Saugatuck Boat + Backyard Wedding

After an intimate Catholic ceremony, the bride and groom treated their guests to a chartered sail around Saugatuck and backyard reception.

Florals: Back to the Fuchsia
Dress Boutique: Spring Sweet
Dress Designer: Theia
Catering: Jim from Distinctive Dining

Beach Photoshoot Ideas for Couples Sessions

6 BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEAS

One of the top requested locations for couples and engagement sessions is the beach. Michigan is home to the freshest coastlines! But after doing so many photoshoots in the same spots, I needed to shake things up a bit. So I put together a bunch of beach photoshoot ideas to increase the variety of images in my engagement and couple sessions. I hope these inspire you to approach beach locations just a little differently. 

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #1: WORK THE DUNES

I know that most people think about the beach as the place where the sand meets water, but Lake Michigan is home to quite a few sand dunes. These mountains of sand give me all sorts of photo ideas! Couples can run down them while the photographer captures genuine smiles and lots of candid movement. They can be used in a wide shot to isolate the couple’s silhouettes in negative space. AND you’ll get a whole set of images from your beach photoshoot that don’t have water in them! If your aim is variety, this is a great idea to mix things up and get creative.

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #2: TURN AROUND

Another way to get variety in your beach photoshoot is totally counterintuitive. Turn around! With the couple facing the water and all of the light bouncing off of it towards them, you’ll get great color on the sand and tall grasses. Due to water-table rising, flooding, and erosion, the beaches of Lake Michigan have shrunk significantly. But we can make the most of it! The steep angle and exposed rocks make for the perfect place for a couple to share a romantic moment looking out over the water. 

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #3: WALK THE BEACH

Okay, okay. Now that I’ve given you two beach photoshoot ideas that don’t involve actually seeing the water, here’s an easy go-to that always turns out amazing. Just walk the waterline! You can get incredible background views with a wide-lens while catching super sweet moments. Sometimes, I’ll have the couple skip rocks to catch some candids. These lean more traditional, but honestly, if a couple wants the Lake Michigan beach, I feel like this is what they are imagining.

Beach photoshoot idea #4: Stay for Sunset

Lake Michigan in particular has stunning sunsets because it’s on the west side of the state. The sun goes down right over the water and I’m obsessed with the incredible tones we can capture in pictures with the amber, orange, and pink sky against the purple, blue, and turquoise water.

Beach photoshoot idea #5: Lay down

Towards the end of the photoshoot, I always ask the couple if they are comfortable lying down. Sometimes, they are partially in the water, and other times we play with driftwood for some visual texture and depth. I love this idea for creating intimate moments.

BEACH PHOTOSHOOT IDEA #6: PLAY IN THE WATER

I saved this for last because it’s always the last thing I have couples do at their beach photoshoot. If you’re feeling adventurous, get IN the water! Obviously, save this until the end so that your couple’s clothes aren’t wet for the rest of the photoshoot. But these pictures are so fun! When I think about couples looking back at their engagement pictures (or whatever the photoshoot is for) fifty years later, I firmly believe that it’s the silly moments that will make them smile the biggest. So yeah. Even if you feel ridiculous, just take the leap! Honestly, it’s my favorite of all the beach photoshoot ideas.

I hope you have some fresh beach photoshoot ideas!

Lake Michigan Elopement

LAKE MICHIGAN ELOPEMENT

When I arrived to scout a location for for Kellie and Todd’s Lake Michigan elopement, I almost lost my shit. Because instead of the chill beach I had visited just a month ago, it was crawling with people. Like, the car I parked next to was blasting some Billie Eilish and while I love “Bad Guy,” it isn’t exactly the vibe I was hoping for.

In Kellie and Todd’s inquiry email, they told me that their priority was to marry each other and that they totally trusted me to figure out the rest.

So I did.

With just a few minutes to search Oval Beach for a spot that offered a modicum of privacy for their wedding and didn’t include too many neon bikinis or screaming children, I stumbled upon an overlook above the beach itself with a stunning view of the Lake Michigan sunset. I guarded that spot until the couple arrived with no-nonsense don’t-even-think-about-it glares at onlookers.

The ceremony was short and sweet. I led Kellie, Todd, and their parents in a short centering moment and invited the couple to share their vows. Their words were stunningly similar although written independently and total proof that they are perfectly matched.

After their first kiss, applause broke out on the beach and I realized that we had an audience that was totally hidden below the overlook.

We couldn’t stop laughing.

After a quiet moment away from the crowds exploring the dunes, we headed back to our spot to sign the marriage license. Without a table, the couple signed on their new spouse’s back and I don’t know why, but that gave me chills.

Kellie and Todd brought a blue tooth speaker and had their first dance as the sun slowly sunk beneath Lake Michigan and the crowds began to disperse. It was the perfect end to a imperfectly perfect evening.

One of the things that I mentioned during Kellie and Todd’s elopement ceremony was that Weddings, Marriage, and Life all have the following in common:

Things will not go according to plan, but having your person by your side grounds you in the midst of chaos. Ultimately, that’s all that matters.

Intimate Camp Blodgett Wedding

INTIMATE CAMP BLODGETT WEDDING

Featured on Offbeat Bride: here

Camp Blodgett is one of my all time favorite Michigan wedding venues. The first time I photographed a wedding there, I found my heart racing as I wound down a long drive through tall pines and quaint camp grounds until I came to the Loeks Retreat Center that would be Christine and Marta’s home base for the wedding day. It sits perched upon a hill overlooking Lake Michigan, and I immediately ran down to the lakeshore to photograph the simply stunning ceremony arch created with what looked like driftwood and flowers. Like, literally. It was the first thing I did.

I was early (as per usual) because this was not only my first time at Camp Blodgett, it was also my first time working alongside the incredible fox & fern events and I wanted to photograph every last detail of their gorgeous design. 

After checking in on the brides who were still getting ready in the upstairs guest rooms, I headed down to see the reception space in the fireplace room of the Retreat Center.

What I saw made me smile sooooooo big. Geometric shapes played off of organic wildflowers and the room was very boho-meets-ikea. Which made absolute sense because those opposites mirror the bride’s personalities. Just like their relationship, it WORKED. Science beakers and teal glassware- hand-dyed ombre napkins and airplants in golden geometric holders- vintage loveseats with modern pillows- this wedding was eclectic and FUN.

After photographing all the decor, I began to collect the couples personal details for their wedding flat lay and that’s when Marta showed me the STUNNING morganite ring that she wanted to give Christine during their first look. You see, they had a legal wedding ceremony prior to this celebration with their friends and family, and Marta knew that her wife (who self-describes as “extra”) would love a bonus ring. It was massive and sooooo fun to photograph.

Finally, I headed upstairs to see if the brides were almost ready.

That’s when Christine revealed that she had not one, not two, but THREE wedding dresses. One a little more traditional for the ceremony, a Zac Posen for the dinner and first part of the reception, and a light and more comfortable party dress for dancing. Remember the “extra” thing? I love her so much! She also had a cape… because of course she did.

After the most precious first look and Chrstine’s awestruck reaction to the bonus wedding ring, it was time for a ceremony written by the brides around Dr. Seuss’s classic “Oh, The Places You’ll Go.”

The rest of the night was blur of laughter and dancing and ice cream and I’m pretty sure Marta’s mom ended up skinny dipping in the lake.

Michigan Dunes Elopement

Christina and Victor exchanged their vows with only their parents as witnesses on top of the Lake Michigan dunes. It was simple. It was stunning, and by the end, the sky sang for them.