Images by Michele The Latest

A Lot Has Happened in 5 Months

2012-02-24T19:00:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe it's almost March and I haven't written a single post in 5 months! A lot has happened during that time:

My sister (one of the 7) Terri got married
The busy season was awesome, busier but smoother than the year before
Pretty relaxing Christmas and New Year's (spent in NC...a little sad I didn't get to see my family but I needed some rest)
Attended Imaging USA in New Orleans (AWESOME!!! I got a great new gadget to help me entertain the little ones while I'm taking their photos)
Painted and redecorated the Gallery (not totally finished but it's going to be AMAZING)
Got a new car (Toyota Highlander, which I will be adorning obnoxiously with the Images by Michele logo!)
Jessy got her license! Ahhhhh!!!! I'm pretty sure I have a whole head of gray hair! She's actually a really good driver but I still worry like crazy.

That pretty much sums up the last few months. I also discovered that I am gluten and dairy sensitive and that if I eat anything with either of those, my immune system gets thrown into a hiatus. Needless to say, once I gave up all of my favorite foods, I lost 10 lbs! :D I actually feel great and even though it's been rough, I've found lots of substitutes for some of my favorite eats.

On a photography note, here are a few newborn images that I've recently taken that I love..yup I have baby fever!!:

Beginner Photography Classes Are Back!!

2011-09-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

“Most photographers aren’t willing to share their “secrets” for fear that clients won’t need them anymore, but Michele was so open and an excellent teacher. Not only do I know how to use my expensive camera to a fuller capacity, I know the tricks to taking better and more thought-out pictures. The photography class flipped on the light switch for me and I would definitely recommend to others! Loved the mix of classroom and hands-on learning so that I could apply the knowledge to real life. And even though I’m better at taking pictures, I still need Michele and her professional skills!” -Brooke W.

“I bought a nice digital SLR camera without any knowledge on how to use it. It was frustrating to spend that kind of money and keep ending up with photos I wasn't happy with. Michele taught me how to use my camera much better than the manual could. Thanks to her photography class, I have been able to take some amazing photos that I'm proud to display in my home!” -Katie C.

“My camera was always on the same setting until I took this class. The pictures I take of my children have drastically improved. I've even had friends ask if they were professionally taken. Thanks for a great class!” -Colleen Y.

Beginner Photography Classes are here again! You can bring any camera you own and we'll figure out how to get better photos using it. We'll discuss photography lighting, background, composition, as well as camera basics including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. At the end of the course you'll know what each of the settings on your digital camera can do. Once you have a better understanding of your camera functions, you'll be able to decide when to use them to get higher quality photos.

Beginner Photography Class Details:

4 1.5-hour classes

Classes meet at my house on Wednesdays (starting September 7th)

Time: 7:00 - 8:30 pm

Limit 6 students per class (If more than 6 sign up for the class I may open another night)

3 of the classes will be lecture/open discussion and the remaining 1 will be outside, hands-on (we'll schedule a Saturday or Sunday that works with everyone)

$30 per person per class ($108.00 for all 4 sessions if you pay for all up front)

Also, these classes are open to everyone so if you know someone who might be interested, pass along this email. If there are certain topics you'd like me to discuss, send me an email.

Sign up today! Spaces are limited!!

Wow - It's Been a While...

2011-08-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

If I could fire myself from Blog Editor I totally would! I really meant to keep this blog as up-to-date as possible but I've failed miserably!! Ahhhh! A LOT has happened in the last few months.

The Beginner Photography Classes were a total success. I found it fulfilling to teach clients and watch them become better photographers. As a result, I think I've also become a better photographer. In the upcoming months I'll be organizing another class and eventually an advanced course.

For Memorial Day break we went to Carolina Beach for the week. It's a trip we take every year and it was awesome! The slideshow below is from that trip. We had one rainy day and then several windy days which made some awesome photos. I also discovered (with Leigh) a love of finding unique shells and also sea glass. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with all of the pieces I found but it'll be cool. CAROLINA BEACH MEMORIAL DAY WEEK SLIDESHOW 2011

The next big trip we took was to Italy!! It was amazing!!!! I will have a full post on that trip as soon as I'm finished editing. So far, I've only edited 350 images...and that was only the last day in Rome!

One week after we got back from Italy, Jessy and I drove to Connecticut for a family reunion. It was the first time in 5 years that all of the sisters were in the same state. We all had the week off, including my mom!! We had something planned almost every day and it was great seeing everyone. I took some family photos which I'll post here soon as well.

And...the final thing (so far) that happened this summer: Jessy became a big sister! Gabriel Anthony Maldonado was born on July 27th and is sooo adorable. Jessy can't wait to go back to Connecticut to visit her "baby brudder". :D

I will definitely try harder to keep this fresh but I might just have to hire Jessy to do this job. ;)

Spring Sessions and Great Gift Ideas for Mother's Day and Father's Day!

2011-04-06T18:08:00.000-07:00

Easter, Mother's Day, and Father's Day are right around the corner!

Looking for a great gift for Mother's Day or Father's Day? Whether you book a new session or order from your previous sessions, photo products are the perfect gift for your loved ones. If your family is looking for a gift for you, ask for gift certificate!

Great Photo Gifts:

Gift Certificates
Accordion Books (Set of 3)
Prints, Gallery Wraps, or Stand-outs
DVD slideshow (I can also make slideshows with your own personal images as well!)
Memory Books

Now that the weather is getting nicer and flowers are in full bloom, it's time to book your spring portrait session! April and May are filling up fast so call or email today to schedule your session!

Beginner Photography Classes Are Starting Soon!

2011-02-26T07:21:00.000-08:00

Beginner Photography Classes will start in March. You can bring any camera you own and we'll figure out how to get better photos using it. We'll discuss photography lighting, background, composition, as well as camera basics including aperture, shutter speed, ISO, etc. At the end of the course you'll know what each of the settings on your digital camera can do. Once you have a better understanding of your camera functions, you'll be able to decide when to use them to get higher quality photos.

Beginner Photography Class Details:

6 1-hour classes
Classes meet at my house on Wednesdays (starting March 9th)
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 pm
Limit 6 students per class (If more than 6 sign up for the class I'll open a Thursday night session)
4 of the classes will be lecture/open discussion and the remaining 2 will be outside, hands-on (we'll schedule a Saturday or Sunday that works with everyone)
$20 per person per class ($108.00 for all 6 sessions if you pay for all up front)

Also, these classes are open to everyone so if you know someone who might be interested, pass along this email. If there are certain topics you'd like me to discuss, send me an email.

Sign up today! Spaces are limited!!

Fall 2010 Promotion - Mini Family Sessions

2010-10-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again! Fall is just around the corner and it's one of the best times of year for family portraits. Everything from the colors, weather, to clothing, is just perfect! From now until November 19th I'll be offering mini sessions for family portraits. The session includes 15 edited and retouched photos, fit to a slideshow, plus 25 custom-designed fine-art holiday cards!

Spaces are limited so call or email to book your session today!

Images by Michele launches NEW WEBSITE!!!

2010-09-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

I loved my last website which I designed in Adobe Flash but there were several issues with it. First, since it was in Flash, in order to view it you had to download Flash. This doesn't seem like a huge issue but anything Apple-based doesn't support Flash. Sooo...all the new iPhones or iPads would not be able to view my website. The other problem with it was that it was very hard to update. The third issue was that since it was in Flash the text was not searchable.

I've been busy over this last year with my photography clients and I really had no time to dedicate to redesigning my site. I asked my friend and fellow graphic designer, Holly Harter (www.hhgraphicdesigns.com) to redesign my site. I barely had time to even work on the stuff I needed to get to her for her to move forward but she gave me deadlines and I had to make sure I met them. I absolutely love the new site! It does everything the last site didn't and it has sooo much more information. I spent an hour updating some sections that would've normally taken days.

Comment and let me know what you think!! http://www.imagesbymichele.com. Also check out Holly's website and check out her work: http://hhgraphicdesigns.com

Here's a screen shot of the site:

Carolina Beach - Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-13T09:19:00.000-07:00

We try to visit Wilmington at least 2 times a year and now that I'm living here too we try to visit more often. In the past we've always gone to Wrightsville Beach but the last few trips have been to Carolina Beach.

Our friend Brad owns Surfhouse Cafe and Surf Shop in Carolina Beach so we get to visit him and the shop while we vacation. The food is phenomenal!! A personal favorite is the Turkey Cuban sandwich...it's to die for. In November his shop will be featured in the prestigious Southern Living magazine! In winter months they serve specialty hot chocolates that have gained crazy attention. They also bring back their mushroom sandwich which I've been craving since last year! Needless to say I'm already planning our October trip back! Here's a few images from our recent trip:

My Trip to Guatemala

2010-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

A few months back I decided to surprise my best friend Tiana by showing up in Guatemala a few days before her 30th birthday. She has been living there since last October and she was a little sad that she wouldn't be able to spend her 30th with her close friends or family. For my 30th birthday, she made me the most unbelievable YouTube video and I decided immediately after watching it that I needed to go to Guatemala and surprise her.

Tiana had some slight suspicions but I called her the day before my arrival and threw her off my scent. She was totally surprised when I showed up...it was perfect! We spent the next few days hanging out in Quetzaltenango (Xela), walking through the town, picking up food for dinner in the markets, drinking "atol" (hot, sweet, corn drink), going on hikes, and just catching up.

At 6:00 am, on the day of her birthday, we hiked up a mountain with Don Carlos, a Mayan spiritual guide. We discovered that morning that based on the day I was born, my Mayan spirit (nahaul) is "Aj" and it was actually that day, Tiana's birthday! A coincidence? I think not! The ceremony was awesome and I could write pages and pages on it. I actually journaled almost every detail of my trip and I'm going to create a book with photos. We ate cheese and crackers and wine, then went to a spa for 3 hours, got ready and went to her friend Willy's opening night of his new restaurant. It was a perfect day and night and I was so happy to be able to celebrate with her.

We spent a few days at Lago Atitlan, which took 3 "chicken buses" and 3.5 hours to get to. The buses are so named because there are often animals accompanying the passengers. We stayed in a really nice hotel the first night and spent the next day taking a boat ride around the lake and visiting 3 different villages. It was awesome! The night before I left we decided to stay in a cheaper hotel...not the best decision! We discovered a huge spider problem and at 2:30-6:00 in the morning, about every 30 minutes, we were abruptly woken up to cackling roosters. If I didn't physically see them in the courtyard, I would have bet my life they were actually in our room! Hahah! It was a great trip and I had sooo much fun...even the roosters just add to the story!

Take a look at a few of may favorite photos from the trip and Tiana's birthday video:

A Surprise Trip to Ocracoke Island, Outer Banks, NC

2010-08-17T18:43:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back Teddy surprised me with a trip to Ocracoke Island. I had no clue where we were going so I packed a little bit of everything. Even when I pulled out the map and saw which direction we were going, it still didn't help.

Once we got to Ocracoke, I was really excited. We were going to spend the next few days doing nothing! We both brought our laptops because realistically, there was no way we could not do any work. We stayed at a really nice bed and breakfast and after the first night, we moved upstairs into a really nice room.

Each day we had breakfast, did a hour or two of work, grabbed lunch, and then headed to the beach once the sun started to go down. The great thing about the Outer Banks and Ocracoke in particular is the unbelievably beautiful beaches. We would drive miles down the road until we couldn't see any cars and then park, climb over a sand dune, and basically have a private beach to ourselves. We saw tons of dolphins and took full advantage of relaxing. Here are a few of my favorite images from the trip.

Playing with Video - Tristyn singing Scooby Dooby Doo

2010-07-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

My nephew is sooo freakin adorable. One day a couple of months ago, I was having kind of a bad day. I was rushing all over the place and feeling really stressed. Just as I was getting out of the car, my sister called to tell me that my nephew, Tristyn, had something he wanted to share with his "Crazy Antie Shells." He sang "Scooby Dooby Doo" and I was on the floor laughing so hard. It completely brightened my day and I kept calling for a new song. As any 5-year-old would do, sometimes he'd sing it, sometimes not.

On my last trip to Connecticut I decided I would video tape him so I could watch it whenever I wanted. Of course I had to do it on his terms...in the living room with the fan. This was my very first video off my Canon 5D Mark II so it's a little rough...but it does the trick. I can now watch Scooby Dooby Doo whenever I want. I thought I'd share it with all of you so you could have a good laugh!

A Week at the Beach - Carolina Beach, North Carolina

2010-06-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we went to Carolina Beach for the week. Every year we try to go at least one week. It's always an awesome time, hanging out with friends, relaxing on the beach, and of course, delicious food!

We dined several meals at our friend's store/cafe, Surf House. If you ever get a chance to visit Carolina Beach, you have to check out this place. The Turkey Cuban is unbelievable! If you make it to breakfast on the weekends, try the House Hash. It's loaded with potatoes, cheese, garlic, bacon, ham, and then topped with a fried egg. It sounds kind of funny but it is soooo good!

One night we cooked in and had a shrimp boil or some call it a "a low-country boil." The basic ingredients are shrimp, spicy chicken sausage, mini corn-on-the-cobs, potatoes, garlic (lots of garlic), mushrooms, and then packets of spicy shrimp boil seasoning. It was delicious! Everything cooks together in the pot and is seasoned to perfection. Our batch was soooo hot...I think we used too many seasoning packets! My nose was literally dripping! It was great but if I ever cook it on my own, I'll take out a packet or two!

I can't go anywhere (especially vacation) without my camera. Here's a few of my favorites from the trip:

It's Been Too Long...

2010-05-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok, so when I decided to start a blog I vowed that I wouldn't be one of those people that writes a bunch in the beginning and then trails off. It's not that I have nothing to write about, I've just been really busy this last month. I will try not to wait another month before a new post. Here's what's been going on:

My birthday promotion was a huge hit! I even had 7 photoshoots in one week! I'll definitely be creating more promotions like that one!
On May 8th it was one year since we closed on our new house.
Jasina finished her last JV soccer game...I was sad the season ended... :(
I had a major stomach bug...the B.R.A.T diet totally works! Bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast!
I planted my first flowers ever! Let's just see if they stay alive!
Oh...and I turned 30! Ahhhhh!!! I had a great day! It started with breakfast in bed and then I spent the afternoon at the pool. Jessy surprised me with a pedicure and then we went out for an awesome dinner at Copper (Indian). Tiana sent me an awesome video for my birthday...check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGF3NreGKGc

Here are some favorite photos I took during the last month:

A Nice Souvenir From My Vacation in Tampa!

2010-04-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Last week Jessy and I decided to take a road trip to visit my sister and nephews in Florida. We had absolutely perfect weather and my sister took us to some gorgeous beaches. Siesta Key has white powdered sand and crystal clear water. I'm just used to burning hot sand that makes your feet feel like they're bleeding! This was a very nice change. We also went to Anna Maria Island for a day and it was sooo beautiful...and the sunset was the cherry on top! I also got a little work done and even had time for a photoshoot!

On our final day in Florida we went to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure and had a blast! Hulk, Spiderman, Dueling Dragons, and The Doom are just crazy! One word of warning though, the "Fast Pass" is great to avoid lines but you can only use it once per ride...and it's an extra $40 on top of the $79 ticket price!

Now I must explain the title of my blog post. I try to stay out of the sun as much as I can and when I am in the sun I constantly reapply sunblock and also use sunblock chapstick. I do this for 2 reasons: 1) I had melanoma in my foot and my dermatologist would probably kill me if I showed up with tan lines. 2) I get really bad sun blisters on my lips. I managed to come home with just a slight tan but my lips however are another story! Instead of the usual big blister on one side of my top lip, I ended up with loooots of tiny little bumps all over my top and bottom lips!! Ahhhh!!

So...if you are prone to cold sores, I have a few tips I'd like to share. When I feel a cold sore coming on I take 2 L-Lysine pills (can be found in any drug-store) per day. It's a natural amino acid that promotes healthy collagen. Abreva, although very expensive, is the only cold sore medicine that gets rids of the problem fastest. Campho-Phenique is another pretty good alternative if you have time to let the blister run it's course. However, Abreva did not work this time for me. I think because it was from the sun and not from a change in weather, my normal methods didn't work. My lips were really itchy and dry and the Abreva made them even drier. To make a long story even longer, I tried Aquaphor -- which is actually the jelly that my doctor gave me after my foot surgery to keep my wound nice and moisturized. It sealed in moisture and my lips are back on track...thankfully...

I'll spare you photos of my busted lip and instead share with you a couple photos of the beautiful sunset on Anna Maria Island....

Crazy Weekend!

2010-04-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I ventured north for 3 photoshoots! I was so crazy busy that I literally had to schedule sleep! My journey began on Friday at 6:00 am...I had an early flight to Connecticut and as soon as I landed I sprinted to Hertz to get my rental car. I then drove to Milford, which is about an hour away.

The first photoshoot was awesome! Jen was looking to update her publicity photos and wanted some natural shots. Although it was cold, we went to 3 locations, including the beach. The clouds in the sky were really cool that day...streaks of white against extreme blue. I had to take a photo of it!

I left Jen and headed up to Waterbury to go to a Hibachi restaurant for my brother-in-law's birthday. It was awesome! Can't beat beer and wine, sushi, salad, soup, hibachi shrimp, and fried ice-cream for $35 (including tip!)

Saturday morning I had breakfast with my mom before she had to go to work and I had to travel onto my next photoshoot in NYC. I've photographed Marcella's wedding and separate reception so when she asked if I'd photograph her 2 baby showers I was thrilled! The first baby shower was in Brooklyn and it was unlike any baby shower I'd ever attended! It was held at Poppa's Place (Formerly Red Bamboo) and there must have been over 90 people at one time. The food was great (buffalo chicken wings and coconut shrimp were to die for!)!

After I snapped my last photo, I headed back to CT to hang out with another sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. On the way back from NYC I stopped and picked up a pizza from Vito's in Wolcott. After all, I'm not sure when the next time I'd be able to get it!! It was DELICIOUS!!!

I woke up early on Sunday and met my sister Jackie and niece Amanda out for breakfast. Although it was a quick visit it was awesome to catch up! Before the next baby shower, I stopped by my mom's to say goodbye and then headed to Naugatuck to check out Jessy's dad and his fiance's new business location. It's TLC Homecare LLC and they service the elderly, new mothers, recently injured, and also have a home-cleaning service as well. I'm so excited for their new storefront. It's in a great location with lots of traffic.

The final photo shoot of the weekend was really nice. It was different from the party the day before, but it was anything but traditional. Again, the food was outstanding! From fried cheese balls, to fruit salad, lasagna, meatballs, chicken wings, etc., I was a happy camper! The house was filled with love and of course, awesome music! They even hired someone to play the congas!

You'd think my weekend was over by this point, but I still had one stop to make. I met my friend (and fellow photographer, from Impressions Studio) Cindy out in New Haven at Ivy Noodle. They had some awesome noodle dishes for realllly cheap! While we were chatting and going over photography ideas I got an email from US Airways telling me my flight was delayed for almost and hour. I thought, pretty cool, now I don't have to rush. About 15 minutes later, I got another email telling me my flight was back on for 7:00! Ahhhhh! I had to rush out of there, drive from New Haven to Hartford in the rain, stop and get gas, and return the rental car. I made it just as they started boarding! We boarded on time, but the plane was delayed on the runway for 25 minutes. Once we were in the air I started editing the weekend's photos and right at the time we were originally supposed to land, the pilot let us know that we're in a holding pattern for at least another hour! Apparently there were crazy thunder and lightening storms plus a possible tornado watch in Charlotte! The good news is, we had enough gas to hold us over, I edited almost alllll of the photos, and we landed safely at 10:30 pm. I did see some lightening as we landed which is pretty scary from a plane!

What a whirlwind weekend! I needed sooo much sleep over the next few days and I'm just now back to my usual self! I had such a great time photographing beautiful events and getting to catch up with some family and friends! Below is a photo from Friday at the beach. I'll be uploading some photos from the other events next week.

My 30th Birthday Promotion!

2010-03-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

My 30th birthday is coming up in May and while I'm not particularly thrilled about it, I thought this would be a great opportunity to offer a photo special. So, from now until my birthday (May 16th!!) sessions are just $30!!! It's really an unbelievable deal! Check out the info below...click the photo to view larger:

Giuseppe 02.20.2010

2010-03-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Giuseppe has been a frequent visitor to the studio since his birth...and oh wait...even before he was born! This time I wanted to focus on him alone and capture some more creative photos. My intention was to have some sleeping photos but when this cutie came in he did not want to sleep! The day before I texted his mom and asked her to bring some hats. That day she had just received this adorable hat! When I saw it I wanted to die...it was the cutest thing!

Here's a few favorites from that day:

The Parisi Family

2010-02-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

This is the 3rd session with the Parisi's. The first session, Giuseppe wasn't born yet...but for the 2nd and 3rd he became the star of the photoshoot! Of course the first thing you notice about this angel is his hair...so wild and crazy. But it's his eyes that draw you in...

Check out a few photos of this gorgeous family:

A day in the park with Reese...

2010-02-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

Reese is one of the most adorable little girls I've ever photographed. She reminds me of Michelle Tanner (the Olsen twins) from Full House. We went to the park and I basically chased her around wherever she went. Her favorite thing to say was "UP!" I could photograph her allll day long. I did need a nap afterward...

A link to the slideshow:
http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Mapel-01-25-10-web/

Here's a few of my favorites:

Kelly & Brian 1/16/2010

2010-02-06T13:05:00.000-08:00

Kelly and Brian (along with their children and family) were so much fun to photograph. They had a very small, intimate wedding and it was so laid back. Everything started on their cue and and it couldn't have gone any smoother. After the ceremony we headed over to a nearby subdivision that had some awesome places to take photos! Kelly and Brian were having a lot of fun...with lots of smiles and kisses. I barely had to direct them! Below are a few of my favorites!

A slideshow to bunch more:

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Capan-Seward-01-16-10-web

Gallery Wrap

2010-01-28T13:12:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I ordered Kim and Mike's Gallery Wrap and when it came in last week I just had to photograph it. It looked awesome...like a piece of art! The image she selected was perfect to be printed on canvas material. She emailed when she received it and was thrilled! She immediately hung it up!

New Thumbnail Pages on Images by Michele

2010-01-25T10:23:00.000-08:00

For the past few months I've been thinking of ways to make it easier to browse through my photos on my website. As of this morning when you clicked on a category, it would start a slideshow. You weren't able to stop it and/or click on thumbnails of just the images you wanted to view. Over the weekend I found this tool that is just awesome! It loads the images as thumbnails and as you scroll over each image, it enlarges...the whole page appears to tilt too! When you go to my website: www.imagesbymichele.com and click on Photography, you'll now see 2 links for each category; Slideshow and Thumbnails. You can decide whether you want to sit back and watch the slideshow or go right to the thumbnails and have fun clicking around...it's almost 3D!

Jennifer, Ryan, Kaytlen & Stephanie

2010-01-25T10:14:00.000-08:00

Jennifer and her family were such a blast to photograph! They definitely felt more comfortable laughing and moving around then sitting and trying to pose and keep a straight face! I love the way these photos turned out...so much energy and I can't help but chuckle when I look through them. Here's just a taste:

Rae-Ann, Sarah, Greg, and JT 12-21-2009

2010-01-09T10:16:00.000-08:00

We had originally planned on a casual, outdoor photoshoot but my flight was canceled and so we had to reschedule for a Monday night. Plan B was in effect and it turned out great! Sarah and Greg just happen to have this beautiful green wall in their dining room...and voila! I absolutely love the photo of Rae-Ann and Greg cracking up...it makes me laugh every time I look at it. The photo of Sarah and Greg hugging is soooo cute!!! Of course...JT just steals the show with his Gerber baby looks!

A slideshow of more photos:

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Barnett-12-21-09-web

Kimberly & Mike Kochanny December 12, 2009

2010-01-09T10:01:00.000-08:00

On December 12th, Teddy and I drove to Raleigh and then flew to Chicago. We had about a 2 hour layover and then flew to Detroit. Once we got to Detroit we drove to Harbor Springs, Michigan...which is about 4.5 hours north. As some Michiganers, Michiganites would say...it's at the top of the mitt. We hit crazy weather once we got close to Harbor Springs...I'm talking a full blown blizzard!!! At one point we just started laughing because we had no idea whether we were still on the road! The great news is, the next day was the wedding and there was no snow, blue skies, and the temperature hit 26 degrees...it still sounds cold but we were thrilled. We were able to take some awesome snow photos and the rest of the day just kept getting better and better. Kim and Mike and the entire wedding party and guests had a blast and here are a few shots from their perfect wedding day.

Below is a slideshow of more images from that day:

Evan's First Photoshoot

2010-01-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

I've been on a newborn photo kick lately and I LOVE it!!! It's great to see first-time parents and their new addition. There's always sooo much love in the room. It also fulfills my urge to have another baby...at least for a little while. ;) Evan was an absolute angel. He didn't cry once! It was unbelievable!

Here's a slideshow of all the photos:

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Sauer-12-27-09-web

Giuseppe's first photoshoot!

2010-01-09T08:31:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos from Giuseppe's first photoshoot! He is absolutely adorable! He looked like a little Christmas elf! The photoshoot was a little crazy because although Giuseppe looks tiny...he eats like a horse!!! I was supposed to fly up to Connecticut this day but while I was at the shoot I found out my flight had been canceled because of a huge snowstorm. Everything worked out perfectly and I'm excited to photograph this little peanut as he grows more and more handsome!

Preview the entire slideshow:

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Parisi-Giuseppe-12-19-09-web

Mike & Leigh Christmas Photos

2009-12-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a few images from the photoshoot in Boone, NC. The snow was sooo pretty and Mike & Leigh were so much fun to photograph! Click the link below to view a slide show of the rest of the images:

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Austin-Leigh-Mike-12-05-09-web/

Boone, North Carolina

2009-12-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, we went to Boone, NC to photograph our neighbors, Mike & Leigh. We were originally going to photograph them at a winery closer to Huntersville, but it was raining out like crazy and we heard it was snowing in the mountains. Leigh (who also has known Teddy since High School!!!) went to Appalachian State (we won't even get into pronunciation now!) so she was very familiar with the area. It was the first snowfall and everything was sooo gorgeous! We felt like we were in "The Grinch", traveling up the mountain...it was magical! I was also really happy because it made me feel like I was back home in Connecticut. I was starting to miss the snow (well at least the first couple of snowfalls), and I had no idea that it would only take us an hour and a half to see some! :D The other crazy thing we saw along the way were tons and tons of Christmas tree farms. It was totally bizarre and I had to take out my camera and photograph through the window, right over Teddy's shoulder!!

Emma & Tristyn's Xmas Photos

2009-12-03T07:00:00.000-08:00

During my Thanksgiving visit to CT, I (naturally) took some photos of one of my nieces (Emma) and one of my nephews (Tristyn). I put together a couple of slideshows of their photos. My sister, Terri, called me after she saw her daughter's photos and said, "Oh my god!!! You captured Emma!" I love hearing that!! With both my niece and nephew, I had them make some funny faces and I think that really loosened them up and allowed me to capture their personalities...Enjoy the shows and post Comments!

My Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-30T15:13:00.000-08:00

We spent this Thanksgiving in Connecticut. My mom hosted and there was sooo much food...at one point Teddy looked at me and said, "There are more dishes of food, than there are people!" My specialty is the broccoli casserole...3 ingredients but if I didn't bring it I think my family would disown me! :D We had such a great time visiting family but back to reality...and the gym!

Rob & Brianne's Wedding - Negril, Jamaica

2009-11-16T09:17:00.000-08:00

Last week I went to Negril, Jamaica for our friends', Rob & Brianne, wedding. I have been to Negril twice and this trip was completely different. We stayed at the Moon Dance Villas resort and had a blast. We had our own bartenders (hilarious guys with tons of nicknames!) and our own chef (fabulous food). The wedding was incredible...every detail was beautiful...the beach, the ocean, steel drum band, lobster tails, dance floor on the sand, and of course the bride and groom. It was such a great experience, meeting new people, and sharing such a special time with Rob & Bri!

I, of course, can't go anywhere without my camera (especially a wedding!) so I took a bunch of photos. Check out the link below to a slide show of images.

Can't wait to go back to Negril...Enjoy!!!

http://www.imagesbymichele.com/slideshows/Rob-Brianne-11-07-09/index.html

Here's a couple of preview images:

Michiko, Kai, & Toa 2009

2009-11-04T13:59:00.000-08:00

I was so happy that I got to visit my friend Michiko (I’ve known her for almost a decade!) while I was in Connecticut this past weekend. She just welcomed another baby boy, Toa, into their family…just 4 weeks ago! She looks AMAZING…and her boys are gorgeous!! This wasn’t a planned photoshoot, just a few quick snapshots during my visit. Can’t wait to come up again and photograph the rest of her family. :D

Taiesha & T'nayah's Fall Portraits

2009-11-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

While I was in Connecticut I photographed Taiesha & T'nayah. Taiesha wanted some fall portraits of the two of them. When you're a mom it's easy to have 1,000s of images of your kids and only a handful of you in them! I couldn't have asked for better lighting and fall colors. T'nayah was so good too, posing for the camera and hugging her mommy on cue. As she got a little restless Taiesha bribed her with chocolate...it works every time! Hey, I can be bribed with chocolate too you know! :D Here's some of my favorites. I absolutely LOVE the photo of T'nayah hugging her mom...she's squeezing her with such love...

Justin Thomas turns 1!

2009-11-04T12:27:00.000-08:00

Justin Thomas (JT) turned 1 in July but I wasn't able to photograph him until October when I visited Connecticut. Rae-Ann suggested some fall photos at the Nature Center in Windsor. It was an awesome pick because the foliage was BEAUTIFUL!!! JT just ran around and I chased him, capturing that "Gerber baby" smile. :) Here's a few of my favorites:

A little about this blog...

2009-11-04T12:24:00.000-08:00

This is my first of many blog entries. So a little about this blog…I am a photographer and graphic designer and even though I’ve been a professional photographer for over 5 years, I just started my business full-time. I will be posting a few images from each session I photograph and also some personal ones as well. Please comment…your feedback will help me become a better portrait artist. Enjoy!!!