As the holiday season is ending and everyone preparing for the normal routine to resume, I wanted to share a little more Christmas cheer :) Arts in Motion put on their annual holiday show in mid December and despite the poor lighting, I got a few good photos of the performers! I love seeing the new choreography each show and the variety of acts from ballet, to jazz, singing, drumming, group dances and soloists. There’s never a dull moment at Arts in Motion :)
I grew up with Laura, but haven’t seen her in a long time so when she reached out about getting family photos taken I was happy to make it happen on Thanksgiving when I was back in our hometown! Laura and Tom have 5 daughters and it was sweet seeing the bigger girls looking after the younger ones and treating the baby like she was their doll :). In less than 30 minutes we got pictures both inside their living room and on the back deck which is proof that it doesn’t always require a long time or a far away location to take pictures! Here are some of my favorites from their session.
Back in October, my high school restarted the tradition of having alumni cheerleaders join the current team on the sidelines for the 3rd quarter of the football game. Since it was the same weekend as my 20 year class reunion (yes I’m that old) I decided to go and see if I still remember how to cheer! I spent the first half of the game with my camera in hand attempting to take pictures, in the dark, of motion, without a flash and it was not easy! I wish the sun stayed up longer, but I got some cute pictures during the first quarter of the little kids cheering and the second quarter of just the varsity team. Here are some of my favorites :)
A year ago I met up with Elissa and her kids for a photo session and it was high energy with one kid coloring his hands with a red marker in the car and another loosing a shoe walking through the brush! This year, they still had energy but were much more willing to participate in photos, and the boys even came up with ideas on their own. Here are some of my favorites from last weekend at the Grand Ravines!
I first took photos of the Budrick family when their girls were in elementary school and now they are a freshman and senior in college which is hard to believe! Last fall I met Hailee’s boyfriend Reed when I took their senior photos so it was fun seeing the two of them still together and the way he was included with the whole Budrick family. We had beautiful fall weather and peak colors for a morning walk around their home and nearby woods documenting some of the families favorite places before selling the house and moving. Here are a few of my favorites from the session.
Abby and I used to work together so I love that we have been able to stay in touch via photographing big moments! Three years ago I took engagement photos for her and Nic at this same location in the Grand Ravines and two years ago I was able to photograph their wedding! I’m so excited that they are expecting twin girls this winter and can’t wait to see them as parents. Here are some of my favorites from Abby and Nic’s engagement session :)
Sandie and Brett were legally married last year, but postponed their large party with family and friends until last weekend. It was an unseasonably warm fall day (as most of the month has been) when we met up at Prairie Wolf Park to take pictures of the bridal party. The colors of their dresses and flowers were so perfect for this time of year and I loved the way each bridesmaid had a unique style rather then matching each other! We then headed to Crossroads Conference Center for dinner, cake and dancing with their guests. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day!
Congratulations Sandie and Brett, thanks for letting me capture these moments!
At the end of May I enjoyed watching and photographing the annual dance recital for Arts in Motion, a local studio that provides dance, music, theater and fine art classes for individuals with disabilities. I might be biased because I serve on the board, but they really do create a family like atmosphere for the students. Despite dropping my most used lens, I got some photos that capture the personalities of students and the fun they have while preforming so I just had to share :)
Time never seems to go as fast as when I do milestone photo session for babies! I’m grateful that my friends Mary and Aaron have wanted to document both their kids growth during the first year because it also gives me a day every three months to catch up with them. At six months old, Grace loves her pacifier and sucking on her bottom lip. Getting smiles smiles was difficult until big brother Ian came home from preschool and made her laugh :) Since it was an unseasonably warm day in February we also took a few pictures outside in their yard and of course had to get one of their dog/ first kid Toby.
Fall colors have peaked here in west Michigan and Elissa planned a beautiful evening for a photo session with her three kids! I love walking around Grand Ravines and luckily it was not busy so the kids could run (literally) and not be in anyone’s way. Though the boys didn’t have any interest in holding still or being in pictures with their mom, I had fun capturing their personalities and seeing how excited they were to explore the trails at park :) Here are some of my favorites!
Leo wanted senior pictures that would be unique and different from the other seniors at school, so it was decided that taking them during art prize would be really unique since the exhibits are time limited. Leo’s mom accompanied us on the photo session downtown Grand Rapids and she asked for a few pictures with her oldest child who she described as growing up alongside her. There was a threat of rain the evening we scheduled pictures, but luckily it stayed dry long enough to get these pictures done. Have a great senior year Leo!
At the end of “sunflower season” I discovered a great field near my house at Bremer Produce (which was free) and immediately began searching for someone to do a photo session there! My friends had been trying to think of unique locations for family pictures this year and this seemed like a great option. The trick to getting a four year old and two year old to focus for a picture session is snacks and these two definitely enjoyed the cookies their mom brought along! Here are some of my favorites from their session :)
When I asked if anyone would be interested in a mini photo session at the Hudsonville fair this year, Jess was the first one to respond yes! I last saw her and her husband Jeff in March 2020 right before Covid lock down when I took their maternity photos downtown Grand Rapiuds. It was so fun to meet their daughter Addie who was born just a few days after that photo session and also surreal to realize it has been 3 years! We managed to find a few spots at the fairgrounds that were not crowded to take pictures, and at the end they let Addie try an elephant ear (which she licked all the sugar off then asked for more)! Here are some of my favorites of the VanOss family!
A couple weeks ago I met up with Gayle and Josh downtown Holland to take pictures ahead of their wedding. I have seen them in the past while doing family photos with Gayle’s sister, but it was great meeting more of the family. I loved the way they incorporated their two kids into the day and that Josh’s mom was the officiant. Plus the weather was great and Josh and Gayle are easy going and fun to work with! They claimed to not be photogenic, but I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves :)
Back in 2019 I met this family at Keagan and Nicholas’ intimate wedding and it was fun to see how they have grown since then! After a week of cooler summer weather the day we chose for family photos was sunny and humid. No one complained though as we sought out what little shade we could find at Millennium Park. My favorite moment of this session was when the entire family started singing in order to get the babies to smile, not every kid’s attention can be gained that easily and I love that they all knew the trick :)
Fall photo season wouldn’t be complete until I saw the Johnston family whose pictures I’ve been taking annually since they only had one kid :) Luckily, we had unseasonably warm weather at the start of November and even though the leaves were gone from the trees it was fun exploring more of their property and finding new spots to take pictures. Claire, Andy, their kids and parents are experts at this by now which makes the photos so quick and easy. This year we even did a few inside with their new cat, a very unique sphynx. Here are some of my favorites!
Layna, Ellory and Ceana had been talking since last spring about taking senior pictuers together in the fall. October got busy quickly, but I’m so glad we made time for a quick 30 minute photo shoot at Heritage Park in Grandville on a cloudy Sunday evening! I’ve been the leader of these girls’ small group for six years and I can’t believe they are seniors who are looking at colleges out of state. I love seeing their friendship and I can’t help but remember them as 6th graders when I look at these pictures of them now :) Here are some of my favorite pictures of my favorite members of the class of 2023!
At the beginning of October Abby and Nic has a beautiful fall day for their outdoor wedding at The Old Wooden Barn. It was hard to believe almost a year had passed since I took their engagement photos, but these two were just as photogenic and their bridal party was fun to work with! I loved the unique touches of burning a brand on a table during the ceremony, having a bonfire and s’mores kits available to guests after dinner and they made sure to include the dogs in at least one wedding picture :) Congratulations Nic and Abby, thanks for letting me be a part of your wedding day!
I’ve known these two since they were in 6th grade and I can’t believe they are now seniors!! Ellory and Ceana are cousins so when Ellory scheduled her senior photo shoot at Hoffmaster State Park it just made sense to invite Ceana to join in on the fun. To be honest, beach photos are not my favorite because I have to work with direct sun and wind, but these girls made it fun and kept each other laughing. I highly recommend bringing a friend along for pictures because they can get you to smile and provide good ideas for posing :) Here are some of my favorites :)
I feel so lucky to live less then an hour from multiple beaches on Lake Michigan and Grand Haven is one of my favorites because the pier is so photogenic! I’ve photographed many summer sunsets at the state park but never ventured out in the winter - until now. Friday was a “warm” winter day with sunshine and no wind so I decided it was the perfect time to bundle up and try out some winter photography. I ended up spending two hours at the beach walking around, taking pictures and people watching. Here are some of my favorite photos :)
