World of Winter 2024

For 6 weeks this winter my city is hosting the largest winter festival in the US! Ironically the opening weekend events of Word of Winter were cancelled due to a snow storm a couple weeks ago, but “fire and ice” was rescheduled. Last year I was able to take some pictures of fire performers on the ground so this year I brought my camera again to capture some of the ice skating. Thanks to Grand Rapids Entertainment Group and Greater Grand Rapids Figure Skating Club for putting on a great show despite the rain! Here are some of my favorite pictures of the night.

Cuba 2024

The first week of January (including New Years Eve) I had the opportunity to travel to Cuba with a group put together by Laura Ericson Group Trips. Our guide for the week, Cassie, made sure we ate in the best restaurants and saw the real Cuba outside of the tourist areas. We spent a few days in Havana then got to see the beautiful countryside in Vinales before returning to Havana again. Classic cars are just as common as modern cars on the roads in Cuba, and made for some great photo opportunities. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week :)

Hounakey Family 2023

Ending the year with another returning family! The Hounakey’s are spread accross multiple states, but gather back home in Grand Rapids for Christmas each year. This was the third year of their new tradition of getting family photos when they are together and as a photographer there’s no bigger compliment then having returning clients :) It’s always fun to see their coordinated outfits and the effort every member of the family puts into choosing their poses. Since it was unseasonably warm outside, we started with a few photos by the Christmas tree outside at Rosa Parks Circle before moving inside to the beautiful JW Marriott Hotel. Here are some of my favorite pictures from this very photogenic family last weekend!

Brumels-McNally Family

Fall colors have peaked here in west Michigan and Elissa planned a beautiful evening for a photo session with her three kids! I love walking around Grand Ravines and luckily it was not busy so the kids could run (literally) and not be in anyone’s way. Though the boys didn’t have any interest in holding still or being in pictures with their mom, I had fun capturing their personalities and seeing how excited they were to explore the trails at park :) Here are some of my favorites!