Hillebrand Photography Blog

Happy 1st Birthday Sloane!

jhillebrand — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:24:45 +0000

It was a lovely, warm spring morning for Little Miss Sloane’s 1 year session. Tutus and pettiskirts abounded for this mostly serious-faced peanut. She reminds me of my own little one with her somber, calculating expressions. However, we did eventually find her smile trigger: “The Hot Dog Song” by Mickey Mouse. Google it. I promise it will stay in your head for several days. I had so much fun working with Sloane and her super cool mom, Michele. Enjoy a few of my favorites below and click the link at the end for more!

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected so please contact us or Michele if you’re interested in viewing.

Emily & Mac

jhillebrand — Mon, 06 May 2013 16:58:05 +0000

These two are awesome: laid-back, funny, lovers of nature. In addition to the outdoors, they love their dog Maggie, traveling, and staying active. Mac is the goofy chatterbox to Emily’s quiet, reservedness. Needless to say, it was really great photographing them on a gorgeous spring day! Emily and Mac: We’re so looking forward to your Detroit wedding this fall. I love the way your engagement session turned out and am excited for you to see these! Enjoy a few favorites below and click the link at the end for more!

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected so contact us or Emily if you’re interested in viewing.

Selah: 20 Months

jhillebrand — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:44:11 +0000

I’m a couple of months late on the year and a half session, but hey, I do the best I can. The weather is FINALLy shaping up around here and it was so lovely to photograph my darling daughter in the warm, spring sun. It’s hard to believe that she’s almost 2! Time is certainly flying by just like everyone says it does. As usual, Lil Miss lacks no good thing in the wardrobe department largely in part to one our wonderful clients who generously donates her amazing hand-me-downs and an incredibly talented grandma who can knit/sew/stitch/create just about anything under the sun! Pictured below is a darling dress that she made from one of Gabe’s old shirts (Pinterest idea) and yes! Legwarmers!! Lil Miss is a full fledged toddler now with all kinds of personality. She’s still our somber-faced girl for the most part, but every once in a while, you’ll get a big toothy smile, a kiss blown your way, or a wide-eyed “What’s that?!” Here are a few of my favorites:

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected, so contact us if you’re interested in viewing.

Introducing Madelyn Grace

jhillebrand — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:36:15 +0000

It was so great to work with some of my favorite past wedding clients again! Darcy and Ryan (who you may remember from our 2010 archives) are the proud new parents of one very adorable Madelyn Grace. We had so much fun hanging out in her adorable room which turned out to be a great little studio. Miss Maddie was pretty chill, sleepy and adorable with only a few angry outbursts (captured below) for milk and snuggles. This is the first of her Baby’s First Year sessions, so enjoy a few highlights below, click the link at the end for more, and stay tuned to watch little Maddie grow and change over this next year!

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected, so contact us or Darcy if you’re interested in viewing.

DIY Play Kitchen!

jhillebrand — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 21:00:13 +0000

We’re in the “calm before the storm” of wedding and portrait season. This means I get to blog some personal projects that I’ve been putting off for months! Like Lil Miss’s Christmas present: A DIY play kitchen! This was so.much.fun. I’m an avid DIY-er and when I saw this idea on Pinterest, I could not resist! Come hell or high water, I was going to make an entertainment-center-turned-play-kitchen. Of course, I couldn’t do this alone. Dear old dad, the usual innocent victim of my spontaneous DIY ideas, came along to help. (And let’s face it, there’s no way this thing would’ve happened without him!) After combing through page after online page of people who had gone before us in building a play kitchen, I had a plan and dad had the skills to make it happen. There were many late nights, sore backs, and red wine. It was all worth it because ta-daaaaaaaaaaa!!! We now have a pale turquoise, 1950s style kitchen complete with bead board backing, a “window” featuring a lake that I camped on when pregnant with baby girl, real vintage stove knobs that actually turn, a custom-made oven door that hinges open (still needs a rack inside), sink, faucet from another play kitchen, chalkboard and magnetic painted fridge and freezer (we will add more shelves as she gets bigger), and a sweet little pantry with a vintage glass knob. Look at how stinking cute this thing turned out to be:

A little before and after (excuse the junky before pic, it’s a screenshot from the ad on Craig’s List):

The work process went a little something like this:

So dang fun!!! Can’t wait for Lil Miss to grow into it a bit more. We have many tea party years ahead of us.

Natalie & Andrew

jhillebrand — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:13:30 +0000

It was so much fun hiking around in the snow with Natalie and Andrew, an adventurous pair who trusted me to take them into the woods during a blizzard. Both engineers and lovers of photography, Natalie and Andrew will be getting married this June. We’re really looking forward to their big day, which will hopefully be sunny and warm to contrast their snowy February engagement session! Enjoy just a few of our favorites below and click the link at the end for more!

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected, so please contact us or Natalie if you’re interested in viewing.

Scott & Cathy

jhillebrand — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:25:32 +0000

Our last wedding of 2012 was so.much.fun. Cathy and Scott, who you may remember from their engagement session, got married at the really cool, vintage-like Waldenwoods Resort. It reminded us of the camp in Dirty Dancing, so movie quotes were flying all day long. Designers by trade, no stone was left unturned in the details and decorations. There were so many highlights including: Cathy’s gorgeous dress, cage veil and bright yellow shoes, the groom’s awesome, custom tie, the amazing decor that tied in crowns (their last name is King), nature, old and new photographs, and retro-inspired pieces, the gorgeous setting and fall colors, the hilarious dance party with custom-made sweatbands for all, and the solid bond of love and friendship shared by our bride and groom. Scott and Cathy: Where do I even begin? You two have been such a joy to work with! Thank you so much for inviting us to document this incredible time in your lives. You are such awesome people and we know you have so many good times ahead!! Thank you so much for your patience and now, without further ado…we are excited to present your wedding photos!! Enjoy a few of our favorites below and click the link at the end for more!

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected, so please contact us or the Kings to view.

Mentor Sessions

jhillebrand — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:32:27 +0000

I get a lot of questions from people who have an SLR camera but have no idea how to use it. They just want to capture fun snapshots of their family but are frustrated because they can’t quite get their photos to turn out the way they’d like. This led me to the start of a new service: Mentor Sessions! One-on-one, personalized instruction for anyone who wants to improve their photography skills. I’ve just completed my first two sessions with Alison, a lovely mother of two. We spent the first session learning some new shooting and camera techniques. On the second session, she brought her adorable 9 month old son and I coached her as she photographed him. We had so much fun and I’ve really enjoyed mentoring her. She’s picked up a few new tricks and is becoming much happier with her work as a result!

Here’s one of Alison’s amazing images from today’s session:

“My first session with Jennifer was great! She immediately addressed some issues I was having with my camera and gave me a bunch of practical tips and tricks to start using at home to get better photos. She also looked over some of my images and gave me valuable feedback about what’s working and what isn’t. I’d been hoping to find a local photographer who offers private lessons and I’m so glad I took advantage of this opportunity. Mentor Sessions with Jennifer are definitely worth the time and expense if you are looking to improve your photography skills!”

To set up a mentor session or to purchase one as a gift for someone, email me: foto@hillebrandphotography.com or call: 248-515-3731.

I’d love to have the opportunity to work with you!

Laurie & Kevin

jhillebrand — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:21:18 +0000

If I were to use one word to describe Laurie and Kevin’s wedding it would be: EPIC. The whole day was full of bigness: the stunning Tam O’ Shanter Country Club, the incredible silk Pronovias dress, the love and sacredness of family, the RAIN, the first look, the symbolic ceremony, the unbelievable flowers by Breath of Spring and linens by Affairs to Remember, the superbly yummy cake by Josef’s Pastries, the wonderful planning team Party Assurance, and last but certainly not least, the party. The music and dancing literally did.not.stop. Thanks to the amazing band, Persuasion, everyone was on the dance floor the entire night. (Seriousy, everyone.) There was so much joy, so much life, it was such a honor to be there to witness it all! Laurie and Kevin: Thank you. Thank you for inviting us to document this monumental day in your lives. We had so much fun shooting our first Jewish wedding and can’t wait to do more! We have so many favorites from your day. Enjoy just a few of them below and click the link at the end for more!

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected so please contact us or Laurie if you’re interested in viewing.

Grace & Jim

jhillebrand — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 23:01:17 +0000

It was a perfectly sunny fall day for Grace and Jim’s big day, who you may remember from their engagement session a while back. There were so many highlights including Grace looking beyond breathtakingly beautiful, a dapper and laid-back Jim, the gorgeous forest and fall colors, the beautiful invitations and event details by Wei’s Open Secret, the sun setting perfectly behind the altar at the ceremony, the incredible Inn at St. John’s and Northville Hills, the classy jazz band, and the overall tone and flow of the day. Grace and Jim: Thank you so much for inviting us to take part in your stunning wedding! We had so much fun working with both of you and absolutely love your photos!! Enjoy a few of our favorites below and click the link at the end for more!

To link to the full gallery, click here!! It’s password protected so please contact us or Grace if you’re interested in viewing.