These past few months I've been designing albums like it's my job!  Uhmm...yeah, I guess it is.  Anyways - though I would share some recent spreads.

When it comes to album design, my personal philosophy is LESS IS MORE.  I am a big fan of clean, simple spreads that feature BIG images.  I always really encourage my clients to not feel pressured to cram every last photo they can into their album.  But rather, to let me pick the strongest, most beautiful storytelling images, and create a true art book. 

some of my favorite layouts from joe and heather's album:

So Tommy and I are really kicking our planning into high gear this month and I am getting super excited!  I am finally ready to reveal our location - which is just awesome.  We are getting married at (drumroll please)....the Palmer House!  It is Ann Arbor's only Frank Lloyd Wright designed home, and truly a gem.  Ours will be one of the first weddings held there, as it's only recently been made available as a rental for small events.  It will be a perfect fit for the intimate dinner-party wedding we are planning.

Here are some cool pics of the house (by Chris Arace)












and here's an interesting video with a little more background




I'll be rockin' a custom dolly couture dress (which my mom thinks is weird - sorry mom!), Tommy is on the hunt for the perfect vintage suit, and we've just hired wedding planner extraordinaire Laura Davis to help us make our vision a reality.  We're also building up our collection of vintage radios for a special surprise ;-)  if you have one to contribute let me know!!  I will say, this whole process has really helped me to see weddings in a new light, and to relate to my clients in way I'm not sure I was able to before.  We are so excited, and will be sure to share more as it all comes together.  Happy weekend!      

Just thought I'd share these super-cute save-the-dates I made for Neil and Erin:

It's no secret that I adore all things letterpressed.  There is something about a letterpressed print that is just so YUMMY.  Sometimes I dream about being one of those cool, crafty chicks who does her own letterpressing.  Anyhow - I was super-excited to meet Michelle - who actually is one of those cool, crafty chicks - and to learn about elevated press - a boutique letterpress studio right in Ann Arbor. 

Michelle founded elevated press with her husband Peter (who is also a great photographer) and together they design and print some of coolest, most beautiful wedding invites I've seen. 

She's working on some awesome save-the-dates for Tommy and I (i'll be sure to post some pics once they're ready!) and will also be designing our invitations and some other goodies.  If any of my brides are still looking for invites, you should definitely check her out!

I swung by their studio the other day and snapped a few pictures to share with my lovely blog readers (what's a post without some pictures!?)

here's michelle

So excited to share some favorite images from Noah's awesome Bar Mitzvah!

Another fantastic Dee Dee Hoffman event - this party had it all.  The Detroit YMCA was a fun and unique venue that lent itself perfectly to a casual, sports-themed party.  There was all the usual dancing, but also rock climbing, dodge ball and hockey for the kids.  FUN!  And the food was out-of-this-world.  2 Unique really outdid themselves with a delicious strolling supper. There was sushi, pad thai, tenderloin sliders, white truffle mac and cheese (getting hungry now!)....

But first - some photos from our portrait session at Temple Israel

steve and lauren are such a sweet couple, and their happiness is totally contagious.  we met up saturday for a relaxed engagement shoot in Ann Arbor - and I was in a good mood the rest of the day!  I'm super-excited for their wedding this July at Cherry Creek.

two new babies in one week - whew!!

I just adore shooting newborns - and it's especially fun when I also got to photograph mom and dad on their wedding day ;-)

Matt and Sarah were such a fun couple to work with.  Who'd of thought when I was shooting their wedding that I'd wind up getting married on the same weekend, two years later?  I definitely consider that a good omen! 

I was so excited when I found out last year that Sarah was expecting, and was absolutely thrilled to meet their beautiful new baby!

Here they are on their wedding day:

Will and Alyssa are such a great couple - I just loved working with them on their wedding day, and am so happy for them as they welcome a new baby! 

here are will and alyssa at their 2008 wedding:

Michelle hired me all the way from Germany, where her and Andreas live.  I was so excited to finally meet them for an engagement session while they were in town visiting for the holidays.  These two actually have a ridiculously adorable story - they met studying abroad in Australia, and made it work long-distance before finally settling down together ;-)

Anyhow - we met up in downtown Ann Arbor and had a great time wandering back alleys and other little corners of town shooting.  Here's some favorites!

I seriously am so lucky to have some of the coolest, kindest people on earth as my clients ;-)

I've gotten so many thoughtful gifts this year - from gift cards to coffee cakes, spa gift certificates, even a mezuzah! 

Just yesterday, Deb swung by the studio with a prezzie so cool I had to share it!  Deb is a hugely talented ceramics artist - you may remember her wedding from October, where she gifted her wedding party with custom mugs.  Well, now I have one of my very own!  Check this out:

Thanks Deb!

To everyone else who helped make 2009 such a great year - THANK YOU!  Here's to an even bigger and better 2010 ;-)