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Why to Book a Summer Photo Session

Fall is notoriously the busiest time for family and senior photos, and for good reason. A Michigan fall is beautiful. The leaves are changing. The freshness of the school year feels like an ideal time to document your growing family. We’re only just months away from needing Christmas cards. And fall in Michigan means winter is coming next.

But with the popularity of fall sessions, sometimes the beauty and simplicity of summer sessions is lost. Here are five reasons why a summer photo session might be a better fit for your family:

1. Flexible schedules. Fall is FULL. Once school starts back up, weekends tend to get booked up quickly. In summer, you can more easily book a weekday session or find a weekend that isn’t so crazy full. A summer evening when you don’t have anything else going on will allow us to slow down, enjoy the session, and not be so rushed to get to the next activity or beat the sun from going down.

2. Nicer weather. Summer gets a bad rap for the heat, but since we’ll shoot in the morning or evening, we’ll avoid the hottest parts of the day. There’s no need to worry about the unexpected but inevitable October frost. Bonus, you can dress in your favorite sundress, sandals, and shorts… without needing a winter coat!

3. Nature is brimming with life. If you love green trees and gardens full of flowers (or, my personal favorite, fields of wildflowers!), there is no better season in Michigan than summer. If your wardrobe and home decor style leans towards bright, happy colors, you’ll fit in more comfortably with a summer backdrop.

4. The golden summer sun. Sunshine is beautiful no matter what time of year, but nothing beats the golden August sun in the hour before sunset.

5. A chance to get a head start on Christmas cards and gifts. If you’re anything like me, you tend to procrastinate, and Christmas cards turn into New Year’s cards. 2020 is your year to plan ahead! When you have a summer session, you will have your photos back in plenty of time, and you can actually –get this– enjoy December.

If you’re ready to start chatting about your summer 2020 session, send me a message today!

2020 Sessions during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Capturing the joy of these days is so important, even in uncertain times. But just as so much of our world has changed, your 2020 photo session may look a little different. Same joy, love, and light — but all done with safety measures to keep you and your family safe and healthy.

To reduce the spread of disease, I will be wearing a mask to all photography sessions. Newborn sessions can be held outdoors if a family requests.

I will practice frequent and thorough hand washing, and I will minimize touching subjects during sessions. I will use longer focal lenses so that we can stay six feet away as much as possible, which will still allow us to capture images that seem like we are closer. I will only conduct one photography session a day at this time for your safety.

I am altering my reschedule policy at this time. If anyone in my household, including myself, has been sick in any way within the last two weeks, I will reschedule your session. I’m asking that my clients do the same. I promise to make room in my schedule for all rescheduling needs.

The above policies are subject to change as orders and guidelines change.

It is my honor to photographing you and your loved ones, and I appreciate you so much.

Ready to book? Contact me today!

Ezra // newborn

I am so pleased to share our newest addition with you today. Meet Ezra.

A little of our birth story, if you’re into that kind of thing:

He was due to arrive in the middle of the craziest, hottest summer. He was supposed to be my August birthday buddy. He was supposed to make his arrival in that sweet spot between settling into our new house and the school year starting.

And really, everything had been falling in place… we found our new house the day after we closed on our previous. We got the keys nearly a month earlier than originally promised. We were good to go.

July 19. The Pods were on the driveway. We had volunteers lined up to help unload. I spent the 100-degree day gathering our belongings, ready to move in and settle in and fulfill my nesting needs.

July 20. 1 a.m. Three weeks before the due date. My water had very obviously broken. We throw a few essentials in bags (I had been packing to move in to our new house, remember, not heading hospital!). I assumed we’d be sent back home. No contractions, I felt fine, we were supposed to move in the morning.

Turns out (and a PSA for anyone as uninformed as myself), once your water breaks, the baby needs to be delivered within 24 hours. After hours of waiting, no sleep, texting the wonderful people unloading a house’s worth belongings, getting to know the nurse, playing card games, a second dose of Miso – the contractions finally picked up. 

I go from mild crampiness to an intense “wooooaah, this really is happening today” pretty quick. We went for a walk to help get things going, and I couldn’t stand more than a lap or two. Soon enough, it was time (surprising the nurses and OB). Two pushes, and this baby boy was delivered.

Ezra Thomas, my third boy — who besides God would have thought or imagined? Nothing as I planned, exactly as HE planned. Almost three months later, and we’re still finding our way through this crazy season, taking it one day at a time.

Elijah // class of 2019

Eli –my littlest brother, my tallest brother– is graduating from Munising High School this weekend. He’s graduating at the top of his class, with countless athletic accomplishments. As big (short) sister, I am just so proud of those accomplishments, but even more so, of who the man of God he has grown to be. He stands firm in his convictions, he’s a creative problem solver, and he’s an awesome uncle to my boys.

Elijah plans to attend Concordia University Ann Arbor (my alma mater!) in the fall, in education. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him there!

Michaela // class of 2019

Four hundred miles north of here, on the shore of Lake Superior, sits the small town of Munising. When I mentioned Munising to people, they either mention the snow, or how beautiful it is. Both are quite true statements. It’s Michigan at its purest, and I couldn’t ask for a better place to go “home” to… although I never lived there myself, my parents and a few of my younger siblings have made it home, and it’s a joy to get to know it in all of its seasons.

But this post isn’t about Munising in particular. Munising only sets the scene for us, as the home of a soon-to-be graduate of Munising High School. Top of her class, high achieving athlete, involved in extracurriculars: here is Michaela. I could probably gush about how I’ve enjoying watching her grow up into the beautiful young woman she is today. It is such a gift to have a sibling a decade younger: it makes me feel old when they celebrate milestones such as this, but I so treasure our relationship.

Done gushing. On to this gorgeous girl’s senior session!

Next year, Michaela’s headed to Concordia University Ann Arbor, where she’ll play volleyball and study business. I’m thrilled to have her closer, and to be able to cheer her on! Congratulations on all you’ve achieved, sister!

<3 Abi

ABI Schmit PHOTOGRAPHY

formerly abi s photography

Serving Ann Arbor & Beyond

ABI S PHOTOGRAPHY

Serving Ann Arbor,
Detroit & Beyond