1) I am thankful for my wife. She makes each day fun and unique. She’s my best friend and I can’t imagine waking up every day next to anyone else.

2) I am thankful for my family. I know that not everyone gets along with their family. I wish they could and would. Both Rebecca and I have all our immediate family within 20 minutes of our home. That is unique. I’m grateful I can run over to have lunch with my nieces at school. I’m grateful that I am still “cool enough” for my 12 year old nephew to be seen with!

3) I am thankful for our business. Our lives revolve around photography and building relationships. In my head I’ve figured out how to connect my business with the idea of a game. I am glad I am in charge of the score at the end of the day.

4) I am thankful for grace, salvation and God’s work in my life. Even when I think I’m in charge, I’m really just part of His plan.

5) I am thankful for friendship. We get to spend time with some of the greatest people ever. If I look back at what I thought our group of friends would look like, I would have never have picked them. However, God in his wisdom knew better and surrounded us with a group of people that just fits.

6) I am thankful for a roof over my head. Winters in Michigan can be brutal. This year has been fairly mild, but there are people who don’t have a place to call home.

7) I am thankful for running water! I love hot showers.

8) I am thankful for smiling. “Smiling’s my favorite.” See video below.

9) I am thankful for the ability to read. Everyday gives me the chance to learn something new! Books have opened a whole new world to me.

10) I am thankful for waking up today. This morning, someone else didn’t.

What we consider to be our struggles can sometimes be small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. So make your own list and share it with as many people as possible. Stop to pick up a phone and rekindle a long lost relationship. Enjoy a minute of silence. Savor a cup of great coffee…or in my case hot chocolate. Life’s too short to live with your feathers ruffled all the time.

Scratch that.  How about something a little less formal?  How about a heart to heart, vendor to client chat, regarding your wedding budget.  We know this is personal, so prepare yourself!

Let’s start with a few things that we know about you as you plan your wedding:

1. WE KNOW that everyone has a different vision for what their perfect wedding day looks like:  Vintage chic, formal, a seriously happening party, religious expression of love and commitment, etc.
2. WE KNOW that each person has a detail that will define that day, making it perfect:  Some say it’s all about the dress.  Others the cake.  The church.  The rings.  The photographer.  The list goes on.
3. WE KNOW that most have a budget to make that day occur.
4. WE KNOW that is means our style and price suits many, but not all.

Scandalous!  A business owner telling you that our services are not universally desired!  But listen to our rational…

We believe that everyone has a different set of priorities when it comes to planning their wedding day and we recognize that most have a budget they are working from. Some couples have parents that have put that budget together, others are paying for their day entirely themselves.  Wedding planning websites will tell you that: “The average bride should spend about 10% of their total budget on photography.”  But that is a one size fits all description, forcing each bride into the same perfect mold.  So much for uniqueness.

Many brides come to us with this idea: 10% of their total budget, no more or less, is what is permitted for the recording  life long memories.  Today, we are suggesting a radically different approach.  Together, let’s produce unique budgets for unique people:

1. Determine a total amount that you will spend for your entire wedding day.
2. Write down what you desire your perfect day to look like.  Make a list, yes a physical list, of things that you will want to occur.
3. List all of the services and things that you will need to purchase or rent to make that vision occur.
4. Then rank those things in order of importance.  Don’t be shy, this will help you in the long run.
5. Based on those priorities, portion your budget accordingly.

If you follow this system, you will see your perfect day emerge.  If photography is low in the rankings, spend even less than 10%.  If it is in the top 3, spend more.  If you adore the show Say Yes to the Dress and you have to have a certain one, do it.  Don’t hesitate because it doesn’t fit into the perfect “budget” mold.  Do this with each choice and we promise you, you will get exactly what you desire.

Diversity is what makes the world a beautiful place.  We are grateful to operate a thriving business in it.  Our witness of life-time commitments continues.  We hope to witness yours.

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

Perhaps that’s the biggest trend we noticed in 2011 – businesses and organizations are taking their image (photos and video to more specific) much more seriously. They are trying to find the best ways to determine what kind of return on investment they create by investing in photography.

Since we read and try learning as much as we can about other businesses, hearing the stories of entrepreneurs around west Michigan is always one of the highlights for us. We have watched organizations that began the year with 3 staff end the year with 6! We have watched other business owners be recognized for their 25+ years of dedication and service to their customers and their community. There are many, many more stories from 2011 that were not picked up by ‘main stream media’, but were picked up by those people most important to business owners: their customers. 2011 was filled with fantastic stories about how the past few years have been difficult, but there is light at the end of the tunnel and no, it’s not a train!

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

The stories we hear are incredible. The memories will last for a lifetime. What better way to document the growth of your family than having consistent photo sessions of you, your children and even your grandchildren.

Each of the images below represents a story. This year we had the privilege of photographing 5 day old babies and their proud parents. We celebrated with families that marked their 50 year marriages. We celebrated 1st birthdays. We celebrated children leaving and serving their country. We celebrated families who are called to serve in ministry in Africa. Their are many more stories as well. What is your family’s story this year? How did you document it?

Both Rebecca and I, along with the parents of these kids will remember what was going on at the exact moment the photos were taken. They have memories that will stay with them for a lifetime. If you would like to have the same, be sure to connect with us by visiting our website.

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

This year, our the list of occupations our clients had include the following: several small business owners, teachers, accountants, police officers, financial advisors, an EMT worker, university professors, an attorney with a case going to the US Supreme Court, a British Royal Marine, a hairstylist, a fundraiser, ICU nurses, a professional golfer, video game developers and engineers.

But none of that really matters on a wedding day, does it? The beauty of a wedding, for us, is having the chance to watch two people begin a new life together. They begin the day as individuals and go to bed (after their amazing wedding days) as one half of a new couple. From there, they are the masters of their destiny and the world is at their finger tips. They are able to begin writing their own script, together, for their future.

Both Rebecca and myself, along with our Associate Photographer Theresa, we all feel so blessed to have met all of the amazing couples from 2011 and we pray that God will continue to bless their marriages for the rest of their lives!

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

The ceremony was to be held outside at Egypt Valley Country Club, but with about 45 minutes to go before the ceremony, the heavens opened up and the ceremony was moved inside. Thankfully the rain stopped after about an hour and Joe and Amanda were able to head outside for some great images with their wedding party and families following the ceremony.

If you would like to view their complete wedding photography gallery, be sure to visit their wedding website and check out some of the amazing images our Associate photographer Theresa put together.

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

This is the second time we’ve tried seeing some of the west Michigan Christmas light displays (Hudsonville, Spring Lake). The first time we arrived to find out the lights aren’t running on Sundays. This time we were determined to see some lights. So off we headed only to find out that for some reason the lights were done running. Why we’re still not sure.

So instead of driving another hour to see lights, we decided to pull off at Cannonsburg Ski Area where they were busy making snow for this Christmas weekend. The temps have dipped down low enough where they can accumulate some snow on the hill and neither my nephew or my wife have seen what making snow looks like at a ski area. So we stopped, had a little snow ball fight, grabbed a few photos while watching the snow fly (literally). All in all it was a great evening, one that I will not forget.

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography

Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.

Tiberius Images | Tiberius Images Blog | Michigan Wedding Photography