Photographing my Grandfather as he truly is

I want to share with you what I think, to date, may be my favorite image I have EVER taken. Let me tell you why. 

Last Sunday my husband and I had to do a commercial shoot for a rope manufacturer. We decided my grandparent's wide spread sycamore would be perfect for the job so we headed out to their place. 
We set up our ropes and got up in the tree. About 20 minutes in to the process I see my grandpa walking down the driveway and I gave him a wave. 
We continued to move around and shoot. A few minutes later I look down and I see this- my grandpa lounging under a large pine tree, in the middle of all the dried needles that had fallen, hands behind his head, watching us. I immediately stopped working and moved the camera to him and took a couple of frames.
I've never been able to capture my grandpa in his true element before. He takes horrible pictures. His grin is always ridiculous and we always laugh about it. 
But he's truly one of the most amazing men I know. 
To start, he's 87 years old. 
87 years old and still walking outside on a brisk day to lay under a tree. 
I really don't feel like I need to say much more. 
We got home and I browsed through everything I got that day. 
Out of all the shots we planned, swinging from branches at great heights, images that would make us money and get us published, none of them compared to the one I got of my grandpa. I saw it and was instantly filled with joy and pride. 
That awesome man, looking like a total bad ass in the photo was my grandpa, and I now had a moment that I could look at forever that truly reflected him and his whole life in one photo. 
 

Vintage Love at the Port Huron Train Depot- Engagement

The moment I met Erica I knew I liked her. Her hair was a washed out pink and her personality filled the room. She was fashionable, adorable, and fabulously organized with her notes being color coded and divided by category. She seems to always be happy and excited, which makes the day better. I met her hubby to be, Cory, a few weeks later and he's the perfect match for her. Fashionable, handsome, and friendly. And he wore suspenders. I'm a sucker for men in suspenders.
Getting these two together in front of the camera couldn't have been easier. They just... flowed. There was never a moment where we struggled to get them to connect with each other. They are totally connected and in love. 
We are ecstatic to be photographing their wedding next year! I can only imagine the day! As you can tell their engagement session was already over the top. 
I told them to come up with a story about their love. They brought me this. 
A beautiful young flapper meets a handsome gentlemen quite like Jack from Titanic at the Train Depot when she drops her scarf and he returns it to her. They enter the train strangers and leave soul mates. 
Watch as we tell their love story through photographs. 

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Check Out Our Full Lovers Gallery!

Check out Casey & Evan's Coffee Shop Love Story!

Check out the adorable Troy & Blair's engagement photoshoot!

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Natural teen Beauties with a boho twist

This shoot explains what photographing in Michigan is like, in a nutshell. We had planned this shoot with mom in the spring. We picked a date and the weather read cold and possibly rainy. How were we supposed to do sunny boho AND the beach with no sun and goosebumps?
Well, as it goes, summer got really busy, really fast. We all know, in this state, summer lasts 3 months, if we're lucky, so you have to cram everything in in those 3 months! The girls left for summer camps, had all kinds of sporting events, and right before Fall hit, we were finally able to schedule them in!
And, of course, even at the peek of summer, the sun was still missing. Good thing I love working with artificial light, we just made our own sunshine! Off camera flash, a yellow gel, and boom- the best summer day.
I knew the girls wanted to do something natural, with a boho feel so my hubby, the unsung hero to many of my big creative projects (you can meet him here), and I pulled out tons of little down trees and branches out of the yard and now the studio is complete with a real, handmade, 10 ft tall teepee that rocks! 

I extra love this session because it's a time many moms forget to capture, and it's so important, if not the most important age!
You stay on top of the baby photos, but then your child grows in to a beautiful person of their own and you have no idea where the time went. Their photography legacy has a huge hole in it when you look back. The worst part of not capturing this age? It's the last years you will get of them still as a child, full of wonder, and innocence, before they jump on over to the adult side of the world, with it's brutal honesty, hardships, and no return. 

See how we captured these beauties. <3
 

AND. An extra amazing bonus. Mom jumped in at the very end to capture this special time with her girls. They live right on Lake Huron so we got to photograph at their home. That day the water was so beautifully blue, it was the perfect visual ending to the summer. 

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View our full Family Gallery!

For another boho look check out Kristina's Family Photoshoot!

For more family shoots on the water check out The Burnette's Session!

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Pin Up Party hosted by Port Huron Beauty Photographer AJBC Photography

3 years ago I did a Pin Up event with a retro teal Chevy Pick Up Truck. 
Ever since then girls have been asking me if and when I'm going to bring it back. 

Well... that time has come. 

We're bringing the Retro Pick Up Pin Up Party back for you girls PLUS some other amazing stuff!
Check it out!

(only 4 spots left now- 11:00 and 11:45 are booked!)

THIS time we'll be starting the morning off with Mimosas :) while you get your professional and classic pin up hair and makeup done. Red lips, cat eyes, curls, and bandanas. 

We suggest you bring your own wardrobe but we have some really cute pieces you can borrow or swap out once you get here, like adorable high wasted panty shorts!

Change and come OUTSIDE to the private 20 acres we'll be shooting amongst at my home studio. Feel free to climb around in, and on top of the truck, swirl around in our pond, or get lost in all the wild daisies on the property. We have several backdrops for whatever look you want to go for! 
Switch it up and come INSIDE for a clean pin up poster look like back in the day with adorable props to play with like old suitcases, cat eye classes, furry fabric, umbrellas, and so much more! 

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AFTERWARDS you come back to the studio for your own private in studio viewing of your collection. 
Out of the collection you will get to pick your top 5 images to take home that day on a flash drive with pritning rights (I have a killer lab I can send you to as well!)
If you want to make yourself in to the gorgeous poster girl you deserve to be I'm also doing 10% off all art in the studio! 

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So let's do this! Because I have NO clue when and if I'll ever do it again! And because you seriously haven't had this much fun since playing dress up as a little girl! 

There's no better way to feel beautiful and confident then to keep it classy and playful. 

$100 despot secures your spot and we can break the rest down in to payments. 

To book contact me!
Call- (810) 300-1390
email- autumn@ajbcphotography.com
 

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