Byron Days in Byron Center Michigan

A few highlights including the 5K run, the parade, and battle of the bands!























(and of course you know I love fireworks!) :)

- Jon

Fireworks

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Congratulations Tim & Holly!

I was not really all that optimistic when eight days before Tim & Holly's outdoor wedding, the weather folks were already calling for a 60% chance of rain. Maybe I was a little optimistic. And there's still that 40% chance on the other side. Right? Plus weather forecasts can change in eight days.



Yeah, it changed. It went from 60% to 70% to 80%. By Saturday I was thinking, "that 80% chance is a bit of an understatement!" A 200% chance of rain would not have been hyperbole.

So here we are, on location between the ceremony and reception for a shoot. The location is that wonderful business park at Kraft & The Paul Henry near Caledonia. And perhaps this is the soaked photographer in my saying this, but was I disappointed that we didn't get a picture of the Bride & Groom with the tornado in the background.

Unfortunately, we never learned of the tornado warning until we returned to the reception location. It touched down just a few miles away. I'm guessing that the torrential downpour prevented us from hearing it and would have impeded our view.



I predict that there is an 80% chance that this wedding will never be forgotten by Tim & Holly. And I may be understating that a bit. :-)

The only true glitch was the rain, and maybe the guests enjoying the beverage service early and quickly. I say, those two cancel each other out, so it was a picture-perfect wedding celebration!

When it was all said and done, the happy couple was, well, happy, the food was delicious, the dance floor was swingin', the fireworks were breathtaking, and oh, what a marvelous night for a moondance!

- Jon

Click Play to view slideshow

Congratulations Jason & Brittany

So, it's Saturday, and how do you squeeze in some Foosball, golf, dancing, and fireworks? Well, have a wedding of course!

The boys relax a little before the ceremony. What is it about boys and foosball? I don't know. We just like it.

Oh yeah, there was a little exchange of vows and some smooching too! :)

Not a lot of golf. Just a little at the driving range and a bunker's worth of picture taking.
Special thanks to Mines Golf Course.

The reception was a lot of fun! Instead of clanging glasses, guests had to sink a putt. Here, the Groom misses a putt for a chance at smooching with his wife!

These are perhaps the coolest centerpieces we've seen this year.

What's a day of recreation without dancing?

And Fireworks!

You two did an incredible job, and not just by throwing a great party for your friends and family, but for finding each other! Congratulations! Enjoy Treetops.

Do they have 4th of July in Canada?

For me, one of the biggest fans of the Simpson's, it's difficult to avoid "Celebrate your country's independence by blowing up a small part of it!"

So..., Happy Independence Day!

Detroit: The City That Only Occasionally Naps?

This past weekend we were downtown Detroit for some meetings and an engagement shoot.

And on this particular weekend, Detroit had a certain spirit and soul that was very similar to New Orleans when I was there a few years ago. I think it was a combination things, including a large convention, the summer kick-off of 4th Fridays by Ford and the Tigers were in town for a weekend series against St. Louis. Oh yeah, the weather was PERFECT!

So, if New York City is the city that never sleeps, I observed a Downtown Detroit that seems to only occasionally nap. Both day and night, the streets and sidewalks were filled.

Congratulations to Dave & Keisha on their engagement. The sitting was beautiful. This was our first time meeting them, and we look forward to photographing their Mackinac Island wedding later this summer.

Wow you two look great! What an awesome contrast this engagement shoot is compared to the Victorian pageantry of what will be a beautiful Mackinac Island wedding!

The weekend was not all business. We had time to enjoy a little of what Downtown Detroit has to offer. Wish we had more time!

A visit to Detroit is not complete without a stop in Greektown. The country's second best deep-dish stuffed pizza is here, at Pizza Papalis. The best is obviously in Chicago -- at Giordano's.

There was a day when you entered a Hard Rock Cafe hungry and left hungry and broke. The more modern history of Hard Rock has changed -- very satisfying portions. But you still leave broke. (Yeah, I'm such a tourist, I just had to buy a couple of martini glasses and a couple t-shirts!)

Summer kicked-off with the 4th Friday by Ford series. Pictured here is the new Woodward Fountain and the stage in the background. A great blues band was on stage, but I never found out who they are.

Did I mention the Tigers were in town for a weekend series with the Cardinals? Great game! This is a two-run homer by Marcus Thames in the 9th inning, sending the game to extra innings and a 10th inning 7-6 victory. GO TIGERS!

After the Tiger game, Fireworks!