Derek Cookson Photography - Royal Oak, MI Wedding and Portrait Photographer

Courtney + Jacob – Engagement Photos at Comerica Park in Detroit!

admin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:42:04 +0000

Courtney and Jacob know what they like – They like the Detroit Tigers (so we went to Comerica Park), they like Mustangs (He’s got a REALLY cool one), and they like each other! So what better way to spend an afternoon with a few of their favourite things? We had fun, had some laughs, and celebrating some of the fun places in Detroit!

Don’t forget to check out the FACEBOOK PAGE for more fun engagement photos at http://www.facebook.com/derekcooksonphotography ! Hit ‘LIKE’ and wish them a huge CONGRATULATIONS on their upcoming wedding!

The Owen Family – Winter Family Photo Fun! ::Royal Oak Wedding Photographer::

admin — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 15:11:35 +0000

Andy is a personal friend of mine, as well as a colleague – He’s a great wedding videographer who I don’t get to work with quite enough! (It’s true, check out his website at www.owenvideo.com!)

This time, I got to turn the camera on Andy and his beautiful family, in the wonderful Kensington Metropark! We had more than a few laughs that day, and he even texted me later to tell me how much I wore them out!

Hit LIKE over on the facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/derekcooksonphotography to tell them how cute their kids are, check out his website if you need video (I would LOVE more chances to work with him at weddings!) and don’t forget to check out even more fun family photos at dcooksonphoto.com!

Fenton Farm Family Fun – The White Family! ::Metro Detroit Family Photography::

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 19:51:35 +0000

Back in the fall, I had the chance to go with the beautiful White family to have some fun at one of my favourite Cider Mill/Farm locations around, Spicer’s Orchard in Fenton Michigan!

Not only did we have a blast that morning, but their little boy “B” showed me the real meaning of energy! I knew he wouldn’t stay still for all the photos (he’s quite literally jumping right off the page!), and I think that’s what makes them so much more fun! Love it!

Enjoy the beautiful family, share a few smiles, and hit “LIKE” if you want to leave them a comment! Don’t forget to check out more fun photography (funtography?) over on the facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/derekcooksonphotography !

Announcing “Conquer Your Camera” Classes by Derek Cookson Photography!

admin — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 03:58:18 +0000

Undergoing Changes! Royal Oak Wedding Photographer Blog

admin — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 06:17:41 +0000

As some of you might have noticed, over the last little while, I am undergoing a massive “makeover” to update my live, my business, and my photography – Everything! I always felt the old site layout and colours were a little…dark for my liking, so I’m freshening things up a bit, and I hope that you bear with me if the site looks a little…disjointed, while I work on it. It will only take a few days to get everything in line, but when it’s done, I can’t WAIT to share so much more with you! Thank you for your patience, and to sound cliche….don’t mind the dust! Construction going on!

Amy + Ray Engagement photos in Windsor Ontario – One Hot Evening! ::Derek Cookson Photography::

admin — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 03:15:43 +0000

Amy and Ray were only in town for a few days from Victoria, BC, (she was a bridesmaid in Sarah and Jason’s Wedding!) and we lucked out with a beautiful evening that looked more summer than fall…except the HEAT was brought on by THESE TWO!

We went for a little walk around downtown Windsor, stopped in at a cool bar, (Villians!) and just generally looked smoking hot along the way. Wish the happy couple a huge CONGRATULATIONS towards their upcoming wedding, and don’t forget to check it out on the facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/derekcooksonphotography so you can hit ‘LIKE’ on them all!

Cyber Monday 2012 Canvas Sale! :: Royal Oak Wedding Photographer

admin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:45:32 +0000

1. I’ve always wanted to do a cyber-monday sale! (technically, this sale lasts a week…but I wanted to give more than ONE DAY for everyone!)

2. The DEBUT of my new logo! There’s a LOT of changes to come around here soon, so stay tuned!

3. If you would like to place an order, please email me the file name and the size you would like, and I will bill you separately.

4. If your session has already been photographed, but you are (patiently) waiting for the finals, I will honour these prices for one week after delivery, just for being awesome and allowing me to catch up!

Katie + Chris – A US Marine Wedding :: by Derek Cookson Photography

admin — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 20:21:42 +0000

It is a little unusual to not be able to meet the groom until the wedding day itself, especially since Katie and I had chatted for half a year before then…but when the groom is a US Marine stationed overseas, it is an HONOUR to meet him on his wedding day – and the wait was worth it!
Katie and Chris are two beautiful people inside and out, and I enjoyed every moment of sharing their wedding day with them! You could just feel the sizzle between them, from the moment he laid his eyes on her, on to the very end, they had a passion for each other that most should learn from! PLEASE send a huge congratulations to them in the comments, TAG your friends in the photos, check out the facebook page over at http://www.facebook.com/derekcooksonphotography for more fun wedding photographs, and PLEASE remember to thank the service men and women in your life for their service to their country!

Alex – Senior Portraits ::by Derek Cookson Photography

admin — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 20:44:37 +0000

Alex was a little quiet when we first started shooting….I couldn’t tell if it was him being nervous or me being excited when I found out he has an interest in film-making; I was rambling on about camera gear and films! haha But he rocked the shoot and was a complete natural, taking beautiful Downtown Milford by storm! He also gets the honour of being my FIRST male senior portrait session! So wish him CONGRATULATIONS in his graduating year, and don’t forget to check out the FACEBOOK PAGE for more fun portraits at http://www.facebook.com/derekcooksonphotography !

Theatre Bizarre 2012 – Detroit of the Living Dead.

admin — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 18:34:10 +0000

*Due to the *Mature Rating* of some of these photos, I just wanted to put them on a private page.If you’re here, I’m assuming you made a choice to be here and view these – if not, then please don’t click and just move on to other photos! Please remember, this was a Halloween Celebration, so the images may have graphic costumes or not much costume on at all, (Burlesque dancers!) - In short, it’s all in good fun! But all in all, it was an amazingly cool experience, and one that made me proud to see accomplished in Detroit. There is such a vast well of creativity and performers in this area, and it’s nice to see their hard work culminate in something so grand.

Theatre Bizarre is a One-Night-Only Celebration that happens once a year in Detroit. This year’s title was “The Summoning.” To attempt to explain it would never do it justice. (Just go HERE to their official page and read all about it and it’s colourful history..it’s practically a Detroit landmark on it’s own!). This year, my friend Miranda Hopkins (another talented photographer herself!), being a Theatre Bizarre veteran, grabbed me a ticket, and brought me along on the journey, both os uf with cameras in tow. UNFORTUNATELY, unbeknownst to me, she was not allowed inside with her camera due to an overzealous security guard who said “I’m not supposed to let those kinds of cameras in here.” Despite him NOT seeing mine, and despite there being only about 400 other cameras and cell phones inside, I was not going to let it sway me from my goal… I was a man on a mission, wearing a luchador mask and ready to record some amazingness that night! Nothing would get in my way!

And so, here is the fruits of my trip. My goal wasn’t to create anything to sell, my goal wasn’t to be disruptive. Indeed, I travelled with only my trusty 5D Mark III and a single 35L F1.4 lens, no flash, nothing more to slow me down. (I even left the grain purposely in many of the photos as, other than a few adjustments for exposure and white balance, I wanted to preserve the feeling of the night in the photosso they are as raw as I would like them to be.) I wanted to photograph cool things and share them with others, to push myself to be creative without being hired to do so, to stretch myself to the confines of only one lens and one focal length. To put it bluntly, I wanted to shoot something just for me. And I hope you enjoy them too!

To borrow a quote from Theatre Bizarre’s ringleader and “Mascot” of sorts, the undead Zombo wrote on the official TB Facebook page the morning of October 20, 2012: ”At long last, the day has arrived. Blood runs hot in our veins – pulsing in our ears. Our dark hearts are drawn to The Temple – each beat pulling us nearer. The waiting is almost over, minions. Tonight, we truly live…”

**To see the photos, please click HERE, but as stated before, keep in mind there may be some (tiny) mature content.**

Here’s one for a preview: