Prom is definitely a bigger deal for kids today then it was when I was growing up (or maybe it was just my personality to be nonchalant) :) Kalala asked for some professional portraits alone and with her boyfriend before the dance to go along with her professionally done hair and makeup. The day was behind schedule and we ran out of time to go downtown like originally planned for pictures, but I think the spring blossoms made an even better backdrop! This girl is a natural model and we got all of these photos in just 15 minutes ..read more

This was my third year photographing Laugh Fest, my city’s annual fundraiser for Gilda’s Club which allows them to continue providing free support to adults, kids, families and friends of those going through a cancer journey. In past years I’ve documented late night/ adult comedy shows, but this year I chose to photograph kids and family day instead which was so fun! First there was a kids joke show, then drumming for all with Josh, and finally a family improvisation class with the comedy project. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the day ..read more

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 T ..read more

Foster the Family is a new organization in Grand Rapids which provides physical and emotional support within the fist 24 hours of foster care placement to both parents and children as they adapt (sometimes with little notice) to changes in living arrangements. A few weeks ago they had a 5K fundraiser and I got to photograph the day! It was fun seeing other community organizations such as the humane society and the zoo show up to entertain the kids along with inflatable slides and games. I can’t wait to follow along and see how Foster the Family continues to grow and impact more people in Grand ..read more

I know two girls on the Hudsonville varsity lacrosse team, but due to our cold rainy spring weather the last month I have not been motivated to attend any of their games. Last Wednesday I finally made it though and had a lot of fun learning about a sport I know very little about, plus they won the game! I could tell their team works hard and has fun together because the people on the sideline had a bubble gun that they would spray on teammates as they came off the field. Full disclosure, I am not a sports photographer and I had the wrong settings on my lens for half the game, but I did get a f ..read more

For 6 weeks this winter my city is hosting the largest winter festival in the US! Ironically the opening weekend events of Word of Winter were cancelled due to a snow storm a couple weeks ago, but “fire and ice” was rescheduled. Last year I was able to take some pictures of fire performers on the ground so this year I brought my camera again to capture some of the ice skating. Thanks to Grand Rapids Entertainment Group and Greater Grand Rapids Figure Skating Club for putting on a great show despite the rain! Here are some of my favorite pictures of the night ..read more

The first week of January (including New Years Eve) I had the opportunity to travel to Cuba with a group put together by Laura Ericson Group Trips. Our guide for the week, Cassie, made sure we ate in the best restaurants and saw the real Cuba outside of the tourist areas. We spent a few days in Havana then got to see the beautiful countryside in Vinales before returning to Havana again. Classic cars are just as common as modern cars on the roads in Cuba, and made for some great photo opportunities. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week ..read more

Ending the year with another returning family! The Hounakey’s are spread accross multiple states, but gather back home in Grand Rapids for Christmas each year. This was the third year of their new tradition of getting family photos when they are together and as a photographer there’s no bigger compliment then having returning clients :) It’s always fun to see their coordinated outfits and the effort every member of the family puts into choosing their poses. Since it was unseasonably warm outside, we started with a few photos by the Christmas tree outside at Rosa Parks Circle before moving insi ..read more

I love when families choose to do milestone photography sessions for their kids because they grow and change so much in the first year! When their first child, Ian, was born Mary and Aaron scheduled photos every 3 months for him and I was so happy they decided to do the same for their second born :) Grace was pretty confused about the camera in her face, but she didn’t cry and her big brother stayed close by to try and get her to smile. Here are some of my favorites ..read more

The Still’s are likely the people I have been photographing the longest, and I love that I’ve gotten to keep in touch with these friends over the years through their annual photo session. This year they wanted more winter/ Christmas themed pictures instead of fall and though the kids were not happy about the cold weather at first, after eating lunch it started to snow and they wanted to go back out and play in it :) So we managed a combination of more formal family photos, pictures of the kids by the Christmas tree inside, and some playing in the snow (all with their dog running in and out of ..read more