Mr and Mrs Roberts - Southern Exposure wedding

When we shot Billy and Kelsey’s engagement session earlier this year, I could tell they had an adventurous side. They’re the type of people that aren’t quick to let anything get them down because being together is what really matters. I absolutely love that about them, so when the forecast leading up to their wedding day called for nothing but straight rain, I wasn’t worried. The umbrellas were packed and the energy was high.
Well, this is Michigan, and the entire day’s prediction was changing hour by hour. The ceremony was moved indoors to be safe at the last minute, but we had a few dry skies here and there that we absolutely took advantage of! Kelsey didn’t stop smiling the entire day, and the whole wedding party was 100% down to grab umbrellas and adventure outside for photos. I’m so so happy with the results, it just goes to show there’s nothing to fear about a little rain on your wedding day.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Roberts!

Mr and Mrs Harrington - Intimate backyard wedding

Felicia and Josh are very much in love with each other, and that was obvious the entire day.
The wedding took place on her parent’s property where Felicia grew up, and it was an unbelievably perfect venue to host the most important day of their lives.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of backyard weddings, I just love to see a couple share the day with the people who are the most important to them, and these two did exactly that!

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Harrington, I’m so happy for you and what the future holds!

Mr and Mrs Kammer - Bowens Mills wedding

Brandon and Kati’s wedding day was a roller coaster of wonderful emotions, and not even one unexpected event could take any of the joy away.

As soon as we arrived, the rain poured absolute buckets with no sign of stopping. I’m talking torrential downpour the likes of which we hadn’t seen all year. Everyone had agreed the outdoor ceremony would be moved inside to the reception hall, and preparations went on as normal with Kati keeping her calm like a boss. She laughed with all her bridesmaids as though the monsoon outside didn’t exist.
It’s almost as though she knew something we didn’t, because as soon as the preparations ended and I was about to move the portraits to plan B, the rain stopped with only a light cloud cover remaining. By the end of the ceremony, the sun was out in the most perfect golden portrait light!

The dancing was legendary, and we couldn’t have asked for a more perfect end to the day. Congratulations Mr and Mrs Kammer, you two are perfect for one another!

Mr and Mrs Higgs - The Cheney Place wedding

Kristina and Mike’s wedding is special to me for so many reasons.
Not only is Kristina a massively talented individual who creates gorgeous video, but she’s also one of my best friends. This meant juggling the tasks of bridesmaid as well as photographer, which I was all too thrilled to do!
Mike is also wildly talented (He built Kristina a dream editing computer) and they compliment each other in tons of ways, from their love of music, to their sense of humor right down to the shared dedication to their cats.
We have known these two for years, so when they asked David to be the officiate the wedding, it was an easy yes.

The venue was unbelievable, and that made photographing the day incredibly enjoyable! Details as far as the eye could see, and an awesome second shooter made this one of my favorite albums yet.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Higgs, we’ll be celebrating your life together for years to come!

Montana

If you follow the blog, you'll know David and I don't stay in one place too long. We love Kalamazoo, and call it home, but there's way too much of the world left to see, so every so often we plan an adventure. 
This one had been in the works for over a year, but I had no idea just how special it was going to be. David had lived in Montana for a bit previously, and had been compiling a list of must-see places since we first started dating, knowing someday he would be able to show me around Kalispell and the Glacier National Park area. When wildfires halted our plans last September, we decided to try again for June of 2018. 

It was everything I could have ever hoped. The natural beauty was every photographers dream, but the company was the absolute best. 
We started the trip off with his favorite breakfast spot in Kalispell (Split Rock Cafe) and then toured a few the top breweries (Bonsai Brewing Project was pleasant as heck), and finished up on Flathead Lake, boating with one of David's best big sky buddies. 
 

Day number two held things I didn't see coming from a mile away. 

David took me on a hike to Holland Falls, knowing the entire time I would want to take photos at the top, so we packed a tripod and remote (on top of that, I looked like a hot mess, hiking with a boots/sundress combo that I swapped out for flip flops when the walking was done.... for the photos sake of course). 
We had been planning on shooting frame-able photos at some point this trip, so I thought nothing of his insistence I make absolutely sure to have the wireless remote in the bag.

Once we  fought off the invasive ground squirrels searching for snacks (note that close up shot was not taken with a telephoto lens) we set up the tripod and took a few shots. 

And then he surprised me. 

I had no idea he had been planning the proposal ever since we booked the first trip that got rescheduled, and had kept the ring a complete secret all this time! I've been on cloud nine ever since, this man is my best friend, and my biggest supporter. Life is such an adventure with him, and I can't wait to start the next chapter of it. 

He planned it all perfectly, and even got us THE most beautiful Airbnb in St. Ignatius to spend our first engaged night.

After all that, we spent the next few days camping, hiking, and getting overall publicly unpresentable. One of my favorite hikes from the standpoint of feeling so accomplished when we finished was definitely Iceberg Lake, but there wasn't a single bad day and not one hike I regretted. We spent loads of time outdoors away from cell reception, and it was perfect. 

I have no doubt we will be back to this other-worldly place. Bears and ground squirrels included, there is something special about Montana. 

Emma - Portage senior photos

Emma arrived to our location in the cutest floral pants I have ever seen, and I knew this was going to be an excellent shoot. Then Emma's mom tells me they've been planning on having me take her senior portraits for years, and I pretty much am dying from just how honored I am. 
This girl is sweet, and talented, and can rock any pose without prompting! I have no doubt incredible things are in her future. 

Becky and Thomas - Ludington engagement

Becky and Thomas are not only crazy photogenic and wonderful to work with, but they're a special couple in general. Hearing how he talks about her is already enough to make me happy cry, and the way they enjoy life together is completely beautiful. 
They wanted to do something special for the engagement session (and we're always up for a road-trip), so we adventured out to Thomas's hometown of Ludington, where the session was full of genuine laughter and lake-drenched pant legs, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the photos!
 

Kelsey and Billy - Kalamazoo engagement session

Kelsey and Billy are the kind of people you would want to hang out with regardless of the occasion. They're fun, sweet, and up for anything (we tested that last one for sure to get some of these shots!)
Between everything they have in common such as a love of Bell's Brewery, or their differences like whether or not another dog should be added to the household, they balance each other in all the right ways. Their wedding is going to be amazing, and their life together even better!
 

Abby and Shane - Downtown Kalamazoo engagement

Abby moved to our beloved, but temperamental mitten state from sunny Florida, and it wasn't long before she met and fell in love with Shane. They are both adventurous, love to travel (especially to NY) and complete each other in all the perfect ways. During their engagement session, they let me lead them all over downtown Kalamazoo shooting, and laughing along the way. It's such a thrill to know them, I can already tell that their Skydeck wedding with be the stuff dreams are made of!

Janel and Ben - Grand Rapids adventure engagement

Janel and Ben are with no exaggeration probably the coolest people you will meet. They are artistic, and unique, and very genuine with you right from the first moment. 
I could already tell that their engagement photos were going to be something special, so when Janel suggested touring some of their favorite spots around Grand Rapids, I was so on board!
We started getting some shots in the greenhouse of Horrocks market in Kentwood, then moved over to Vertigo music (where Ben couldn't resist purchasing a record) before finishing up at a personal favorite of mine: Stella's Lounge. If you like whiskey, that is the place for you. 

The locations were amazing, but the people definitely made this session unforgettable. 
 

Tonya and Rick - South Haven engagement

Tonya and Rick are exactly what I'm talking about when I say the best photos happen when two people are just genuinely interacting with each other. There was so much laughter during the entirety of the engagement session, not to mention the way my heart melted every time I saw the way Rick looked at her. These two are very much in love, and I can't wait to photograph their wedding!

 

Alishia and Zac - Al Sabo family photos

When Alishia contacted me saying she wanted to include the whole family in their baby announcement photos, I was already excited. Talking over ideas, it became clear that her main priority was to shoot during golden hour (YESSS). The lighting was nothing short of magic, and they were all unbelievably sweet. 
Congratulations to all three of you on the new addition to the family!

Zach and Brittany - In home lifestyle session

These two are genuinely wonderful people. Their love for each other is obvious as soon as you meet them. Zach contacted me back in March about wanting to give Brittany a very special birthday present in May. They recently bought their first home together, and he wanted to feature this in a couple's photo session as a gift to her. I was obviously way too excited, lifestyle photos are my favorite thing, and their home is absolutely stunning! We even managed to fit their fluffy new family member into a few photos before she dove back under the couch.

Mr and Mrs Ramsay - Asylum lake anniversary photos

These two are some of my favorite people. Bethany is everything that is classy and graceful. On top of having mad style, she is crazy skilled in all things writing and PR, and that doesn't even begin to cover why she's amazing. 
Ben is talented and steady. A phenomenal leader and source of support and, on top of all that, can brew a mean beer.
I had the massive pleasure to shoot their engagement photos, capture their wedding, and now celebrate their anniversary with them the best way I know how: More photos. 
We even went to back to the location where Ben proposed! 

Congratulations on one year married Mr and Mrs Ramsay! Keep being awesome to one another.

Kristi and Greg - Kalamazoo engagement session

Greg and Kristi are some of the coolest people you ever meet, and that is a fact. 
We first met up at a microbrewery over by Detroit to go over wedding details and engagement ideas, and by the time I left I felt like I had known them for years. 
They live their lives having genuine fun in one another's company, and I didn't have to encourage laughter even once during entire engagement session. 

You can't tell from the photos, but it was a wintery spring  day, so we started off in the comfort of Factory Coffee in Kalamazoo, and since their wedding will be taking place at the coolest brewery complex ever, it only made sense that beer would make it's appearance somewhere in the photos.

I am so pumped for their wedding this fall!

Bethany - Kalamazoo portraits

Bethany is one of my favorite people. She can brighten up any room she walks into. 

When one of my shoots had to be postponed, but the lighting was just to good to pass up on, Bethany came to the rescue with her fabulous sense of style as always. 
This entire session was shot in 25 minutes with a 50mm lens, because I never like to shy away from a challenge! 

New Orleans

New Orleans has been on our bucket list for as long as I can remember. 
I was raised on a healthy diet of hot sauce, and everything I heard about this place gave me the indication that the food alone would win me over. 

Well it turned out to be the food, the people, the atmosphere and goodness knows my travel company. It was both everything we expected, and nothing at all like we pictured. 

We ended up finding the cutest hotel of all time right in the French Quarter called Hotel St. Pierre that had courtyards for days, and not only one, but two pools to warm our frozen Midwestern hearts. They serve exceptionally good coffee in the lobby 24/7 but their amazing staff also puts out fresh cookies and milk every afternoon. The lodging bar is now raised for me.

Among our favorite foods spots were definitely Cafe Du Monde (not exaggerating when they say the best beignets in the city), and the sweet selections over at St Roch's Market. No matter what you're craving, they will have a fix for it. 
Also try: 
Oceana Grill - Crab cakes and Rum caramel bread pudding
Redfish - Redfish bisque
The Praline connection - The "Taste of soul" platter (OH MY GOSH)
Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar - Oysters... fresh as heck.
The Courtyard Brewery - I would have to recommend the beer

 

The city itself has so much to see, from historic architecture to the riverside and all with an energy that is completely infectious. I love this place. 

Molly and Devin - Kalamazoo engagement session

When I first met this couple I could tell they were something special. Molly has such a vibrant energy that compliments Devin's steady personality perfectly. When we were talking engagement photo ideas, they mentioned the restaurant where Devin proposed, and I couldn't have been more thrilled to include the location in their portraits (Also, Principle is flipping fantastic and easily one of my favorite spots in the city). The weather may have been bitterly cold that day but they were both troopers in the outdoors, and you would never know it to look at the photos!

Seeing how easy they were to photograph makes me extra pumped for their wedding in June!