07.06.10
Ann Arbor is one of my favourite cities to visit when we just want to get out of Toledo, walk about, eat good food, shop & explore.  Elyse & Billy are what I think of as a quintessential Ann Arbor couple: chill, great style, lighthearted, fun, & intellectual.  They met at the University of Michigan and have been together for several years since, living apart most of that time, doing the long distance thang.  Elyse recently posted this on Facebook (and I hope she doesn't mind me re-posting it): "Love is---Billy (in MI) calling in my order for take-out Vietnamese (in MN) so it would be ready for me to pick up on my way home from work".  I'm sure it's little things like that, which make living apart from the one you love bearable... little acts of consideration & going out of your way, doing what you can from afar that you can't do in person.  They hadn't seen each other in two months when we did their portraits, which made it that much more of a special couple of hours, almost sacred time :)


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Gregg Hart says:

love it, Mary! great lookin' couple. and you show them off well.

Mom & Dad Love says:

Mary ~ You've captured the essence of our son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law so purely! They are both treasures to behold and their love beams brightly!!!

06.24.10
So I had this idea for a shoot. 
It started when I first met Ruthie & Matt, we talked about our mutual, deep appreciation for filmmaker Wes Anderson :)  If you "get" his movies, appreciate the meticulous detail put into every frame of his flicks, then we're friends.  You're rad in my book.  This idea I had, they were both totally down for it and it's one of my favourite shoots to date.  I felt like all the planets were aligned for this one.  The light was ridiculously yummy.  We had some blue in the sky... and permission to shoot at this bomb location that pulled everything together.  Ruthie & Matt were completely open for any idea I threw at them, they're both free spirits.
Luckily, I don't have to wait too long to hang out with this rad couple again, they're getting hitched July 3rd :) 
P.S. their album is the best way to enjoy this shoot [click here]




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joshua says:

love. it.

beautiful work!

jordan says:

Wow fun! I think this is my favorite shoot of yours: )

kim says:

What a fun couple! You captured their love for one another perfectly. They're the best.

kim says:

Can't wait to see the wedding pictures...give me a sneek peek:)

06.21.10
When I heard the news of Julie & Lee's engagement through my former assistant-extraordinaire, Abby, I immediately hoped that they would contact me for their wedding photography.  They have great style and are all about having the fun level bumped up to 11 at all times... Not to mention, they have a tandem bike and live in Tremont, a rad historic district in Cleveland, which just so happens to have murals on random walls & garages by one of my favourite artists, Scott Radke.  You're probably wondering if they ever did commission me to shoot their big day... yes, indeed they did... below are their engagement photos :)  


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Gregg Hart says:

just gorgeous, mary...as always! last one is rad.

Nicole says:

Love love love the pics. You truly captured Julie and Lee -- a feat not easily accomplished!!! I had to search out your site -- kudos to the photographer, and the fabulous couple!

Laura Ebright says:

Love, Love, Love the pictures! Julie, your blue eyes pop out of the photos!!!

Auntie Jill says:

These pictures of Lee and Julie are absolutely amazing!You can actually feel the love between the two of them,it is captured in their expressions, and their every "movement".They are a beautiful couple couple, and definitely a match made in heaven.You can feel their emotions in every photo.

Connie Sanderson says:

I love the pictures of Lee and Julie - I probably am prejudice, but I think Julie looks BEAUTIFUL in these pictures and Lee looks very HANDSOME!!! Their for each other is shining through on each picture!! You take great pictures!

AbbyTroxell says:

THESE ARE BADASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Abby to Mary- "Julie and Lee are engaged.... You HAVE to be their photog! The pictures will be amazing..." AHHHHH These make me soooooo super happy! And also makes me miss Jules and Lee! Can't wait til October!

Diane Thorn says:

These are BEAUTIFUL! That word doesn't even describe them. I love them!

Kathy Moench says:

Julie and Lee, Your eyes say it all!!! Much happiness to you both!!
Love your photos.
(Yes Julie, Your Mom gave me the link)!! LOLove, Kathy Moench

Jen McIntire says:

LOVEEEEE THEM!!

Kelly Yakumithis says:

I love them!!! you look like you had so much fun!! I especially love the skkiiiirrrt :)

ferjuaristi says:

love this series girl, awesome framing!

06.14.10
Jessie & Mike are a super chill couple, which I totally didn't expect.  They're both in the Marines, so I thought they would have been super serious and shun my quirky suggestions... but they were the complete opposite!  I had a blast running around downtown Perrysburg with them, exploring back alleys & running around through a mosquito ridden field.  Their wedding in October is one I'm really looking forward to!  

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katy gray says:

They are adorable - she has the most beautiful smile!

mom says:

These are some of the most fun, unique and engaging couples photos I have had the pleasure of viewing. I am really looking foward to seeimg what the Wedding photos will be like!

Brigitte Smallwood says:

Very cute pics!!! I can't wait to be a part of the festivities in October.

Maile says:

What awesome pics! Not only are the people in them hot, they are done with such creativity!!!!

06.07.10
My month of travelling has finally come to an end and I'm stoked to have made Los Angeles my last stop!  I travelled to LA for Bre & Eric's engagement shoot and had an absolute blast.  

We traveled from Santa Monica up the PCH to Ventura, where the couple had met, and Eric had lived for a few years.  I got the drive-by kind of tour that I totally appreciated: "this is Moonshadows where Mel Gibson got drunk before getting his DUI", "Neptune's Net where Point Break was filmed", "David Duchovny's house"... all the Malibu pop culture tidbits I could ask for ;) An hour or so later we arrived in Ventura.  Ventura has this Beach Boys' kind of California vibe going... good surfing, yummy cheap food, limey authentic margaritas (not those syrupy sweet kind) and a great community of people (except for some riff-raff ;) ha!).  Bre & Eric are all about fun, good vibes and Ventura is their element.

They'll be getting married here in Toledo in the fall, where Eric is originally from(ish), and I'm super pumped for their big day!  I know it will be one big party and I'll forget that I'm actually working. :)

p.s. feel free to take a peek at their badass guest book here!




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Britt Lakin says:

These are great!

arenda says:

aw, super cute photos - love the one w/ the forehead kiss, and the one of their sandy hands! :)