kalamazoo photographer

Em and Bryant - Kalamazoo maternity photography

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One of my favorite things about photography is the ability to build friendships and follow people through important stages of their lives.
These two are no exception. I’ve known Em for years, and when she and Bryant got engaged, I had the honor of being the one to follow them around Al Sabo land preserve with a camera and a celebratory bottle of Bell’s Wedding Ale.
Now their family is growing again, and that calls for more following them around the woods with a camera (no beer this time, because…. maternity photos.)
We chose the Kalamazoo Nature center for this March portrait session. Not only is it absolutely full of natural beauty, but it holds a pretty fond spot in the hearts of their whole family. They are people who set such an example of appreciating the outdoors with their little ones, and I’m such a fan.

Congratulations again you two!

Emily - Downtown Kalamazoo editorial portrait photography

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This is not the first or the last time Emily Crombez is going to make an appearance on the blog.
I got to know her through mutual connections in the photography world, and I’m so glad to have the opportunity to call her a genuine friend. This chick can absolutely kill a pose (Like, the evidence is below) but is also a mad talented photographer and ambitious entrepreneur. She builds up other women like no one’s business, and I will jump at the chance to create something together, always.

We wanted this shoot to showcase Emily’s more editorial posing, so a classic black and white with loads o’ contrast is exactly where my mind went. Downtown Kalamazoo has no end to great textures and urban landscape, which is important when your model is particularly climb-y.

Thanks for being amazing as always Emily!

Kayla and Noah - Ypsilanti backyard elopement

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Kayla and Noah’s June elopement was one of the first weddings we documented after the stay at home order was lifted, and it was a small and sweet backyard wedding with the perfect amount of golden hour light.
When they had to shift from a traditional wedding setup, Kayla and her support crew were able to repurpose the centerpieces for a dope geometric ceremony backdrop while keeping all the special details they had woven through their day:

- Game references everywhere, including the vows.

- The cutest ring bearer, Nikko.

- Enough “Painkiller” cocktail to dull even the year 2020.

Congrats you two, I hope you always stay your unique and wonderful selves!

Jenna - Kalamazoo senior photographer

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“Jenna is hoping for something a little different than the standard downtown senior photos” is absolutely music to my ears.

I have a mental stash of bold, colorful backdrops to match unique personalities, so we did a tour of some of my favorite Kalamazoo locations (KIK pool and Vine neighborhood) before ending with the best golden hour at Asylum Lake Preserve.

Even though it was what could be described as “dramatically breezy” that day, we dragged strobe lighting with us through most of it, and it was so worth it.

Congratulations Jenna, I hope you share your awesome smile everywhere you go!



Annika - Senior portraits

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I’ve had the pleasure of shooting Annika several times over the past few years, and it’s an absolute pleasure every time.
This time, it’s because this stunner is graduating! It may not be the senior year she was expecting, but she’s taken everything 2020 has thrown at her and is still smiling.
Annika wanted a mix of urban and natural photos, so we started in downtown Kalamazoo and traced a great walking path of photo locations until we were completely rained out and had to postpone the other half of the portraits for another day.
I’m petty thrilled we did, because the second day was nothing but golden sun and good vibes! I took them over to Bow in the Clouds preserve just a short hop away from downtown, but feels like an entirely different planet.

Thanks for being awesome Annika, keep on shining!

Casie and Matt - St Joseph engagement photos

Casie and Matt are some of the sweetest people you will meet. I could tell from our first video call (a very 2020 statement) that they were going to be so easy to work with, and that was definitely the case.

We started in the downtown St Joseph area and wandered around some of the most perfect golden diffused light before heading to Tiscornia Park to finish up with all the beachy vibes you could want for a later summer engagement session. I love shooting with couples who are really up for anything, and these two were ready to jump in the water before I even asked.


Congratulations gorgeous people, I’m so excited for your 2021 wedding!

Amanda and Eric - Grand Rapids engagement photos

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When I first met Amanda at Bell’s Brewery (a great sign) to talk wedding photography details, I could already tell that she and Eric were going to be beautiful people to spend time with.
She told me all about their shared musical interests (Griz is their favorite artist), their dog who they wanted included in engagement photos named Griz (No seriously, they love this artist), and how they found each other and fell in love.
We started the engagement session at Provin Trails just outside of downtown, which is a hidden gem and the perfect place for the goodest boy Griz to get an adventure in before heading into the heart of Grand Rapids.
The year 2020 has not been kind to concert goers this year, so to incorporate their love of the music culture, we went to their favorite Griz mural (The artist, not the dog for those who are keeping track at home) and even swapped outfits to their favorite concert wear to complete the engagement session.

It was the best time and an amazing day. I can’t wait for the wedding you two! Keep showing love and spreading love.

Allison and Josh - Holland Michigan intimate wedding

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Allison and Josh are definitely a 2020 superhero couple. As the year progressed, and it became obvious that their original wedding day may have some alterations, they never once doubted if they still wanted to be married asap. Regardless of what the celebration looked like, they were going to make this happen on the day they had planned.
Allison’s family remembered plenty of times as the wedding day got closer that they would receive a phone call with her on the other end saying “Okay, new plan!”, and I have to say genuinely that the new plan was absolutely perfect.
They invited immediate family and closest friends, kept everything in the open air as much as possible, and had all the time in the world to document their wedding day portraits in all of their favorite spots around the property. The cutest airbnb ever served as the ideal intimate celebration spot, and you felt like you had to be deep in nature with the amount of trees and peaceful solitude the location provided.
No matter how many adjustments to their expectations, Josh and Allison are now married people, and I can’t wait to see them all again for the big party a little bit down the road.

Congratulations lovely people!

Ashley and Cole - Kalamazoo engagement photos

As I’m getting ready to finally get back out there shooting intimate wedding ceremonies and engagement sessions (safely, and with nice long lenses) I’m still loving going back through previous work, so here’s another un-posted session in the meantime!
You would not believe the amount of times I’ve heard that someone doesn’t enjoy having their photo taken, but then they show up and absolutely nail it.
That was definitely the case with Cole. Ashley warned me at our first meeting that he hated photos so much that we could probably only talk him into a 30 minute mini-engagement session. She did, and it turned out that’s all they needed.
I had the best time walking through the woods of Al Sabo with them in the warm fall morning light, talking about their plans and their experiences. Ashley was glowing the whole time, and Cole just kept looking at her like she was the only thing in his world.

Their wedding plans may have shifted a little due to the COVID-19 situation, but their love is going to be just as strong when the wedding day arrives.

Congratulations you two!

A quarantine birthday party - Kalamazoo studio portraits (and photography giveaway notice)

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I think we all know at this point that due to the whole COVID-19 situation we’re in, that quite a few birthdays in spring of 2020 are not exactly what we were expecting them to be.
As a human being that loves people, but typically opts for social distance activities on my April birthday (Hammocking, eating charcuterie, petting dogs, etc.) rather than a big party, I didn’t expect many of my plans to change. But the mood certainly did.
It’s so important to be doing what we can to keep others safe at this time, and staying home and distancing is so appreciated by those who don’t have that choice. That being said, I have missed the absolute heck out of shooting! So, I did what any photographer with a tripod, an indoor studio, and a bottle of wine would do: I hosted by own quarantine birthday party.

First of all, if you want to replicate the vintage party vibes, grab that handy 1/2 pro mist filter, and some iridescent cellophane. If you don’t have the filter, a little Vaseline around the edges of your lens is a classic standby to get those bloomy highlights. I also had some pink and coral gels to compliment the foreground, feel free to mess around with whatever color scheme suits your fancy.

Second of all, this mini self-portrait shoot was exactly what my heart needed, and I cannot wait to get back into the world of documenting lovely people. Which brings me to the fun part…

So many incredible humans have given up their birthday celebration this year to keep others safe, and that’s beautiful and worth recognizing. So here’s the Stay-at-home birthday giveaway!
If you or someone you know had their birthday effected by the pandemic in any way, drop their name on Facebook or Instagram and two people will be randomly chosen to be gifted an entire photo shoot to be redeemed safely at a later date this year. Studio, headshots, stylized, outdoor, whatever. Their choice entirely, and their day to celebrate.
The winners don’t have to be a fan of either page to win, and I’ll be choosing one winner from Facebook and one from Instagram, so feel free to throw the same name out twice! Here are the links that matter:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/entradaphotography

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/entradaphotography



Thanks for being fabulous Michigan, see you soon.

Nate and Olivia - Adventure couples photos in Michigan

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This is an interesting time to be alive right now. People are staying inside, not having contact with one another, and doing their best to make sure the world is safe very soon. I appreciate all the efforts, and I’m right there with you.
Since wedding season has been pushed back a little, I still want to show off adorable people in love, so here’s the cutest camping shoot I never got a chance to show you!

Nate and Olivia are awesome people who were models for a commercial shoot last summer. When we were wrapping up, I saw the golden hour light getting just too perfect to not take advantage of and asked them if they wanted a few bonus portraits while we were there. Nate also being a photographer, completely agreed that we couldn’t waste all the pretty backlighting, and let’s be honest, these two just straight up need to be in front of the camera more.

Things I learned from this:
1. Seriously, Nate and Olivia genuinely will make your life better by being in it. Dang rays of sunshine is what they are.
2. I absolutely need to do more camping/adventure couples shoots this year! I love incorporating a narrative, and a personal story into the photos I take, and Michigan has a ton of natural beauty that simply must be documented.

More previously unreleased photo sessions coming to the blog through the next few weeks!

Gillian and Stephen - Dayton Ohio wedding photos

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There’s so much that was special about Gillian and Stephen’s wedding that I’m not even sure where to start.

First of all, Gillian is mad talented, and so many of their wedding details was hand made by her. I’m not just talking centerpieces here, she made her silk gown (With pockets!), hand knit her veil, and even baked their wedding cake from scratch from her grandmother’s recipe.

Second, these two are so in love and perfect for each other, it was truly moving. They didn’t bother with a formal first look as Stephen was such a help through the dress making process that he had already seen it, but was still blown away by her. We did all of their portraits before the ceremony in the gorgeously low November afternoon sun, and I could’ve easily shot with them for hours.
Their wedding parties were also the sweetest. Nick, the best creative partner and second shooter around, made a cameo in the groomsman portraits at the demand of everyone else in them, and it’s still one of my favorite group shots ever.
The ceremony and reception were nothing but friends and family having an amazing time together and complete laughter from everyone there, and the dance floor constantly showed the swing dancing portion of Stephen and Gillian’s history.
Now, one of my favorite moments.
Gillian and Stephen were so thorough in making sure all their guests were taken care of and had champagne for the toast, that they forgot their own. Thankfully, someone had gifted them a bottle of whiskey, and so they toasted with full champagne flutes of the good stuff.
The whole day was an amazing time, and the best way to finish off the 2019 season. I will 100% be a destination wedding photographer any day.

I adore you sweet people, congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Bloomingdale!

Melanie and Mike - Downtown Kalamazoo wedding photos

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I’ve known Mike for years, and I can say with certainty that there is not a better person in this world for him than Melanie.
She’s a real-life Disney princess, and brightens up every room she walks into. Mike is confident and fiercely loyal to the people he holds dear. Through the months leading up to the wedding, every time I received a message from Mel about a new detail or photo request, I grew even more excited to be there documenting their day.
The ceremony took place at the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo (excuse me, stained glass like this should be illegal) and the look on Mike’s face when he saw his bride was making it hard for anyone to not lose it.
They took the cutest trolley to The Fountains banquet center to start the party to end all parties. Their wedding included the most unique garter toss of all time, and I dare anyone to top a surprise lightsaber fight.

Melanie and Mike, you are incredible people, and I hope your future together is as magical as every Disneyworld vacation you will take.
Congratulations!

Kristin and Will - Downtown Kalamazoo wedding photos

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I’m going to be perfectly clear and just start out by saying Kristin and Will are badasses.
They met in the military and are no strangers to hard work and commitment. Their hobbies, interests, and goals all compliment each other so well, and the amount of fun I had on their unseasonably cold engagement session day told me the wedding was going to be incredible.
The ceremony took place at St. Lukes in downtown Kalamazoo, and we had a stunning October day for two people to promise their lives to each other.
Kristin is one of the few people who I truly think rivals my obsession with dogs, so their puppers obviously had to make an appearance in the wedding photos post-ceremony (dressed to the nines in appropriate wedding fashion). We then took a break from the wedding party to walk around downtown and adventure over to the reception venue.
I’ll be perfectly clear about something else real quick: there is nothing I don’t love about Loft 310. Their staff is lovely, the amount of white everywhere makes lighting so flattering, and their dance setup truly reflects the party that was Mr. and Mrs. James. The dancing started and didn’t stop, and I was in heaven for all of it.

Congratulations Kristin and Will, you two are made for each other!

Tammy and Paula - Sherman Lake Outdoor Center wedding photos

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What can I even say about Tammy and Paula that could possibly do them justice? You can’t help but love them when you first meet, they are both such bright, beautiful l influences on your day, and you can tell their hearts of gold touch everyone they come in contact with. They balance each other perfectly, Tammy is steady and organized to Paula’s enthusiastic and spur-of-the-moment additude. They support and love each other, and it’s genuinely an inspiration.
Their wedding day took place at the stunning Sherman Lake Outdoor Center. Their first look took place at the lakeside fire pit, and ceremony at the outdoor chapel. I absolutely love first looks. We were able to get most of the important photos out of the way beforehand, and you could not beat Paula’s reaction as Tammy walked towards her down the aisle. You could see so much genuine joy in all the faces of the guests for these beautiful humans, and we were honored to be a part of it.

Congratulations Tammy and Paula, you have so many happy years ahead of you!

Hannah and Zach - Kalamazoo Bell's Brewery wedding

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Hannah and Zach are the perfect example of doing a wedding their own way, and absolutely rocking at it. They wrote their own vows to each other promising the things that really mattered to them, they opted out of a formal wedding part in favor of photos with all their family and friends, and decided that for portraits they wanted to adventure around downtown Kalamazoo to capture the city they fell in love with together.
Also, Bell’s Brewery is easily one of my top wedding venues of all time. Everything about the day was a dream to photograph, especially Hannah and Zach.

Congratulations you two, I hope your life together is every bit as beautiful as your wedding day!

Janel and Ben - WMU Heritage Hall wedding

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Getting to know Janel and Ben has been an extreme pleasure. They’re both incredibly unique, but fit together perfectly. Janel planned their Heritage Hall wedding (or East Hall for you WMU OGs) with an art deco theme, stunning details, and live plants everywhere. Janel’s own father officiated the ceremony, and there was barely a dry eye in the whole place. Their day was not only beautiful, but a completely pleasant day to celebrate from start to finish! Everyone from her planner, to friends and family came together to make sure it was as smooth and amazing as any wedding I’ve been to in my 8 years of shooting. Even with rain looming during portraits, they took it completely in stride, and embraced the weather for show-stopping portraits.
Congratulations you phenomenal people! I am so honored to know you, and I can’t wait to see what your future together holds.

Jayna and Brandon - Downtown Kalamazoo engagement photos

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Jayna and Brandon’s engagement session was scheduled on a day with the oddest weather I’ve seen (maybe ever). Checking the forecast the morning of, predictions kept flipping from cloudy, to sun, to thunderstorms and I wasn’t quite sure what we were going to end up with.
I called Jayna to see if she wanted to try for a nicer day, and to my surprise they were completely ready for engagement photos no matter what! I couldn’t have been more thrilled with the results. We chose a spot downtown Kalamazoo where we could jump inside for a second if the conditions did get well and truly crazy, and it just so happened to also have awesome texture and leading lines for days.

The rain stopped and started FIVE TIMES as we were shooting, and they didn’t flinch once. At one point, I looked over and saw that the sun came out as it was still pouring, so I asked them “Hey, what if you went and danced in the rain?” and with no hesitation, they embraced every bit of it.
They are both easygoing, wonderful, and so perfect for eachother.
Congratulations Jayna and Brandon! I can’t wait for your November wedding.