Pábitel Photography is officially a published Michigan photographer in multiple editions of The Photograp[her] Magazine! A few weeks ago, I saw a colleague's photo had been published on the cover of an edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine . Her friends, family, and photography clients on Facebook seemed really invested in her great accomplishment and interacted with the posts she shared about the cover in all of the ways small businesses need people to engage with their posts. I've said it before, and I will say it a million times more: small businesses are always in need of interaction on their social media accounts. All of those seemingly meaningless actions actually add up to being a major help for a business such as my colleague's and mine. Every time someone likes, comments, or shares a post, it tells their friends, family, and even the platform’s algorithm, “Hey, this content provides value. This is something I like. You should look at it too,” and in return, more and more people end up seeing the given content as they scroll their newsfeeds. Seeing this great reaction to my colleague's news, not to mention the idea of actually being published, was enough to make me check out The Photograp[her] Magazine for myself. Now, what exactly is the The Photograp[her] Magazine? Well, it is essentially what its name implies! It’s an inclusive magazine featuring the work of women photographers. The magazine's mission is to educate, inspire, and lift up the female photography community. Each week they post a few themes for upcoming magazines with links to separate posts specific to each theme. No matter the skill level, if you identify as a female and have a photo that fits a posted theme, you may comment on the appropriate post with one photo. In just a couple of days, if selected, The Photograp[her] Magazine’s Facebook page will private message you with instructions on how to officially submit your photo for publication. About a week later, the published magazine will be released online, and you'll receive an email with a direct link to the magazine! published michigan photographer - publication #1: Shoot Through The first magazine edition that I submitted a photo to was themed Shoot Through. I took this photo at For-Mar Nature Preserve in Burton, Michigan with a Michigan model. We met up towards the end of Michigan’s first official Stay Home, Stay Safe order on a humid, cloudy summer evening. Our session was supposed to be a half hour in length, but because this session proved to be so dream worthy, it actually lasted an hour. If you have done a session with me in the past, that’s probably not too much of a surprise. Learning more about my clients while walking and talking is my favorite! I chose to submit this particular photo to The Photograp[her] Magazine ’s Shoot Through edition, because I took the photo through a small chandelier crystal. A chandelier crystal is something I always carry in my camera bag. I try to pull it out during every session as it can create such magical and unique results! For anyone interested in photography, I also recommend keeping a plastic sandwich bag with your gear. If you tear a hole through it, and shoot through it, you can create gorgeous results! Take a peek below to see the published photo from this session as well as two other photos that feature the plastic bag trick! Michigan model; photographed through a chandelier crystal Implied boudoir photo; photographed through a plastic sandwich bag Engagement photo; photographed through a plastic sandwich bag Preview or purchase the Shoot Through edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #2: Golden Hour You better believe that I bought the Shoot Through edition as soon as it was published! It is so exciting to see your work published and to know other people are seeing it as well. Just a couple of days after submitting that first photo though, I found out I was selected to be published again. This time, it was for The Photograp[her] Magazine ’s Golden Hour edition. The photo I had commented to this theme's Facebook post was from a very recent engagement photo session I did this January. Lindsay’s and Jake’s engagement photos were actually scheduled to take place during golden hour at Midland, Michigan’s Chippewa Nature Center. We really lucked out for their session, as golden hour really lived up to its name. Below you'll find the published photo where a little bit of that golden light can be seen glimmering through the trees and reflecting off the brush. Lindsay + Jake; engagement photo taken during golden hour Preview or purchase the Golden Hour edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #3: High School Sweethearts When I received my third message for publication, I had to laugh. These Facebook messages from The Photograp[her] Magazine have been like a little reminder from the world that, “Yes, I am good. I am doing what I should be doing.” As an added bonus, the publications have not only put my name a little further out into the universe but have also provided me with great content for my social media platforms, and now, my blog and mailing list. The third photo I submitted to the magazine is actually one of my absolute favorite photos. Kelly and Calvin met me on a cloudy (my favorite weather for photos!) spring morning at the Flushing Township Nature Park in Flushing, Michigan just as photographers were legally able to photograph again during Michigan's Stay Home, Stay Safe order. These two lovebirds met while in high school, so they made the perfect submission for the magazine’s High School Sweethearts theme! Kelly + Calvin; High School Sweethearts Preview or purchase the High School Sweethearts edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #4: A Road To.... After the High School Sweethearts edition was published, I thought it would be my last publication for awhile, but I was wrong. I quickly received a fourth message from The Photograp[her] Magazine regarding another photo submission. Now, not only have a few of my portrait photos been published, but my landscape and nature photos are being published as well! The fourth direct message from the magazine requested that I submit a specific landscape photo to the magazine’s A Road To… . edition. This photo, shown below, was taken on a weekend trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio a couple of years ago. Since first taking and editing this photo, I have curated a series entitled glimmers in the dark , in which this photo has been added to. Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio; A Road to.... Preview or purchase A Road To.... edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #5: Wildflower As of today’s date, I have officially been published in five editions of The Photograp[her] Magazine. The fifth edition that I was published in was Wildflower themed. For this theme, I submitted a photo from a newer, unofficially announced (I guess until now?) series called a few things to preserve. I am hoping that this series will become one of my annual calendars in a few years' time. The specific photo submitted to the Wildflower magazine edition is below. It was taken during a summer golden hour in Chesaning, Michigan. Chesaning, Michigan; Wildflower Preview or purchase the Wildflower edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. It started out with a, “Let’s see what happens,” attitude, and now I’m currently waiting to hear about a sixth publication. Thank you to everyone who has engaged with my social media posts regarding the past five publications and who have supported me so incredibly in the past. Now that I have seen a little bit more of what I am capable of, my goal is to ultimately be published 10 times with The Photograp[her] Magazine, to make their cover, and to be one of their featured photographers. As a featured photographer, there will be a short article published about my work and me along with a photo of myself. I will also be looking to have myself published in other photography magazines as well. If you would like regular updates regarding recent publications, make sure to s ubscribe to my newsletter and to like my Facebook page. Subscribers receive all business updates first and Facebook is regularly updated with links to published work. publication #6: Open 3/10/2021 UPDATE: The sixth publication is a go! I have also been informed that I will be a featured photographer in an upcoming issue of The Photograp[her] Magazine. My goals have now changed to being published in ten issues and making cover! 3/19/2021 UPDATE: The sixth publication, the Open edition, has been released! The photo featured in this magazine is one of Valerie and Alex from their engagement session at Saginaw Valley State University in Saginaw, Michigan during the spring of 2019! This is a portrait photo that really stands out to me, as it was one of the first photos that made me think to myself, "I've got this!" Valerie + Alex; Engagement Photos Preview or purchase the Open edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #7: Motherhood 3/22/2021 UPDATE: I am getting closer and closer to my goal of 10 publications with The Photograp[her] Magazine! This week marked my seventh and eighth publications with the magazine. I haven't yet heard when my featured photographer piece will be released, but I am very excited to see how that turns out as well. My seventh publication was for an issue with the theme of "motherhood." Now, when someone talks about a motherhood session or photo, they are usually talking about one in which a mother can be seen with her already born child. An example of a motherhood session would be the popular Mommy & Me mini sessions found around Mother's Day, or less popular but absolutely stunning (and yes, please hire me for this!), breastfeeding sessions. As of today's date, I have not had an opportunity to do either of these motherhood sessions, so when I entered a photo to this issue's theme, I was not very confident that I would be selected. As I have clearly let on already, I did end up being selected though, and I'm so happy I was! This photo from Hillary's maternity session in Fenton, Michigan is a F A V O R I T E. I'm such a fan of big emotions in photos, and it is incredibly rewarding to see this photo on a two-page spread! Hillary; Maternity Photo Preview or purchase the Motherhood edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #8: Monochromatic Couples The Photograp[her] Magazine is doing this cute mini series of black and white magazine issues. They have announced a couple of different themes for these issues including landscapes, portraits, negative space, and couples. I love a good black and white photo, so as soon as I saw these themes I hopped into the comments for at least three of the monochromatic issues. One of the themes I submitted to and was selected for was the Monochromatic Couples theme. For this submission, I used a black and white lifestyle photo from Katie's and Jake's engagement photos taken last summer at Hawk Meadow Park. This is another big emotions photo! Katie + Jake; Monochromatic Couple Preview or purchase the Monochromatic Couples edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #9: Spring 3/25/2021 UPDATE: I did it! I am officially a FEATURED photographer with The Photograp[her] Magazine. This was my second of three goals I had for this magazine, and while I am still working on #1 (being published 10 times), I am so, so thrilled to have met goal #2. In fact, I would say completing this goal feels more rewarding than having photos published in the individual magazine issues. That's because of what being featured means. It means my name written clearly across the top of a page dedicated to my personal story as well as a two page spread of some of my all-time favorite photos! In total, this is a four-page spread dedicated to my work! View pages six through nine through the link below. Lisa Calandrino; Featured photographer in The Photograp[her] Magazine Preview or purchase the Spring edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #10: Monochromatic Portraits 4/22/2021 UPDATE: It's been a little bit since I have shared an update on my publication journey with The Photograp[her] Magazine. Since achieving my goal of being a featured photographer with the magazine, I have also achieved a second goal! My work has officially been published TEN times with the magazine. The tenth publication of Pábitel Photography with The Photograp[her] Magazine was in another issue of their monochromatic mini series. For this particular issue, I submitted a photo I had taken a couple of years ago of my sister sitting in a large bay window. View pages 12 and 13 of the Monochromatic Portraits issue through the link below. Rosie; Monochromatic Portraits Preview or purchase the Monochromatic Portraits edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #11: Monochromatic Landscapes Again, this publication is part of The Photograp[her] Magazine's Monochromatic series. For this issues, I submitted a photo taken a few years ago at Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes. This is one of my favorite black and white photos and one that I intend to put in a future monochromatic-themed calendar! Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes; Monochromatic Landscapes Preview or purchase the Monochromatic Landscapes edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #12: Blue When I read the theme for this issue of The Photograp[her] Magazine was blue, my mind immediately went to a couple of sunset beach photos I took in Traverse City one Fall evening. This particular photo has such vivid colors; I knew that it would be selected if I submitted it! This photo was also featured in my bright colors, bright earth series for the 2019 calendar. Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City Preview or purchase the Monochromatic Landscapes edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #13: Beautfiul Chaos This theme was announced by The Photograp[her] Magazine shortly after I had delivered Selina and Jeremy's family maternity session gallery. I had spent so many days drooling over this photo, so when I saw the words "beautiful chaos," I knew this photo would be selected for the issue. This photo is the definition of beautiful chaos, a loving family filled with life and movement. the Hafner family; Beautiful Chaos Preview or purchase the Beautiful Chaos edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. publication #14: Sun Flare publication #15: Open Vol. 5 In July 2021, I did engagement photos for Ally and Rob . These photos were at a private lake during golden hour. Editing the photos, I couldn't believe the sun flares I had captured during their session. Their photos GLOWED. As soon as I saw the "sun flare" theme for The Photograp[her] Magazine, I knew I had to submit one of Ally and Rob's engagement photos. A few months later, in December 2021, The Photograp[her] Magazine selected this photo again for their 5th Open-themed issue. This time, it received a full spread covering pages 20 and 21 in the magazine! ally + rob; sun flare edition Preview or purchase the Sun Flare edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. Preview or Purchase the Open Vol. 5 edition of The Photograp[her] Magazine here. A few of my typical side notes: This year is filling up , but I am currently still booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out my services to learn more about what sessions I offer. To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list by filling out the subscription box listed below my contact form. Read about my engagement session with Lindsay and Jake !

When one of your childhood best friends asks how you feel about doing e ngagement photos on her backyard lake in a canoe, what do you say? I’ll tell you what you say. The answer is yes . It’s always a resounding YES. At least, that’s what my answer was when Ally first approached me about doing her beach engagement photos in Saginaw, Michigan! I have known Ally since the fourth grade. We went to elementary school, middle school, high school, and even college together. She was my partner in doubles tennis. We grew up within walking distance of each other, and throughout the years, we have shared many memories. And now, I am so happy that we were able to share this experience together, too, along with Ally’s soon-to-be husband Rob. It’s been a few years since I first met Rob, but because life is life, I am still getting to know him. From the interactions we have had together though, I can tell he is kind. He is good to Ally, and Ally’s family loves him. When they first started dating, Ally was fixing up her first house with her father. They were taking on huge projects together to turn the house into a home. After her father passed away, Rob helped Ally finish these projects and bring Ally and her father’s visions to life. I think that speaks volumes to who Rob is as a person. He brings peace and happiness to Ally, both of which I think are evident in their engagement photos. All of this to say, I am so happy for the two of them. They have already created such a beautiful space for themselves to grow and live. I can only imagine how abundant and colorful their life together as husband and wife will be too. their beach engagement photos Ally and Rob chose to have their engagement photos taken at their home in Saginaw, Michigan. Their home is such a peaceful place with big open windows, plants galore, and a backyard beach. It was truly the perfect choice for their engagement photos, as they have put so much love and care into their home and enjoy their lake thoroughly. In fact, Ally’s Instagram is almost entirely devoted to the views on their lake! Even more special, Ally and Rob spiced things up by borrowing a canoe from a friend! Guys, when I tell you I was excited for this session…. I was EXCITED. We started Ally and Rob’s lakeside engagement photos about an hour and a half before sunset with the plan being to take advantage of their comfortable living room’s stunning light, move on to beach and golden hour photos, and then attempt some low light photos as the sun sunk below the horizon. Basically, this beach engagement photo session had all of the dream elements: cozy, lifestyle moments, golden hour light, water reflections, and room for extra creativity! The engagement photo package that Ally and Rob selected provided an outfit change. In preparation for their session, Ally texted me several photos of clothes she had picked out from their closets to see what my thoughts were. While I offered her my opinion and had provided my session style guide that comes with each of my packages, I don’t think she needed either of them! Both while in person and while editing their gallery, I was blown away by how perfectly they coordinated their clothes for their engagement photos! Just over half of their session was spent in their first outfit: jeans and coordinating shirts. These outfits were perfect for the cuddly indoor photos and for their time in the canoe. When we first pulled the canoe into the water, the sky was golden, and I was able to catch some stunning sun flares! Ally and Rob were hesitant to move around too much in the canoe for fear of tipping it, so we stuck to a few simple photos that required much more movement on my part than theirs. It was so much fun! Once they settled into a pose, I would begin taking photos of them from all sorts of angles while the canoe drifted away from me. The water was fairly still, so it was impressive just how much the canoe required me to chase after it. Going into their session, I have to admit that I was a little fearful to be standing in the water as they sat in the canoe. Ally and Rob had told me several times prior to their session that the fish in their lake had a reputation for nibbling on legs and feet: something that I definitely did not want to experience! Lucky for me though, the canoe moved quick enough that I did not stay still for more than a minute at a time. However, when I had Ally and Rob stand still for some sunset photos, Ally gasped and giggled as the fish swam into her. At this point in the evening, her and Rob had changed into their second outfits. For Rob, this meant khakis and a button down long-sleeve shirt. For Ally, a floral maxi dress perfect for the fish to swim into! I was surprised by just how much I loved Ally’s dress for photos, as I usually recommend that my models stay away from heavily patterned clothing. Ally selected the perfect dress though! Not only did she look radiant in it, but the dress also had colors that coordinated so well with the sunset, water, and most importantly, Rob. On top of this, the dress contained the perfect contrasts for black and white photos (which, if you have worked with me or have been following for a while, you know I LOVE). As I said before, this beach engagement session came with so much room for creativity. In addition to this session providing me with great opportunities to try new things (see all CANOE(!!) photos and above sunset silhouette photo), but it also gave me room to practice double exposures! For those that do not know, a double exposure is when you stack two or more photos on top of each other to blend them together. This is something that can be done directly on your camera if you own a Nikon (perhaps other brands too). Normally, this is the way I try to create a double exposure. For this engagement session though, I chose to make the double exposures in Photoshop where not only can you stack the photos on top of each other, but you can also choose where to place said photos on top of each other, erase parts of photos you do not want visible in the double exposure, and adjust the opacity of the photos! I’m always so grateful to have clients, models, and friends like Ally and Rob. They are such lovely people and a great team to work with. Ally has always encouraged me to take this journey in the photography industry, inspiring me and supporting me in the creation of my annual nature calendars . Both her and Rob were patient and trusting as I took their engagement photos in Saginaw, knowing I had not used a canoe as a prop before. I can’t wait to see how their story continues to unfold, and I am so blessed to know that I will be able to witness their love grow not only as a photographer, but as a close friend too! A few of my typical side notes: Schedule your engagement session with Pábitel Photography today! I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out my services to learn more about what sessions I offer. To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list by filling out the subscription box listed below my contact form. View Kaylee + Jeff's engagement photos on the blog. 2022 nature calendar is in the works! More will be announced towards the end of October /beginning of November.

This marks my third year of photographing Hillary and Craig’s family. It's crazy how fast time passes! My first session with them was for their maternity photos about two years ago. Second was for their first Fall family photos with their little boy. And this time? A full three-generation family session with Hillary’s side of the family! Craig, Hillary, and Hillary's siblings Jake and Carrie bought this family session as a gift for their parents last Christmas. I know I am obviously biased toward photo sessions, but even before we met to take the photos, I knew this was a gift their parents would love . Sometime during the holidays, Hillary texted me a video of her parents opening up their gift card. Her mom cried when she realized what the gift was! I didn’t ask, but I would love to know when the last time the Shepard family had photos taken together. Or, even just the last time (grand)parents Elizabeth and Paul had couples’ photos done! Given Elizabeth’s excitement, I’m guessing it had been a while! While I am a broken record in saying that there does not ever need to be a special reason to celebrate life, love, yourself, or togetherness through a photo session, I am also fully aware that it is not always possible to take photos “just because.” Even when it is possible, life slips by quickly, and it can be so hard to make the time to commit to a session. Whether you are someone who takes photos regularly or someone who only takes them for very special occasions, photos are always something to treasure. You can never go wrong with taking photos or having photos taken of you. Even when they don’t seem special in the moment, I don’t know anyone who regrets having photos to look back on or to pass onto their future generations. I’m so glad that Hillary and her siblings were able to gift Paul and Elizabeth with this opportunity, because I know their time together at this session as well as their finished gallery will be something they each cherish going forward. the three-generation family session For their session, I met the Shepard family in Grand Ledge, Michigan. This has been one of my favorite towns to photograph in lately; nature-wise, it has everything. Tall grasses, old brick ruins, boulders and stone cliffs, and in Fitzgerald Park, the perfect grove of trees right next to a parking lot for family photos! We chose this spot for two reasons. First, Grand Ledge is a good halfway point between where I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and where the Shepard family lives. Second, Hillary and Craig’s son is just under two years old! A two-year-old typically does not stay interested in photos for very long, can be extra tired in the evenings, and can sometimes be a lot to visit new places with. With the parking lot so close to where we were taking photos, we were able to keep walk times down which helped to ensure that energies stayed as high as possible for the session! With three generations to photograph, there were plenty of photo groupings to tackle. This was probably one of the fastest paced sessions I have ever photographed. We started with the entire family for a formal group photo followed by a couple of goofy ones. Next, we worked our way down a long list, making sure Paul and Elizabeth were able to have photos of as many family combinations as possible. We did Elizabeth with Paul, Elizabeth with Craig and Jake, Elizabeth with her girls, and so forth. The same was done with Paul. While I was hopeful, we would get through the list Hillary and I compiled together, I was still impressed with just how much progress we actually made and with how many family arrangements we had time for! As I mentioned before, toddlers are not always interested in having their photos taken. I would say this was the case for Lincoln this year. Going through the Shepard family’s photos to choose which photos to edit, I found so many photos of a disinterested Lincoln. It was quite humorous! Toddler facial expressions are some of my favorites. Truly. One thing that Hillary and I have discussed a couple of times in the past is how one of the best things to do during a photo session with a toddler is to let the toddler lead it. If you push a toddler too much, they are going to cry or become even more disinterested. Instead, it’s important to interact with them in ways they will enjoy and to let them do what they want to do (within reason, of course)! It is always possible to work around a toddler and what they are interested in. Two years in with Lincoln, and I would say Hillary and Craig have mastered this. When Lincoln was in someone’s arms for a photo but either not paying attention or looking bored, Hillary was great at playing a game with him. Lincoln loves to blow kisses, so Hillary would catch his attention, and ask him to blow kisses toward her or the camera creating the biggest giggles and smiles that we managed to see from him throughout the entire hour session! Besides watching Lincoln laugh as he blew kisses toward his family, I think we would all agree that one of the best parts of the night was when Lincoln randomly decided he wanted to be the center of attention! Out of nowhere, this adorable boy walked out in front of all of us, smiling and jumping. My shutter went crazy trying to capture all of the adorableness. The cuteness turned to hilarious though when Lincoln decided to lift his shirt and walk around with it stuck under his chin. We were all dying with laughter watching him contort his body in different ways to see his stomach from above where he had his sweater bunched up! It was a busy hour spent with the Shepard family, but clearly so much fun! Everyone looked great, there was a lot of laughter, and Lincoln put on a show for all of us. We had so much fun, and I’m so happy that I have been able to keep spreading this joy through new photo sessions every year. I know these photos are ones that the Shepard family will hold onto and look back on fondly. A few of my typical side notes: Interested in buying your loved ones a gift card too? Gift cards are available all year round! Contact me to purchase one. Also, NEW for 2022's holiday season: a print shop for my nature + landscape photos! Visit my print shop here. Pábitel Photography is now on Society6! Visit my shop where you can find almost all of my nature + landscape work across a variety of great items for your home! I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out my services to learn more about what session types I offer. I am working on compiling this year's annual calendar series. Make sure to follow along on Facebook or Instagram for updates. The series is expected to be announced late-October. Download your list of my 10 Date Ideas for Guaranteed Fun in Michigan. View Shelby and Ben's intimate backyard wedding.

Around here we like to celebrate the little things. Yes, of course we love celebrating pregnancies, new homes, and engagements, but... dates? promotions? vacations? birthdays? anniversaries? Let me photograph and celebrate them all! I truly believe the small in-between moments are the ones that make life as beautiful as it is. At the time, it may not be something you think much about, but every single moment in a relationship works to create a strong foundation and life together. These often forgot about times deserve to be photographed and cherished just as much as life's big milestones. Photo sessions are a luxury though. I understand that. They are expensive, and they can be time-consuming. If you have a portrait session coming up ahead - whether it's to honor a lifechanging event or just because - you want to make sure it is worth every minute and dime! With this in mind, I have put together five easy ways to make the most out of your next couples session. FIRST Follow your photographer's styling advice! While I fully believe you should dress in a way that feels most comfortable and authentic to yourself, when it comes down to it: outfits make a huge impact on a photo session's outcome. If you are unsure of what to wear for your couples session, ask your photographer! Most photographers have a specific style of dress that goes well with their approach to photography and editing. Your photographer should be able to direct you in how to choose outfits. Many photographers - myself included - provide a Styling Guide to reference as you shop and select clothing for your session. Some tips I share with my couples: Choose a color palette, and stick to it! Avoid being matchy-matchy with your partner by choosing about four colors that coordinate well with each other. Stay away from shiny or reflective materials. I also advise avoiding heavily patterned articles of clothing. Solid colors with subtle details work best. Flannels can work great too but only if coordinated correctly! Stick to delicate accessories versus statement pieces for couples or group photos (unless you are going for a very specific look). SECOND Be mindful to actually prepare for your session. Besides picking out your outfits, it is important to spend a few minutes throughout the week leading to your session, as well as the day of, focusing on what the session requires of you for best results. What do I mean by this? Well, let's take an in-home session for example. If you're planning to have lifestyle photos taken in your home, there are a couple of things you will want to do to prep. First, you'll want to clear rooms of clutter. This means your floors, counters, and nightstands. Less clutter equals cleaner photos. A second thing you'll want to do is make sure your bed is made up neatly with solid colored sheets (or other sheets that you might want to have in a photo) if your bed is expected to be used as a prop during the session. If you're traveling to your session, it can also be good to have a bag ready to take with you. Things that could go in this bag may include the remainder of your session's balance (don't forget that one!), a hairbrush, ChapStick, tissues, or any outfit changes your session may include. Some other items to consider when prepping for your photo session are: Ironing your clothes (wrinkles can be difficult to remove from a photo) Making sure your hair is brushed and neatly parted if leaving it down Taking any hair ties or Fitbits off of your wrists Emptying pockets of phones and wallets I always provide my clients with a checklist the week before their session to try and catch anything that they may forget. Photo sessions can be stressful for some people, and it's easy to miss a small detail that can impact a photo's outcome. THIRD Consider turning the day of your session into a fun date day! Now, don't go and do anything too intense or exhausting prior to your session, because you will want to save your energy for laughing with your photographer, significant other, and the camera. However, if you plan something small to do together prior to your session, you're more likely to arrive at your session in good spirits. Couples that arrive to their sessions with smiles on their faces tend to find their experiences most valuable! Here's a list of low-energy dates to get that love flowing before your session: Picnic at your favorite park Mini golf and ice cream (Be careful not to spill and definitely avoid Superman and Blue Moon ice cream!) Blanket fort and a movie (P.S. Did I mention we love celebrating the small things around here?! Consider turning a date into a photo session! All of these dates and so many more make for perfect photo-ops.) FOURTH When talking photos, the journey is just as important as the destination. Too many times, I see people fretting over how their photos will turn out while at their photo session. Please, try your best not to do this! High stress equals stiff movement and posing, fake smiles, and less connection with your partner. All things you don't want to see in your finished gallery. Trust your photographer, trust the process, and remember: your photo session is supposed to be enjoyable. Take a moment to think of a candid photo that you love. What was the person in the photo doing when it was taken? What was happening at the time? I'm betting that when you see this photo, you remember the details surrounding it. You are brought back to a birthday party or a joke that was being told. You are reminded of the journey that helped to create the final image (aka destination). This is exactly what your photo session should be like. Be in the moment. Let yourself laugh and have fun with your partner without worrying too much about what the final product will look like. Allow yourself to create a new, happy memory that your final gallery will take you back to years later. When I look at my own engagement photos, I am filled with love and gratitude. I feel so blessed that I have these photos to hold onto and this person to share my life with. I am also brought back to the night of my session though. I remember how cold it was; we were literally shaking with red hands as we walked without coats through the falling snow! I remember just how much Estevan made me laugh as we acted out the prompts our photographer directed us with. Because we had such a great time that night, the memory of the hour-long session almost outweighs the beautiful photos themselves! Your photo session should create memories like this for you and yours too. One piece of advice that I give my mothers in relation to this is to let their child be who they are. Don't expect them to stand still and pose for a photo. Instead, let them wander around, play, and be the chatterbox (or quiet one) that they are. Long after the photo session, you'll be happy to have photos that truly represent who your child was at that specific age. The same goes for your couples sessions. Be yourselves. Be relaxed. Don't worry about that camera in front of you! When all is said and done, you will be so grateful for photos that truly reflect who you were at that time in your life. FIFTH As a couples photographer myself, I am always after real emotion. I'm after big belly laughs, intimate moments, soft touches, and love-filled expressions. To capture this, I often prompt my couples to remember certain memories or to think of things they look forward to experiencing together in the future. I encourage them to whisper to each other while they pose for a photo in order to capture the natural connection between them. A lot of other photographers also use prompts to create both motion and emotion in their photos, but here is my advice to you: Whether your photographer uses prompts or not during your session, make sure to focus on how you feel about the person you're being photographed with! Let yourself absorb all of the chemistry and feelings flowing between the two of you. Trust me when I say that allowing yourself to feel and be in the moment with your partner will reflect in both your body language and facial expressions. Here are some things you might think about or discuss with your partner during your photo session: How you met Your first date Your first kiss How you were proposed to One of your sweetest memories together Why you love the person you're with What you're most excited about when it comes to marriage, parenthood, etc. How you feel when they hold you For more ways to make the most out of your couples session, make sure to consult your photographer! They should be able to provide you with resources and additional tips to create a smooth and enjoyable experience that you'll cherish forever. A few of my typical side notes: Interested in buying your loved ones a gift certificate? Gift cards are available all year round! Send me an email to purchase one. Visit my print shop for nature + landscape photos! Pábitel Photography is on Society6! Visit my shop where you can find almost all of my nature + landscape work across a wide variety of great items for your home! NEW: Beginning this Spring, Pábitel Photography will have prints available for purchase at Big Rock Coffee & Events in Chesaning, Michigan. COMING SOON: Membership tiers on Ko-fi. Receive monthly magnets, stationary cards, and prints directly to your door! I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out my services to learn more about what session types I provide. To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list. Download your list of my 10 Date Ideas for Guaranteed Fun in Michigan.

Besides figuring out what to wear, one of the hardest parts about planning a photo session is determining when you'd like your photos to actually be taken. Each month holds the promise for beautiful scenery and photos; it’s just a matter of figuring out what aesthetic you’re striving for! Do you want Fall leaves? Are you aiming for a holiday theme? What about wildflowers? Below, I will take you through a list of possible photo session ideas for each month of the year. This list takes into consideration a few major holidays as well as seasonal changes here on Mother Earth. Between this list, your creativity, and your photographer’s experience, you should be able to design the perfect backdrop for your next photo session! Find Your Perfect Photo Session Backdrop January January is probably one of the slowest months for photographers. Why? Because it's cold, silly! ❄️ A lot of people forget to consider January when scheduling a photo session simply because of the chilly temperatures. However, there are still plenty of reasons why January is one of the best months to have a session. Going back to what I just said a moment ago: January is a slow month for photographers. Because of this, you’re a little more likely to have multiple dates to choose from for your photo session. It is likely that your photographer’s calendar has plenty of room for a little bit of flexibility in scheduling. Another great reason to schedule your session for January is for some fun in the snow! At least in Michigan, January is one of the snowiest months of the year. Whether you like winter or not, we all know that a fresh snow is absolutely breathtaking. Snowy sessions can be romantic (picture suits or long dresses) or playful (did someone say snowball fight??) For a session that makes use of fresh snow, you will need to be flexible in scheduling (good thing it’s January). Fresh snow does not keep itss perfect looks for long. A session involving snow needs to be planned around the weather and scheduled to take place before the sun has a chance to work its magic on the fluffy stuff! This most likely will mean scheduling an early morning session. February Well, we all know that February means Valentine’s Day, so you probably can already think of one type of session that is really popular this time of year. Yepp, boudoir! If you’re looking to go the sexy route with your gift-giving, a popular Valentine’s Day gift is boudoir (or empowerment) photos. At its simplest, all you need for a boudoir session is an empty wall as a backdrop, clothes you feel empowered in, and great lighting. A more complex boudoir session will also make use of common household furniture pieces such as a bed, countertop, or couch. No matter what type of backdrop you’re aiming for though, please make sure your photographer is someone you’re comfortable with! Your safety and privacy should be the number one factors considered when planning a session like this. If that means bringing someone with you to your session then so be it! And, for my single friends out there, a February boudoir session is for you too. 🥰 Once your photographer has delivered your spicy photos, make sure to get them printed! Design yourself (or your significant other) an album, or order a display box. Better yet— make like a Kardashian, and frame your photos for your bedroom walls! Wanna make things even spicier? Switch things up and opt for a couples boudoir session! March March is still a cold, slow month for photographers in Michigan. It shouldn't be though! This winter month is a great option for a photoshoot inside your home. You and your loved ones cozied up at home? What could be more perfect for a chilly winter day! And, if you're doing a photoshoot in your own house, there are SO many options for a backdrop that truly fits who you are as a person! Love a movie night? How about setting up a projector and cuddling on the couch with a huge bucket of popcorn to share? Or, building a blanket fort together with string lights, plenty of pillows, and hot cocoa! Prefer spending time in the kitchen? Cook a warm comfort dish together! At-home sessions provide an intimate look into your relationships and capture who you are on an entirely different level than your typical photo session might. They do come with some prep work though. Before your in-home photo session, I highly recommend cleaning and decluttering! If there is anything that you do not what photographed, move it out of sight. Make sure your floors are clean, your bed is made up with sheets you love, and that your counters are empty. Only leave items out that you are okay with immortalizing in a photograph. The cleaner your home, the cleaner your photos will be! April through June Welcome to blossom season! 🌸 This is one of my favorite times of the year for floral-themed photos. In April and May, the tulips are out. And during this whole stretch, trees are also in bloom. We are talking crabapple, cherry, redbud, plum, magnolia and more! Spring has a romantic, poetic vibe to it. Colors in photos are typically softer with pops of green. If you are looking for an intimate outdoorsy session celebrating a new stage in life, be it a maternity or engagement session, Spring is the season for you. July through September It's .... 🌼 Wildflower Season! 🌼 And, actually...sunflower season too! 🌻 I'm absolutely in love with this time of year. I'm a sucker for wildflowers. My own wedding photos and decorations both revolved around wildflowers. There's another reason this time of year is amazing photos though and that is the sun! The evening light is extra golden in late summer. It brings a whole new level of warmth to photos. Colors in photos this time of year are typically richer too! So, obviously this is a wedding photo, but any session can take place in a sunflower field! October I know you know what October means. Fall is officially in full force! In mid-Michigan, peak Fall colors ✨typically✨ peak around October 10th. Like during wildflower season, the evening light in October is extra golden this time of year, and colors in photos appear much richer. I might also add that not only is the light golden, but so are the tall grasses in nature parks?? Absolute perfection. 💋 Not into the traditional Fall aesthetic? Halloween provides the perfect excuse for extra creativity in planning a photo session! Spooky-themed sessions are becoming more and more popular with every passing year. Grab your friends, find some costumes, and have a blast! A few quick ideas: Create a mock cemetery for a backdrop Dress in sheets and have a photo session as ghosts doing ordinary activities Or wear pumpkins on your heads and do those same ordinary activities These are just a few trendy spooky season inspired session ideas for October, but truly, the sky is the limit if you're willing to have some fun! Keep in mind that Autumn is a photographer's busiest time of year. Almost everyone wants updated family photos with backdrops of Fall leaves for their holiday cards. In order to ensure your spot is claimed on a photographer's calendar, you will want to contact them as soon as possible. 🍂 November and December The holidays are officially here! Holiday lights are up, and towns are creating picture-perfect scenes all on their own in the hopes of being chatted about. They want to be the backdrop in your photos. So, why not take them up on their free decorations? For the past two years, I have taken the most magical Christmas photos in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Of course, being known as the home of the world's largest Christmas store means Frankenmuth does not hold back on decorating. Still though, every town has their own unique decorations, and they can easily be taken advantage of in a photoshoot. If holiday decorations aren't your thing, this is another good time of year to do a cuddly in-home session with hot cocoa, your significant other or children, and some blankets! A few of my typical side notes: This year's photography series, a little bit of cottage-core, is here and available for pre-order! Pre-orders for 12-month calendars and build-your-own notecard sets are open through October. Other orders will be accepted November through December. You can place your pre-order here. Interested in buying your loved ones a gift certificate? Gift cards are available all year round! Send me an email to purchase one. Visit my print shop for nature + landscape photos! Pábitel Photography is on Society6! Visit my shop where you can find almost all of my nature + landscape work across a wide variety of great items for your home! I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out my services to learn more about what session types I provide. To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list. Download your list of my 10 Date Ideas for Guaranteed Fun in Michigan.

You've spent hours researching photographers and even more time struggling to find a date that both you and your family members have free for a photo session. A few hundred dollars have been invested into this important evening as well, and now that the contract is signed and your photo session is officially locked in your calendar, the stress is kicking in. What are we going to wear for our photo session? Answering that single question is perhaps the most stressful part of planning for a photo session. That's why I try to assist, in one capacity or another, every single client who books a session with me. Clients always receive my styling guide: a short, straight-to-the-point document full of general tips for choosing outfits that are guaranteed to show up great in photos. On top of this, I provide all clients with a link to a Pinterest board filled with clothing inspiration as well as offer complimentary access to my client closet: a small but growing collection of formal dresses in various sizes and colors. Additionally, for those who select my premium package, I provide personal styling assistance! This service is unique in that I provide as much assistance as clients individually need while working to select outfits for their sessions. This might involve helping a client with online clothing shopping, creating a Pinterest board tailored to their session's desired aesthetics and location, and responding to any texts received about clothing options. Now, while I clearly put a lot of emphasis on outfits when working with clients, I am not going to be the photographer that says, "Outfits can make or break a session." Sometimes, buying new clothes and putting together the most pristine, well-coordinated outfits is just not possible. I fully understand that paying for and sitting through a photo session is a luxury that not everyone can afford. To expect or to pressure my clients into spending additional money on the perfect wardrobe is something I'm not willing to do. What I will do though is plead you to trust me when I say that carefully choosing your clothes matters. Outfits may not make or break your session, but they will one hundred percent enhance or impair your photos. To make the most out of your upcoming photo session, I strongly encourage you to follow the styling tips provided below. This guidance is shared with every client of Pábitel Photography through my styling guide, and those who follow it thoughtfully always find their final galleries to be exceptional! tip one: stick to a color palette I have found that many people tend to gravitate toward dressing in similar colors for their photo sessions (think blue jeans and white shirts). Although this seems to be a popular choice, try to resist hopping on this band wagon! Your photos will look 1,000 times better if, instead of going the matchy-matchy route, you opt for a color palette. I personally recommend choosing about four different colors and sticking to them. For my clients specifically, I suggest wearing rich earth tones or pastels and advise them to steer clear of bright colors and neon. It's a great idea to ask your photographer if there are any colors they recommend avoiding before your photo session. They will know best which colors do not mesh well with their editing style. For example, although I do not prohibit my clients from wearing blues or purples, I typically find these colors more challenging to work with in the editing process. Remember, every photographer has their own unique style. Colors that work well for one photographer's style might not be suited for another's! This family did a great job at creating a color palette using whites, greens, blues, oranges, and browns. tip two: materials + patterns matter Again, this is a subject you can ask your photographer about before your session, but something easily overlooked when choosing what to wear for a photo session is the material an article of clothing is made from. My main piece of advice here is simple: avoid shiny or reflective materials. Matte materials tend to absorb light better, making for rich and vibrant photos. I always encourage my clients to wear clothing pieces made out of cotton, polyester, satin, mesh, nylon, or lace. As far as patterns go, the rule is as follows: the lighter the pattern, the better. Stay clear of anything heavily patterned. Busy patterns can not only distract from the emotion and connection in photos, but sometimes they may even become distorted depending on the intricacy of the pattern and the angle the photo was taken from. Instead, opt for wearing solid colors with delicate details such as pearls, sparkles, and lace trims. Flannels are also a great - not to mention popular - option for photo sessions! They must be coordinated correctly though; remember, it is best to avoid dressing matchy-matchy. If one person wears a flannel, consider putting someone else in a solid color. For this session, one person chose to wear a flannel while the second person wore coordinating solid colors. tip three: choose your accessories carefully In my humble opinion, delicate accessories look beautiful in photos! Pearls and thin silver or gold chains with small pendants are so elegant. Of course, some outfits may call for bolder jewelry such as thick bangles and statement necklaces, but be careful; these can be overpowering if not selected carefully. And please, please, please, if at all possible, take off your Fitbits, Apple Watches, and baseball caps. While you're at it, consider switching out those tennis shoes for dress shoes too! Pearls and thin silver or gold chains with small pendants are so elegant. Alright, friends, you're now equipped with the knowledge to elevate your next photo session from a 10 to a 100. Just follow my three easy tips for a stunning wardrobe—you won't regret it! Oh, and one extra treat before you go: my quick list of styling do's and don'ts. do... •• make sure your clothes are ironed. •• wear an undershirt with a button-up shirt. •• dress like the best version of yourself. •• have your hair parted and brushed. don't... •• spray tan within at least 24 hours of your session. •• wear undergarments that create lines. •• wear baseball caps, tennis shoes, Apple watches, Fitbits, or hair ties. •• wear shirts with logos on them. •• wear leggings if you can help it. •• feel pressured to shop new. •• hesitate to ask your photographer questions! A few of my typical side notes:   Pábitel Photography is now on Bluesky! Grand Rapids, Michigan friends! Mark your calendars for May 4th! Pábitel Photography will be a vendor at the Love for Lily: Hope for PDCD fundraiser event happening at the Fulton Street Market from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. I will have plenty of Spring nature and landscape photos to decorate your home with. Interested in buying your loved ones a gift certificate? Gift cards are available all year round! Send me an email to purchase one. Visit my print shop  for nature + landscape photos! I am currently booking all  of the sessions!   Contact   me to learn more, or check out my services   to learn more about what session types I provide. To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe   to my mailing list. Download your list of my 10 Date Ideas for Guaranteed Fun in Michigan.

Who told you that photo sessions should be limited to outdoors or to a photo studio? What made you think that family photos should be saved for the fall or that winter is much too cold of a season to book a couples session? All of that is simply not true! Any time that you want updated photos is the perfect time to schedule a session. There are so many options to how you can personalize a portrait session; the sky is truly the limit. In the past, I have taken anniversary photos at a local coffee shop. I've photographed engagement photos for a Renaissance festival-loving couple. At another session, a hand-crafted globe stood in for the traditional engagement ring. From your dress to your props to your location, you can always personalize as much or as little of your session as you would like. In fact, my favorite portrait sessions are the ones truly crafted around who the couple, family, or person is. There's just something so special about authenticity and celebrating what makes you YOU. One of the best ways to create an intimate, cozy session is to bring the photos into your own home. Yepp, I'm talking about an at-home lifestyle session! There are several reasons why I love at-home lifestyle sessions: 1. They are a great way to document not only your family, but your home and your lifestyle during a very specific point in time. The photos taken during these sessions typically involve very little posing, resulting in mainly authentic moments being photographed. Relaxing in the private of your own home is easier than doing so outside where there might be onlookers. At-home lifestyle sessions tell a story. It's all in the details! Today, I'm going to use an at-home couples cooking session to show you just how sweet and intimate having a session in your home can be. When Valerie and Alex moved into their first home a few years ago, I immediately offered to take photos of this huge milestone in their relationship. Moving in photos? A dream of mine! In fact, this is on my bucket list of session types to complete .... if anyone is interested! 😉 Unfortunately, we weren't able to make that session a reality. Instead, once they were fully settled into their new home, we opted for the sweetest at-home cooking session to celebrate not only their cozy space, but their love for one another. Cooking in itself is such an intimate process, especially when you're doing it with or for someone you care about. For Valerie and Alex, cooking is a huge part of how they spend their time together. Pro Tip: De-clutter and clean before taking photos in your home. This includes picking up your floors and counters. Anything that you don't want photographed should be put away. This ensures cleaner photos that you're more likely to appreciate for years to come. There are obviously thousands and thousands of recipes to choose from for a cooking session. Some, messier than others. I don't think I would ever recommend that someone avoid making a recipe during a session just because it might be messy. I mean, life is messy. And we are literally talking about a lifestyle session here, right? However, there are settings in which a messier recipe might be more appropriate. Like, a larger kitchen or baking with your grandchildren. In this case, a one-pot pasta dish was the perfect pick! Not only were we able to end the session with a cute dinner, but using just one pot allowed for the perfect amount of mess in Valerie and Alex's small kitchen! As I mentioned before, one of my favorite things about at-home lifestyle sessions is the attention to detail. Similar to a wedding gallery, some of the photos taken during a lifestyle session will simply be of inanimate objects important to the bigger story at hand. Important details related to Valerie and Alex's session included the cookbook they worked from and the bowl of garlic they keep on their counter. While some detail photos could feature inanimate objects, others might feature your hands. Some might be candid snapshots of the process or activity. For instance, when you imagine someone decorating a Christmas tree (another great at-home date idea, might I add), part of that imagery and storytelling involves hands placing ornaments on branches, right? Similarly, during a cooking session, some photos might highlight your hands at work. This might mean photos of a knife in action, hands peeling garlic, or hands passing an item to a partner. Because lifestyle sessions are truly intended to capture your lifestyle, I also love to photograph the moments happening alongside the main activity during my sessions. Bringing all of these details together helps to really tell the story of a home; in essence: this is who we are, this is what we enjoy, this is what we do, this is what we love. I urge my clients to embrace their true selves. If you watch TV together while waiting for a kitchen timer to ring, go ahead! Cuddle up on the couch! If you tend to clean between tasks, by all means, do so! Just maybe flirt a little while you're at it. And, if you use the time to love on your pets... Well, that's adorable. DO IT!! Of course, there is a reason I recommend selecting an activity for your at-home lifestyle session and that is to give your session some direction! For a cooking session, the photographer should be following the story of what it means to be in your kitchen. Not only are they are photographing what it feels like and what is occurring between steps in the recipe, but most importantly, they are photographing how you and your family interact with one another and work together! This is where we find the most adorable candid moments. From hugs and kisses to observing what the other is doing, this is the sweet spot of your cooking session! One of the best parts about a home cooking session specifically is the food! When you take the time to cook a beautiful meal together, it only makes sense that you eat it together too! Again, this is a time that calls for even more candid shots. Don't worry though! If your photographer is any good, they will not be photographing you eating! Instead, they will be photographing the food and the little moments of connection that happen during the meal. Lastly, doing at least one posed photo doesn't cause any harm! Throw one or two in just for fun! Or, if you prefer posed photos, find a way to work with your photographer to achieve more of a 50:50 split between posed and candid photos. A posed photo from Valerie and Alex's session can be found below. If a cooking session isn't for you, here are just a few more pieces of at-home lifestyle session inspiration: New home Decorating for Christmas Baking cookies Blanket fort and movies Painting a nursery For additional inspiration, I recommend collaborating directly with your photographer! A few of my typical side notes:   Pábitel Photography is now on Bluesky! Interested in buying your loved ones a gift certificate? Gift cards are available all year round! Send me an email to purchase one. Visit my print shop  for nature + landscape photos! I am currently booking all  of the sessions!   Contact   me to learn more, or check out my services   to learn more about what session types I provide. To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe   to my mailing list. Download your list of my 10 Date Ideas for Guaranteed Fun in Michigan.

Wow, five months into 2020, and I just completed my first session of the year! Does anyone remember me saying I wanted to complete at least 12 sessions in 2020?! This pandemic has, without a doubt, brought a lot of bad with it. If I am being honest though, it has also brought a lot of good into my life personally. Regular life is crazy busy and there isn't usually enough time to work full-time at the hotel, help at home, spend time with my family, take photos, create social media content, AND work on nailing down my website and media SEO. And if it weren't for the pandemic, I might not have had the chance to take these photos of my stunning cousin and soon-to-be cousin-in-law! Before I dive into Kelly and Calvin as a couple, I want to just humbly brag about how much light Kelly brings into my world. Being that she is my younger cousin, I have pretty much known Kelly my entire life. We have countless photos together from various family events. We have had sleepovers and fun in the pool, girl talk and plenty of adventures. There have been weekends filled with movies, candy, and crafting. She witnessed me hit my first and only car (it was parked too!). We have shared so many of the same interests from photography to both working at Disney World. Besides all of that, I think one of the best ways to describe Kelly's sweetness is through a short story. When I think of Kelly's personality, I easily reflect back on one simple, but hilarious (to me?) memory. You see, when we were much younger, our families attended a Lonestar concert at the once renowned Showboat Music Festival in Chesaning, Michigan. At this festival there was a craft show, and at this craft show, there was a mini renaissance festival. As we were browsing the booths, a man approached me with a felt bag. At the time, I had no idea that there was a renaissance group there. And actually, at that time, I don't think I even knew what a renaissance festival was! So, when this man asked me if I could hold onto his bag for him, I was a little confused, but took them from him figuring he just needed his hands free for a moment. Moments after I took the bag from him though, I found myself suddenly accused of having stolen the King's jewels! My family was brought in front of the King's throne where I was given the choice to either sing some sort of silly song in front of the public or to be put in the stocks and have water-filled sponges wrung out over my head. Being a quiet person who tends not to sing very often, I easily chose the second option. Somewhat mortified, I was placed in the stocks, and my family members were handed a container of water and several sponges. When I tell you that everyone in my family eagerly took advantage of soaking me in water, I mean it. Everyone soaked their sponges, smashed them or intensely wrung them out over my head. Except Kelly. Kelly walked up to the stocks with her water-soaked sponge and lightly patted it on the top of my head so hardly any water came out. It was such a sweet glimpse into who Kelly was becoming and who she already was at that age and a moment I will clearly never forget. Basically, what I am trying to say is that it has been amazing having someone like Kelly in my life, and I am so HONORED to have not only been able to capture some photos for her and Calvin, but to also be standing at their side as they exchange vows in 2021! Now, back to Kelly and Calvin as a couple! These two lovers met through a mutual best friend towards the end of their high school careers. It was prom season when said mutual friend told Kelly that Calvin had been considering asking her to Calvin's prom. The two of them had only met very briefly a couple of times before this, but when Kelly found out Calvin was interested in her, that's when they really started to talk. After weeks of texting back and forth, they soon they decided to officially-officially meet in person. Calvin visited Kelly's house, wearing the same black-and-white checkered converses as Kelly. That very same day, he also met Kelly's parents. Obviously, they hit it off pretty well, because they ended up attending both his and her proms together, and now, a handful of years later, are preparing to tie the knot! To put some perspective on their relationship's foundation and how long the two of them have already been dating, here is this little fact for you: Calvin just recently graduated with his bachelors from Wayne State University! If you're reading this, make sure to send a big congratulations his way! Like me, Calvin is a fairly quiet person. When he talks, it is because he truly has something to say. He is such an intelligent guy who clearly brings a lot of joy and laughter into Kelly's life. And my gosh, is he funny! I think this engagement photo session was the first time that I was able to truly see the two of them in their element, away from family, public eyes, and the noise the rest of the world can bring. Because nature is really important to the two of them (they spend a lot of time visiting Stony Creek Metro Park together), we chose to take their photos at the Flushing Township Nature Park in Flushing Township, Michigan. Here, we were able to easily social distance and keep away from others who might be uncomfortable being around people not wearing masks. It was a perfect day for photos too. The light was beautiful with an overcast sky creating a magnificent soft box for my camera to work with. The temperature was perfect for walking the nature preserve, and we even managed to beat the drizzle that was in the forecast for that afternoon! Like most of my sessions, we went over the scheduled session length, because we were so busy having fun! And walking. We did a lot of walking! We started the session with some formal photos to help ease any awkwardness they might have felt in front of the camera. Would you believe though, that these are the first photos Calvin and Kelly have had taken of themselves as a couple? Out of all of these years dating, their photo collection mostly consists of selfies and a couple of photos taken at Disney World! Honestly, if they had not told me this, I would have never known. The two of them were such naturals in front of the camera! They were relaxed and seemed to be focused on just soaking up this unique time together. Once those photos were out of the way, we moved onto some fun, laugh-provoking poses. They whispered jokes, stories, and secrets into each other's ears with a couple of reminders from me to actually whisper. I did not need to be the one hearing any secrets shared! I had them practice their slowest and most dramatic Hollywood kiss and play a game where they were bound to run into each other at some point! Everyone genuinely enjoyed themselves! It was so special to see Calvin and Kelly, as partners, away from all distractions. I feel incredibly blessed to have had the opportunity to witness their love for each other and to have taken their first photos. Thank you, Kelly and Calvin, for bringing another wonderful memory into my life. I'm wishing you the best always. A few of my typical side notes: Schedule your engagement session with Pábitel Photography today! I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out the session types listed below "services" at the top of this page. Remember, I need to make it to 12 sessions this year! To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list by filling out the subscription box listed below my contact form. Subscribe to receive 10% off your next portrait package with Pábitel Photography.

I think I first time heard the term “baby fever” from Hillary back in 2011. For the nine years (Can you believe it? NINE?!) that we have been friends, I have known her to be someone who adores children, loves baby giggles and rolls and clothes, and who dreams of being a mother to a little one of her own. Needless to say, when Hillary asked me if I would be interested in taking her and Craig’s Fall maternity photos, my immediate thought was, “uhh, heck yes!” After all of those years in college, scrolling through Tumblr and Pinterest with her, dreaming about our future homes, husbands, and children, how could I not want to be part of such a significant chapter of her life? She has dreamed of this moment her entire life, and as I put together her maternity gallery, and now this blog post, all I have been able to think about is how her dream is finally right before her. It’s happening. Her and Craig are having a sweet little baby boy, and this huge life change looks good on them. It looks GREAT on them. When it comes to the actual session, man, I’m just blown away. Hillary and Craig make such a radiant couple. I have seen their relationship grow from—essentially—day one, and each time that I am blessed to be in their presence, I can see that their relationship has only strengthened. They are such a great team. This session highlighted all of the goodness that these two bring to the table. Their clothes were gorgeous and so well coordinated. The setting and lighting were perfect. Craig made Hillary laugh so hard, and they delivered a l l of the feels. The original plan for this maternity session was to take photos at an apple orchard followed by taking lifestyle photos at their home. Michigan Fall colors were a must and there is almost nothing more Fall than a Michigan apple orchard. Unfortunately, we ended up having to rule out the orchards for their session though. Instead, with some of Hillary’s research and a little research of my own, I was able to scope out several local parks this summer to try and feel out what they might look like once the leaves began to change color. The park we landed on was called Clover Beach in Fenton, Michigan. Here, we had the option of not only a beach, but a small wooded area, gorgeous light, and plenty of beautiful deciduous trees. When the session day finally came though, Fall colors could be found everywhere except at Clover Beach! The trees were green, green, green all throughout the park! Luckily, Craig and Hillary had revisited the park just a couple of days before their maternity photo session and had found the tiniest, but most perfect, spot of red leaves. This is where we actually took the majority of their photos, and I’m so glad. I mean, look at them! Does this couple not look like royalty? The only word that comes to my mind as I look at these photos is “regal.” I mean, come. on. Besides grabbing some photos with the Michigan Fall colors, we also took a few photos on the beach and by these large stone pillars. Hillary’s dress, which looked stunning on her, coordinated so well with all three settings. At some point while in between photos, Craig surprised Hillary with a bouquet he had made from nearby wildflowers. Now, normally I wouldn’t be for someone picking wildflowers. In fact, I actually have a nature photo series called, “a few things to preserve” featuring mainly untouched wildflowers. Seeing Craig hand Hillary these flowers though was one of the cutest things. I remember actually scolding him saying, “Craig! Why didn’t you do this while the camera was up?” The look of surprise on Hillary’s face was so genuine, hilarious, and adorable. Naturally, we had to reenact the moment for a quick few photos! Once we finished up at Clover Beach, we headed over to Hillary’s and Craig’s home for the lifestyle maternity part of their session. There, Craig and Hillary changed into red flannels and white t-shirts, impressing me again with their amazing coordination. I am always hesitant when I hear people say they are considering wearing the exact same colors as their family members during family photoshoots, but this pairing is something that works . I think part of why is because of the choice in flannels. Hillary and Craig chose to wear real flannels with very similar patterns. They are almost identical but just different enough to look really good together in photos. So, if you’re someone out there looking to do family photos or any type of group photos, consider wearing different shades of a color or coordinating colors. If you want to wear the same exact color, find some way to break it up like coordinating patterns! We took several photos throughout Hillary’s and Craig’s home, starting in the kitchen and ending in their bedroom. I had to throw in a living room picture here too, because they coordinate so well with their walls too! I’m so, so excited for Hillary and Craig and this new chapter in their lives. All I can really say after all of this is just that their little one is a lucky lil’ guy. He is being born into such a remarkable family, and I am so grateful that Hillary and Craig invited me into their home to capture their love and family. Much love to this growing family as they continue to wow the world and bring some extra warmth into it! A few of my typical side notes: I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out the session types listed below "services" at the top of this page. The 2021 calendar is finally here! A newsletter and blog post will be out shortly promoting it, but make sure to 'like' my Facebook and follow my Instagram as I will be holding a contest for two people to receive $5.00 off their calendar purchase! To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list by filling out the subscription box listed below my contact form. Read about my engagement session with Katie and Jake! Subscribe to receive 10% off your next portrait package with Pábitel Photography.

The first weekend of November, Estevan and I drove up to Traverse City, Michigan for a fall getaway. When I say we ate and drank ALL day, I really mean ALL DAY. We started our time off with [large] salads at the Mackinaw Brewing Company. The plan was to have light food before hitting up a couple of wineries. Of course, me being me, I ordered a salad covered in artichokes, cheese, and olives and was full just over halfway through it. I also had a glass of wine, and Estevan had a beer flight. After lunch, we headed onto Old Mission Peninsula. We only had time for two wineries, so we stopped at Black Star Farms and Chateau Chantal. After we were done there, we went to the tip of the peninsula, saw part of the sunset on the little beach by the lighthouse and successfully hunted for a geocache. And then, we headed back into Traverse City for dinner. We stopped at a bar, and I had a HUGE burger and milkshake. Literally, my burger was a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon, an actual burger, typical burger toppings, fried pickles, and a hockey puck of fried cheese on top of it. And on top of all of those items, was another grilled cheese sandwich . The next morning, we had an amazing breakfast at The Omelette Shoppe sitting next to (funny enough) a couple who had sat next to us at the bar the night before and had seen just how large that burger really was. ANYWAY, it was fun. The point of all of this is that I now have Traverse City photography to share with you guys including three beach landscape photos! One is overlooking the vineyards on Old Mission Peninsula, and the other three are the beach at Mission Point during sunset. Enjoy! side notes: Calendars are still available to order. View calendar pages here . Contact me if interested in ordering. The canvas giveaway contest is forever ongoing! I am at 177 likes. At 200 a winner will be selected. Visit my Facebook and find the pinned post for directions as to how you may enter the contest.

I am pretty sure I say this after every single session, no matter the session type, but Katie's and Jake's engagement session in Lansing, Michigan was a DREAM. We had so much fun together while wandering around Hawk Meadow Park. The session was magic, with golden light and even some beautiful feathered friends! Katie and I have known each other for years now. We lived together throughout college, we worked together at Disney, and I’ll be in hers and Jake’s wedding this Fall. She has talked me down many times, has lectured me about boys, has listened to my rants, and has had several "dance parties" with me. Heck, she even used to keep a path cleared in her room so that when I talked on the phone, I could pace in and out of her it! This blog post though, is not about how amazing and important Katie is to me. It is about Katie and Jake and their beautiful relationship. Katie and Jake met through a mutual friend almost immediately after Katie moved home from Florida. They instantly hit it off. Soon enough, Katie was sending me sappy Facebook messages about Jake and how wonderful their relationship was. the proposal Fast forward a couple of years after the two of them met, and Jake was planning the perfect proposal for Katie. Of course, being that Katie was never really interested in being proposed to with an actual engagement ring, Jake had his work cut out for him. He took several of Katie’s interests and mashed them together into a beautiful and unique piece of custom-made art: a globe. The globe was designed by Bellerby and Co. Globe Company based out of London, England. Katie is a map girl and a Disney girl. She loves Alice in Wonderland. And, her ideal proposal involved a ring pop instead of a diamond ring. These are the interests that Jake put together for her on this globe. The globe, obviously, stemmed from Katie’s love of maps. But on the globe is where you will find everything else. Jake had Bellerby and Co. draw a delicate red ring pop around where he lives with Katie in Michigan. He had Alice in Wonderland quotes such as, “We’re all mad here,” written around the globe’s equator. Each of the Disney castles from all around the world were also sketched onto the globe. Seeing it in person, it is truly such a beautiful masterpiece. Everything is drawn out with such care and detail. The globe itself is solidly built and smooth. This is not where Jake’s planning ended though. Once the globe was shipped from London to Michigan, Jake had to figure out how to hide the large box from Katie. He employed his friends to help him with this. They held onto the globe until the time was right while Jake continued to work on his proposal plans which consisted of constructing a large ring box to fit the globe in. He sneakily designed and built the wooden ring box right in his workshop at Katie's and Jake's house, claiming that he was building a stand for their friends who just bought pet rats whenever Katie asked. As for the actual act of proposing, Jake had this all worked out nicely too. Katie and Jake went out for dinner one night with their friends (the ones who had been holding onto the globe this entire time). His friends asked Jake to come out to their car to grab something, and when they came back in the restaurant, Jake had the globe in the ring box ready to present to Katie! Even better yet, the day that they went out for dinner also happened to be Katie's and Jake's anniversary! the lansing engagement session Now, I already said it, but Katie and Jake’s session was perfect. We met up just before golden hour to provide plenty of time to talk and walk in between photos. Like always, my guaranteed session time acted as the minimum amount of time to spend together, and we ended up running past golden hour and into dusk. It was worth it though! We laughed so, so much! Of course we did though, because not only did I have Katie and Jake play a couple of mini games that I love for loosening things up and bringing out some genuine smiles during engagement sessions, but Katie had also requested to do several silly photos as well. We spent the session going from happy, sweet moments to goofy faces to incredible bouts of laughter. Watching Katie and Jake be silly together and make each other laugh was not a let down. In fact, it was definitely one of the best parts of the day! Towards the end of the session, when golden hour was quickly approaching, we found ourselves in a more heavily forested area. The light filtering through the trees was striking, and while the mosquito population was INSANE (I don't remember the last time I had so many bites!), the sparkling evening made staying in this shaded area completely worth it. As the forest grew darker and we were wrapping up our golden hour photos, we were visited by two feathered friends! Two beautiful owls flew into the swampy area behind where I was standing to take photos! One landed in the trees above the water and one on the ground. I had to stop taking photos of Katie and Jake in that moment. It was just so amazing to see these great birds. I think we were all in awe. As I crept away from Katie and Jake to try and take a closer photo of the owls, Jake jokingly called to me, "Hey, we are paying you to take photos of us! " This was followed shortly with a, "Just kidding. We definitely want these photos too!" What a memorable moment! Engagement sessions are already so special, but to throw something like this into the mix was absolutely incredible. I can only hope that all of my couples have as much fun during their sessions as I do. It was such an honor to take photos of Katie and Jake, and I am honored to be continuing to play a role in Katie's life. She is such a wonderful friend. She has brought so much joy into my life and into many others, and I am grateful that she has Jake to return some of that joy to her now. A few of my typical side notes: Schedule your engagement session with Pábitel Photography today! I am currently booking all of the sessions! Contact me to learn more, or check out the session types listed below "services" at the top of this page. Remember, I need to make it to 12 sessions this year! To be the first to hear about new blog posts, business updates, and promotions, make sure to subscribe to my mailing list by filling out the subscription box listed below my contact form. Read about my engagement session with Kelly and Calvin!

I have spent the last week scrapbooking in my spare time, smiling at old photos from my senior year of high school and remembering all of the little moments shared with those dear high school friends. Thinking about those times and those friends fills me with such gratitude, and I am so happy to have photos to not only bring me back in time but to remind me of how much I have experienced and accomplished in life. A while ago, I wrote a poem (if that is what you would call it) describing why photos mean so much to me. This week, looking at my photos, I was reminded of it. There are several really great quotes you can find online about photography and photos in general, but I would like to take a moment to share my perspective on photography. Please know that this effect photographs have on me is something I wish on all of you as well. It's great thing to be able to look back at a photo when you're lost, realize what you have accomplished, and be reminded of who you are. I AM MORE What I really love about photography, I think more than anything, is how it can help someone find themself. Everyone knows that a picture can tell a person’s story, and everyone knows that a picture can bring someone back to a happier time, but a photo can do so much more than just those two things. Pictures are powerful. Not only can they tell the world who you are, but they can remind you of who you are. When the world is raging past you and you seem to be stuck in the rapids, hitting rock after rock, not sure of where you’re going, what you’re doing, where you want to be, or how you want to get there, your pictures can offer some pretty great insight.  People tell me all of the time, “You take so many pictures. Why do you take so many pictures?” I take so many pictures, because pictures capture moments. I take so many pictures, because I love looking back on a time when I was happy. Yes, a lot of pictures can be misleading and make a moment seem happier than it actually was, but even these pictures can remind a person of what it is in life that makes him smile. I take so many pictures, because when you’re stuck in a work situation that makes the world look bleak and grey, it is important to remember the beauty in things. I take so many pictures, because today, my screensaver slideshow kicked on, and my thoughts were clear for a good few minutes.  You see, my pictures can keep me in check. They remind me of how much I have accomplished in life from graduating college to working at Walt Disney World. They tell me how great the people in my life are. My pictures remind me of who I am and of what I have. My pictures boldly state that I am more than this segment of my life. I am someone who puts trust in the world. I am someone who trusts until proven that I shouldn’t, someone who believes people are inherently good, and that the world will catch you so long as you treat the world well. I do not place blame on others, but I admit my mistakes and take responsibility. I do not choose to find someone’s negative qualities, but I easily notice what makes them beautiful. My pictures remind me of all of these things. They also remind me that I will go places one day, both in my career and in my leisure time. They show me all of the places I want to travel to and all of the things I aspire to achieve. My pictures remind me that there is always beauty in this world. They tell me what I stand for and what I love: determination, love, honesty, art, and family. My pictures tell me that I am someone who puts my faith in God, someone who believes her life is destined to be a great one, and someone who knows that with a little prayer, love, and faith, my dreams can come true. My pictures find me when I lose myself, and for this reason, I will never put my camera down.  ---