Budrick/ Griffin Family

Yesterday was one of those rare moments this time of year where a last minute photo shoot was able to be scheduled when everyone was free the weather was also cooperating! Two years ago I took family photos for the Budricks at this same locations in the fall and they had been hoping for updated photos before Christmas this year, but wanted snow which was late to arrive in west Michigan this year.  We also added Gia's brother and his son to the family photos this year and it was fun watching the cousins interact with each other and play in the snow between photos.  The location looked so beautiful with the fresh snow and I appreciated how everyone was patient with me despite being cold- here are some of my favorites from this session!

DeJager Family

It's been such a joy to photograph so many special moments for Jess and Jason this past year and a half.  From their engagement to their wedding and now their first family photos with baby Josephine I love that they keep asking me to document these occasions! Though the fall colors were still bright the weather was a little cold for the baby so we purposefully chose a location that had some good indoor photo spots as well.  Here are some of my favorites from the new family of 3- I can't wait to finish editing the rest :)

Still Family

This fall has been filled with family photo sessions and so many cute kids!  Little Emma was no exception at almost a year old she is full of personality and was in a good mood for most of the photo session.  I've taken many photos of Chris and Sarah over the years and look forward to many more in the future as Emma grows.  Here are some of my favorites from our unseasonably warm day at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids.

Beverage Family

I love taking photos of growing families and the Beverages are no exception!  Karen and I have been friends for several years and I had the joy of photographing her and Doug's wedding as well as taking newborn photos of both their kids.  Their yard makes a beautiful backdrop for fall photos and we were luckily able to schedule this shoot on a perfect fall evening.  Here are some of my favorites!

Tristyn's Senior photos

I can not believe that Tristyn is a senior this year! I've known this boy since he was a baby and it's been a joy watching him grow up.  Tristyn has never enjoyed having his photo taken and his mom started a tradition several years ago of me taking pictures of the kids instead of her buying school pictures.  Taylor is now a junior in college, Tristyn a senior in high school and Ty a freshman in high school so I might have to stop calling them "kids" soon!  He knew some great spots around Plainwell and it was worth going off the trail to get there.  After exploring went back to their house for photos of the extended family.  Take a look at some of my favorites from the day.

Alvarez Family

A few weeks ago I met up with Betty, David, and their three sons downtown Grand Rapids for some family photos.  It was an unseasonably warm weekend in Michigan, but they were good sports, didn't complain and were wiling to walk around to some of my favorite photo spots in the city!  Last time I photographed this family it was snowing so I was more then happy to oblige when Betty reached out to me about doing a "fall" photo shoot.  I also loved their Michigan/ Grand Rapids themed shirts which were perfect for the city backdrop.  Here are a few of my favorites :)

Stoub Family

Last month I had the opportunity to photograph one of my favorite families in a few locations around downtown Grand Rapids.  Since it had been just over 5 years since I last took family photos for them and their oldest daughter was moving off to college -it was definitely time for some updated pictures! Thanks to everyone who gave my suggestions on "industrial" locations around town we found some great spots and I learned that no matter how old of a kid you have - using ice cream for a bribe to take good photos still works :) Here are some of my favorites from the Stoub's family session.

King Family

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting the King family at Douglas Walker Park to take their family photos.  I love that they got my name from a family I photographed earlier this summer (referrals mean that people are happy with their pictures) who also had little boys.  It was fun getting a glimpse of these two boys personalities and of course they wanted to carry around sticks the whole time!  Here of some of my favorites from the session.

Baby Doug

I would not typically describe myself as a "newborn photographer" but when my friends keep having babies I keep getting in practice with photographing them :) Karen and I used to work together and it has been so fun for me to see her family grow the past few years.  Last week I had the pleasure of meeting the newest addition to their family, baby Doug, (named after his dad and his paternal grandpa) when he was just 6 days old.  Big sister 2 1/2 year old Alice was very proud to show me her baby brother when I arrived at their home.  Here are some of my favorite photos of the new family of 4!

Baby Emma

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet and take pictures of 6 day old Emma.  I've known her mom and dad for many years and they have been the subject of many photos shoots over the years so I suspect this is the first of many photo shoots Emma will be in as well. She was asleep most of the time I was there and didn't seem to care at all about us moving her around and putting the camera in her face which was great :)  Here are some of my favorites of the little cutie!

Kosters Family

Donique is a co-worker of mine and I first met her husband Ryan when I photographed their wedding back in 2011.  I have since then had the pleasure of photographing their growing family again over the past few years first with their little boy Jude, then when she was pregnant with her daughter.  Now they are getting ready to move to a new house and had requested some fall family photos in their yard to commemorate yet another season of life they are entering into :) Here are some of my favorites from their session a few weeks ago.

Johnston Family

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of taking some fall family photos for Claire, Andy and their two adorable boys Peter and Will at their family home in Lowell.  They live on a natural beauty road and the leaves were just starting to change colors so we had great backgrounds for their photos.  Plus, the rain stopped and the sun came out about an hour before we were scheduled to do photos which was a relief for everyone.  Enjoy this preview of the Johnston family photos.

Chris and Sarah's maternity photos

For many years now Chris and Sarah have been the friends that are my guinea pigs for trying out new photography styles and last Friday when we did this maternity photo shoot was no exception.  As I've only done one maternity shoot prior to this I in no way consider it to be a strength but I am thankful for people who are willing to let me practice! This shoot was also special because we took them at Millennium Park in Grand Rapids which is where I took their engagement photos visited the place I took their engagement photos 6 years ago :) Here are some of my favorite photos from the session - can't wait to meet their baby girl in 5 more weeks!