Couples

Becky and Tom - Kentucky derby wedding at the Amway Grand Plaza

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Nick and I got to know Becky and Tom pretty well over the course of their wedding plans, and their day was special to us in so many ways. When the two of them chose the day of the Kentucky Derby for their wedding, they decided to completely embract the theme: roses everywhere, the best hat game I have ever seen, and even asked guests to dress in their best derby day wear. Well, their friends and family rose to the occasion, and every direction I pointed a camera was an amazing detail or a themed look. They even aired the race during cocktail hour with the table numbers correlating to the horse you should be cheering for.
The first look took place at the Kent Country Club, the ceremony in one of the many stunning ballrooms at the Amway, and the champagne toast on top of the helipad of the JW Marriott (I mean, seriously, who gets to do that??). But even with a complete fairy tale of a day coming together in every way right down to the weather, the most memorable part of the wedding has to be is the couple. Becky spent her time in preparations complimenting everyone around her, telling others how beautiful they looked, and making sure everyone was taken care of. Tom was in no way afraid of showing his emotions, and how thrilled he was to promise forever to his best friend. These are two exceptional people, and they deserve every ounce of happiness.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Jones!

Emma and Bryant - Kalamazoo Al Sabo engagement (featuring Bell's Wedding Ale)

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These two are beautiful and unique individuals. They are full of joy and adventure, and they have built the sweetest life together. Emma contacted me about their Bell’s Brewery wedding a few months back, and I was over the moon (Not only are brewery weddings pretty much my favorite, but Bell’s is an incredible venue. Come on). We started talking engagement ideas, and Emma and Bryant’s adventurous nature led us to Al Sabo preserve as our location.

Just a few short weeks before the engagement session, Bell’s releases their wedding ale: an Imperial Wheat Ale brewed with honey, coriander and orange peel, sure to make any wedding day a party. Between the name, the venue and the description, clearly we needed to incorporate it into their engagement session.
After a weather reschedule (Thanks Michigan false spring), we ended up shooting on the absolutely perfect golden afternoon in May. I could not have asked for nicer conditions, or more pleasant people to share them with.

Congratulations Emma and Bryant, I’m so glad I get to celebrate with you next year!


Jessica and Scott - Leila Arboretum family photos

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Jessica contacted me months ago to schedule this session, and I was immediately thrilled. Not only does she have a beautiful family, but she is also a fellow photographer with stunning work! (Check it out here) It was such an honor to hang out with them and document all their love for each other. We even managed to snag a few of those elusive Michigan April blooms. It was everything.

Kristin and Will - Downtown Grand Rapids engagement photos

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The day before Kristin and Will’s engagement session was mid sixties and sunny, great photo weather you might think! The day of our shoot comes around and the springtime air was replaced with low forties and enough wind to ruin just about any mood. You would never know it to look at these two. They took the whole thing in stride, laughing through the entire session, and joyfully pointing out every dog we saw along the way (I care deeply about that, Kristin gets me).
We wandered around ta few of the great locations downtown Grand Rapids has to offer, and then finished up with a pint at City Built Brewing. Honestly, it was perfect.

Congratulations Kristin and Will! Your October wedding is going to be magnificent.

Tammy and Paula - South Haven engagement photos

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Tammy and Paula are the perfect example of people who are completely complementary to each other. We chose two locations that are special to them in some way, and the rest was just letting them be who they are together. At one point during our shoot, I asked each of them what they loved most about the other person and their answers almost had me in tears. They truly notice and appreciate the little things about each other, and that’s so special to see.

You two are so great together, and I can’t wait for your wedding this summer!

Kelsey and Jake - Kalamazoo maternity photos

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Kelsey and Jake are pretty special for quite a few reasons. They have probably the coolest interests (From tennis coaching, to fire fighting, to beer brewing) but they’re also incredibly genuine and adored by so many people around them. We’re all so excited for you two to be starting a family of your own, and we can’t wait to meet your precious daughter!

Maddie and Connor - Kalamazoo greenhouse engagement photos

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It’s a little bit ridiculous how natural Maddie and Connor are in front of the camera. Frequently I would look up from the camera to give them a prompt, and they would already be doing it. Basically, they’re a pair of photogenic rockstars, and I love it.
They wanted to make sure we included a piece of their WMU history in the photos, so we planned on swinging by the campus off Drake rd, and visit Asylum lake as it’s understandably one of their favorite spots in Kalamazoo, but this still left me with a warm up location for a February engagement session and I knew just the spot. VanderSalm’s Flowers is full of much needed color for winter photos, and they were super gracious to let us come in and take advantage of their greenhouse temperatures.

Thanks for being amazing you guys, I’m all sorts of excited for your Bell’s Brewery wedding this summer!

Brittnay and Brandon - Downtown Kalamazoo engagement photos

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These two have some of the brightest smiles you’ll ever see in your life, and attitudes to match. They’re just the type of people who make you have a better day just by being a part of it. Brittnay requested an urban photo setting (which I am super about) so we adventured around downtown Kalamazoo and the surrounding area, stopping at Fido Motors Cafe for a warm up chai and some rare winter sunshine. My goal for any engagement session is to capture people being who they are together, and they made these photos a complete breeze.

I can’t wait for your 2020 wedding Brittnay and Brandon, you’re made for each other!

Amanda and Mark - Kalamazoo Sweetwater's Donut Mill engagement photos

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When I first started talking engagement photo ideas with Amanda and Mark, she had one simple request: Her donut obsession needed to be represented. Obviously, Kalamazoo engagement photos meant Sweetwater’s was the clear option, and now I’m looking for any excuse to work delicious donuts into photo shoots!
These two are so unique and talented, and I have complete confidence their wedding is going to be a perfect reflection of who they are.

Congratulations you lovely people, I can’t wait to celebrate your marriage!

Simone and Keith - Arcadia Brewing Kalamazoo engagement

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These two are a living testimonial for why I encourage dogs during sessions, and why I believe people who choose to have microbrewery weddings are a different type of phenomenal.
Simone and Keith could light up any room they enter. The genuine joy they experience from living life together is so infectious, I left the engagement shoot with a gigantic smile on my face. They’re laid back and wonderful, never missing a chance to laugh together.
It only made sense that the ideal place to warm up during the shoot would be a brewery, and Arcadia is one of my favorites. Huge windows, space for dogs in the warmer months, and no shortage of excellent brews. And let me tell you, we needed to warm up. It was beyond frigid the day of their engagement photos, and yet nothing seemed to dim their spirits.

Congratulations Simone and Keith, your Bell’s Brewery wedding is going to be unbelievable!

Stephanie and Ryan - Three Rivers engagement photos

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Winter is here, and soon the blog will be filling up with snowy engagement sessions. I live for getting to know people while shooting, and I’m so looking forward to the next two months of doing just that!
In the meantime, I want to share with you a throwback to one of my favorite engagement sessions from before I was any good at consistently updating the blog: Stephanie and Ryan.
Stephanie is energetic, adventurous, and sweet. Ryan is equally energetic, thoughtful, and would literally do anything for Stephanie. Oh my goodness, I could tell from the first meeting with them that the attitude of mutual love and respect they had for one another would set them up for so much happiness for years to come.
Their wedding day was no exception. It was full of the sweetest first look, loads of laughter, and even fireworks (Check it out here)
I will forever adore these people.

Favorites of 2018 - Kalamazoo wedding photographer

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What a fantastic year 2018 has been!

Some really special people promised forever to one another. The more I got to know many of them, the more it felt like was photographing an old friend’s wedding, and I was celebrating their love right along with the guests. I’ve been so honored to have been trusted with some of the most important photos of these wonderful people lives, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Here are a few favorites from the 2018 season that have always made me smile when I come across them.
Thanks for being part of my year, I can’t wait to see what 2019 brings!

Jordyn and Joel - Kalamazoo winter photos

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It’s an honor to say that I’ve known these people through their entire relationship. Coincidentally, that’s almost the exact length that I’ve been photographing people in love, so naturally we’ve had our share of portrait sessions through the years!
They are both as genuine as it comes, and the best friends you could possibly want.
From our very first couples photos, to their adventure engagement under a waterfall (Highly recommend oh my gosh), to their perfect wedding day, I was joyfully there with camera in hand. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Rebecca and Robert - Grand Rapids maternity photos

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Mr and Mrs Slick had a spectacular wedding last September that I had the honor of photographing. Their love for each other was so evident that day, and it was clear there would be years of joy ahead of them.
When Rebecca reached out to me a few months ago to schedule maternity photos, I was freaking out. Genuinely way more excited than what is dignified.
You two are going to be amazing parents, congratulations on the soon-to-be growing family!

Natalie and Libby - Kalamazoo Asylum Lake engagement photos

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When we first arrived for Natalie and Libby’s engagement session, it didn’t take long to feel like everyone had already been old friends. Asylum Lake preserve holds a lot of memories for these two, and so we hiked around to their favorite spots, probably spending no more than 30 seconds not laughing.
You two are so incredible to spend time with, and your life is only going to get more awesome with one another in it.
I can’t wait for your wedding next year!

Mr and Mrs Price - Dark Horse Bewing Co wedding

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What can I even say about Greg and Kristi? The minute you meet them you realize they’re exceptional people who are madly in love with each other. Our initial wedding consultation took place over craft beer, their engagement session fell on national beer day, and of course their wedding itself took place at one of my favorite breweries in Michigan. By the time the day was over, I felt like I had known them for years. I adore these people.
Chilly October temperatures made for some excellent reception blanket dancing (Best favor ever for outdoor fall weddings by the way) and the whole thing was laid back and beautiful, just like Greg and Kristi.

Congratulations you two! Looks like the Price was right.