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A Fabulous Season for Brides & Grooms in 2010.

Photographing Weddings from Mackinac Island to Grand Rapids and all of Northern Michigan makes this a beautiful career.  Smiling faces and happy hearts  motivates my artistic talents. The weather was very kind to us and the summer lasted tell October.  The pictures in this set are “Destination Weddings on Mackinac Island” at  the Grand Hotel, Mission Point Resort, Island House, Inn at Stonecliffe, Little Stone Church and St. Anne’s Church.

Danielle & Andrew 8-15-10 Mackinac Island, MI

Christine & Brandan  7-31-10 Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, MI

Danielle &  Andrew 8-15-10  Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island, MI

Kristin & Steve 8-14-10 Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island, MI

Stacy & Craig  7-25-10  Mission Point Resort, Mackinac Island, MI

Melissa & Joe 6-23-10 St. Anne’s  Church, Mackinac Island, Mi

Megan & Young 8-27-10 Island House,  Mackinac Island, MI

Tami & Eric  7-11-10  Grand Hotel. Mackinac Island, MI

Additionally, my Gallery on Mackinac Island was surprisingly busy and many potential brides stopped in and I had the opportunity to view my work up-front and personal. I really enjoyed the opportunity. It was a banner year for me totaling (33) Weddings, (5) Wedding Engagements, three of which were surprises, I really enjoy the surprise engagements, (4) Family Reunions, (2)  Graduation parties, and (2) Conferences, including the “Pure Michigan Governors Conference” held at the Grand Hotel last May. I have been commissioned again to photograph the 2011 conference in Kalamazoo in March. I will highlight that later in the blog.

61st Annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival  June 11 to 20th, 2010

As spring slips in to summer the Mackinac Lilac Festival lures visitors with the fragrant scent of several varieties of lilacs including some that date back to more than 150 years. Horse drawn carriages clip-clop down the streets while a different  life style you have to see to believe still exists.

The idea: bring people to Mackinac Island to enjoy a great horse drawn parade amidst the lovely lilacs that fragrance the Island in June.

From June 11-20 the event offers nightly live entertainment, wine tasting, movies and even a street hockey tournament. Register to enter the Mackinac Island Lilac Festival Golf Tournament at the Grand Hotel Jewel golf course. Choose from many tour offerings from the Governor’s mansion, gardens and Island architecture.

Stay for a day or make reservations for a Mackinc Island Lilac Festival hotel or inn package. Take a carriage ride or just rent a bike and take your own tour of magnificent Mackinac Island in full bloom.

What began as a one day event called the Mackinac Island Lilac Day has blossomed into a Lilac heaven. A ten day festival. Celebrating Mackinac’s lilac collection began in 1949 after a conversation with Evangilene “Ling” Horn and Nurse Stella King who encouraged the then teen and today’s Mackinac Island Carriage Tours veterinarian Dr. Bill Chambers to have a parade on Lilac Sunday.

Let the festival begin.

For more festival pictures visit:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11770&id=106126789411655&ref=pb

Visit http://www.mackinacislandlilacfestival.org/index2.php

for additional up-dated information.

Last weekend on Mackinac Island Mi, I had the opportunity to photography a very special wedding engagement proposal.  Steve called me prior to the date to set up this fantastic start to his new life with his sole mate.  We spent a little time planing and brainstorming on the phone then on May 30th, two hours before the photo shoot,  Steve and I staked out the site opportunities for set up.  His girlfriend had no idea that Steve had anything up his sleeve and that pictures were being taken,  “we were just going to have a glass of wine out by the water” that turned into champagne and was the start of the proposal.  Both sides of there family’s knew he was going to propose.  Just not the bride to be.

By this time there were many lookers on wondering if something was going to happen.  The excitement begins.

It’s really happening.  It took a while to get to this point.  Steve’s goes down on his knee.  Here we go!

An absolute blast. The opportunity to capture such a special moment in two peoples lives.

The anticipation .

I think she said “YES”.

The kiss you never forget.

The gig is up.  See that camera and the photographer over on the dock .

“Sole mates”.  Smiling memories and just so happens, a freighter in the straights of Mackinac.

I say the freighter is good luck wishes to the happy couple.

I am so excited for this couple and feel honored to have been a small part of the beginning of their engagement.  It was truly a photo shoot I will never forget.  I wish them a lifetime of fun together.

The magic of Mackinac Island is always happening around you.  Doesn’t matter where your at, it matters what is in your heart.  Anyone can pull off special moments just like this.   Just a little time and thought into your endeavors can put smiles on many faces.

For me, I’m ready to photograph any event for a life time of smiles and memories.

Last weekend May 22, 2010 was Mackinac Island’s Prom and they joined with Beaver Island

and Grand Maris for there Prom celebration at Mission Point Resort on beautiful Mackinac Island.

You can’t ask for a better way to make your entrance but from a horse and buggy.

As you can see the weather was close to perfect and a great night was starting.

We spent about an hour taking photographs at the Gazebo and having some teenage fun.

What is a Prom?

A Prom means a Promenade Concert, or a concert where part of the audience stands in a “promenade” area of the hall.

Weather your prom is on Mackinac Island or anywhere,  your memories or priceless at this time of your life.  Having this time documented in picture form is memories, memories, memories.

I know all the kids had great time at there prom and wish them all the beat in there future endeavors.

King & Queens:

When I left at 9:30 they were dancing the night away.

You must be very careful as a photographer when considering photographing a bachelor party outing.  I have photographed many through the years and so far I have enjoyed them all.  I just returned from a weekend bachelor party in Grand Rapids. It was a super weekend.  Started Friday afternoon in the backyard of the grooms house playing Frisbee and Baseball, then to a baseball game at 5th 3rd Ballpark Friday night.   The weather was perfect for outside activities.

Bachelor Gifts in these cases: Watches

5th 3rd Ballpark

The Groomsmen

Saturday morning tee-off time at 9:30am was just the start of the day.

The Ball and Chain.

The boys had 3 trick golf balls, (1) a smoke ball, (2) a streamer and (3) a sand ball.  When you hit the sand ball it never moved in a straight line.  Great gags. Click on the link below to watch the smoke ball.

Nick & Chalice BH Party SBlair (302)

Groom, Groomsmen, and Users.

Then off to Paintball in the afternoon.

Paint Ball mania.

Click on link below to see video.

Nick’s Bachelor Paintball Party SBlair (425)

Groom in white as Paintball Man

The day ended with dinner and a party at the Grooms house.  I’ll save those pictures for the Bride & Groom’s porfolio.

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One of the most significant events in any woman’s life is her engagement, a time when she accepts a proposal of marriage from her beloved. As a sign of his love and commitment to her, she can expect to receive an engagement ring, a sparkler that she will cherish the rest of her life.

Your engagement photography session with your photographer should be giggles of fun.  It’s a time that you can reflect on your courtship and the personality’s you two have created together.  I so much enjoy photographing couples that are ready to just have fun and let the camera work with your relationship.   The time we spend together during this session helps me learn more about you two so I can better understand your inspirations for your Wedding day.  All the decisions you make  planning your special day, your photographer is the one who will capture all the beauty, your  emotions, the romance,  joy and the art of your Wedding day that will last for a life time.  Your engagement pictures can be the start of the your celebration for your family and friends.

Engagement Photoshoot

80% of the Weddings I photograph are destination Weddings so most of the engagement sessions are a place that most Bride and Grooms have never been before. It’s so important the the photographer know the venue so you feel as relaxed as possible.  The photographer should set the mood to help the couple feel like there at home. I travel all over Michigan but mostly the Bride & Groom will travel north to  Traverse City, Petoskey, Mackinac Island, Northern Michigan, to take advantage of the Great Lake beaches and sunsets.

Engagement Pictures

I so much enjoy photographing couples that are ready to just have fun and let the camera work with your relationship.

Engagement Pictures

Sunrises to Sunsets: I will work with you at any time of the day.

Engagement Pictures

Engagement Pictures

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It may seem obvious but it is so very important for a model to choose the right photographer.  Most photographers have a certain style to which they always stay true to so, for the model to do this research is essential.  Simply reviewing the photographer’s portfolio and trusting that gut feeling about what is there can be a great guide.  Personality for me is one of the the most important bonds between the photographer and model.  Without that bond it will be very hard to feel comfortable in front of the lens and it will show in the photographs.

Communication and Planning Between Model and Photographer

Even a quick casual meeting before the shoot builds chemistry and trust or provides the warning signs to cancel for either of the participants.  With communication the model has a better idea about the photo shoot, more ideas to contribute and a chance to rehearse.

Planning is equally important to the photographer to ensure fresh new images and less dependency to find inspiration for every picture during the shoot.  Some plans are never carried out, some plans become great photo shoot ideas or even evolve into something unexpected through improvisation.

Model Release – Ownership and the Use of the Photographs

This is not a cut and dry issue but one thing is certain: the photographer automatically owns all photos taken.

The future use of the photos can be determined by the type of release signed. Most importantly who can sell the photos and the possible changes in ownership of the photos.
There can be as many types of releases as photo shoots. It is up to the model and the photographer to agree on the terms. If a model refuses to sign a release the photographer has every right and a very good reason not to photograph that model.
Most photographers do not do photo shoots without a model release. The model release is not written to take advantage of the model, it is there to protect the interests of both parties.

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Wedding cakes can be a wonderful, exciting, colorful and magical addition to your special day.  I will capture not only the cake cutting but all your additional joys, many of them I hope to be surprises you will cherish the rest of your life.   Below are samples of a few Wedding cakes I have photographed through the years and some history of the “Wedding Cake”

One of my favorite Pastry Chief’s, Kim Sperl, her work is below.

Kim can be contacted at Bella e Dolce   /   231-625-8232

Exquisite Cakes & Pastries

http://www.bellaedolce.com

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Your Special Day, Gorgeous, Romantic & Fun in Northern Michigan. Venues in and around Traverse City and the Grand Traverse reigon, beaches and more…

TimberLee Hills

http://www.timberleehills.com

The Homestead Resort

http://thehomesteadresort.com

The Park Place Inn

http://www.park-place-hotel.com

Wellington Inn

http://www.wellingtoninn.com

Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

http://www.grandtraverseresort.com

Frog Pond Village

http://www.frogpondvillage.com

Great Wolf Lodge

http://www.greatwolf.com

Ranch Rudolf

http://www.ranchrudolf.com

The Willowbrook Mill http://thewillowbrookmill.com

Holiday Inn

http://www.tcwestbay.com

Grand Traverse Resort & Casinos

http://www.casino2win.com

Traverse City area has many Beaches available for your Wedding Day plans.

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The past  30 years I have been working to develop a unique appreciation for the real nature of life, which has incorporated my own style of Photojournalistic Photography.

As an entertainer in my younger years I have had the opportunity to meet with many personalities and I find most of us are positive and want to be happy.  I bring these experiences every time I go for my camera.   As a member of the ISP (International Society of Photography), I have been honored with two awards in 2003 and 2005 in Washington D.C., for best achievement in Outdoor Photography.  My passion for Wedding Photography is a passion of love and creativity that captures your images for a lifetime.  As a skilled photojournalist, I will capture your  story as it unfolds naturally,  capture every moment you expect, and even some you don’t.  If you are looking for the pure essence of artistically creative photography, this  my forte.

Your wedding day is one of the most significant days of your life. Once the guests have left and dress packed away, your photos will be a connection to your friends, family, and most importantly, your love for each other. Steven Blair has captured thousands of special moments in a relaxed and professional manner.

“My camera is an extension of my personality and the poetry of the moment.

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