Karl & Tiffa — Surprise Proposal at Tandem Ciders
Karl had a ring, custom sweatshirts, and a plan that required getting Tiffa back outside after she'd just gotten warm. They'd biked 21 miles to Tandem Ciders that morning. She had no idea what was coming.
Johnson Family — Old Mission Peninsula
Old Mission Peninsula family photos with the Johnsons — sandy kids, golden hour light, and a dad throwing kids in the air at the lighthouse.
Kate + Jared — Sailboat Elopement on the Althea
The Althea holds a small group. Michael joined after the vows, photographing as the boat made its way back into the harbor. An overcast August evening, warm wood and brass below deck, and the bay on the way home.
Family Portrait Photography in the Water
Not posed at the edge of the lake. Actually in it — kids soaked to the knees, barefoot, no one performing for the camera. This is what Lake Michigan family photos look like when they're done right.
Audrey + Jacob — Wedding at The Mill in Glen Arbor
The Mill sits right in the middle of Glen Arbor village, an old building with thick walls and windows that pull in northern light in a way newer construction never quite does. Audrey and Jacob were married here on a May afternoon when everything was exactly right.
Maggie + Cam — Wedding on the Tall Ship Manitou
The ceremony happened on the water, aboard the Tall Ship Manitou. Her dad walked her to the deck. The wedding party hoisted the mast. The reception was at Hexenbelle with May Erlewine playing under the moonlight.
Taylor + Evan — Surprise Proposal in Traverse City
Evan booked a couples session as cover. Taylor had no idea. A downtown Traverse City beach, early morning, and a proposal that landed exactly right.
The Roberts Family — Summer Beach Session in Traverse City
Before a single photo was taken, the kids requested practice safety jumps. Then the grandmother showed up. Then the aunt and cousin. The session kept expanding, and so did everything else.
Caitlin + Bobby — Rainy Proposal at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Bobby planned the proposal at the covered bridge. It rained. They went through with it anyway. When it was over, Caitlin said: "Oh Bobby, it's just like The Notebook."
Piper + Leland — Engagement at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
They covered the whole park — overlook #9, wooded trails, the main dune vista. By the time the sun went down, they were dancing in the middle of the empty road.
The Wood Family — Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Michael photographed their wedding a few years back. This time they came back to the dunes with a new baby — and the same sense of adventure.
Christina — Senior Portraits at Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive
Three outfits, a hike to the summit, and staying late into the blue hour. Christina's senior session went all the way through the park.
Maria + Parker — Winter Elopement in Traverse City
Grand Traverse Bay in January goes quiet in a way it doesn't manage in any other month. Maria and Parker chose that quiet on purpose — a small group, still water, and vows on the shore.
How to Prepare for Your Winter Engagement Photos
Winter in Northern Michigan clears the crowds and lowers the light. You can have Pierce Stocking to yourselves. Here's how to make the most of it — from warming up first to ending with a snowball fight.
A New Year in Chinese Dress
Michael always carries a camera. A poolside encounter during the holidays, a couple in traditional Chinese dress, and a tripod that looked like it needed a hand.
The Swan Family — Traverse City Beach
Started dry on the shore. Then the kids went in the water, and everything changed. The Swan family's summer session on a Traverse City beach.
Elizabeth + Michael — Starry Night Barn Wedding
Elizabeth and Michael were married on a warm July afternoon when the sky stayed clean and the wind off the peninsula was just enough to keep things comfortable. Michael saw her and whatever composure he'd been holding onto most of the day went somewhere.
Carolyn + Megan — Engagement at Port Oneida
Port Oneida is the part of Sleeping Bear most people drive past. Farm fields, old buildings, and a quiet Lake Michigan beach just down the road. Carolyn and Megan used all of it.
Candace + Ben — Starry Night Barn Wedding
Candace and Ben were married on a warm afternoon when the whole property was wrapped in that particular summer heat that makes the air feel thick and gold. Ben held it together right up until the moment Candace came down the aisle and he saw her for the first time.
Sarah + Nathan — A Snowy November Wedding at The Leland Lodge
The snow started during the ceremony. Not a few flakes that dissolved before anyone could remark on them — it actually snowed. Sarah and Nathan got married anyway, and the light was exactly right.
Rose — Max Patch, North Carolina
Max Patch is a bald summit on the Appalachian Trail — no trees, 360-degree views, open sky all the way to the horizon. Rose's portrait session on the mountain.
Ali + Sean — Wedding at the Old Art Building in Leland
Ali and Sean were married at the Old Art Building in Leland — a day that began with a bagpiper surprise, ended with golden light at Van's Beach, and felt like exactly who they are.
Natalie — DeYoung Natural Area + Paddleboard Senior Portraits
Natalie's senior session covered the trails at DeYoung Natural Area and the water — paddleboard included. Senior portraits that actually look like the person in them.
Alex + Steve — Winter Solstice Elopement at Sleeping Bear Dunes
Two fish scientists. The winter solstice. The shortest day of the year at Sleeping Bear Dunes — and a ceremony at the peak with a sea of freshwater stretching to the horizon.
Making the Most of Your Mini Session
Five things to know before your mini session — from how to frame it for the kids to why being on time actually matters when the whole thing runs ten minutes.
The Hidden History of Wedding Traditions
Twelve wedding traditions and where they actually came from. Some of it is sweet. Some of it is fertility superstition. And some of it — the bride's pie, the groomsmen — is considerably weirder than you'd expect.
Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive Photography Guide
A 7.4-mile loop through Sleeping Bear Dunes with overlooks, wooded trails, and a Lake Michigan view that stops you cold. What to know before you plan a session here.
When Is the Best Time for Pictures?
The time of day changes what your photos feel like more than almost anything else. A practical guide to Golden Hour, Blue Hour, overcast days, and timing by session type in Northern Michigan.
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