples I've met, but one of the toughest as well! Lindsey was a fabulous bride and knew exactly what she wanted, and we braved the high, chilly winds of Lake Michigan for some sensational shots! I had so much fun with these two, starting at the beautiful Harderwyk church in Holland and ending at Porta Bellos in Grand Haven(some of my fav food!) Thank you so much for having us, it was an honor to serve you on your wedding day!

~Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait photographers

Amber & David -- Just Married!

2010-05-08T21:07:00.006-04:00

Really -- the title of this blog post says it all --these two were JUST married today! Today kicked off the start of wedding season for us and we had two on our plate. I stayed in Holland with Amber & David. It was WINDY -- too windy in fact to do a whole lot out of doors. Thankfully, the reception was at my favorite reception site (Til Midnight-- YUM!) which also happens to be my favorite indoor wedding location to shoot at in the Holland area.

Enjoy a sneak peek of a couple shots that I pulled out while I was transferring images tonight. Drew and I had a blast photographing you both (and your GIGANTIC wedding party!)

~Heather

Holland Michigan Wedding Photography

Tanner - [Playdate Session]

2010-05-03T15:34:00.010-04:00

Tanner and I took a trip to my new favorite red door to start his session. It matched his skateboard perfectly!

Isn't this kid cute?

And....

for those of you who don't know what a Playdate Sessions is-- here's a little info for you!!

I'm currently offering Playdate Sessions for HALF OFF right now! Check out our pricing and packages on Absolute Photography's Website for more information.

Have a great day! :D

~Heather

West Michigan Children & Family Photography

Marcy & Jose - [Engagement Session]

2010-05-02T10:03:00.006-04:00

I've been meaning to pop this session up on the blog for a while. Marcy contacted me for some engagement portraits and wanted to shoot them outside in the snow. We picked the coldest, most bitter day to shoot (we even took a break halfway through to warm up in our cars!) but they were troopers and the pics are SUPER cute! Congratulations on your engagement you guys -- I can't wait to shoot your wedding! :D

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding Photography

Mike and Sarah

2010-04-30T12:47:00.006-04:00

Mike and Sarah are getting married this summer, and we decided on a beautiful spring evening on the beach for engagement pictures. It was a bit chilly, and a bit windy(nothing new for us lakeshore residents) but we had a great time, and I hope these two did as well! Enjoy your pics, can't wait for the big day!

I tell him, "Pick her up and spin her around. Be cute and romantic!"

....

Holland Michigan wedding and portrait photographers.

Adriana is One Year Old!

2010-04-28T19:20:00.005-04:00

It doesn't matter if she smiles or not-- the first thing you're drawn to on little Adriana is her EYES. I love, love, LOVE the eyes on this little one!

Another of our Baby Club clients, we finished this one year session with a smash the cake set (yum!)

Enjoy!

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Children & Baby Photographer

Looking back, and thinking ahead

2010-04-28T11:26:00.030-04:00

"Motherhood cannot be touched or held, but wraps itself so tightly around her soul that she knew she'd never been complete before it,"

Our youngest daughter, Emma, is growing close to two years old. From her conception, to the tiny idiosyncrasies of her personality, she has been a surprise to us every day. She is our last child, and though we have a large family, full of life and love, I still look back at these photographs from the last 20 months with a bit of sadness in my heart. Every mother and father knows the joy and pain of watching your child grow, and so I thought I'd share some of these pictures of our own child with all of you. For us, this is a joyous retrospective, and I hope you enjoy it. For any of you who are parents or considering parenthood, there is no greater journey, and this post will also give you an idea of what you can expect from us in your baby's first years.

The hospital photos just wouldn't do, so dad had to bring the "big" camera up to the hospital.

Heather actually constructed this flower blanket from the bouquets people brought her while she was in the hospital giving birth. There's no end to her talents!

Of all the newborn pictures we've taken, I think it's ironic that our own child was among the most challenging to photograph! She definetly isn't lacking a strong will!

Emma has always been subjected to our new prop and set ideas, thankfully, she seemed to enjoy it!

We call this, "Amnio Emma"

The wooded background is something I made and have used more than once here in the studio, but there's actually a lot of backstory to it. If you come in, make sure to ask us about it, I'd be happy to share the story!

6 months is just about the perfect age for that first picture with siblings.

She hasn't sat still since she learned to walk at 10 months! Emma designated this little studio couch "her couch" so we thought we'd do a little photoset with her on it. Too cute!

No need to ask if that's a mischievous smile!

Heather snapped this while playing around with the girls one afternoon, one of my favs!

She may be a daddy's girl, but she sure does have her mom's eyes(and attitude)!

Emma is now 20 months old. Can't wait to show you what the next year brings us!

~Jason

"Fatherhood is a journey with no parallel. No other venture holds as many challenges, or rewards,"

Holland Michigan Infant & Child Photographer

Winter Playdate

2010-04-13T13:54:00.005-04:00

Well the cold and snow couldn't keep us from getting out and shooting playdates with kids this winter. Heather and Naomi trudged through the cold for these fun shots. This little one had one of the coolest outfits ever! Doesn't she look like she could be in a Gap ad?

Check out the website for great deals running now on spring and summer playdate sessions!

Playdate Specials!

Jessica & Dustin: [Married!]

2010-01-27T18:35:00.007-05:00

If you scroll down the blog a bit you'll run into some pics of Dustin & Jessica at their engagement session. We have had the pleasure of photographing them several times now-- Jessica even volunteered to model for one of our Sunday Shoot Group outings as an "Urban Ballerina". She is a NATURAL in front of the camera and both Jason and myself were looking forward to their wedding -- our last booked for 2009.

(A BIG BTW....this is not our last wedding blog post for our 2009 season however! We are wicked behind on blogging our weddings and will be making some up throughout the winter, so keep checking back in!)

Enjoy you're sneak peek guys!

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Tina & Anthony -- Wedding Sneak Peek

2009-12-01T13:37:00.008-05:00

Tina is my cousin and I was so excited when she asked us to photograph her wedding-- and a little nervous too. It's one thing to shoot a wedding for a client; I feel a LOT more pressure when photographing family however.

Even with tight time constraints regarding formals the day went off without a hitch and it seemed like we were ahead of schedule most of the time. The fall colors were GORGEOUS and even though it did rain some, I didn't even remember that part until I was just going through the pics.

Enjoy your sneak peek guys!

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

The Browlee Family

2009-11-21T10:05:00.006-05:00

Jill walked into the studio with her children and dog and simply stated, "I want something that's not traditional." We suggested skipping the indoor session she had originally scheduled and head outside instead -- as long as the weather is good (and you couldn't have asked for a better November day!) everyone seems to have a lot more fun outside.

And fun we did have! This family was a riot! I had a hard time picking out a handful of my favorites because there were a ton that I loved, but here they are -- Enjoy!

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Another Playdate -- Downtown Holland

2009-11-20T16:01:00.006-05:00

I had never heard of the Matilda Jane clothing line until I met the Brondyke family-- let me tell you I am a huge fan. These kids are a contender for the best dressed in Holland; I have yet to see them not looking trendy and cool. I have no idea how they do it --I can dress our kids up, turn around for a brief second, look back and they're a wreck. Oh well -- I guess it wasn't meant to be! ;)

That said, I had an awesome time downtown Holland with the Brondyke's. They wanted something a little bit more non-traditional and I was happy to obliged. Playdates are more relaxed than our regular sessions and a lot easier on kids with higher energy levels. While I recommend only focusing on one child during a Playdate Session, I photographed both children for this session.

Enjoy the preview!

~Heather

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Wedding Preview: Nikki & Matt

2009-10-18T11:54:00.009-04:00

What could have been a disaster turned into absolutely GORGEOUS wedding images! Nikki and Matt planned a beautiful beach wedding at Kirk Park....only to have the weather be iffy at best.

Working within the short dry spells and avoiding the pouring rain whenever possible, Jason was able to capture some spectacular shots, including this, my favorite image so far this season.

The sky, the water and the waves were perfect! Enjoy the rest of the preview!

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

A Play Date with Ellen!

2009-10-03T12:10:00.009-04:00

Something new we've been doing this year is having 'Play Dates' with some of our most challenging age groups -- particularly those aged 3 and 4! This low pressure, outdoor session is a great way to get some more candid, non-traditional portraits of your child, especially during an age in their lives when sitting and smiling just isn't in the cards.

We first photographed Ellen about a year ago in the studio -- when her mom called us for 3 year shots I knew a Play Date would definitely be the way to go and recommended my favorite place to shoot, the Sunshine Films building! Ellen was a riot and I had a blast photographing her!

Enjoy the preview!

~Heather

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Wedding Sneak Peek :: Natasha & Brian

2009-09-21T14:59:00.010-04:00

Natasha and Brian couldn't have picked a more GORGEOUS day in August for their wedding! The sanctuary was beautiful, the dresses were amazing (LOVED Natasha's dress!) and the wedding party was awesome to work with!

After the ceremony, we headed over to Macatawa Legends Golf Club for some group shots and an amazing dinner. One good thing about wedding season -- I never have to cook on Saturday nights! ;)

Congratulations to the both of you! Enjoy your sneak peek!

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Andrea -- Senior Session

2009-09-16T19:47:00.006-04:00

With all this talk of weddings, you'd never know that we still are carrying a full studio work load! We're currently booking studio sessions and on-location sessions 2 weeks out now and even longer for evening sessions! I cannot believe HOW BUSY we are!

Here is a little peek at a recent senior session that I just finished proofing up. Isn't she a doll?

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Trash The Dress -- Zach & Elise

2009-09-10T20:47:00.008-04:00

Zach and Elise were my first "Trash The Dress" session and I couldn't have hoped for more willing subjects! Jump in the (not quite) freezing lake? Sure! Lay down in the sand? You betcha! Hop back in the lake and splash around some more? Why not!

Wowzers! I didn't quite know what I was in for until I was knee deep in Lake Michigan photographing what turned out to be my favorite session so far this year! Guys, I can't begin to tell you how IN LOVE I am with these pics! Thanks so much for allowing me to not only be a part of your special day, but have a blast after the wedding too!

~Heather

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Wedding Sneak Peek: Sara & Jason

2009-09-10T10:49:00.004-04:00

Jason & Sara were married mid-August and everything seemed to go off without a hitch! Sara's personality could easily be surmised by looking simply at her wedding shoes -- a pair of white, cute, sporty Puma's. She was easy-going, a blast to be around and had a smile plastered to her face the entire day! Fun, fun!

Enjoy your sneak peek guys!

I know I said she had a smile on her face the whole day, I asked her not to smile in these and the top one especially is one of my favorites from the day.

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Brand New! Red Carpet Walk!

2009-09-09T16:28:00.004-04:00

We are pleased to announce a brand new product that is especially perfect for wedding receptions -- the "Red Carpet Walk"!

You and your guests walk across our Red Carpet and the paparazzi shoot away! We stack the images on top of each other and make a fun and exciting stop action video of your guests. This wildly entertaining DVD slideshow is sure to have you talking-and laughing, for years to come!

For booking information, please do not hesitate to contact us!

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Wedding Preview: Michelle & Shane

2009-09-03T21:06:00.012-04:00

Shane and Michelle proved to be a record for us -- the longest distance we've had to drive between the ceremony and the reception! The ceremony took place at one of our favorite churches here in Holland -- Dimnent Chapel on the Hope College Campus. Then, we drove to Saginaw for the reception-- yes, nearly clear across the state!

When it rained, we stayed inside and when it cleared up, we headed outdoors to park for a couple fun shots of the wedding party. All in all, I'd say a pretty awesome day!

Enjoy your sneak peek guys!

~Heather & Jason

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Wedding Sneak Peek: Jay & Lola

2009-08-17T22:23:00.006-04:00

We first met Pastors Tony and Crystal Nolan shortly after opening the studio -- way back when we were on 8th street downtown. Both Jason and myself appreciate the help they gave us when we were first getting started -- the referrals, the kind words and friendship.

When Pastor Tony called and said that his son Jay was getting married (and in only 2 weeks!) we did everything in our power to be there for the occassion! This included driving 350 miles to get back to Holland in time.....and it was all worth it, Jay and Lola had a beautiful private ceremony on the shores of Rosy Mound, and we're so happy we were able to be a part of their day! Thanks guys, hope you enjoy your pics!

Holland Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Wedding Sneak Peek: Nicole and Keith

2009-08-17T21:26:00.007-04:00

We're nearly caught up proofing our weddings and then I go and take so long to post this blog! I'm so sorry guys -- maybe we can blame it on sick kids and working 16 hour days? :D

Hope it's worth the wait -- your disks will be ready for pick up in a couple days!

Nicole and Keith kept their heads up with the rain coming in and we even managed to get some outdoor shots shortly after the ceremony. We headed down to the trestle in Hamilton which ended up being my favorite shots of the two of them of the day.

Enjoy!

~Heather & Jason

Wedding Sneak Peek: Anna & Nate

2009-08-05T22:20:00.009-04:00

What I loved the most about this wedding was the simplicity of everything -- beautiful and to the point. The ceremony and reception both were held at Anna's family's beach house on Lake Michigan. The alter was hand-made from drift wood found up and down the beach (how awesome is that??)

Oh....did I mention the ticks? Yes, there were a TON of them in the dune grass (I couldn't believe it!) Everyone took it in stride however and enjoyed the day, the event and each others company.

At the end of the evening as Anna & Nate rode off into the darkness in a golf cart, I overheard her dad say, "Well, we don't have bubbles or rice....I suppose we could throw sand spiders and tick leaves!"

Enjoy your sneak peek guys!

My FAVORITE shot of the day! :D

~Heather & Jason

Wedding Sneak Peek: Mike & Ayannah

2009-07-28T10:26:00.007-04:00

Mike & Ayannah couldn't have picked a more gorgeous day for their wedding! Not too hot, not too cold, beautiful and sunny, absolutely wonderful!

Ayannah's dress was by far the most intricate design I have ever seen. The girls literally had a numbered diagram on how to bustle it!

Sorry about the delay in your sneak peek guys! Enjoy!

~Heather & Jason

Jessica & Dustin: Engagement Session

2009-07-23T20:48:00.006-04:00

There is so much that I loved about this session -- they were up for anything we suggested, their smiles when they looked at each other were so genuine and CUTE, and I loved how much fun we had shooting this session! I simply cannot wait to photograph Jessica and Dustin's wedding this winter- here's hoping for lots of snow! :D

Enjoy!

~Heather & Jason

Olivia is 6 Months Old

2009-07-23T20:22:00.005-04:00

Holy Moly....6 months old, an expert crawler and pulling up and cruising around on furniture already?? Can you say trouble?!?

Little Olivia was a little bundle of energy, constantly moving and crawling and wanting to be EVERYWHERE, except posing in front of the camera of course. With a little tag-teaming in the camera room, I think we were able to capture this little firecrackers personality -- go, go, go!

Enjoy!

~Heather & Jason

Wedding Sneak Peek: Kimber & Jason

2009-07-07T21:24:00.008-04:00

This wedding was a blast to photograph - Kimber and Jason were relaxed and laid back...it's nice to see a couple really enjoy their wedding day! We went out and photographed the group shots prior to the ceremony. A thunderstorm was approaching on the radar so we took off a bit early to get some outdoor shots.

Enjoy your sneak peek!

This is one of my favorite shots!!

~Heather & Jason

Wedding Sneak Peek: Katie & Dave

2009-06-14T22:39:00.011-04:00

I apologize guys for the lateness of this post -- we have been absolutely insanely busy!!

Katie and Dave were married in a small church in Comstock Park. What I will forever remember about Katie and Dave's wedding was the pastor -- he was the most unique/quirky man I have ever seen officiate a wedding! Following the ceremony we traveled to Aquinas College where we got some great outdoor shots of the whole bridal party and also some very romantic shots of the bride and groom :)

Enjoy your sneak peek!

~Heather & Jason

Shaina and Brian: Wedding Preview

2009-05-25T18:13:00.006-04:00

While Heather was out experiencing the Haunting of Felt Mansion, I had the great privilege of coming up to Spring Lake to photograph Shaina and Brian. These two are a beautiful couple and fabulously in love! I had so much fun working with them! Shaina is the most sweet, kind, and WILD bride I've had the pleasure of working with. One of our new second shooters-Marjo, was shooting with me and while she was working with the guys, Shaina and I were coming up with all sorts of fun ideas for shots later in the day. This couple was a blast, we tried a ton of new stuff....some of it only I would think up(as Heather would say) and got to enjoy a beautiful day in picturesque West Michigan. From the wedding in Spring Lake, through an awesome trolley ride to Pier Marquette, and on to the reception in Grand Haven, I was reminded every minute just why I love what I do so much! I hope you enjoy your pics guys, and remember, if you change your mind about needing a photographer with you in St. Joseph......well, you know my number ;)

Lisa-Marie & Ryan - A Wedding Preview

2009-05-24T22:43:00.008-04:00

Wow....this wedding was unlike any other I've ever photographed! First of all, Jason and I split up and each were covering separate weddings-- I was in Saugatuck at the Felt Mansion with Lisa-Marie and Ryan. Second of all, the mood of the wedding was just INCREDIBLE! Dark, yet romantic. Classy, yet fun. And, I was working with one of our new second shooters, Sally.

Given the history of the mansion and the rumors of it being haunted (both Sally and myself did see doors opening and slamming shut by themselves) , I found myself shooting a lot of couple poses with a dark and moody look-- almost giving it a haunted feel.

I'm not going to keep rambling about this (I could for a while!) but rather, just give you the photos...it took me a while to narrow these down to some of my favorites. I shot A LOT and there were a ton of great ones.

Enjoy and leave some feedback!

~Heather

Cole turns 4 years old!

2009-05-13T14:38:00.006-04:00

I am SOOOO far behind on my blogs...so far behind that I don't know where to even start anymore! With this summer looking even more busy than before I don't see this getting any better- so for those of you who check back just bear with me and I'll do my best to at least put my favorites up! :)

Cole is DEFINITELY one of my favorite sessions of late! This little guy LOVED bugs (they're not really my cup of tea, but hey, I guess I'm not a 4 year old boy either!) and he was lucky enough to find some bugs on the barn in one of our new locations!

Check out how cute this kid is!

And, the bugs....

~Heather & Jason

Andrea & Wes - Newborn Session

2009-05-13T14:26:00.005-04:00

Scroll down one or two blog posts and you will see some images from Andrea & Wes' maternity session. They're back again, this time with a 7 day old baby in tow! Newborn sessions are perfect to do when the little one is between 1 and 2 weeks of age. They're more pliable and sleepy, allowing us to do a lot more with them!

Here are a couple of my favorites from the session-- enjoy!

Congratulations you guys-- he's beautiful!

2009-04-26T15:11:00.004-04:00

Wes and Andrea called us after searching online for an "artsy" approach to maternity photos and I'm so glad they did! With a pension for the dramatic, and b&w, it was a perfect fit!

These two were absolutely adorable, I could feel the sincerity when they looked at each other. I'm still smiling every time I look at their happy faces!

What a great session with this awesome couple, take care you two and good luck, we'll see you after the baby comes along!!

~Jason

William is One Year Old!

2009-04-10T09:11:00.000-04:00

Another of our 'New Baby Club' clients, we've been watching William grow up through photographs since he was a newborn! What I love about him and big sister Lilly is how gentle and well-behaved they are! Parents-- you did good! :)

Enjoy your preview!

~Heather & Jason

Haiti Fundraising Event was a HIT!

2009-04-06T15:22:00.006-04:00

Wow-- I'm still amazed by how successful our fundraising event this past weekend was!

Scheduled to start at 10am, people began arriving at 9:30 and it was PACKED solid until 12:30pm before it started to even look like it might slow down a bit. We had almost 50 families show up and photographed over a 100 children!!

The kids LOVED the bunnies running around the lobby (thank you so much to VI Pets for allowing us to borrow Brownie and Cadbury!!)

If anyone would still like to donate to this cause, please do!! We are still accepting donations through the end of the week to support the Les Bours School of Hope in Haiti. We are collecting money to help purchase school supplies and curriculum materials for this school in one of the most impoverish areas in Haiti. For more information please visit: Haiti Foundation Against Poverty.

The images from our event are now ONLINE! Find Haiti Change Drive in the drop down menu, then enter the password "zoe" - all lowercase. You can place additional orders from this event right on the site. If you have any questions, please let us know!

Wedding Preview - Aaron & Sarah

2009-04-05T07:55:00.010-04:00

Sorry about the delay in getting this online for you guys-- I was hoping to have this go up last week prior to our charity fundraiser, but things got crazy! :D

Jason and Marjo (one of our new second shooters) headed out to Lansing 3 weeks ago to photograph Aaron & Sarah's wedding. A nice change from the typical wedding, Sarah and Aaron were married in a wedding chapel in Grand Ledge, MI and had a short reception with cake following the ceremony. Being on site for only 3 hours posed to be a challenge for us as we needed to get all the formals and still get the fun stuff in with the time we had (we love the fun stuff and can't not do that!)

Here is your preview! I will have your CD's ready here in a few days - woo hoo!

Enjoy!

~Heather & Jason

Another 9 Month Session-- Caeden

2009-04-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

Seriously, Caeden ranks up there as one of two of the most smiley babies ever. Every time he comes in the studio I know Mom is going to walk out with some kick-butt portraits-- and his 9 months session was no exception! What a ham! :D

Love this shot!!

~Heather & Jason

Taya is ONE!

2009-03-24T21:36:00.004-04:00

Another one of our baby club members, we've been photographing Taya since she was only a couple weeks old (even earlier if you count the maternity session!) :)

This little girl is nothing short of a challenge in the camera room...she would give me one good shot and if I missed it, well....I was bumming!

I think we caught most of those fleeting smiles though.....enjoy the preview!

~Heather & Jason

Lindsay is 9 Months Old!

2009-03-24T21:17:00.004-04:00

Here's a quick session preview-- check out this little cutie pie!
:D

~Heather & Jason

Newborn Session - Alex

2009-03-24T20:59:00.006-04:00

We have been seeing a LOT of newborns in the studio lately-- it's been so interesting to see the different personalities of each little cutie.

When Alex's mom brought him in, I could tell immediately that this was going to be something special-- he slept like a ROCK! I loved being able to mold him in to any position I wanted!

Check this out!

I LOVE this series here-- look at those little fingers! Look at those lips! Awww.....

~Heather & Jason

A Twin Newborn Session

2009-03-24T20:50:00.003-04:00

We're excited every time we schedule twins in the studio-- especially so when they are newborns! Here is a quick preview-- enjoy!

~Heather & Jason