05.29.09
Honored to have been asked to photograph the Susan G Komen - Race for the Cure downtown Kalamazoo. My step mom Chris is a 5 year survivor, so this is an organization that our family loves.
Here is link to a fun slideshow and a few images below.
****Sorry I haven’t quite mastered centering images on my new blog yet, but I wanted to get a few up tonight 
HUGE group shot of all the survivors - go girls!
Not sure how they talked me into riding the cherry picker up 3 stories…
Not sure if this is an official slogan….
The girls at the finish line….
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05.27.09
Hey all you wedding peeps! Just wanted to let you all know about a networking/aka PARTY tonight 7:30 at Epic Bistro in Kalamazoo.
Click HERE for more details on Facebook. Hope to see old friends and meet new ones
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05.26.09
You know the best part of my job isn’t about taking photographs, it’s about these amazing families. People I may not have ever met under another circumstance. And I just love em to pieces.
I truly give all my heart, love and energy into every wedding. So when the mother of the bride hugs me a the end of a reception with tears of thankfulness… oh, that just fills me up. Assures me that the photographs I take have meaning and purpose to the family.
I can not say it enough…. I’m so blessed
I’m just posting a couple of images that I showed from the reception slideshow. Saving the rest as a surprise for when Jess and Brett return from Greece.
From their super cute engagement session:
And some pre-wedding details - that little picture on the nightstand is Jess when she was 12, and she’s wearing a dress from her grandmother. I’m so sentimental
Gorgeous bride right before we left to go to the church.
hollyshotmywedding.com
Couples that see each other before the wedding are ALWAYS the most relaxed. I just love Brett’s expression when he saw Jess for the first time
Beautiful and sweetest bridesmaids
Cheers to everyone at the event. Full post and slideshow coming right along
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05.20.09
Incredibly overwhelmed by the huge turnout of photographers at our Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep meeting last night. You are all so compassionate and it blows my mind how generous everyone is. There is nothing greater than you can give a family than memories - THIS is our mission as photographers.
For me, serving families in this ministry has been so spiritually fulfilling. Documenting a child’s brief life can give a parent hope, memories, and a positive image to help them heal. Most importantly it validates them as parents. It validates me as a parent. You time and talent is truly the best gift you can give someone.
I am trying to coordinate a couple of evenings this week that we could go to the hospital in teams for shooting demos. It sounds like a lot of photographers would feel more comfortable going into a session once they are more familiar with the lighting and the space. We would either be photographing healthy newborns or nicu babies for practice.
Please post a comment below and let me know when if it would be convenient for you to shoot.
Tuesday, May 26th 6:00pm
Thursday, May 28th 6:00pm
Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
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05.11.09
I didn’t expect to spend my mother’s day in the hospital grieving with a family, perfect strangers, at the loss of their child. I photographed them holding their baby for the first time, their two year old daughter kiss her brother’s lips, and I could feel it when he took his last breath. It’s such a sacred space, and I feel overwhelmingly blessed to be there. holding their hands and whispering my prayers to this angel.
I know this is part of God’s plan for me. He puts me in the most heart wrenching circumstances to shine his light and create beauty. This could be the highest calling for artist. I know it’s true for me
I’m honored to serve families in southwest Michigan through the organization Now I lay Me Down To Sleep. Bronson Hospital is the baby hospital for the region, so subsequently we have a high number of high risk pregnancies and infant mortality right here in Kalamazoo. I urge all local photographers who are compassionate about creating positive loving memories for families to consider joining us. I am going to host an informal training session at my studio Tuesday, May 19th at 6pm. Please feel free to email me with questions and let me know if you can attend.
With Gratitude
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05.08.09
If you follow mw on Facebook, you already know that I’m an American Idol freak and fan of Matt Giraud. It’s the first season I’ve ever watched it, and my thumbs are callused from texting “VOTE” for Matt every Tuesday night.
I become easily obsessed
So awesome to be able to photograph Matt at his homecoming last night in Kalamazoo. Shout out to K-zoo! Thousands of people packed Arcadia Park to show their love. With all the negative media lately, it was just so refreshing to celebrate.
Here’s the slideshow and a few fun shots:
www.hollyshotmywedding.com/americanidol
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud and Bobby Hopewell American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Monaco Bay American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Matt Giraud American Idol Homecoming Kalamazoo, MI
Get ready for the tour and I’m sure he will cut a record. rock on peeps
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May 27, 2009 — 7:49 pm