Featured In The Knot Michigan

January 22, 2020

It’s always fun to see the hard work of my couples featured in print. The Knot Michigan recently featured Lauren and Tom’s Ford Piquette Plant wedding in their Spring/Summer 2020 print edition.

Special thanks to the other wedding vendors who made it possible:

Simply Brilliant Events, Nicola Wilson (event planning)
Ruby Slipper Design, Sandra Bostwick (floral design)

The Knot Michigan print magazine Spring/Summer edition

Michigan State Fall Senior Photos on North Campus

January 16, 2020

Ideas and locations for a Michigan State University fall senior photo session on north campus by Allie Siarto Photography, East Lansing Photographers.

Taylor graduates in the spring, but she loves the fall and wanted to capture her MSU senior portraits on north campus during peak fall colors (she’s from Texas and totally appreciates Michigan’s changing seasons). Taylor scheduled an extended 90 minute session so we could reach as many landmarks as possible during her session, and her mom came along to help with the puppy and other accessories.

Most students plan their senior photos at the end of April or early May when Spring flowers are at their peak (see a few examples and ideas here and here, or browse all senior sessions for ideas on my gallery page), but fall is a great time to highlight all of those energetic colors that spread across campus.

Pros and Cons for Fall Versus Spring Senior Photos

Fall can be a bit more windy and chilly, so it’s a good idea to bring along extra hairspray and a jacket (Taylor wore a plush green jacket over her white dress).
My fall calendar fills up quickly, so if you’re thinking about a fall session, be sure to book in early summer.
Spring tends to be very rainy, so be prepared for your session to be rescheduled in case of rain.
Key campus locations get very crowded in the weeks leading up to Spring graduation. You’ll likely need to bring a helper to jump in line for you at Beaumont and Sparty. I’ve seen the wait get as long as 20 or more minutes for a few quick photos. The crowds die down after graduation, and I’ve never had an issue with crowds at these locations during the week in the fall.

Learn More About Senior Photos >

East Lansing Personal Branding Photography Session: Beyonce Meets Literature

December 11, 2019

personal branding photography session in East Lansing, Michigan, by Allie & Co. Photographers

I had a lot of fun designing personal branding sessions this year. Here’s a small sampling of the direction Kinitra gave me in her Story Session Questionnaire:

Why did you decide to do a personal branding session?

I want to make sure I maintain control of my visuals and branding as my career expands beyond the scholarly work I currently do. I am expanding into more creative works (graphic novels, trade books, speaking engagements). Also, I want to make sure I maintain a certain flair and freedom as an Endowed Chair, which can be seen as a pretty “stodgy” appointment. I’m not stodgy. I am also well onto the path of becoming a Full Professor and want to make sure I have the personal visual narrative for that journey to heightening my national and international status as a scholar.

What specific stories, events, routines, or rituals do you want to share with these images?

Confidence, a kinetic stillness. Intelligent glamour. Reading, Researching, and Public Speaking. Mastery over intersections of race, gender, and popular culture. Tangential connection with Beyonce’s Lemonade. Southern Conjure Culture. Black womanhood. Black New Orleans. Fantasy.

Based on the questionnaire answers, I sent over a few location ideas, Kinitra reached out to Kirsten Elle Thompson for styling direction, and we made our final plans.

In the end, Kinitra selected her ten favorites for final retouching.

personal branding photography session on a colorful wall in East Lansing, Michigan, by Allie & Co. Photographers

downtown personal branding photography session in East Lansing, Michigan, by Allie & Co. Photographers

personal branding photography session at Blue Owl Coffee in East Lansing, Michigan, by Allie & Co. Photographers

personal branding photography session downtown in East Lansing, Michigan, by Allie & Co. Photographers

A Late Fall Michigan Barn Wedding at Stone House Farm

December 2, 2019

barn wedding venue photos from Stone House Farm, a Michigan barn wedding venue. Photos by Allie Siarto and Co, Michigan wedding photographers

Learn more about wedding photography

It’s always such a treat to get to explore a new Michigan wedding venue near the Lansing area, and Stone House Farm in Bancroft, Michigan, did not disappoint. Myla and Adam had an outdoor wedding ceremony in mid-November, so they offered their guests cozy warm blankets to snuggle up outside before heading inside to the warm barn for the wedding reception.

The team at Stone House Farm took the wedding party out on a “hayride” to take photos in the gorgeous late afternoon sun, then we all headed back to the farmhouse, where Myla and Adam signed their marriage license.

If you’re thinking about a Michigan barn wedding, here are a few things to love about Stone House Farm:

The newly renovated farm house is the perfect place to get ready, no matter the season.
The staff is amazingly helpful (Chris, the manager, even jumped in to help me carry my bag to the house).
The property offers so many opportunities for photos, and the wagon ride makes it easy for the whole wedding party to get there.
The heated barn is the perfect blank canvas to create a wedding of any style. I loved that Myla and Adam used a mix of china styles to create an elegant and unique look.

Scroll to the bottom of this post for more details about other wedding vendors.