My Princess and her toad | Metro Detroit Children's Photographer, Harbor Springs, MI Children's Photographer, Petoskey, MI Family Photographer

We were on a nature hike at Thorne Swift Nature Preserve when my princess found a toad. She couldn't have been happier.


I have a million pictures to go through, hopefully I'll get around to editing a few more from our 4th of July vacation in Harbor Springs! We had a blast, but like they say all good things must come to an end. Our final evening in Petoskey was spent having a sunset picnic on the bay. I love Norhtern Michigan.

Will they? Howell, MI Children's Photographer, Pink Party, Breast Cancer Awareness, Detroit, Metro Commerical Children's Photographer

These decorations are what's left over from the "Pink Party". The Pink Party helps raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation. The alley is beautiful so I decided to take my daughter up there for a quick shoot....I wanted to mix something a little edgy against the softness of the pink and the twinkling lights. We were just about to wrap it up when a motion sensored light came on, and just as it did she looked up into it and and I grabbed this shot. Looking at it now, I see a sweet little girl, who's growing up too quick. When she's all grown up, what will she be like? Will she have known someone who has battled breast cancer, will she have to battle it herself? I pray that by the time my little girl becomes a young woman, they will have already found a cure and that breast cancer will be a thing of the past. To help make a difference donations can be made directly to the Susan G. Komen foundation by clicking here.

Michigan Challenge Balloonfest | Howell, MI Commercial Photographer, Detroit Metro, Commercial Photographer

Every year my family makes it a point not to miss out on Balloonfest. We have so much fun from watching the balloons take off at the launch site, fireworks, the balloon glow, the carnival and the list goes on. However our favorite part of the weekend is what we do together on Sunday night. While most families are back down at the launch site oooo-ing and ahhhh-ing over the balloons going up my family is watching from afar, waiting on pins and needles to see which direction the balloons will be headed and this is when the chase begins. We get in our car and follow the balloons, trying to figure out where they are going to land. Will it be in a subdivision like last year, will it be on a golf course like the year before? Watching them land is amazing, and being able to get up close with the kids is such a blast! I have a ton of pictures to show you but for now, I'll leave you with just one. This one happens to be one of my favorites from the evening. It was taken while standing outside of my sunroof while my husband was starting to drive down the road. Not the safest of situations but, let's be honest....anything for a good shot ;)

Fun at Family Fun Fest!!! Ann Arbor, MI Children's Photographer, Brighton, MI Family Pictures, Metro Detroit, Children's Photographer

As a photographer it seems rare that I actually get to go out and shoot for myself, take pictures of things that really make my heart sing. More often than not my kids run from the camera as soon as I bring it out which makes me so sad...because they are the one thing that I could take pictures of all day long and never get bored. When we decided to go the the Family Fun Fest with friends I knew this would be the perfect opportunity for me to shoot for myself, shoot something that makes me extremely happy and that is my kids having the time of their lives. Usually pictures like these would sit on my hard drive for years unedited and pretty much forgotton. I'm turning over a new leaf. I'm going to start editing for me too. I hope you find yourself smiling at the images below because I think they are bursting with fun and happiness. Enjoy.

And a few more....Birmingham, MI Children's Photographer, Family Photographer, Family Photos

Pucker Up Buttercup!! Birmingham, MI Children's Photographer, Brighton, MI Children's Photographer

Here's just a tiny preview of what's to come. I saw this image and had to post it right away. From a photographer's standpoint....these little puckered up lips are priceless.