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LaLonde Photography & Framing Gallery |
How'd We End Up Here !!!
I never in all my dreams thought I'd become a professional photographer. I do believe with all my heart this is where God wants me to be. Not having my dad around when I was younger, Christ put me in a position to work for a professional photographer at the age of 16. David Orser is one of the best photographers in the state of Michigan and I thank him for helping me get into this profession. I didn't know it then how much I would come to love this business.
In 1983 I fell in love with my wife Shelly. We married in August 1984 and 3 months later I had a job offer in Las Vegas.
While working one day one of my associates said she was getting married. She then asked if I could photograph her wedding.
Having some training and one previous wedding under my belt I said sure. After seeing her images all of a sudden I knew
this is what I had to do. A few months later, while looking in the paper I see an ad for professional camera
equipment, the type I was trained on. Not having any money I called anyway, again I think God
intervened. The man
came to our home with the equipment, after intense negotiating a final price (one pioneer Reel-to-reel, One portable
VCR,
and A $2000.00 loan from Mom) We where on our way!! 
Taking our friends to California dressed up in a rented tux and a resale wedding dress, we made images on the beach, in the park, anywhere we could find. I had the equipment and sample shots, now all I needed was work. After deciding to move back to Michigan I started working for a man named Sandy Friedman. He was great because he liked my work and gave me as many weddings as I wanted. I did 65 weddings that year, It was great fun!! Working for Sandy for a few years really helped me to workout any bugs and really develop my own style. Sadly, Sandy died at a very young age and things just weren't the same after that. I knew then I'd need to be on my own.
Starting our business in 1986 was a real challenge. I was working a midnight shift at a local factory and running the studio during the day. My Favorite memories are having clients come in and waking me up. After 4 years of doing this we finally had a large enough clientele so I could quit the factory job. Thank God!!!
My first real studio was in Pontiac ,we then opened a satellite location inside of a bridal salon in Troy which Shelly
ran. At that time weddings where 90% of our business with 10% being portrait work. We also had 4 other photographers
working free-lance for us. Here we came to realize there's more to this business
that how much you gross. The fact
was even though our gross looked good, The government considered us at pay poverty level. With having 2 children, Kara and Josh
It was time to figure out, "What's wrong with this picture". 
Around this time Shelly and I decided we wanted to open a third location, so I then had to look for a new location. I narrowed it down to two places, one in Keego Harbor and one in the little town of Romeo. Keego Harbor was nice with a beautiful office overlooking the lake, but the landlord wouldn't budge at all on the rent and the parking was horrible. So Romeo it was!! Even though we were in a small town and located on a back road, I just knew this small town had something special to offer, despite what I was told. The people really did support their own. Thanks to Romeo and the clients and friends we've been able to make because they've helped us to realize our dream. To be able to have a home big enough for our family, now with the addition of our twin girls Madison & McKenzie, a studio 40 steps away and a beautiful outdoor studio.
As time goes by it's nice to see thing's getting done around here......new waterfall.......new windows.....ect., as life is a continual process of trying to improve.
I've come to realize the verse in the bible "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness and all these things shall
be added unto you" Doing this part of my web site has really made me stop and count my Blessings. Thank God He continues
to work on someone like me, I wait with excitement to see how he'll work Next. If you've taken the time to read this I thank
you and I pray Jesus will Bless YOU!!!
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