studio

Danielle- Class of 2019

Meet Danielle!

Danielle was selected to be our Senior Model from our Instagram Giveaway that took place a few months back. We were excited to have her join our little Brick Street Fam and we found out why last weekend during her first session. She is such a joy to photograph! Easy to get along with and such a beautiful personality. She made it fun and easy for us and I think we did the same for her. We are definitely excited to do a few different types of sessions with her as well as her full senior portrait session. Keep a look out for those throughout the up coming year!

A few fun facts about Danielle:

She is involved in a lot of actives such as Cheerleading, Basketball, Snowboarding, and more
Her favorite movie is The Blind Side (such a good movie!)
Has a genuine and fun personality
Her favorite band is Florida Georgia Line

We are taking on class of 2019 seniors so get your dates scheduled soon! If you’re not sure that we are the perfect photographers to capture your senior year, set up your pre consultation with us free of charge to go over any questions you might have for us. Our goal is to give you a senior experience like none other!

Isn’t she stunning?! Another option to add to your senior experience is video by JayBird Films. We were able to do a video during Danielle’s session and it is such an awesome add on option!

Check it out HERE

Let us know if you have any questions regarding your senior experience. For more information check out our website: SENIOR EXPERIENCE

Thanks for reading ❤

-K

Prom!

Prom is a night like none other. You get all dressed up to go out with your friends and “have a night on the town”. We want to make sure that you’ll remember that night forever! We are scheduling Prom Experience’s in Downtown Grand Rapids on May 19th starting at 4pm. We will be taking some of these shots around the Blue Bridge and Rosa Parks Circle.

Let us help you remember this night forever.

Our prom experience is $100 for a 20-minute session for up to 4 people. With this session, you’ll get 5 digital downloads with a print release. Book your PROM EXPERIENCE now!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

-K

Class of 2018: See Ya Later!

As we finish up with the class of 2018, I wanted to share a few of our favorites from the last year. What fun we have had with all of these fellow graduates. We were able to watch them grow throughout the last year and even see some changes from their first sessions into their final sessions.

One of my favorite things about photographing seniors is seeing the changes that take place from our initial consultation all the way through their gallery reveal. A lot of these students, we meet at the end of their junior year and continue working with them throughout most of their senior year. I get to watch them grow as people and see them make their way into adulthood.

We have had so much fun photographing seniors all over the state and beyond. We’re really hoping to do a few more traveling seniors this coming year. I travel to Traverse City area quite often throughout the summer and will be giving the option to photograph you up in the Traverse Bay area or other gorgeous surrounding landmarks. This year we were able to make it to an awesome variety of locations including Ionia, Portland, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Penn State, Stanton, Lowell, and more!

Here is to the next chapter of your lives! We want to wish all of our Class of 2018 seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors and look forward to seeing what you will accomplish. Thanks for another wonderful year of senior portraits, we cannot wait to get started with the class of 2019!

Class of 2019 seniors are now booking dates! If you’re part of the class of 2019 seniors and are interested in a date, please don’t hesitate to get it scheduled. Our schedule is filling quickly! We pride ourselves in giving our seniors a handcrafted experience that will be more than just a photo shoot. We make it an experience!

Thanks for reading ❤

-K

Top 5 Senior Portrait Tips

Calling all SENIORS!

With the warm weather (hopefully) approaching and the 2018 school year coming to an end it is time for the class of 2019 to start thinking about senior portraits. When you think of senior portraits there is a lot that goes into planning the perfect session. How do I smile? Am I too awkward to get my photos taken? Where would be a good location? These are just a few questions that our seniors worry about when prepping for their experiences. Today we’re going to give you our Top 5 Tips to make your senior experience one you’ll never forget!

#1: LOCATION

Thinking about senior portraits means you’ll have to choose the perfect location. You’ll want to pick one that means something to you, but only if it is plausible. You need to make sure it isn’t too far away or too difficult to get to. The more meaningful it is to you, the more comfortable you’ll be in that environment. We can always help guide you to a location that works for you or something that we think will really catch your eye. Don’t be afraid to trust your photographer. A few of our favorites include downtown Grand Rapids, the many beautiful state parks (including the beaches) around Michigan, and many other private locations we keep under wraps for our clients.

#2: WHAT TO WEAR?

Clothing is one of the most important parts of your senior portraits. If you’re not wearing something that you feel comfortable in or don’t feel yourself in, your pictures will reflect that. It takes a lot to choose the right outfit and especially one that everyone can agree with. A few things to keep in mind:

Color: Stick with solid neutral tones. Other bright or neon colors tend to cast harsh shades onto faces that you’re not going to want. In some instances like sports/school shirts or grandma’s favorite sweater, we will make work if we have to.
Pattern: This is a tough one to pick out. If you’re unsure then stick with a solid colored shirt or simply send a photo to us and we’ll give you our honest opinion! If you do choose a pattern, make sure it’s not a BIG pattern. Keep it small, simple and not too bright. We don’t want the pattern to attract the eye over the important part of the image, which is you.
Accessories: Bring them! Hats, sunglasses, necklaces, bracelets, etc. It’s always nice to have options! We might decide not to use any of them, but don’t kick yourself by opting out of bringing them along.

All of our seniors will receive a more detailed “What to Wear Guide” after they book their experience with us. Then we can help guide you in the right direction and plan your perfect senior portrait experience.

#3: DON’T OVER THINK POSING

Getting your photos taken can be a stressful and self-conscious experience. Here at Brick Street, we try to make our seniors feel as comfortable as possible. We want to make it a fun experience rather than an overwhelming one. Trust us, and we’ll be sure you get the perfect picture! Keep in that we are there to help pose and place you to make sure you can laugh and have a good time without having to worry too much about it. We do this every day. All that being said, don’t be afraid to try something on your mind. If it works, fantastic! If it doesn’t, no harm done.

Just relax, trust us, and we’ll have some fun.

#4: SEASON

Which season do you love best? It’s important to schedule your session in a season that you’ll be most comfortable in and that will suit your style. Some people photos on the beach and some love skating on a frozen pond. In the end, it is all about what YOU want. In Michigan, every season is beautiful.

Pick your favorite season(s) and go with it! If you love wearing boots and sweaters then fall and winter are for you. If you’re more of a shorts and t-shirt kind of senior, then spring and summer will work great. If you can’t decide, just ask us!

#5: PROPS, FRIENDS, & FAMILY

As I said earlier, being photographed can be a stressful thing. We want you to be comfortable, even if that means having your dog, cat, hamster, or other pet you love in your photos! We think doing a few family portraits can’t hurt either. If the senior is getting a new portrait for their wall, why shouldn’t the whole family?!

We don’t use props very often, but we do have some available. We could stick a chair out in the field for you, or give you an umbrella to hold onto on a rainy day. We also want to encourage our seniors to bring their own props. If you’re involved in sports, band, cheer, or other activities, don’t be afraid to represent that. We’ve even had a few lightsabers in the studio. We want to represent you, in whatever form that takes!

We’re looking forward to starting the 2019 Season with some new Seniors! Our fall dates are filling VERY quickly. If you want that prime autumn time slot, then get your dates scheduled! We do have a few summer dates still available and are accepting weekday appointments. Head over to our website for more information on our SENIOR EXPERIENCE.

We’d love to set up a consultation with you!

Thanks for reading ❤

– K

What is Brick Street Studio?

Since we are new to the blogging world, we wanted to give a little insight into who we are as photographers and what our studio does! We love creating personal relationships with our clients and giving them the best experience possible.

What is Brick Street Studio?

We are a dual photographer team servicing the state of Michigan and beyond. Our studio is located right in the heart of Ionia, on the beautiful red brick road of downtown. At Brick Street Studio we provide a customized personal approach for all of your photography needs. The boutique experience that we offer allows us to handcraft each session to fit your style. We are sure to give our clients the highest care and cater to every detail throughout the experience, from the initial consultation through the gallery reveal. We want to be sure our clients will have a photography experience they will never forget.

Feel free to check out our Promo Video

Who Are We?

Karlee Bailey & Marisa Lies. We are a team of photographers pursuing our dream careers. One of the best parts of this job is having the opportunity to meet so many new people and capture some of the most important times of their lives. If you contact us, you will most likely have the opportunity to talk to our assistant, Keysha. Be sure to check out her business Keysha Rose Photography. We also work closely with Jaysyn of JayBird Films

The Photographers:

I’m Karlee. I am 25 and I have lived in Michigan my entire life. I took up photography when I was 18 and received my Associates Degree in Photography from Grand Rapids Community College in 2015. I am married to my best friend, Logan, and together we have three fur babies. A cat named Wilma, and two dogs named Wallace and Poncho.

I am a Disney lover, a musician, and singer but I don’t think I’m very good (I’ll leave that up to my husband), and for some reason, I’m a little obsessed with Benedict Cumberbatch. Don’t be shocked if you run into me and my hair is a different color from the first time we met. I like to change it often!

I can be pretty goofy once I get to know you but that spunk really comes out in my shooting style. It really makes me the fun and outgoing artist I am today. I specialize in Senior Portraits, Wedding Portraits, and Pet Portraits.

I am Marisa. I am from the Happy Valley in Pennsylvania (State College, PA) but have been a Michigan resident for over 10 years. I started photography in 2010 and am mostly self-taught. I have three children who I absolutely adore. Cameron, Taylor and Austin, they were my main reason for taking up photography. Photographing them truly started my passion.

I am a Penn State football lover, a coffee drinker, and I am always wearing the color black. I do love to travel and explore new places either on my own or with my children. Seeing and photographing Lake Michigan is one of my favorite things to do! I also enjoy teaching my gymnastics class that I hold during different months throughout the year.

I am very passionate about what I do and love knowing I am setting a great example for my children by working towards my goals every year. Being able to do something that I love for a living is one of the greatest feelings! I specialize in Newborn & Children Portraits, Family Portraits, & Senior Portraits.