Baker Family in Quarantine

Now that the restrictions on photography have been lifted in Michigan I began offering “front porch sessions” for families who have been quarantined together in their homes the past two months. The first family to jump at the opportunity to capture this strange time of their lives was the Baker family who I’ve photographed several times over the years! It was fun catching up with them and hearing stories of how they are passing their time at home. Here are some of my favorite photos from their session :)

Michelle's professional portraits

It may not be as common as family photos or weddings, but I do enjoy taking portraits for individuals to use for marketing their business/ service. I love when people want creative head shots and not just traditional head and shoulders pictures against a solid background :) For example, my friend Michelle who reached out and asked me if I could take some photos of her while practicing social distancing in the midst of a global pandemic. I happily grabbed my zoom lens and met her at a park last week (before winter made a comeback in Michigan) and here are some of my favorite pictures of her!

Jess and Jeff Maternity Photos

Before Michigan issued the stay at home order I was able to do a fun maternity session with Jessica and Jeff downtown Grand Rapids. It was such a strange thing seeing downtown so empty on a beautiful sunny weekend but it allowed us to walk around to some of my favorite photo spots. At the time they thought it would be a few more weeks until their baby girls arrival, but she had other plans and was born just a few days after we took these pictures! Sending much love to Jessica and Jeff and all other families with newborn babies in the time of COVID-19!

Baby Joshua

Two weeks ago I got to meet 10 day old baby Joshua. He was such a calm little guy and didn’t seem phased at all with me moving him around to take photos :) Joshua was born at the end of February and weighed close to 12 pounds making him look almost as big as his 3 year old sister! Here are some of my favorites from their in home session.

Mary and Aaron Maternity Photos

I’ve gotten to photograph my friends Mary and Aaron many times over the years so I was excited to meet up with them again and grateful for their flexibility when our first choice in location was under construction and we had to find a last minute alternative! I can’t wait for them to welcome a little boy in just a few short months and we had a beautiful, sunny winter day to take photos at Riverside Park downtown Grand Rapids! Although their dog, Toby, did not feel like cooperating we still got some great pictures, here are my favorites :)

Nicholas and Keagan's Wedding

On a sunny Thursday in West Michigan I had the opportunity to meet Keagan, Nicholas and their families for their intimate wedding ceremony at the courthouse. The love that they had for each other and the support of their families was clear in all the tears that were shed on this happy day! We kept saying it was “good weather” simply meaning the sun was out and it was not raining on their wedding day, but Nicholas’ mom who flew in from Arizona for the wedding, had a differnt opinion about the snow on the ground :) Here are some of my favorite pictures from their special day.

Johnston/ Foley Family 2019

When I think about returning clients for family photos this group are the ones I think of first because they are the ones I’ve been taking pictures of the longest (who are not family/friends) and I’m grateful that each fall I get to document how their family has grown! As with any fall session in west Michigan we never can predict what the weather will be and this year it was cold but luckily not raining or snowing yet. Here of some of my favorites from their session!

Still Family

Another return of familiar faces this fall with the Still family! Chris and Sarah are good friends of mine and it’s been so great photographing their growing family throughout the years. Two year old Emma was not super excited about taking pictures but she is excited to be a big sister in February :) This was my second time photographing at Hager Park this year and the trails had some great fall color that we were able to capture! Here are some of my favorites.

Kuiper Family

Last Saturday was such a beautiful day downtown Grand Rapids and I had so much fun walking around to all my favorite spots in the city with the Kuiper family! Janet and Matt’s girls Maki and Jayse were so sweet and when I offered them opportunities to pick backgrounds or poses for the family they both chose several spots that they saw and liked :) Take a look at some of my favorites from their session!

Aupperlee Family

Last week on a beautiful fall evening I got to catch up with the Aupperlee family at Hagar Park to take their pictures. This was my third time taking pictures of this family and I was amazed at how much the kids have grown! They did a great job putting up with me when all they really wanted to do was play on the awesome playground at the park. Here are some of my favorites from the session!

Rozema Family

October has always been the busiest month for family photos and one thing I love about it is getting to see how families have grown since I last took their pictures! Starting off the month is Melissa and Rob who I first met back in 2014 when I took their engagement photos and later would photograph their wedding and Melissa’s second pregnancy. It was lots of fun wandering around Millennium Park with their kids and though Collin did not want to stand still and preferred to look for frogs or other animals we still got some good pictures. Here are my favorites :)

Jess and Sid's Wedding

Labor Day weekend I had the pleasure of photographing Jess and Sid’s wedding at the Clearwater Place downtown Grand Rapids. We were worried about rain all day but luckily it ended by the time we were ready to take pictures outside and as a photographer I love overcast days because it means no one is squinting and we don’t have to worry about harsh shadows! Jess and Sid had a small wedding party but but their family and friends were tons of fun. I especially loved the unique touches at their reception like a caracature artist! Here are some of my favorite photos from their special day :)

Feyer Family

Earlier this summer I got to meet up with another extended family to take photos for them at a cottage they were renting on the beach in Grand Haven. The kids were so friendly and immediately greeted me when I arrived and even the baby was in a good mood during the photo session! I loved watching everyone run around on the beach barefoot and even the dog was in on the fun. Here are some of my favorites from the Feyer family.

Hammar/Holshoe/Ward/Torres Family

Last summer Marcia first contacted me about getting photos taken of her extended family which includes 3 daughters and their kids but it turned out to be more difficult then anticipated to get them all together! I’m so happy she didn’t give up on the idea and we finally got something scheduled so they can have these family memories :) I had fun seeing all of the cousins run around and play together and they even tried to get the dog in a few photos before deciding it was too much chaos with so many kids and a dog! Here are some of my favorites from their session a couple weeks ago.

Amy & Isiah's Wedding

Amy and Isaiah had such a fun wedding at Camp Concordia last month. I loved that so many of their family and friends from out of state to celebrate together. The camp had lots of beautiful spots to take photos and Amy’s dress was perfect for twirling! Plus the pavilion for the reception was right next to a pirate ship playground that all the kids loved and they had a send off on a pontoon boat. Here are some of my favorite pictures from Amy and Isaiah’s special day :)

Sabrina & Robert's Wedding

Sabrina and Robert’s wedding day was on a beautiful day in West Michigan, after weeks of rain the sun finally came out and we were all so glad! Their intimate wedding and reception was held at Townsend Park and I am so grateful Sabrina had already scoped out the spots she wanted photos because this park is huge! The trees were so great and it it weren’t for all the bugs I couldn’t photographed in that spot all day :) I also loved the family atmosphere of the wedding with playground and creek nearby which all kids enjoyed runing around in. Here are some of my favorite photos from their special day.

Belize Trip

I’ve been home a week from my trip to Belize with Highland Park Church youth group and Experience Mission and couldn’t wait to start editing my photos. I’ve been on several mission trips in my life and always enjoy traveling to new countries and learning about their culture. However, this was the first time I had no other job aside from photography. I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend a week with some wonderful people doing things like exploring Mayan ruins, building an addition on a church, and snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea! Here are some of my favorite pictures :)

YMCA Dance Recital

For the last three years I have been a participant in the YMCA’s annual spring dance recital and though I was not a dancer this year I was still asked to attend the dress rehearsal and take some photos of the kids on stage! Little kids dancing on stage are so cute and I love watching the results of their hard work. Plus, the instructors deserve so much credit for not only choreographing and teaching the kids but also creating their own dance which they showcased at the end of the program. Here are some of my favorite photos from the dress rehearsal day!

Jasmine & Deion's Wedding

In March I kicked off the 2019 wedding season with Jasmine and Deion’s special day! It was a beautiful sunny (yet cold) early spring day and the whole wedding party was willing to brave the cold air to take some photos outside. Their ceremony was held at Kentwood Community Church and the reception at the beautiful Stonewater Country Club. It was my first time at Stonewater Country club and I always enjoy seeing new wedding locations around my own city! Congratulations Jasmine and Deion, thanks for letting me be a part of your wedding - enjoy this preview of your photos!

Baby Olive

Spring has finally arrived in west Michigan and what better way to celebrate then a photo shoot with a baby! Olive turned 3 months old last Saturday and we had been talking about getting pictures since before she was born so I’m glad we finally made it happen. Olive is such a sweet baby and she gave us lots of fun facial expressions (in between naps and feedings)! Here are some of my favorites from the session