Original Senior Pics [Mid Michigan Senior Photographer]

You are an ORIGINAL, make sure your senior pics are too!
For Original Senior pics that capture the true essence of YOU, contact Hayley Hamlin Photography and book your Class of 2013 session today!!

Be sure to turn off MAIN blog music before viewing video :)
And without further delay... the ever so beautiful Mel Yost!!

Winter Wonderland {Mid Michigan Senior Photographer}

First off, before I get to my post, I want to ask... is anyone still following this blog? If you are, could you please take a few seconds and leave a comment below this post. With most interest going to facebook it does make me wonder if it's worth my time to keep this blog updated. So if you are still following and enjoy my blog, I'd love to hear from you :) Thanks!!

Now, onto my winter beauty!! Kailyn is no stranger to my camera. I have had the pleasure of photographing her in every season to document her senior year. I am so happy that her parents treasure this time in her life this much to want these special memories. We had our Summer session and Fall session without any issues, but this year Michigan Winter, well let's just say it's been strange to say the least. I was seriously beginning to wonder if we'd get that winter session. Well about 2 weeks ago it started snowing (finally). Now mind you we are in February, this is crazy to have had to wait this long to see snow in Michigan!! Anyway, the snow fall was beautiful, those big snowflakes that are hard to come by. So I sent Kailyn a message and was like call me when you get out of school today, hoping there  is a chance we can do this right after you get out! Thankfully she was able to do so and of course she always looks amazing so there was no having to get ready. I just met her after school and we had a quick 15 minute session.

Kailyn is so much fun to photograph, she has a natural beauty but she also is fun and playful. When I photograph her I want people to see her personality because every aspect of it is just beautiful.

So glad we got in our mini winter session, the results were stunning...

These photos are all stunning, but this one has gotton the most attnetion on facebook.  And anyone that knows me knows how much I love b&w. 

This is just so Kailyn.  This was that "find your inner child moment"  :)

Well, there you have it.  Senior sessions in the snow...yup they are stunning!!
Till next time...

{Their Words~My Art Thursdays}

"A hug is worth a thousand words. A friend is worth more" ~ Anon

{Their Words~My Art Thursdays}

Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So... get on your way.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Melissa & Alan ~ Fall Wedding {Mid Michigan Wedding Photographer}

So this wedding is going to be posted completely out of order, but since blogger has finally made it easy for me to load and re size photos, I am trying to catch up on some 2011 highlights.  This wedding was certainly a highlight.  The venue was the beautiful Bucks Run of Mt.Pleasant, MI.  I have to say I have been a guest a reception hosted at Bucks Run before but this was a first as a photographer.  Can you say excited :)  The night of the rehearsal, it looked like rain may threaten this beautiful outdoor wedding location, but God helped us out a little and we had some amazing weather.  I mean really, beautiful blue skies when you needed them and then when the rain clouds came in all they did was made for some gorgeous dramatic skies for pics. We never saw a drop of rain, thank you God!   So without further delay, here is the September wedding that missed being featured on the blog...

First up, the details. 

The  Bridal Suite at Bucks Run made for some beautiful shots :)

The brides shoes, which she loved and I mean how could you not? They are awesome!

Again with the shoes :)

See Beautiful Blue Skies before the wedding...

So we are at Buck's Run and if you aren't aware, its' a beautiful Golf Course.  So, I had to do something fun and creative with the rings :)

Yum...

The bouquets were stunning, as were all the flowers.  Four Seasons Floral  did an amazing job!

Wedding Ceremony

One of my favorite shots of the bouquets was from the ceremony :)

So this is hands down my favorite shot of the wedding.  As you can see I had some pretty amazing scenery to work with at Buck's Run.  I'd have this hanging up huge in my house if it were my wedding photo :)

The guys making their way to photos....

boys will be boys... that's all I can say about this shot...lol

As I said, there were so many amazing places to take photos on the Golf Course...

This is one of my favorite shots from the wedding. It is just after they were married, the smile says it all :)

Then we made our way to do the bride and groom shots, of course the adorable flower girl was tons of help :)

Some more faves of the beautiful bride and groom :)

See what I mean blug skies went to storm clouds but it made for some drama which I big time love!! 

The fun wedding party!!

And I do mean FUN!!

Thank you again Melissa and Alan for letting me capture your special day. I am looking forward to capturing something very special for you in the near future!! Can't wait :)

{Christmas Traditions - Christmas Memories}

{Christmas Traditions - Christmas Memories}
 Homemade cookies, compliments of Grandma have always been fond Christmas memories for me as well as my kids. In the past few years my grandmas has suffered several mini strokes, and one of the things she is not able to do anymore is her baking. This year we decided to give her special recipe a whirl for ourselves and keep the tradition going. We had fun making them and creating our own family memories. When the first batch got done we quickly frosted one up and with 1 bite I heard the words… “I remember these” from my kids. Like how could you forget that taste, they are simply the best. When making these cookies, which was a 2 day process, I gained a new appreciation for my grandma, I cannot believe she made the amount of cookies she did every year for her family. What fun memories this recipe has given me and my children these past few days We love you Grandma!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas, full of beautiful memories

Lindsay & Aaron ~ Wedding {Mid Michigan Wedding Photographer}

So... it's a pretty sad day when you come to your blog to FINALLY make a post and you can't remember how to access your own blog...lol. I know, I know... I have been terrible at blogging this year. But the good side to that is it means I have been very busy :) 2011 has been a year of blessings for Hayley Hamlin Photography for sure and I am so very thankful for every one of them. One area I think I have actually managed to blog a few of this year is my weddings/engagements. My last wedding of 2011 was a first for me, a winter wedding. The funny thing is I knew anything could happen in Michigan, I mean anyone who lives here knows if you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes. But oddly enough we had been getting okay weather... but the day of the wedding it was freezing cold! And I am talking COLD! Thankfully the bride, groom and wedding party were AMAZING to work with and not once did anyone complain about the cold.

Though we never got our dusting of snow, it was still an absolutely beautiful wedding and I was blessed to be apart of it. Anyone that knows me... knows there has to be a "theme" photo from the wedding. My last one was golf balls for Buck's Run, this one being that it was a winter wedding... well we had to have some candy cane love, right :)

So to start us off, here is the newlyweds and their candy cane lovin... Mr and Mrs Craves :)

This next 2 photos from Bay City, MI is probably some of my very faves. Well who am I kidding, they are my faves...lol. We did their engagement photos in Bay City and the wedding was close enough where we could go back downtown to do some of the wedding photos there too. Well, if we thought it was cold at the wedding site, the alleyways were like wind tunnels and they were 10 times worse. So we went back to the bus to warm up for a second and I said to Lindsay, I know the water area is close and it's sunset... if you want to get a couple more photos I really think they would be beautiful. I was really hoping they would but honestly didn't it wold happen because we were frozen. I am SO glad they obliged because... well just take a look. The light is heavenly in these next 2 b&w's :) And yes, you will see a lot of b&w's from this wedding, my bride loves b&w!

These are from Downtown Bay City.

This one is another personal favorite. This is outside the Founders Hall Chapel on SVSU's campus.

Okay... so it's freezing and you know you have an amazing group to work with when they are willing to play football! And the bride is running out the door of the church saying wait for me...lol :) LOVE this pic!

Before shots.. getting ready. Lindsay and her mom :)

The Founders Hall on SVSU campus is where the ceremony was held. The light in this chapel is nothing short of amazing. Not to mention the windows. I was in love. Going into the wedding I really didn't know what Lindsay's dress was going to look like, but I had no doubt it would be amazing... and it was. With the gorgeous chapel and light, I had to put it all together and show off her amazing dress!!

And of course the outside view with the window and doors, gorgeous as well!!

The gorgeous bride!

When we were done taking photos up front I followed Lindsay back to the dressing room. I stayed just far enough behind to play with the gorgoeus light coming through the windows.  LOVE!

This actually choked me up at the wedding. Watching the mother of the bride and mother of the groom hold hands like this up the isle was such a touching moment.
Deep breath and tears...

Love this shot of the girls watching the bride enter. They all looked so beautiful!

The happy couple exchanging rings...

Another highlight of the wedding was the couple that sang...absolutelybeautiful!

I know I am all over the place with this post, these are taken Downtown Bay City. Love this alleyway, was so glad we could go back and get some shots there. The guys looked great strutting their stuff down the alleyway.
Such a beautiful bunch here. These dresses were gorgeous and so were all of the girls!!
Love this one of the guys!
And I think what I will remember the most about this shot is when Aaron lifted Lindsay up, she said "were they being appropriate" lol. Such a fun group!! Loved working with you all :)

Thought I would also add the video from the engagement session :) The video has music, so be sure to turn off main blog music before hitting play :) Enjoy!!
Thank you, thank you for letting me be apart of your special day! I have truly gained new friends for life. Can't wait to capture more memories for your family :)

 Much love...