I'm still here!!!

Yes, it's true I have abandoned the blog for a while, but it's because I've had some great things going on in my personal life. I've began teaching photography at Cornerstone University and my husband and I are working on buying our first house together. Although there's been a lot of excitement on the personal side I certainly haven't abandoned my work here. There's been so many exciting things going on with my photography as well, a new blog is one of them...soon I promise. So if you came to the blog for new stuff and were disappointed, don't be, come check out all the latest and greatest on my business facebook page. Please click "like" and leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you. We will keep adding all the great stuff from last season and all the fun things to come!
And because every post should have a picture here's a few from last season, the theme would be "umbrellas can be beautiful too" wink*wink*

YOU ARE INVITED!!

On Sunday, May 15 2011, we will be hosting an open house to celebrate the opening of my new studio as well as to thank all of my friends, family, and of course my past and future brides! It's going to be a great start to the 2011 wedding season. Please stop in for some drinks and hors d'oeuvres, get a picture in the photobooth, and stay and chat for a while. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

How to get to the studio:

Take Hall St. exit west off of 131. Take Hall St. through Grandville St., go down and around the sharp curve/hill. Go straight throught he light at the Hall/Godfrey intersection. DON'T turn onto Godfrey. Park in the dirt lot on the right behind the first large red brick building. Go into the door next to the loading dock overhead doors. Walk straight and pass the vending machines to the elevator or stairs. Take the stairway or the elevator to the 4th floor. Once at the 4th floor, take a left and go until the hall comes to a "T." Take a right at the "T" and find the blue door. Yep, it's complicated but we will have signs and people to help you if you get stuck, or please call Phrene at 616-322-3093. FYI, it's an old urban factory, but I promise our studio is gorgeous inside ;)

Yay! Brides Choice 2011

Thank you to all my beautiful brides for your input. I am honored to have met so many wonderful couples, and have shared such special days with all of you . I am committed to growing and challenging myself as an artist and a photographer and I am so grateful for all of your input and support. I owe this award to all of you, thank you!

Published

I was so excited to find Becky and Devins' July wedding featured in this year's issue of the Kalamazoo Bride Magazine. This isn't their first blog appearance, you may recognize them from their sexy and chic engagement session downtown last fall. Becky and Devin had a beautiful wedding, they exchanged vows overlooking Gull Lake on a beautiful July day and wrapped up the evening with a gorgeous tented reception at the Kellogg Manor, which is an incredibly gorgeous venue for those brides out there looking for an elegant and sophisticated venue.

I've said this before, but only because I really truly mean it, Kalamazoo Bride Magazine is a wonderful resource for brides looking for local venues and vendors in southwest Michigan, seriously I found this magazine a HUGE help when I was planning my wedding...which is starting to fee like eons ago :) I give them to all my Kalamazoo area brides and they've all told me it was a huge help. You can find them in any local Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath and Beyond, their website, and of course me ;)

Congrats Becky and Devin!

Published on the cover!!!

Here's the stunning Meg on the cover of the Lansing Bride Magazine, below is also her wedding featured in the Grand Rapids Bride Magazine. If you are a bride, definitely get a copy at any local Barnes and Nobles, Schulers, or here on their website. It is a plethora of wedding information and local vendors.

I'm really not good at writing or sharing much on a personal level, the truth is that I'm kinda shy and a little nervous about sharing. I don't even know if most people actually read photography blogs...we all know you come for the pictures right? ...but I have felt directed into sharing a little about my story and journey as a wedding photographer especially with some of the new exciting things that have happened. Yes, it is exciting to share news such as getting featured on a cover, but I really feel it's important to give credit where due and share where I've come from to understand why this is such a special accomplishment. This really has been such a incredible journey, sometimes I have to pinch myself just to check and make sure it's all real. I believe that my experiences these last few years are such a strong testimony of God's personal love. In the beginning of this whole journey I struggled with trusting and following God, but I kept my faith in him, I prayed a lot, and confessed my struggles. In return he blessed me far beyond anything I could have imagined for myself. It wasn't long ago that I was working at Home Depot, stressing through college, living on macaroni and cheese, and just hoping and praying that someday I would finally graduate with my photography degree and find a job, any job, just not Home Depot. No offense Home Depot, you were good to me, you paid my tuition and kept a roof over my head, but through those long seven years I had dreams and hopes of doing something more, something I loved, something I have worked so hard and so long for....photography. Sometimes when you are in that moment of just wanting something else, or wanting to be somewhere else, wanting to do something else, it is so hard to see God working. I didn't trust him, I didn't think he heard my prayers, or that he even cared about my ambitions or career dreams. After I graduated I felt like all of my peers moved on so quickly to new and excited careers, successful, happy, doing what they loved... and here I was still at Home Depot....honestly I felt like a college graduate loser. I can't deny it, that horrible soul rotting emotion of envy consumed me. I couldn't see God working and frankly I didn't want to, I was so consumed with disappointment and jealousy in my own situation that I didn't try to see what God was doing. At that moment I was a college graduate, still working at Home Depot, hating my job, wanting and wishing to have something else, jealous of my successful working photographer friends, and just plain unhappy. "Why not me, God, why not me, why can't I be doing what I love, why can't I feel successful, why did I go to school just to end up at Home Depot forever". Looking back all I can do is just shake my head at myself. I had just graduated, I was newly engaged, planning my own wedding, and starting my business. God had amazing things planned for me but I was too consumed by everything and everyone else that I just couldn't see his plan and what he was doing in my life. Thankfully I had my husband (fiance at the time) to bring me back to earth, "Phrene" he said, "be thankful for where you are what you are doing right now. You need to enjoy your OWN wedding and be grateful that you have a job. God didn't bring you all the way to Kendall and through school, just to abandon you and leave you at Home Depot forever." As hard as it was to hear that, he was right. I just needed to be content with me, and where I was, and what God was doing and TRUST him. So I continued working the job I hated, and began my business with big hopes and few dreams, but expecting to be disappointed because, me, the worrier and pessimist, just knew years later I would still be at Home Depot and struggling to be a successful wedding photographer, my dreams and ambitions dashed to pieces.

At the time my biggest dream was just to get a website up, find brides who loved my work (which when you are a nobody is not easy), and maybe, just maybe get an image or two featured somewhere amongst the pages of any bridal magazine. I figured those dreams would be challenge enough, so I worked hard and prayed a lot. I asked God to direct me, give me wisdom in running a business, help me see where he was taking me, and most of all stop worrying and trust him.

Fast forward just a year to March 2009, for some reason God blessed me (times a thousand) with 30 weddings on the calendar... then I got the incredible news. "Congrats" the email said, "we have chosen one of your images to be featured on our cover of the Lansing Bride magazine 2009 issue". What! You are kidding me, I didn't believe it. I thought I'd get a phone call at any minute saying, "sorry we made a mistake it wasn't actually your image after all."

At that moment I knew it in my heart, God was telling me it was time to quit Home Depot and make the leap into being a full time photographer. "But what if I don't stay busy enough, what if I don't make enough money to pay the bills, what if, what if, what if."

I could hear God, he said it simply and clearly, "trust me Phrené". I remember that even now, I have to repeat it to myself when I start worrying or stressing about life, business, work, anything...."Phrené, trust me".

Today, I am so honored to say that I have received 3 covers just in this last year, my work has been featured and used for a variety of events and promotions, I have a full featured wedding spread in the GR Magazine, and an amazing array of brides who put their trust in me with the incredible honor of capturing their special day... all of this in one year. That feels amazing, but what is really amazing is where God has brought me. Two years ago this was not my world, the idea of a cover was one of those laughable dreams where you think, yeah that would be awesome but it will never happen to me. Despite my doubts, my worry, my struggles, God has showed his grace and love. He has provided and blessed me more then I could have ever imagined. I can't thank him enough, or thank my amazing clients. I feel that any and all accomplishments really must go to you...family, friends, fans, clients, blog readers that love and share my work...you have all been an answer to prayer and my dreams come true, thank you. I can only hope that God has more amazing things in store and that he continues to help me grow as a photographer, a business owner, a wife, a woman.

Associate Photographer Carolina!

I'm very excited to announce a new addition to the Phrené - Exquisite Photography company, my associate photographer, Carolina! Carolina and I go back to our days in college when we were stressing and losing sleep over our many photo projects, term papers, and class critiques. We found ourselves critiquing and working together in our photography classes so a few years later it seem so natural to starting working together professionally. She's become a great friend and a wonderful photographer and I'm happy to share that she is available for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Check our her gallery of work here.

I thought it would be fun for us to go out and do a little photoshoot, we are fun crazy girls and we don't need a better reason to do a photoshoot! As you can see she didn't have a problem working it out for the camera :) I thought you should all get to know her better so we also did a fun little interview session, here's Carolina in a nutshell...

How would you describe your personality? Who is Carolina? :) hahaha we are so cheesy

I'd say I'm a little shy, but when I say that my friends bust out laughing. Probably because I love joking around and it's easy for me to get comfortable with people quickly. My friends always say I have a bit of a Latina attitude...like I'm always quick to have a wise crack back. I'm proud of being a Latina woman, I feel like being so close to my family is such an important aspect of my heritage and personality. It keeps me grounded, keeps my values strong, and my priorities straight. Because I have such a strong and genuine relationship with my family I seek to have the same kind of relationships with other people I encounter...and in my photography it helps me to recognize and capture those type of connections I see in others around me.

work it out Carolina!

What do you like about shooting weddings?

I love working and photographing people, the atmosphere of weddings are fun, I love seeing family and friends coming together and celebrating...it's cute...and emotional...I'm girl what do you expect? Plus, fashion!! Brides are beautiful models, they look awesome and should feel awesome even just for this one special day. I started off not knowing much about weddings until I started working with you...Phrené. Before I started shooting weddings, I thought wedding photography was about those typical family photos in front of the church. I didn't realize that the photographer was such an integral part of a wedding. I thought we were seen as more of a nuisance dodging through the guests as they party the night away, now I realize that having a professional photographer there to archive those priceless memories is so important. You helped me see the infinite possibilites with weddings, weddings incorporate so many different types of photography... fashion, jewelry, food, portraits, documentary and photography aside just connecting with people.

What gave you that preconceived notion wedding photography was about "typical wedding photos in front of the church"?

I guess it's from weddings that I went to as a kid or past wedding photos I saw of family and friends. I think the modern bride looks for something more unique, fitting her own personality and style. Now with website portfolios and the internet people invest a lot of time and energy into researching the perfect photographer.

How would you describe your photography style?

I like making things pretty...that's sounds simple but it's true. Pretty makes people (brides) happy, I want to make something beautiful and interesting to look at but I also want my subjects to connect on a personal level with their photos, but even further I want to capture the personal connection, emotions, and relationships of the people and events going on around me at weddings.

Aside from wedding photography, are their other photography things you enjoy?

Most weekdays you'll find me at WMCAT downtown GR teaching high-school kids how to appreciate photography. They get to experience traditional black and white photography but also high end studio lighting, photoshop...the whole shebang. After college I missed being in the darkroom and it's been fun getting back into traditional style darkroom work.

I really love pin hole cameras, they are so simple yet the results of the image can be incredibly creative....not much use for pin hole cameras at weddings...ha oh well. Maybe a new adventure for the future right?!...or not. Don't worry I won't show up to your wedding with a pin hole camera oatmeal box!

Anything else we should know about you?

I can't wait for the new Sex in the City movie!!!

Out of the Office....and a sneak peek

I will be out of the office until March 15 with limited to no access to phone or email. Your messages are incredibly important to me so please feel free to leave me a message. I will promptly respond to you upon my return.

And because no post is truly a post with out some photos....this is a photography blog right?! .. here are some teasers from Amy and Wes's engagement shoot over my last wedding weekend. Amy is Cindy's sister, and I think one of my biggest and most supportive followers! Enjoy the sneak. I know I'm such a tease :)

Look at her beautiful bling! Had to post these, love a good bling.

Published Again!!!

Soooo excited to share the news!!! I recently received my box of Kalamazoo Bride magazines, opened the box, and giggled like a little girl to find one of my recent brides on the COVER! Dionna was such a beautiful bride, there's no doubt in my mind why they chose her for their cover. I give her all the credit, all I had to do was push the button, she did all the rest. The beautiful bouquet was done by the equally awesome Sebesta Designs. Corrine is fabulous and her designs reflect the exquisite quality and creativity that is Sebesta. I'd highly recommend her for the creative and discerning bride.

This is my second bridal magazine cover within the year, to be honest it feels a little surreal. I am incredibly flattered that my work was chosen, thank you again to Jake and Kelly at GRB Ventures Publication. These magazines are such a great resource for brides, in fact I found them so useful when I was planning my own wedding a few years back. Get your copy here, you'll see another of my beautiful brides, Julie, on their home page.

For all you brides out there planning a wedding in southwest Michigan, this weekend the Kalamazoo Wedding Affair is the bridal show to attend. Below is a coupon to get you future brides into the show. I'm thrilled that they chose to use another of my images to promote their show.

Out of the Office

I will be out of the office from June 20 until June 24 for some much needed rest and relaxation.  I will have limited email and phone usage, if you need to get in contact with me between these dates please feel free to leave me a voicemail or an email and I will promptly return your message as soon as I return.  

Published...on the Cover!

Whoo whoot!  I found out a month ago that I made the cover of the Lansing Bride magazine.  I couldn't post anything until the magazine came out and it was killing me, I just got my copy in the mail and I couldn't wait to share it with all of you!  

About a year ago I was looking through these magazines, Grand Rapids Bride, Kalamazoo Bride, and Lansing Bride and talking to my husband about my goal to get work featured inside.  To be perfectly honest I really never imagined I'd be featured on the COVER, especially not so soon.  What an incredible blessing!  Thanks to Jake and Kelly for choosing my image and to everyone else at GRB Ventures Publication.  Not only did I get the cover, but I got the double spread table of contents and another of my images is being used to promote the Kalamazoo Affair Shows.  I am so excited and honored.  Here are some pictures of the spreads inside the magazine. 

Kurt and Phrené are Married....for one YEAR!

One of the many really cool things about being a wedding photographer is that I get to watch and share so many special moments with a couple. Even I get butteryflies as the bride walks down the aisle, they profess their eternal love for one another, and pledge to be together forever. Watching the many moments of laughter, love, and joy often evokes a great sentiment for the day I was a bride and walked down the aisle to profess my eternal love to my precious husband. Being part of so many weddings reminds me how wonderful it is to be married. This past Saturday on May 9, we celebrated one year together as husband and wife. I still feel like a newlywed, I can't believe we were married one year ago. I wish we could rewind the clock so I could experience all of the emotion and joy one more time. Babe, you are my rock and my soul-mate. I love you with all my heart, I'm so happy God brought us together and I can't wait to see what he brings in our future together. At my husbands request I snapped a few silly photos on our anniversary. I rarely have pictures taken of us together and it's often his complaint, "how can a husband of a photographer have so few pictures of us together?" I know honey I am terrible, so for you here are a few photos.

 

Workshop 3

Last but certainly not least the stunning brides with dramatic lighting.  These were so fun and somewhat out of my comfort zone.  It was a fantastic learning experience and I can't wait to try more with my future bride shoots.  Thank you to Noto's for allowing us to use their wonderful wine cellar.  I am so excited to shoot there again in June,  Jodi  I know we are going to rock your photos!

Workshop 2

Here are the adorable engaged couples, so cute and so in love...isn't it fabulous to be engaged!

  

So here are more images from the workshop.  These are the engaged couples, they are so cute and in love...awww...isn't being engaged fabulous