London, Ontario Maternity Photo-Shoot

Family Session at Springbank Park in London

Mommy and Me, Daddy and I, Maternity, Family,
and Big Brother Photoshoot all in 1!

   11 years old and I knew no one where I had just moved to, except for the girl who rode her bike through my neighborhood. It seemed like every summer after that we would accidentally meet up and ride through the neighborhood at least once together.
   15 years old and we were at the beach every single day that summer. Almost every night we would have a sleep over. My bike ride friend had quickly became my best friend, and we went through all the typical growing up stuff together- boys, crappy boys, dances, bad dancing, shopping, the first time house party, driving, and laughing way into the night. She had this outer tough shell that was hilariously funny because when you actually knew her she would laugh at anything and was that friend you could count on, for years.
   16 years later and that same girl is now an amazing, caring mother of (soon to be) 2 kids and has a kind man by her side to take the adventure with. She’s one of those cool moms I love- she takes it seriously, but she knows life can’t be that serious, which is turning her son (and I’m sure her daughter too) into the smartest, most caring, truly unique little individual.
   She hopped the border when she got older and moved to Canada, so that gives me the perfect excuse to explore new areas when we go visit her! This time she took us to Springbank Park, which is huge, this is only a little slice of it, but what’s special about it is the last shot of our night was in the same exact spot where we shot the last shot of the night at their FIRST maternity session.

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See how effortless it is to just live in the moment with your family while ajbc photography photographs your life, beautifully and naturally.

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Check Out Our Full Family Gallery!

Want to see more of this little guy? Check out Maasai's adorable birthday shoot!

If you like this fun & playful shoot check out the Burnette's family shoot!

A photoshoot with icebergs

Native vibes in the middle of winter

Photography on the frozen shores of Lake Huron

   It was below freezing, winds over 20 mph, and I decided to take a drive to the beach. Something just pulled me there.
   If you find yourself in Michigan in the winter it's worth it to drive to the shores of Lake Huron (by Port Huron, we're on the East Side of the state) and check out the beach. You never know what you'll find. Open water, flat ice, old snow and sand mixed together, frozen pieces floating down with the current, little ice caves, or huge "icebergs" from where the waves just keep crashing up on shore, freezing into these huge mounds. Every year is different and unique.
   Our version of icebergs and icecaps are what I found that day. The little video above shows you what I stumbled upon.
   I parked my jeep and headed towards the beach. The wind hitting my face was more than cold, it was almost as if it was forcing me to close my eyes while it slapped me across the face. I could see the wind also making huge waves that were hitting the ice so hard they were flying up over the tops of them, at least 15+ feet in the air. I knew I didn't want to stay long, but I knew I HAD to come back. You can't see natural beauty like that and let it go unnoticed.

   A few days later my assistants and I piled back in the jeep and headed back to the beach. With all my camera gear strapped to my back the girls also had an overwhelming amount a fur. We decided we wanted to all be wearing vintage fur coats for the shoot.
   Less than 2 minutes there we start exploring the area and Taylor falls in. One wrong step and she's up to her knee in water. She's done for. One thing you should know about the frozen shores of our beaches- they are unpredictable. They might look like they've been frozen for months but mother nature can cause miracles overnight.
   Taylor takes off to warm her toes and Elores and I stay out to get a few shots.
   This glamorous vision of expensive fur coats in front of this ice quickly turned to something more organic, more native, almost tribal. Elores started to take on this wild, mountain woman feel and we just ran with that. Take a look.

   We did swap places for a second, Elores getting some shots of me (that I edited back in the studio later) before we ran back to the Jeep. I ripped off my coats (yes it was so cold I was wearing 2) down to my tank and wrapped myself up in the blanket, which was actually incredibly warm, and I just lived in that moment, in the sunshine and cool air, while she snapped a few photos.

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Check out our full Beauty Gallery!

If you like this winter feel, check out Taylor's Winter Beauty Session!

For another gorgeous shoot in the snow check out Aubrey's Senior Shoot!

We create our own "Through the Looking Glass" moments

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Watch the video to see an AJBC fairytale unfold- 

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Photographer- AJBC Photography
Poem- Autumn Carufel
Assistant 1- Taylor Walsh
Assistant 2- Jake Carufel
Model- Lauren Cross
Wardrobe and Props- Lauren Cross Designs

Belle Isle Conservatory, Detroit Michigan

(Below: Poem written out, followed by individual portraits found in the above film.)

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There is a truth in this world that I refuse to believe. 

The truth that everything has to be exactly as it seems.

Because, you see, I am a dreamer, and I am a collector. 

I am a believer and I am a fairytale wrecker.

But not in the way that you probably think I am.
I don’t sit down and destroy books of fiction. 

I sit down and give those books vision.

I open the pages and give them eyes.
I open suitcases and watch as hopes come alive. 

Because when I was a kid I was told fairytales aren’t real.

You can’t blame my parents, it’s just how the rest of the world feels.

But me, I knew different.

Me, I knew more. 

Me I knew wanting something that was impossible was just through a hidden door. 

A door I would find eventually in my life.

Where plays and toys and make believe...

Would slowly show itself to me.

But as something new. Something real.
Something I could touch
and something I could feel. 

And no I’m not too old to feel this way. 

I say you’re too old, for taking my dreams away.

So go back to a time where all you wanted was to be free.

And start realizing your head is the only thing that makes it so it can’t be.

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Photographer- AJBC Photography
Poem- Autumn Carufel
Assistant 1- Taylor Walsh
Assistant 2- Jake Carufel
Model- Lauren Cross
Wardrobe and Props- Lauren Cross Designs

Belle Isle Conservatory, Detroit Michigan

The back story:

2 years ago I posted on facebook that I wanted to do a creative shoot. That's how I met Lauren. She said she might be interested so I quickly stalked her on facebook. Her look was unique and gorgeous, so I knew she would fit the part. But then I started realizing she was also an artist, a maker, and a collector. We had similar loves for old and grungy things, so we decided to meet. I drove to her house in Marysville where she showed me room after room after room full of beautifully old and rough pretties! 
And then she took me to the back corner of the basement to show me The Door, and an idea was born. We spent the next hour developing the story- a girl playing make believe finds a door, enters it, and then finds herself transported in to this land where her daydreams are now her reality. 
I think I secretly live through my photography, because that's all I want out of life- magic, all the time. 
We kept in touch, passing back and forth ideas and photos. My schedule FINALLY allowed for me to fit the shoot in! My husband Jake, my assistant Taylor, and myself drove to Marysville where Lauren allowed us to gather up her precious treasures and take them to our first location. The sun was shining, the weather was perfect, and right away I KNEW, I just knew, this was going to be one of my favorite things I had ever shot. 
We filmed, photographed, laughed, and left with plans to meet again a week later, when we would haul the heavy antique door down the road, down a hill at 8 am, balance it on the roots of an old tree sticking out above the water, and then drive to Detroit. 
Because we had photographed at what looked to be a more modern conservatory for our "make believe in real life" scene  I wanted to go to a much older, much more original concept of a conservatory for our "entering the fairytale world" scene, and so it came that we traveled an hour + together to The Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit. Belle Isle is beautiful and not only was it a wonderful place to end our shoot and tell our story perfectly, it allowed us a day to just enjoy something new and unique together, which is becoming more and more important to me with every shoot I do. 
It used to be just about the photos for me, because that was what I was taught portrait photography was. Now it's about the whole experience. Because if not for the experience, then for what?
Afterwards we shopped in Ferndale and got some tasty sushi and quietly drove back home after a long and creative day. 
It took me another year to sort through it all, find the time, and get to a place where I could properly put it all together. 
Our video we filmed is still not done, but I am ecstatic to release these images accompanied by a poem I wrote for it. 
And to think, it all started with an old door.  

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If you loved the Concept of "The Door" then you should also check out "The Pillow and The Pond" and The Burning Shack- they are some of my favorite projects to date!

Check out the full beauty gallery here

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From Grunge to Whimsical- a Senior Session

   This day was a whirlwind of so many amazing things. Grungy buildings, walking on rooftops, amazing coffee, so many laughs, and snow!
   We started our adventure in an old building in Down Town Port Huron. The section we shot in is practically abandoned. And that’s what I love about it. My great grandma actually worked in that building when she was in her 20s… that’s how old and amazing this building is!
   We tore open the chipping windows and Aubrey crawled out on to the roof, her long, long blond hair whipping in the wind. I know being beautiful is done a little bit more effortlessly when you’re young, but Aubrey just honestly made it look totally effortless, and simple. And that’s how we started our session.
   Next we drove to the most adorable coffee shop ever- The Exquisite Corpse Coffeehouse. We grabbed 4 delicious coffees and refueled. While we were there we grabbed some shots and then noticed- it was snowing!
   We ran outside and captured Aubrey while little snowflakes danced in the sky. I know that sounds cheesy but it honestly was that magical. We had been hoping for snow and out of nowhere that day, we got it!
   After that we stopped by The Blue Water Bridge. Normally I’m not a huge fan of super obvious landmarks, but if we can take all of it’s unique qualities and use those, instead of what everyone else focuses on, I’m happy. And the huge rocks and weathered dock was just what we needed. Again , our Senior rocked it!
   Lastly we came back to the studio and the snow had piled up. It was covering the trees, it was thick on the ground, and then Aubrey came out in her dress. A floor length, blush pink, sequin dress. And an instant fairytale was born. She is in love with the movie Frozen, and we wanted to take a little inspiration from that, but I feel like she honestly did one better.
  So myself, Taylor, Aubrey and her mom Amy (who is just as beautiful and awesome) all ventured out in to the woods together to finish up the session. I had to force myself to stop shooting. Everything was perfect, and it easily could have went on for hours.
   You can see why below.
   (and be sure to go all the way to the bottom to see a Behind The Scenes VIDEO we put together for her!!)

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View our full Senior Gallery!

If you love grunge to whimsical check out gorgeous Tiffany's Senior Session!

For another stylized winter session check out Taylor's Shoot!

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A Senior Portrait Session shot by Port Huron Senior Photographer- AJBC Photography (Autumn Carufel.) Breaking in onto rooftop views, sipping coffee, and playing in the snow. Natural Beauty, Fairytales- it's all here. Behind the scenes shot by AJBC Photography Videographer- Taylor Walsh.