We're Not Perfect and Why We're Celebrating Anyway: Courtney + Scott

It was a typical Friday afternoon in my office when I started to feel it. I drummed my fingers across my keyboard typing out emails as I felt it expanding in my mind. If it had been a physical manifestation it might have looked like water boiling on the stove. It bubbled slowly at first and then became rapid until it spilled over the sides of the pot. It was a mental itch to get out of the house, get away from the everyday routine, and it was all consuming in my mind by the time Scott arrived home. . .

Personal, Behind the Scenes, AdviceCourtney CarolynJanuary 20, 2017January 2017, Christmas, Christmas Portraits, Mini Sessions, Portrait Session, Anniversary, Anniversary Photographer, Anniversary Portraits, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Gift, Six Year Anniversary, Courtney and Scott, This is Us, CourtneyComment

Winter Maternity Portraits, Rochester, MI: Alexis + Alan

I was so excited when Lexy and Alan set up their portrait session with me and that I had the opportunity to spend the afternoon photographing these two cuties! I feel honored to have been Lexy and Alan's wedding photographer this past May (see their wedding day here), their engagement photographer the summer before that (see their engagement photos here), and to be a part of such a special time in their love story! For this lifestyle portrait session, I had the opportunity to photograph them, again, at another extremely special time in their life together; before the arrival of their first baby! Ahh! . . .

Lifestyle PortraitsCourtney CarolynJanuary 17, 2017January 2017, Rochester, Royal Park Hotel, Rochester Maternity Portaits, Maternity Portraits, Anniversary Portraits, Winter, Winter Portraits, Winter Engagement, Lifestyle Portraits, Alexis Kern, Alan Kern Comment

Elegant, Laid-Back Wedding at The Colony Club, Detroit, MI: Molly + Chris

I received one of the best compliments after 10 hours of capturing Molly & Chris' amazing wedding day. Their wedding was held at the iconic Colony Club and at the majestic Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, MI. At the end of the night, while dancing was well underway, I walked up to Molly and gave her a big hug goodbye and said one last congratulations to her on her marriage to Chris! Molly smiled and because the music was so loud she leaned in closer to me as she said, "We had so much fun with you today! It felt like you were just our good friends here celebrating all day while taking the photos." After hearing those words, the soreness and longness of the day just melted away from my body. Molly's words made all of my hard work throughout the day of looking for the best locations, the best light, anticipating moments, and staying on schedule so worth it! . . .

WeddingsCourtney CarolynDecember 30, 2016December 2016, MGM Grand Hotel, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Institute of Arts Wedding, The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament Wedding, Catholic Wedding, Cathedral Wedding, Historic Detroit Wedding, Detroit Wedding, Detroit Wedding Photographer, Detroit Wedding Photos, Colony Club, Colony Club Wedding, Beautiful Day Planning, Badgley Mischika Wedding Shoes, Winter Wedding, Elegant Wedding, Elegant, Classic Wedding, Laid back wedding, Fun wedding, Bride and Groom First Look, Bride and Dad First Look, Berry Wedding Colors, Berry Toned Bridesmaid Dresses, Vintage Inspired Wedding, Scottish Song, Michigan Wedding, Michigan Wedding Photographer, Downtown Detroit Wedding, Molly & Chris Featured Comments

Fall Lifestyle Family Portraits At Home, Monroe, MI: Brooke + Ben

One of my biggest joys as a wedding photographer is getting to continue photographing couples after their wedding day and as they grow in their marriage and start families! The fall is a special time of year for me in so many ways not only because it is my favorite season, but there are lots of colorful outdoor weddings, I'm meeting with newly engaged couples getting married the following year, and I also sometimes have the privilege of photographing my past clients again!! . . .

Modern Fall Wedding at Solitude Links Golf Course, Port Huron, MI: Marita + Kirt

Marita and Kirt's wedding day was so relaxed and laid-back and all their family and friends in attendance could not stop smiling the entire day because of the amount of joy and love surrounding these two individuals! To top it off, Marita and Kirt had a truly magnificent fall-colored backdrop at the Solitude Links Golf Course & Banquet Center in Port Huron, MI where they held their reception! . . .

WeddingsCourtney CarolynNovember 24, 2016November 2016, Port Huron, Port Huron Wedding, Port Huron Wedding Photographer, Solitude Links Golf Course, Solitude Links Golf Course Wedding, Modern Wedding, Modern Fall Wedding, Fall, Fall Wedding, Black Bridesmaids Dresses, Black and Gold Wedding Colors, Black and Gold Wedding Inspiration, St. Joseph Church, Classic Wedding, Laid Back Wedding Comments

Timeless Grosse Pointe Academy Wedding, Grosse Pointe, MI: Tina + Zach

As guests slowly filed in, looking to find seats at the Grosse Pointe Academy chapel, there was a palpable feeling of anticipation in the air. The smiling faces of Tina and Zach's closest family and friends were eager to see Tina walk down the aisle of the historic church and to witness the start of her marriage to Zach! Bright sunlight filtered in through the stain glass windows as Zach stepped to the front of the altar. The organ boomed to life as the church doors swung open to reveal Tina and her father. . .

WeddingsCourtney CarolynNovember 18, 2016November 2016, Grosse Pointe Academy Wedding, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Academy, Grosse Pointe Wedding, Grosse Pointe Wedding Photographer, Club Venetian, Club Venetian Wedding, Madison Heights, Madison Heights Wedding, Timeless Wedding, Traditional Wedding, blue wedding colors, Pink Wedding Colors, detroit wedding photographer, Detroit WeddingComment

Vintage Fall Wedding at Waldenwoods Resort, Hartland, MI: Alana + Kyle

On the morning of Alana and Kyle's fall wedding day at Waldenwoods Resort in Hartland, MI, Alana was all smiles as she stepped into her vintage lace wedding gown with the help of her sisters, bridesmaids, and her mom. All the girls were laughing and joking as they helped Alana with her earrings, out of her quirky, cat-in-outer-space socks and into her Badgley Mischka shoes, and even spritzing her perfume before she walked across the property to share a first look with her groom-to-be Kyle! . . .

Grosse Ile, MI and Silver Shores Waterfront Wedding: Rachel + Steve

There is something so honest and wonderful about the way Steve looks at Rachel. . . and when they looked at each other as Rachel walked down the aisle in the intimate St. Anne Chapel in Grosse, Ile, MI, they were instantly connected. Rachel's dad gripped her arm as they walked toward Steve and I could see the emotion of the day start to well up on his face. This moment when Steve saw Rachel for the first time was a moment he and both families greatly anticipated! Steve and Rachel had dated each other since high school and this day was finally here and no one could contain their excitement! . . .

Jen + Kyle | Downtown Northville Fall Engagement

When Jen, Kyle, and I all sat down for their initial consultation to discuss their wedding I knew we were going to be a perfect match! Jen is so easy to talk to and I could tell Kyle loves listening to what she has to say! Jen and Kyle told me that they originally met through Match.com, and they joked saying everything just "clicked" from there (aren't they cute?!). . .

EngagementsCourtney CarolynNovember 4, 2016November 2016, Downtown Northville, Downtown Northville Engagement Photos, Historic Northville, Michigan Engagement, Northville Engagement Photographer, Michigan Engagement Photographer, Detroit Engagement Photographer, Ann Arbor Engagement Photographer, Engagement Outfit Inspiration, Fall EngagementComment

Save Your Date

MY Instagram