The Foster Family // Kalamazoo Family Photographer

For this years photos, we decided to keep it really low key and close to home which was a great idea! They have a park that is walking distance from their house and making pizza was also great since we got to eat pizza....and thats always a good thing. :) 

Also, how cute is this? I'm pretty sure Lyla and Ryan are best pals. 

The Brinza Family // Grand Rapids Family Photographer

Weather this year has been all over the place in Michigan. Right now, it's 54 degrees out but when we shot this session, it was like 15. haha So we toughed it out for about 15 minutes outside and then head into the studio where it was nice and toasty! Babies tend to not enjoy 15 degree weather :) 

We just love shooting extended families because it's so important to have photos of everyone together especially as the family is growing. Now that we have a studio space to work out of in Grand Rapids, it makes winter time a lot easier for sessions! No more freezing! Hooray! 

Sammie & Gabe // Muskegon State Park Beach Photography

Every year we give away a session during Mini Session season and the Gruss Family were the winners. Instead of using it themselves they wanted to hang onto it and give it away to someone else when they found the right people which I thought was super nice! 

I think at LEAST 90% of the people we shoot have this dynamic where the girl is outgoing and loud and laughs like a champ and the guy is just more quiet and low key. Maybe that is just a common way people are but I think I'm saying the same thing in every blog post, haha. Regardless, I'll say it again! Sammie had such an excellent laugh! It took like...almost no effort to get her laughing and she was just so excited and ready for this shoot. I swear if we told her to roll down one of the hills and it would be a great picture, she'd grab gabe and be like " LET'S DO THIS!!!!!" hahah and you all know I love that kind of enthusiasm! :) 

Enjoy! 

The Stevens/Bentz Family // Battle Creek Family Photographer

One of our favorite families is back and they brought the rest of the family too! We shot John Paul and Ashley's engagement, wedding, family and now extended family all here at the Battle Creek Country Club. It's such a beautiful place, It never gets old! 

Last year it was just Kate as far as adorable kids go but this year we've got two new tiny babies! What a difference a year makes! 

Enjoy! 

The Danielson Family // Kalamazoo Family Photographer

YOU GUYS! Everyone listen! This family the best. If you don't have 5 minutes for the video above, here are some highlights and reasons why. 

1. I was in PHYSICAL PAIN from laughing so hard. I honestly don't think I've laughed that much all year. 

2. Tom and Pam are such wonderful people, It's like they are still kids dating and I can only dream for us to be like that 30 years into our marriage. 

3. Their personalities are so evident in their children and the world just needs a lot more families like this in it! 

The Tishhouse Family // Ann Arbor Family Photographer

The Tishhouse Family // Ann Arbor Family Photographer

Remember fall? Yeah, it's over now but a few weeks ago when we did this session it was amazing! You may remember the Tishhouse family from their wedding many years ago or their family session last year. We were in Ann Arbor for an awesome wedding you'll see soon so it was the perfect time to get together again! They have a whole new human this year too!

Brennigan & Adam // Hoffmaster Family Photographer

Brennigan & Adam // Hoffmaster Family Photographer

Sometimes, when I'm stuck in the house at my desk on very beautiful days, I post random mini session deals on Facebook for that evening in the Muskegon area just so I have a reason to get outside. It was just perfect out and Brennigan and Adam came up from Holland to a session at my favorite place, Hoffmaster!  The hoffmaster sessions have been really fun and I hope to do about a million more in my life. It's just the best!

The Prebish Family // Battle Creek Family Photographer

The Prebish Family // Battle Creek Family Photographer

It's always really fun when things come full circle. We shot Ashley and John Paul's engagement session at this house many years ago and now they are back with their little girl, Kate. To say she is adorable is the understatement of my life. I'm fairly certain she knows how cute she is... she must! She's such a little lady and has the best giggle. It's easy to tell this little girl is so loved and I just really enjoy seeing how much happiness kids bring to people.

The Bell Family // Cecilia 1 Year

The Bell Family // Cecilia 1 Year

What a year it has been for little Cecilia! I started photographing the Bell family when she was 3 months old and it's been great getting to know them and watching her grow. They came out to Muskegon for this one and we shot at Hoffmaster, my favorite place ever. She has sorta been a fairly serious baby but this session she was such a happy little goof. Her personality has shaped into such a little lady and it is always a lot of fun to experience all the things Bethany and Kurtis will do to make her smile and giggle.

The Foster Family // Hudson 3 Years

The Foster Family // Hudson 3 Years

It blows my mind that this kid is turning 3 years in a week. It just seems so recent that he was a baby and now he is a real kid and it just weirds me out and makes me feel super old. I'm sure that feeling will only grow with time since I'll be photographing him for many years to come. It's also crazy that when he was born I was always like "giant baby!!" (even though he was smaller than me when I was born hahaha) and now I look back at his newborn photos in awe of how tiny he seems since he is so grown up now.

The Bell Family // Cecilia 6 Months // Grand Rapids Family Photographer

The Bell Family // Cecilia 6 Months // Grand Rapids Family Photographer

Shooting young families has become one of my favorite things to photograph lately. Weddings will always be a big part of my life, but as a secondary area of photography to get into, this just fits perfectly for me. Shockingly, I'm turning 30 this year. I spent my 20's shooting weddings and moving all over the country which sorta made time fly. Now, as we have settled down and are older, I've just got babies on my mind constantly and hopefully that will be part of our future. Until then, I'm vicariously living through my clients and I love watching their babies grow.

KALAMAZOO MINI SESSION FAVORITES // PART 2

KALAMAZOO MINI SESSION FAVORITES // PART 2

MORE kalamazoo mini sessions! Since they are all shot in the same area, it's interesting to me to see how everyone fits into the area and how they make it their own with their personalities. Speaking about personalities. Meet Dave Bunt. I quite enjoy people who are a bit nuts and totally confident in that fact. His very pregnant wife, Rachel must spend most of her life laughing because he is hilarious. The following image illustrates a pose where he probably felt the most comfortable during the session.

Kalamazoo Mini Session Favorites // Part 1

Kalamazoo Mini Session Favorites // Part 1

I want to blog parts of every mini session but man it's tough to keep these posts from being too big. The weather this past Saturday was amazing, it felt like spring! Since it was so nice out, I was able to move a couple of people from next weekend up to make the most of the beautiful day. These are some of my favorites from everyone that came out.

Ciers Family // Grand Rapids Family Photography

Ciers Family // Grand Rapids Family Photography

I am absolutely LOVING getting to shoot our past clients lately. Shaun and Kameya postponed their trip back home to come meet us in Grand Rapids for a family session. It's been about 6 years since we last saw them and they have since made this adorable human, Nathan. Their wedding was many years ago but we shall always fondly remember the highlight of randomly running into MC Hammer. We didn't run into any celebrities this time, but it was still a great time! :)

Grand Rapids Mini Session Favorites!

Grand Rapids Mini Session Favorites!

We had our first day of back to back sessions in Grand Rapids this past weekend and it was so much fun mixed with so much coldness. So I think those things even each other out?

It was a mix of old clients and new and it was great meeting everyone and seeing people again. I will for sure be offering mini sessions again next year. I have enjoyed this all so much!

Van Eerden Family // Mini Session

Van Eerden Family // Mini Session

These mini sessions are a blast. I love the adrenaline rush of working fast since it's only a 30 minute session and it keeps a good mojo going since there is no awkwardness because it's all so high energy. I absolutely love this session and this family is just so adorable. You'd certainly never know it from these photos, but little Henry is 6 months old and was born with cancer and in his very short life so far, has beat it and is doing great! Upon meeting them, I just would never have guessed he has been sick and gone through so much. He was so laid back, didn't cry once even though it was really cold and I was just super impressed with what a sweet baby he is.