engagement session with reunited high school sweethearts by port huron michigan wedding photographer ajbc photography

This lovely lady right here is the very first person I met when I moved from Cros-Lex schools to the Port Huron Area. 
I remember touring Fort Gratiot Middle School with my mom, knowing no one. Jessica and her mom were walking next to us in the hallway. We started talking, and we've stayed in touch ever since. 

Fast forward a few years and Pat comes along. I don't even think any of us could drive yet and we were still passing notes to each other in the hallways. They got together and stayed together for a "long time" in the teen world, and then broke up like all kids do. 

Things changed. We graduated. Got jobs, became adults, got married, had kids. 
And then. The world spun just the right way and these 2 found each other again. 
10 years later they are making this beautiful family together and I could not be more happy for them! 

Hockey has been a huge part of both of their lives. Watching it, playing it, coaching it, so we made sure to get some ice shots before we wrapped up too. 

Seeing them together again just seems really right. They love and respect each other, and their kids are... well... I kind of want to steal both of them, they are so adorable and fun! 

Engagement Session at The River Walk and McMoran Arena in Down Town Port Huron Michigan with Wedding Photographer AJBC Photography

taking off the mask- port huron, michigan artistic beauty photographer

The mask. 
That mask that will ensure happiness for others and perfection on your part. That beautiful mask that makes everyone smile. That mask that keeps you safe. 

That mask also keeps you barely breathing and clouds your vision.

"Pose with that mask, my little bunny. You wear it so well," they say. 

Until one day you peal back the corner. You dare to breath easy. You see the ground you walk upon, for real, for the first time. And you can't stop. 

You feel that cool air hit your face and you wonder.... 

"What have I done?"
The light, it's bright. The noises, they are loud. 
And that feeling of safety is gone. 

Time to turn back. Time to ensure no one will ever have to know you tried to go against them. Time to make them happy again. Them.... Happy.... 

But. The colors. They are so bright. And you feel so alive. 
And them, and you, and them and you, and what about.... you? And your happiness? 
How could they keep you trapped like this? 
Ask them.
"How could you?"
And I ask you, to ask yourself, "How could you?"
You wore that mask like they asked you to. 
Shame on you. 

I say drop it. 
I ask you to let it all go. 

Breathe. Live. Look. Feel. 
And burn the mask. 
 

You wear that face of yours so well. 

---

Want to be a part of the revolution? Good. Me too. 

Whimsy and Grunge- Port Huron Senior Photoshoot

Sometimes I think my “job” is just too easy.
I mean, you give me a pretty girl in a dress and Converse shoes in an open field with the sun going down and you expect anything bad to happen?
Seriously magical.
Next we moved to a grungy hidden gem in downtown. She pulled that look off too.
I am also totally jealous of all that gorgeous hair and her adorable wardrobe!

Port Huron, MI Senior Photographer

Whimsical and Mysterious Family Shoot by Port Huron Family Photographer AJBC Photography

#1 This family is ridiculously good looking. 
#2 They rock those black leather jackets like nobodies business.
#3 They are the sweetest people 
AND 
#4 Meet Jen, my Professional Hair and Makeup Artist from Inspire Hair Studio. This is the friendly, beautiful face that makes YOU look gorgeous when you book with me! 

When I really think about it, I've known Jen for 10 years. Wow! It all started because in high school her sister had the most rockin' hair and I had to know where to she went to get it cut. 
After never getting what I asked for elsewhere, I decided to try out Jen and I have NEVER even thought about looking back. She is an artist with scissors. 

When I started getting more custom with all of my shoots I decided to add a Hair and Makeup Artist to my team, and that choice was obvious. Boom, Jen jumped on board and now we're working on several different projects together!

But I'm not here to talk about me... I want to share with you how we got here, to this session!

(Can we just take a moment to talk about how STUNNING they both look above!) 

Over time I've gotten to know her family too. They were actually some of the first clients that believed in me when I first started AJBC Photography. During our first session their son was still all wobbly while running around. Fast forward to now and the kids were like little models! 

(and let's take another moment to talk about how cute these kids are!!)

If you're wondering where the scene came from, it all developed right in Jen's head. One day she got ahold of me with this "dark" but pretty vision of shooting at night with lights. 
I took that vision and added in some smoke, pops of blue, and we were both pretty excited about it. So excited that Jen actually painted her living room to match. haha! 

I'm so lucky to have Jen as a friend, and an amazing hairdresser for myself, and a fabulous team member to work with!! haha Her family is ridiculously lucky to have her as such a smokin hot wife (yeah, I said it) and such an involved mom. But she's pretty lucky to have these cuties too, and I'm SO happy I was able to bring her vision to life with her and capture her and her family in such a unique way. 

Jen Zimmerman from Inspire Hair Studio 
Port Huron Family Photographer- AJBC Photography