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    Thanks for visiting Flashes of Life Photography!

    FOL photographs every stage of life, from newborn photography, to High School senior photography, to wedding photography! By the way, all this writing below is so I can show up more on the internet. It’s been a journey from the very beginning for me. As a child, I didn’t feel I could paint, but loved beautiful pictures. When I grew older, I still wanted to create! I took up my families SLR camera and decided to photograph as much as I could. Eventually, I broke the camera, but I had tons of great family pictures first! It was a great chronological journey of my family! Especially my little sister, who was definitely my earliest photo-subject, and was my great ten-year experiment on child photography. I guess you could say that I became a child photographer first, ahem—Beth, and then branched out into high school senior—another sibling—and then became a wedding photographer!

    After I grew up a little, I started taking photo classes. During a studio class, I realized that I could become a real photographer, and document lives thru pictures. It started with a typical 10-year-old girl, who showed me how fun photography could be! I fell in-love with it all at that point. Since then, I’ve loved photographing people! From the newborn photography that I do, to the high school seniors full of personality, to the start of another journey’s-- with a wedding!

    With all that said, thanks for considering Flashes of Life photography for your wedding photography needs. Flashes of Life Photography services Detroit, Southeast Michigan, including but not limited to Clarkston, Troy, Birmingham, Waterford, Keego Harbor, Ann Arbor, Lake Orion, Holly, and Brandon Township. As your premier southeast Michigan wedding photographer, I endeavor to complete each wedding with a journalistic, documentary photography style, along with my signature “artistic” photographs! Flashes of Life could definitely be in the running for the best wedding photographer, for your needs. At least, if it’s creative beach wedding photographer you need, or possibly even a destination wedding photographer! I LOVE to travel.

    I also photograph high school seniors throughout the South East Michigan region; Detroit, Royal Oak, Berkley, Auburn Hills, Rochester, Birmingham, Brandon Township, Goodrich, Waterford, although my photography studio is actually located in Clarkston. For seniors, each shoot is completely customized--even getting into a little of a model look photography! Popular photography locations for High School Seniors are Baycourt Park, Clarkston’s Depot Park, Independence Oaks off Sashabaw in Clarkston, Davisburg Michigan, and anywhere within a 50 mile radius of Clarkston, Michigan!

    After getting your senior photographed, family photography should also be considered! It’s super fun, especially after I’ve gotten to know you! The family photography through Flashes of Life is also tons of fun—I get to photograph on-location, whether it’s at your house, or one of the popular locations for High School Seniors. All personalized, and in that true photographic journalistic style, to capture your family in a true way. Many of my clients choose to do canvas art-work for their home, with the family pictures that show a true representative of their family group. Expressions and personality abound!

    For a sum up: people ask what kind of photography I create. I’m not an all-around girl, actually. I am definitely a South East Michigan Detroit people photographer person. I kinda avoid anything that isn’t people-photography related! Anything else doesn’t have the personality for me!

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    Senior Photography



    When people ask me how I started my photography business, I usually joke around and say, “I have a secret weapon!” My secret weapon is my business-minded husband, who has been the greatest partner and butt-kicker I could have asked for. My first year of marriage was my first year of business, and I was proudly the official photographer of Clarkston Michigan High School Seniors. Did I say how many I photographed? Eight. I photographed a grand total of eight high school seniors. I think I had one wedding that year as well. When I look back only four years ago, to the beginning, I laugh at myself. I remember feeling totally overwhelmed, and like I wouldn’t be able to keep up with work. Okay, granted, those eight students came within four weeks of each other…but oh my god, really!? I’m pretty sure I didn’t know the value of hard work. Anyway, though, the summer was fun. I tried so hard. We went to the local parks of Clarkston, shooting photography all over the place. I photographed at Clarkston’s Depot Park, Baycourt Park, and…you know? I don’t think we even hit my favorite place now, Independence Oaks. We did all sorts of artistic senior photography around Clarkston. At least, photos that I thought were artistic. Mostly, my shots were crooked and used a lot of flash. When I look back at what I did that summer, I’m just slightly embarrassed, but also see the cuteness of it. Every time I took up the camera, I felt like my hands were shaking! I wondered if my eight clients and their mothers would see that I felt like a fraud. I wondered if they thought I was a real photographer. I wondered if they thought my photography was artistic, or if they liked my camera tilts as much as I did (I don’t think they did, btw). I had one sporty girl, who totally went into model-photography as we shot. I was so pleased with her shoot, and thought it was the best I’d ever done. Actually, it probably was the best I had ever done…but looking back, again, I feel that twinge of “gosh, wasn’t I cute?” And cute, in like a patronizing way. Now, it’s totally different. First of all, I feel totally different. And my photography is totally different. It still has sparks of the old tilt, but the senior photography I do now, all over southeast Michigan, is beautiful. Although maybe in four years I will change my mind again. By the way, I photograph more than eight high school seniors now. And we do real on-location senior photography now. High School Senior Photography all over Southeast Michigan, servicing Detroit, Royal Oak, Berkley, Milford, Waterford, Brandon Township, Goodrich, and of course, where my photography studio is located, Clarkston Michigan! We are right off Dixie Highway, right by downtown Clarkston and M-15.

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    Standard Senior Sitting Fee: $200

    Session includes a 2-3 hour shoot, unlimited outfits, and on-location. Completely customized to your personality and interests. Submission of the yearbook photograph is included.

    There is freedom from packages, freedom from manipulation, and freedom from hidden costs. There are really only 2 rules:
    1.) A minimum print order of $275, due the day of your shoot
    2.) All goods and services are subject to a 6% sales tax

    Please bring your school’s yearbook guidelines

    Print Collection:
    Pick 50 of your favorite photographs from the session for a collection of 4x6 prints. If your print order is between $300 and $500 dollars, a print collection is $150. If your print order is more than $500, a print collection is $115

    Prints
    4x6 $20.00 -- 5 or more for $15 a print
    5x7 $23.00 -- 3-6 for $20.00 --- 7 or more for $17.50 a print
    8x10 $33.00 -- 3 or more for $27.00 a print
    11x14 $72.00
    16x20 $135.00
    20x24 $165.00
    Books Starting at $230

    Graduation Cards: 8x4-$1.50 per card. Customized upon request. Other sizes available

    . Wallets (Wallets are sold on a per sheet basis. 8 wallets of the same picture equal one sheet). To obtain the savings below: You pick ½ as many poses as sheets. Ex. 8 sheets equals 4 poses.
    1 sheet $19.50
    6 sheets $107 (savings of $10)
    8 sheets $135 (savings of $21)
    10 sheets $167 (savings of $28)
    Foil name stamping- $15 dollars extra
    Name in Photoshop- free
    3x3” Mini Books--* must be bought in groups of 3 -- $100
    All prices are to be considered guidelines and are subject to change. Final prices will be determined after consulting with the artist.

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    The Artists Story

    Flashes of Life Photography was essentially born out of an experience I had while learning photography in college. I had just gotten back from a photography conference where the emphasis was more on who the person is, rather than straight fashion photography or pretty portraiture. A week later, I photographed a 10-year old girl in a studio setting fora college project, when destiny occurred. As I was photographing the girl, she began opening up who she was, and I found myself genuinely enjoying our interaction, not just the act of photographing. This shoot produced a great set of photos, a collection my professor referred to as, “A collection of images showing the craziness of 10-year-old Americans.” I then realized I could do this for the rest of my life.

    This is what makes Flashes of Life unique. I want to authentically photograph whoever is in front of my camera. To capture who they are, right at that moment. As people become comfortable and feel free to express their personality (combined with mad photo skills) great images naturally follow.

    As you look at our pictures and our packaging (or lack thereof), you see an experience that is designed around you.


    Once upon a time there was an artist, a business guy, and a dog...

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    Contact Page:

    I’m glad you made it to the contact page of Flashes of Life Photography! Super excited for you to visit and get to know us.

    Our Photography Studio is located in Clarkston Michigan, and we photograph weddings, high school seniors, newborns, and family portraits.

    Our business number is 248.535.6156.

    Our email is folphotography@live.com.

    Our studio is off Dixie Highway, Clarkston, Michigan.


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    South East Michigan Wedding Photographer

    The first wedding I ever photographed was at Port Austin, a beautiful lighthouse off one of Michigan Great Lakes, Lake Huron. I was so nervous to be chosen as my friend’s destination wedding photographer! I told her that I didn’t think I was ready, but she assured me…that if I didn’t do it, no one would be photographing the wedding. The entire day was a complete adrenaline rush for me. My husband said my camera was always up in my face, and my shoulders hunched over in a tense “I’m ready to shoot” position…all day. He makes fun of me to this day for it. However, we had some beautiful wedding photography over the great lake, and the Port Austin lighthouse was awesome. Sure—I missed a lot, but I also got a lot! It was an eye-opening day to realize how a photographer captures those special journalistic moments between a bride and her father, a groom and his brother, and yes—also trying to avoid the relatives shooting in the background! My friend’s grandma followed from a distance, and in some of the environmental shots, she was in the frame. We called her afterwards, “The ghost.” She was in this frame—oh, but not in that frame!” My second wedding photographed was my brothers, over at the Detroit Zoo. Okay—went from being a destination wedding photographer, to a Detroit Zoo wedding photographer—polar bears and all! It was challenging, since we were in the butterfly house, there wasn’t a lot of room to move around in. Also, being a sibling was challenging! Next, another friend was married—and we did her wedding photographs at the Detroit Institute of Arts! Doing wedding photography at the Detroit Institute of Arts was challenging—they didn’t allow a tripod, and no flash. My equipment wasn’t as good as it is now, so I learned as much as I could to use my equipment to the best of ability, and shot away. I had a blast. My first real paid wedding was next—the location? St Johns church in Detroit. Doing wedding photography at St. Johns was challenging as well, except I had better equipment and could use a tripod. Super low-light challenge there, but we ended up with beautiful pictures! We also scooted over to Comerica park to get a few wedding photographs, and that was super fun. After those four events, wedding photography started making sense to me. I loved the emotion, and the impact artistic wedding photos could make. I also realized that I had a gift of capturing intimate moments, in a non-obtrusive journalistic wedding photography way. I started shooting a lot more weddings, all over SouthEast Michigan and a little beyond; Detroit, Waterford, Clarkston, Brandon Township, Shelby Township, Rochester, Birmingham, Holly, Goodrich. Although I’m a wedding photographer based out of Clarkston Michigan, I have no problem driving within a 50mi radius, without extra cost to you as a bride! All wedding packages have full day coverage, with journalistic photos from preparation to reception, and usually an hour or two in-between for some truly special artistic wedding photography. I do love to travel too! So if you’re looking for a destination wedding photographer, consider Flashes of Life! Based out of Clarkston, available world-wide.

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    Southeast Michigan Newborn Photography

    My first newborn ever photographed, was only a somewhat newborn. It was my nephew, at 3 months old. It was a really terrible shoot; it was at my dad’s office in Clarkston Michigan, where I had set up my studio lights. I had no idea what I was doing. The fact that I had to POSE the baby, just completely disorientated me. I tried the best I could, but it was a very…uh, blob-like photo shoot. It got much better from there. The next newborn photographed was 3 weeks old, a little difficult to work with, but so much more, well—newborn! I posed him and patted him, and photographed his tiny little self. The pictures from his shoot were glorious. I was in-love—with newborn photography, and with my little subject. He was a newborn photographed out of Waterford—I still was a little afraid to attempt it in Clarkston again, until a year later. Haha! Then it was a freebie. She was a preemie baby, who was actually photographed 4 months old on her due date. Ava was so tiny, and I was so nervous to photograph her tiny newborn body! I held her in my hands, and she barely cried. Her mom said, “You’re so good with babies!” I was just hoping she didn’t see how nervous I was to hold such a tiny one. Since then, I have loved holding the newborns just as much! From a “Rachel can you photograph your nephew?” to a full-fledged par of my business, Flashes of Life Photography would be more than happy to photograph your newborn. As a professional child and maternity photographer in Southeast Michigan, servicing Detroit, Royal Oak, Berkley, Clarkston, Waterford, Goodrich, Brandon, Keego Harbor, Milford, Holly, Independence Township, and most of Oakland County. For newborns, I specialize in documenting your story in a professional way. From pregnancy and maternity portraits, to newborn photography, to baby and child photography, and black and white photography. As your chosen Newborn photographer, I would love to help you capture your baby in that precious moment in time, to photograph her with artistic expression—from black and white classic newborn photography, to hippie-chick baby and fairy look!

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