Swimming in the pool

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

There is so much fun involved with photographing pool playtime. The colors are crisp and bright. The actions are fun and exciting. If it's sunny outside you should be able to get some great stop action shots.

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

A Day at the Beach

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

There are so many great photo opportunities at the beach. You can get the sandcastles and wave jumping. There's always a seagull or a kite flyer out and about as well. I like to capture the kids having fun in the water and on the beach. You can always find a great sailboat listlessly floating out in the distance. If you planned to spend the entire day you can even get some wonderful sunsets too.

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

Vacations

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

A vacation didn't really happen if you didn't get photos, right? There are too many photo types to list them all off in a blog post. I recently had a great vacation in Traverse City including a lovely day trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes. I took the camera and was able to create a lovely keepsake photo album from all the photos I took.

Going to the zoo

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

This last Sunday the community college I graduated from hosted an alumni zoo day. My family and I were invited to Potter Park Zoo for a special day. My kids love wandering through this zoo. The photos I capture at the zoo are much more candid. Sometimes I can get some really great animal shots too.

Fire Flies

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

I love June because the fireflies come out. We live in this area in Haslett where our entire tree line comes alive at dusk. It reminds me of an amphitheater with flashes going off. It's one of the most amazing things to watch. One summer I attempted to take photos of the little bugs' flashes. It wasn't pretty but it was fun trying.

Dragonflies

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

Summer brings out all kinds of critters. Some of my favorite photos are of the colorful bugs that find their way into my path. Out here in Haslett where there's lots of water we get quite a few exotic creatures. The best way to figure out what they are is by using photos and then searching them on the computer. The kids really enjoy this as well.

Butterflies

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

I love chasing the butterflies with my camera. Sometimes I get really lucky and they find a lovely plant to eat from. These aren't terribly difficult photos to create but my daughter loves them and I use these images to decorate her room.

Sunsets

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

Sunsets are probably one of these most prolific photographs in the world. That doesn't stop me much. I still stop to enjoy the beauty of a setting sun over a lake or skyline. There is something truly amazing about watching a brightness of a day slip below the horizon.

The Family get Together

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

Enjoying the summer days with family is definitely one of my favorite things to do and luckily I can keep those memories alive through photography. These days won't last forever and I feel keeping a visual diary of the people who came together to celebrate being family is very important.

Playing Dress up in the Woods

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

This wasn't even my idea. My daughter and niece were playing together outside and taking turns putting on different dress up clothes. For the last few years I've gotten into the habit of buying clearance Halloween costumes the day after the holiday. I then give them as gifts for birthdays and holidays. Ellie has quite a few different outfits she can use for dress up. On this day she chose a Tinker bell type costume. She then was walking through our unmowed lawn served as the perfect backdrop for this fantasy photo.

Playing at the Playground

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

When clients come to me for a family portrait session I often suggest a park location. This allows for the kids to feel like they are actually having fun and not doing a stuffy photo shoot. It also provides wonderful candid photos of the family together.

Rainbows

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

Although not overly interesting, there is something fascinating with a post rain, here comes the sun rainbow. I can't help myself and must take a photo. Every. Time.

Outdoor Concerts

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

There really isn't anything much more relaxing and exciting than sitting outside on a muggy night waiting for a concert to start. From Common Ground to a U2 Concert to local performances, an outside concert in the summer is something not to miss.

Events into the evening

©Ariniko Artistry 2014

Throughout the summer many locations begin their festival events. We recently participated in Old Town's Festival of the Sun and Moon and checked out the magnificent art of Scrapfest. There are still many more planned for the rest of the summer, bring your camera and enjoy all that summer can offer.

©Ariniko Artistry 2014