Engagement – Amanda and Steve

I was thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to take my friend Amanda’s engagement pictures. Amanda and I were actually in the same sorority at Michigan State but she had graduated the year before I joined and we ended up meeting through mutual friends in Chicago. Amanda is engaged to a wonderful man named Steve. While taking their pictures last week it was impossible to miss what a great match they are for the another. Congrats you two and thank you so much for letting me capture your love!

This is a picture at the actual table where Steve popped the question!

I told Amanda to show Steve how to work it, I think she did a great job!

Then it was Steve’s turn 🙂

These last two are my favorites from the day…

Brother Graduates!

“Two down, one to go!” – This is the mantra of my parents as #2 finished college last week. I was in East Lansing, proud as pie that my little bro got his degree. Here’s a couple of my favorite pictures from the day.

My favorite!

Wait, what’s happening today?!!

With his roomie

The world’s BEST cheerleaders made the trip to EL

HE REALLY DID IT!!!!!!!

Baby B – Photo Session

During my trip to Buffalo last week I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with this darling young man. Baby “B” is one of the happiest children I have ever met. He was a total flirt and spent the entire time smiling at us (or napping). Here are some of my favorite shots from the day. Enjoy!

Look at these beautiful eyes!

How will his parents ever say no to this face?

Even kids don’t take me seriously…

Such a Peanut!

Birmingham Groves High School – Senior Night

A few weeks ago I was recruited to go home and photograph Grace’s basketball game on their senior night. Given that I had never seen my sister play a game in high school I jumped at the chance. Here are some of my favorites from the night.

These fine folks are my grandparents. Hands down the worlds best fans right here. They have been to every milestone in all our lives.

Warming up…

Honoring the seniors

Getting ready for the game…

Playing with Light

It’s officially a family affair this photography hobby of mine. My sister got her first digital Canon Rebel while I was home last weekend and of course we spent the entire time playing with the settings. Because we’re awesome we spent Saturday night (yes, Saturday night) in the dark playing with multiple and long exposures. Here’s some of the fun…

We even got brother in on the action…

The Halloran standard, get all three of us in a single picture and at least one of us has our tongue out

My favorite – it’s a total lie but you get the idea

Me and Gracie down at the Train Yard

On my trip home my siblings and I went on a photo safari in downtown Detroit. Not knowing how much longer this beautiful building will be in our lives, our first stop was the old Train Depot. We packed an old mink of my grandma’s as a prop.

We went down to find the Ambassador Bridge for some more photos

Ice Skates and Chili

Part two of my Christmas holiday with mother’s family was a cousin skating party at the Rocky River arena. I haven’t been on skates in years but just like riding a bike, I got on the ice and was zipping around in no time. Before I knew it I had spent almost 3 hours on the ice! I definitely need to go again this year, maybe in Millenium Park. Who wants to go?

Here are the girlies in their skating outfits. There were so many people there that we didn’t even need jackets (or long sleeves)!

Doesn’t she look like the female Waldo? These are the awesome 3-D glasses her dad got when he saw Avatar. I’m pretty sure she didn’t take them off for 2 days. It definitely made her easy to spot on the ice.

After the skating was over we headed over to my cousin’s house for a chili dinner. Her basement is a kid’s dream play room complete with chalkboard wall, stage and costumes! I took full advantage of all the kids goofing around.

This little guy was really excited that everywhere you turned there were cookies and candy canes within his reach. Pretty sure he is polishing off a candy cane in this picture.

I think that the mammoth men call this “jowling”, I’m not sure why but it’s hilarious!

My sister, looking gorgeous as usual.

All he needs is the hat and we’ve got a little Waldo!

A Wonderful Christmas Time

This year for Christmas my family traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to spend the holiday with my mom’s family. It’s a rare year that a large group is able to make it in for the holiday (mom is 1 of 9) so it was definitely a special occasion year. I had so much fun hanging out with all my cousins and meeting the newest member of our family! Here are some of the pictures from Christmas Eve.

Uncle (grandpa) John reading The Night Before Christmas while we wait for Santa…

Santa’s helpers imported from Austin, Texas

The newest member of our family takes a turn on Santa’s lap

The Boston contingency

The young girls of the family. They were inseparable during our visit.

All the cousins, spouses and the next generation

The group in our natural state…

Wedding Workshop

That’s right, I got to spend my Sunday playing in a professional photo studio with models dressed up for a wedding! I learned a lot and can’t wait to go back for my next class in studio lighting. Here are some of my favorites from the day. (Side note: these two are actually engaged in real life!)

I really love his shoes, they definitely brought some attitude to the outfit.

The bride had some great tattoos

These last two are my favorites from the day

Gratuitous Grace

That’s right, this post is all about gratuitous photos of my sister (ok, Gus made the cut too). We decided to play with my new camera on high ISO when I was home for Thanksgiving. This is what happened. Enjoy!

This is Gus, the lab/terrier (read: most adorable terror on four paws). He decided he wanted in on the action.

The last two are my favorites…