Rachel and Jake - Downtown Grand Rapids engagement photos

When I first met Rachel and Jake, I could tell they were pretty perfect for one another. Their first date at Brewery Vivant led to many more, and now they can’t see a life without one another.

One of the best parts of photographing in Grand Rapids is the sheer amount of variety you get between locations. We started at Riverside park to incorporate some of Michigan’s natural winter beauty, and then obviously had to stop in for a brew and warm up at Brewery Vivant before finishing up downtown. Not only is this place a stunning old church that was repurposed into a thriving pub for beer enthusiasts of all types, but the staff went out of their way to make this engagement session an amazing experience for Rachel and Jake.
They gave us free rein of the pub and even led us on a mini tour of the brewery with the manager. I for one, was in heaven.

These stunners were nothing but smiles and laughter despite the frigid cold, and that is my favorite type of person.
Congratulations Rachel and Jake! Your Barn at Monterey Valley wedding is going to be amazing!

Michelle and Drew - Traverse City winery tour engagement photos

As long as I’ve known Michelle and Drew, they’ve been one of the most effortlessly cool couples. Always down to explore, show their family and friends a good time, and find new passions together.
For us as photographers,a huge goal whenever we shoot an engagement session is to incorporate special details or locations that help tell a couple’s story. When they talked about Traverse City and the Suttons Bay area and all the memories they hold, it was such an obvious choice for the engagement session. I am also a huge fan of Northern Michigan, and will look for literally any excuse to venture up that way. These two hold wine memberships at more Michigan wineries than I think most people do in a lifetime, so we started with two of their favorites (Blustone Vineyards and Black Star Farms) before finishing up in the winter igloos of Hop Lot Brewing Company.

Will shoot Traverse City engagement photos any day.

Congratulations Drew and Michelle, your 2020 wedding will be the party everyone talks about and you deserve all the happiness you bring each other!

Rachel and Dustin - Big Rapids engagement photos

Rachel and Dustin have some of the biggest hearts out of anyone I’ve met. They’re kind, genuine and put others before themselves, and it’s such a beautiful thing to see.
Rachel wanted to show me the venue where they’ll be getting married this September as one of the engagement photo locations at golden hour (Probably the most beautiful farm of all time), but there was still the first location to figure out. When she asked Dustin what he wanted in engagement photos, he said “cold beer”. Not wanting to disappoint, cold beer was exactly our first location! We met up at Raven Brewing and BBQ in Big Rapids, and I was so thrilled that we did. Not only did it set the mood so perfectly, but it also made for a laid back and effortless engagement session afterwards.
I had so much fun with these beautiful humans, and I can’t wait for the wedding day!