Emily + Carl: engagement session

When we asked Emily and Carl if they had any places that were important to them to incorporate into the engagement session, Emily wrote back and said something like "if we had our way, we'd start each day having coffee in Rosa Parks Circle." If Leandra and I were sifting through the personals and saw this, we'd definitely put a big, thick, red circle around that one (if we were on the market for...another couple (?)...) They're two top-notch people! We're really looking forward to their wedding in Charlevoix at the end of October. It'll be a "small, intimate affair" with a few more that two dozen guests at Castle Farms. It'll be a great cap to our busy, busy, busy October!
So, here they are...







We found this awesome little "glade" (does that make me sound elitist?) with tall trees, green grass, and beautiful light. Had to stop. We love these next two.




Leandra's view:


Mine:


Love the smile.


We moved on to downtown, had coffee in Rosa Parks Circle, and took some pictures wherever we found enough light. Leandra and I quickly came to the conclusion that Emily and Carl were professional cuddlers.


On the steps of the art museum.






Emily and Carl: We really enjoyed this session and can't wait for the wedding!

Coming soon: Emily + Jeremy's wedding post and Kate + Tim's engagement sneak peek!

Emily and Carl: Sneak Peek

Here are just two from last Thursday's session with Emily and Carl. We loved traipsing around Seidman Park--and then downtown GR--with them. They're two wonderful people that are wonderful to each other--you could see it in how they interacted. Fun to watch and photograph, for sure.



We loooove this one.


The rest: soon!

Jess and Matt

Jess and Matt are high school sweethearts (like Leandra and me!) and waited a long time for this day. And it was a beautiful day...



What a beautiful dress!


Praying with the bridesmaids and groomsmen before the ceremony. It was neat to find out that these times happened almost perfectly simultaneously.




Good lookin' guys! Loved the brown... although Leandra and I share a strong bias to browns (and greens)-- just like Matt and Jess.




This one cracks us up every time. What a good older brother and best man: givin' lil' bro's shoes a shine before his big day! Matt's face cracks me up because he nails the pretentious look, and Mark nails the "yes sir, whatever you like sir, have a good day, sir" look.


We asked the girls to link arms and walk towards us, and being kind people as they are, they did just that.


...and they just kept on walking.




This one might be a favorite. Jess looked stunning!


Like I said:


...and Matt agrees.






This is the first ceremony we've shot when the couple washed each others' feet. It was a powerful reflection of their vows.








Love this one.






Jess and Matt made time between the ceremony and reception to stop at Goshen College. We gave them some space to catch up and be with just each other in the midst of the busy day. We can't recommend making time like this during the wedding day enough.


We met back up with the wedding party and walked though downtown Goshen to the reception!




During the prayer...








This is great. One of our favorite reception shots ever.


Off to the honeymoon! Which, at the time this was taken, the destination was still a secret to Jess! I think Matt's still singing along...


Jess and Matt were a lot of fun to be around. We loved watching them interact with each other during the day. It was clear that they loved and served each other selflessly. And, obviously, they also knew how to have a great time.

Teaser "Trailer": Jess + Matt

I don't want to over-hype my latest movie-making attempt (have there been previous ones? Not really...), so just think of this as a little indie film from a humble filmmaker in the Midwest. There. Now there's no way to be underwhelmed!




Personally, I think the Oscar nod should go to Louis Armstrong, who made this thoroughly quaint movie come alive with an epic score.

Jess & Matt: you can expect the picture post as soon as later tonight!

Back in town & some upcoming changes!

We spent the month of August with family in Northern Indiana while I painted a mural. We got back on Wednesday, and plugged in our fridge. We promptly "stocked" it:



Pizza, Diet Coke, and water. We're working on getting some "normal food" in there (although pizza might be a little too "normal" for Leandra and I).

On the business side of things, we've had a wonderful year in the wedding photography business and can't thank everyone enough for your help and encouragement. We love doing this together; I can't think of better work at this point in life than making art of people in love! We're working towards making Grant Isaac Studio more unique, competitive, sustainable, as well as offering some new options. The first sign of these upcoming changes is a price change (on Friday, September 19th!). We wanted to give everyone a heads-up because our new prices will apply to any inquiries after that. If we've been corresponding with you already, no need to worry: we will honor the prices we gave you until October 19th. We're excited about the upcoming changes to Grant Isaac Studio--be on the look out for a new website, more new pictures and new products!

Beth + Ben

Once we got into Ohio, we took the country roads out to meet Beth and Ben in Mount Vernon. It was a beautiful drive through hilly Amish country, even though we saw more Honda Gold-wings than buggies. Growing up in Northern Indiana gave me my fair share of buggies, though, and Gold-Wings drive along at a swift clip of 50, not...5.

We love it when couples share with us some important or meaningful places to them. Case in point: Beth and Ben first "met" in a photography class, and went downtown Mt. Vernon to take pictures for an assignment. They found the "red door" on that trip. The tree pictures are from one of their favorite parks, and the big field is right by where they go stargazing on occasion. It might sound cheesy, but Leandra and I eat that up. The locations have more meaning than "pretty"; they've got a story behind them! Anyways, enjoy:

The red door:

Leandra's view:

Mine. We've been blessed with well-shooed (I think the proper term is "well-shod" but that sounds like I'm talking about horses, and that's about the last thing I want to get across!) ladies in our engagement sessions. Beth's purple shoes were very...purple-icious and, being the designer that she is, just happened to be the complimentary color to her yellow shirt!






Leandra and I were shooting through the back side of a fire escape.
Mine:

Hers:


The next two are my favorites.








Leandra's fav:

Pretty much knew this one would be glowy and wonderful when Leandra showed me the back of her camera...

Thanks, Beth and Ben! Can't wait for the wedding! I'm glad we agree on the Weepies ;)