I am Mae Stier, a writer and photographer living on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary land of the Anishinaabek–Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi peoples–in what is now known as northern Michigan. My work is deeply inspired by and connected to this region near Lake Michigan that has become my home, and I am always working to be a better caretaker of the land and water around me.

I have been photographing weddings since 2009, and accept 15 weddings a year. I photograph weddings all over the Midwest, but my home base is Leelanau County, right next to the Sleeping Bear Dunes. This region of rolling hills, vineyards, and shoreline carries a certain magic to it, and I love telling the stories of folks who choose to get married here.

My husband and I have two small children, and in my spare time you’ll find me swimming in Lake Michigan (even in the winter) or hiking with my family. I am actively involved in our small community, and am always contemplating what it means to live collectively. You can read more about my life through my newsletter Lake Letters.

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“Not only is Mae extremely talented and a master of her craft, she is also a kind and beautiful soul. She made us feel comfortable in front of the camera and was able to fully capture the magic of our special day! Our wedding photos turned out AMAZING! We still look at them daily, and are just so happy that we chose Mae as our wedding photographer. She is the BEST, and we can’t recommend her enough!”

-PIERINA & SEAN, MARRIED AT AURORA CELLARS IN LEELANAU COUNTY

I am an observer. As both a photographer and a writer, I aim to pay attention, to see the importance of even the most mundane moments in front of me. As we all know, oftentimes it is those mundane moments that can entirely change our lives.

Do you remember what you were doing the moment before you first saw your now-fiance? What were the days like leading up to the birth of your first child? So many moments that might feel mundane–walking into a coffee shop, organizing a house–all add up to a life.

Whatever part of your story I am photographing, I like to create space for you to be you. While I include guidance for how to do this as needed, after fifteen years of photographing weddings and families, I have learned that when we start from a place to connection (couples and families to each other and also to your photographer), the photographs feel true to your story, your stage in life. Creating documentary images requires trust and understanding.

My emphasis is always on connection and allowing you to feel connected to each other, yourselves, and on your wedding day, your guests. After all, isn’t that the whole point?

LET’S MAKE PHOTOGRAPHS TO HELP REMEMBER IT ALL.

I began photographing weddings in 2009, and have photographed weddings across and outside of the United States. At this point, I've photographed well over 200 weddings and still am grateful for the opportunity to photograph each and every one. While I am always open to travel, I love photographing weddings in my backyard more than anything.

I made northern Michigan my home in 2016. I love living close to Lake Michigan and am always excited to share my favorite portrait locations with my clients. A lot of the folks who end up hiring me seem to have a similar love of Lake Michigan as I do, and for that, I am grateful.

The region surrounding Traverse City has become a destination wedding and portrait location for many, and I love working with both locals and those who have traveled for their celebration. Whether you're looking for photos in the dunes and woods of northern Michigan, or if you'd like me to photograph you in your favorite location elsewhere, reach out to get the conversation started!