Alexandria + James: The Sevier Wedding Trailer

If you're looking for some pure joy in the middle of this Pure Michigan winter weather we are having this week, then do we have a wedding trailer that is going to warm you right up! Alex + James are two of the funniest, coolest, and easy going people you can meet and their November wedding day was such a blast to share in and be a part of. 

From getting back to one of our favorite ceremony venues in town, St. Roberts of Newminster Parish in Ada, to filming the beautiful Alex and her gorgeous bridesmaids - from getting to hangout and chill with James and his closest guys, to watching these two exchange vows and say "I do" we are so in love with this day, this wedding, and this couple!

So grab a few tissues, get ready to smile a lot, and watch the Sevier wedding trailer which we are positive will make all this cold, wintery gloom melt away! From all of us here at Shadow|Shine, we are sending out a huge blessing and congratulations to Alex + James!

Physical Fitness and Well Being with MVP's Zone Training

One of our latest pieces designed and created for our partners and friends over at MVP Sports. This 60 second commercial highlights just a few of the benefits and reasons to take advantage of their Zone Training classes, which have new classes opening this month at their Rockford and Holland branches! 

The Zone Training course is a 60-minute heart rate interval training class in which participants, wearing a personal heart rate monitor, can visually see their live heart rates and learn to physically control it. The MVP instructors help guide their classes through five heart rate zones, designed to challenge and push different health and training benefits for all class members. These workouts include intervals of cardiovascular, strength and resistance training. On average, participants burn from 400 to 1,000 calories per workout and will continue to burn calories for up to 36 hours post workout.

While space is limited, there is no registration for MVP's Zone Training classes - so head on into MVP Sports today to take full advantage of these classes and start to take control of your physical well being.

To Tell the Story

If you know us, ever had the chance to connect with us, or have followed us for more than a day chances are you've heard us talk about the work of telling stories. It's core to who we are, and it's what makes us excited to get out of bed every morning. It directs and inspires us and it's what we firmly believe in.

Storytelling is an old art, but it's something that is so intrinsically a part of who we all are that it will never cease to stop bringing us together. From every corner of the world stories have, and always will, bring people of different walks and understandings together. The ability to help play a role in such a moving force makes us ecstatic.

The chance to help share somebody's journey in a way that countless hundreds can connect and relate to them; the ability to help create a place and moment when we engage with something else other than just a pixelated screen; the privilege to help tell and be a part of a much larger story that is at work in our world - storytelling is an unbelievable tool that in many ways marks who we are as a society, community, and world.

From a small business owner here in West Michigan, to a community working to end the threat of Malaria and extreme poverty half a world away; from a couple exchanging their vows on their wedding day, to a dreamer who has a vision of changing the world for the better - everyone's story is collection of characters and adventures that is telling a much larger story - and it's that story that we continue to chase after and tell day after day. 

That's what we believe in, and that's why we do what we do; to tell the story of who we ALL are, and where we're daring to go next!

Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends

Holy wow! It's already the end of another year!

2015 was a whirlwind year for us - in the truly best of ways! Our team expanded adding new roles and facets to our filmmaking abilities, we crafted two new webisode series, produced and filmed our first major film, Garden Party, which we are so crazy excited about, shared in some of the most breathtaking wedding days we have had the pleasure of partaking in, captured the story behind a mesmerizing work of art in the form of stained glass, told countless new stories, and grew closer together as a family of storytellers.

Through the thick and thin, the struggles and the triumphs, the moments of difficulty and the highlights of living the dream of storytellers, we have been blessed beyond measure and are so thankful for everything that has happened in this year. This has honestly been one of the best years and we are so excited for what 2016 has in store for us - here's to the dream of filmmaking, and the continued pursuit of to tell the story!

Christmas morning with the Shadow|Shine's

Christmas, and the holiday season in general, really is one of the most wonderful times of the year. Why is that though? Yes, there is the excitement of special dinners, fun decorations, and even gifts. But that's not why it's the most wonderful time of the year. This time of year is made memorable and fulfilling not by the materialism that can so easily overshadow our way of thinking; it's because of the people we spend our time with during these precious moments.

We hope that for you, our friends, followers, and family, that you remember that it isn't about the extravagance of the gift, or even the gift itself that matters - what matters today, and everyday in all honesty, is that we spend time with those who we love, and whom love us in return.

From our office/living room to you and yours, we are wishing everyone an extraordinarily happy and blessed Merry Christmas today!

Cassie+Josh: Grand Rapids Engagement

Happy Turks-giving!

What's Thanksgiving without some Turkeys?! We couldn't be more thankful for the Turkey's that make up our team, and our family of storytellers.

This is always a special day of the year for us as we begin the process of looking back at the year as a whole, acknowledging the many adventures we have all shared and the stories that we have been blessed to tell together. The year is always filled with highs and lows, but we are thankful for both as every obstacle, every triumph, every moment is an opportunity to learn and grow.  

Today, as we take a moment to slow down from the hustle and bustle of life and spend time with those we love, let us reflect on the idea of true thankfulness even in uncertain times.

We hope that everyone has a blessed thanksgiving today and that you are able to spend the day enjoying time with the turkeys you love too!