Knebl Family // Muskegon Family Photographer

I am so excited to show these photos! This family came into our life during some real rough times. We had to get our house finished and ready to sell and then fully move out of in a really tight timeline and during our busy season and I was just a wreck since it was all just too much.

It is no surprise it has been a rough year for us since our house caught fire and we have yet to find a new home to settle in. Grace and their youngest daughter were best friends in preschool so when I reached out on Facebook for help, Jessica came over and just kept coming until we finished moving. She then brought her husband to help move the big stuff, all the kids played together, it made what was such a heavy and difficult time so much better not only having help but also having the company.

I have found in life it’s often in my hardest times that I make friends which seems weird. My friend Jen is the same story. I had Grace and was blindsided by significant postpartum issues and couldn’t take care of Grace and Jen, who I didn’t know at all, just came to spend days and nights and eventually take Grace to become a part of her family haha.

The kindness I’ve encountered from people when I’m a mess has impacted my life a lot. I think its easy to want to put on your best face when meeting or hanging out with new people to make a good impression. Well, not me apparently. I’m just broken and living in sweatpants, crying out for help and somehow people don’t run away but rather just lend a hand and thats a powerful thing to experience.

ANNNDDDD….then these ones that just make me laugh hahaha

Mary // Grand Rapids Maternity Photographer

Over the past 2 years, I have been stepping away from shooting weddings with Ryan so I can spend more time with Grace and Lucy. I have always loved shooting in the studio and love the flexibility of it. Being able to shoot during the week and having the weekends with the girls is just a dream!

I’ve been pondering what would be my next move. I stumbled into these maternity studio sessions and immediately was like YEP this is for me! I find pregnancy to be fascinating. The things a woman’s body goes through is completely nuts and It should be celebrated. I have one single image from each of my pregnancies that is magical and I cling to those two pictures because they show the best of me in a time when my body was being pushed to the limit. I look at them all the time and I’m constantly amazed.

So I want to do that for other women. I want to give them images I would dream of having for myself that show beauty and strength and softness all at once.

Ryan shot Mary’s wedding and oh my goodness, she’s just kind of always a goddess but pregnancy suits her so well! I remember editing their wedding and was just like OH MY! and WOW! All the way through haha. It’s such an honor when clients come back after their wedding and a joy to see their families grow.

Palmer // Grand Rapids Newborn Photographer

The Buren Family// Austin family photographer

I am sitting here trying to think of how I could possibly describe my feelings about the Buren family because we have so much history and I just don’t even know where to begin. I Met Steve and Ang in 2005 when we were all youth leaders at third reformed and I started working for him, doing construction shortly after.

Those 3 years shaped me as an adult and helped me for a lifelong friendship that has withstood many struggles, teaching me that relationships like I had with Steve are worth pushing through when we butt heads. We are polar opposites, yet we understand, appreciate each other and aren’t afraid to tell each other things that we don’t want to hear. The reward has been well worth the effort. Steve has impacted my life more that any person in this world outside of maybe my mom and of course Holly.

He was there when I first met Holly actually and he played a huge role in saving our marriage when Holly and I went through some really hard times. I just don’t know where I would be without Steve. I honestly think God placed us in each other’s lives and I am so thankful for that.

After 16 years our situations have changed greatly and for the better, unfortunately separating us by 1,000 miles, but time has proven that we still need each other just as much as before. Luckily Steve is probably one of my only friends that I can go without talking to for a long period of time and pick up right where we left off. I really enjoyed my time down in Texas a couple weeks ago, reconnecting with his amazing Family.

The Buren family will have a great ripple effect on this world and I am happy to be at ground zero. Can’t wait to go back! Anyway, I could go on and on but I have undoubtedly embarrassed Steve enough already. Enjoy all the cuteness and love of this session. I know I did!

Allison Family Newborn // Savannah // Kalamazoo Newborn Photographer

Reese // Kalamazoo Family Newborn Photographer

We have shot Kim and Gary many times starting with their engagement and wedding in our first year shooting. 10 years later, they have their third baby, Reese.

She is SO tiny! Grace was a giant monster baby so whenever I see normal or little babies I’m just so confused how it could be a real human and not a doll hah

There’s a shot in here where the boys were jumping on the bed while Gary was swaddling Reese on the floor and from where I was sitting I was like oh man, this would be so great. She’s just chilling down there all burrito’d up while the boys are going bonkers. I love all the beautiful peaceful shots but the little glimpses into reality are nice to have in the mix :)

The Kwong Family // Grand Rapids Family Photographer

I love when kids get just old enough to take direction really well but still be full of energy and generally bonkers. It’s the most incredible balance haha

We arrived a little early for their session so we were just driving around and saw all these low hanging leavings exploding with orange and we both audibly gasped. It was so funny! We frantically sent them a message and told them to meet us here instead. This was just the perfect magic of fall all in one little park downtown of all places!

Austin Family // Muskegon Family Photographer

The Austin’s are some of our favorite people and it’s an absolute joy to give them beautiful photos of their incredible family. It’s hard to meet such kind, easy going, real people so we feel incredibly lucky to have them in our lives. When they watch Grace, she just blends right into their family as the 5th child and it’s super cute!

This session went better than I remember it. It was super windy which was making it chilly and a lot of the fall color had fallen off the trees recently from the wind so I was kind of bummed about that. When I started editing their images tonight it was the first time I had actually looked at them and I was like WHAT this is amazing! hahah It’s fun to be able to relive experiences that I remembered differently. I guess that is the beauty of photography.

Ellie and her magical curly hair stole the show on this one for me. The wind, the light, it was all perfect. The 3 photos towards the end are my absolute favorite!

Borden Family // New Buffalo Beach Photographer

VanTimmeran 10 Year Anniversary & Extended Family // Little Sable Point Lighthouse Photographer

Sometimes it’s easy to forget to have pictures taken of yourselves when doing extended family photos. We always try to get each family and some candids but Christine had us split the time so they could have photos taken for their 10 year anniversary which I thought was a great idea!

We had our 10 year photos taken this past summer and it was so much fun. Hopefully I’ll actually post some of them once I get a free day :) 10 years is such an accomplishment and I think everyone should embrace it with photos just having fun together at this time of our lives.

We shot these at Little Sable Point Lighthouse which isn’t that far from where we live but somehow we’ve never been up that way. It’s so lovely! Pretty much anything we do anywhere north of us is incredibly beautiful. Michigan is just crazy beautiful in the summer!

OK BYE. ADIOS. THE END.

HAVE A NICE DAY!

Nori // Battle Creek Lifestyle Newborn Photographer

This is our third time shooting Jana and Cody and it’s always a magical time. If you want to see their super awesome engagement session that had that insane storm you can see it here: http://www.gauperphoto.com/blog/jana-cody-south-haven-engagement-photographer

Then their wedding last year! http://www.gauperphoto.com/blog/janacodywedding

Now they have a new little baby girl and based on the nursery, It’s easy to see Jana was pretty jazzed to drown her world in pink :)

Enjoy!

Palmer Family // Lake Macatawa Family Photographer

The Johnson Family // New Puppy - Aurora!!

My brother and his wife recently brought home the newest member of their family, little Aurora! So we had to do a family session ASAP while she is still a baby. Puppies grow up so quickly and I wanted to just snuggle her immediately anyways. She is just so adorable and soft, I can't even stand it! 

Their other dog, Atlas, is still on the fence about her but I think they will be friends in no time. It's really just payback since every new puppy drives the older dog insane and eventually, it's their turn. It started with his first dog Rebel. He was the only dog for a while and when they got Eve, she drove him crazzzzy. When rebel passed away, they got Atlas and he drove Eve nuts as payback and now It's his turn to have puppy madness. Aurora seems like such a laid back dog though so he may have gotten lucky! 

Puppies are just like babies and it's so important to get photos while they are in this magical, fluffy, bouncy, incredible puppy time! 

Aurora is one lucky puppy to have landed the best dog parents! 

We brought Grace with us and she got to meet the puppy! I love that they are pretty much the same height right now. That certainly won't last long! Obviously she LOVES puppies! :) 

The Austin Family // Muskegon Family Photographer

When I found out I was pregnant, before science told me it was a girl, I already knew and was certain her name would be Grace. I didn't plan on it, put a ton of thought into it, I just knew. It has proven to be quite appropriate as a constant reminder of how much Grace we need currently. God has placed some wonderful people into our lives just when we need it the most. With that said, I'd like to put the spotlight on the Austin family :)

They have been so incredibly kind to us since we've had Grace. We met them through Dave and Lacey's wedding and were Facebook friends for 9 years (!) but that was about it. We found out they lived near us when Jennifer reached out and brought us a meal right after Grace was born. Then she was kind enough to stay a couple times with me when Ryan had weddings since I couldn't care for Grace on my own. The c-section recovery was really rough so I was unable to carry her or pick her up for about 2 months. So her help was such a blessing. Wedding season has been so hard while having a newborn. I knew it was crazy we were having her right at the beginning of June but I never knew just HOW crazy until it was happening. So they have watched Grace several times, even overnight once. She gets all kinds of attention and love over there and she texts me photos to show what a great time she's having :) She slept for 8 hours straight for the first time that night! Jennifer has some magic motherhood skills I think! 

It is just such a humbling experience to be in a position where you are forced to reach out for help even when it's not in your nature. I'm so glad to have become real life friends instead of just on Facebook, even though it was through the most stressful time of my life :) Thank you Austins. We loved hanging out and capturing the crazy fun that is your family!

The Jacqumain Family // Traverse City Family Photographer

I can't believe it's been 6 years since we shot Audrey & Nick's wedding! As you can see, a lot has happened since then as they have 2 adorable little boys now! 

They live up in Traverse City so we traveled up their to shoot this session and it's always so lovely! Summer time up north is just the absolute best! 

Enjoy! 

THE GREGERSEN FAMILY // Muskegon Family Photographer

The Gregersen family is back! They have come out to our mini sessions a couple times but this time they came to Muskegon to have a full beach session and we were even lucky enough to get a sunset!

Noel had a serious loose tooth which I think gives her even more character, not that she needs it! It's pretty funny though. These girls just have so much energy, it's always such a joy to shoot them! 

Melissa is also a photographer and shot Grace's newborn photos and oh my word, they are the cutest. The day of her photos was possibly the happiest I had been since her birth since we have a bit of a rough start. I remember just being unable to stop smiling and was so overwhelmed by the positions she was able to get my crazy baby into. She is seriously a baby wizard and I was beyond impressed. I didn't think I would want those crazy photos of babies in baskets and buckets but I have never been more wrong in my life. They are the best thing ever and anyone who has a baby needs to have in baskets and buckets. Look at this cuteness!! 

Ok now to their photos :) 

Hepner Family // Leo is one! // Muskegon Family Photographer

Oh my word Leo is the cutest! It honestly seems like just a few months ago that I shot their wedding then newborn session and now Leo is one!! I love his giant eyes and cheeks so much!! 

Erica and Andy came to our house for a little mini session and luckily it was a beautiful sunny day out! Sunny winter days in Muskegon are super beautiful... but I'm still counting down the days until summer :) 

Enjoy! 

The Foster Family // Ellie // Kalamazoo Newborn Photographer

Ellie is here! This is the first Foster baby to be born at their new house and I gotta say, I LOVE IT. It has so much more light than their last place which is amazing plus they have this perfect little baby. We timed things to have Lyla napping and sent Hudson to his Grandma's house so we could actually take newborn photos of Ellie which I highly suggest doing if you have other young kids. We had them come in for the end and that was about all they could handle. I can only dream of having that kind of energy! 

Enjoy! 

It's crazy how big Hudson and Lyla already are. It seems like yesterday I was shooting their newborn sessions!

The Kwong Family // Kalamazoo Family Photographer

Get ready for seriously adorable things! Seriously, these kids were so cute, especially once they warmed up to us and warmed up in general! I think it was about -150 degrees out side so we were so thankful for this toasty studio space!