Shelby and Kevin have a similar story to my previous post featuring Tiffany and Tad. Shelby is also a front line worker in healthcare and contracted COVID, causing us to reschedule three times. I particularly felt for these two, because Shelby had reached out to schedule her engagement session months in advance to guarantee they would have a weekend slot during peak fall color. While we still got gorgeous photos using the architecture of the beautiful U of M Law Quad, I still feel for our frontline workers like Shelby, who continue to make sacrifices and put themselves in harms way, altering their normal every day life, so that they can save and care for others during this pandemic.

They may have waited until late November for their session, but we got the most gorgeous day- sunny and near 70 degrees! I was so thankful that the weather cooperated for Shelby and Kevin, and that we were able to capture these gorgeous photos. I can’t wait for their June wedding next year!

Tiffany and Tad’s engagement session wasn’t supposed to be a winter engagement session. It was scheduled during the last week of October, when the trees were still full of colorful leaves. Sadly, it had to be rescheduled twice because these two are frontline workers- healthcare workers at the hospital- and tested positive for COVID the morning before the shoot and had to cancel. They ended being quarantined for three weeks, but thankfully emerged unscathed. The postponement ended up working to their advantage, as their previous two dates had 40 degree weather, but the date that finally worked had a surprising 70 degree temp! While the leaves on the trees were gone so we didn’t get that fall color, we were so warm and relaxed, and were still able to get beautiful photos by using the stunning U of M architecture around Ann Arbor.

Thanks, you two, for all that you do for our community during this pandemic!

If you had asked me in college/photo school if I planned on being a wedding photographer, I would have laughed. “Too stressful! I don’t like the industry- why spend that much on one day? I want to be a photojournalist! I want to travel!” is probably what I would have said in response.

Upon graduation, I visited my career counselor at school. She asked, “Well what do you want to do?”. I said frankly and honestly, “I have no idea.” She said, “Well how about weddings? With weddings, you photograph everything: landscape, people, moments, food, portraits, night, day, indoor, outdoor, groups, individuals, details, different lighting….basically everything! Shoot weddings while you figure out what you want to do, and you will hone your skills and be able to shoot anything and everything when you’re done” This was probably the best career advice I’ve ever received in my life.

That was 2009. Today, 11 years later, I am still photographing weddings. And I love it. It was nothing I expected it to be as a clueless new grad in 2009. It’s an industry that I’m proud to work in- run by nearly all small businesses, artists and institutes of culture. It’s a happy job- everyone is happy on their wedding day! I smile while shooting and I smile while editing. I have traveled all over photographing weddings- from the church where Jackie and John F. Kennedy were married in Newport to DC, Philly, Boston, NYC, Detroit, and more.

But the biggest reason I love this job is the significance- the moments I capture will be cherished and passed down. That’s a huge responsibility, one that I take seriously, and one that I am happy to take on. My photos will be loved and make other people smile and laugh and cry.

When I received this email from Hannah last week after delivering the engagement photos from her and Martin’s engagement session on Martin’s grandma’s property, I teared up immediately. Because this is why I do what I do.

“If you recall, we chose to take our pictures at “the Farm,” which was Martin’s grandma’s house and now serves as a central meeting place for the Brown family. Her and her husband bought the house back in the 1950s. The house was actually the second to be built in Jackson County back in the 1800s.

Before our pictures, we visited his grandma in the hospital downtown. We were so excited to tell her that her home would be the back drop of our photos. She was so incredibly sweet, with her response being “I need to buy a dress,” even while stuck in hospital bed at the age of 92.

Unfortunately, they shortly discovered she had suffered an ischemic stroke from which she would never completely recover. By the time we visited her the next Thursday, she had been moved to a hospice home and started to decline.

I wanted to let you know it meant the absolute world to me, Martin, his family, and his grandma to be able to show her our “sneak peek” photos. She had trouble speaking in her condition, but her face lit up seeing us so happy in a place very familiar to her. She was in awe of how beautiful of a backdrop you created with the place she called home for over 50 years.

Martin’s grandma passed away surrounded by her sons on Wednesday, October 28th. Although this means she won’t be there when we get married in June, we feel at peace knowing she was able to celebrate little things with us, like our engagement photos.

So in short, thank you again! The pictures are absolutely wonderful. We’re even more excited for next June!

Take care,

Hannah”

Here is the sneak peek that Hannah and Martin shared with his Grandma, taken on the property of her home…

Alissa and Rob originally wanted their session to take place on Belle Isle, but the island stopped issuing photo permits for 2020 due to the pandemic. So, we decided on downtown Detroit (Z-lot and Grand Circus), with the goal of getting as much fall color in the photos as possible. People don’t usually think of city locations as being great spots for fall photos, but they are! The trees turn color in cities too, and the leaves mixed with the architecture makes for stunning, unique color. In fact, cities are really the only location that look fantastic in all four seasons. Here are a few of my favorites from their shoot…

Morgan and Matthew were my first 2021 couple to book! They booked in 2019 and opted for a two year engagement when most have a one year engagement. Little did they know that it was a blessing in disguise, as many 2020 weddings were rescheduled. They are getting married at the University Club next year and I can’t wait!

In addition to having their wedding on MSU’s campus, they also decided to have their engagement photos on campus too! They chose the Children’s gardens and the Horticulture gardens. Because it was summer, all the flowers were in full bloom, including the roses. No other garden can beat an MSU garden— they are seriously the best gardens in Michigan for photos— and they are free…no fee at all, and easy parking! Even if you aren’t MSU alum, Spartan signs are absent from the gardens so you can still use them without any guilt :) .

This weekend I took over 2,000 photos and had 3 engagement sessions and 3 family portrait sessions! This is a typical weekend for a photographer in October. We photographers joke that October for us is just like April for accountants....every one would like a service at the same time and so we have to jam pack our weekends so that all of our clients can get that fall color for their photos.

While we had to reschedule Erica and Grant's first session due to rain, the second date ended up being perfect- sunny and not too cold! People always ask me what to wear, and Erica and Grant chose the perfect outfits- solid, textured sweaters in earth tones. Erica also threw a scarf over her sweater for a third, different look!

I love how these turned out-- you can't beat the fall color on MSU's campus! Even if you aren’t alumni, I always recommend MSU’s campus for it’s beautiful gardens. As long as you don’t take pictures with Sparty, no one can tell you are on campus ;) .

I can’t believe my last blog post was a year and a half ago…In normal times a year a half may see little change. However, in 2020, this past year and a half will be one of the most memorable in history. There is a pandemic and the entire world shut down for months. The wedding industry came to a complete halt. It’s been a year like no other.

However, by summer things started to feel like normal and I even photographed some weddings! And this fall has felt like every other- packed full of weddings, engagements, and family sessions. I am SO thankful to be busy this October. I don’t think I will ever take feeling busy for granted again!

This month I had 7 engagement sessions and many of them were in downtown Detroit. I didn’t grow up in or near Detroit, and feel most at home in Lansing (which actually feels like a small version of Detroit to me!). However, this city has really grown on me! My clients have opened my eyes up to so much and I love wandering the streets and finding little nooks to shoot it.

Today I am sharing some of those images wandering around Detroit with Bea + Nick. Aren’t they so photogenic? After viewing a few, Bea said I made them feel like models and it makes my heart feel so happy to hear that! Can’t wait for their wedding next year!

Aren’t Mallory and Jon the cutest?? We had an absolutely gorgeous (but a tad chilly!) fall day for their engagement photos on the north campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. People are often scared to wait and do their photos the first two weekends of November, but I swear, those two weekends always have the best fall color!! Thankfully, Mallory and Jon waited, and the fall color was GORGEOUS!! I can’t wait for their June wedding!

Since Annie and Austin both attended MSU and even got engaged on Michigan State's campus, it was only fitting for them to have their engagement photos taken there. We started at the arboretum and then made our way over to Beaumont Tower. I love how these turned out, and can't wait until their wedding at Lovett Hall in Dearborn next month!

Southern Exposure Herb Farm might possibly be one of the most gorgeous properties that I have ever photographed at! It was beautifully rustic, with well cared for grounds and stunning florals. There were greenhouses and antiques and chandeliers. I mean, to say it was a photographer's dream is an understatement.

Funny enough, neither Michael and Michaela nor I had ever been there! We chose the location by looking at a map and trying to find a spot halfway between where they live in Indiana and where I live in East Lansing. The Battle Creek/Kalamazoo area was the perfect mid-point. Let's just say we were all blown away when we arrived! Since Michaela had wanted a garden location, and since they are having an elegant rustic wedding later this summer, it was the perfect spot for their engagement session!

Thank you to Southern Exposure Herb Farm for kindly accommodating us! By the way...they also host weddings...so who would like to hire me to shoot their wedding there now?!?!

So, I found a new favorite place to shoot! The MSU Arboretum has so many great spots for photos including a stunning English garden! I can't believe that I lived in East Lansing for 10 years AND attended MSU as a student, and had no idea the Arboretum existed! I even frequently visited the Children's Garden next door to it when I worked as a nanny throughout my undergrad and had no idea it was there.

When I told Madison and Tom about the Arboretum, they were totally up to take their engagement photos there-- and I'm so glad we did! Tom attended medical school at MSU, so taking photos on the campus of Michigan State University was really fitting since it has some meaning to them. These two were so easy to photograph, and I'm super excited for their 2018 wedding!

Here are a few of my favorites!

Ahhh....spring is finally here! I LOVE spring, and funny enough, it seems to be a season that is overlooked by couples planning their engagement session. So many opt for summer or fall, but spring is so gorgeous with all of the tulips, flowering magnolias, and cherry blossoms! The only hard part is guessing when they are going to bloom and wondering how long they will stay in bloom! Warmer than usual winters and late snows can totally make it unpredictable. However, for Hannah and Jon's shoot, everything was timed PERFECTLY.  And honestly, I don't think spring gets any prettier than it does on the campus of MSU in East Lansing. There are gardens all over campus and the grounds are meticulously maintained....it's the perfect setting for a spring engagement session in Mid-Michigan! Here are a few favorites from my spring engagement session with Hannah + Jon!

Who would have thought that all three of my January and February shoots would have been in the 50s in winter in MICHIGAN?? These two flew in from Seattle to have their engagement photos taken at Michael's alma mater (the University of MIchigan), and were pretty surprised to find Ann Arbor warmer than Seattle! Anyhow, we weren't complaining! We started in the Law Quad, and then worked our way over to the Nickels Arcade and then wrapped up at another pretty spot on campus. Even in winter, the U of M campus is gorgeous! I'm super excited to work with Chanel and Michael again later this summer when I photograph their wedding at the Westin!

Mallory and Mike chose to have their engagement photos taken in downtown Plymouth, MI. I had never been before, and it was ADORABLE! Like as in I started looking at housing in the car after the shoot :) . I'm SO happy Mallory and Mike introduced me to Plymouth, and am thrilled with how the photos came out. They were so natural and fun to be around, and I can't wait for their wedding at the Dearborn Inn later this year!

Dogs at photo shoots might be the cutest thing ever....look at that tongue!!

Keri + Morgan were such troupers...it started raining about 15 minutes into their shoot, and they kept going, just happy to be together and enjoying the shoot.

We started off at a boardwalk, and then ended up at the harbor...even, though it was raining, it was beautiful!

Caitlin Maloney is a wedding and engagement photographer serving Lansing, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Charlevoix, Traverse CIty, Northern Michigan, Leelanau, Saugatuck, Holland in Michigan, as well as Bristol, Newport, Jamestown, Providence, and Narragansett in Rhode Island.

Ashley wanted dramatic for their engagement photos, and the weather Gods obliged, rolling in thick fog the afternoon of their shoot in beautiful Jamestown, Rhode Island. We almost cancelled, fearing the fog would actually be too thick and conceal the water, but Ashley gave the green light, and we went for it and I am SO glad that we did! The results are moody and dramatic- just as Ashley wanted, and being that she and Keith had come in from NYC and weren't able to reschedule, I am thrilled that she pushed me to shoot in weather I would normally cancel for. They got photos that they love, and I was challenged- which is what I love about working in photography- rarely do you have a "normal" day at the "office" when shooting. Can't wait for their wedding in Newport this summer!

Caitlin Maloney is a wedding and portrait photographer serving both Rhode Island and Michigan, including Newport, Jamestown, Narragansett, Providence, Watch Hill, Bristol, and Detroit, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Northern Michigan, and Grand Rapids.

The MSU campus in the fall is so gorgeous. Well, to be honest, it's really gorgeous at all times of year, but especially in the fall! Since Oksana is a Spartan alum, she agreed that campus would be the perfect spot for their engagement photos. We met in East Lansing on a cloudy day with sprinkles of rain in the forecast just a few days before their wedding with no option for a reschedule. Thankfully, the rain held off, and didn't start sprinkling until I was in my car after the shoot. The clouds gave us perfect filtered light (clouds are always better than sun for photos, which most people don't know!)  and resulted in some gorgeous engagement photos. Here are a few of my favorites:

I've been waiting to shoot my first Detroit engagement session for quite some time now, so I was super excited when Meghan and Andy chose downtown Detroit as their location! I'd heard so much about it, and seen so many awesome photos, I was excited to experience it for myself. Detroit far exceeded my expectations, and I immediately fell in love with the urban vibe of the photos we were able to capture. A big thanks to Meghan and Andy for showing me around the city!

Caitlin Maloney is a wedding and portrait photographer serving both Rhode Island and Michigan, including Detroit, Ann Arbor, East Lansing, Newport, Providence, Jamestown, Narragansett, and the surrounding areas of Chicago, Northern Michigan, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Boston. 

Like what you see? Get in touch at caitlinmaloneyphotography@gmail.com. Now booking 2017 weddings and portraits.

I've been spending a lot of time in Ann Arbor recently photographing engagement shoots for my 2017 Michigan brides. You really can't go wrong shooting in Ann Arbor, especially in fall. 

Alyssa and Phil were one of the first Michigan couples to book me after I announced my move back. Alyssa and I instantly connected because she had just recently moved back from the Boston area, too, and we had actually even attended the same graduate school- Northeastern! I loved working with these two, and can't wait to shoot their Detroit area wedding next year!

Like what you see and getting married in 2017? Get in touch- I still have a few select dates for weddings in 2017!

Caitlin Maloney Photography is a Michigan wedding photographer, serving Ann Arbor, Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Northern Michigan, Chicago, Greater Lansing and beyond.

When I moved, I'd heard how gorgeous the Law Quad at University of Michigan was, and how popular it was for photos. I am so glad that Eberly and Taylor agreed to let me take their engagement photos there- it did not disappoint! It was beautiful! I'm super excited to work with Taylor and Eberly (who totally has a movie star name, am I right??) next year for their Detroit area wedding!

Like what you see and getting married in 2017? Get in touch- I still have a few select dates for weddings in 2017!

Caitlin Maloney Photography is a Michigan wedding photographer, serving Ann Arbor, Metro Detroit, Grand Rapids, Northern Michigan, Chicago, Greater Lansing and beyond.