Julie Martin Photography - Newborn, wedding, seniors, children photographer Westphalia, MI

Andrea.... Senior session Lansing

2011-10-14T06:22:00.000-07:00

This is one of my many nieces Andrea. Andrea is my sister Sue and brother-in-law Julius's daughter. It is so hard to believe how old all my nieces and nephews have gotten!!! Andrea is thinking of going to California to college. I think I will be packing my bags and visiting her! I could use a few days hanging out on the beach. Thanks for asking me to take your senior pictures Andrea, have a great senior year!!!

The Kramers.... Family Session

2011-10-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

What a great family! Emily and Bill have a beautiful family. Sweet, polite kids! Just by the way they look at each other and smile you could tell how much they love one another. It was an honor taking your family pictures!!

Bella... Children's session, St. Johns

2011-10-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

Here is another session that I am finally blogging. :) This little one is Bella and she is simply adorable. Such a personality for her age! She was giving me all kinds of poses. The only problem she had was when we tried to get serious. She just couldn't do it. It was so funny, she would end up laughing like crazy every time we tried. Too cute!!! Thanks Courtney for letting me photograph your sweet little girl!!

Ashley and Dave.... engagement session

2011-10-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

I am soooo behind in my blogging. These pictures were done back in August. Ashley and Dave wanted me to come down to Detroit for their engagement session. We had a great time! I know this is going to make me sound really old, but I can't believe Ashley is old enough to get married. It seems like just yesterday she was riding in a car seat. And now she is all grown up and getting married! Ok, yes, that did make me sound old. lol Thanks for asking me to take your engagement pictures. Love you guys!!!

Laura... Portland St. Pat's Senior

2011-09-07T18:07:00.000-07:00

Laura is a beautiful senior from Portland. We took her pictures right in Portland and found some great spots. Besides the horrible mosquitos that have been at just about every session I have done this summer, it went great! Every session I have we always find something to laugh about, this time it was a 30-35 year old man that kept riding behind Laura doing wheelies with his bike. I really think he was trying to get in the picture. lol I hope you love your pictures Laura! Thanks for asking me to photograph you. Enjoy your senior year!!

Jenna...St. Johns High School senior

2011-09-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

Jenna is a senior at St. John High School. We got some really great pictures. We went to both Jenna's Dad and Jenna's Mom's ponds. There is a great old truck at Jenna's Mom's pond that we took some photos with. I am still trying to convince Dan to buy me an old rusty truck and park it in the field so I can use it for senior pictures. He hasn't jumped at the chance like I thought he would (should). lol We also did some urban shots of Jenna, that I really loved. Hope you love them too!!

Matthew...Dewitt High School Senior

2011-09-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

I have been really busy this month! I think I have had a shoot everynight for the last 3 weeks. Not complaining, don't get me wrong, but I am way behind in my blogging! These are a few pictures from Matthew's session. Matthew is a senior from Dewitt. I have known Matthew's sister Amanda for quite a few years, because she is my niece Tori's best friend. We had a great time at Matthew's session, well at least Amanda, Cathy (Matthew's Mom) and I did. I can't speak for Matthew, and I don't think he would admitt it, but I think he had a good time too! lol
Thanks for asking me to photograph your senior session!!

Julianna and James.... Wedding, Dewitt

2011-09-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my niece Julie is old enough to get married! I was honored to have Julianna ask me to photograph her wedding. We were all a little worried about the weather but God was watching over Julie and James because the weather was perfect and as soon as we were all done with pictures it poured!! I am so happy for you both!!

Droste Family....

2011-09-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

These are pictures of some of Becky and Ted's younger kids. Aren't they adorable!?! And they aren't only cute, they are all so sweet and polite! Ted and Becky have a beautifully landscaped yard so we didn't have to go far. One of my kids was with me and she said "Mom, how do they keep all these flowers alive?" I think that was a hint that I am not the best gardener. lol Thanks Ted and Becky for asking me again to photograph your beautiful children!!

Nick...Pewamo-Westphalia High School Senior

2011-08-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

This month has been so crazy busy with seniors. I have had a session every night for the last few weeks and the next few weeks! I am not complaining at all. lol Nick's session went great! We got some great shots! Thanks for choosing me to capture your senior session.

Lauren...Dewitt High School Senior

2011-08-20T19:07:00.000-07:00

Lauren and her mom Carol were so much fun to work with. At one point (or two) Carol got a bit teary eyed. It just shows what a milestone senior pictures are. It was so touching to me to see this mean so much to a mother and daughter. I can relate, I also have a senior and it makes you look back to when they were young and how quickly time passes. Our babies grow up way too fast!!! We did get some great images, I hope you both had as much fun as I did. Thanks for choosing me to take your senior portraits!!

Logan...

2011-08-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Logan was such a joy to work with. She is only 5 but you would never know it. She was so sweet and did exactly as I told her. She is such a natural in front of the camera! What a beautiful little girl. I hope you love your pictures!!

Megan... Pewamo-Westphalia Senior

2011-08-18T22:13:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time taking Megan's pictures. She is such a sweet girl, and so pretty! I was loving it when Megan's mom, Joan, brought out the cowboy boots for Megan to wear in some of the pictures. I think those are my favorite shots! Thanks Megan for asking me to take your senior pictures. I had a great time and I hope you did too!!

Charlie...

2011-08-09T17:52:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember last year when I took pictures of a little boy named Charlie. Charlie has Down Syndrome and when he was born the family also found out he had leukemia. Well a few months ago Charlie's mom emailed me saying that they asked to use one of Charlie's pictures on a Down Syndrom awareness billboard. I thought it was pretty cool!! Here is a shot of the billboard. It is on Oakland Ave. There is also one of Pennsylvania Ave.

Daniel.... Pewamo-Westphalia Senior

2011-08-07T15:47:00.000-07:00

I can't believe Daniel is going to be a senior this year!! Seems like yesterday when he was born. Time flies when you are having fun! The first thing we thought of when thinking of doing his senior session was pictures of him with his guitars. Daniel plays the bass guitar in a band called "Memories for Tomorrow". When he is home he pretty much always has a guitar in his hand. So, it only seemed right to have his pictures done with a guitar in hand. We didn't have a lot of time before the sunset. But we got some great shots at my niece Nicole and nephew Bill's pond. We will be going out again to finish the rest of his session.

Stephanie...Pewamo-Westphalia Senior

2011-08-06T20:23:00.000-07:00

Monday I took Stephanie's senior pictures. I really enjoyed taking them and ended up with tons of great shots! Stephanie is truely such a sweet girl, and an adorable. Did I mention that? We went to Stephanie's Uncle Mike and Aunt Amy's farm and decided to go into the barn and do some off camera flash. What a cool setting, and it meant a lot to get the pictures taken in her grandparents old barn. Then we headed out to another Aunt and Uncles beautiful home and got some great shots there too! (Thanks Tony and Celena!) Thanks for choosing me to take your senior pictures Stephanie! I hope you love them!

Cassie Senior Session... (Pewamo-Westphalia Senior)

2011-07-31T18:04:00.000-07:00

Cassie is my senior rep for Pewamo-Westphalia. If you are interested in having me take your senior portraits, mention Cassie and both of you will get a $20 credit towards your order! We went all over for Cassie's session. We started out with studio, then a beautiful garden, graffiti, urban, you name it we did it. Cassie is a dancer, so she was a natural with posing. We had such a great time, we didn't get done until dark!

Ross Senior Session, Fowler High School

2011-07-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

Senior season is in full swing. For the next several weeks, I am booked with senior sessions. Seniors are my favorites, so I am loving it. Last week, I had a senior from Fowler, Ross Becker. We got some great shots!

Elise....

2011-07-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

Elise is such a beautiful little girl with some amazing eyes! We took her 4 year pictures and, like most 4 year olds, she didn't last long. But we got some pretty great pictures in the time we were together! These are just a few...

Simon Family...

2011-07-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

When Amber called me to say her family wanted to get pictures taken in a wheat field since they were farmers, I was super excited! I just love the look of a wheat field just before harvest. I have asked Dan to leave up a field of wheat for pictures all year. I was only half joking, and you can imagine his answer. lol We also got some adorable imagines with the grandkids in their farm boots! Thanks Simon Family! I hope you had as much fun at your session as I did!

Aly's senior session...

2011-07-09T14:18:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at Aly's session! We got so many amazing shots. Aly is such a beautiful girl, and super sweet too! We were having such a great time, I didn't even realize how many pictures I took. So Aly, you will have lots to choose from! Thanks for asking me to take your pictures! I hope you love them as much as I do.

The adorable Thelen kids...

2011-07-09T13:54:00.000-07:00

These are my friends Renee and Eric's kids. I love taking their pictures because the girls, Emma and Maddie are great little models and Nolan...well his cuteness just speaks for itself! I loved Nolan's little kicked back pose in the picture on the stairs. I always have a great time photographing them. Thanks guys!!

The Miller Family...

2011-07-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

What a sweet family. Adrian and Alivia did great, with the help of Dad jumping around behind me to make them smile. It was great! Kids this age usually don't sit still for long, but they did wonderful! Thanks for letting me capture these images of your beautiful family Justin and Courtney. I hope you love the pictures!

The Gross Family...

2011-07-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Another blog post of a great area family, the Gross Family. Thanks so much for allowing me to photograph your beautiful family!!

Spitzley...

2011-07-03T10:23:00.000-07:00

Time to blog another great Westphalia family. I love photos of a large family (or even a small family) that includes the home they grew up in. What a wonderful way of reminding the family of their childhood home and the great memories that came with it. Thanks for letting me capture an image that you will pass on to future generations!

Feldpausch Family...

2011-07-03T09:57:00.000-07:00

I love that I have been getting lots of calls for Family sessions! I think it is great that people are taking the time to get everyone together for a session. These photos will be passed on to future generations! Just think about how much you love having photos of your grandparents, great grandparents etc. What a wonderful gift to give to your children!!

Kendalyn...

2011-06-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

It has been about a year since I photographed my adorable niece Kendalyn. She is the same sweet little girl, but I do think she gets cuter and cuter, if that is possible! This is one of my most favorite sessions I have done yet! I am not sure if I was just itching to get out and shoot since it has been so long, or if it was because she is so cute that every shot I took I loved! We also had so much fun. We started off at a park that we stayed at for only about 4 minutes because there was sooooo many mosquitoes! I really don't think I have ever seen so many in one place before! The first 4 pictures were taken there in the short time we were there. Kendalyn was looking at us like we were crazy because we were all jumping around screaming because we were getting eaten alive! I was also excited to edit them because I could finally use the great photoshop techniques I learned at the Crave mentoring session I took. We used a headband that my daughters and I made, I thought it was pretty cute ;) Thanks Chris and Kristen for letting me take picture of your beautiful little girl!!

Mariah... 1st Communion Photos

2011-06-13T11:29:00.000-07:00

Mariah came to me for 1st communion photos. She is such a sweet little girl and we got some great shots! I also did some playing in Photoshop with the sky in some of the shots for sun. Thanks Jill! You have a beautiful little girl!

Cassie...

2011-06-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Cassie is my senior rep for Pewamo-Westphalia High School. If you haven't already, get a card from Cassie. The card will give you a $20.00 print credit for both you and Cassie! This can be combined with any other sales I am offering. Here are a few pictures from Cassie's mini session...

Petra and Charlie...

2011-06-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

Petra and Charlies dad and I have known each other since we were in high school. Come to think of it, maybe junior high. Hard to believe 20 some years later I would be taking pictures of his kids! Sure doesn't seem like 20 plus years ago. It was great seeing you again. Jim and Tara have the most adorable, well mannered kids. Thanks for letting me photograph your little ones!!

Brett, Mira and Finn...

2011-06-10T15:34:00.000-07:00

This is my third session with my friend Holly's children. The session was done at my house and the kids were all playing together by the time the session was over. It was great to see them. I have known Holly since we started the adoption for Quincey way back in 2003! This was my first time meeting Finn. He recently came home from Korea. Brett, Mira and Finn are just the cutest things. Welcome to the newest member of the family!

Aria...

2011-06-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love photographing newborns!! They are just so sweet and squeezable! Aria was sleeping away when she first got here, and we were able to keep her asleep and get some great shots of her. I photographed Aria's mom and dad's wedding, so getting to capture her first days was so great!

Brielle....

2011-05-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

Such a pretty name and such a pretty girl!! Brielle was such an angel for her session. She didn't cry once, just sat there and let us dress her up in whatever we wanted to! Thanks Bobbie for letting me take your sweet girls pictures!!!

Parker...

2011-05-24T16:47:00.000-07:00

Here is a newborn from back in March. Little Parker didn't didn't want to sleep, but we got some great shots anyway!

Megan is 4....

2011-05-24T16:26:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that Megan is already 4! Megan is my daughter Lakyn's best friend. This is my 4th year taking picture of this sweet girl on her birthday. We always get some great shots, then after a bit, she shows her true "Megan". She starts acting goofy and has fun. I made a story board with some of the fun pictures. Love you Megan :)

Valentines Day....

2011-05-23T15:43:00.000-07:00

I am a total slacker and haven't had a blog post in quite sometime. So I am going to try to catch up in the next few days. I always post a few pictures on Facebook, and I sometimes forget that not everyone is on Facebook. lol So here are a few pictures of Stacy's beautiful kids at their Valentines Day mini session...

March Newsletter

2011-03-23T15:39:00.001-07:00

Close out sale!!!

If you had a session with me prior to January, 2011 and would like to purchase the disk with all images, please contact me asap. This applies to all sessions except weddings. If you are interested in purchasing wedding images please contact me to discuss pricing.

After April 15th all images will be deleted to make room for upcoming sessions.

If you have questions please feel free to call.

All sessions will be on a custom designed DVD case that is wrapped in textured satin. They will only be available until April 1st-

Each session is $125.00

This is a great price considering that each digital image normally sells for $60.00!!

Calling all 2011 Seniors!!!

Announcements- looking for senior announcements for your senior party? I have some awsome designs! Drop me an email or give me a call and I will be happy to design one for you. Once I get busy in the spring my time is limited to ensure that I have the time needed to design your invite please contact me asap. To view sample invites check them out on my website. Password is- seniors

Senior gifts-
Looking for a one of a kind gift for your grad? How about a wall rider? These are the hottest thing in the photography world right now! They are a skateboard deck that you can hang on your wall, that is specially designed with your senior pictures!! I can not even tell you how cool these are, you have to see them to believe it! These can be done with any session, not just seniors. Please contact me for additional information and pictures.

There are tons of other options for senior gifts- metal prints, story boards, memory books, (great for people to sign at the party), mini accordian albums, the possiblities are endless!

Wallet Sale- Need more wallets for your graduation party or to send with your graduation announcements? Get 30% off all wallets ordered before April 1st!

2012 Seniors-

Now is the time to book for the 2012 senior sessions! I couldn't believe how quickly I filled up last year! To be sure that you get the date you want please book at least a month in advance. I have my Pewamo-Westphalia Senior rep, but I am still looking for one for the other schools in the area. If you know of anyone who is interesting please contact me asap. I will only be taking a limited amount per school (depending on the school size) Reps need to be signed up by April. What is so great about being a senior rep? You get the first choice of locations, free sessions, and tons of cool perks. Give me a call to discuss this more.

989-587-3162
or 517-256-3623

Paying it forward...

2011-02-17T17:33:00.000-08:00

Back in January, I asked my clients to nominate someone they thought was deserving of a free photo session and $250.00 print credit. I feel like we have been blessed this past year with the adoption of our daughter and how things fell into place for us, I wanted to give back. I got 2 different emails that were both nominating the same family. I thought that was a sign that these people had to be very special and deserving. Once I read the emails, I realized they truely have had a rough few years and deserved to have something positive in their lives. Now they can sit back and enjoy a photo session, with no worries of the cost. Their friend Holly and Bonnie wrote me letters explaining their situation. They both told about the same couple and their 2 children, who are adopted from Korea. Their son had very bad asthma and spent a lot of time in the hospital. He seems to be doing well now. They have a sweet daughter that has been through one struggle after another. She has a condition called chronic neutropenia. She now needs shots everyday. She also has severe allergies, she is allergic to so many things that she can only eat a very limited diet. She was eventually put on a feeding tube. She has been through some very hard times, and even close to losing her sweet young life. The mother, a wonderful generous person, took off work to care for her children because of the health problems. Part of Bonnie's note read "The father, Justin is the most wonderful husband and father and he has been so strong taking care of his 3 family members. Jamie, was previously a nurse, and has a passion for nursing. However, when Joella's medical issues surfaced she realized she could not be left in the daily care of anyone else, so God made her Joella's personal nurse. Jamie misses nursing and struggle daily with her own physical pain and emotional stress of her family situation. This family cannot attend or participate in many outings/events that most families can because they have to worry about allergy issues and germs with Joella's immune system and growth issues."
If this weren't enough to deal with, about a year ago Jamie fell down the stairs and had back surgery and an extremely hard recovery. Here is a bit of the letter that their friend Holly sent to me. "About a year ago when Jamie fell down the stairs in their house, backwards. She broke her back. She had to have back surgery to fuse her spine. It didn't go well, either. It's been a year now, and she still is not, and likely never will be, fully recovered. She can walk, but needs a cane and not for long distances (she uses a wheel chair when out in public most of the time). She cannot drive. For months she could not be home with the kids alone, so this one income family had to hire a babysitter for both her and the kids."
"Justin has been a trooper through all of this. I don't know how he does it. They are the sweetest and more generous people. They give so much, despite all of their challenges, and truly deserve to be 'lucky' for once!!"
I agree I think Jamie and Justin should be lucky for once. So they are the winners of a complimentary photo session for the whole family! And a $250.00 print credit. I hope you enjoy it, I know your friends think you deserve it and so do I!!

Valentine Mini Sessions!!!

2011-01-11T05:22:00.000-08:00

Paying it forward....

2011-01-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am feeling especially blessed as we start this new year. No, I didn't make a million dollars last year, something even better happened.

As many of you know, we adopted a little girl and brought her home in October of last year. When I first started my photography business about three years ago, I remember thinking that we wanted to use some of the money to adopt again. That was always my goal, one of the main reasons I worked so hard at my business. And for those of you who have met our little girl Lakyn (also known as Rosey), you know that it was worth every late night minute of editing. She is the perfect fit to our family. She brings us so much joy and happiness. It is hard to believe that she has only been with us for three months. The adoption was one of the most emotional experience of our lives. As we left her former home, Dan and I knew our lives were forever changed because in the back seat was one of seven most precious gifts God has given us!! Below are a few pictures of that sweet girl....

　
So I thought it would be great to pay it forward. I thought, "what better way to show my appreciation to the great clients I have but to pass something along to someone who deserves it." With your help here is what I would like to do.....I would like you to tell me about someone who is deserving of a session and a $250.00 print credit! Maybe it is someone that is sick, has a sick child, is a single parent, is a special elderly friend, is someone who works hard and gives back, is a deserving high school senior or, maybe, it is you! It can be someone who just can't afford custom photography or someone who doesn't take the time to do something for themselves. Tell me why you think this person deserves this!

Why am I doing this? Because I know I will get back much more than I give!

So if you have someone you would like to nominate, just send me an email at: juliemartinphotography@live.com or call me at 517-256-3623 or Facebook me. Tell me about this deserving person. All nominations need to be in by February 10th. The winner will be announced by February 16th.

Kayla...

2010-12-28T17:17:00.000-08:00

It was very cold out when we did Kayla's session, but we still got some beautiful images! Kayla definitely looks older than she is, she is such a beautiful girl.

The Todd Family....

2010-11-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

I had the best time at this session. I loved that they just let themselves have fun and enjoy the experience. I get the best photographs when people are truly enjoying themselves. The boys, just the cutest things ever! And MacKenzie is just beautiful. My absolute favorites are the pictures of her laughing! All I did was ask her to be serious, she had a hard time with that. lol Thanks Jennifer, for asking me to photograph your beautiful family, it was an honor.

Jesse....

2010-11-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

Another senior session. October was super busy trying to fit in all the last minute sessions, before the weather gets cold. I have lucked out each session we have done, the weather has been beautiful! If you are still interested in getting in a session before winter, call asap. Thanks Jesse for asking me to capture you in your senior year!!

Kevin....

2010-11-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy since our newest addition to our family, that I haven't blogged! So, I am going to try to get caught up. This is Kevin, a senior from P-W. We got some great shots at the Ledges in Grand Ledge. Thanks Kevin, for choosing me to shoot your senior session!!

The Polfus Family....

2010-09-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

Sunday I took pictures of the Polfus family. Rick and Joann have two beautiful girls, Blake and Chelsea. I was thrilled that is was a cloudy day. The light was beautiful!! We had shot the pictures right at their home, they have some beautiful areas to take photographs. The family has two Newfoundlands. For being so large the dogs are super sweet. Loved the shot with Blake and the dogs! Thanks Joann for asking me to shoot your families photos!!

Dave...

2010-09-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

For someone who really didn't want his pictures taken.... Well, I think we got some great pictures!! I loved the pictures with the truck, the sky was a great fall sky. Just love those, cloudy skies! They make for some cool pictures. Thanks for being a good sport Dave, hope you love your pictures.

The Andros Family....

2010-09-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

I just love fall days. We had a perfect fall day for the Andros Family session! A little red barn, cool air and family. What a great combo for some awesome pictures!
Thanks for asking me to capture your family portrait.

Werner Family....

2010-09-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

Ok, I took a few days off and finally am getting back to work. Sorry Werner family! I know I promised these a few days ago. But here they finally are :) I got so many great pictures, I got a little carried away for your sneek peak! I had a really great time taking these pictures. My favorite part was when we moved under the apple tree and the kids started having a great time. They just played and munched on their apples. I think they forgot I was taking pictures and just kind of ignored us. Well, until Corey started singing "Apples are good for me, I pick them off the tree!" Yes, I had that song in my head for quite some time. Even days later when my daughter Kennedy starts singing it again. lol The apple tree got me in the mood for fall pictures. Anyone up for going to an apple orchard for a session? :)

Lisa...

2010-08-30T07:07:00.000-07:00

This is my niece Lisa. She is super cute and super sweet. Well, most of the time. lol And the thing I love about her best is that she takes the time to text my daughter Kennedy while I am doing shoots to entertain her. :) We did some pretty garden shots and some cool urban shots. I think we got some beautiful pictures! Here are a few of my favorites....

Austin....

2010-08-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

I love doing urban sessions, so I was excited that I had another senior session that wanted to do urban images. My favorite! We got some great shots with Austin then went to the Pewamo-Westphalia High School to get a few sports pictures. Well, with a stop in the middle of it all for ice cream of course! Thanks for asking me to capture your senior session Austin. I hope you love your pictures!

Kevin's senior session....

2010-08-27T12:05:00.000-07:00

Last week I took Kevin's senior session. I was really excited when he said he wanted to do some hunting pictures. Being from Westphalia, everyone is into hunting but this is the first that someone asked to do hunting photos! I thought they turned out pretty cool! Thanks Kevin for asking me to take your senior pictures!

Hafners....

2010-08-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

I got some great urban shots of the Hafner family last week! The kids cooperated so well that it didn't take long. And aren't they just the cutest family?
Thanks you guys!! I have your pictures edited so I will send you an email with your password. :)

Lilly and Megan....

2010-08-23T07:46:00.001-07:00

My friend Missy asked me to take pictures of her daughter Megan and Megan's birth sibling Lilly on Wednesday. Lilly and her family were here visiting. I jumped at the chance. Both little girls were adopted from the same agency we used to bring Quincey home, Family Adoption Consultants. For some of the pictures the girls dressed in their Hanboks, where are traditional Korean dresses. Lilly's mom Stephanie brought back these beautiful dresses when she went to Korea to escort babies home. Lilly and her family have become family to Megan and I think it is so wonderful that they have this connection. Thanks for asking me to take these pictures for you!

Brianna...

2010-08-20T20:02:00.000-07:00

When Amanda got here with Brianna we were a little concerned that she wouldn't sleep. She was wide awake. Just as we were scheduling another day to meet, Amanda's friend bounced her. We waited a few more minutes and then she fell right to sleep! Yeah!! We were then able to get some beautiful images of little Brianna's first days in the world. Thanks for allowing me to photograph your sweet baby girl!

Stephanie....

2010-08-18T19:16:00.000-07:00

This is a super busy week. I have a session every night and two on Wednesday. Next week is slower, so I will be taking some vacation time. :) I had a great session Monday with Stephanie! We got some awesome images. Thanks for asking me to take your senior pictures Stephanie!

Breana....

2010-08-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

Monday night I had a great time shooting Breana and Sophia's senior sessions! Breana and Sophia are step sisters, two completely different styles but each beautiful and sweet. We started out at MSU then went to the downtown area and shot. We didn't finish up until well after dark! But that is ok, they were up for anything, so we just kept going! We tried a few serious shots and once the girls saw that they could totally pull them off, they were willing to do more. On Tuesday we shot some indoor pictures, I have gotten a chance to work on the sneak peek for those, but I will soon. We got some fun ones! I hope you love the sneak peek as much as I do!!!

Sophia....

2010-08-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

Charlie...

2010-08-13T14:13:00.000-07:00

Friday I did another senior session. This time it was my neighbor Charlie. We went to the high school and then to the Hengesbach farm. Charlie is such a nice guy! Thanks Charlie for letting me take your senior pictures! I hope you like them!

Kevin...

2010-08-10T13:18:00.000-07:00

Last week I took pictures for Kevin. I hadn't seen him since our last session with his big sister Natalie. I couldn't believe how he had grown. And how incredibly handsome he is! What a doll! We tried for a few of all the kids together but by that time he was not in the mood. :) We decided to wait for those pictures for the next session, which is a family session outdoors. His sister's however, were all about getting their pictures taken! Thanks Erikka! See you next week!

Whitney....

2010-08-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

I have known Whitney since she was just a little baby! I used to babysit for her and Matt. I know that might make me sound old, but I am totally not. lol We shot all over.... a flower garden, urban and ended in a grassy field. I swear lately every time I take pictures for a senior girl, we get some strange guy coming up to us. This session was no different. These guys wanted to tell us the year every building in St. Johns was built. Good thing Whitney's dad, Dan came along, he distracted them while we continued the session. Although I think he was just there for the ice cream. lol Thanks for asking me to shoot your senior session Whitney!!

Tessa....

2010-08-04T18:41:00.000-07:00

We went out for a second session with Tessa last week. We went all over, studio, sports, gardens, piano, urban...we did it all. I got to catch up with Tessa's mom Jill and Tessa got the honor of hanging out with us. lol I even got to play around with the off camera flash! Yeah!! Tessa was picking on me because every time I got a shot I loved she could tell by the grin on my face. I had a hard time picking out favorites, I hope you love them as much as I do!!

Krista...

2010-08-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

We did a two day session with Krista. We went to a pond that Krista's uncle owns. It was a beautiful place to take pictures. Water, beach, a cabin with cool barn wood and a grassy field, what more could a photographer ask for! Then we headed to town for some flowery shot, and the next day went to Portland to get some more great pictures! Thanks for choosing me to take your senior pictures Krista, I hope you love them!

Charlie and family....

2010-08-02T19:35:00.000-07:00

This is little Mr. Charlie. Charlie's mom Teagan contacted me when she heard I have done "Littlest Hero" projects. Many of you probably remember my last "Littlest Hero" Andrew. I was happy to photograph this sweet family! Charlie was diagnosed with downs syndrome when he was born. Shortly after they found out this little angel also had leukemia. So you can see how he would make a perfect candidate for being a Littlest Hero. He sure is a hero to his mom and dad. He is now doing good. They are watching him closely praying that he continues to do fine. Charlie is such a sweet heart. He did great, even after being woken up from a nap to get the session done. Big sister Lilly also did great! It was an honor photographing the Drayton family. I hope you love your pictures!

Pungs....

2010-07-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to the Pungs farm to take pictures. Dan and Jane had move an old barn from Dan's Mom's home to their home and cleaned it up. It is just beautiful inside. They did a great job on it! We took pictures inside of the barn, the lighting was great, which made me happy. All of you photographers know what I am taking about! Thanks Pung family for asking me to take your photographs! I will let you know when the other pictures are ready for viewing.

Sweet little ones...

2010-07-29T19:59:00.000-07:00

I drove out to Williamston to take pictures for Jennifer and her new baby Anabelle. She is such a sweetheart, but didn't want to sleep much for us. But that is ok, I am sure as soon as I left she slept the rest of the day. lol While I was there I took a few pictures of Scarlett. What a doll she was. She was a bit shy and wanted daddy and mommy at her side, but after a while I got her to warm up :) Just as I was leaving she actually wanted her picture taken! And the boys are just as cute as can be too! What a beautiful family you have Craig and Jennifer, thanks for welcoming me into your home.

The Spitzley Family....

2010-07-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this is the 3rd year I have taken Renee and Mike's family picture! This kids have grown so much. We got some great shots near the flower gardens at the Spitzley's house. Thanks for letting me take your pictures again guys! You have a beautiful family!!

The Schneider Family....

2010-07-26T11:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dave and Sandy Spitzley for letting us use your beautiful wooded area, near the river. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous driving down. I was afraid I would end up driving into the river! But once we got down there, it was beautiful and worth driving down the steep hill. I made Jerry, Kay and the kids walk out on to the rocks that were in the river to get a good shot! Not easy in heels, just ask Kay! Thanks for having me capture your family photo!

Tara's workshop

2010-07-26T10:21:00.000-07:00

I went to an awesome workshop at the end of June. It was in Sequim, Washington, about 2 hours from Seattle. Tara Staton held the workshop, it was her first and she did an awesome job. I learned so much! And it was great to meet such an wonderful group of ladies. We all had such a good time! I loved shooting in such a different setting than Michigan. We could see the mountains in the background (you just don't have that in Michigan) and walk over a hill and have a beautiful view of the ocean! I have been so busy I haven't had a chance to edit very many of the pictures. So I decided to just post a few everyday. Here are two of our awesome models....

Tessa....

2010-07-20T18:44:00.000-07:00

I am doing a few sessions for Tessa. This was our "wild flower field" session. We are doing 2 sessions, because Tessa loves me so much! :) Not sure if I am feeling the love, Tessa took Jill and I on an adventure. Let's see...first she took us to a spot where I was told I was standing in poison ivy, then we drove through an area of their property that had extremely high grass (Jill and I thought we were in Africa, not Westphalia), then we were attacked by mosquitoes. But in the end, we had a great time, after all the swearing from the bugs attacking us!! lol
Thanks for the fun night, can't wait to see what happens on the urban session!!

Kendalyn...

2010-07-19T16:31:00.000-07:00

You may remember Kendalyn from a few months ago. She was one of the sweet babies I took pictures of! I am proud to say she is my niece (ok... my great niece)! She is the such a little peanut, and sweet as can be! Makes me want a baby in the house again! Thanks for driving all the way out here Kristin, so I could cuddle with her a bit!

Lauren....

2010-07-18T12:59:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time at Lauren's session. She is such a beautiful girl! We did a little bit of everything...floral gardens, urban fun, a grassy field with off camera flash. (complete with a personal gator ride from my niece Nicole! Thanks Nicole) I got some fantastic images, I hope you like Lauren! Thanks again for choosing me to shoot your senior session!!

2010-07-16T18:54:00.000-07:00

Finally a sneak peak for Jordan and Becky! I had a great time at Jordan and Becky's wedding. They had a beautiful day for a wedding. My favorite part of the wedding, was seeing how in love Becky and Jordan were. Every time they looked at each other they both just beamed! It was just so sweet. The reception was so much fun. They had dueling pianos for the entertainment. It was a great time, so many people were dancing. And the guys from Aces Wild Entertainment were awesome!! Joe and Nate, you are so incredibly talented! It was also fun to work with Paul and Pam Martin from Martin Video again. Becky, I have to say, your new husband sure can dance! Congratulations to the both of you. Thanks for letting me capture this special day for you, it was an honor.

Kyan...

2010-07-16T07:38:00.000-07:00

My first senior girl for the year. I just love, love, love doing senior sessions! They are so much fun! Kyan told me she didn't photograph well, whatever! lol I think I proved her wrong ;) We went all over and got some great pictures. We even shot into the dark. I broke out the off camera flash. I am new to this and they were extremely patient. When we got back to the Thelen's, Charlie was in the field and luckily hadn't taken down all the wheat. So we rush by him and started shooting before it got too dark. Thanks for choosing me to take your senior portraits Kyan!!

Cutest Kid Contest Winner....

2010-07-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

Dee Dee was the winner of the cutest kid contest!! So she is the lucky winner of an awesome package!! We went to the MSU gardens bright and early last week, but the heat was still terrible. But the kids still did great. Congrats on your win!

Hanses family...

2010-07-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

Another big Westphalia family picture! I am always nervous about taking a large families photo's but when everyone cooperates it goes quite fast. I love the picture of all the grandkids in and around the tree. I bet it seems like just yesterday that they were little, climbing that same tree! Thanks for asking me to photograph your beautiful family!

Will and Madeleine...

2010-07-07T12:06:00.000-07:00

Erica was a little worried that the kids wouldn't cooperate, but they did fantastic!! Will even said after about 5 minutes, "This is fun Mom!" Yeah!! That is just what I wanted to hear. We got some great pictures of the kids and I am all done editing them :) Erica and Brian...you have 2 beautiful kids, thanks for letting me have the honor of photographing them!

Happy Birthday Janet....

2010-07-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

Janet is a lucky Grandmother! For her birthday she is getting a portrait of herself with all of her beautiful grandchildren. And boy are they beautiful! Each of the kids are just gorgeous! I loved the outfits they choose with the jeans, white shirts bare feet, super casual and so cute. I hope every time you look at your portrait, you are reminded of how blessed you are. Happy birthday Janet!!

Kenny....

2010-07-03T17:58:00.000-07:00

It is that time of year again, the start of senior sessions! I think seniors are my absolute favorites. Kenny was my first senior of the year, with many more coming up. We took Kenny to St. Johns to do some urban shots then to the park. I tried to make it as quick and painless as I could. lol I am booking up quickly for senior sessions, if you are interested in booking do so as soon as possible!

Beach time....

2010-06-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

I love taking pictures on the beach! Unfortunately everyone in Michigan also thought the beach was the place to be Sunday night too! But we found a few quiet spots to get some shots of the kids. They did awesome. I was so impressed with how well they sat, when they really just wanted to be running and playing on the beach. Thanks Holly and Adam for giving me the honor of shooting your beautiful family! Next time I bet there will be one more little one in the shot :)

Addie and Will....

2010-06-18T19:25:00.000-07:00

We bumped up the session by a bit, because it was suppose to storm. The light was perfect, so I am glad we did. I will have to keep in mind to shoot before a storm again ;) I couldn't believe how good Addie and Will did for being only 2 and 3 (almost 4)!! They are both just the sweetest things. Thanks for letting me take your beautiful kiddo's pictures Katie and Jon!!

2010-06-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

This is what you get when you ask a 3 year old to open her eyes a little bit. lol

Clara and Ben.....{children portrait photographer}

2010-05-29T12:31:00.000-07:00

Clara and Ben were just as sweet as can be! Thanks for asking me to taking their portraits! I will have the rest available for viewing soon.

Spring 2010 Cutest Kid Contest!!

2010-05-26T10:53:00.000-07:00

Julie Martin Photography is hosting a Cutest Kid Contest! Beginning today May 26th 2010 you will be able to submit a photo of your cutest kid, and the winner will receive a free photo session with Julie Martin Photography, as well as 1 8x10, 2 5x7's, one set of 8 wallets, and 3 digital images to share of your choice. Here are the details:

TO ENTER

* One entry per child
* You must be the parent or legal guardian of the child you enter into the contest
* Child must be 17 years old or younger on the date of entry
* You must have permission/rights to use the photo you enter
* Photo must have been taken in the last 6 months
* Photos will be accepted from 12:01am May 27th, 2010 until 11:59pm Sunday May 30th, 2010 via e-mail- juliemartinphotography@live.com
* Only photos e-mailed to juliemartinphotography@live.com with the Subject line NLP CONTEST during the previosuly mentioned time will be accepted
* Include your child's name and age in the e-mail (first name and age will be posted for viewing), as well as your name and contact information
* Contest open to everyone, however if you live outside of a 30 mile radius from Westphalia, MI you must choose a location within 30 miles of Westphalia, MI for your prize shoot, or a travel fee will be charged of 85 cents per mile, each direction, beyond 30

HOW PHOTOS WILL BE JUDGED

* All entries will be uploaded into an album by Julie Martin Photography no later than Tuesday June 1st, on the facebook fan page
* To vote for a photo you MUST be a 'fan' (or under the new facebook system 'like') Julie Martin Photography
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Westphalia-MI/Julie-Martin-Photography/104348199811?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=100

* Click 'like' for the photo you are voting for in the Julie Martin Photography album labeled 'Spring 2010 Cutest Kid Contest'
* Photo with the most 'likes' will be the winner. Comments permitted, but WILL NOT count towards the total number of votes
* Julie Martin Photography will verify that all 'likes' of the winning photo come from Julie Martin Photography facebook fans, 'likes' from non-fans will not be counted
* Voting will close Friday June 11th 2010, 11:59pm
* Official winner will be notified and announced no later than Sunday, June 13th 2010

WHAT YOU WILL WIN

* The parent or legal guardian of the child in the photo that receives the most 'likes' will receive a free photo session with Julie Martin Photography, 1 8x10 photo, 2 5x7 photos, 1 set of 8 wallets, and 3 digital images, watermarked and resized for viewing on the internet (facebook, blogs, email etc - not to be printed, reproduced, or altered in any way)
* Photo session must be booked within 30 days of winning, and completed before August 31, 2010
* Prize retail value of $350 - can not be altered or changed in any way, and not redeemable for cash
* Additional prints will be available for purchase at retail prices listed at http://www.juliemartinphotographysite.com
* No other promotions or discounts can be applied

Please post any questions you have on this note, and I will be happy to answer them. I look forward to seeing your Cutest Kid entries! Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think might be interested in winning!

Brady.... newborn session

2010-05-19T11:46:00.001-07:00

I was a little nervous that Brady wouldn't sleep being he was already over two week old. We had to put off his session due to the fact that he had to have surgery just after he was born. But, he seems to be doing wonderfully now! And he sleeps like an angel, which I love :) Thanks for letting me capture your sweet little boys first days!

The Thelen Family.....

2010-05-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

I really had a great time taking pictures of Eric, Renee and the kids. The girls were just naturals in front of the camera. And Nolan...well, he is just adorable. He was too busy to pose, instead he kept peeking in the barn to see if there were tractors. :) Thanks for making my job so fun!

Ashley....

2010-05-11T08:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am a bit behind in my blogging so I have a few to post. This is Ashley, she got all decked out in her first communion cloths again for this photo shoot. I took her sister Emily's pictures last year and was honored to take Ashley's this year. What a beautiful little girl. Congratulations Ashley!

1st Communion....

2010-05-11T07:50:00.000-07:00

It is first communion time again, I was lucky enough to photograph the adorable Droste cousins. They all looked so great! Congratulations Taylor, Bailey and Brandon!

Allie and Weston....

2010-04-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

This was my favorite shoot yet! I love the urban shots. Allie and Weston were dressed so cute, so that just added to the urban look. They are my great niece and nephew. We had such a great time, Allie did fantastic! Weston did too, thanks to Kenzee buying him a bag of skittles :) If you would like to book a urban/pettiskirt shoot, give me a call! Thanks guys, love you!

2010-04-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Drostes.....

2010-04-24T18:15:00.000-07:00

It is that time a year again, I can finally start shooting pictures outside! Yeah!!
This was my first family session for the year. The Droste's were all getting together to celebrate and thought it was the perfect time for a family portrait. We also squeezed in a 1st communion session for Ellie. What a beautiful little girl. Thanks for choosing Julie Martin Photography to shoot your family session.

What to Wear Guides....

2010-03-19T10:26:00.000-07:00

I am often asked "What should we wear?" So I am going to post a few "What to Wear Guides" to give you an idea of outfits that will look awesome in your photos. Keep an eye on the blog, I will be adding more soon!

Ean...

2010-03-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to take pictures of this little sweetheart today. I wanted just to sit and hold him, the heck with the pictures! He is just so cute! He is only a few days old and his mom was so nice to bring him over so soon after getting out of the hospital just yesterday. Thanks for letting me cuddle with your little angel today.

Megan....

2010-03-16T18:10:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it has been a year since I took Megan's pictures! Megan just turned 3!! She is such a little sweetheart. The kids were all mad that they had to go to school when Megan was coming over. But I was a mean mom and made them go. lol It was great hanging out with Megan and Missy!

Brooklyn...

2010-03-13T13:33:00.000-08:00

Brooklyn is one!! Tracy picked out the cutest outfit for Brooklyn. Loved the cute spring dress and adorable little pettiskirt! Brooklyn did great, I know mom didn't think so. But she did! She just had places to go and things to see. :) Thanks for choosing Julie Martin Photography for your one year photo session!

Jackson and Ray...

2010-03-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

The Droste boys are just too cute! Ray wasn't quite as easy to photograph as Jackson, he just was interested in putting his hands in his mouth most of the time. :) But that is ok, he is adorable and can get away with that. As you can see Jackson has a love for baseball. He is just beautiful. Becky and Ted are going to have a hard time keeping the little girls away from that little cutie!

The Ward Kids....

2010-02-22T16:58:00.000-08:00

Do they get any cuter? Michaela, Hunter and Bryce did so great. Although Michaela lasted a little longer than the boys. :) We got some great shots!
Thanks for coming to me for you photos! I just love photographing sweet kids like these.

The Bengel Family....

2010-02-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I had the pleasure of taking pictures for the Bengel Family. We wanted to squeeze this session in so that we can have a family picture for the benefit. (see the post below) And they were so great about going outside in the 20 degree weather!
Although Trent did complain about it to Jackson in school the next day. lol I told Jackson to tell him "it's all about getting the shot". But Jackson just rolled his eyes at me. They are such a great family. I hope you can all make it to the benefit to show your support!

Trent...

2010-02-10T15:20:00.000-08:00

Many of you may know that our community has been working on a fundraising benefit for a 5th grader in our area named Trent Bengel, son of Randy and Terri (Boos) Bengel, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. This little guy and his family are in need of our support and our prayers. To help support his family financially through Trent’s many months of intense chemotherapy, our community is sponsoring a breakfast benefit on February 21st from 8 am to 1 pm at the St. Mary’s Hall in Westphalia. Please mark your calendars, and bring your family out to enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast. There will be a HUGE silent auction with many wonderful items to bid on, and several different raffles with a chance to win a picnic table, a wooden swing and a handmade quilt. In addition, the Catholic Order of Foresters will match the funds taken in for this event!

The committee will soon be sending out a list of all of the great items available for the silent auction. Please make plans to attend, and bid on some of your favorite auction items!

Thank you for your support and we look forward to seeing you there!

You may need to click on the poster to read it better.

Jack....

2010-02-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

What an adorable little boy! I took Jack's 6 month pictures. He was an angel the whole time, he didn't cry once! Look at those eyes!

Drew, Cory, and Riley....

2009-12-07T05:27:00.000-08:00

Here is a quick peek for you Sherri and Ryan...