Lydia and Mike // Grand Rapids Cheney Place Wedding

Lydia and Mike were married at the Cheney Place in Grand Rapids in 2018. I am still getting caught up on blogging weddings from the past three (almost four?!) years, and theirs was one of the first that came to mind for me to share. As I looked through their gallery, I could still remember kneeling in the aisle while they said their vows, simultaneously laughing and crying at the words they shared with each other. I have been to a lot of weddings, but their love for each other is some of the most well-articulated I have ever heard. As a person who also writes, I loved the opportunity to listen to their heartfelt words.

Not only did Lydia and Mike share the sweetest words to each other, but they curated a wedding celebration that really felt so unique. From Lydia’s beautiful artistry on all of their papergoods (including a custom zine she made for the day!) to her family serenading them during their first dance, to the ever-present smiles and laughter throughout the day…this one was just so special. Their day was featured in The Knot’s Regional Magazine : Michigan Fall/Winter 2020. Enjoy this colorful, joy-filled day.

2021 In Review // Northern Michigan Wedding and Portrait Photography

2021 was my 12th season photographing weddings, and it felt different than seasons past. Everything felt more tender this year. Maybe even a little raw. Did you feel it too? I cried more at each wedding than I have in the past, and had conversations that are still dancing in my head with many of you. It's as if the collective changes we have all experienced the past few years allowed us to show up more truly ourselves. What an honor to document that.

I made images I am proud of this year, but what matters more than that is that I made images that you hold dear. Photographs that you will hang on your walls, that you will show your children, that will help you remember loved ones when they are gone. It all feels more poignant than ever.

After more than a decade of working as a portrait and wedding photographer, I have entered into a new balance with the work that I do, limiting the weddings and portraits I take on each year to allow time for the writing work I also love. All of my work–whether taking photographs or writing and caring for my son–is about being present and paying attention. It all informs each other. Choosing this work is the direct result of my intuitive nature and it all stems out of my passion for observation and human connection.

To commemorate 2021, I compiled some of my favorite moments and am sharing them on my wedding photography website. It's a glimpse into all of the magic I witnessed. It is no small thing to have been present at your weddings, on your family vacations, in your birthing rooms. There are so many photographs at the lake, and not just with it as the backdrop, but as an additional subject. There are many photos of laughter and tears, photos of hands entwined, hands holding stones, small hands holding bugs. Photographs of the low light just before the candles burn out. An idea of what it felt like.