#kzoo photographer

[finkanie]

FINKANIE PHOTOGRAPHY IS MOVING! → © finkanie photography

Hello friends! Since 2020, Finkanie Photography has been located at McGillen’s Crossing in Mattawan. It has been such a wonderful studio; I am so sad to be leaving it, but it is time to grow! The new studio is located at 57645 Murray Street, right in the heart of “downtown Mattawan” as those of us lovingly refer to our bustling downtown area! :) We are right around the corner from the former studio, and now, we are SO CLOSE TO MOO MOO’S!!!!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!! I know some clients who will be very happy with this news! :) :) :)

We will have much more space when we are able to get everything set up.

Some changes include a separate changing room, bigger waiting area for clients, and more options for multiple sessions to be held at once allowing for more leagues/teams to be accommodated at once! The new studio is located in the former Wildfire Grace retail location next to Halftime. Fans of Wildfire Grace will be happy to know that you will be able to find your favorite items from them at Vintage Inspired! Be sure to check out their booth, coming soon!

2024 is going to have a LOT of changes, and I am excited to experience them with our wonderful community! As with the last studio, I will be sharing progress as we go along getting things set up!

[peachy-keen-glam-queen]

IMPORTANT: PREDATOR ALERT, PLEASE READ IF ABLE

TW: Sexual abuse, emotional abuse

. . . . . . . . . . .

I've spent a long time trying to figure out the best way to go about making this post, or whether to make it at all. I've spent months sifting through my memories, trying to find some way around the conclusions I've landed at again and again. I've been scared. I've been scared of retaliation for speaking out, and I've been scared of trusting my own memories and making accusations towards innocent people. I've ran through what happened to me again and again, and in the end the conclusion I've come to is this: I don't want to make this post. I want to forget these people and what they took from me. I want to move on. But I can't do that until I tell this story. I know at least one of my abusers is still an active member of the Kalamazoo queer community, and another is working in a position which gives her leverage over vulnerable LGBT folks. I can't in good conscience move on without making a statement so that others in a community that I care about so much can be informed and stay safe.

About a year ago, I met Aoi Fukuyama. I had just broken up with my long-term ex of four years, and was in a very dark, very vulnerable place. I thought she was what I needed then. She was an older, more experienced trans woman. She was a photographer, an artist, and she was confident and charismatic and cool. We went on a date. I thought it went well. On that date, I told her that I wasn't comfortable doing anything sexual that night, and probably wouldn't be for a long time after. We went back to her place. She gave me pot. She gave me a few ciders. She began to kiss me. Soon enough, she was penetrating me.

At the time, I thought what happened was fine. It wasn't until much later, after everything else happened, that the red flags began to pop up. Well, that's not strictly true. I had some doubts, but I brushed them away because I wasn't ready to deal with that shit on top of everything else I was going through. I'm hesitant to ascribe the label of sexual assault to this incident, as in the moment I did consent and I recanted my previous statement about not wanting sex. Still, the circumstances under which I consented were undoubtedly coercive and emotionally manipulative. That said, if that was all, I'd likely leave it there. Bad hookups happen. It's what came after that made me realize that first instance was more than a simple bad hookup.

Later that night, Aoi asked me to be part of a photography project she was working on. She was doing a series where she photographed the parts of womens' bodies that they were most insecure about. I voiced my discomfort, but she was insistent, and convinced me that it would be a good way to boost my confidence about my body. She proceeded to groom me into taking nude photographs. Over three nights we met late in the on-campus photo studio. All throughout the process she kept telling me how beautiful I was, how my body was the most beautiful she had ever photographed. She kept kissing me between shoots. In retrospect, it couldn't have been more obvious what was happening, but I trusted her because I trust far too easily. After all, she was a photographer. She was a professional. She cut off contact with me as soon as she was done taking the nudes, but she proceeded to use them for her class project. She also posted the pictures, the pictures that were specifically of the parts of my body that I'm most insecure about, on Tumblr without my consent.

At the time, I was in denial about what had happened to me. Friends voices their concern, but I shut them down. After all, it was my fault for letting myself get manipulated so easily. I had obviously done something wrong.

It was shortly after Aoi was out of my life that I met Finn. Once again, in my vulnerable state I thought they were what I needed. Using similar tactics to Aoi, they proceeded to manipulate me into a sexual relationship that lasted several weeks. They constantly bombarded me with compliments, telling me how good I was, how beautiful I was. and used those compliments to pressure me into repeated sexual encounters. Once again, it was what I wanted to hear and thought I needed to hear. I let myself get used again when it was obvious that I was only being used sexually, and when they decided they were done with me, I blamed myself. It wasn't until after the "relationship" ended that I became aware of the type of person they are, seeing the many red flags that had popped up for the first time. They've also admitted to lying about people within the community that they don't like in order to sabotage their reputation. A previous ex has accused them of rape, though I do not know the details and it would not be my place to share them if I did.

I've been hesitant to make this statement because it took me so long to process this abuse as abuse. After all, it's been almost a year, so it must be all in my head, right? That's what I've tried to tell myself for months. In the end, this is what I believe happened to me, and I've decided to trust myself. I'm sure this won't be enough details for some of you. I thought about going into deeper detail, but that's a whole lot of emotional labor to waste on people who probably won't believe me either way. I'm sure the time gap will make some of you think I'm lying. It doesn't matter. If I'm going to start moving on from this, I need to tell my truth. What y'all do with that truth is up to you. Now, I can hopefully start to move on.

I don't want anyone to confront either of them on my behalf. I'm already terrified of retaliation, but I couldn't not make this post. As far as I know, Aoi is still working as a photographer. If she's abused that position once as she did with me, then I believe that she likely has used it or will use it that way again. The last I knew, Finn and Aoi are dating, and as Finn still lives in Kalamazoo, that puts two people I know to be dangerous and predatory in the immediate orbit of Kzoo's queer community, a community that is extremely important to me. Finn is active on this website as “Cautionrat”, and while I believe Aoi still uses tumblr, I do not feel comfortable searching for her current URL.  I feel like it's my responsibility to make this known so people can be informed and stay safe.

If you've read this, thank you so much. This was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to write, and I've been putting it off for a long, long time. Stay fantastic, fam.

[finkanie]

Red Arrow Soccer Club - Fall 2023 Photos Now Booking! → © finkanie photography

WWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Red Arrow Soccer Club photos are now booking! Sessions will be hosted at Finkanie Photography in McGillen’s Crossing, 56310 City Center Circle, Mattawan, MI - next to Pizza Hut (entrance is on the road side of the building - don’t get lost!) :)

Sessions will be M-F starting October 9, 2023 and run through October 17, 2023! DON’T MISS OUT! No makeup times will be added, so be sure to schedule your time right away and mark your calendar!

To book your session, click here

[finkanie]

2023! → New Year Up in Here, Up in Here © finkanie photography

2023! → New Year Up in Here, Up in Here © finkanie photography

The inflation is crazy. It has affected the photo industry tremendously with paper shortages and the general shipping woes we all had last year, and with shortages comes supply and demand craziness. Why am I telling you this? Long story short, my costs have increased significantly, so much so that when I did school photos last year, I ended up losing money on orders because I didn’t increase my prices for inflation.

Good grief, right?

I was trying to be nice, and it turns out that wasn’t so nice to myself, so I am supposed to start being nicer to myself because all these memes keeping saying that…so here we are.

Dreadfully, I have no choice but to raise my prices to match my vendors & suppliers, otherwise I am working to break even or lose on some products, and that just isn’t fair to me or my family.

So, if your magnet or button costs more, please know it is because it is costing me more to provide products and prints. Trust me, I don’t like raising prices not just because I am teeter-tottering a razor thin line with profits as it is. But because I have kids, too, and I am a bleeding heart empathetic to a fault person, I know how much everything costs with activities and multiple kiddos, so I try my best to keep things reasonable. I am driving a 2011 vehicle, okay? I am humble. No worries. In the meantime, I design packages with households with multiple kids in mind, so you can save a little bit if you want to mix & match items!

Despite ongoing cost increases, I am still very happy to sponsor our local Little League, Mattawan Athletic Boosters, Walk-A-Thon, Wildcat 5K, the MHS Drama Department, Mattawan Youth Football…the list goes on! It is extremely important to me to invest in our community. If the photographers who are doing your students�� photos for teams aren’t sponsoring the school and/or team, you should probably ask why not? They absolutely should be! It is an industry standard. Hold them accountable!

Or, just hire me, because I will 100% support your organization. Happy to do it! And! I am looking to add some more teams, but if all else fails, parents, you can hire me on the side to do banners and things for ya. It is my favorite thing to do!

Thank you to everyone who came to the studio, ordered photos, listened to me sing at your child, listened to me having to scold my 2nd grader assistant when she is acting too silly for work, had to negotiate the confusion of finding my studio entrance if you have never been there before…I appreciate you all very much!

Looking forward to sessions starting back up this weekend with Mattawan Youth Basketball 2023!!

Is your kiddo in the Mattawan Youth Basketball League this year? If so, schedule your session date today! Click here to schedule!

[finkanie]

ONE DAY ONLY! Family Sessions Now Booking! → © finkanie photography

It is here! 2023 Family Sessions are now booking! Saturday, June 17, 2023! (Rain date June 24, 2023)

Each session will be 15 minutes and include 10 of your favorite images from the session. Option to add-on more images if desired. Each image will include a black & white version for 20 total images. Good for up to 6 people. Please inquire if you have a larger group!

Location TBD but will be local to the Kalamazoo/Mattawan area.

Book Here: 2023 Family Mini Session

[finkanie]

Fall Mini Sessions! → Photo Session © finkanie photography

ONE DAY ONLY!

2021 Fall Minis booking now! These sessions are short and sweet, 15 minutes each, and are the perfect way to update your family portraits for the year quickly and efficiently! Choose from 5 images or 10 images for your package. Option to purchase additional prints at proof review if desired!

Location: Mattawan Memorial Park, 24601 Front Street, Mattawan, MI 49071

Session length: 15 minutes

Packages start at $225. Click on the booking link to secure your spot! Limited spots available!

[finkanie]

Baby's 1st Yr. → Photo Session © finkanie photography

Throughout the 1st year of Mia’s life, I was awarded the honor of photographing her at milestone ages, and she just kept getting cuter and cuter each time! Here are some highlights from her sessions!

[finkanie]

Sunny Summer Sales Event | Finkanie Photography

One day only! These sessions are short and sweet, packed with value, and presented to you, my amazing clients! Happening THIS SATURDAY! 7/24/2021, at the gorgeous Tiscornia Park beach in St. Joseph, MI!

[finkanie]

Asher 1 Year Baby Photo Session © finkanie photography

You guys. Jackie is my beautiful friend. I have always loved this woman. We have been friends for liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike more years than we are going to admit, because we are NOT OLD okay. Her kids are the best. All three of them are amazing little versions of this beautiful lady. She warned me about this session. She said girl….he is a wild child…like all over the place. (………) HERE IS WHAT HE DID. He was super smiley - super cooperative - cutest little dude. So…who is lying to me? This precious little angel, or his mother?

*To be clear, I am fully aware of the manipulation of children. They know what they are doing, Team Jackie up in here! I got my eyes on you, Asher! ;) :) :) <3

[finkanie]

Kinley Sweet 16 Session | Finkanie Photography

Time really does fly - I swear, it makes no sense to my brain that this beautiful girl is already 16 years old! Kinley is such an amazing subject to photograph - she makes my job so easy! I could edit every single photo of her that I take, and I would still want to take more! Happy birthday to a wonderful young woman!

[finkanie]

Summer Mini Sessions | Finkanie Photography

Beach mini sessions are now LIVE! FCFS! Limited spots available - this is the ONLY mini session date of the summer! Due to the limited nature, I cannot hold spots, so be sure to snag yours before they are gone!

Because 2020 was so lame, I am including 8 images in the mini sessions! EEP! :)

These will be glorious. You don’t want to miss out. I am SO EXCITED!!!! This backdrop is such a beautiful location. I had my family photos done here by the lovely and talented Audrey Schultz (Where the Heart Is Family Films), and I fell in love with the place! It is so amazing, and there is a reason you see lots of photographers around here.

If you want my professional opinion, which you should…I mean…hi…then definitely go for the package with the prints! I am discounting them a lot, and you will NOT regret it. My lab is not available to the general public, and their prints are the best I have ever seen. EVER. And, I have seen a lot! I want all of my clients to have these in their hands, so I am discounting them significantly from my regular prices for this event!

Rain date for session will be 7/31/2021. Please be sure you are available for both dates just in case!

[finkanie]

Ella the Pup! // Mattawan, MI Pet Photographer

I love me a good pet session! Ella is such a beautiful German Shepherd, and she is such a smart fur baby! 🐾 I think she may have cooperated for posing better than my own children do... ;)

[finkanie]

Sissy Boo is 6! // Mattawan, MI Children's Photographer

I love watching her grow older, but I want her to stay little forever! My baby girl is my little BFF, and I love her so much! She is the craziest, messiest, friendliest, bestest little girl in the whole world!

[finkanie]

Sophia is 6! // Mattawan, MI Family & Children's Photographer

Sophia, being one of my best friend’s children, obviously is one of my favorite children on this planet! She and my daughter are only 5 days apart, which basically makes them twins. They definitely love each other and share many of the same personality traits. Sophia is one of my best models - how can she not be?! LOOK AT HER FACE!!!!! She is the best. We love her so!! I am very lucky to get to watch her grow up. <3

[finkanie]

Introducing Baby Gio! // Mattawan, MI Newborn Photographer

[finkanie]

SENIOR REP. PROGRAM ANNOUNCED! // Now Accepting Applications! // Class of 2022 High School Seniors // SW Michigan

IT IS FINALLY HERE!! The 1st annual Finkanie Photography High School Senior Rep. Program!! I AM SO EXCITED!!

I have been wanting to do this for years, and it is finally happening. I will be taking applications for the next 30 days, and we will start this summer! It is going to be an amazing, fun, laid-back, and inclusive experience for an exclusive group of reps.

We will do different themed sessions throughout the year as a group, which will result in confidence and relationship building. There will also be opportunities to give back to the community as a team!

The ultimate goal of the program is to boost confidence, give back to others, and create lifelong memories that really emphasize and highlight this amazing milestone in the lives of the seniors. Your senior year is such a huge part of your life, and being a rep. for Finkanie Photography will be an experience that will memorialize it forever.

I am not looking for models. I am looking for attitude, kindness, and confidence!

Please click below to learn more, and feel free to pass along the information to any incoming senior whom you feel would be a great fit for this experience!