Holiday Mini Sessions

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Companion Cats

Most of you know that we homeschool our girls. This past winter we went on a field trip to an awesome little no kill cat shelter in Battle Creek called Companion Cats.

What makes Companion Cats so special? Well, what doesn't? They have amazing volunteers and they are a no-kill shelter, of course. But their mission is to 'spay and neuter as many unowned cats to reduce overpopulation'. They have already spayed over 400 cats and kittens this year! Last year they spayed over 900 cats and kittens. They also help cats find 'furever homes'. Last year they helped 200 cats and kittens find 'furever homes'. And their adoption fee is so reasonable. Even less than most of the shelters in the area.


Please visit their facebook page for updates and lots of CUTE cat pictures.

I wanted to find a way to help them and some of my friends volunteer once a week, but I wasn't able to make that kind of commitment. I knew that I wanted to put my photography to use so today Diana, from Photography By Diana and I got to go play with some VERY cute kitties!


It's kitten season at the shelter. They have 40-50 kittens right now between the shelter and in foster homes. That is a lot of kittens that need furever homes! Call Companion Cats and talk to them about getting a new member of your family. 269-753-5594

Look at this beautiful girl? Don't you just want to love her up?

Thank you, Companion Cats and all the volunteers and foster families,

for your amazing work in the community.

My Own

Must share some recent images of my BEAUTIFUL daughters

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Early Spring Wedding

Early April in Michigan is never predictable, but I had such a lovely time shooting Jen and Tristen’s wedding as a 2^nd shooter with Michael Penn Photography. According to the Farmer’s Almanac we were supposed to have thunderstorms that day and Jen wanted pictures outdoors so we were a little nervous. In the end, it didn’t storm, or even rain, but it was pretty cold. It was okay though because, even that gave us some pretty sweet picture opportunities.

Here are some of the images from the beautiful wedding in St Joseph, Michigan. 

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Stylized Prom

One of my very favorite subjects was able to join me for a stylized prom/beach session. I had so much fun and I got so many amazing shots! Here is my sneak peek.

These shots were taken in St. Joseph, Michigan on the Silver Beach Carousel. Let me know what you think!

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Senior Portrait Season

It's senior portrait season! Make sure you book early so you can get a spot in.

I'm offering 50% off senior portrait session fees for the next two weeks. It can be scheduled for anytime between April and August.

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Scanning Gems

Over the last couple of months I've been delegated the responsibility of scanning in a little more than a hundred of my old family photos, lent to me by my grandmother and I just love looking at them.

I love the fantastic paper that some of them were printed on. I love the label on the back of some of them. The addresses and the phone numbers.... they are so different for what we use today.

I just wanted to pull out a couple to show you.

This first one is my favorite by far. It is my grandmother as a baby and her parents. It's printed on what I can only guess to be silver gelatin type paper. It has a lovely texture and a silver sheen to the paper. It's just gorgeous.

This next image is just kind of representative. I think probably half, or at least a third of the images had people posed in front of cars like this. I love it.

This last image is, I believe, my grandmother's grandfather or possibly her great grandfather. I believe she called him "Opa". My grandma says that her grand parents were Dutch and didn't speak much English. I personally just love his stance, the look on his face and his incredible personality that shows in this image.

What amazing treasures have you found while scanning in old images?

Wedding Dreams-Installment 1

Installment 1 because I know there will be more wedding dreams for sure! Do you have wedding dreams? Nightmares? What is the weirdest one that you have had?

It never fails. Before every wedding I do, and I don't do all that many, I get dreams, sometimes nightmares about the wedding before hand. Last night's dream came pretty early though (like 5 weeks before the wedding early) and was somewhere in between a dream and a nightmare.

So, dreams can be weird, but I'll try to describe. In this dream, the wedding was in Chicago (though it's really at the Celery Flats in Portage, Michigan). My car (which some of you know is brand new to me and pretty brand new, period) was parked at this house and some people that lived in the house vandalized it. I actually watched them do it. They broke the windshield with a crow bar and painted the roof green (I don't know!). So, I pulled the car off to the side of the road and was going to call the insurance company, but before I could get to that the car was impounded. When I finally got a hold of the insurance company they told me that it was going to take 10 days to fix and I was really worried about having to come back to Chicago in 10 days to get it.

On top of all that, I had forgotten to bring my girls' (who are in the wedding, it's for family) dresses. Needless to say it was a little nuts. Hopefully that's my only dream for this wedding. I don't know if I can handle many more like that.

On a fun note, I just wanted to share a beauty from the last wedding I was at, where I was a 2nd shooter for Michael Penn Photography. It was at one of the most beautiful locations in Michigan, Shadowland on Silver Beach in St Joseph, Michigan. Michael stole away the bride and groom for some shots on the beach. Here is one that I just love. Aren't they just gorgeous?

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Photographer Novelties

Well, earlier today my husband and I put together our brand new entertainment center. As I was putting our different book series on the shelves I got to thinking that I'd like to have have bookends to go with the different series. One for Harry Potter, one for Series of Unfortunate Events, etc. So, naturally I found myself on Etsy looking around.

How cool is this?

Glass Tile Pendant

And I just LOVE this!

Camera Pillow

This is so crazy, but very cool.

Camera Soap

And this was in the category 'geekery'

Decals

And this shop has two that I love...

Brownie Nightlight

Charging Station

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Steampunk Rocks!

Back in December I began speaking with Thimgan Hayden (an amazing local painter, whose work you may find here) about her family portrait session. She mentioned the idea of doing a Steampunk shoot and I was on board in a heartbeat. If you don't know what Steampunk is, Wikipedia defines it as a genre that incorporates science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, horror and speculative fiction.

The shoot itself was so much fun! These are just a couple of my favorite shots. Though there will be many more to come, I'm sure.

If you are thinking about a Steampunk shoot, please call me or email me and let me know. I have some fantastic deals lined up for those interested in helping build my Steampunk portfolio

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Spring & Beginning of New Life

What a beautiful maternity session we had! It's so very amazing and beautiful when we carry a life inside us. It leaves me in awe.

"A moment in my tummy... a lifetime in my heart. "

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Can't wait for these adorable Spring sessions!

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Your Child's Session

Some tips to keep in mind for your session with children

1. Your child is not likely to cooperate with your desires. They will not sit still and smile. Please don’t expect this of them. They won’t respond to “let’s just get this over with” and candy bribes don’t work as well as you think.
   
   
2. Do not get mad, yell, or raise your voice to your kids. I’m not here to tell you how to raise them. You can do whatever you like at home, but the moment you get angry with them, the session is pretty much over. For them, and for me. Fear does not inspire smiles.
   
   
3. I am a patient person. I rarely have more than one session a day and chances are I am not really on a time limit with your session. If your session fee is based on per hour, know that sessions rarely last more than an hour. Especially with kids. If we need to take a break so your kids can get a drink, snack or hug to make them feel better, I will not hold that against you.
   
   
4. When I talk times with you before your session I will likely mention times like “It should only take about an hour”. I’m not a psychiatrist. I don’t have a timer going. It’s just an estimate. There is no rush.
   
   
5. If you want to help me get your child’s attention, get behind me. Stand with your face right above my head and call them, sing, do what you gotta do. I don’t mind this at all. You are not in my way there. Do not stand three feet away and call them otherwise all their pictures are going to be of them looking off camera because I can’t compete with the sound of mom or dad’s voice.
   
    
   
6. Designate who will be the one to try to get the child’s attention and everyone else needs to be quiet. You can switch it up, but communicate with each other who will be the one to stand above my head.
   
   
7. There is nothing wrong with images of your child looking off camera. They tend to be the most natural looking, sweet images and I love them. I will surely get plenty of them looking at the camera so don’t mind me if I at some point I take a break from the “look at the camera and smile” mentality. I might take the child on a small walk or just let them play. If I do this. I will let you know. You are welcome to follow me at a distance if we walk, but don’t try to get their attention.
   
   
8. If we are taking a family picture and you are in the picture with your child, don’t try to get them to look at the camera. I promise you it won’t work. Just try to keep your attention focused on me and I will handle the kiddos. I also like to get natural images so either before or after the “look at the camera and smile” picture, I might ask you to act naturally. Talk, tickle, sing, focus on your child and forget that I am there.

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Spectacular Rendezvous

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

dress + water = gorgeous

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Engagement

I had such a blast with Tracey and Wes wandering around the park and looking for the beautiful autumn backgrounds. It was fantastic to meet you both and I hope your wedding (in Grand Cayman... can we say jealous?) is as fabulous as the two of you!

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Kaylee

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

My Friend

In my sophomore year of high school my mom let me (well, we had to jump through a lot of hoops as I recall, but she jumped through them all for me 'cuz she's awesome!) switch schools from Vicksburg High School in Vicksburg, MI to Mendon High School in Mendon, MI. I didn't have too many friends in Vicksburg and I was anxious for a fresh start.

A new beginning.

Though it ended up being kind of hard in Mendon too because I am hopelessly shy. I am STILL hopelessly shy though I work everyday to help myself out of my shyness.

I made many good friends in Mendon. Many more than I had made in Vicksburg, which was slightly sad due to there being about 80% less students in my graduating class at Mendon. Maybe that's why though.

One of my friends once I transferred was a girl named Dana. I didn't realize how much I really missed her (she moved away before we graduated) until facebook reunited us not long ago.

Last weekend Dana posted that her boys were gone to their dad's house and she needed something to do. I told her she could come over for a shoot so last Monday that is just what we did. We were at the studio for THREE hours talking, shooting, talking, talking, shooting and talking. It was a blast and was great to catch up with her!

Here is one of my most favorite images from the session. In fact, I think this is one of my most favorite images of all time. You're gorgeous girl! Just gorgeous!

I cordially invite you into the studio or on location for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Sixty Five Years of Happiness

I cordially invite you into the studio for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.

Beautiful Izabella

I have known this little one's aunt and mommy for most of my life and theirs. Especially moms. I cannot tell you how adorable this little girl is. I just want to love her up.



And I love this image from the session as well.



I cordially invite you into the studio for your own fabulous session! Visit http://hopescreations.com for pricing information. Call 269-381-4810 or email info@hopescreations.com to schedule a complimentary consultation and session.