Jim Shields Photography BLOG

Jim Shields Photography BLOG is Moving

2008-08-19T11:38:00.005-04:00

After more than a year with my current blog, I've decided to switch it up again and make some changes so I can show larger images and make it easier for people to leave comments. My NEW blog is located at www.jimshieldsphoto.net. For those of you with slideshows and pictures on the old site, you will still be able to access them in the future as nothing is being erased... I'm just not going to be using it any longer. There will be a link to this blog on my new site under "Blogroll" at the top of the page.

I hope you like the change. During the first few posts, I'll be determining how best to showcase my pictures with borders, logos etc., but hopefully I'll get that finished up quickly. A big "thank you" to everyone who keeps up with me this way. It's lots of fun, and I'm looking forward to blogging even more now. Take care and I will see you over at my new blog!

Norah Grace

2008-08-17T14:42:00.006-04:00

Guess who stopped over for a visit at our house on Sunday? Our little granddaughter, Norah Grace. Isn't she just the cutest little girl you've ever seen! It was an off weekend for me so we had a chance to visit my Dad (who I haven't seen since the start of the wedding season), and I am starting to get caught up with my editing. My next wedding is this coming weekend and I should be in good shape by then.

I'm also hoping that by next week I will have my new blog up and running. I'm looking forward to some changes, and I hope you will see them soon.

Laurie & Jeff

2008-08-11T21:37:00.007-04:00

Last Tuesday we met up with Laurie and Jeff to discuss the final details of their wedding on August 23, 2008. Afterwards, we drove over to Blossom Heath and got a few images of the two of them - just so I can see how they will react to my camera. They did great and I'm looking forward to their wedding which will be at St. Josaphat in downtown Detroit. Here are a few images from the trip to Blossom Heath.

The Wedding of Katie and Brad

2008-08-11T10:53:00.016-04:00

On August 2, 2008, I shot the wedding of Katie and Brad at the Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church in Livonia, MI; the reception was at St. Mary's Cultural Center in Livonia. This is actually the very first time it has taken me over a week to get a slide-show posted. Sorry about that, Katie and Brad. It has been a very busy few weeks with back-to-back weddings. I guess that's a good problem to have these days, but I really don't like getting so far behind.

Katie and Brad were a lot of fun to work with - along with their families. One of the highlights of the evening was when Brad and his father jumped up on stage and played with the band, Trilogy. They are both very musically inclined and the show was great. This is the second time I have worked with Trilogy, and I think they are the best band in town for any wedding.

Congratulations, Brad and Katie. Best of luck to you both in your new life together. Here is the slide-show... enjoy!

The Wedding of Heather and Lonnie

2008-08-06T15:59:00.004-04:00

On Friday, I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of Heather and Lonnie at The Silver Garden in Southfield. Since I was never a member of a fraternity, I had no idea how close the bond was between frat brothers. However, this wedding helped me understand that a little more. The guys were like family and, boy! could they dance. Some of the songs I recognized, but had never seen the dances that went along with them until Friday night. This wedding definitely wins the "dancing award". Everyone was great to work with - which always makes my job so much easier. Congratulations, Heather and Lonnie. Best of luck to you both!

Ice Dreams Sculptures, LLC

2008-07-31T20:22:00.007-04:00

On Saturday, I had the privilege of shooting a wedding at the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester, MI, (see previous post) and was blown away by the exquisite ice sculptures at this event. It didn't surprise me to find out they were done by Tajana Rauker from Plymouth, MI, where she has a large business with her husband, Paul.

You see... my fascination with ice sculptures comes from my son, Jim Jr., who won the National Collegiate Ice Carving title in 2002 with his teammate Dave Stadler. Both Jim and Dave were coached by Chef Jeff Wolf from Macomb Community College during their education in the culinary arts field.

I have been watching Tajana at all of these events win competition after competition. In a conversation with Tajana on Saturday night, she gave all of the credit for her ice carving skills to her instructor, Chef Dan Hugelier - who happens to be the father-in-law of my other son, John. Dan is a Master Chef who runs the culinary arts program at Schoolcraft College. I would say that Tajana has accomplished quite a bit in her short time as a professional. To see her web site, click HERE. Following is a short slide show of the ice at this wedding.

The Wedding of Paola & Neal, Day 2 of 2

2008-07-30T22:33:00.003-04:00

Let me start this off by saying I believe this was the fairytale wedding most brides would love to have. The wedding was held at Divine Child Church, Dearborn, and then it was off to the Royal Park Hotel in Rochester for the reception.

Neal & Paola were the nicest couple, along with both of their families, to work with. I can only say good things about my whole experience with this wedding. From the families, to the other vendors I worked with - everything was a great experience all the way around.

The entertainment was provided by Sachin Gupta for both days. The video was provided by Mark from Video Magic Productions, decorations were by Bombay Video Productions, cake was provided by Daniel from "Flower to Flour", and the incredible ice sculptures were provided by Tajana and Paul Rauker from Ice Dreams Sculptures, LLC. The ice sculptures for this wedding were so incredible I will be posting a separate slide show soon of just the ice.

The Wedding of Paola & Neal, Day 1 of 2

2008-07-28T23:01:00.004-04:00

On Friday, I had the privilege of photographing the wedding ceremony of Paola & Neal. After the ceremony, their guests were invited aboard the luxury yacht "Ovation" for a very nice dinner and cruise down the river. This was an event I will remember for a long time and I had a very nice time working with them both. Thanks to Paola & Neal, and both of their families, for being so gracious to me.

Stay tuned for the Saturday celebration of Paola & Neal. This was a party you won't want to miss!

Emaleigh "Emma" Rose

2008-07-22T20:58:00.004-04:00

Tonight we had a special visitor at our house, little Emaleigh, or "Emma". She was born on June 26th to someone very special to our family. She weighed in at a whopping 6 lbs. 10 ozs. and was 20 inches long. What a cutie pie she is.

The Wedding of Lindsay and Scott

2008-07-22T00:04:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, I had the privilege of photographing the wedding of Lindsay and Scott. They were married at the beautiful St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Utica, MI. From there, we went back to the home of Lindsay's Mom for a few pictures, then off to the new George George Memorial Park for more photos before heading to Zuccaro's Banquet Hall for the reception.

The entertainment was provided by Solid Gold Sound, and Don Wheaton did a good job a keeping things moving. The videography was provided by Scott Archibald from William Scott Wedding Videography.

Lindsay and Scott will be heading off to Europe to live in Luxembourg, Luxembourg, where Scott currently teaches. Good luck to you both! Congratulations.

Jenny & Steve

2008-07-18T12:48:00.007-04:00

Jenny and Steve will be getting married this September, so off we went to the U of M Dearborn campus to take some pictures. It turned out be a great location - as long as we stayed out of the mosquito-infested areas. It was also a little hot... okay, maybe a lot hot, but when I work, I don't even notice. I just sweat a lot.

Jenny and Steve were one of my easiest couples to photograph. It all seemed to come natural to them. There wasn't a whole lot of directing on my part. I just told them where to go and they did the rest. If this session is any indication of the wedding day, my job will be very easy and lots of fun. Enjoy!

Leah is One Year Old!

2008-07-16T21:53:00.010-04:00

We finally wrapped up our one year of shooting my cutest little model, Leah. She was a lot of fun to work with and to see her personality develop and come out each month. I hope to do a post within the next few weeks of Leah's first year by-the-month. Leah didn't really dig too deeply into the cake, but boy! did she mess up her mom. Heather wasn't really prepared with a change of clothes for herself - just Leah. Good thing Kevin showed up so she could wear his tee shirt home. Leah finished up in the bathtub so she would be all clean and ready for bed when she got home. Hope that sugar doesn't keep her up! Ha-ha.

The Wedding of Melissa and Paul

2008-07-14T16:14:00.006-04:00

On Saturday, Melissa and Paul were married at our church, St. John Lutheran, in Fraser, MI. What a beautiful wedding ceremony and a fun reception for everyone present. Melissa will be greatly missed as the 5th grade teacher at St. John Lutheran School. She will move out of state with Paul - who will be serving his vicarage at a parish in Wisconsin.

The entertainment was provided by Ben "Big Ben" Yowell from Elite Entertainment. Ben did a fantastic job of keeping this party going 'til late into the evening.

Best of luck to Melissa and Paul for a very bright future together. We will miss you!

PS: This show moves very fast, but you can view the photos individually once it is over by clicking on the pictures one-at-a-time.

THe Wedding Rehearsal of Melissa & Paul

2008-07-11T23:46:00.003-04:00

Tonight I tagged along with Melissa and Paul to their rehearsal and then on to CJ Barrymore's for a little play time. Tomorrow I will be at Melissa's hair salon at 10:00AM so I better get to bed since it's midnight. Watch for Melissa and Paul's slideshow coming soon!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-07T15:55:00.008-04:00

This year, our annual 4th of July get-together at Canadian Lakes was a little different. There were some new participants, including a couple dogs, Rosebud and Casey, and our granddaughter, Norah. We certainly had some great weather and everyone had a wonderful time. Thanks again, Doug and Kathy, for putting up with us all.

Heather & Lonnie

2008-07-01T23:50:00.005-04:00

Heather and Lonnie will be getting married in August of this year at the Silver Garden of Southfield. After our wedding on Saturday night, Deb & I drove to Ypsilanti to meet up with Heather and Lonnie and their two dogs, Phoenix and Brewer, to get some pictures. Apparently the dogs were quite tuckered out, so Lonnie's mom came and picked them up before we actually got started. I did manage to get a few shots of the dogs beforehand, so you could at least see them. Phoenix is a bulldog who has difficulty breathing with his squished-in nose (as you can see in the picture). I'm really looking forward to working with Heather and Lonnie for their big day.

The Wedding of Cullen and Jen

2008-07-01T03:09:00.005-04:00

On Saturday, I had the privilege of photographing an extravagant event in Brighton, Michigan - the wedding of Jen & Cullen. This was quite a wedding held on the grounds at the home of Jen's parents on Beach Lake in Brighton. What a beautiful location for an outdoor wedding. Even though there were threats (60-70% chance) of rain, all the details were covered... just in case. I'm happy to report, however, that there was no rain in sight. I'm sure there were some anxious people thinking that the rain could make things messy, but it didn't happen and everyone stayed dry - except for some who went swimming later in the evening. The entertainment was provided by Andrew Neer from Mike Staff Productions. Andrew did a good job of keeping people on the dance floor (when they weren't down by the lake). Congratulations Jen & Cullen! Best of luck to you both!

Olivia and Bart

2008-06-27T14:09:00.006-04:00

Olivia and Bart will be getting married in August of this year, and we met in downtown Birmingham on Wednesday night to get a few pictures. If you recall, the weather was pretty nasty that evening and we struggled to find cover to take a few shots while the rain fell. Then after a while, the sun (and humidity) came out and we were able to complete our task. I guess if you don't like the weather in Michigan, you can always wait five minutes to see if it will change..it often times will. I'm looking forward to Olivia and Bart's big day. Their wedding reception will be at the beautiful Henry Ford Lovett Hall in Dearborn.

Vacation 2008

2008-06-24T10:26:00.005-04:00

Our vacation has come and gone, and it sure went by fast. This year, my wife's family went on a cruise together to the Western Carribean on the Carnival Legend for seven days to celebrate the graduation of our niece, Elizabeth. Liz finished up her bachelor's degree at Wayne State University and is now on to Medical School at WSU where she has received another four year free ride! Her first four years were covered after she graduated from high school at the top of her class as Valedictorian. Great job, Liz! Keep up the good work. We love you!

The vacation was sure a lot of fun, but now it's back to reality as we get to work.

Leah is Eleven Months Old!

2008-06-14T16:11:00.006-04:00

I think I should have chosen "The Many Faces of Leah" for all these monthly posts of our "My First Year" model. She is getting so big, and now she is walking - which makes it all the more fun to try and get her to sit still for at least two seconds to get a shot. That's the great part of my job... kids are so much fun.

Next month is the big "One Year" shoot - which should be both exciting and messy as we let her dive into her birthday cake. Stay tuned to see that one next month. Right now, I am preparing to go on vacation and needed to get these pictures posted so the grandparents wouldn't get too mad at me. Hope you enjoy them! See you when I get back.

PS: Thanks for the bird food, Heather! I still owe you.

The Wedding of John and Stefanie

2008-06-10T01:39:00.007-04:00

On Saturday, I had the privilege of photographing the wedding of John and Stefanie at "Our Lady of Good Counsel" in Plymouth, Michigan. I believe that if you look up "GREAT PEOPLE" in the dictionary, you will find "John and Stefanie" as the definition. They were so much fun to work with capturing their memories of the day. The images in the slideshow below will show you just how much fun we had.

My son, John, also assisted me with this wedding. John is turning out to be more than just an assistant as he is pretty good with the camera, too, so I give him freedom to shoot as well.

The live entertainment was provided by Lou Brohl, Angela Cauchi, Dave Okonoski, Lisa Ann Roth, Mike Roth and Charlie Tazzia. Later on, the entertainment switched over to the DJ by "In Play Productions". Marc and Jim did a great job keeping the crowd on their feet all night.

Best of luck to John and Stefanie for their future together!

Detroit Red Wing Stanley Cup Victory Parade-2008

2008-06-06T23:06:00.004-04:00

As promised, here are a few images from the parade downtown today. It was a hot one, but it didn't stop the people from coming out and supporting their Red Wings. The Stanley Cup is back home where it belongs...in Hockeytown!

The Stanley Cup is Back in Hockeytown!

2008-06-05T08:31:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to our Detroit Red Wings who won the Stanley Cup on Wednesday night! It has been a little while since we have seen the cup in Detroit, but it is finally coming back to where it belongs.

I have family in Pennsylvania....well...sorry about that. Maybe another year, but not this one.

PS: Our Detroit Red Wings victory parade will be held in downtown Detroit on Friday, so keep an eye here to see pictures from that event. They called me last night to see if I was available for a parade on Friday, and I said yes! Ha-ha! Good thing my wedding this weekend is on Saturday.

Norah Grace

2008-06-02T20:01:00.006-04:00

For those of you just checking out my blog, I explain along the right side that my blog is for personal, as well as professional, use. I want my clients to know who I am - as well as what I am all about. Today, Norah and I had the chance to hang out at her house all day together. For those of you who don't know, Norah is my first grandchild, and what a sweetie-pie she is. I am probably very prejudiced about her, but I do think she is the most beautiful little girl in the world (except for my own little girl, Jessica, who is now 26 years old). Norah was so good for me today. She gets a little fussy when she is tired, but it doesn't take much cuddling to get her to sleep, which is how she was when her Mom showed up after work... sleeping in my arms. I also got a real cute little video on my cell phone of her laughing very hard when I made a silly noise. How cute!

The Wedding of Tia and Melhem

2008-06-01T20:31:00.008-04:00

On Friday, I had the privilege of shooting Tia & Melhem's wedding day. This wedding was a little different because the couple planned to see each other prior to the ceremony and take pictures at a few locations. We went to The Fox Theater, Comerica Park, and then Belle Isle before departing for the beautiful Cherry Creek Golf Course for the ceremony and reception. The weather was always questionable as the winds kept rising during the course of day. By the time we got to Cherry Creek, it was decided to hold the wedding indoors....well, until they changed their minds and moved it outdoors as originally planned. The weather held out for the wedding and it didn't start raining until later in the evening when everyone was inside and safe.

The entertainment was provided by the fantastic "Music Box". This is the one company I always refer to my clients as they did two of my own children's weddings. Sherman and Paulina did a fabulous job of keeping people up and on the dance floor.

One of my friends, Kevin Murawski, helped me with the ceremony pictures and reception. Kevin is an awesome wedding photographer and we have worked together in the past and will be doing more of it this sumer. You might want to check out his blog by clicking HERE.

Congratulations Tia and Melhem. Best of luck to you both as you head off to Minnesota to start your new lives together. Click the play button below to watch the slideshow of the day. Enjoy!

Lawyers Weekly Article

2008-05-31T14:54:00.007-04:00

The May 26, 2008, edition of Michigan Lawyers Weekly saw a change that hasn't happened in many years. The paper ran a "Leadership Series" article on Wayne County Executive Robert A. Ficano and his Executive Staff of attorneys, and put one large photo on the front page. I'm told this isn't the norm for Lawyers Weekly...the cover is usually filled with articles and smaller pictures. I had the pleasure of taking the photos that got published. The pictures below are just photographs of the paper, so I apologize for the low quality. I didn't have any way to do a high resolution scan of something this big. The second shot is a two-page spread with the actual article - along with photographs of the Guardian Building which Wayne County has purchased and will be moving their operations to this summer. The photo in the lower right is the only one that wasn't done by me, rather Douglas J. Levy.

It is always nice to see my images get published, especially in a distinguished paper like the Lawyers Weekly.

The Wedding of Maridith and John

2008-05-26T20:27:00.005-04:00

Maridith and John were married on Saturday night at the beautiful ConCorde Inn in Clinton Township, Michigan. The entertainment was provided by "Stu and His Crew". They were a great couple to work with and their families were extremely nice. I hope I have more couples like them this summer. Congratulations Maridith and John, best of luck to you both.

Detroit Zoo

2008-05-26T08:58:00.005-04:00

Sunday is usually an editing day for me as I try not to fall behind with wedding pictures, but yesterday my wife and I took a trip to the Detroit Zoo instead. My wife hadn't been there in a while and it was a great day to walk around and see the animals. Now I understand why the saying "it was a zoo" was started. I don't think I have ever seen the Zoo that crowded! I dragged Debbie to all the spots I wanted to see... I hope she saw some things she wanted to see, too. Just thought I would post a few pictures from the day. I have a wedding slideshow to finalize and should get it posted by tomorrow some time. Enjoy!

Leah is Ten Months Old!

2008-05-20T21:54:00.004-04:00

Leah came over tonight for her ten month pictures. She is getting so big now and is quite used to being in front of my camera. It won't be long before she will be the big "ONE". Can't wait for that shoot. I think we will do the birthday cake thing and watch her have a good time with it. That will be so much fun to see... and clean up afterwards. I will have my fork ready!

The Baptism of Norah Grace

2008-05-18T21:58:00.004-04:00

Today our granddaughter was baptized at our church in Fraser, MI. I don't think we've ever before seen over 50 family members/friends for a baptism at our church. It was like having another wedding, and so nice to see everyone join together to witness the miracle of Holy Baptism.

The weather was fantastic all day - which worked out great for the get-together at John & Lauri's house after church. Here is a short slideshow of the day. Of course, I took many more pictures, but this is a little preview for everyone to see. Enjoy!

The Wedding of Meghan and Kevin

2008-05-13T22:48:00.009-04:00

Everything about this wedding was absolutely outstanding. The church...the bride...the hall...the cake...the best-man's toast...the music etc. I've been to a lot of weddings with my job, but this one was - by far - the most beautiful! Kevin and Meghan were a delight to work with - which makes my job so much fun.

The band "Trilogy" rocked the house all night long. When I got home, I told my wife that if Trilogy were playing somewhere locally, I would pay to see these guys. They will definitely go on the top of my referral list. Best of luck and congratulations to Kevin and Meghan!

Guests who want to view the images of the evening online click HERE. You will need to preregister with Pictage and once the images are available for viewing you will receive an email informing you they are ready. You will also receive a $5.00 gift certificate from the photographer to use at your discretion.

The Wedding Reception of Senthil and Sanchari

2008-05-09T21:14:00.008-04:00

As promised, here is a slide show of the wedding reception of Senthil and Sanchari last Saturday night. This event was held at the St. George Cultural Center on Woodward Avenue. I think you will see that everyone had a great time. Even Deb & I enjoyed ourselves as Senthil and Sanchari were great to work with.

Sanchari & Senthil

2008-05-07T23:11:00.004-04:00

Sanchari and Senthil were married in India last year. Their reception was held locally this past Saturday, and I had the opportunity to provide photography for them. They have been the nicest couple to work with. I could photograph Sanchari for hours (nothing personal, Senthil) as she is such a beautiful model. Here are a few of the shots I took in my studio prior to the reception. I hope to have the images from their party posted in a slideshow by the end of this week. Enjoy!

Leah is Nine Months Old

2008-05-06T20:31:00.010-04:00

Actually, Leah is closer to 10 than 9 months old because, according to Heather, I've been slacking (just kidding, Heather).

It's nice to be busy, but I don't want to fall too far behind with my pictures; therefore, I'm staying up late these nights trying to get caught up. I still have a wedding reception to edit from last Saturday, and then another wedding this weekend. I guess I can sleep when things slow down this coming winter.

Leah will be coming back in a couple of weeks so we can get closer to the correct schedule. That way, we should be right on time for the big "One Year" mark.

Loretta and Andy

2008-05-06T10:55:00.008-04:00

Loretta and Andy are planning to get married in September of this year at the Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church. This is one of my favorite old churches to shoot a wedding at, even if it is very dark.

Loretta wanted her pictures to have some nice spring colors - which she achieved by keeping her eye on the trees at the Detroit Zoo. The blossoms were absolutely beautiful, and the weather was great for a quick lunchtime break for the two of them. We had one hour to move about and get some quick shots. Then I stayed a little longer and took some animal pictures. I like the eagles, as you can see by the second from the last picture.

St. John Confirmation 2008

2008-05-04T18:00:00.004-04:00

Today was Confirmation Day at St. John Lutheran Church in Fraser, Michigan. Here is a photo of the class for 2008. God bless our confirmands.

Amy and Kevin, Richmond, MI

2008-04-29T14:42:00.007-04:00

On Saturday I had a chance to work with a friend of mine, Kevin Murawski (that's him on the ground in the first picture), at one of his weddings in Richmond. Kevin is an awesome photographer and this gave me an opportunity to observe how he works at his weddings. We photographers like working with one another to learn about different techniques and share ideas.

The wedding was at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Richmond, and the reception was at the beautiful Cherry Creek Golf Course. What a spectacular event this was. To see a slide show of the wedding put together by Kevin, check out his blog by clicking HERE. Below are just a few of the pictures I took at the event. Enjoy!

Michelle & Michael

2008-04-25T23:35:00.009-04:00

Michelle & Michael will be getting married in October of this year in Monroe, Michigan, and then the reception is at the beautiful Dearborn Inn - which is where these pictures were taken today. It was nice to get acquainted with the location before the wedding so I'm more comfortable with different photo spots.

I remember when Michelle and her mom came over to book this wedding a few months back. I was told by Michelle that she doesn't photograph well (that's what she thinks). After today, I can't figure out why she said that as I didn't have any problems getting beautiful pictures of the two of them. As a matter of fact, it was hard to pick out just a few to show here. It was a lot of fun today and I'm looking forward to their big day!

Paola and Neal

2008-04-23T16:36:00.007-04:00

Paola and Neal will be getting married in July of this year. Their wedding is a four day extravaganza which Paola has been planning for some time. We just went through all of our own children's weddings and know the planning for a one-day event is very intense. I can't even imagine how Paola is doing this with four straight days of festivities. I'm looking forward to it, but I also know it will be a lot of work. I am handling two of the four days and will have a second photographer with me for both days. I usually take a few thousand images myself at any wedding so, with two photographers, I think I will be busy editing pictures for a while after the big day. Neal and Paola are a lot of fun to be with, so it makes my job much easier.

Stefanie and John

2008-04-20T19:48:00.009-04:00

Saturday turned out to be a very nice day after all - much different from what our local weather people were calling for. Not only didn't it rain, it was beautiful all day long - which gave us time to wander around Royal Oak with Stefanie and John. They will be getting married in June of this year, so you will be seeing more of them in the near future.

I'm still trying to decide if I want to do slide shows of engagement sessions, or wait until the wedding images are posted on Pictage. I don't think I'll have time to do slide shows for all my weddings, so I better stick to just posting a few images of my favorites for these sessions as it takes a little time to build a show and get it posted. Time is going to be tough to find once the wedding season kicks into full gear. We are winding up now, and I'm ready for it!

PS: Had technical difficulties getting this show posted. I think I have decided to post only a few images of engagement sessions in the future.

Alexander's 8th Birthday

2008-04-06T22:08:00.014-04:00

Today we celebrated my nephew Alexander's 8th birthday. It was a great day to grill some hot dogs and enjoy a few beverages with family. Alex got a new puppy named Rosebud which you will see in the slide show along with Norah Grace. Happy Birthday Alex!

My wedding season will be starting soon so you will be seeing a lot of wedding pictures once I get rolling. I'm looking forward to being very busy this season. I have been blessed for sure.

Leah is Eight Months Old

2008-04-05T13:27:00.009-04:00

Little Leah is growing fast and we have been capturing her progress from the time she was 30 minutes old. The goal is to do a "One Year Album" which is a package I will be offering once I finish this project. (Then I can determine pricing etc. for the package.)

Leah has grown very accustomed to my camera, and when she came over today she gave me a big smile. Something tells me she knew why she was seeing me again (at least she didn't start to cry). I also know that "others" are waiting for these pictures and I certainly don't want anyone to think I would ignore Leah because we now have our own granddaughter. I've got way too much time invested in Leah to just drop the ball at this point.

I was hoping to get caught up with Leah and not continue to fall behind her actual birth date, but last month was a rough one for us with both a death and birth in the family. Look for Leah's nine month photos in about three weeks so we can get back on track as we get closer to the big "one year" birthday.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

2008-03-31T15:48:00.003-04:00

A few weeks ago the "Today Show" had a feature on the charity organization I am affiliated with, Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS). It was nice to see the organization get some credit for what they do for parents suffering the loss of an infant. To watch the "Today Show" piece click HERE. You may need to watch a short commercial before watching the segment piece.
WARNING: You may need a box of Kleenex before watching this segment.

Norah Grace-Again

2008-03-29T17:24:00.009-04:00

For those who don't know me, you may be wondering why you see so many baby pictures on my blog - since I am a wedding photographer. I shoot other subjects as well, but this one is my first -born grandchild and she will be getting a lot of attention for a while. This afternoon we went to Robert Bruce's photography studio to do some studio shots of Norah at Robert's request. Robert is in the first picture and has a studio in Royal Oak on 11 Mile Road. If you are looking for a great photographer, you should check him out. He was looking for an infant model and I just happen to know someone who has an infant. What a lucky day for John & Lauri (my son and daughter-in-law) as they were photographed by Robert for over three hours. It was a fun experience, and all I can say is that I will be using my new carpet shampoo machine on Robert's new carpeting very soon. John needed to be hosed down outside before Lauri would let him in the house (just kidding). Thanks, Robert. We look forward to seeing your images as these are just my quick shots from behind.
PS: John also posted a few pictures of Norah on his blog. Click HERE.

Lindsay and Scott

2008-03-27T20:34:00.005-04:00

On Wednesday, I took a trip to the new Partridge Creek Mall on Hall Road to get some quick shots of Lindsay & Scott who will be getting married in July of this year. A word of caution to any photographers in the area, you need permission from the mall management to take any pictures at this location. We did go to the management office and get permission to continue, however, we were watched via video cameras as we walked around. At one point, the security guard told us we couldn't even take a picture by the fountain because a restaurant would be in the background. We got the shot anyways, but what a hassle that was. I really wanted to get some pictures of them walking around with all the colorful store fronts. That wasn't going to happen, and security let me know it. (Incidently, I don't blame the guard who was just doing her job.) I have done this before at the outdoor mall in Rochester, where I took a whole wedding party after the ceremony and didn't get bothered at all. Fortunately, I found out before I tried to take a group to this location. I was only able to use walls as backgrounds - which wasn't my original idea. At least we didn't get arrested. Sorry about the hassle, Lindsay & Scott. I promise we won't do anything illegal for the wedding pictures. Live and learn.
PS: To see a larger picture click on the picture.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-24T08:36:00.005-04:00

This post is a day late, but we have been very busy wrapping up funeral services for my father-in-law. It was a wonderful service at Trinity Lutheran Church on Saturday. The Detroit Police Reserve Honor Guard was also present to wish their farewells to Deb's father, Claude Hubert Decker. He will be missed, but we know he is in a better place than we are right now. Rest in peace Dad!

Here is a picture of a flower arrangement that I thought was very creative for a funeral service. The leaves are cut to portray a cross. It was one I had never seen before but wanted to show it to you for Easter. Here are also a few pictures of our new grand-daughter, Norah Grace Shields. These pictures were taken on Easter day. So as you can see, there is sadness with lots of joy as well.

Norah checks out Gramma Shields

Norah checks out Aunt Lindsey

Norah Grace Shields - Day 2

2008-03-21T08:18:00.006-04:00

Norah will be discharged today to her home and her beautiful new nursery. It is an exciting time in John and Lauri's lives. I did happen to stop by the hospital to get a few pictures from Day 2, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get any today as we will be busy with family and friends who are in town for my father-in-law's funeral. It's nice to talk to people at the funeral home about good times with my father-in-law - as well as a lot of discussions about our little Norah. Just thought I would show off another photo of the most beautiful baby in the world (just in case anybody was wondering).

Joy in the Midst of Sorrow

2008-03-19T21:28:00.010-04:00

I borrowed the title for this post from an email I received today from our Pastor. For those of you who know us we have been waiting a very long time for our first grandchild to arrive. Today we welcomed Norah Grace Shields into our family at 11:00AM. She weighed in at 8 lbs.-12 ozs. and 21" long and is the most beautiful baby in the nursery. John, Lauri and Norah are all doing very well and should be coming home on Friday. I just left the three of them and they were both very exhausted. I think Norah was starting to wake up now that's its bed time. I think they might as well get used to that.

Of course we managed to get a few hundred pictures of Baby Norah during our short visit today, and then there's tomorrow. John wanted to post the first pictures so he has my laptop and is creating a short slideshow tonight and will post it on his blog tonight. It was pretty nice that they have an internet connection in their room at the hospital so they are very connected. Here is a link to John’s blog so you can keep checking to see if he gets that slideshow posted tonight, or will he be taking care of little Norah? As I said in an earlier post this will be the most photographed baby in the universe.

Unfortunately Deb's Dad passed away the same day at 1:02AM from heart complications. He had just had some extensive back surgery and his heart was too weak to pull through it all. Four of his six children (the ones who live in Michigan) were at his bedside when he went home to be with the Lord. It was a very peaceful end as he just slept his way into heaven. The next few days will be spent with family and friends, as often happens during funerals.

From Pastor Merrill’s email he sent out today his quote was “Praise God for His marvelous love - two great blessings in one day”.

Still No Baby Yet!

2008-03-17T14:22:00.006-04:00

You will notice I removed the baby countdown timer on the side of the blog. That's because it is past the due date and the timer started going up again. So today it said two days to go but in reality it was two days past due. I thought if I left it on the baby might never come. Hope this helps!

No Baby Yet!

2008-03-15T17:08:00.004-04:00

Still no news on our first grandchild. If you are checking this today you will notice the countdown timer says "0" days left. Lauri is due today but doesn't seem like the baby ready to meet us all yet. We had dinner with both of them yesterday and she is definitely ready for this event to be over with. John posted on his blog today too. Click HERE to be taken to his post.

Jerry Ghionis Seminar

2008-03-13T09:17:00.005-04:00

On Tuesday I attended an all day seminar, put on by the DPPA, with one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world, Jerry Ghionis. I'm told they have been chasing Jerry for a few years trying to get him to come to Detroit to speak. I guess the timing was just right with WPPI going on. Jerry decided to come to the USA a day or so early to do this workshop with over 200 wedding photographers in the area. While I was a bit skeptical about Jerry's ability to make beautiful images directly in-camera, he removed that skepticism for everyone by actually doing it in front of all of us. In about 10-15 minutes, Jerry created at least a dozen or so WOW images right in-camera. He is truly an amazing photographer and has won the best wedding album of the year four out of the last five years. These albums aren't real fancy from a design standpoint, but they definitely stand on their own with WOW images throughout. Jerry is also an excellent speaker who had us laughing all day long. The seminar ran from 9:00AM until 10:00PM, but it sure went by very fast. (When I was in the corporate world, I would dread a seminar that was going to be this long.) I would strongly recommend that any budding photographers try to see Jerry speak if you ever get the chance. Jerry also has a training section on his new blog called the ICE Society which is a training area for photographers to learn more. That's what Jerry loves to do... teach others how to do what he does. And he does it very well.

My Home Town

2008-03-07T19:49:00.003-05:00

I had to go to my home town, Windsor, Ontario, today for some business so, of course I took my camera and grabbed some quick snapshots with my old Nikon D70. I think that camera sensor is about done as it can't be cleaned any more to remove dust specks. Oh well, it is the camera I keep in my trunk most of the time - just in case I need to get a shot.

In my short visit to the downtown area, I couldn't help but notice how brightly painted all of the buildings are. Some of these images are just colorful buildings, but some are old memories which most people wouldn't recognize - except for my sister Pam, that is. She and I lived in Windsor until about 1967, when we moved to Detroit.

Baby Update!

2008-02-27T20:00:00.004-05:00

We just got home and received a call from our son, John. Lauri had a doctor's appt. today and they were told to have a nice weekend because there probably won't be another one before the baby comes. Woo hooo! Sounds like Lauri is getting close now! We will definitely be keeping everyone up to date with lots of pictures. Between John and I, this will be the most photographed child in the universe.

Just thought I would post a picture of a new little prop I ran across at a store this past week. I got a great deal on this treasure, and I know there is a cute little girl out there who would love to have her picture taken while sitting on this tricycle. So, until I have a granddaughter some day who just can't live without this little pink bike, it will stay in my studio awaiting your little girl's photo session.

Leah is Seven Months Old!

2008-02-24T06:08:00.010-05:00

I've been hearing rumors that certain folks have been anxiously waiting for these pictures to show up. Sorry about the delay - I had a little flood in my basement studio, and I wanted to use the studio for these images. We survived the flood and everything is cleaned up and functioning. Leah is the first model to use my new studio. Hope you like the pictures. It was very difficult to choose which ones to post as there were so many. Of course... what did I expect with such a pretty model? On a few of the images, you will see those shiny new teeth she worked so hard on.

It's Getting Close Now!

2008-02-20T21:02:00.007-05:00

Deb and I, as well as the rest of the family, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first grandchild. Here is a picture of a counter on my son's blog that shows you there are 24 more days to go. I have added a countdown timer to this blog as well for me to monitor better. You can also see this countdown timer on John's blog by clicking HERE. We are praying for all to go smoothly for John and Lauri. Once this little bundle of joy is born, you can expect to see a lot of pictures on my blog - as well as John's.

What Will They Say About Your Dash?

2008-02-14T21:12:00.005-05:00

A former boss of my wife, Frank Bologna, sent me this link that I felt I wanted to share with all of you. I have seen this before in different formats but this one had some real nice photography to it. The meaning was something I thought was fitting for Valentines Day! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Click HERE to see the show.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2008-02-14T15:42:00.002-05:00

This one goes out to my beautiful wife Debbie! I am so blessed to have you in my life. Hope you have a great Valentine's Day! I love you.

Daddy-Daughter Dance, 2008

2008-02-12T08:41:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, after the baby shower for Lauri, my daughter-in-law, Deb & I had just enough time to get home, grab all my equipment and go to the school to take pictures at the "Daddy-Daughter Dance". The girls and dads were all dressed up for this big event. It is something they will remember and talk about for a very long time. Here are a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Baby Shower #2

2008-02-11T15:33:00.002-05:00

The second baby shower is behind us, and all we have to do now is wait for Baby Shields to arrive. My son, John, has a countdown timer on his blog to see how much longer they have until the actual due date. I know John's mother-in-law, Joan, would like the baby to be born a few days early so she can share a birthday with the baby. That's what I do with Jim and John. For those who don't remember, Jim and John were born on my 24th birthday, so I understand how Joan would feel about sharing her birthday.

Here is a short slide-show if you want to see some pictures of the day. Enjoy!

PS: You might want to check out John's blog to see the great gift they received for the baby from Lauri's father.

Baby Shields' Shower #1

2008-01-28T18:41:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, our daughter-in-law, Lauri, and son, John, had their first baby shower for Baby Shields. It was held at the Aspen Restaurant on Hall Road - which turned out fantastic. They had the whole back room which seated everyone comfortably. There were the usual girly shower games, but us guys just listened, drank, and took pictures. Conrad (Grandpa Z) and I (Papa Shields) shared the responsibilities of documenting the event with video and still pictures. Lauri's next shower is in a couple weeks and, thank heavens, they have a great big house. I don't know how they would have gotten all that stuff in their condo. Stay tuned for more shower pics, as well as a nursery update from John on his BLOG.

PS: I hope you like the music by Raffi. It was what our kids grew up listening to. We even went to a Raffi concert in Royal Oak when the kids were very little. Ahhhh, great memories!

Leah is Six Months Old!

2008-01-28T14:15:00.000-05:00

My little model Leah (for my "My First Year" book) is really starting to get big! She now has two beautiful teeth and the drool pretty much never stops. It seems like only yesterday when I took her pictures at the hospital and she was only 30 minutes old... and now a half year has gone by. It has been a fun project so far and I'm really looking forward to putting the album together.

The Red River Band - Hatchy's, Downtown Utica

2008-01-23T14:23:00.000-05:00

I wasn't shooting a wedding on Friday night, so we visited Hatchy's Bar & Pub in downtown Utica to watch the Red River Band perform. My cousin's husband, Tony, is one of the guitarist/vocalists for the band, so once in a while we get together and have a few refreshments and listen to the music. I had asked Tony to let me know when they were playing at Hatchy's so I could take pictures. (I like the red brick walls for a background.) The bar was very crowded that night to see the band play, and a great time was had by all. Thanks, Deb and Tony, for the birthday cake and flowers for my beautiful wife's birthday. You can watch the slideshow below.

Jim Shields Photography - Studio Upgrade

2008-01-18T12:31:00.000-05:00

My downstairs studio is getting a much needed face lift to have a better environment to bring clients in a discuss my photography. This meant the demolition of a wall formerly used for a bedroom. Now that all the kids have gotten married and moved on I can now add that 12 feet of additional working space. I have done some portraits in the studio but have not done any in a while due to the space restrictions. I really didn't have enough space to do the work I would like to do. This will make it possible and give me an opportunity to photograph engagement shots inside if I wish. Watch the blog for pictures of the finished product.

PS: These are the pictures I really didn't want my wife to see while it was going on. I made real sure that mess was cleaned up before she got home yesterday. I know she stalks my blog so now the cat is out of the bag. Yes honey I made a mess..but I cleaned it up too.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE! I LOVE YOU!

Warren, MI - "Cold Rush" in the Park - January 12, 2008

2008-01-11T12:39:00.001-05:00

Today I ran over to the New Warren Park to take a few shots of the Macomb College Ice Carving Team. They will be doing ice sculptures for this weekends "Cold Rush" in the park. This is a very nice new park located in front of the NEW Warren City Hall building.

For those of you who don't know, my son Jim Shields Jr., won the National Collegiate Ice Sculpture title in 2000 with his partner Dave Stadler. Dave and Jim now help coach the team which is run by Chef Jeff Wolf. My son is now the Executive Chef at Lily's Seafood Restaurant in Royal Oak and that keeps him very busy, but when he has time off he is there to help the team. Here are a few shots of the team practicing for this weekends event and upcoming competitions.

Chef Wolf coaching his team members

Dave Stadler helps coach a team member also

Lizzy - Senior Shots - Metro Beach

2008-01-09T19:42:00.000-05:00

I finally finished the pictures of Lizzy that I took a few weeks ago. You remember the ones where it was 20 degrees outside with 20 mph winds. I was frozen, as I'm sure Lizzy was, but we got through it okay. It took me a little time to finish because I was having problems with one of my computer programs but, after pulling my hair out I gave another photographer friend of mine a call, Kevin Murawski, who got me running again. I guess I had changed a setting on the program without knowing it and it just wouldn't do what I wanted it to any longer. Oh well, we are back in business. Here is a slideshow of the pictures because I couldn't decide which ones to post. Upon hearing the music, you might wonder about the choice of songs. This is a song by a group called "Family Force 5" which is actually a contemporary Christian group. Click HERE to read more about them.

How much is my blog worth???

2008-01-07T20:04:00.000-05:00

Thought I would post this little tidbit of useless information. Anybody interested, let me know.

My blog is worth $2,258.16.
How much is your blog worth?

Lizzy - Senior Shots

2008-01-03T14:45:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I went to Metro Beach with Lizzy to try and get some Senior shots. For those of you who are from this area you know that the weather was pretty brutal at approximately 15-20 degrees - not to mention the 15-20 mile an hour winds. I think that puts the wind chill in some pretty low numbers. This was something Lizzy wanted, and the timing was such that she was home from school and we finally had the snow she was looking for in the background. The middle of the day is definitely not something I would have chosen for a photo shoot, but sometimes you just gotta take what you can get, when you can. We took a lot of pictures and I hope to get more posted soon. Just wanted to get one up so you can see how cute she is. Does she look like she is frozen? I know I was.

Sarah and Derek - Engagement Shoot

2007-12-30T18:54:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, my son John and I ventured out to the Detroit Zoo for an engagement shoot with Sarah and Derek. They will be getting married in late August of 2008 at Gino's Surf. I haven't been to the Zoo in a few years, and there were certainly many changes and additions since my last visit. We spent a little longer on this engagement shoot than usual, but Sarah and Derek didn't seem to mind, and I enjoyed the company as well as the animals. Thanks Sarah and Derek; John and I had a great time and I am looking forward to the big day.

Christmas 2007

2007-12-25T00:33:00.000-05:00

Here is our annual 2007 Christmas picture taken on Christmas Eve as we wait for the 10:45pm Candlelight Service at church. You might think there are only 8 people in this picture, but actually there are 9 of us. Our first grandchild is in there too, and is anxious to arrive and meet us all. Lauri (gray sweater) is "with child" and due in March of 2008.

Jim Shields Photography and the entire Shields family would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!

The Many Faces of Leah Campbell Barbash - She's 5 Months Old!

2007-12-17T20:57:00.000-05:00

Time is certainly going by fast with my little model, Leah. This is her 5 month photo shoot. She is getting used to the camera now, but today it seemed that whenever I put my camera away, she would start to giggle and laugh. Something tells me she knows what she's doing. I don't think I accomplished a shot of her dimple this month, but I will get her next month for her 6 month pictures. Wow... almost half way to being a BIG one year old! Won't be long now.

The VERY First Production of The Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival at St. John Lutheran Church

2007-12-08T14:16:00.000-05:00

Thursday evening was an exciting time for St. John Lutheran Church in Fraser, MI. It marked the beginning of what a lot of people hope will be a tradition that will continue for years to come. Mel Machemer, our Music Director, did an excellent job of pulling this Festival off at the church as well as Melissa Riling (Choreographer), Kathy Eifert (Director) and over 150 cast and volunteers. There aren't a lot of people around with the musical talent and excitement for the job to take on a production this large. Here are just a few pictures taken during the performance on Thursday night. There will be a final version of the slideshow once I get through all the pictures. Enjoy!

Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival - Dress Rehearsal #2

2007-12-06T14:54:00.000-05:00

Tuesday night my son John and I photographed the last dress rehearsal of our churches Boar's Head Festival. Tonight is the first actual performance and it is close to being sold out. There is a performance on Saturday and Sunday, and Sunday's is sold out. This time I was looking for more drama in the pictures which I think I achieved with the help of an off camera QFlash. The black and white images I think are the most dramatic. Check back in a few days for a link to the slideshow posted on the churches web site.

The Boar's Head is probably the oldest continuing festival of the Christmas season. This pageant is rooted in ancient times when the boar was sovereign of the forest. A ferocious beast and menace to humans it was hunted as a public enemy. At Roman feasts, boar was the first dish served. Like our Thanksgiving turkey, roasted boar was a staple of medieval banquets. As Christian beliefs overtook pagan customs in Europe, the presentation of a boar's head at Christmas came to symbolize the triumph of the Christ Child over sin.

Yes folks, this is a real baby playing Jesus!

The Wedding of Joe and Jenna

2007-12-03T19:53:00.002-05:00

Saturday was certainly a cold day to have a wedding. Especially if you want to go outside for pictures after the ceremony (at St. Andrew Church, Rochester) and it's 22 degrees. Joe and Jenna wanted those outdoor pictures and Jenna was determined not to let the cold spoil her plans. Remember, all of the outdoor pictures of the wedding party were taken on Saturday before the snow started to fall, in frigid temps. By the time we arrived at Addison Oaks for the reception, the snow had started coming down and continued for hours. It was quite a ride home afterwards, but at least Joe and Jenna got their outdoor pictures before the snow moved in. The lucky guys were a little more covered up than the girls - as you will see once you watch the slideshow. Joe and Jenna were a lot of fun to work with. That's what makes my job so enjoyable. Great people, great times!

Boar's Head & Yule Log Festival Rehearsal

2007-11-29T16:57:00.000-05:00

Last night my son John and I photographed the first dress rehearsal of the Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival that our church will be performing on Dec. 6, 8 & 9. This is one spectacular event and it looks like all performances will be sold out. Here are a few images from the rehearsal. You can also click here to see a slideshow of the rehearsal as well. Enjoy.

PS: If you go to the churches web site you can get a better understanding of what this festival is all about. Their web site is located at www.stjohnfraser.org. Go to the church site and click the upper right Boars Head logo to get more information.

Saturday was Family Day!

2007-11-25T14:42:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday was a family day for the Shields Clan. My sister Pam was in town from Pennsylvania for the Thanksgiving holiday, so we had a little gathering so everyone could see one other. Most of these pictures were taken by my son John who was having fun with my camera. He loves to do that when he knows he doesn't have to do anything to the pictures afterwards.

Deb is practicing to be a Grandma next March with Leah!

Emily gets into the chocolate!

What a cutie with one of Uncle Tony's hats on!

Look at those eyes on Jacob!

Our grand-dog Rocky enjoys his bone!

My father meets his great grand-daughter Leah Campbell Barbash!

Leah is Four Months Old!

2007-11-21T22:16:00.000-05:00

My little model, Leah, continues to get bigger and cuter as the months go by. This has been a fun project so far and I think she is starting to know the program. She is getting very curious about the camera now and wants to touch it, and probably put it in her mouth where everything else ends up. You can tell she is teething as she has her hands in her mouth all the time, along with anything else she can find.

The 50th Anniversary of Pastor Narr's Ordination

2007-11-21T14:11:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, November 18, 2007, our church - St. John Lutheran - in Fraser, Michigan, celebrated the 50 year anniversary of the ordination of our now retired Pastor, Edwin J. Narr. My son John and I photographed the event. I've posted a few images here, however you can click HERE to be taken to the slideshow posted on the St. John web site. Pastor Narr baptized all of our children at the old church (across the street from our present location - which we have been in for over 15 years now) and was present for all their confirmations. Pastor and his wife, Ellen, also played in our euchre club for many years. They now reside in North Branch, Michigan. Congratulations on your 50 year anniversary, Pastor Narr! We'll keep rooting for those Vikings!

The Wedding of Rob and Tandye

2007-11-20T14:48:00.000-05:00

Saturday we photographed the wedding of Rob and Tandye at their home in Pleasant Ridge. This wedding was supposed to take place in January of 2008, however, due to circumstances beyond their control they pushed the wedding up a few months. This is the first time I have ever photographed a wedding in such an intimate setting. Rob and Tandye's family made myself, my son John, and my wife feel like we were part of the family. Rob and Tandye were such a joy to work with. I would have thought that the way the wedding was planned in such a hurry, there would be more frazzled people - but that certainly wasn't the case (at least it didn't show). Congratulations Rob and Tandye! I'm looking forward to the official reception next summer some time.

PS: The show will take a little time to load since there are over 100 images. Click the play button and sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

Aaron and Laurie - Yates Cider Mill

2007-11-13T19:47:00.000-05:00

Well, Sunday wasn't the best of days to take pictures but the rain held off and we got some nice images of Laurie and Aaron. They're planning a September 13th (2008) wedding in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Looking forward to the big day when all the time they have invested will make it all worthwhile.

Jeremy and Nathan - 2007

2007-11-11T19:19:00.000-05:00

Jeremy, Nathan, my son John and I went on an adventurous trek into the woods on Saturday. I had found this graffiti wall on a bike trail I use once in a while not too far from my house. The colorful wall worked out well for the pictures of the boys in their sweaters. It was a bit nerve-wracking getting them into their positions for these shots as the hill was quite steep, but we sure had fun. I think I was the only one who went down during the shoot.

Slide Shows and Email is Back!

2007-11-06T20:22:00.000-05:00

Well I just returned home from a few days up north and it seems everything is working correctly again. Guess I don't have a lot of patience when it comes to tech support that I'm paying for. Oh well, everything is all working again until I decide to change something and screw it up again. Thanks for your patience.

Technical Difficulties with Email and Slide Shows

2007-10-31T18:10:00.000-04:00

Please be patient as I try to resolve technical difficulties relating to email and slide shows. The slide shows on this blog and listed at the right hand side of this page are temporarily unavailable. I am working with tech support to resolve these issues.

Please be patient. This drives me more crazy than any of you!

The Birthday Boys....2007

2007-10-28T23:37:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't know, I share a birthdate with my twin sons, Jim and John. It is a rare occasion that the three of us are actually together to celebrate on our birthday any more. As with most families, it is very difficult to make those arrangements - between work schedules and other family commitments as the kids get older and families continue to grow. That made this birthday extra special to share it with all of my family together in 2007.
PS: Nice shot Lauri (and baby Shields)

My NEW Blog and NEW Company Name

2007-10-22T21:30:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my new blog. I have recently decided to change the name of my company from Shields Digital Images to Jim Shields Photography. This change is only for branding reasons and nothing else will change. Again, I'm just changing the name... the photography and photographers will remain the same. You will start to see small differences over the next few days. I will also be changing the server that this site is kept on; the new web site location will be at www.jimshieldsphoto.com. Please note that I still own the Shields Digital Images domain name. Anyone who tries to go to that address will be redirected to the new Jim Shields Photography site. I know it sounds confusing, but once it's done I can relax and wait for you to contact me for my services. I'm excited about the direction my company is going and the pace at which it is growing. I hope you will come along for the ride. It's going to be lots of fun!

If you are looking for a recent wedding slide show, don't worry, it is still available on my old BLOG by clicking HERE. I will also be putting up a post with links to my recent wedding slide shows.

Leah is Three Months Old....

2007-10-22T18:18:00.000-04:00

This was a busy weekend, full of picture taking and visiting family. Of course I never go anywhere without a camera, I think if I did most people would be upset. Here is a image I put together of Leah's first three months. I think you can definitely see a difference with each month. Since this is a year long project it will be interesting to see the changes as she gets bigger and starts interacting more and more. She is sure cute and is getting better at those smiles. If I could only keep her awake long enough to get some pictures.

Alexander's Football Game, Saturday, October 20, 2007

2007-10-22T13:48:00.000-04:00

Even a wedding photographer needs a break once in a while, so on Saturday we went to the football game of our nephew Alexander who plays for the Shelby Lions. This is Alex's last year of flag football and will move on to playing tackle football next year. Alex has improved by leaps and bounds this year and this is definitely a great year for him. He is now a running back and when he gets the ball he is usually gone to the end zone. As his Mom says, this year Alex really "gets it". Not only has he got it, he really understands what to do when he gets that ball.

Emily and Jacob's Birthday Party

2007-10-21T14:13:00.000-04:00

Well as I said in an earlier post, this past weekend was full of picture taking opportunities. One of them was my niece and nephew's birthday celebration at my sisters home in Ingersoll, Ontario. Here's a quick slide show of the day. Of course I had to use a Raffi song for this one as he is one of my favorite kids singers.

The Wedding of Meagan and Ryan

2007-10-15T18:13:00.000-04:00

I sure had fun this past Saturday with Meagan and Ryan. They were married at The Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church in Royal Oak, MI. What a spectacular place for a wedding! From there we went downtown (Royal Oak) for some pictures, and then on to Glen Oaks Golf Course for their reception -which is also an awesome place to take pictures, unless, of course, you want to take the wedding party to a tee box and have them all simply walk forward. Oh well, we got the shots even if we did make the starter a little angry. Thanks for a great time and best of luck to you both.
PS: Give this show a little time to load. Then sit back and enjoy!