A small eternity ago, I posted a sneak peek to a bridal session we did at the Westin Book-Cadillac in Detroit featuring Meredith, one of our brides from last year.  I figured it was about time I shared some more images.  So, here you go….FINALLY!

Note to the photographers reading this – for this image and the two below, our main light was an alien bee strobe with a beauty dish.  This was our first time taking the beauty dish out to play and I really loved the quality of light coming from it.  I’m eager to play with this some more….brides…are you listening?

Meredith’s make-up was done by the wonderfully talented DeVawn Testagrossa (check out her new website!)  We’ve worked with DeVawn several times now.  She’s done a few of our previous brides’ make-up and she’s doing our next bride’s make-up this Saturday.  Airbrush make-up is a no-brainer for your wedding day.  When done properly, it’s light, water resistant, and lasts all day….and let me tell you, it makes a HUGE difference in photos.  With the resolution of cameras today and the super-sharp lenses we use, believe me, when an image is zoomed into 100%, I can see every make-up flaw imaginable…and when DeVawn does her magic it’s truly, truly flawless.  She’s not paying me to say this, I swear. If you are getting married this year, you need to go pick up the phone right now and book her.  Seriously.

We were able to shoot in two of the ballrooms at the Book-Cadillac, and then we went up, up, up to one of the penthouse condos.

Finally, I’m going to close with the image I originally posted as a teaser months ago, because I still love it:

Model:  Lindsey Nartker [Lindsey Nartker Designs]
Make-up:  DeVawn Testagrossa [Airbrush Michigan]

I stumbled across these images a few days ago and realized I had never blogged them.  Last year we participated in a local workshop with several of our fellow photographer friends for three days of model shoots.  One day was devoted to bridals, and Lindsey Nartker and her husband agreed to model.  Our friend DeVawn created a very edgy look that worked well with the grungy warehouse that was our set.  It’s always fun when we can work with other vendors outside of a wedding.  :)  Shoots like these are a fun way to recharge our batteries.

Andy did the post-production on the one above.  I think it’s epic.  We have to print this one up big for the studio.  :)

If you like this look and want to do something similar, consider adding a “Day After” session to your wedding package.  An extra session allows us to capture images in a location that would be impossible to get to on your wedding day due to time restraints.  For example, maybe you are planning a sophisticated downtown wedding, but you’d also love to get some pictures in an overgrown field at sunset out in the country.  Or maybe you enjoyed a traditional, classic-styled wedding, but you want to let loose and do something a little edgier or fun.  Talk to us and let’s brainstorm!  There are no rules with Day After sessions – and don’t be put off by the name, you can schedule the session whenever, in fact we recommend you wait a few days after the wedding so you have time to rest.  :)

Yesterday we had the pleasure of photographing one of our past brides at the Westin Book-Cadillac in downtown Detroit.  We could have stayed there all day, it was so much fun!  There are so many great areas to explore and we really didn’t even scratch the surface.  I’ll be posting quite a few more photos in a few days, but I had to share at least one tonight.  Special thanks to DeVawn DeBono for providing hair & make-up.  And of course, thank you to Meredith for being a stunning model, and getting us access at the hotel.   More details and photos about this session to come!  :)

Looking for a make-up artist that does airbrush?  Call DeVawn at 586-489-0076 or visit her site, www.airbrushmichigan.com for more details.

We had an amazing time this past Friday working on a top-secret project with some of Southeastern Michigan’s top wedding talent.  I don’t know if I’m allowed to reveal all the details right now, as we are seeking to get images published, but I had to share at least one image that I didn’t think would give too much away.  We were working on a concept shoot that included a gorgeous tablescape, un-freaking-believably beautiful models (see above), and a storybook location (River Birch Lodge).  We were just one part of a team that included a wedding coordinator-turned-Art Director/Stylist, florist, hair & make-up artists, a videographer, invitation designer, and probably more that I’m forgetting.

Can’t wait to blog about it in detail and share a LOT more photos.  This was such a joy for us to take part in and a great opportunity for us to flex our creative muscles, pull lenses out of our bags we don’t use as often, and play.  BIG HUGE THANKS to Lindsey of Lindsey Nartker Designs for inviting us along, putting together an amazing concept, and recruiting an awesome team to make our part of the equation effortless.  :)

Donna – the lovely bride who’s engagement session we featured just a few days ago – had a special request for us.  She wanted us to photograph her at ballet practice.  But she was quick to point out that ballet isn’t all about tu-tus and pretty costumes.  A dancer is molded by years of hard work, and a copious amount of blood, sweat and tears.  Donna wanted a raw, grungy ballet session that honored the grittiness that underlies this graceful art.

This was such a fun session for us because we got to photograph something entirely new to us, which is always invigorating.  Thanks Donna for inviting us!  The dedication you have for your passion is so inspiring to us both!  :)

Okay, to wrap up our week of Detroit Bridal posts, here’s the last part of our shoot, at Detroit’s Eastern Market.  We’ve shot there a few times now and we always find a new texture or background to play with.  I was originally drawn to this really awesome metal garage door next to this and I wasn’t really feeling this door covered by red bars.  But Andy led our model over there and I saw this….and it’s a new instant favorite.  One other thing that was kind of interesting about this session is it’s the first time I can remember when our 70-200 2.8 IS L lens never left the bag. This particular image was shot with my new 200L which I remarked to Andy is “chock full of the goodness of the 135L, just 12 feet farther back”.  (Okay I am nerd.)  I promise no more gear talk for this post, mmmkay?

How badass is this blue birdcage veil?  HOT.  I love it.

Finally, here’s all our beautiful, patient, and wonderful models rocking it out for a group picture:

Thank you ladies, you were AWESOME!!!!

I seriously have a bazillion versions of this sequence and I have a lot where her hair isn’t in her eyes but I really liked this one because it just looks spontaneous.  And beautiful.  Love, love, LOVE it!  :)

Another major fave:

There’s more where this came from….up next:  Eastern Market.  :)

Yesterday we spent a fun day with some fellow photographers (and friends) shooting urban bridals.  These kinds of shoots are a blast!  Setting aside time for a bridal photography session is a tradition in some parts of the country, and one that should be a tradition in Michigan.  It allows the bride to get a series of unique and creative images that would be impractical to shoot during the confines of a normal wedding schedule.  It’s also an absolute blast for us, as we are free to play and try new techniques.  While hitting a funky urban setting makes for pure eyecandy, the session can be anything you want it to be, from the sleek look of an editorial spread to something more traditional and elegant.  Or modern, hip, colorful, and a bit grungy…like this session.  

I’m going to break this up into a couple posts just to give each model her due.  All the models were FABULOUS.  Total naturals – as you’ll see.

All of these photos in this post were taken at the Russell Industrial Center.  We’ve been renting a space there for a few months now.  It’s a very raw space, as you can see.  But if you don’t mind getting a little dusty, there are some awesome photographic opportunities, indoors and out.  This space is available for any of our clients looking for a location for their engagement sessions or day after sessions.  Just sayin!  :)

That’s it for now!  More coming soon!