Paige + Noah: Lake Michigan Engagement

I met Paige a few years back just before her and I set off with a group to Zambia, Africa on a relief and documentary trip. Luckily for us a nice long layer over in London, England and what seemed like an unfathomable amount of time on the various plane rides provided us with plenty of time to get to know each other. Instantly I knew that this was a bright, generously kind, and outright hilariously funny girl that would one day meet a man just as equally wonderful to match.

Enter Noah. It wasn't long after we got back to the states that I started hearing Paige talk about him and there wasn't a question in my mind that she was smitten with him. Over the next year or so after that, through some trying and growing adventures shared between the two of them, Noah and Paige started dating and honestly I could not have pegged a better match for her. Noah's carefree lightheartedness was only surpassed by his compassionate demeanor and it was evident in every look and every smile he had around her that his heart was Paige's and her's alone.

Getting to watch these two grow together as a collective unit, ready to set out and change the world, has been incredible and altogether a blessing for all of their friends and family. These photos just begin to scratch the surface of how much fun, love, and joy is shared between these two for the other, and that is the honest to God-truth.

-Matthew

Kristen + Chris: The Groeneveld Wedding Trailer

Sometimes (read a lot of times) we have to remind ourselves on wedding days that we are not dreaming, that the drop dead gorgeous and graciously sweet couple we are filming and sharing the day with is truly this amazing, that the backdrop to their beautiful day is real and that we're not off in some fairytale land, and that the love we are getting to witness is true, unfailing, and pure on every conceivable level possible. And that literally sums up Kristen + Chris's day!

We can't help but get caught up in all those feelings and moments every time we look through their wedding photos and films - and without question we can't help but stop grinning ear to ear! Kristen + Chris got married at the breathtaking, rolling grounds of Pine Knob Carriage House and believe us when we say that wasn't even the most magical part of the day. Every time we turned around Kristen was just glowing, Chris couldn't stop smiling, and we had the hardest time trying to keep from swooning over the two of them the whole day.

Their wedding was no doubt one of the fairytale weddings you pray for and we are so thankful to these two for letting us share in their day, celebrate their love with them, their family, and their friends, and for reminding us again why we love doing what we do for a living. Take a minute and spoil yourself with some breathtaking veil magic, flowing ivy walls, dazzling wedding dresses, and dreamy couple moments in Kristen + Chris' wedding trailer!

Photographer: EJ Dowd

Florist: Memorable Creations by Bonnie

Hair and Makeup: Ashlee Ann on location hair & make-up

DJ: Ultimate Sounds Entertainment Group

Wedding Cake: Holiday Market

Catering & Bar: Pine Knob Carriage House

Wedding Dress: Nancy's Bridal

Venue: Pine Knob Carriage House

Happy Mother's Day from ShadowShine!

If we are being honest our moms are basically superheros, so we thought we'd give an extra special gift this year in our latest team film, dedicated soley to these amazing women on Mother's Day!

They gave us life, they raised us, they struck fear in us when necessary, and overflowing joy more often than not. They've always been there as a warm embrace ready to make all our problems go away, and they are always just a phone call away when we've had a less than amazing day. Our mothers may all look different both internally and externally, but they all have one thing in common: they love us unconditionally. 

We each, every single person around this world, are better because of the mothers in our lives. Whether by birth or nurture they are the women who have shaped us into who we are today and continue to teach us what it is to be compassionate, driven, and a good person all ways round. We'll never be able to fully thank them for all that they have done for us, all that they have poured into our lives, or all of the many phone calls we should have made but that they forgive us for nonetheless.

This weekend make sure to join us in wishing each of our moms the very happiest of Mother's Days!

Cornerstone University: 2017 Commencement Commercial Video Series

Every year, we get excited for one of our largest corporate cinematography pieces, the Cornerstone University Commencement Series where we have the privilege of showcasing a few of these unique and weaving colorful stories that make up CU's students. People of varying ages and walks of life, seemingly so different, but united under a hunger for knowledge and a search for a deeper understanding of our Creator. It is a converging of many distinct stories. Different walks of life and experiences meeting and cooperating to reach a goal together that is both individual and collective: Commencement. This is a time of celebration and reflection, but it also serves as a checkpoint, a chapter change in a larger narrative of lives.

These are just a small sampling of the students and lives that have been changed by the community and experience here and we are so excited to see where each of these nine students' journeys take them in their continuing adventure. 

From everyone here at ShadowShine Pictures, congratulations and best of luck to the 2017 Cornerstone University graduates!

Peep-TSD (Easter Bunny Challenge)

Spring is just around the corner, which means it’s almost time for warm nights and campfires! Well, we decided to get a jump start on a campfire game with our Easter-themed version of “chubby bunny” using marshmallow Peeps! The competition is fierce, and choosing a winner comes down to splitting “hares” with how close it gets!

Sure, we get a little choked up, but we thought it would be a colorful way to say “hoppy” Easter! And trust us…it gets awfully colorful with all this sugar. But in all seriousness, we at ShadowShine Pictures hope you have the sweetest holiday this Resurrection Sunday!

Happy Easter friends!

World Water Day 2017: WasteWater

Today is World Water Day, a day focused on bringing attention and awareness to the global water crisis. Despite the many advances in technology, a rapidly expanding global economy, and various social justice initiatives in just the last decade alone, there are still 1.8 billion of the world's population who use a source of drinking water contaminated with waste, putting men, women, and countless children at risk of contracting deadly diseases like cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and even polio.

Since 1993 World Water Day (formally World Day of Water) has chosen a theme centered around this crisis to help educate the global community on how we might together work to end the injustice of unclean water which is a key contributor to extreme poverty. This year's theme is WasteWater, a growing and systemic issue which is threatening the environment and putting future generations at even great risk than they currently already are at. Wastewater comes largely from our homes, the cities we live in, and from both industry and agricultural development which then flows back into the natural world without being cleaned, treated, or reused first.

According to the UN Water council, by reducing the amount of our wastewater, and then also reusing it in our homes, gardens, city green spaces, and so on we as a planet can create even more sustainable water habits and bring this crisis one step closer to being a begone era.

In response to the crisis of unsafe drinking water there are many organizations and non profits who are working diligently and tirelessly to bring access to this safe water to everyone around globe by 2030. Just a few of these organizations include:

• Unicef
• CharityWater
• UN-Water
• WaterAid
• Water

With our support, from people like you and me, we can make that goal a reality and not just a benchmark. Together through partners such as these we can bring an end to the water crisis in our life time and provide safe and clean drinking water for billions of children the world over.

Out of Luck: A St. Patrick's Day Story

St. Patrick's Day is here! It's time to wear green (don't pinch too hard those who forgot!), enjoy a beverage or five, and pretend to know the history of the holiday. Even if you're not Irish, you can partake in the festivities - but be careful: luck can be a fickle thing. 

Here at ShadowShine, we were planning to give you a pot of gold worth of photographs, but...as you can see from the video...our rainbow wasn't so lucky. Watch our new St. Patrick's Day video and good luck out there today!