A busy fall at Sarah Amelia Photography

Here is a snapshot of the many fall portrait sessions I have done over the last couple months with amazing families, kiddos, and couples. Thank you for allowing me to capture these moments in your life and giving my business wings. I appreciate your support more than you know! Without you I could not have made this dream a reality.







I am still currently scheduling fall and holiday portrait session for November and December. Contact me for details or visit the website for pricing and session information.

Visit the Sarah Amelia Photography Website by clicking here!

The new website!

It has been a work in progress for quite some time now, and I am proud and happy to share it with you finally.

The new Sarah Amelia Photography Website

And another share from our Cutest Kid Contest winner's portrait session at Greenfield Village. I could shoot there everyday, so much inspiration everywhere.



This was taken at the Wright Brother's front porch.

Fall is flying by!

Fall at Sarah Amelia Photography

"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
~ Albert Camus

I headed out with the Monroe kiddos and their parents on a beautiful September evening at the cider mill in Northville. The light was magical, and the anticipation of cider, donuts, and duck-feeding was in the air for Faith and Gabe. Nevertheless we were able to explore the property and capture some awesome moments, only to follow that up with a full tummy of cider and donuts. What could be better?

I love fall.




Thanks Angie, Dave, Faith and Gabe for spending an evening with me, I had so much fun!

September Photo Challenge: Backlighting for Rock The Shot

I absolutely still count this portrait session as one of my very favorites. We were at a rural century-old farmstead in Minnesota at the end of May on a warm, summer evening and the light was just fantastically gorgeous. This is my favorite portrait I have from that night with lovely backlighting.

Check out the contest for yourself at Rock The Shot Forum





This is the first photo contest I've participated in, but it is high time I put myself out there among my peers for fun.

And, Michelle if you're reading this....I miss you and you are going to make a wonderful mother. Wish I could be there to meet your new addition in a few months. Best wishes across the miles.

Happy September,
Sarah

The girl behind the camera

about me //


what do i love? my sweet husband, my career as a nurse, exploring places I have never been before, Europe, bakeries, coffee shops, outdoor cafes, anything by the Beatles, flip-flops, pedicures, lake michigan beaches, my orange kitty, smiling babies, candles, lattes, art fairs, cuddling, vintage quilts, my flower garden, antique stores, learning new things, and traveling.


I planned my wedding for 18 months and it was one of the happiest and magical days of my life. My wedding photographer helped me to fall in love with capturing the details around me again. We got married in a historic village chapel in Northville surrounded by our closest friends and family. My Mom and I designed and printed all invites, programs, etc, and my stepsister helped with our flowers. All the details and special touches are what made the day so warm and lovely.

I started my photography business as a small venture in Minnesota and it has slowly grown over the last year as I have relocated back to my home state of Michigan with my hubby Mark.






what inspires me?

changing seasons, open fields with wildflowers, warm sunshine, open water, vintage elements, oldies, anthropologie, barns with peeling paint, the country.





faq //

gear: canon rebel xsi, i dream of the canon 5d mark II/ canon lenses, mostly prime / adobe lightroom and photoshop

style: i love natural light, there is nothing else like it. i am all about capturing the everyday moments and making them shine. i love capturing a special glance, kiss, embrace, or laughter. i want to capture the things about yourself and those you love with my lens, by helping you feel comfortable, relaxed, and have some fun. i'd like to think you might leave your portrait session feeling happy and like you made a new friend. my ideal photo session would be you and i in a field near sunset, a comfortable quilt or tent and my camera.





favorites //

cookie: my homemade chocolate chip / color: blue and purple / place: lake michigan / sound: birdsong and waves / cereal: count chocula / way to travel: car / actress: anne hathaway / book: the help, how to kill a mockingbird / movie: pride and prejudice & dirty dancing / favorite place I have visited: Ireland




Now that you know about me, I can't wait to meet and get to know you!

- Sarah

Introducing the Exclusive Fall Portrait Event at Sarah Amelia Photography

Saturday, September 17, 2011
One day only Exclusive Fall Portrait Event







Now booking portrait sessions at Sarah Amelia Photography for the Exclusive Fall Portrait Event - September 17, 2011 only. Spots are filling up quickly. Check out the brochure for pricing and packages offered. Now is a great time to take those portraits of your family and/or kiddos for Christmas cards!

Contact me if you are interested in scheduling a session at the event.

I look forward to speaking with you,
Sarah

(313) 310-5357
sgough83@yahoo.com

One Enchanted Evening - Lindsey & John - Grosse Ile, Michigan 8-13-11

How do you know that meeting just the right person at just the right moment will change your life forever? Lindsey and John just knew, even from the very beginning, and it all built up to one of the most special days in each of their lives; their wedding day. A chance introduction from a long-held acquaintance from rowing put Lindsey in the path of John Bertino, and it seemed that they were meant to be together from that point onward.


I was privileged to spend an evening at the wedding of my cousin Lindsey and her new husband John in Grosse Ile this past weekend. My Grandma had asked me to come along with her as she is one that never misses a wedding, and I was excited to catch up with relative I hadn't seen in some time and get some behind-the-lens time that I was craving so in the last week.

The ceremony was held in St. Anne's Chapel in Grosse Ile overlooking the river. The afternoon was just gorgeous. The air was warm and toasty; a perfect August afternoon. The chapel was small and intimate and it just fit everyone in as Father began the ceremony.





Both shed tears as they recited their vows to one another.

Everyone was so excited as they were finally pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Bertino and made their way out of the church, where I was able to snap this picture which I love. It just exudes happiness.





Their reception was at Arnaldo's Banquet Hall in Riverview.



Is that cake gorgeous or what :)



Lindsey, you are seriously breathtaking. Really.




Dancing with her Dad. He ended up crying as well. Very sweet.





Congratulations Lindsey & John! Hope you are enjoying your honeymoon in Jamaica. I'm so glad I was there to celebrate with you and hope to see you soon!

Best wishes,
Sarah

Announcing the winner of the Cutest Kid Contest 2011

Congratulations Elizabeth and family! Per the rules of the contest the winner receives a photo session with a value of $125 at the place of their choosing. So excited to meet Elizabeth and her Momma and capture some beautiful portraits!

If I were to offer another contest for my business what would you be interested in? Cutest family for Holiday portraits? Cutest pets? Give me a shout out and I will consider your ideas.

I am also brainstorming for fall mini-sessions for those wanting a portrait session but looking for a more economical pricing structure. I will be posting more about this in the upcoming weeks. More than likely these will take place over 1-2 days this fall, most likely in September.

If you are interested in fall mini-sessions for your children or family please let me know and I will update you with the packages available soon! Either comment on the blog or email me at sgough83@yahoo.com

Hope you are all enjoying your August!

-Sarah

Summer & Fall at Sarah Amelia Photography

Metro Detroit Child Photography - Sarah Amelia Photography

Sarah Amelia Photography Promo Slideshow

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Cutest Kid Contest - Sarah Amelia Photography Summer 2011

Do you think your kiddo is the cutest around? Would you love to have his/her portraits taken but just haven't gotten around to it yet? I love taking portraits of kiddos, so I am starting a contest. The most votes for a picture wins the cutest kid contest and a free portrait session with me this summer/fall 2011!

Join in the fun with the Cutest Kid Contest at Sarah Amelia Photography!

Here are the rules!

ANYONE can enter,

All you need to do is e-mail me a picture of your cute kid to sgough83@yahoo.com
I will then put the photos you send me in an album title 'Cutest Kid Contest' on my photography facebook page. Everybody will be able to vote on who should win by clicking 'LIKE' for your picture.

The most 'LIKES' you get on your portrait determines the winner, so get your friends and family involved in the voting process! Once your little one's picture is up in the album you can encourage your friends to vote by 'liking' your picture in the gallery.

The contest and voting will take place at the Sarah Amelia Photography Facebook Page.
CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FACEBOOK PAGE!


The contest will run for 2 weeks starting TOMORROW Friday, July 22, 2001 until Friday, August 5, 2011.

Any questions? Feel free to email me at sgough83@yahoo.com OR check out our facebook page at the link to the right of the page!

Good luck, and may the cutest kiddo win!

- Sarah

Announcing the Cutest Couple Contest 2011 @ Sarah Amelia Photography!

Announcing the Cute Couple Contest at Sarah Amelia Photography!

Do you think you or someone you know is the cutest couple around?

I absolutely love shooting portraits of couples, so I have decided to have a contest!

Here is the scoop:

ANYONE can enter. All you need to do is e-mail me a picture of you and your significant other. I will then put the photos you send me in an album. Everybody will be able to vote on who should win. So send me your pictures. I am hoping to get a lot of entrees so don't be shy! This will be fun!

The winning couple will receive a 1 hour couples portrait session with me, Sarah, this August, 2011 within Michigan and Ohio.


If you want to participate email me the cutest pictures you've got of you and your husband/wife/significant other. Once they are up in the Contest album you will have people 'like' your picture to vote for you.

The contest and voting will take place at the Sarah Amelia Photography Facebook Page.

Here is the link to the Facebook Page:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Sarah-Amelia-Photography/207571425927999

I will run the contest for two weeks starting today Friday, July 15, 2001 until Friday, July 29, 2011.

My email is:
Sgough83@yahoo.com

Good luck, and may the cutest couple win!

Maternity Session Moris Minnesota, Family Photography

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
~Elizabeth Stone

I met Kristen through SCMC where I used to work, and we always would talk about photography, which was something we were both passionate about. Last year Kristen started her own photography business, and had been an inspiration to me when I took the steps in beginning my own business journey.

Kristen runs Kristen Grimm Photography in Morris Minnesota, and she does beautiful work.

Kristen and Lafe are such fun and easy-going people, and I was so happy that they had asked me to do a maternity session for them. They are expecting their first child this fall and they do not know if they should decorate in blue or pink... it is a surprise! It was very windy and warm the evening of our shoot but they powered through, worked it, and the results were pretty darn good.

Here are a few of my favorites. If you are interested in a maternity shoot please contact me and we'll talk details!
















Thank you Kristen and Lafe! I can't wait to see and hear about your new arrival come fall, and congratulations.

Website Live!

So excited to share the new Sarah Amelia Photography Website!

It is still in the early stages, but I'm excited to get your feedback.

Information on setting up portrait sessions and collections are on the site.

Click here to visit
The Sarah Amelia Photography Website

An afternoon at the winery - Alexandria Family Photographer

On Father's Day weekend my husband and I ventured out to Carlos Creek Winery near Alexandria to meet Amie and family for a family portrait session. Neither of us had been at the winery before and getting there a bit early gave us a chance to explore the grounds and become friends with the two resident border collies who gave us a warm welcome.



After meeting Amie's little guy Tristan (3 months) we got started on some family portraits near the front of the winery. Tristan was skeptical, and was not going to give out his smiles without us working hard for them! This was his first portrait session after all, so we had to cut the little guy some slack ;)





With lots of snuggles from both Mom and Dad he started to find that handsome smile of his, slowly but surely.




And once he showed us that gorgeous smile of his, it was well worth the wait. What a cutie pie!



Thank you Amie and family!

A love note of thank-you's

Thank you for loving me just as I am, and helping me to see that I can do the same.

Thank you for repeating yourself when I’m having a senior moment (which seems to happen quite frequently lately).

Thank you for accepting that I can eat the same 4 meals week in and week out, and for cooking me dinner most of the time because I hate to cook. And let’s face it you’re better at it than I am.

Thank you for accepting the fact that I will never be good at math. Okay, not even sort of good at math.

Thank you also for putting up with and tutoring me during those two semesters I took college algebra and statistics. I know it wasn’t pretty.

Thank you for accepting me, and my crazy/wonderful family for all that they are, the good, the bad, and the very loud.

Thank you for listening when I need to be a girl and vent. Thank you also for trying to hold yourself back when you want to tell me how I can fix it.

Thank you for working so hard, day in and day out, so that you can provide for us and give us such a wonderful life. It doesn’t go unnoticed, I promise.

Thank you for putting up with my morning issues. Enough said.

Thank you for giving me the time I needed to get my heart and head to the same place.

Thank you for your patience, kindness, support, love, and generous nature on a daily basis.

Thank you for putting up with my cold feet under the covers.

Thank you for encouraging me to finish school, and believing in me when I had lost faith along the way. You are my biggest supporter.

Thank you for encouraging me to pursue my passions, and helping me to realize I can accomplish anything if I have enough heart and determination within me.

Thank you for helping me to see the silver lining, on the days when all I can see is grey.

Thank you for doing your own laundry. You have no idea how jealous this makes other married women.

Thank you for being self-sufficient. I love your independent nature.

Thank you for noticing when I get a pedicure or change my hair. Girls like that.

Thank you for loading the dishwasher on a daily basis. This also makes me very happy.

Thank you for talking on the phone with me for long periods of time while you are away for work, even though you are not a phone person. I appreciate it.

Thank you for putting up with me while I figure things out. Even when it takes longer than you might like.

Thanks for realizing that although we came from different places, we can always move towards our shared goals together.

Thanks for always being so honest with me and being a team player.

Thank you for taking my brutal honesty with a grain of salt when I’m having a crap day.

Thank you for showing up and being there for me when I insisted I didn’t need you to be, and helping me to realize it’s okay to be vulnerable and accept help when it is offered.

Thank you for telling me you love me each and every day.

Thank you for being such a wonderful husband. I love you.

And thank you God for your continued blessings, and for giving me the opportunity to spend my life with such an amazing man, friends, and family. You are the center of it all.

Three years later

"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything."
~Katherine Hepburn

I love you so much, and I am so happy and grateful that you are my husband. Everyday I am glad that you are the guy I come home too, and share my life with.

Happy Anniversary love.

Starbuck, Morris, Child, Family Photographer: A sunny day on the lake

“I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore. . . .

I hear it in the deep heart's core.”

~ William Butler Yeats

Last week I got to spend some time in the afternoon with Lindsey and her little girl Emma on Lake Minnewaska. It was a gorgeous day on the lake, and Emma and her Mom had such a good time playing and exploring. It was Emma's first time to the lake and the beach, and judging by the smiles and laughs she had a blast. We were taking the session for a surprise Father's Day gift for Emma's Dad.

Thank you Lindsey and little miss Emma! I had so much fun capturing your afternoon. I hope your hubby loved the pictures.

Summer Light

"Oh, the summer night
Has a smile of light
And she sits on a sapphire throne."

~Barry Cornwall

There is nothing like summer light, especially in those golden hours near sunset.

Some more recent favorites..

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million".
~ Walt Streightiff