Church Street Studio - Clarkston, MI Photography

rita + danny

Church Street Studio — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 15:57:51 +0000

Rita and Danny are married! Bill and I feel so blessed to have been able to work with such a wonderful group of people! The ceremony was at St. Josephs in Lake Orion, it is one of our favorite churches in the area- it is beautiful and has so much light! Here are a few images from their day.....

When a bride shows up in pink sparkly shoes you know its going to be a fun day! Rita has personality with a capitol P!!! She lights up the room and she is the type of person I truly can't see being mad at anyone.

getting dressed - her Mom bought her this gorgeous necklace - it was perfect!

These shoes belonged to Rita's aunt.

Her happiness was contagious! She was the most relaxed bride ever!

and STUNNING!!!

The reception was at Paint Creek in Lake Orion. It was supposed to rain all day, but shortly after we got there the sun came out and we were able to get some beautiful pictures outside.

Danny, to me, has the look of an old Hollywood movie star, very very handsome!

Rita is full of expressions! She is one of the funnest brides we have ever worked with! Taking these pictures I was laughing so hard I literally almost fell over.

Rita is allergic to flowers so she made table centerpieces using tree branches, crystals and candles- it was beautiful! The cake was from Sweet and Savory in Oxford- both Rita and her Mom used to work there and are very good friends with Deb and Scott the owners, who also happen to be friends of ours so it was great seeing them at the wedding too!

I can't imagine how long it must have taken to make this intricate design!

Danny and his brother - his brother gave one of the best toasts ever!

Mr and Mrs. Flynn

Rita and Danny, thank you so much for choosing us to photograph your wedding! You were both a dream to work with and your families were so gracious and fun, it was truly a pleasure!

mary and bill

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Clarkston SCAMP Designer Showcase House

Church Street Studio — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:48:10 +0000

If you are looking for something to do this weekend you should check out the SCAMP designer showcase home in downtown Clarkston. Its an amazing house that was totally redone by a lot of very talented people- one of whom is my friend Teri Guelde! Teri owns a store in downtown Clarkston called Frank & Me, she describes it as a fun, funky girlie boutique, which I think is the perfect description! I took some before and after shots for Teri. The room turned out beyond amazing! The inspiration was " Paris Apartment" . She is so talented and if you ever need any design work done I would call her in a second! The entire project was spearheaded by Kevin Harrison of KH Home, also in downtown Clarkston ( and its also a very cool store! ) The whole project benefits Clarkston SCAMP, an awesome organization that runs a summer camp for children and young adults with special needs.Tickets are only 10.00 so go check it out!!!

before and after

awesome flowers by the Parsonage!

detail inside the closet

even the marshmallows matched!

I wish she were mine...

Go check out Teri's store! You won't be disappointed! 20 S. Main in Clarkston

frances + ian

Church Street Studio — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:04:13 +0000

Frances and Ian are married! We had such a great time working with them, it was a pleasure! I love everything about weddings and one of the things I always feel really priviledged to be a part of are the few moments before the bride is about to walk down the aisle, there are just a few moments when she is alone ( except for me ) and I can see when she realizes this is really it - the time is finally here! Frances was really nervous ( as a lot of brides are ) and I told her to just look at Ian as she was walking down the asile and as soon as she got to the alter it would all be fine- there is an image I posted of her on the alter that I just love because you can see nothing but joy and love in her expression- all the nerves are gone!

She was a GORGEOUS bride

awesome flowers from the Parsonage!

The ceremony was at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills. We love this church, it is so beautiful and has a great long aisle for the bride to walk down.

these arrangements were at the ends of the pews- so pretty

Their wedding party was the coolest!

The groom's cake was a replica of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence Italy- where Ian proposed!

Frances and Ian, Bill and I had such a great time working with you both! Your families were so nice, your friends were crazy fun and it really was such a great experience! Thank you!

mary and bill

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lisa + jim { e pics }

Church Street Studio — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:47:06 +0000

I had a blast shooting Lisa and Jim's e session! Lisa told me about this really cool barn she knew about- one day I drove on over to check it out and it was perfect! I wish it was mine! The owner was so gracious in allowing us to use his property and even left his house open for us in case we needed to use the bathroom! So, besides the fact that poor Jim was allergic to just about everything we were surrounded by ( AND he was missing the opening day of football! ) he was a great sport and Lisa- well this girl has a real sense of adventure! She was willing to jump up on anything, climb old rickety ladders, you name it - my kind of girl!

Lisa looked so beautiful- I can't wait to see her on in her wedding dress!

You just never know what she'll do next- I love it!

who knew tractors could be so hot?

Lisa and Jim, I had so much fun with you! Thank you for showing me a new place and being so easy to work with! August seems like a long way off but it will be here before we know it- can't wait!!!

xo,

mary

aisha + jamie

Church Street Studio — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:43:26 +0000

Aisha and Jamie are married! On a very atypical August day - one that called for terrible weather- they celebrated with their family and friends and got married in their own back yard! The weather cooperated and their ceremony was picture perfect!

They worked so hard on their yard and it showed! I think this was one of my most favorite setting ever.

And what an unexpected eclectic mix of vintage and new, it was gardeny, it was classic, it was chic and stylish- it was a lot like Aisha - I like to think of her as Martha Stewart with tattoos!

She was GORGEOUS!!! and Jamie was very handsome in his linen suit!

The whole thing had a Great Gatsby type feel.....

As usual the Parsonage did a spectacular job- everyone was talking about how awesome the flowers looked! And all the extra touches Aisha did herself really made the event personal- just how your wedding should be!

Jamie and Aisha have some great neighbors! This is in one of the neighbors yard- I hate to use the word yard, because this is more like a secret oasis- it was getting dark but I would love to go back and look at everything another time! We also got to look at the interior of the house and it was beautiful. All the landscaping was done by Marie Barker of Golden Pheasant Landscape, it was phenomenal- I realize these images don't really show the landscape - more so the fact that they are REALLY big Jimmy Buffett fans!

Once the sun went down hundreds of candles were lit - it was a twinkling, magical evening!

So to recap- gorgeous bride and groom- stunning yard- the best wedding band we have heard yet - flowers to die for - the nicest group of family and friends - our favorite caterer ( The Moveable Feast ) - the best beer selection we have ever seen at a wedding ( we didn't drink any! but were still impressed, who serves Chimay at their wedding???)

Thank you Aisha and Jamie! We can't begin to tell you what a pleasure and honor it was to photograph your wedding!

mary and bill

emily + john { e pics }

Church Street Studio — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:53:58 +0000

A few weeks back I met up with Emily and John early one Sunday morning - they were in town briefly and we needed to get their e session done... it was kind of raining but we waited a little bit and it stopped and we had a great time together! John was full of great ideas which was cool! Their wedding is going to be in December at the best place for a Christmas wedding- Canterbury Village!!! Can't wait! They make such a sweet couple, Emily is so pretty and with her dancer backgound is a joy to work with posingwise..very intuitive. After I was looking at a shot in the camera I realized John looked like someone famous - Woody Harrelson ( younger version of course! ) maybe we can get a shot of him behind the bar at the reception!

Anyway- here are some shots I liked a lot!

Emily and John- Thanks for a really fun Sunday morning! Hope things are cooling off in Texas! See you soon!

mary

aisha + jamie { e pics }

Church Street Studio — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:51:13 +0000

I am counting the days until Aisha and Jamie's wedding - for me this wedding is kind of like how a kid anticipated Christmas - seriously I can't begin to say how amazing it is going to be. Aisha knows the exact look she wants and she is working with the Parsonage, so needless to say its going to be spectacular! They are having it in their backyard, which they have totally transformed- and I am totally embarassed to say the work they have done in these few short months looks a million times bettter than the yard we have had for oh- 14 years!

Anyway- Shadow greeted Bill and I as soon as we got out of the car- I WANT THIS DOG!!!! He is beautiful and best of all so well behaved......if you guys ever get tired of him.... yeah I know thats not gonna happen.

The happy family

love love love freckles!!!!!

How is it possible to be beautiful and so freakin adorabley cute????? Most people are one or the other

but somehow Aisha is both. I can not wait to see her in her wedding dress!!!

22 more days!!!

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tricia + michael

Church Street Studio — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:43:05 +0000

Tricia and Mike are married! As soon as I met Tricia I knew her wedding was going to gorgeous, hip and super cool- just like her- and it was all that and more! She did an amazing job planning the wedding-every detail came together to create the perfect setting. We have shot a number of weddings at the reception venue and I have never seen it look as beautiful as it did on their wedding night.

And not to forget Michael! He is truly one of the sweetest guys around! You can tell he adores Tricia and would do anything to make her happy ( even kissing in public! )

Here are a few images from their day-

Tricia sneaking a look at Michael.

If the need arises there may be a story posted about these shoes, but for now lets just look at how cute they are.....

The DRESS!!!

Tricia was STUNNING! The perfect mix of style, grace, elegance, and just the right amount of edginess -

This picture makes me happy! Just looking at them I know they are going to share a lifetime of love and happiness.

How can you not love a bride that brings balloons????

Tricia wins this mustache contest hands down!

I am so so so grateful we stopped here!!! Thanks guys!!!

Flowers from the Parsonage- always my fav!

I love everything about this picture

Some details! This was perhaps one of the coolest color schemes I've seen!

Mr and Mrs Rapin

Tricia and Mike, what a day! what a night! what a crazy group of friends you have!!! We had so much fun working with you! Thank you for choosing us to be your wedding photographers!

xo mary and bill

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dana + tim

Church Street Studio — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:56:19 +0000

Not many couples can say they have known each other their WHOLE lives! Dana and Tim were born a day apart in the same hospital- they were in the nursery together. In preschool Tim announced that he was going to marry Dana someday! They are such a sweet couple and their love for each other is so apparent.

We had great fun with them and their wedding party! Here are a few of my favorites from their wedding.

Dana lived in my neighborhood when she was a child, but I hadn't seen her since her family moved away. It was really nice to see her parents again ( and Doug!) Their backyard was beautiful for doing pictures before the wedding.

Tim looking cool......

The reception was at the Nature Center at Indian Springs. It was our first time there so the week before Dana and I went to scout out where we might want to do some pictures. The playground area was perfect for some fun pictures.

We really loved this venue! When we took Dana and Tim outside after dinner to shoot a few images I could have stayed out with them for hours, there are just so many great photographic opportunities there!

I love this image- Dana looks so happy!

Dana and Tim, we are so happy we got to be your wedding photographers! It was such a fun day, filled with love, laughter and happiness-perfect!

mary and bill

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christy + jr

Church Street Studio — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:32:51 +0000

Wow! How lucky can we be??? Bill and I get to work together as a team doing a job we LOVE and on top of it we get to work with amazing people like Christy and JR - and their entire families and bridal party for that matter! What a wonderful group of people! Christy was breathtaking....... her bridesmaids looked like someone had ordered them from central casting, all gorgeous ladies! There was so much joy coming from everyone, I am smiling just remembering the day. Here are a few images......

Going to the chapel........

I loved the flower in the bridesmaid's hair. The Parsonage did all the flowers and as usual did an amazing job!

Christy's dress was designed by Austin Scarlett for Kenneth Poole. Austin was on Project Runway, a show I love! The dress was a piece of art in itself, and once Christy put it on it was magical.

About to walk down the aisle.......

I took this image between the strings of the harp.

Some bridal party fun......

These girls looked just as amazing from the back as they did the front! Loved these dresses and each lady wore it so well!

There are a lot of reasons we love doing weddings at Pine Knob and the Carriage House, one of course is the beautiful grounds.

Christy's Mom planned a surprise- she arranged for a horse and carriage to show up at the reception. JR proposed to Christy on a carriage ride, their reception was at the Carriage House, so how perfect was this idea? Here are Christy and JR seeing the surprise for the first time.

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. I was shooting JR with the bridesmaids and Bill got this shot of Christy as she watched.

The toasts were touching and funny.......perfect!

The first dance as Mr. and Mrs.! The band, Smiling Faces, was fabulous!

They had a candy "bar", people always love that!

A million thanks to you Christy and JR and your whole families! It was such a joy working with you all! We wish you all the happiness in the world! Can't wait to see you in August!

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