Mackenzie's Senior Photos

My first class of 2018 senior photo session this year was with Mackenzie!  She came to the photo shoot with some great ideas and great props - her dog and her guitar :) Mackenzie is very talented and she's planning to move to Nashville after finishing high school to pursue a career in music since she not only plays guitar but also plays piano and she sings.  She is definitely a country girl at heart and we found some great photo spots at a mutual friends barn and some nearby railroad tracks.  Have a great senior year Mackenzie and enjoy this preview of your pictures! 

Stoub Family

Last month I had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite families in a few locations around downtown Grand Rapids.  Since it had been just over 5 years since I last took family photos for them and their oldest daughter was moving off to college -it was definitely time for some updated pictures! Thanks to everyone who gave my suggestions on "industrial" locations around town we found some great spots and I learned that no matter how old of a kid you have - using ice cream for a bribe to take good photos still works :) Here are some of my favorites from the Stoub's family session.

King Family

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting the King family at Douglas Walker Park to take their family photos.  I love that they got my name from a family I photographed earlier this summer (referrals mean that people are happy with their pictures) who also had little boys.  It was fun getting a glimpse of these two boys personalities and of course they wanted to carry around sticks the whole time!  Here of some of my favorites from the session.

Northern Michigan Scenery

It's been a busy summer but I've managed two quick trip "up north" and wanted to share a few of my favorite photos from Ludington, Mackinaw, and Fish Town.  I am not much of a nature photographer but am so thankful to live in a state that has places like this within a days drive!  Pictures don't do it justice but I had to try :)

Zach and Stephanie's Wedding

Zach's sister is a good friend of mine and Stephanie works for the same company I do so when I was asked to photograph their intimate wedding ceremony I happily agreed.  Although our first attempt to take photos at a park was quickly stopped by swarms of mosquito's the wedding party were good sports and we managed to find some good locations outside the church for photos.  Zach and Stephanie had punch and cake then a bonfire (which I didn't photograph) rather than a traditional reception, but it was clear they are loved by many friends and family!  Here are some of my favorite images from their wedding.

Matt & Sarah Ruth's Wedding

About a month ago my youngest brother Matt married Sarah Ruth who he met while working at Camp Beechpoint a couple years ago.  It was a humid day, but thankfully the rain held off until the end of the reception and we all stayed dry!  Though I didn't have an official "job" at this wedding I had a great time catching up with people from the church we grew up in and friends from camp.   Plus, my older brother was home from his job teaching in China so I got to spend some time with him as well.  Of course had my camera with me and since their photographer left before a lot of the dancing started I decided to capture some of those shots for them :) 

Tim & Anna's Wedding

Tim and Anna's wedding was such a joy to photograph! They were ahead of schedule all day (which never happens), the weather cooperated, we had some great photo locations, and everyone in the wedding party was so helpful!  Plus, it seemed like everyone was having fun at the reception because I don't think I've ever been to a wedding with so much dancing!  I've known both Tim and Ana several years, they were high school sweethearts and were dating when I first met Tim and took his senior pictures.  I love that they are both so comfortable in front of the camera and that they trusted my ideas for locations and poses.  It was definitely a challenge to narrow down my favorite pictures from their wedding to make this blog post and I can't wait to finish editing everything else.  Enjoy this preview!

Mike & Tonya's Wedding

My first wedding of 2017 happened to be my younger brothers wedding!  I've always wanted a sister and I officially got one on a beautiful May day in southwest Michigan.  Their ceremony and reception were at the Lawton Community Center which was very pretty and the staff were incredibly helpful.  There was even a small museum that guests could tour during the cocktail hour.   Congratulations Mike and Tonya, I'm so happy that you let me photograph your special day!  Enjoy this preview of your pictures :)

Megan & Kahler's Engagment

A couple weeks ago I got to visit my alma matter - Grand Valley State University- to take some engagement photos of Megan and Kahler.  They are high school sweethearts who are both current students at Grand Valley and planning a wedding for summer 2018.  We managed to go to both campuses and take a quick walk to the blue bridge on this sunny spring day.  With so many great locations and pretty flowers it was so hard to choose only a few to share here!

Baby Doug

I would not typically describe myself as a "newborn photographer" but when my friends keep having babies I keep getting in practice with photographing them :) Karen and I used to work together and it has been so fun for me to see her family grow the past few years.  Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the newest addition to their family, baby Doug, (named after his dad and his paternal grandpa) when he was just 6 days old.  Big sister 2 1/2 year old Alice was very proud to show me her baby brother when I arrived at their home.  Here are some of my favorite photos of the new family of 4!

Everett turns one!

Everett is the second son of my good friend form high school and he is such a happy kid! He turned one on March 2nd and he is already walking and imitating everything his big brother does.  We finally got around to his photo shoot and the wait was well worth it because I've never seen a kid so happy about cake! He didn't enjoy eating it nearly as much as he did smashing it :)   Here are some of my favorite photos - and it was hard to pick just a few. 

HIS Dance Ballet

I love ballet and last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing a rehearsal for HIS Dance Academy's spring show "Desert: A Good Samaritan Story" which they are preforming on March 11 and 12.   The girls (and guy) did a great job and I can't wait to see them on the stage next weekend! To purchase tickets to the show go here: http://dcaw.org/events.php?eid=283

Here are some of my favorite photos

Josh - Class of 2017

Josh's mom works with me and when she asked if I could do a quick photo shoot for his senior photos I happily agreed.  Josh had already picked out some locations in his backyard for pictures which made my job easy and despite it being early December we still managed to find some color in the leaves and trees.  We even joked when I arrived that it was supposed to snow that day and that would make an interesting photo shoot.  About halfway through the photo shoot it did actually start snowing and you can even the snowflakes in a few of the pictures :) Have a great rest of your senior year Josh thanks for braving the cold weather for some pictures.  Here are some of my favorites!

Baby Emma

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet and take pictures of 6 day old Emma.  I've known her mom and dad for many years and they have been the subject of many photos shoots over the years so I suspect this is the first of many photo shoots Emma will be in as well. She was asleep most of the time I was there and didn't seem to care at all about us moving her around and putting the camera in her face which was great :)  Here are some of my favorites of the little cutie!

Kosters Family

Donique is a co-worker of mine and I first met her husband Ryan when I photographed their wedding back in 2011.  I have since then had the pleasure of photographing their growing family again over the past few years first with their little boy Jude, then when she was pregnant with her daughter.  Now they are getting ready to move to a new house and had requested some fall family photos in their yard to commemorate yet another season of life they are entering into :) Here are some of my favorites from their session a few weeks ago.

Megan Class of 2017

My first and only senior session of the year (so far) was Megan on an October day when the fall colors were in their prime in West Michigan.  Megan attends the same high school I did and she goes to the church I grew up in so I enjoyed hearing about how my hometown has changed in the years since I left!  Enjoy the rest of your senior year Megan thanks for coming up to Grand Rapids for these photos at Riverside Park :)

Tim & Anna's Engagement Photos

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to head out to Michigan State University where Tim and Anna both go to school and take their engagement photos.  It was a beautiful fall day and the campus was full of great spots for pictures.  Plus, Tim and Anna were naturals for the camera! I can't wait for their wedding next June, but for not enjoy some of my favorites from their engagement session.

Johnston Family

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of taking some fall family photos for Claire, Andy and their two adorable boys Peter and Will at their family home in Lowell.  They live on a natural beauty road and the leaves were just starting to change colors so we had great backgrounds for their photos.  Plus, the rain stopped and the sun came out about an hour before we were scheduled to do photos which was a relief for everyone.  Enjoy this preview of the Johnston family photos.

Alyssa and Luke's Wedding

On a beautiful end of September Saturday Alyssa and Luke were married in an intimate ceremony at Camp Beechpoint with Luke's dad officiating.  They then welcomed extended family and friends for a dinner reception afterwards.  Being an alumni staff of Beechpoint myself it was a joy to spend the day take their photos at a place I know so well.   Congratulations again Lys and Luke, thanks for letting me be a part of your special day! Enjoy this preview of some of my favorite photos from your wedding.

Chris and Sarah's maternity photos

For many years now Chris and Sarah have been the friends that are my guinea pigs for trying out new photography styles and last Friday when we did this maternity photo shoot was no exception.  As I've only done one maternity shoot prior to this I in no way consider it to be a strength but I am thankful for people who are willing to let me practice! This shoot was also special because we took them at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids which is where I took their engagement photos visited the place I took their engagement photos 6 years ago :) Here are some of my favorite photos from the session - can't wait to meet their baby girl in 5 more weeks!