Behind the Scenes of the Winter 2014 2015 Issue

It’s #FashionFriday! That’s a thing, right? Well we're going to make it a thing for at least this week.

One thing we love about living in a city like Grand Rapids is that there is such a focus and emphasis on community that it isn't hard to walk out your door and connect with others in your area that are passionate and driven to help further build the culture of GR. Be that through advancements in the arts, medicine, or commerce; Grand Rapids is a community of people-focused individuals who love working together. It’s what makes it “home” for us.

So naturally when the creators and visionaries behind the West Michigan Style magazine approached us about capturing behind the scenes for their latest issue, the 2014 2015 Winter collection, we were totally on board. Their fun and energetic team works so hard at bringing so many wonderful members from our community together to help create a product that readers can fall in love with, and it totally shows. From the moment we walked on set with them we could just tell that it was going to be a fantastic day - not to mention we were able to catch up with our friends at Kelly Braman Photography!

This issue focused on the idea of how to stay active and engaged in the greater Grand Rapids area, taking advantage of all the things Grand Rapids has to offer during the winter season. From unique and thoughtfully designed active and life wear, to an evening out on the town, the team at West Michigan Style has put together an amazing Winter Issue for their readers to engage with.

We love it. We love Grand Rapids too. It’s a pretty cool place.

Check out the West Michigan Style Winter 2014 2015 Issue today!

You Don't Get To 1,000 Likes Without...

So a few days ago we reached a pretty big milestone for ourselves - We made it 1,000 likes on Facebook! To commemorate the accomplishment we decided to pay tribute to one of the great, and our favorite, social media campaigns - with our own fun little spin! 

Thank you so much to all of our friends, fans, and families for your support and love for story! New or old, thank you for following along with us down this journey to tell the story.

The Hail Storm

Over the last two years the story of Water, Bitter Water has become significantly close to my heart. Not only am I and the rest of our team able to help tell the story of one of our dear friends that we have known for years, but we also have the chance to be part of something extremely special - the act of honesty. It's a powerful thing, honesty, and watching Marin Brooke share her life story, honestly and without reserve is really quite beautiful.

Nearly two and half years ago when this project was first pitched to me I was intrigued, but I had no idea just what would come of it, nor did I understand the full scope that would become Water, Bitter Water. Both of these have only become clearer over the past two years as we have dove deeper and further into Marin's story. I am also certain that I will continue to discover more about the art of story and the power that this one holds as we pursue onward, telling the story of the next two chapters to come. 

The act of telling this story, specifically the one within this chapter, is not one we take lightly. Perhaps that is why it has taken us so long to capture it's emotion and rage in the best way possible. Hail is truly a moment of complete and brutal honesty. The art of telling such a powerful thing is certainly difficult, but the value of doing so is undeniable. 

Through the storm and story that is Hail, Marin Brooke is one of the bravest people I know, and I am proud to call her friend. I can hardly begin to fathom just how many people lost in the dark and storms of life will be touched by her honesty. But with that said, this story is far from over, and her honesty just begun.

-Matthew

Whitney + Sean: Berrien Springs Wedding Trailer

Somehow our team gets blessed with the opportunity to work with and tell the stories of the cutest and sweetest couples, JUST like Whitney + Sean, time and time again. These two are very much one of those couples you meet, fall in love with, and have an amazing time filming and capturing their day. Sean could not have picked a more breathtaking location for they're gorgeous summer wedding than at the beautiful Hidden Vineyard Wedding Barn - which perfectly captured Whitney’s style!

From the beautiful and heartfelt vows they exchanged, to the beyond adorable, nearly identical, notes they wrote and gave to one another before the ceremony, these two captured our hearts. Having the chance to hear the story that led these two to one another, how they have supported each other in pursuing their dreams, and have been a rock in the midst of the storms of life for the other was so touching and honestly brought tears to our eyes.

Whitney + Sean, you two are beautiful inside and out and we loved spending the day with you both! Wishing them a lifetime of happiness and overwhelming joy!

Work of the Sacred: the Trailer

Light is the most fascinating of all aspects and elements of our natural world. It gives life, it sustains, it powers, and it propels us onward. It captivates, it creates, and yet we take this complex entity for granted. As children we are enraptured by the warmth and blaze of a summer sun, but overtime we lose interest for this divinely created source of life, and what was once a source of illumination to our imaginations becomes simply the mundane.

But what happens when our understanding of light, and how it speaks to our hearts and minds is reimagined? How does light become something new entirely, that allows us to look beyond what is easily seen to something that we have not considered before? How can light create a sense of sacred space, or even just that; the sacred?

This is a small glimpse into this story of sacred light, and the process of developing such sacred space through the marriage of art and faith. We are beyond eager to continue to document and tell this story with Brandes upon his return to the states later this coming winter, and to unveil our documentary on his process and installation fall of next year.

Fall in Technicolor

What’s better than some fall afternoon fun with a team that you love? We can’t think of anything either! This season if one of our favorites, and who could blame us what with the amount of color we're surrounded in! Hope your fall has been as much fun as ours has been thus far!

Thanks to our amazing friend, and super talented photographer, Noah PreFontaine, for these great family photos!

Hope everyone has a safe, happy, and fun Halloween!

Brittany + Nate: The Porter Wedding Trailer

How do I even begin with this wedding? How do I sum up all of these emotions, memories, and feelings? This wasn't just a wedding, this was Brittany+Nate, two people that I've known for years, have grown incredibly close to, and love so dearly. This wedding, their wedding, was potentially the most amazing, and most emotional wedding I've ever filmed. Where do I even start to tell their story?

I met Nate on a Tuesday night on campus. It was the start of his sophomore year, my junior. Our mutual friend Savi introduced the two of us, knowing we both shared a similar passion- film. I won't lie, I was a little unsure of Nate, and was actually really closed off. I knew his older brother, and knew how great of a filmmaker he was, therefore Nate must have been just as amazing. This was intimidating.

We didn't talk much, in fact I tried to get away as soon as I could. It wasn't until about a month later, when I was in the middle of trying to pull a video together on my own, that Nate walked into the corum and saw the panic and madness I was in. He came up to me and asked a simple question, "do you need some help?" Little did I know that would be the start of one of my dearest friendships.

Im sure I had "met" brittany in passing before the night she came to my house in downtown GR, but my earliest memory of her is that night when this girl that Nate had been going on and on about, came to our Friday night Movie Night. She made and brought the most amazing baked goods for us and I told Nate that night, "you're to marry that girl." Little could I have known that this breathtakingly beautiful girl who sat on my couch would sure enough, be the girl that my best friend would come to make his wife.

Over these last few years I have had the amazing ability to watch these two fall in love, grow together, and become a true reflection of God's image. They have stuck together through thick and thin, have encouraged each other to be a better person than they were the day before, and have sought God with everything within themselves. I know beyond a doubt these two were meant to be from the beginning of time. I don't say this lightly- they are absolutely perfect for one another.

I couldn't have been more blessed to have had the honor of sharing the day with these two in such a special and unique way. Having the ability to see all those little looks, all those "my breath was just taken away" moments. I couldn't have been more thankful to be there with them on that special day this past summer, but more so, I couldn't be more thankful to call these two my friends.

There are an uncountable number of words that I could try and use to describe Brittany+Nate, their wedding day, and their love. How could I sum all that up? Where would I begin? Well, this trailer is probably a good place to start. From all of us at the Shadow|Shine team, we are wishing our very own Mr+Mrs Porter the absolute very best, and an eternity of happiness. Here’s to these two beautiful people!

-Matthew