WEDDINGS BY DIGITALDREAMS

Boudoir/pin-up Portrait Sessions

2010-01-08T19:22:00.001-08:00

Got the winter blues real bad?

Chase them away today by booking your

Nice or Naughty Lady boudoir/pin-up session.

A CD of your images, along with a Private Collection digital album,

will make a once-in-a-lifetime gift

for you and your significant other.

Or start your own personal 12-month pin-up calendar,

including at least 12 unique seasonal themes.

Plan ahead, like your Mama said . . .

http://www.digitaldreamsbymichael.com/Naughtylady.html

New portrait session, Vesna

2010-01-08T19:12:00.001-08:00

Best Wedding Images of 2009

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Here are a few of my personal favorite wedding images of 2009.

Thanks to all the newlyweds who helped make this year

another great one for Digital Dreams by Michael.

Portrait session: Rachelle

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Abbey and Oz in the Garden of Good and Evil

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I had such a great time photographing their wedding
that I jokingly suggested to my good friends Abbey and Oswaldo

that we should get together for some 1st Anniversary pictures.

Who knew they'd actually take me up on the offer?

Kristin & Chris: The Wedding

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Kristin & Chris, married September 26, 2009

Congratulations, Kristin & Chris!

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Congratulations, Kristin and Chris!

Married September 26, 2009

Kristin & Chris: Rehearsal

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A few quick pix from Chris and Kristin's rehearsal:

Can't wait for the wedding tomorrow,

come rain or shine!

Digital Dreams by Michael

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Happy 1st Anniversary, Abbey & Oswaldo

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Happy First Anniversary, Abbey & Oswaldo

As always, one of my favorite couples . . .

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We are now booking dates for the 2010 wedding season.

Select dates still available.

Current special: Book your 2009 fall or winter wedding by September 15

and receive 10% off any package.

DIGITAL DREAMS BY MICHAEL

CREATIVE. PROFESSIONAL. AFFORDABLE.

50th Anniversary Party of Bob and Marj Blackwell

2009-08-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

50 years together!

Bob & Marj Blackwell: one amazing couple.

Congratulations, Bob and Marj!

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Congratulations on 50 years, Bob and Marj!

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Personal congratulations from Michelle and Barack!

Max & Sasheen, married July 25, 2009

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Max & Sasheen, married July 25, 2009

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Heavenly sky

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July 18, 2009

Erin & Josh's wedding, Chesterton

You couldn't ask for a more perfect day.

Erin & Josh -- July 18, 2009

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Congratulations Erin & Josh

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Erin and Josh are a super-nice couple

who were married in Chesterton

and held their reception at Beacon Hills in LaPorte

with a quick detour for some fun bridal party pictures

under a perfect picturesque cloud-filled sky . . .

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Erin & Josh -- July 18, 2009

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Kelly & Patrick June 27, 2009

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Kelly and Patrick were married June 27, 2009 in South Bend

at the Scottish Rite, a very nice and unique place to have a wedding.

The wedding party and families were an awesome group

to work with. Thanks so much everyone for your hospitality

and for indulging my

sometimes strange sense of photojournalistic humor.

Congratulations, Kelly and Pat

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A moment of Zen

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Congratulations, Crystal & Brian

Married June 6, 2009

Crystal & Brian

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The many faces of Crystal & Brian

Andy & Roseann

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Andy & Roseann

Chesterton IN

May 30, 2009

I love weddings

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This day was a first for me.

Getting scolded by the priest for overstepping

my bounds during the ceremony.

Just doing my job, folks, just like the good padre.

I love weddings . . .

Andy & Roseann

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Alone at last

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Amy and Chris

May 16 2009

Heston Hills

Amy

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The Moment Has Arrived

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Rebecca & Chris

May 2, 2009

Rebecca & Chris

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The wedding reception celebration of

Rebecca & Christopher

May 2, 2009

Kelly & Patrick

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Kelly and Pat are just the cutest little couple.

They took me around to some of their top secret romantic

spots around South Bend to capture

these adorable engagement shots.

By the way, next time, don't get so close

to the wild goose.

No matter what your photographer says.

Chris & Kristin from KC

2009-04-19T15:19:00.000-07:00

Cudos to Chris and Kristin who came all the way from Kansas

City for this photo shoot. They also had a little wedding

planning to do. Though they deny any previous professional

modeling experience, I don't believe it. Despite the gloomy

weather, their pictures turned out awesome.

See you in September.

Amy and Chris' engagement pix

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Engagement pictures with Amy and Chris, April 4, 2009.

Amy and Chris braved the early spring cold to help me get some great shots

at this secret, undisclosed location somewhere in Michigan City.

They will be married May 16.

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2009 SPECIALS

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Attention all newlyweds, past and future:

2009 SPECIALS
by Digital Dreams by Michael
are accessible at this link:

http://www.digitaldreamsbymichael.com/Specials.html

I look forward to working with you in the coming year.

Engagement portraits

2008-06-12T11:03:00.001-07:00

Below you'll see some of my favorite top secret local spots for outdoor portraits in Northwest IN . . .

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Watercolor image

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Free advice

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Top 10 Advice to Future Brides & Grooms from me

10. Schedule your engagement pictures to be taken at least 2 months beforeyour wedding date. Find a photographer that includes them with your wedding package, like me.

9. Don't skimp on your photography budget. If you plan on relying on your guests to provide pictures with those disposal cameras, you may be sadly disappointed. Those pictures rarely turn out, especially indoors. And people lose them. Or their kids do.

8. Talk to your DJ about having the Dollar Dance at your reception. It provides a good opportunity for pictures of the bride and groom with many of their guests. And you can make a little extra cash for your honeymoon.

7. If you hire a videographer, make sure to tell them to stay out of the photographer's way.

6. Future brides, allow for at least 30 minutes of photo time between your hair and make-up appointments and leaving for the ceremony. Personally I prefer at least an hour.

5. Future grooms, allow at least 15 minutes for photo time before you and your groomsmen start drinking.

4. Pull the cake table out. Cut the cake behind the cake table, not in front of it. Your guests want to see your faces more than your backs. And the pictures look better.

3. Bouttonieres go on the left. Your left.

2. Wear comfortable shoes on your wedding day. Or none at all . . .

1. Enjoy every moment. Things are bound to go wrong. But everything works out in the end.(And ask your caterer ahead of time to box some leftovers. It'll be way to hectic to enjoy your dinner in peace.)

Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to add your comments.

Digital Dreams by Michael website

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http://www.digitaldreamsbymichael.com

The Other Side of the Lens

2008-04-11T12:55:00.000-07:00

The Other Side of the Lens
by Michael Farnum

A wedding photographer by trade, I was recently subjected to the dreaded “Other Side” of the camera lens The proverbial cake table turned on me as I planned my own wedding at thirty-nine years old. Even photographing other peoples' weddings, I often feel akin to being strapped to the latest high tech thrill ride, the action non-stop, myself just hanging on for dear life hoping to capture perfectly the day's every magical moment—some painstakingly choreographed, others catching me and everyone else completely by surprise. An uninvited lakefront gale absconding the bride's veil. Little nephew Christopher dipping into the cake before the bride and groom have even arrived at the hall. Tequila-crazed Uncle Ronnie getting a little too friendly with the ladies on the dance floor. I could only imagine what my own one-way roller coaster ride on the Wild Wedding Express would reveal. Only suspected how excruciating it would feel to be bereft of my beloved Nikon. Or my Canon Rebel. Or my handy little Sony Cybershot (which I still planned on smuggling into the festivities despite the explicit prohibitions of my lovely fiancée, Cara. She often joked she had no intentions of competing with “Mrs. Nikon.” On further reflection, I don't think she was joking. )
No doubt I would feel almost naked. Even worse. Naked without a camera. But fortunately I had a plan. (Aside from no kids at the reception.)
“This will be the candid photo opportunity of a lifetime,” I secretly schemed. Just imagine the endless possibilities. A wedding shot from the groom's perspective. This was the stuff that could garner some primo cutting edge gallery buzz, a national award, perhaps even international recognition. What a boon for business! What a concept! Talk about a front row seat to the Wedding of the Century. Or at least the only wedding in which I'll be displayed in the hot-seated spotlight. Hopefully. I only had to keep my precocious little covert operation secret from my future bride. Or there may not even be a wedding. Of course, we still had to hire a professional. Just as a cover. Luckily, Cara's Uncle Keith knew a guy who worked for cheap. Plus, her daddy was paying for it, so it was no sweat off my cumber bun.
Needless to say, despite the best laid plans of groomzillas and brides, when our big day finally arrived things began to unravel right from the get-go. Not surprisingly, an endless gauntlet of distractions began to pop up, horribly subverting my solo photographic mission. With five kids between us, even a so-called normal day can seem like Mission: Impossible. Our nine-year old came down with the flu. Poor boy could barely walk, let alone get himself into the complicated couture labyrinth of that ten-piece monkey suit rental. While everyone dressed for the wedding, our fearless one-year old attempted a daring flight up the stairs, then took a frightening tumble. Luckily, there was no call for the emergency room. Only a nasty little bruise prominently displayed on the poor little guy's forehead. Won't that look great in pictures. Haven't even left the house yet, and already suffered two near-casualties.
And not even the Weather Channel had predicted a high of ninety-five degrees on the first Saturday of October. Somehow I had gotten roped into choreographing the music at our outdoor ceremony. (A terribly clever attempt by my soon-to-be-bride to sabotage my diabolic photographic plan? Had she somehow caught on to my top secret scheme?) Despite my thoughtful preparations, the humidity wreaked havoc with my specially burned wedding mix and portable CD player, causing an embarrassing but not fatal delay. Meanwhile, in all the confusion, somehow I lost track of my precious little candid taker; my irreplaceable moment capturer suddenly vanished without a trace. (Although, looking back on the bright side, at least I no longer had that strangely conspicuous pocket bulge impeding my slightly tight tuxedo pants.)
Had I left it at home? Had it fallen out in the mini-van as we waited for the fifty-police-car funeral procession to pass? Or even worse, was it forever lost in the perfectly manicured bougainvillea of International Friendship Gardens? What a nuptial nightmare! Talk about a wedding day disaster. Mama don't take my Kodachrome away!
Suddenly all matrimonial hell is breaking loose. Our little ones are jumping ship, bolting from the ring bearers' wagon in separate directions, social anxiety-prone Daddy's girl making a beeline for you-know-who. My family from Chicago still hasn't shown up? What's Cara's mother doing (hope she's not reading this) appropriating the front row? Along with her dozen highly behaviour-challenged adopted kids! No kids in the front row, no kids in the front row! (Definitely no kids at the reception.) Fire the ushers! My negligent nieces are now banned from the reception, too! Sister Michelle's not coming? She had a paralegal emergency? And she was giving dad a ride? My Uncle Danny who we haven't seen in ten years isn't coming because he can't bring his kids to the reception. Sorry, Mom. Is that an old girlfriend from like ten years ago sitting way in the back? Who invited her? Oh yeah, it was me. Still no music. Why hadn't we put more pressure on Cara's dad to hire that classical harpist and her back-up orchestra? Brant, did you remember the script for my vows, Mr. Best Man?
Hold everything, here she comes now, my one and only, my beautiful bride, gliding up the rose petal-scattered garden path like a wedding day dream. Thank you, Wedding Gods and Goddesses, somehow the music has magically kicked into gear. This is the moment we've all been waiting for. Now or never. She's never looked lovelier. I've never felt more complete. It's even more amazing than I imagined. Who needs a camera. This image will be etched forever in my mind. Eternal. Unforgettable.
Perfect.
Plus, I don't have to worry about measuring proper exposure. Wide angle or close-up lens. Untimely equipment failure. Some amateur camera jockey getting in my way, prematurely drunk Aunt Diane or somebody ruining my shot. Now all I have to do is remember the vows I was supposed to have memorized weeks ago. (And hope our photographer has a decent eye. Get a good close-up, get a good close-up! Not of me, of her . . . Thanks, Daddy. Trust me, someday it will come in real handy having a wedding photographer in the family.)
And, boy, what fun I'm going to have monkeying with that other photographer's wedding pictures. Too bad they won't be ready in time for our week-long honeymoon. What am I going to do to kill all that free time in Puerto Rico?
Meanwhile, untold hours later, lovingly hovering over the steaming, bubble-brimmed whirlpool tub of our private wedding night love nest, sporting little more than a dainty, little camera strap, my beaming bride magically produces my long-lost Cybershot.
“Say cheese, Camera Boy!”
Be advised, future grooms, your future brides will always get in the last word.
Take my advice: let 'em.

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COOL GROOM

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FLOWER GIRL READY

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FUTURE BRIDE . . .

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BENEDICTION . . .

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MAKING NEW FRIENDS . . .

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WILD WEDDING . . .

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Angel Watching Over Us . . .