One Short Year | Ortonville, MI. Newborn Photographer

This post has been a long time in the making.  I have been working with this family for a long time, but have never really shared any of their photos.  I have no idea why I haven't.  They have been the subjects of some of my very favorite photo shoots and images ever.  It all started with an off the wall email, asking if I was willing to try some underwater photography, and just blossomed from there.  That first shoot was definitely an adventure.  I didn't have an underwater housing for my professional camera, so we used a simple old point and shoot, in a ziplock style waterproof case.  The conditions were less than ideal, but we had so much fun doing it.  The purpose of the underwater shoot was to capture some images that they could use on their engagement announcements, signifying that they were "Taking the plunge."  How fun!

Fast forward past the wedding, since I don't shoot weddings, and we get to the part where they found out that they were going to have their first baby together, and a little sibling for big brother, Aiden.  I was so excited to help them create their vision for their surprise announcements.  They wanted a shot to showcase the fact that they were "Expanding their family by two feet."  Pretty cute, huh?  I got down and dirty, and a bit damp, from laying on the pavement to get just the right angle, but they turned out super cute, and were a great way to let their friends and family know about the upcoming addition.

Of course, months go by, and I finally got the call, letting me know that little Roxie had made her debut.  Mom said that she loved bright colors, which is perfect since that is right up my alley, so I gathered up some of my most colorful blankets, and even made some awesomely colorful rainbow leg warmers, and headed over to capture some images of their little beauty.  Roxie rocked out her photo shoot, of course!  Who would've expected anything less with a name like that?

Now, move on forward, one short year later, and you'll find that little sister, Roxie, has become a big sister to her new baby sis, Gemma.  I was obviously elated to be asked to help welcome their newest baby girl into the world, with her very own newborn photo shoot.  Gemma followed in Roxie's footsteps, and was a dream to photograph.  She was so sleepy and content.  You may have seen, on my Facebook fan page, that these three beautiful children celebrated an awesome milestone when, on August 6th, 2014, they reached the ages of 12 years (Aiden), 12 months (Roxie), and 12 days (Gemma).  How cool is that!?!  Gemma was born just shy of Roxie's first birthday.  Many people call that Irish twins.  I call it sweet perfection.  These girls will forever be inseparable, I know it.  And they will always have their big brother to watch over them.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to take part in so many milestones in this family's life together, and I can't wait to continue to watch them grow through the years.  :)

The shot that started it all.

Hooray, there's a baby on the way!!!

Little Roxie makes her debut.

Roxie, then & now.  Oh how she's grown!  

Baby Gemma, in all of her splendor!

Contact Carri at:

email: carrimullins@carribethphotography.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/carribethphotography

phone: (248)678-3601

Something A Little Different | Waterford, MI. Senior Photographer

If you follow my work, you may have realized that I pretty much stick with photographing babies and young children.  I definitely market myself that way, so it is no surprise that I don't book many sessions that do not fit into that category.  Well, last weekend I decided to change it up a bit, and I accepted a session for a high school senior named Tiffanie.
Tiffanie was in a hurry to have her photos done in time to submit her yearbook photo to the school, so we scheduled her session quickly, and were blessed with a beautiful, but slightly chilly, day for the shoot.  Now, I have shot seniors before, but they are alway few and far between, and I always get a bit anxious before I shoot that age group.  Maybe it's because it's a totally different world working with someone who is so grown, than it is chasing after little toddlers that are spontaneous and full of energy, or shushing a tiny little newborn to sleep, and slowly and carefully curling them into position for their first portraits.  Perhaps my anxiety comes from my many years of being unpopular and incredibly nerdy in school, and always seeking acceptance.  I'll admit it, I am still slightly intimidated by the thought of not fitting in, but that is always short-lived when I meet my seniors and realize that they are just as, if not more, nervous as I am.  It is a lot to ask of someone, to stand in front of a camera and try to look natural.  I can't do it.  My eyes bug out of my head, and I usually end up making a crazy face, which is why I prefer to stay behind the camera.

Well, Tiffanie was not only natural in front of the camera, she absolutely shined, and she ignited an excitement in me to shoot future senior sessions.  She is a beauty through and through.  She is also a very crafty and inconspicuous outfit changer.  I don't know how she did it, but she was in and out of outfits in the blink of an eye, without flashing any of the goods.  Quite a talent.  lol.  And, luckily, she is not afraid of flying insects, since we shot one location that was swarmed with honey bees, and another that was swarmed with bumble bees.  She did it all without a flinch, and I am happy to report that we all made it out alive and unscathed.

It was such a privilege to work with Tiffanie.  I really enjoy seeing young people at this point in their lives, where they are really blossoming, coming into their own, and nearing a major crossroads in life.  I am so happy to be able to capture this moment for her.  Though she said that she was doing the photo shoot to appease her mom, I like to believe that when Tiffanie sees these beautiful images of herself, she will be pleased and excited that she participated in this shoot, and will be proud to share the images with her friends and family.  :)

Contact Carri at:

email: carrimullins@carribethphotography.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/carribethphotography

phone: (248)678-3601

Addi Oodi, Attitudey | Ortonville, MI. Baby Photographer

Little baby Addison has been growing so fast in the past 7 months.  You may remember my earlier posts about the arrival of my super adorable niece.  If not, you should definitely go check out the images from the day she was born, and her newborn photo shoot.

I come up with all kinds of crazy, nonsensical, nicknames for my own kids, and little Addison has received a few too.  My favorite nickname for her is Addi Oodi Attitudey because she is a sassy little thing.  She is not afraid to tell you what she thinks, in her own little way.  She definitely takes after her momma with that one.  She resembles her momma too, but I cannot help but see how much she looks like her daddy.  This little girl is a welcome addition to my friday routine, which is the day of the week in which I get to have her all to myself.  I love having the opportunity to watch her grow, up close.  There is nothing better than experiencing the world through the eyes of a baby who is discovering so many things for the very first time.

I'm a bit behind in sharing her pics from when we did her 4 month shoot, so I will share my favorite of those here, along with her 7 Month photo shoot.

I just ordered this image as a metal print, and I just KNOW it is going to look awesome.
4 MONTHS 

7 MONTHS

Just a bit of extra fun for everyone.  We all love Addison's spiky/fuzzy hair, and one night, while looking at a pic of her on my brother-in-law's phone, I realized that she strongly resembled something I had seen before.  What do you think.  Do we have a doppelgänger?  Lol

 Contact Carri at:

Email:  carrimullins@carribethphotography.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/carribethphotography

Phone:  (248) 678-3601

A Vision Comes To Life | Ortonville, Mi. Avant Garde Photographer

Still digging up the archives, and I have a fun shoot to share from my weekend in Grand Haven last June.  I, along with the girls I was staying with, knew that we wanted to do a shoot that was a bit out of the norm for us.  So, my friend, Rhonda, and I went to work planning and getting things organized for a fun avant garde shoot.  We wanted to do something cool with a dark bird-like woman, and I must say that I am really happy with how it turned out.  Our vision never would have come to life if it hadn't been for our AMAZING makeup artist, Heather Spataro.  She did such a great job of listening to our requests, and making our vision come to life.  Between the awesome makeup, our talented model, Montana Bergy, and the super cool dress that Rhonda custom-made for the shoot, everything was perfect.  The only problem was, I don't have any experience with studio lighting.  Without the help of my photographer friends, whom I love, and was so happy to be able to shoot and spend time with, I am sure that my photos would have been a mess.  ; )

I had to at least take a few outside.  We had a lot of fun.  :)

Contact Carri at:

email: carrimullins@carribethphotography.com

facebook: www.facebook.com/carribethphotography

phone: (248) 678-3601

Oh How I Wish..... | Ortonville, MI. Newborn Photographer

As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be sharing some sessions that I have been digging up from the 2012 archives.  Well, in my search for unblogged sessions, I came across this little cutie, who modeled for me, and a group of photographer friends, early last summer during a fun photo filled weekend in Grand Haven, MI.  It was beautiful out there, with the warm air, the sparkly blue water, and the picturesque boardwalk/pier filled with people walking, skateboarding, riding their bikes, and just taking in the view.  Sitting here reflecting on our time there makes me think, oh how I wish I were back in that moment, with the sun shining on my face, surrounded by great friends, and having a good time.

While we were in Grand Haven, we set up a handful of photo shoots, just for fun.  Handsome little Alex here, was the first of the group, and he set the precedent for the shoots to follow.  He was amazing.  He was so sleepy, and didn't stir a bit.  So much so, that we decided, (with the ok from Mom, of course) that we should get some shots of him on the beach, with it's fine tan sand, and it's glistening water.  Not being prepared for an on-the-fly beach shoot, we trudged through the sand, quickly filling our shoes with the stuff, but it was so worth it.  Alex rocked it out, and I got a rare chance to photograph a sweet newborn on a beautiful beach.

I had such a fun time hanging out with my ladies that weekend, and Alex only added to that enjoyment.  He will be turning one in the next few months, so I hope that this is a welcome look back at how tiny he was, and how much he has grown.  As for the other shoots of the weekend, keep your eye out for future posts.  We did some really fun stuff that you won't want to miss.  :)

Contact Carri at:

Email:  carrimullins@carribethphotography.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/carribethphotography

Phone:  (248) 678-3601

My Little Bit Of SUNSHINE On A Rainy Day | Ortonville, MI. | ChildPhotographer

Sometimes I wish that I could keep my clients on-call for those moments when the planets align, and the perfect opportunity to photograph someone arises.  Alas, it is unreasonable for me to expect anyone to be able to QUICKLY get their children ready at the snap of my fingers.  (I think all of us moms can attest to the fact that it is nearly ALWAYS an absolute IMPOSSIBILITY.  Lol).  Lucky for me, I have a very willing, (most of the time), and very cute little girl at my beckon call.  ;D

This past weekend, I was sadly forced to cancel two sessions, due to rain.  :(  It was unseasonably warm, and would've been perfect for photographing some little beauties, but the rain just would not let up...........until............much later in the day it miraculously stopped.  Knowing that there was no way to know how long the break would last, and coming to grips with the fact that I cannot get clients to a location at the drop of a hat, I enlisted my own beauty to help me satiate my need to shoot that day.  

So, I snatched up my baby girl, still in her jammies (aka, undies, lol), enjoying a lazy day at home, and I put her in a new combo of two separate outfits that have been hanging around for a while.  I must say, I like the way it turned out, but that may be because Maddie could make a garbage bag look cute.  She got ready so quick, and even let me curl her hair.  Unfortunately, the curls didn't last long in the damp evening air, but she looked adorable regardless.  Tell me if you cannot tell that she LOVES hamming it up for the camera.  She has her moments, like any other kid, but she is just so naturally spontaneous.

Since this was an impromptu shoot, we hadn't planned a location.  Luckily, if you're really looking for it, you can find beauty in just about any location.  These photos were taken in two unassuming locations that we happened upon while quickly running an errand before our spur of the moment photo shoot.  I pass both of these spots on a daily basis, and I must admit that I didn't notice either of them, or how beautiful they are, until I was looking for the perfect spot.  Wouldn't it be great if we all took more time, day to day, to actually LOOK at the beauty around us?  I thought that my creative eye was turned on by default, (I am constantly eyeballing cute shooting spots), but even I have overlooked some of the natural allure that my local surroundings provide.

I am sad that my sessions had to be canceled that day, but I am forever thankful that I have been reminded to open my eyes.  And I am grateful that I had my mini me to add a little bit of sass to the mix.  :)

I love this shot!  My perfect little model.  :)

That's one of my favorite smiling faces EVER!

(There are two more at home that aren't quite as thrilled about being in front of my camera, but that doesn't make me love their smiling faces any less.  :)

Contact Carri at:

Email:  carrimullins@carribethphotography.com

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/carribethphotography

Phone:  (248) 678-3601