Vada is such a sweet little bundle of joy with the most amazing complexion ever! We had a fun time, although she didn’t think our messing was so funny after awhile.:) Mom and grandma helped cheer on and we definitely captured some memories.

Amazing how mild the winter has been this year. There has been so much sunshine! It’s fun to just go out and play, with no vision or goal, just to explore and photograph whatever I find along the way. I’m not generally big into shooting in direct sun or at high noon, but I changed my mind. It was fun messing to see the different bokeh effects with the sun shining and reflecting off the water. Focal length makes a huge difference with toning down the harsh shadows of the sun.

This is my baby boy who turns 6 in just a few days. Where does the time go??

And my little Tilda Jane who turns 5 in March! She has eyes of coal so it’s always a hit or miss if you can get them to show up.

So hard to believe I met Reina when she was about 10 years old! Time sure does fly. She is growing up to be quite the talented young lady. We had a bit chilly, but super fun time doing her senior portraits!

Full of smiles and laughs, Ace came in with his none to proud grandma and mommy for his one year pics. He is the most adorable thing. His smiles never seemed to stop and every prop was a challenge and a building project to see just how it went together and if it could be disassembled. So cute!

Proud to report, that we have been busy at work and have now remodeled the second half of the studio! We are working on a lovely changing area for our clients and now have 600+ more square feet to serve you! Here is part two of the progress.

Yes, this is what we started with, but there were more cubicle dividers. Just lovely, isn’t it?

Lots and lots of primer!

And now for the paint!

And yes, the new floor! This area feels so nice, airy and spacious now! Still working on rearranging things and setting them up, but boy has it come a long way! We now have a lovely, usable space! Thank you so much for those who helped me do this because I definitely couldn’t do it alone!!!

January 18, 2010

It continues to be a work in progress, but thanks to the wonderful people around me to support me this space has come a long way! I’m so very excited to see it all come together. It is feeling like home now. This building is very old. There are remains of the diner in the basement from World War II and an old TV repair shop. There are so many treasures to be found. It has been an accounting office for the past 25+ years and the old brick was covered with paneling. Yes, lots of beautiful brown paneling, wallpaper and commercial blue carpet. We were able to restore some of the brick. Unfortunately the tin ceiling is in shambles and the floor couldn’t be recovered, but I love how it has all come together! There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony and an open house on Friday, February 19th from 5pm – 7pm. The studio location is at 202 Trowbridge Street in Allegan. I look forward to seeing new and old faces alike!

Before and after of the front main shooting area. Wallpapered paneling was torn down to reveal the natural brick. Trimmed out the window and built a ledge. Thank you to my wonderful father, John, Paul and my mommy for all of your hard work on this whole space!

Four roll seamless paper holder – for all you dyi photogs out there looking for a solution. I LOVE it!

Replaced the wood door with a glass one to attract foot traffic from the office next door.

The waiting and proofing area. LOVE my orange couches!

A few more views. Little tut tut tucked herself way in the back room to take a little nap in John’s “good” clothes.

My super awesome chairs purchased from the antique store in town. They went into storage and got some water damage so I had them reupholstered.

The super talented and fabulous Cathy Boysen painting the logo and designs on the windows.

My office. So much history. The desks were pulled out of the barn and repainted. They were once in my grandfather’s office downtown. Still working on photos, but the old windows, used as frames, were also from my grandparents house.

Kip enjoying the new ledge and wondering what in the world is going on!

This phone also used to be in my grandfather’s office.

First photos as I tested out where I wanted to shoot.

Kip is my right hand man. Always ready to be my test model. Love him to pieces!!!

The theatre across the street. I love Allegan. My parents first date was at this theatre. It has seen quite the history, from being a horse livery stable to a buick garage. Here is a little history:

The Old Regent Theatre is a film & non-film events theater, with an authentic 1930′s aura, inside and out. It was restored the first time in 1996, and again in 1997, in its Art deco 1930′s style, made popular at the 1925 World’s Fair.  The Theatre also has its original 20 x 30 screen, one of the biggest screens in Michigan; a bonus to the film lover, whether watching newly released films or classics of yesteryear.  The historic panels in the red seat auditorium were recreated and the original 1930′s red carpeting was restored.

The building which houses the Old Regent Theatre has been transformed and renewed throughout the years to meet the needs of the community. It was originally built to be a horse livery stable back in the late 1800′s.  In 1902, the building was transformed into a buick garage. In 1919, the building became a vaudeville theater, and a silent movie house as well. Inspired by the World’s Fair, the theater was given a face-lift in the 1930′s, and redone in the Art Deco style and reopened mainly as a film theater.

One source reports that because of “a series of failed operational attempts,” this theatre was abandoned during the 1980′s, a crummy shell of what it once was during its heyday in the 1930′s. As no one stepped forward to buy this really woe-be-gone fixer upper opportunity, it had a date with the wrecking ball in 1990. Lucky for us all,  a non-profit organization, The Old Regent Theatre Company  came to the rescue, and began the long process of restoring this theatre to its 1930 glory days.

The Old Regent Theatre had its grand reopening in 1996, once again showing films and hosting events for the benefit of the public.  Then, in 1997, a heart-breaking disaster struck. A violent rain storm caved in the roof, ruining the inside of the theater. The miracle was that it happened just 1 hour after the theater had closed for the night, and no one was hurt.

The city of Allegan stepped up to the plate this time, and paid off the remaining morgage of 18,000 dollars. With the help from various state and local grants, the pain-staking process of reparing and restoring once again the Old Regent Theatre began and was completely restored for the second time.

A few more senior pics from the summer!:)

Jared is an all- American fun loving guy who loves his sports. We had a great time roaming around downtown Allegan for his senior pictures. There are a lot of photos that didn’t make it on the blog this season, so I’ll be busy posting. I get asked a lot if I have a studio to shoot in and if I photograph senior boys, so you will be seeing a lot of both in the coming weeks.:)

So crazy to think a whole year has gone by already since I started photographing this little pumpkin! These are the last of the baby’s first year album pages, we’ve filled it up with newborn, 4 months, 8 months, a baptism, a fall session, and now his birthday party.:) Fun to see it all come together into one beautiful album, but so sad at the same time!

As I was driving today, I couldn’t help but be overtaken by how beautiful everything was with all the snow dripping off the branches and the grasses. It was and is a sight to behold. Christmas is such a busy time and while I tried so hard to take time out to rest in Jesus, I was only left wanting more, but thankful for His grace in always meeting me where I am. Yesterday I photographed a family who is loosing their mother. I took this couples wedding photos this past July and her mother was just fine, but she was diagnosed with lou gehrig’s disease and is quickly loosing all mobility and in a wheel chair. Through mumbles as her daughter listened intently she asked for her lip gloss so she could look pretty for the pictures and my heart just continued to break little by little. While the family is trying to remain joyful, I was reminded of how quickly our life is here on earth and how in the blink of an eye the ones we love most could be gone. Every. Moment. Counts.

My favorite one today. A quiet walk.

Alexandra is such a doll, and with an ecstatic smile like that combined with those cute little toes and rolls how can you not just adore her. We had a great time in the studio last week!