🌿 Nature inspired wedding + family photography
✨ Luminious portraits blending earth and elegance Based in Southeast Michigan
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✨Sneak Peek of Chelsea and Corbin’s colorful spring wedding at the Alma Chapel! ⛪️
Two love birds bring their wedding day back to their humble beginnings on campus at Alma college. Their smiles and joy to be back to their roots says it all. Swipe to see what I mean! 😁👉🏼
Congrats to our beautiful bride and groom! 💍
We all have smartphones now, so why invest in a family photographer?
Here’s my take…
First let me say there’s nothing wrong with capturing moments on your phone to share with loved ones. I’m a professional photographer with an iPhone full of photos.
However, there’s one crucial piece missing with that approach, and that is - the STORY!
Let me explain.
The true value behind a photograph is the warmth of the memory it preserves. That feeling you had at the park when a wave of joy crashed over you as your children laughed and played. That warm feeling in your chest when you caught that glimmer of pride in your spouse’s eyes. That sense of peace that your loved ones are near and healthy. That’s the magic behind a photograph, and the difference between an iPhone photo and an expertly crafted professional portrait.
So is it worth it to invest in a professional photographer in the age of smartphones?
Well, that’s up to you. 😉
10 minute bridal party photos 🙌🏼
Have a tight window for your bridal party photos? No sweat. Save this list for later and get everything you need in a snap.
Here is my tried and true list for shuffling the bridal party through a series of photos quickly and efficiently.
1. Bridal Party
2. Bridesmaids
3. Bride + Maid of Honor
4. Bride Alone
5. Groomsman
6. Groom + Best Man
7. Groom Alone
8. Bride + Groom
Hot tips for your flower girl/ring bearer…
First I’d like to say there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a kid free wedding day. Your friends and family will make accommodations… and probably even enjoy an adult night to themselves!
Second, there is also nothing wrong with having a kid free wedding with the exception of your nieces and nephews for example, whom are most likely your flower girls and ring bearers.
Third, it’s your wedding! Do what you want! 😜
For those that would like to incorporate young kids as the flower girls or ring bearers, here are a few tips -
✨ Plan to include the kids in portraits before the ceremony. After the first look, or after you get dressed, before you head to the ceremony perhaps. This way they are fresh, usually in a better mood, and you ensure you don’t forget to grab a photo of those adorable tiny outfits!
✨ Keep the rings safe and sound in the pocket of your best man, and give the ring bearer a decoy ring box/ring pillow to carry down the aisle. You’ll thank me later.
✨ Designate a front row family member to grab the kids for you once they make their big debut down the aisle.
✨ After the ceremony and formal family photos, set up a bridal party + flower girl and ring bearer photo first thing. Then send the kids off with a parent/grandparent so you can fully sink into that photo time with your bridal party!
As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change… I find myself reflecting on the bustling summer months. Here in Michigan I think it’s safe to say we pack our summers to the brim with sunshine and good times!
Summer 2023 was no exception! It was my privilege and honor to have been part of so many celebrations for couples and families, and I’m excited get these beautiful memories caught up on the blog!
Stay tuned! 🙌🏼
👋🏼 Hi! I’m Madison! The heart of this op!
Thank you for being here. Whether you’re a new client, old friend, loved one, or fellow creative… your presence is appreciated and is truly the life force of my business! 🫶🏼
It’s casual Friday so I’m dropping some fun facts about me that have nothing to do with photography. 😉
🥁 I’ve never been much of a rule follower. I’m headstrong and stubborn and march to the beat of my own drum. My parents still joke that my famous phrase as a kid was, “I’ll do it myself!”
🔥 The element I most relate to is fire. My inner light glows brightly and fuels my desire to move quickly and passionately through life. Pretty fitting twist of fate that my husband to be is a firefighter. Wouldn’t you say?
🍜 My most favorite thing to eat in this entire world is a piping hot bowl of pork belly tonkotsu ramen. Extra spicy. I could eat a bowl a day. Every. Drop.
🤬 There is nothing, and I mean nothing, I hate more in this life than stripping, washing, and fighting to redo our duvet cover. Why do those even exist!
🧡 Underneath my tough girl, tomboy exterior I have a very soft and sensitive underbelly. My family and friends are the strings of my beating heart, and I would do absolutely anything to make them feel happy and loved.
So, if any of this made you smile… stick around because you’re in the right place.
xo Madison
✨ 15 Unique Wedding Venues in Michigan
For all you garden brides searching for a venue with a little less ballroom and a little more nature - read on!
So you’re recently engaged (congrats!) and floating on the high of spending the rest of your life with your best friend. The shimmer of that new diamond ring keeps catching your eye, you’re endlessly daydreaming about the perfect wedding dress, and all feels right in the world… until you hit your first snag with the overwhelm of booking your date and venue. It can get stressful quick!
So today let’s melt that stress away with a list of wedding venues in Metro Detroit that I would consider non-traditional and rooted in nature…
- Cushing Field House
- Zingerman’s Cornman Farms
- Vale Royal Barn
- St. Clair Inn
- The Oakley
- Addison Oaks Buhl Estate
- Shepherd’s Hollow
- Meadow Brook Hall
- Royal Park Hotel
- Frutig Farms
- Cherry Creek Golf Club
- Pine K**b Mansion
- Planterra Conservatory
- Waldenwoods
- Wellers Carriage House
Read more on the blog! 👇🏼
https://lightgardenphotos.com/blog/2023/9/5/15-unique-wedding-venues-in-michigan
It's gallery day for Lauren + David! 🥳
https://lightgardenphotos.com/blog/2023/7/27/6-must-have-poses-with-your-bridesmaids
As much as a wedding day is about the bride and the groom, it’s equally about the couple’s family and friends. It’s a chance to doll up and throw down with the people you love most
True Life: I’m Related To A Photographer 👩🏼💻
Sharing a personal project today featuring my brother, sister-in-law, and precious little nephew!
As many of you know Jason and I moved into a new neighborhood, so naturally it called for a photoshoot! I was eager to get a feel for the new scenery and natural light around the house, so I rang up my brother for some help!
He rallied the little man for me with the help of my stunning sister in law and her impeccable style, and we had ourselves a great little session! Baby Wyatt stole the show per ushe. He truly is the star of our family! 🌟
Swipe and let me know which one is your favorite! 👉🏼
✨Sneak peek of the Murphy family’s backyard session! A beautiful sunny morning with plenty of smiles and sweet little chuckles with baby Robert!
👋🏼 Hi! I’m Madison! The heart of this op!
Thank you for being here. Whether you’re a new client, old client, loved one, or fellow creative spirit… your presence is appreciated and is truly the life force of my business!
Today I wanted to share a piece of my heart so we can have some fun and get to know each other better…
💍 I recently took the trip of a lifetime to Ireland. Twenty days in the rolling green hills soaking up unbelievable views rich with history and folklore. It was remarkable. And oh yeah - I GOT ENGAGED! My fiancé Jason is my favorite thing on this earth. Our love grounds me and boy do I adore him for it. 🫶🏼
🏡 We recently bought our dream home in Woodcreek Farms Livonia. A beautiful mid century modern oasis nestled between mature trees and a trickling stream. We’ve been having so much fun making this house our home.
👶🏼 I’m a big sister to Connor, and more recently an Auntie to Wyatt! The joy a sister feels to witness her little brother thrive in his career, marriage, and now as a father is unmatched. I can barely look at him without tearing up with pride. 🥹
🐱 I’m mama to my ride or die, sixteen years young, sassafras Sage. The snuggliest, tiniest (weighing in at only 5lbs), and chirpiest kitty you ever did meet.
🌷 I was born on April 15 (tax day!) and find myself very connected to the spring season. My soul feels reawakened every time I see those first peeks of daffodils poking through the earth. There’s something magical about the wispy blooms and the crisp spring air on my skin. I love it!
⭐️ My secret talent is hula hooping. I’m a bit rusty now I’ll admit, but I still have a few tricks up my sleeve! I’m a bona fide music festival gal and dancing with my hoop at the Sherwood Stage at Electric Forest Music Festival is my kinda day!
If any of this resonates with you, then stick around because you’re in the right place.
xo Madison
✨🏔️ A magnificent mountain maternity session for the soon to be parents Kaylee & Jack - whom are expecting their little one any day now!
During this chapter of my life I have become completely mystified with the miracle of pregnancy. It’s mind blowing to me that we as women can grow a baby and give life to an actual human being! 🤯
Younger me would read about it in science books, and see families having babies in the movies - but honestly didn’t fully grasp the remarkableness of it all until I started thinking about having a family of our own.
For me these photos say it all. My beautiful friend Kaylee glows so brilliantly as she steps into her power as a mother, and how my dude Jack adores and supports her along the way. It’s so beautiful to see, and I’m humbled to have been a part of their pregnancy story.
Swipe for more of their maternity magic 👉🏼✨
✨ Sneak peek from the Johnson Family session at Kensington Metropark!
For sessions with kids in that 2-5yr range, I suggest incorporating an activity to help promote those candid moments we all love!
We took little Ronan to the Farm Center at Kensington, and I’d say based on those smiles he enjoyed himself. 😁
And when the kids have fun, mom and dad can have fun too. You know what I’m saying? 🙃
✨ Everything you need to know about your reception on the blog!
Imagine you’re halfway through your wedding day… your ceremony went off without a hitch, your marriage license is signed and sealed, your family and bridal party photos were perfect, and now you’re onto reception.
🥂 The best order of events for your reception...
Imagine you’re halfway through your wedding day… your ceremony went off without a hitch, your bridal party photos were flawless, and now you’re onto reception.
Only thing is... you're not sure of the best way to tackle the formalities that still lie ahead like how to cutting your cake, and when to have your first dance.
So today I'm breaking this down for you with a little help from my fellow wedding professional !
Chris and I put our heads together to formulate the smoothest reception flow, and here's what we came up with:
1. Cocktail Hour
2. Grand Entrance
3. Cake Cutting
4. Speeches & Toasts
5. Dinner Hour
6. Father/Daughter & Mother/Son Dances
7. First Dance
8. Sparkler Sunset
✨ For a detailed break down of why we recommend this order, read the full article on the blog coming next!
People often ask me - why wedding photography?
This will be my eighth year breathing life into Light Garden Photography. And I won’t lie to you - growing a business takes grit. It’s electrifying and exhausting all at once, but what keeps me motivated is the clarity I have of my deeper purpose.
You know what they say, “people don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it”.
Your “why” is your deeper purpose. It’s the reason you get out of bed each morning and do what you do.
My deeper purpose for Light Garden Photography all boils down to two words.
Which two words you wonder? Visit today’s blog to find out, and for tips to clarify your own deeper purpose.
Click the link below for more! 📲
Let’s rewind the clock back to graduation day. Mine was a sunny, spring day on campus at Michigan State University. The birds were singing, flowers blooming…
Wedding season is here!! 🌸💍🌷👰🏼♀️
Did that feel like a long winter to anyone else? Sheesh! 🤣 I’m grateful for the slower winter months here in Michigan to recharge… but battery’s full now so let’s get this party started! 👏🏼🥳
First let me thank all the beautiful couples and families who have entrusted me with their photography needs this season. 🥹🙏🏼 I’m SO excited to be serving you from a new chapter of my life and business, including a new home studio!
Speaking of new home studio!! 🗣️ I’m looking for a bride (former or soon to be) who would be interested in modeling for me in the spring blooms of my new neighborhood in Livonia! One of my neighbors has this pretty epic 100ft magnolia and I just GOTTA turn it into a bridal shoot!🌸👰🏼♀️📸
Dm me if you’d like to play in the flowers with me! 📲
xo M
Hi! 👋🏼 I'm Madison. The heart of this operation.
Thank you so much for being here. Your support is truly the life force of my small business. 🙏🏼
It's casual Friday so here are three things about me that have nothing to do with photography:
1️⃣ - This is me and my honey Jason. We met one sunny 4th of July weekend on the sandbar of Long Lake in northern Michigan, or "up north" as we Michiganders call it. It was the single best day of my life. 🥰
2️⃣ - We just recently closed on a gorgeous 1964 Mid Century Modern oasis in Livonia, MI. Original oak floors, vaulted ceilings, a cozy wood burning fireplace in the walkout basement, and a serene backyard with old growth trees and a stream trickling through the property. We're beyond excited and can't wait to make this house our home.
3️⃣ - My guilty pleasure show right now is Chicago Fire. Now that I'm dating a firefighter I totally get the hype. 😜
Wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend ahead.
ox, Madison
Here we have it! Three of my favorite posing cues for that editorial look we all love. Try them out at your next photoshoot!
To the blog! 👇🏼
Posing is a hot topic in the photography industry. Both for photographers directing poses, and for models working their angles. In the wedding photography realm
⚠️ Posing Tip!
Posing takes practice and a little bit of trust. The biggest tip I can share is just to keep it fun! Here is my ultimate favorite posing cue that's simple and playful for your next photoshoot!
Follow the leader!
Find an open area that your couple can safely walk through. Ask them to stand side by side holding hands, perpendicular to the camera. Then ask who ever is standing furthest away from the camera to lovingly lead their partner across the frame “as if they had a surprise to show them.”
This is my ultimate favorite cue. It combines movement with connection between the couple, and almost always leads to natural smiles and laughter.
Stay tuned for three more posing cues to flawless photos coming to the blog next!
❄️All of your winter wedding dreams coming true at Kelsey + Conner's cozy winter wedding at Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site!
Kelsey and Conner are lovers of all things wintertime, hockey games, and enjoying cold beers with friends. In fact, these two crossed paths for first time at a Labatt Blue Pond Hockey tournament
💍3 Pieces of Advice for Freshly Engaged Couples…
It’s engagement season folks! Congratulations to all the happy couples who are celebrating a new engagement! 🥳
Here are three things I want you to think about as you begin your wedding adventures:
1️⃣ - First and foremost, take a breath! It’s tempting to dive right into venue and dress hunting, but I strongly encourage you otherwise. Take a moment to fully soak in this wonderful feeling of becoming betrothed to the person you love most in this world.
2️⃣ - Before you begin searching for vendors, make a moodboard! Cut up magazines, print those Pinterest board photos, and grab some paint chips from your local hardware store. Visualize the look, feel, and color palette of you wedding day. This will help guide you in your decision making with vendors and decor.
3️⃣ - Everyone’s least favorite one is to set a budget. The average cost of a wedding here in Michigan is $35,000. Many weddings cost more, many weddings cost less. It’s not important how much money you throw at your wedding. It’s important to set a budget and prioritize where you’d like to invest more of your budget, and where you are happy to cut costs.
🖤😁 Some Wednesday vibes with Enid energy.
Cruise on over to the blog for more from Becca + Chris's colorful wedding nuptials! 🧡💚💙
Becca and Chris originally met in high school. Little did they know when they bumped into each other in the halls on their way to 3rd hour
This is Becca. 🧡
Becca is a Light Garden Bride.
Light Garden brides believe, with their entire being, that marrying their best friend is THE most important aspect of their wedding day. 🥹
They believe that their wedding isn't about the price tag, or the glam, or the perfect centerpiece. It's about a sacred, and true love that they wish to share with their favorite person.
Light Garden brides care deeply for their friends and family, and are planning a wedding that reflects that. Good food and good times with those they love!
Light Garden brides love color and joy! A beautiful bright sunny day for their bridal party portraits, and a cozy, candlelit dinner for reception.
Lastly, Light Garden brides seek wedding vendors that align with this vision, and can help them pull off a wedding from the heart. If this sounds like you then stick around. You're in good company. 💛🙏🏼
🌈 Danielle + Allysen's colorful wedding day on the blog!
These two beautiful brides absolutely stole the show on their colorful wedding day at The Oakley! Once co-workers on opposite teams, now wife and wife! This is a story you wont want to miss!
✨ A peek at a tender moment from Danielle + Allysen's colorful wedding day at The Oakley!
Wedding whimsy on the blog! 🤍✨
Two high school sweethearts turn husband and wife - Makaila + Chase’s love story is one for the books! It was their junior year, and young Makaila was out with her girls at the mall.
🥹 Grab a tissue because you'll need it when you see this teary-eyed ceremony! Swipe to see more from Makaila + Chase’s whimsical wedding day at the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy!
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