East Lansing Photographer-Todd L Church-Wedding and Portrait Specialist» wedding photography

More from Claudia at Phatpuppy

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:31:00 +0000

Claudia does it again. She has been using some of my photographs as the basis for her art. We have only been working together for a week and so far she’s edited four photos and had one accepted for the cover of a new novel. How cool is that?? Both of these are photographic art pieces featuring Allyson B. Rivard and are copyrighted works by Claudia Bartoli-McKinney.

Here Comes the Bride

“Until the 12th of Never”

Michigan State University Alumni Chapel in Winter.

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 00:03:57 +0000

East Lansing had snow last night so I thought I would venture over to the MSU Alumni Chapel to capture some winter photos. I have a few weddings booked there this summer and I thought it would be fun to show the summer and winter versions. I am sorry that this slide show ends abruptly. My hands got cold while I was shooting so I ended the shoot early. Guess I should have taken my gloves with me instead of leaving them behind.

Roy and Dana Stein wedding

Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:19:02 +0000

I shot a wedding last Wednesday for Dana and Roy at the Garland Lodge and Resort in Lewiston Michigan. Dana is my new step-sister. Her mother is married to my dad. I have known Dana ever since she was a baby so it’s a joy to capture her wedding. Our families lived next door to each other for years.

I also had a surprise when met the mother of the groom. She and I once worked together for about 3 or 4 years back in the 80’s. We worked at a mailing presort company called Technisort. It has since been taken over and renamed Presort Services. The mother’s name is Jenny Hackett. I have only seen her a couple times since and I didn’t even recognize her at first. Those were good times. I have fond memories of the people who worked there. We were almost like family. Back then the company was a small start-up. Jenny tells me it has grown and is now a nationally known company. She should know. She’s the Vice President of finance. During the time I worked there I was their sole driver. Today they have a fleet of vehicles and several drivers.

The Garland Resort was a beautiful location that seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere. I have never heard of it and Dana found it only by searching for log cabin resorts in Northern Michigan. The wedding party was dropped off on this path by the golf cart. My father strolled down the path to walk Dana down the isle.

Dana’s wedding was very small. Only close friends and family attended.

Dana seemed to radiate as she walked down the isle.

The service itself only lasted a few moments.

Happiness only takes a moment but the memories can last a lifetime.

I love fall weddings.

Dad and Sue’s Wedding Slideshow.

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:03:10 +0000

My father, who is in his mid-seventies, was married recently to Sue Taggart, a woman who was our next-door neighbor when I was growing up. Sues’ son, Brent, was my best friend and Sue was like a second mother. Our families often went on camping trips together. We sometimes camped at the Interlochen State Park.

Sue’s husband recently passed away and she and my dad decided they didn’t have much time left so they had better act fast and get married while they were still young.

I was their chosen wedding photographer. I created a cute wedding slide show for them. It’s a little long and probably not exciting for anyone other than immediate family but if you dare to watch it all the way though you’ll see a sweet love story and a happy couple.

Click on the photo below to see the show.

Jessica and Kyle’s Spring Romance Photo Shoot in Northern Michigan.

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 11:28:07 +0000

I wanted to post a video slide show from Jessica and Kyle’s spring photo shoot but unfortunately the music starts as soon as you open the blog. It also causes the blog to run slowly. So instead of posting it here I thought I would just give you the link and you can check it out on your own. It is not your typical slide show. It was created frame-by-frame to be unique as a special keepsake. We shot in various locations around Traverse City.

Click the photo above to see the show. Don’t forget to click “Loop All” once you get there.

Matt and Kristie’s Engagement shoot on the Beach in Frankfort Michigan

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 00:55:29 +0000

I took these photos a little while ago and I haven’t had the chance to post them. Matt and Kristie hired me to shoot their summer wedding so I offered to shoot their engagement session as well. We met at the beach in Frankfort, Michigan and set out to take advantage of the beautiful fall colors. The foliage was just right and the natural lighting was spectacular.

I loved the clouds that day. The sun was peeking through at just the right moments. We had to work around a wedding party who was also getting photographed on the beach that day. I am looking forward to this wedding. They are getting married on the beach in Frankfort. I am sure the wedding is going to be wonderful.

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Fun with Photoshop Actions.

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:39:17 +0000

I downloaded a fun action today from Deke McClelland’s website. http://www.deke.com. Photoshop actions are a set of instructions that you can load onto a photograph to automate an effect. The water droplet effect turned out pretty good. It was completely automated in Photoshop. This is a photo of Meg Howard that I took last year in Traverse City. The water droplet effect seems to give the photo a story. You can almost image a bride watching as her new husband goes out to sea or some other sad tragedy that occurred on her wedding day. The water droplets represent the tears.