The Camera Chick

Our pictures are still a work in progress (it’s been less than a week since our wedding), but as far as the ‘day of’ Sandy and Tim hit it out of the park. First, they arrived wearing our wedding colors, which speaks to their attention to detail! Immediately I was at ease with them, and by the end of the evening it felt more like they were friends than hired photographers. I was sad to see them leave!
We did many of the wedding party and family photos before the ceremony, which I highly recommend if you intend to enjoy your reception. As we were planning the pre-​ceremony photo session my husband was concerned that the ‘first look’ photos would feel hooky — as it was Tim and Sandy put him at ease and it was a very special experience for him.
Throughout the evening, Sandy was like a bridesmaid, best friend and outside observer rolled into one — she helped me with wardrobe tape when I was dressing, chased me around with bobby pins toward the end of the evening when my hair started to fall, and with Tim’s help kept order in the sweetest way as we attempted to get through our shot list. By the end of the night we had photos will all our guests without feeling as if even a fraction of the night was spent posing for the camera.
I am so excited to see our photos — Sandy and Tim were so creative (while still being down to earth) that I have no doubt we’ll find at least a few to treasure always.

Sandy did my maternity photos when we were expecting our 2^nd daughter and she did not disappoint. We loved every last one. Book her way in advance-she’s very popular!

«Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.” — Ambrose Bierce
I’ve always hated getting pictures taken, even as a child. Posing, forcing a smile, holding still– it all feels so unnatural. Staring at a lens is like staring down the barrel of a gun; I freeze uncomfortably in position, ready to bolt the minute that I have an opportunity. The end result is that nearly every picture of me showcases my awkwardness, and could easily be mistaken as an ad for Imodium AD.
Enter The Camera Chick. Not only am I overwhelmed by the quality of her work, I’m equally impressed by her ability to make me feel comfortable and natural during the whole picture taking process. It’s rare to find a photographer who combines professionalism and candor to such a degree; throughout the shoot, we laughed, smiled, and joked. I felt like I was just having a good time, talking to a friend– and the end results show just how much that helps to create a GREAT photo, rather than one that’s just good.
One of the reasons that I opted to use her is the abundance of portfolio work she displays online, and the positive feedback she’s gotten on Facebook. Additionally, I found out while talking to her that in 2011 she competed for the first time in the Detroit A List and Channel 4 «Vote4theBest», snagging 2^nd and 1^st place respectively. No small feat for a young startup! It really goes to show how strongly her customers feel about the quality of her work.
Above all else, though, it needs to be mentioned that this is a boutique service, not Olan Mills. What that means is that you’re getting something you can’t get in the photo studio at the mall: superior service and photos that are stylistically different. If I needed a quick, straightforward picture of myself to send to a distant family member to let them know I’m alive and haven’t devolved into quasimodo fugliness, I wouldn’t go to The Camera Chick– I’d probably just snap the pic myself. If, however, I wanted to remember a special day/​event, capturing all the moments that you sometimes miss because you’re overwhelmed by everything going on, she’d be the first photographer I’d call. She and her staff are experts at capturing those classic, unscripted moments in the best possible light– this makes her perfect for weddings, allowing the bride and groom to have fun while she works her magic and gets the shots they never would have thought to request. Additionally, she takes the time to review all the pictures she’s taken, and professionally enhances/​edits them– no more shiny forehead (my personal problem) at the end of a long evening, no too-​dark pictures, etc.
With competitive prices and a 3 week turnaround time on picture delivery, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that her availability gets sucked up pretty quickly. During my photo shoot she told me that weddings need to be booked well in advance: she’s already filled most of her weekends in 2012, and quite a few in 2013. I’d recommend anyone looking to book her for a wedding do so at the earliest possible time, so as not to wind up disappointed and having to settle for a photographer that’ll give them the same old posed pictures everyone expects to have.