Mar 23, 2020

CELEBRATION OVER SORROW // SHINOLA HOTEL // LIFESTYLE COUPLE SESSION

A new year brought new beginnings and celebration for these two! They chose to take a break from their weekly schedules and daily routines to celebrate and enjoy one another's company. A year prior, Melissa had an accident that could have taken her life, but one year later she has healed and wanted to celebrate that with her husband, Danny!

It's so important to celebrate our victories, big and small! They decided to spend a night at the beautiful, unique Shinola Hotel in Downtown Detroit. Shinola, first known for their watches in Detroit, branched out to the hospitality industry, and I'm sure glad that they did! I was invited along to capture the celebration, the joy, and the immense love shared between these two at Shinola. We also got to stop by one of my new favorite spots, The Brakeman, to hang out, be playful, and celebrate.

As I look at these photographs I remember back to when Melissa first had her accident. Shortly afterwards, she chose joy and thankfulness over sorrow and pity. She chose to see the "brighter" side of the pain. She had to slow down, be present, and I'm sure it truly changed her outlook.

We are all (well, almost all) facing a time where we have to slow down, be present, and I sure hope it changes our outlook. I hope that we, like Melissa, choose joy and thankfulness. I hope that we chose to be grateful for what we have, for the time we have, for the health we have, for the love we have.

I hope that a year from now we are able to look back at this time and celebrate.

All my love,

"Nicole is truly an artist. She captured a celebration of my husband and I at the Shinola Hotel in Detroit and I was so happy with the photos she delivered. Her photography is creative and expressive, and she leads you and guides you throughout the experience without it being awkward. She somehow manages to merge timeless, natural, edgy and modern all in one."

-Melissa