Abby and I used to work together so I love that we have been able to stay in touch via photographing big moments! Three years ago I took engagement photos for her and Nic at this same location in the Grand Ravines and two years ago I was able to photograph their wedding! I’m so excited that they are expecting twin girls this winter and can’t wait to see them as parents. Here are some of my favorites from Abby and Nic’s engagement session :)
It’s officially fall which means family photo season! First up are the Glover family who were given a photo session as a birthday gift last spring (yes I offer gift cards) and it took a while to coordinate schedules, but we finally managed. The weather was great and Provin Trails was a perfect location for twin 2 year olds to run around collecting sticks between pictures ;)
Here are some of my favorites last Sunday!
Sandie and Brett were legally married last year, but postponed their large party with family and friends until last weekend. It was an unseasonably warm fall day (as most of the month has been) when we met up at Prairie Wolf Park to take pictures of the bridal party. The colors of their dresses and flowers were so perfect for this time of year and I loved the way each bridesmaid had a unique style rather then matching each other! We then headed to Crossroads Conference Center for dinner, cake and dancing with their guests. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day!
Congratulations Sandie and Brett, thanks for letting me capture these moments!
Last week I met up with the Anizko family for the last of Grace’s milestone sessions, her first birthday party! The day was unexpectedly cold and fall- like, but it didn’t stop the kids from playing in the bounce house. Grace had help from her older brother and older cousins with opening gifts, and it was so sweet to watch her hug and cuddle her new dolls. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the event!
Last fall I donated a gift certificate for a photo session at a fundraiser for Hestovin Stables, a therapeutic riding center in Grand Rapids. Growing up as a horse girl I am always excited for opportunities to be around horses as an adult! Lila and Siena’s grandma bought the gift certificate and waited to redeem it until the girls who live out of state were visiting Michigan this summer. Despite the very hot day these two were so fun, they didn’t want to stop brushing and petting the horses and they also entertained me with a lot of random questions such as “why are horses feet like that?” Here are some of my favorite pictures from their photo session at the stables!
Today was the annual Day of Play celebration for the Grand Rapids Children’s Museum, a place I have volunteered for many years! Last year I wished I had my camera to take pictures of the foam, so this year I made sure to have it with me (such a photographer thing to do) :) Kids and adults played in the foam and didn’t mind getting wet. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the celebration of the museum’s 27th birthday!
My sister in law is expecting her first baby, and my first nephew, in early September so she asked if I’d take some maternity pictures to document this time. Her only request was “flowers” so Grand Ravines made for the perfect spot for early July wildflowers! My brother was less excited about having his picture taken, but we did get a few with both of them. We also got so lucky with the weather, there was a threat of rain all day but nothing happened while we were at the park :)
The Aniszko family are so great at scheduling milestone photography sessions for their kids and I love seeing how they grow and learn new things all the time. Grace is now 9 months old and much more active and expressive than last time I photographed her. Big brother Ian is 4 years old and was not very excited about pictures, but with some bribery from his parents we got a few good ones!
At the end of May I enjoyed watching and photographing the annual dance recital for Arts in Motion, a local studio that provides dance, music, theater and fine art classes for individuals with disabilities. I might be biased because I serve on the board, but they really do create a family like atmosphere for the students. Despite dropping my most used lens, I got some photos that capture the personalities of students and the fun they have while preforming so I just had to share :)
Prom is definitely a bigger deal for kids today then it was when I was growing up (or maybe it was just my personality to be nonchalant) :) Kalala asked for some professional portraits alone and with her boyfriend before the dance to go along with her professionally done hair and makeup. The day was behind schedule and we ran out of time to go downtown like originally planned for pictures, but I think the spring blossoms made an even better backdrop! This girl is a natural model and we got all of these photos in just 15 minutes.
This was my third year photographing Laugh Fest, my city’s annual fundraiser for Gilda’s Club which allows them to continue providing free support to adults, kids, families and friends of those going through a cancer journey. In past years I’ve documented late night/ adult comedy shows, but this year I chose to photograph kids and family day instead which was so fun! First there was a kids joke show, then drumming for all with Josh, and finally a family improvisation class with the comedy project. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the day!
Time never seems to go as fast as when I do milestone photo session for babies! I’m grateful that my friends Mary and Aaron have wanted to document both their kids growth during the first year because it also gives me a day every three months to catch up with them. At six months old, Grace loves her pacifier and sucking on her bottom lip. Getting smiles smiles was difficult until big brother Ian came home from preschool and made her laugh :) Since it was an unseasonably warm day in February we also took a few pictures outside in their yard and of course had to get one of their dog/ first kid Toby.
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.
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 :)
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!
I love when families choose to do milestone photography sessions for their kids because they grow and change so much in the first year! When their first child, Ian, was born Mary and Aaron scheduled photos every 3 months for him and I was so happy they decided to do the same for their second born :) Grace was pretty confused about the camera in her face, but she didn’t cry and her big brother stayed close by to try and get her to smile. Here are some of my favorites!
The Still’s are likely the people I have been photographing the longest, and I love that I’ve gotten to keep in touch with these friends over the years through their annual photo session. This year they wanted more winter/ Christmas themed pictures instead of fall and though the kids were not happy about the cold weather at first, after eating lunch it started to snow and they wanted to go back out and play in it :) So we managed a combination of more formal family photos, pictures of the kids by the Christmas tree inside, and some playing in the snow (all with their dog running in and out of the frame). Here are my favorites from earlier today!
The month of October ended with a senior session for Hailee and Reed who have been dating on and off since middle school! The two of them are at different schools and it was fun hearing the stories of how they met and have kept in touch despite moving to different school districts. are graduating from different schools, but still kept their relationship going. Their love of the outdoors inspired the choice of Grand Ravines for the photo session and I enjoyed showing them around one of my favorite parks that they had never visited before. Here are some of my favorites of Hailee and Reed :)
This has been a slower than normal October, so last weekend I posted on Facebook asking if any of my friends wanted photos before the leaves fall off the trees. Luckily, the Bopp family responded and we got their pictures scheduled the same day at the beautiful campus of Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. I love taking pictures there and hadn’t had the chance in a long time, so when they suggested the location I immediately agteed Here are some of my favorites of the Bopp 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!
