Blog | Mezzaninehttps://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/2024-03-29T01:18:37+00:00BlogFilm Wedding Photography at West Michigan's Felt Mansion2020-08-04T10:22:44+00:002024-03-29T01:18:37+00:00adminhttps://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/author/admin/https://briandsmithphotography.com/stories/film-wedding-photography-at-west-michigans-felt-mansion/<h2>About the West Michigan Wedding Editorial at Felt Mansion</h2>
<p>Felt Mansion was the first stop for Emily of Connolly House Events and I on a 5 day road trip through Michigan, touring the most stand out wedding venues that the state has to offer. Emily and I both share a passion for elevating Michigan wedding style and fashion and when we had the opportunity to piece together an editorial on our road trip, we took the opportunity to showcase some fashionable Michigan love. A real couple, killer native Michigan florals, artful hair and makeup, a classic dress silhouette and brilliant vision came together on a sunny West Michigan evening. The result became some of my most effortlessly romantic bride and groom portraits to date - all shot on 35mm and medium format film. </p>
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<p><img alt="felt mansion wedding portrait photography by brian d smith photography with out of focus bride and groom on 35mm film" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00054_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<h3>The West Michigan Wedding Vendor Team</h3>
<p>Photography: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://briandsmithphotography.com/" target="_blank" title="http://briandsmithphotography.com/">Brian D Smith Photography</a></span> / <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/briandsmithphotography/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/briandsmithphotography/">https://www.instagram.com/briandsmithphotography/</a></span></p>
<p>Planning + Design: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.connollyhouseevents.com/" target="_blank" title="https://www.connollyhouseevents.com/">Connolly House Events</a></span> / <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/connollyhouseevents/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/connollyhouseevents/">https://www.instagram.com/connollyhouseevents/</a></span></p>
<p>Floral Design: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.cassandjean.com/" target="_blank" title="https://www.cassandjean.com/">Cass and Jean Flower Co.</a></span> / <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/cass_and_jeanflowerco/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/cass_and_jeanflowerco/">https://www.instagram.com/cass_and_jeanflowerco/</a></span></p>
<p>Venue: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.feltmansion.org/" target="_blank" title="https://www.feltmansion.org/">Felt Mansion</a></span><span> </span>/ <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/eventsatfelt/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/eventsatfelt/">https://www.instagram.com/eventsatfelt/</a></span></p>
<p>Hair + Makeup Artist: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://wildemeraldbridal.com/" target="_blank" title="http://wildemeraldbridal.com/">Wild Emerald Bridal</a></span> / <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/wild.emerald.bridal/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/wild.emerald.bridal/">https://www.instagram.com/wild.emerald.bridal/</a></span></p>
<p>Dress Boutique: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.springsweet.com/bridal" target="_blank" title="http://www.springsweet.com/bridal">Spring Sweet Bridal</a></span> / <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/springsweetbridal/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/springsweetbridal/">https://www.instagram.com/springsweetbridal/</a></span></p>
<p>Couple: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/jess_brinks/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/jess_brinks/">https://www.instagram.com/jess_brinks/</a></span> / <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mynameisjaroldo/" target="_blank" title="https://www.instagram.com/mynameisjaroldo/">https://www.instagram.com/mynameisjaroldo/</a></span></p>
<h3>About The Michigan Wedding Couple</h3>
<p>Jessica and Jared met while studying at the IIT Institute of Design in Chicago. Both are charasmatic, ethusiastic entrepreneurs - their first extensive formal encounter being at a mentorship program for creative minds in business at the college. Jessica is sophisticated and classic. Jared is a renaissance type man. They are a power couple in the most figurative sense of the phrase. Most importantly, they genuinely love eachother and in an outwardly expressive way. They are quiet in demeanor and expressions of affection but I felt every pause, every whisper and every gaze come through in the imagery. There is a quiet poeticism to their love, and I'm not sure I've ever seen it so well reflected in photographs as I did in this michigan wedding editorial. Love is bountiful and plentiful in the world, but it is a rare thing to find a love with such a deep sense of affection and appreciation for one another. This editorial just happened to correspond with the 1 year anniversary of their wedding and I'm so happy to capture their love still going strong after this trip around the sun. I very much want to thank Jared and his affectionate little wing nut for being such cool, romantic souls. </p>
<p><img alt="bride and groom portrait on medium format kodak film at west michigan wedding venue felt mansion" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00046_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<p><img alt="35mm film photograph of bride and wedding dress at sunset at felt mansion by brian d smith photography" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00065_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<h2>Why I Love West Michigan Wedding Venue - Felt Mansion</h2>
<p>Felt Mansion is a dynamic wedding venue with rich history. In the 3 hours we were shooting, I never ran out of unique backdrops for portraits. The venue, itself, features beautiful architecture and a ceremony location the likes of which I have never seen. The grounds it sits on backs up to a sprawling golden grass field - my favorite nature marvel in all of Michigan. I longingly gaze out on its golden grass fields during my long car rides through the state and whenever I have the chance to photograph amongst them, I'm in a wedding photographer's paradise. The inside of the property is well curated and serves as a museum to the mansion's original state when it was a home to a welathy investor - before being gifted to the state. Felt Mansion brilliantly combines historic, romantic architecture (almost remniscent of detroit) with the idyllic beauty of western and northern Michigan, all in one wedding venue. I could photograph here for hours and never get bored of the scenery and never run out of new spots to photograph...and we didn't even have the chance to photograph inside! </p>
<p>If you'd like to see a detailed tour of the interior and exterior of the property, and a tour of all my favorite Michigan wedding venues, check out Connolly House Events and I's blog post from our <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/5-days-and-a-tour-of-michigans-best-wedding-venues/" target="_blank" title="https://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/5-days-and-a-tour-of-michigans-best-wedding-venues/">5 Day Road Trip To the Best Michigan Wedding Venues</a></span>.</p>
<p><img alt="black and white film portrait of bride and groom at felt mansion wedding by brian d smith photography on hasselblad and kodak t-max 400" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00011_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<h2>Why You Should Hire Me For Your Felt Mansion Wedding</h2>
<p>I like to let the images speak for themselves. In my blogpost about <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/5-days-and-a-tour-of-michigans-best-wedding-venues/" target="_blank" title="https://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/5-days-and-a-tour-of-michigans-best-wedding-venues/">Michigan's Best Wedding Venues</a></span>, I touched on all the beautiful styling details and history of the venue that I loved. I love that it stands for something greater than just a venue to make a profit. It stands for preservation and history and I think that is such a romantic backdrop for something as timeless as marriage. I'm genuinely proud of the images we created here. I'm proud of this team and I think they are my most romantic couple's portraits to date. The venue let me inspired and I think it shines through in the images and I'd love to see what I can create for you at your wedding. I still feel like there are so many spots on the property that I have yet to explore. I shoot entirely on film, 35mm and medium format. It's the perfect medium for showcasing that beautiful, golden Michigan light. Most importantly, no one will work harder to tell your story in a unique way that showcases who you are in the greater context of this property. Art through storytelling is always most important to me when photographing anything and I promise you we will create something equally beautiful as these images, but alltogether, entirely different. Importantly, I am committed to any kind of love and any love story. I celebrate all couples, LGBTQ, all races, all religions and believe so deeply in the right of everyone to pursue happiness and love to their fullest extent. </p>
<p><img alt="felt mansion wedding portrait on 35mm film by michigan wedding photographer brian d smith of couple in golden field" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00056_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<h3>Felt Mansion Ceremony Locations</h3>
<p>Here are the two most popular ceremony locations at Felt Mansion, West Michigan wedding venue. The first location is a long walkway out to a circular platform surrounded by a reflecting pond. The beautiful evergreen backing, pink flowers greeting you at the entrance to the pool, and long isolated walkway make this such a unique spot to say I do in Michigan.</p>
<p><img alt="wedding ceremony location at felt mansion in west michigan of bride and groom on medium format film with pink flowers" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00111_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<p>The second location features an adorable white church atop a small hill facing West Michigan's gorgeous, golden grass fields. </p>
<p><img alt="bride and groom in front of church ceremony location at felt mansion best michigan wedding venue by brian d smith photography" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00097_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<p>Check out these amazing florals! Wild Flowers local to West Michigan, too.</p>
<p><img alt="michigan florist bouquet with wild flowers on 35mm film by brian d smith" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00009_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
<p>Michigan light and film go so perfectly together with timeless, affectionate love. </p>
<p><img alt="michigan wedding photographer portrait on medium format film at felt mansion by brian d smith photography" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/stories/connolly-felt/2006-felt-mansion-michigan-wedding-editorial-film-photography-brian-d-smith-00080_web.jpg" width="600"/></p>
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<p><span></span><em>FROM BRIAN D SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY</em></p>
<p><span>If you are inspired by what you read, I'd love to invite you to reach out about the wedding photography services I offer. My guarantee is that you won't find a photographer that cares more about you and your story than I. I'm endlessly passionate about telling stories on film and pushing the boundaries of art in wedding photography. I'd be thrilled to work for you and document your wedding and tell your unique story with an artful eye. I celebrate all couples, LGBTQ and straight. I celebrate all races and backgrounds, and there isn't a soul in this world that doesn't have an inspiring story to be told. </span></p>
<p><span>If you'd like more info about this post, would just like to chat, or are ready to book, reach out to me by visiting my contact page here</span><span>!</span></p>
<h3><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span><a href="http://briandsmithphotography.com/contactpage/" title="http://briandsmithphotography.com/contactpage/">Contact Brian D Smith Photography</a></span></span></h3>My Cousin's Colorful Kentucky Farm Wedding2019-03-12T11:53:44+00:002024-03-28T18:20:33+00:00adminhttps://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/author/admin/https://briandsmithphotography.com/stories/my-cousins-colorful-kentucky-farm-wedding/<p>I had the pleasure of photographing my cousin Julia's wedding on a farm in the small town of Maysville. It's strange photographing a younger family member. In your eyes they are always young. It's beautiful to watch family grow up, but strange at the same time, as they always seem young in your eyes. I grew up going to their family farm in a small town in Kentucky and it meant a lot to me to return and have the opportunity to photograph their story in that very town. There is so much overlooked beauty in America's farmland. Everytime I make the drive through kentucky and mid ohio, I am always fascinated with the beautiful golden light reflecting off the earth toned landscape. Here is Julia and Ryan's story - love in a peaceful Kentucky farm town. </p>Local Fall Florals and a Michigan Bride - Styled Shoot2019-01-15T11:39:35+00:002024-03-28T18:21:42+00:00adminhttps://briandsmithphotography.com/blog/author/admin/https://briandsmithphotography.com/stories/sleeping-bear-national-lakeshore-michigan-fall-floral-bridal/<p>There isn't much I love more than a Michigan Fall. The colors, the smells and the light all come together to provide a sense of peace and calm. I spent my 2018 summer up in Michigan, living out of my family's small lakeside cottage, photographing weddings. Northern Michigan is special to me for so many reasons, but the fall is nearly indescribable. I wanted to create an homage to the feeling of a Michigan fall with a styled bridal shoot. </p>
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<p>MODEL: Samantha, Insta @daisyraetravel | FLORALS: Derek at The Floral Underground, Insta @floralunderground, <a href="https://floralunderground.com/" target="_blank">https://floralunderground.com/</a> </p>
<p>DRESS BOUTIQUE: One Oak Bride, Insta @oneoakbride, <a href="http://oneoakbride.com/">http://oneoakbride.com/</a> | DRESS: Kim from @truvellebridal, <a href="https://truvelle.com/">https://truvelle.com/</a></p>
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<p><img alt="fall-michigan-ring-sun-flare-florals-sony-a7iii-model-bridal-styled" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/projects/sam-fall-floral/1809-michigan-sam-fall-film-field-styled-bridal-56_web.jpg" width="400"/></p>
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<p>I met Sam, the model, on facebook and worked on two projects with her, all in the same day. We were photographing for 8 hours that day and she could not have been better to work with. We bonded over music tastes and a love for travel, and I cannot wait to reconnect with her when I return to Michigan for the 2019 summer. The flowers are from The Floral Underground, a traverse city based floral designer. I found Derek and his company on facebook, as well, and instantly knew he was the right fit. He had a background in competitive floral design, and I knew he would be able to take a vision and run with it. His knowledge of local michigan florals was exactly what I needed. He did justice to the beauty of Michigan's historic lakeshore, and exceeded my every expectation. The gorgeous dress and silk shawl came from the wonderful folks at One Oak Bride in downtown Traverse City. Annie and Renee are wonderful people, and they've curated a lovely boutique environment fitting for one of, if not the most, importrant decision of a Bride's wedding planning. I cannot recommend their boutique or their services enough. </p>
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<p><img alt="kodak-ektar-michigan-fall-lakeshore-styled-bridal-film-gf670" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/projects/sam-fall-floral/1809-michigan-sam-fall-film-field-styled-bridal-46_web.jpg" width="400"/></p>
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<p>This shoot produed one of my happiest experiments in film to date, and probably my favorite results from film to date. I shot a roll of 15 year expired Kodak Ektachrome E100SW through my trusty Canon Eos 1V. I had never shot color positive (reversal) film before, let alone something 15 years expired. The results blew me away. There was a orange/golden warmth to the images that I've never before seen in a film stock. It perfectly captured the glow of a fall sunset, and lit Sam's hair with the most beautiful shades of gold. I am going to write a full blog post on my experiences with this film stock soon. </p>
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<p><img alt="kodak-e100sw-ektachrome-expired-film-35mm-fall-michigan-empire" src="https://briandsmithphotography.com/static/media/uploads/blog/projects/sam-fall-floral/1809-michigan-sam-fall-film-field-styled-bridal-50_web.jpg" width="400"/></p>
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<p>I hope these images provide you a sense of Michigan's beauty, but as I tell everyone that asks - "you just have to see it"</p>