Yesterday marked SIXTEEN years of Terri Gillis Photography. I love celebrating this anniversary of the day I took a leap of faith.  I had a toddler on my hip as I walked accross the Calder Stage area  to the county building to register my business with a skip in my step and a dream in my heart.  To everyone else it’s just an ordinary day but that day put me on a journey I couldn’t have every even dreamed of.  I am such a sentimental person so celebrating this anniversary, even if it’s only me celebrating, is not something I overlook or take lightly.

These 16 years have required A LOT of learning and exploring and just good old-fashioned work.  Snapping pictures is fun but this is a business and for it to be successful it required me to invest my heart and soul.  The return on that has been so much more than a paycheck.  I’ve traveled near and far and had the opportunity to learn from some absolutely amazing photographers including Michelle Celentano, Jasmine Star, Susan Stripling, Laura Brett and my absolute favorite…. Anne Geddes.  I’ve been to Hawaii (HAWAII!!!! If I didn’t have the images to prove it I wouldn’t beleive it myself!).  I’ve witnessed births and the miracle of that first breath…… I’ve also had the opportunity to photograph some people who knew it would be their last photos ever and would pass on shortly thereafter and the joy that would come with having those photos.  I’ve watched kids grow up, I’ve photographed over 300 (THREE HUNDRED!!) weddings.  Those weddings have become the foundation of my business as I’ve gone on to photograph many famlies as they’ve grown. ( It’s amazing!!)  I’ve learned so much about computers & graphic design and it has really become a huge love of mine.  I never learned to speak another launguage but I’m fluent in Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and THAT is something.  I’ve cut back significantly on weddings.  I still take them, I just don’t push for them.  After working weekends all summer long for 15 years I felt like I was ready to step back from that.  I love having summer weekends off with my husband. To fill in that gap I take a lot of design work now and I really REALLY enjoy it.  Designing cards, books, albums has always been part of my routine but in the last year I’ve added logos, invitaiton, a little bit of web design, marketing materials….. and I even do a little bit of business consulting and have helped a few people launch their own businesses!

So after 16 years, I can tell you this…. I am so grateful for every single opportunity that has been put in front of me. For every face that has graced my camera and my life.  Grateful for every session, wedding, child, project that I have been entrusted with.  Grateful for every mile I’ve driven, every click of my shutter, every day that I’ve had to throw a camera bag or a briefcase over my shoulder and head out the door.  It has been an amazing journey and I’m thankful to call it mine.

For the free download of my design above just click HERE!  ENJOY!!

CHEERS TO A SWEET 16 YEARS!

I met with them last winter to discuss their big day and they brought along Jared’s brother, Caleb, who also has a passion for photography.  Caleb asked me a very specific question “How will you capture their personalities?’  I consider wedding photography to revolve around beauty and romance, not so much about “personalities”.  I want to deliver beautiful images to my clients that will tell the story of their wedding day and have images to convey the deep love that brought them to that day. However…. after shooting Jared & Lauren’s engagement session and getting a glimpse of their sparkling personalities I understood what Caleb was asking.  And the truth is, they are not capable of hiding their personalities!!  The unapologetically like to have fun/be fun.  It’s who they are;  you couldn’t hide it if you wanted to.  When I say fun I don’t mean obnoxious! They’re very sweet and caring and are just overflowing with some good old-fashioned JOY.  It’s been nothing but a delight getting to know them during this very special time in their life.

Congratulations Jared & Laured – I wish you a lifetime of joy!

I heard Stephen Curtis Chapman talking on the radio today about being married for 33 years and the realization that marriage isn’t about having it figured out, it’s about being there day after day….season after season.  No matter what season you take you vows, a new marriage is most definitely like spring…. a new season,  a new beginning, a new blossom of life.  The seasons will change and will require you to adjust, refocus, let go, hold on tighter, fight, give in, apogogize, accept an apology,  wait, hope, be still, and you will do A LOT of shoveling (both literally and figurtively if you live in Michigan) in your lifetime.  You’ll navigate, negotiate, clear, reorganize,  making room for more, getting rid of excesss, you’ll trim, tighten, water, fertilize….. and harvest.  Spring becomes summer; summer becomes fall; fall becomes winter, the young become old, my computer runs slower, my body becomes weaker….but I take comfort.   We don’t want to become “bored” so we must embrace and enjoy the change.  I’m thankful for the winter, because even though it can be cold and dark, the beauty of it is still there if you look for it. (Be. Still.)  Although I am hopeful and READY for spring and warmer days let us never lose sight of the season we’re in, what we’ve been brought through, lessons we’ve learned and what we have to forward to.

The truth is that I’ve had this phone call on more than one occassion and it leaves me shaking my head.   There are MANY wonderful photographers out there, but there are also some others that really need to get a little more practice under their belt.  If your budget is that tight I guess it might be worth the gamble (maybe?).   I serously don’t know a single woman who hasn’t thought (fantasized, hoped, dreamed, wished, obsessed) a few times about her wedding day; I never understand why this is the corner they choose to cut.    This bride did have a decent budget and she had room in it to afford a photographer yet underestimated how she would feel if the photos didn’t turn out.

So how do you choose?

1.)Are you really willing to risk how you will remember this day? This is your one wedding day.  At the end of the day you’ll walk away with your man, your wedding rings and hopefully some fantastic reminders of the day.  Meet with an experienced pro.

2.)Ask your recently married friends who they hired and ask to look through ALL of their images, their album or anything their photographer provided them with.  Inquire about how long it took, what they got, how they felt and how the day went with the photographer?

3.)Does your photographer have or need a plan? I personally can work off of a list of photos but I prefer not to.  About 2 weeks before the wedding I offer them a detailed itenerary of who I will need when/where and give them an opportunity to review it and fine tune it if we have to.  There is no guessing on who will go next, I never (ever) ask…. “Now what should we do?”…

4.)When you meet with your photographer they should offer you a variety of their work to look at and touch. Not just an iPad, computer or wall display.    Prior to the meeting you should have looked through their website, blog, facebook and try to see if their photos have the look that your photos want.  Look carefully at the printed materials (albums, prints, etc.). The look should be consistant.  Colors should be consistant, posing consistant, images are focused. It’s a REALLY good thing if you look through their photos and feel like the photos all look similar, that means that they have a defined style and your photos will fall into this style.   If you look at their photos and like them but feel like you want a different look don’t expect that photographer to stray from their style, just look for th photographer who offers the look you’re going for.  If you asked me to change something about my style I would be baffled… How much would be too much, or not enough??

5.) Inquire about their experience.  How many weddings have they photographed? How do they feel about weddings? Experienced wedding photographers have done this MANY times and weddings don’t make us nervous. The drill is pretty much the same at every wedding with a different details, weather, location and one sweet couple at the first day of their life.  We have planned for your day as you have and will get the job done confidently and efficiently.

6.) What package do I need? What do I buy?  What do you want to do with your photos? Do you really want to pay for a full day of coverage for a photographer, details, portraits, ceremony, reception, if you only plan to have a handful of 5×7’s and 8×10’s printed for your house and your family?  If that’s all you inted to do with your photos, just purchase some coverage for family photos & skip all the rest.  If you truly want the whole day documented get an album to tell the story.  Albums are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and priced to accommodate all budgets.  I’ve never heard of a couple who regretted purchasing an  album.

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If you’re looking for a wedding photographer I would love to meet with you and hear about the details of your day.

All of my collections include coverage, digital files, an online gallery and an engagement session to take place in the Greater Grand Rapids area.  Images will be ready for viewing within 3 weeks of your wedding.

I’ve officially been a photographer for 14 years, have  photographed over 250 weddings in West Michigan; I’ve traveled for clients weddings as far as Florida and Hawaii.  I also have a beautiful studio that is 3 years old and is located in downtown Rockford.

I have won awards, contests and magazine covers with my photography but  true success is defined through wedding couples returning to me again and again.  It’s a total blast to see them and continue to make memories with their families.

I describe my style as clean and vibrant.  I use Photoshop mostly for cleaning with a little creative tweak hear and there. Most of the images look pretty much just like this straight out of the camera.

I don’t believe in bridezilla…. I believe in passionate women; especially since I’m one of them.  I love weddings.

I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Steve for 21 years.  I love being married and hope you will too!

Please enjoy this  collection of my work.  You can also look through my archives for even more.

Enjoy!!

Last weekend we had our family Christmas party and this is my beautiful cousin Karrie and her fiance Justin.  I seriously called them as they were driving in from Illinois and said…. “I’ll probably just try and take a few photos of you two today just, just for fun!”  (How do you like that, no warning whatsoever! )   When I left my house in Rockford it was sunshine, blue skies and zero snow.  But when we arrived out in Holland it was positively a  winter wonderland.  So as the afternoon went on I saw the snow lighten up a little and told them to fetch their coats and out we went…..and this is what we got, in about 15 minutes.  Glorious…. couldn’t have even dreamed or wished for it.  If I had hoped or planned for this it wouldn’t have been…. it was so perfect I could cry.  I don’ t think we spend more than 15 minutes outside (Brrrrr…..) but these sweet photos warm my heart.

I love the song the Simple things by Jim Brickman and I keep thinking of that as I look through these images….

Hey, time won’t wait, life goes by
Every day’s a brand new sky
Every tear comes to dry
All that really matters in this crazy world
Is you and I together baby, just remember

The first leaves off the tree, the way you look at me
A thousand chiming church bells ring, the simple things are free
The sun, the moon, the stars, the beating of two hearts
How I love the simple things, the simple things just are….

Karrie & Justin –  Congratulations on your engagement – SO incredibly happy for you both!

XO!!!

Shout out to the AMAZING vendors!

–Modern Day Floral – Every arrangement is a work of art.  So beautiful.

-Thomas S. Fox Jeweler – Stunning.

-Bistro Chloe Elan – If you’ve never had “Duck Fat Fries” add it to your bucket list….. DELICIOUS.

-Connie’s Cakes – So pretty!

-KT Sweets –  They tasted as good as they looked!

-Music Host Entertainment – If I could require every single one of my brides to book Rick Reuther I would.  He sings like Frank Sinatra. (I’m his #1 fan) and keeps your guests entertained unlike any other DJ I’ve ever met.  I could go on and on… seriously.

It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I’m all the way the back where I come from
It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I’m all the way back where I belong”

Sophia walked down the aisle in front of the Lowell Showboat to the song”Feels like Home”.  I love that song and have listened to it so many times since I first discovered it years ago. Sophias grandfather build the showboat many years ago and last winter Zach proposed to her right in front of it. This very spot is intrically woven into their love story.  This would beocme such a significant part of their story put into motion the minute the idea to build was put into motion.  I suspect they have and will visit this place many times throughout their lives.  It will forever be a reminder of this day, they will never again see it or just pass by it without recalling all sort of details of this beautiful day.

Tomorrow Mr. Gillis and I will celebrate 21 years of wedded bliss!   I’ve learned  that my home is so much more than my address, dwelling place or habitat.  It’s my refuge, the place I’m drawn to in the center of my heart, its the place where I’m secure and happy.  It’s comfortable, it’s settling, it’s the place to breathe and rest; it has nothing to do with an address and everything to do with my husband.  As we journey through life there are jobs to be done, bills to pay, kids to feed,  laundry, laundry and more laundry; honestly some days I mentally quit, I check out and start considering how I will get away….I’m not kidding!! It’s tough!!   But then the other day were were out shopping; I went my way he went his and we were split up for a little longer than I had planned.  I started to look for him only to see him accross the store;  smiling as he came toward me.  I notice this feeling of immediately being at ease just because he was there.  21 years and he is still the center of my heart, my dwelling place is with my hand inside of his and when I’m with him even being at Kohl’s can feel like home.

Congratulations to Zach & Sophia,  I hope your celebration of your wedding lasts the rest of your life!  XO!!

**Reception at Noto’s Old World Italian – FABULOUS!!

Ross and Kailee chose to have their photos taken after their wedding but I couldn’t resist offering them the opportunity to be photographed together without actually seeing eachother…..SO. ADORABLE.  It’s such a sweet moment!!  Every couple is the same…. a bride so worried he might peek and both are almost at a loss of words and yet always ask eachother the same thing…… “Are you ready?”  and it just makes me laugh because as you can see by the photo they have both CLEARLY spent some time getting ready for this day they’ve only dreamed of until now.  I’ll let the photos tell the rest of the story….

I loved this weddding….. Life. Is. Good.

Shout out to the amazing Shelly Johnson, her floral design is always gorgeous and to Holiday Inn staff in Spring lake, they did a fabulous job.

So fun to participate in this special day – Best wishes for the newlyweds!!!