Metropolitan Imageworks

Here’s my friend Maddox, back on the blog for her 9 month portrait session.  I have this little munchkin trained, I swear each time I put my camera to my eye she looked straight at me grinned!!! Too cute!  Can’t wait to see her again in February for her one year session.  I’m excited to see what antics another three months brings.

See how Maddox hams it up for my camera?!

Even Grandma & Grandpa joined in the fun!

Still cracks me up!

One set of parents, three daughters, one son-in-law, one uncle and 5 dogs.  And I got everyONE looking at the camera!  I had been waiting to meet Winnie the doodle for months, as I had photographed her ‘mom’ and ‘dad’s’ wedding in Phoenix in 2008.  Former Chicagoans, they aptly named their pooch Winfrey and she is known Winnie for short.  I was in AZ for a day for portraits and the Thomas family had me photograph their whole group plus furry friends. I was in heaven for the entire shoot!

Aly & Cael are back on the blog again!  Their mom just reminded me that I began working with their family four years ago when Ashlyn was just an itty-bitty newborn! And now she is a young lady and the little music man Caelan is a whole year old – and he is speedy!!!  Time sure does fly when you’re having fun!  Aly was such a rock-star, she even let me do all her outfit changes and whipped out her own camera for a few pics at the end.  I think I have a new little help to begin grooming!

Look at this lovely little specimen!  I love working with newborns because they are so cute and squishy!  I was honored to photograph this little girl, as I had previously photographed her mom and dad’s wedding in 2010 and I like to carry on the photography traditions with clients.  Little Sienna was just perfect for her very first Metimages portrait session and she even went along with a few outfit changes.  I can see it already that she will be a daddy’s girl!

Oh my little Sammy, I have such a fondness for this little guy!  He has graced my camera at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months and most recently at 2 and a half years old.  I also photographed his Mom and Dad’s engagement photos and then their wedding photos in 2008.  And of course, one of my favorite childhood dolls was this cute little boy baby named Sammy (who was anatomically correct and could drink water and go potty!!!)  I have since gifted my Sammy doll to my bestie’s young daughter and I hope their dinner parties also entail the adults gathering around the loo . . .

For this session we met up at Cantigny and delighted in all the fall colors, perfect weather and of course Sammy LOVED climbing on the tanks and looking at the koi fish in the pond.  We even saw a hawk swoop down and rest on a wooden fence.  See you all again next fall!

Love me some repeat customers!!!  I had the absolute pleasure of working with Erin and John on their wedding day in October 2009.  And then Erin contacted me a few months ago to arrange for a fall photo session in the heart of the city for just the two of them.  It’s always so much fun to reconnect with Metimages brides and grooms and not only capture them again but to also get caught up on the past few years and share exciting happenings.  Thanks for spending the morning with me and let’s totally plan to do this again in a few more years!!!

I was very much looking forward to this wedding because the bride was my beautiful cousin Robin and of course it would be my first Detroit area wedding!  I flew in from LA a few days prior to the wedding and had a blast hanging out with Robin, Pete and the cast of wedding party members.  For the very first time I had my toes bedazzled at the singing manicurist’s nail shop.  Really an experience everyone should have on their bucket list!

Although in the days prior to the wedding a fall chill had hit the air, the actual wedding day dawned sunny and temps were expected to be in the high 70s, which in my opinion is just perfect for an outdoor ceremony in the Midwest!  I met up with the girls at the hair salon early in the morning and we had lots of laughs and silly antics.  After everyone was sufficiently coiffed, we zipped over to Glen Oaks Country Club for the rest of the preparations.  While Robin was getting her make-up done, the rest of us took turns heading downstairs to peak at the room as it was turned into a wedding reception and oohed and aaahed at the lush flowers. I only got reprimanded once for touching the girls’ bouquets but seriously it was all in the name of photos!  Robin’s sister and MOH thoughtfully arranged for a quick lunch for the crew and then everyone helped Robin into her dress.  I love the actual moment of transformation from a bride getting ready into a bride ready to get married!  I am still in awe of Robin’s tasteful alterations to her dress with the straps that matched her ruched bodice and the lovely flower belt.  Once Robin was ready, I headed outside to locate Pete and the guys and arranged the positioning for the First Glance.

I kept my emotions in check as Robin made her way down the garden path and I procrastinated letting Pete turn around to see her because I was loving his expressions and the emotion.  But no worries, when I finally let him turn around to see hi beautiful bride – he let some emotions fly and that just one of many reasons why I love the wedding day! EMOTION!!!  So here is where I say Thank You, Pete, for being an emotional groom and allowing for some amazing photographs of those moments.  After a short time with Robin and Pete we headed into wedding party and family photos and got every single one out of the way prior to the ceremony!  This makes for a smooth flowing day once we get all those groupings checked off the list.

The intimate and touching ceremony was set in the garden at Glen Oaks and attended by Robin and Pete’s closest friends and family.  With the blue skies, a lush garden, the gently setting sun and comfortable September afternoon temperature – the day really was perfect!  After we all cheered on their new union, guests headed inside the clubhouse for cocktails and mingling and then of course, on to the party in celebration of Robin and Pete!!!  One of the highlights of the evening, besides the heartfelt toasts by their siblings, was the 24′ desert table that needed it’s own room!  I’m drooling just remembering all the delicious sweets, cakes and fruit on display.

Congrats you two! Thanks for being such wonderful hosts and allowing me to play a special role in your day!  Now come visit us in California!

This raw emotion is the stuff photojournalists dream of!

A tired bride, typical for the end of the night!

Meet two week old Mildrid!  She was such a little smooshie newborn during her very first portrait session and I cannot wait to follow her milestones for the next year as well.  Older brother Coby has been a fixture on the Metimages blog since his debut in October of 2009.  We all agree that this time around, Mom and Dad are total newborn baby pro’s!

I met up with the Santos family last Friday during the last hour of daylight and capitalized on some wonderful fall weather and lush fall colors.  Sheila picked a perfect spot right on the river and her sons, Owen and Brian, gallivanted around and had a blast goofing off in front of my camera.  Even her husband Mark was a good sport!

OK, while I didn’t photograph Adelyn’s parent’s wedding, I had pleasure of photographing her older fur-brother a few years ago at one of my ‘Furry Fotos’ days and I photographed two of Adelyn’s aunt’s weddings and have another aunt booked for 2012 . . . so that must count for something right!?  She has some of the prettiest blue eyes that just pop and was a real trooper during all of the outfit changes.  I just loved watching her run around the park and grace me with her smiles!  Again another perfect fall day!