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Welcome to The GAUPER Cottage // Christmas

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Welcome to The GAUPER Cottage // Christmas

Then there is this Cottage. This place was just made for Christmas and Winter. Neither of us ever like winter but this place just makes winter beautiful. We have been in this home for a year now and even the rest of the year, because it's a cottage style home, it still has that cozy, peaceful feeling that Christmas always gives me. My stress in the past has been at incredibly unhealthy levels and just a year in this cottage out in the woods has been so healing for me. I feel content, my days are so simple and every time I'm away working, I can't wait to go home. It might sound nuts, but honestly every day feels like a vacation out here. 

Shawn & Stephanie // Kalamazoo Engagement Photographer

Shawn & Stephanie // Kalamazoo Engagement Photographer

Last week it was 60 degrees out and this week, ICE BLIZZARD! Welcome to Michigan. 

Stephanie and Shawn were such troopers. They live in Houston and came to Michigan just in time for all this greatness. We had to reschedule since Monday had such a big storm and then even though the internet said there wouldn't be rain or snow, there definitely was. It's in these times that choosing to have a good attitude and roll with what your given become so important and that is exactly what happened and it's just all crazy beautiful. 

10 minutes into this shoot, I was thrilled. Shawn has this great contagious laugh that just seems to bring them both to life. If you follow all my blogs, you know I'm such a sucker for couples who know how to laugh together. It's crazy obvious how much fun they have when in each others company and that is just all we need to be able to do the rest of our job well. 

Kyle & John // Kalamazoo Wedding Photographer

Kyle & John // Kalamazoo Wedding Photographer

Besides all the pretty things, let me just talk about their family. It's always such a wonderful thing to just show up at these super personal events and get to know new people in such a short time by taking photos of them. Kyle is just full of energy and life and super kind. I didn't get to chat with John too much, but from just watching him with everyone else and the way he admires Kyle, I think he's like many of our other grooms that are the more laid back type that adore energetic, joyful women. Kyle's daughter has the same big laugh as her mom and I just LOVE photographing people with big laughs. It was such a casual event but at the same time, so personal and it was amazing to be there in the room to witness this great energy amongst such a close group of people. 

Jayde & Andy // Ann Arbor Wedding Photographer

Jayde & Andy // Ann Arbor Wedding Photographer

Happy Thanksgiving! This is my final blog until we start our winter weddings. It's been a crazy amount of work, but I'm so happy to have gotten blogs out to everyone in time for visiting with family on Thanksgiving! This is a perfect end to the fall season as Jayde and Andy are wonderful human beings. Since it's Thanksgiving, here are some things about them and their wedding I'm thankful for! 

Brittney & Nick // South Bend Wedding Photographer

Brittney & Nick // South Bend Wedding Photographer

Here are 3 things I loved about this wedding: 

1. Brittney exudes joy. Seriously, there is no other way to describe this girls smile other than the word JOY. She is down to earth, so kind and happy. Those are all the things I love most about brides and humans in general. Nick is this strong, sort of silent type that I think speaks with his eyes and his eyes were on her most of the time which as we all know, its my favorite thing about grooms. 

The Bucklin Family // Brynnley // Battle Creek Newborn Photographer

The Bucklin Family // Brynnley // Battle Creek Newborn Photographer

It's been a big year for Kristen and Brandon! We shot their wedding, maternity and now newborn of little Brynnley! I love seeing things come full circle as families grow. 

We start off with the previous only children, the puppies who just like to crawl all over them. Then we have to take a tour of the incredible Lego Christmas village they have (seriously, I WANT THIS SO BAD) and some nice just at home moments. I personally love the through the window shot since it sorta feels like I may have just been walking by and witnessed parents giving their new little baby a tour of their incredible Christmas village :) 

Rob & Bri // Martha Clara Vineyard Wedding Photographer

Rob & Bri // Martha Clara Vineyard Wedding Photographer

This is a story about making it work, rain or shine! (literally and figuratively) 

We've had plenty of rainy weddings, but this was the first where it did not stop for even 15 minutes all day long. We also had all our flights delayed and canceled while trying to make it to New York during a hurricane. But Rob and Bri are amazing human beings and we were bound and determined to do great work no matter how much weird juju was being thrown our way. 

That is the thing about wedding photography...and marriage too actually! You walk into different situations with every event and have to make it work no matter what. Everyone had a good attitude towards the rain, we all had a lot of fun and I think the photos are so beautiful! Happy people trump bad weather every time! 

Phil & Rachel // Muskegon Engagement Photographer

Phil & Rachel // Muskegon Engagement Photographer

We are going to do this blog backwards since time travel is fun. If you haven't guessed it yet, Rachel and Phil love space and the sky. Their wedding is space themed and I'm pretty excited about that! 

This session ended up having an interesting amount of variety. We've got galaxy double exposures, night time light painting, shadow prison in our basement with Duma, what seems like it could be the cover of a romance novel titled "waves of sunsets", running and spinning and then we end on classic, happy fall photos. It's a buffet of photography today! 

Kara // Kalamazoo Senior Photographer

Kara // Kalamazoo Senior Photographer

We have been shooting mostly weddings and families but Kara emailed us asking if we would do her senior photos. She was actually at one of our weddings when she was little (which makes me feel VERY old, thanks a lot haha). I am so glad she knew of our work because she is simply a delight. I guess I'm out of touch with what teenagers are really like since I typically only see all the crazy stuff on the internet but thank goodness there are sweet girls like this out in the real world. 

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!

Emily + Jon // South Haven Wedding Photographer

Emily + Jon // South Haven Wedding Photographer

In my opening descriptions for these blogs, I always start with some sort of description of the couple or something notable about the wedding day. I've been sitting here for quite some time struggling to produce quality sentences that describe these two incredible people. I can only think of individual words so let's start there...

Joyful. Kind. Beautiful. Adoration.

Shauna & Brian // Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

Shauna & Brian // Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

Every now and then small weddings come my way and it's always fun to do something so simple and different. Brian and Shauna got married at the Kentwood Community Church in Grand Rapids and it just so happened to be super beautifully landscaped. Seriously, this awesome tree looks like it's from some crazy whimsical forest, not a church parking lot.

Nicole & Cliff // Crystal Lake Wedding Photographer

Nicole & Cliff // Crystal Lake Wedding Photographer

Nicole and Cliff are not your average couple getting married.  They weren't keen on the big, highly planned wedding with tons of guests. What they did have was lots of love. These two knew what was important to them and as long as they were together,  they would have a good time no matter what!

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.