July Round Up – Detroit, Michigan

Another month has come and gone. Just like that summer is already halfway over. This was my first month in the last three years where I didn’t work two full time jobs. Let me just tell you….it’s so nice. I can’t remember the last time I felt so caught up on sleep, cooked, or actually got proper exercise with my pup, Kona. Speaking of pups, this is the first monthly roundup since May that I haven’t been as sick as a dog! Focusing on my business, my health, and my family has made this month incredible. Looking back on the past four weeks, here are some highlights of why July was so dang good:

 

Plants + Eastern Market

 

You know when you get to the dentist to get a cavity filled and the hygienist is all, “Think of your happy place…” Well, this is my happy place.

I’m sure you know by now that I love love love plants and Eastern Market is my go-to spot to get new ones! If you decide to check out this well-loved Detroit spot, make sure you get an early start. It gets crowded fast and there are some committed shoppers there (*ahem* like me) who will get there first and snatch up all the best plants. Be an early bird and get that worm!

Since I head over to the market bright and early, I always stop and pick up a honey cinnamon latte from Germack Coffee to perk me up. Next, I run to the French Cow (okay, I don’t actually run there, but if there is one thing in my life I would consider running for it would be the crêpes from here. Nuff said). This creperie is run by a French mother-daughter-duo and they make some of the best crêpes I have ever eaten. And trust me, I’ve eaten a lot of crêpes.

Eastern Market is also my favorite place to get my fruits and veggies for the coming week. The number of vendors here is honestly incredible. From plant nurseries, to creperies, to farmers, to soap makers, to beekeepers, you name it and there’s probably a stand for it here.

4th of July

Growing up, Independence Day was my favorite holiday. Okay, maybe it was tied with Christmas and my birthday, but still top 3. My parents always threw a giant BBQ and invited anyone and everyone over to celebrate. We would grill, play kickball, go swimming, and my dad would always end it with a big, backyard fireworks show. To this day, I still love seeing friends, watching the Clarkston parade, and doing all the 4^th of July things.

Cedar Point with Slay at Home Mother

Last month, Hour Detroit and Cedar Point asked to feature Corinne (a.k.a. the Slay at Home Mother) and her family in Hour Detroit Magazine! Thanks to Corinne, I was hired to come along and take all the photographs for the feature. I was so honored and excited to be a part of this incredible trip.

Being able to visually tell the story of what Cedar Point is like for a family was so nostalgic. Not only did I have an absolute blast getting to photograph Corinne’s beautiful family on this trip, but it was so fun to be able to see Cedar Point through a child’s eyes. I used to go to Cedar Point with my family every Father’s Day and I have so many great memories from those trips. Seeing Corinne’s boys’ eyes light up at the sight of massive roller coasters and Snoopy brought back all of my own childhood memories at this park.

Thank you so much to Slay at Home Mother, Hour Detroit, and Cedar Point for the opportunity to photograph these memories! I cannot wait to see the photos in the next magazine edition!

 

Booked + Busy

July is not a typical booking month for photographers. July is also not super popular for scheduling photo shoots. It’s hot, sweaty, and people are out of town traveling for the summer. That was not the case this year! I was absolutely blown away by how many clients booked and scheduled sessions throughout this month. So many couples booked me for 2020 and I had a photoshoot almost every single day! I am so humbled and grateful for all of my clients. Can’t wait to take all your stunning photos!

 

(P.S. If you’re a 2020 bride, I still have a few openings left for next summer. Please reach out soon as my books are filling up fast!)

 

Library Cards

Havin’ fun isn’t hard….when you’ve got a library card! I really hope someone got that Arthur reference.

Not joking, I am so excited that I got a library card. It might seem like such a small thing, but I haven’t had a library card in almost five years. I forgot how much it was to go check out an armful of books! Reading more has been on my to-do list for basically forever. With this card I might finally be able to meet my Goodreads Reading Challenge! I’d love to know your favorite books, too. Send me a message on Instagram or leave me a comment below!

Settling In

Our apartment is really starting to feel like home! We’ve officially been here for one month and we are loving it. When we moved into our first townhouse three years ago, I was in such a rush to get things put away ASAP. Unfortunately, this led to a lack of foresight for how things were organized and our place never really felt like home. In our new apartment, Matt and I didn’t want to make that mistake again. We are taking our time to nest, being mindful with where we place things, and settling in.

Things are getting real cute up in here! Can’t wait to share more photos once we’re fully unpacked.

 

Vacay All Day

As you’re reading this, Matt and I are living it up in Colorado! Way back in April, I saw that one of my favorite musicians would be playing at the Red Rocks Amphitheater. Matt and I both travel a lot for work, but it has been forever since we went on a work-free vacation. This concert seemed like the perfect excuse for us to take a trip out west! If you don’t already follow me, check out my Instagram to follow along!

That’s a wrap on July! This month was probably one of the best I’ve had all year. Thank you to all of my clients, friends, collaborators, and family who have been such an integral part in making this month so great. Can’t wait to see what is waiting around the corner in August!

 

Liv