Sara + Will // Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer

What an incredible day! Everyone got ready at the J.W. Marriott in Downtown Grand Rapids which is such a beautiful hotel on the river that is surrounded by all the best things downtown has just in general but also for photos. This was such a laid back day filled with so much happiness and peace which is just the best.

We are at such an advantage that we attend so many weddings as they all impact us in one way or another. I recall our wedding a lot of the time and always try to remember when we were first married and the excitement that holds. In good times and bad, having a partner for life is just one of the most incredible things to experience.

Although we just met Sara and Will, it’s so obvious how good they are for each other and we are so happy for them. As Ryan and I always say to each other, “Buddies for LIFFFFEEE” and we hope that for them as well :)

Borden Family // New Buffalo Beach Photographer

Keely + Jake // Kalamazoo Country Club Wedding Photographer

This wedding was one of those super laid back kind of days. Nobody was running around like crazy, It was easy to stick to the schedule, it was amazing! We even got lucky with the weather and it was the most perfect day with beautiful golden light at the end of it!

The girls got ready at our favorite hotel, the Radisson in downtown Kalamazoo and then the reception was at another favorite place of ours, the Kalamazoo Country Club. Keely and Jake are just such genuine and kind people and were so easy to work with. They weren’t too inside their own heads, overthinking everything, they just…simply enjoyed each other and the day and it was a beautiful thing to be a part of.

Matt + Lisa // Baker Lofts Wedding Photographer

Mother nature was really throwing a fit this particular weekend. Like…100% chance she was just gonna LOSE IT. So, that wasn’t promising. We made rain backup plans, Lisa bought umbrellas, we all wrapped our minds around cool rain shots and to make the best of it.

Then it just didn’t rain the whole time we planned for photos outside. It was nuts! Once we got to the reception, the sky just opened up and it POURED. It felt like it was just holding it all in until we were inside and then just let loose.

We love shooting at baker lofts so that was lucky if we needed an indoor space and their church was so beautiful! I literally have 5 minutes to get them upstairs, take the shot and back down for family photos and let me tell you 5 MINUTES is sometimes enough time to create magic. I was sweating buckets running around but it was totally worth it!

It was such an incredible day and we are super happy we were able to be a part of it! Enjoy!

Jes + Tim // Muskegon Engagement Photographer

When I made a fart joke about this painting on the side of a building and he immediately posed in front it, I knew we would all get along swimmingly 😂

Renee + Cullen // Spring Lake Engagement Photographer

This was so exciting and scary! This is the first time Ryan flew the new drone over water. I was panicking (as usual) but he did such a great job and managed to not crash it :) He did however decapitate a bee, which I am pretty happy since a I just got stung a few days before that giving me cellulitis.

Then there is the rest of the session which is all awesome, they were such naturals together and in front of a camera! So nice meeting you guys and you family, enjoy!

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

DeMarse Family // Grand Haven Family Photographer

The cutest dogs, hilarious faces while playing and everyone smiling in one photo together. I call that a great success! 

Kara & Matt // White Barn Venue Wedding Photographer

YOU GUYS! Fun dancing, cool braids, donut wall made of bunt cake pans, a McDonalds lunch date for tiny children, super laid back couple with awesome friends and a ton of fun at the White Barn Venue in Claire Michigan. So many great things all in one day! 

Feeney Extended Family // New Buffalo Beach Family Photographer

I could really get used to these extended family sessions. Adorable kids, happy grand parents that love to play with said kids and really awesome, kind parents. We have been getting the best clients lately. I am so thankful I get to hang out with these people and give them great photos. I also love shooting in new places! This time we did our session at New Buffalo Beach where they had a really cool staircase to get some shots I don't normally get. Did I mention there was two sets of twins? 🙃

Since the kids were good we had some extra time to go to Beachside Scoops to get some fun ice cream shots and we didn't even care how messy we got! Thank you Feeney fam for having me out and buying me ice cream! It's really why I do this job. Free ice cream! 😎

Claire & Justin // Sundance Studios Wedding Photographer

Justin and Claire are so awesome! I mean, they chose the coolest venue, had sweetwater donuts to feast upon, the coolest bow ties and dress but most importantly are just awesome people. They are so laid back and just such normal, real people. I love when people are comfortable enough to just be themselves. I think it makes life so much easier. I love how much they are best buddies. I know in my marriage, that is the single greatest part of our life, always having a buddy. 

Enjoy all these beautiful things with all the best people! 

Tishhouse/Stone Family // Saugatuck Family Photographer

We shot Josh & Emily's wedding about 10 years ago and what a life changing thing that has been! Josh (the giant blonde one in the family picture above hahah) is basically a genius and has been such a huge help in my life when it comes to technology. So we've been photographing his family for years to stay on his good side haha! 

This year we went out to Saugatuck for Emily's side of the family and it was such a lovely day! We have been shooting at beaches more than we ever have before and it's been so great. I refuse to believe fall and winter are coming back in just a few months. 

Amanda + Mike // Muskegon Engagement Photographer

We love people who love pictures! Amanda said she's been dreaming of her engagement pictures since she was a little girl which I thought was interesting. Usually it's just the wedding little girls dream about but this girl means business! hahaha

Amanda and Mike came to Muskegon State Park for one of our local engagement sessions and I'm so glad they did! It was a perfect evening and we love making trips to the beach even if it's just for work :) 

Kijek Extended Family // Battle Creek Extended Family Photographer

Rachel & Jason // Mill Creek Wedding Photographer

Rachel and Jason’s wedding had so many cool things. We had an amazing rustic and woodsy venue, great details and we even got to play with a snake! 😂 They had a great party, complimented by a great DJ so it was always hopping! 

We even had great weather! Wait no I forgot it felt like we were on the surface of the sun 🔥☀️haha! Actually it was only like 95º and 100% humidity. We still had plenty of fun and as you can see, got lots of great pictures for Rachel and Jason to remember forever.

Enjoy reliving your day friends and have an amazing life together!!

Justin & Claire // Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer

These two have the most interesting and awesome personalities. Claire has the most wonderful dry sense of humor that I feel like not that many women have for some reason and Justin's personality compliments that so well. 

They were INCREDIBLE at taking direction. I love when people just submit themselves to the weird process, let go and see where it leads us haha! Overthinking is the killer of pictures with personality and I can confidently say we all did just the right amount of thinking because I'm just crazy for this set of images. 

I'm SO excited for their wedding coming up since they are at an awesome venue on top of being awesome people. Double win for us! 

But for now, enjoy all these super cool pictures :) 

The Krieger Family // Grand Rapids Maternity Photographer

We recently shot Theresa's sisters wedding and when she said she wanted us to do her maternity photos and there would be baby goats, I was ALL ABOUT THAT. 

She owns the studio space we rent out for indoor shoots so I thought it would be a good chance to do a few things in a very different style than we normally do and I LOVE it. The first shot is my favorite. I love how simple it is. It's always good to stretch your skills and since I'm known for all the high energy fun stuff and getting people laughing and such, it's good to force myself to step out of that for a minute :) 

Her and Jeff are super funny and their personalities are right up my alley! I think they are going to do a great job raising a really interesting little human! 

Jesse & Hannah // Rustic Grace Estate Wedding

When I first saw her in her wedding dress, I blurted out “Hannah! You look like a real woman!" as I remembered dancing with a little girl at her brother's wedding 11 years ago! For the record, I don’t dance really… at all. We didn’t even having dancing at our own wedding, we had video games and card games! There was just something I loved about Hannah though. She was a super cute 9 year old that just loved everyone. There’s some people in your life you’d do anything to make smile and even if dancing was embarrassing for me, it made her laugh and I loved that laugh!

I’ve always loved everyone in the Buren family. Hannah’s big brother Steve is my best friend and the one guy I can be my true self around. Hannah’s dad is a super human that everyone looks up to, including me. The other Buren girls are all amazing in their own way too. So yeah, you could say this was a special wedding for me. It was filled with a lot of super emotional and heartfelt moments that I will always remember. It kind of reminded me why I do weddings. I got to feel what they feel and I get the added bonus of providing them images that will bring back those feelings years from now. 

Now that I have revealed I'm a big softy pants (if you didn’t know that already), weddings are just amazing. The best of people come out and walls come down. People are allowed to reflect on all the things they love about someone cumulated over so many years of putting effort into that single relationship. There’s just no other event like it. I’m so thankful to be a part of Hannah and Jesse’s day. I’m so happy she found such a solid Godly man that is so loved by his amazing family and friends and we are so excited for you guys!!