Brian & Melissa // Kalamazoo Nature Center Wedding

Remember when it was hot out? Michigan is having some weirdly warm days recently but without any warning, it's 20 degrees again. However, back in September the sun was here and I believed winter would never come. 

Unfortunately, what comes with the magic of summer are bugs. We had time, the light was beautiful and the bridesmaids hair and dresses were so awesome I wanted to do individual portraits but while shooting them, a wasp got stuck in the neckline of my dress and stung the daylights out of me. Within a moment, those sweet girls I just met ran over, unzipped the back of my dress to make sure the wasp wasn't still in there and got me a ziplock bag of ice to help with the pain. 

So I had this hunchback look going on with a plastic bag full of ice shoved in my dress the rest of the day. Thank goodness for that since as long as it was cold and numb, it didn't hurt. I tell ya, weddings are just a non stop adventure! 

The Kalamazoo Nature Center is so beautiful, the property is lovely, the barn was adorable and all the details Melissa put into this wedding were just so pretty. I am all about this glam/vintage/rustic business! 

Hayley // Grand Rapids Senior Photographer

Shooting Hayley's senior pictures makes me feel about 1,000 years old because I swear it seemed just like yesterday that we photographed her family when they adopted two little girls but apparently it's been 5 years! Yowza! 

--> You can view that session here: http://www.mudeyes.com/the-simcox-family/

They came up to Muskegon to have beach pictures and I'm so glad! It's just so beautiful out here and I love every chance we get to shoot at this beach. With the wind in her hair and many giggles to be had, she just looked beautiful! 

Jana & Cody // South Haven Engagement Photographer

WHOA. Seriously...this session, these people, that sunset. It's all so whoa-worthy. 

This was filled with all of my favorite things. A super happy little family with a kid full of character and energy, beautiful weather, an incredible sunset, a couple who truly love and enjoy each other and a general laid back, up for anything spirit. I was literally jumping around because I couldn't contain my excitement from how awesome I knew these pictures would be. 

There's just such beauty in not overthinking things and just enjoying being with someone. It's really about not worrying about us and if you look good in the pictures, we will always worry about that. Your part is just to do your best to make your person happy and that is really what makes photos meaningful and what makes people beautiful. I know it sounds so cheesy, but loving someone changes them. It makes their posture better, their smile bigger, their eyes brighter, their laugh full of energy and gives them courage to let go and have fun. 

So that is the lesson we should all learn from this session. Let go, stop worrying and just love the person you are with and we will take care of the rest. 

Part of me wanted to post it backwards since the sunset stuff is so great but then this kid is so cute so it was such a hard choice. It's a long post, but the end is worth it! 

I am so beyond excited for their wedding next year! 

DeAnna & Zach // Kalamazoo Wedding Photographer

They said it was going to be a hot summer and boy were they right! However, that all played well in DeAnna's favor since she is apparently ALWAYS cold. So I suppose if everyone else is melting, she is at her perfect temperature so perhaps this 200 degree day was a gift :) 

While pondering on what to say here, I remembered what I told Ryan on the drive home from this wedding and it's that the world needs more people like her. She cares for everyone else around her and has this incredible sense of joy. I don't even know if it's something she tries to do, I think it's just who she is. I know that sometimes I have to choose joy every day and make an effort to seek out the best in life. With her, I think joy chooses her and what an incredible gift that is. And gosh, Zach, he's in for a wonderful life to be loved and supported by that kind of person. They go so well together and it was such an awesome experience to be present in them becoming family.

As always, we hope you enjoy the images as much as we do and just a huge thank you for having us be part of this incredible day. I'd like to say we were all sweating out happiness. That sounds more glamorous than regular sweat. :) 

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! 

A Cat Mini Session!!

Jennifer is one of Duma's Instagram followers and she just happens to live literally down the road from us! So when we started promoting things years mini sessions she got in contact with us about doing one for her cats! Naturally, we were super excited since we love any excuse to be around more kitties :) 

As cats do, they all hid from us like we were their greatest enemy, haha. However, we are onto their games and I think got some pretty cute shots even though they thought they were being so sneaky. You can actually get some really cool compositions when cats are hiding since they are in tight spaces. 

But lets get on with all the cuteness! Meet Lucky, Olivia, Peony & Soul...

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 DeMarse Family // Grand Haven Family Photographer

I wish there were enough hours in the day to do videos and ramble about all the things I love about our clients but alas, I say UMM and AND so many times, editing it all out take a decade. :) 

Kim and Gary's wedding was one of our first weddings many many moons ago. It's crazy to think back on how much has changed since then! We've shot a couple hundred more weddings and they have created two new human beings. We've all been busy in one way or another! haha

This session was in Grand Haven in the wee hours of the morning (which is like 8am for me....haha) and well worth it for the pretty light coming in! We've had quite a few extended family sessions this year and they are quickly becoming my favorite thing to shoot. I love that everyone gets their own little mini session and I also really enjoy the big group shots. Getting everyone together for photos is so important and I'm just super happy so many people are making it a priority! 

DeMarse family, you guys are all so lovely and we had a ton of fun creating these images with you! 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 Wilson Family // Brynn Newborn

You guys! Remember my favorite picture EVER?! It was the cover image for their blog (View Here) and was just the most perfect moment. The background, the light, their hands, her perfectly pointed toes! Well, they went and made the most perfectly tiny, adorable baby. 

She is so tiny, she hardly seems real. It's crazy how much she has already changed since we took these photos though. Newborns grow and change so quickly! 

I love all her little wrinkles and what I think is either the beginning of a quirky little personality or she may have been pooping. Either way, those faces are hilarious and adorable hahah! 

Enjoy!

Morgan & Michael // Kalamazoo Wedding Photographer

Trying something new on this blog. It's been 8 years with no change so I suppose it's about time! Watch the video above to learn more about the wedding and Morgan & Michael! 

Ryan suggested I string together just the weird parts and this might be my favorite thing ever. hahaha