The Lilagen Family | Charlotte, MI Family Photos
I recently took Madison’s senior photos which is when the Lilagen Family decided to tell me that it had been a long while since they had family photos taken. Good thing I know how to solve that issue! I was so happy they were all able to gather for these photos, I know how difficult it can be to get a busy family all in one spot!
We met just outside Charlotte at the Country Mill for their session. If you are looking for an orchard photo session, this location is a great choice! they are so accommodating at the Country Mill and there are so many beautiful areas. The best part is, you can leave with a package of donuts and cider from their store!
Here are a few of my favorites from my time with the Lilagens!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
The Schroeder Family | Portland, MI Family Photos
It has been a while since this lovely family has had their photos taken and I am so happy they chose me to capture them! They all love being near the water from kayaking to swimming, so it only seemed fitting that their family photos took place near the water too. Here are a few of my favorites from their photo session at the Portland Dam!
To view the full gallery, click here!
Vivian | Ionia, Michigan Unicorn Photos
I was so excited when I was given the opportunity to photograph Vivian seeing her first unicorn! It is my understanding that she LOVES unicorns and this surprise was the most perfect idea for her. Her mom planned a very special mother-daughter night together and this was the best way to kick off their fun evening together. Here are a few of my favorites from Vivan’s unicorn session!
To view the full gallery, click here!
The Robbins Family | Westphalia, MI Family Photos
The Robbins Family contacted me for a last minute photo session and due to a cancellation in my schedule, I was so happy to be able to fit them in! Part of the family is visiting from out of state, so it was important to them to capture some memories while they were in town and available to get photos. I met up with them at their home where they were so incredibly welcoming. They also have a great backyard too which made a perfect backdrop for photos. Here are a few of my favorites from their session!
To view their full gallery, click here!
The Martin Family | Westphalia, MI Family Photos
The Martin Family invited me to their home to capture their family photos and I was so happy they did! They have the most amazing backyard full of great photo opportunities (and mosquitos!). They have been planning this session for a while so when I showed up and their was a checklist of locations and ultimate organization, I was really feeling like this was my crowd! We got right to work going down the list which allowed us to move right along and get so many great photos. Here are a few of my favorites from their session.
Thank you, Martin Family, for inviting me to capture these moments for you!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
The 5 Best Places for Photos in Portland, Michigan
So often, I get asked where to take photos and there are so many options! Not just in Portland, Michigan but all over the place! But, for today, I am just going to focus on my hometown of Portland because it truly has so much to offer. Portland is only a short drive away from most places such as Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Ionia making it the perfect central point to get your photos taken.
The Flats
The Bogue Flats (“The Flats” for us Portlanders!) is an excellent choice for photos. There is so much area to cover and it has so many opportunities to get unique photos! The Flats is located off Water Street in Portland and offers beautiful backdrops of fields, trees, tall grasses, the river, and a pond! Best of all, the Portland Riverwalk surrounds The Flats which means there is plenty of little areas around the entire thing to find a spot perfect for anyone! The Flats is a large area with easy walking so the location is suitable for any type of session.
2. Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, Michigan is one of my favorites. The downtown area is so well kept and perfect for photos. Here, you will find a gorgeous backdrop of buildings, walls, colorful textures, lights and even Veterans Memorial Bridge. Downtown Portland has the Grand River running right through the heart of it giving you a perfect opportunity to get photos of water as well. Portland is a great community for walking which means that these areas are all very accessible and can be reached very easily.
3. The Red Mill
The Red Mill in Portland, Michigan is such an beautiful place. It is so well taken care of by a group of locals, The Friends of the Red Mill, who work so hard to keep the building in great shape and to keep this beautiful structure a part of Portland history. This building serves as a perfect backdrop for those wanting a picture with a barn as a background or a more country feel. As a matter of fact, the Red Mill is one of my most common requests for photos of the locals!
4. The Boat Launch
The Portland Boat Launch (near Thompson Field) is only a short drive away from Portland’s Downtown area. This sweet spot offers tall grasses, trees, the river trail and a lovely spot to dip your toes directly into the river for water photos. In this location you also have the option of a short jog to get to one of Portlands walking bridges that mimics Veterans Memorial Bridge too!
5. The Portland Dam
The Portland Dam is just a short drive outside of Portland, Michigan, off Lyons Road and is another great spot for photos. This spot is usually bustling with fishermen relaxing while trying to catch their latest fish. The location boasts a small wooden footbridge that crosses a stream, views of the river, trees and tall grasses. This is truly the perfect quaint little spot if you are looking for photos with a lot of nature.
If you are visiting Portland from out of town, I often get asked where to eat! This information is right up my alley because I love a good meal. There are many places to stop to grab a bite to eat and enjoy the Portland Community. Here are a few of my personal favorites!
-You haven’t had good pizza until you’ve gotten it from the Portland Party Store
-The atmosphere at Fabianos Riverhouse Grill on their porch is amazing
-Oliveras is a great option for dining in with delicious food
There are many other options that are filled with the kindest Portland People and the best business owners, you truly cannot go wrong with any of them!
*This is not an inclusive list of Portland photo locations. I recommend speaking with your photographer directly to help determine which option might be the best for your next photo session!
Finn | Portland, MI Newborn Lifestyle Photography
Finn is the absolute cutest! I was so excited when his family invited me to their home to capture him, he is just a couple weeks old so this is the perfect time to capture him before he grows too much. I always take a lifestyle approach to newborn photos, so being able to photograph him and his siblings in their home makes for a perfect location. It worked really well too because the day of pictures, it was pouring rain! We stayed dry inside capturing these lovely memories for this amazing family. Here are a few of my favorites from my time with them.
To view the full gallery, click here!
The Hanses Family | Portland, MI Family Photography
This family has the right idea! They gifted their parents a Reflections Photography gift card for the holidays for a photo session. This is the perfect gift for a lot of families because it gives them the opportunity to gather and get photos that they normally do not have the opportunity to take. The best part about these larger family sessions is that each family gets to have a portrait taken of just them along with a portrait of the entire family as a whole, its a win-win all around! Here are my favorites from my session with this bunch!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
Skylar and Kylie | Dance - Ballet Photography
I was so excited when I was asked to capture best friends, Skylar and Kylie, doing what they love most. These girls have been in dance for several years together and wanted to capture not only their friendship together but photos separately to celebrate their love for dance. We had so much fun in the Portland area finding locations, it was so fun watching them get into their positions too, I learned so much! Here are just a few of my favorites from their session!
To view their full gallery, click here!
Sully is One! | Cake Smash Photos
I cannot believe how big Sully has grown since the last time I saw him! It has been a minute since I’ve spent time with him, this year truly has gone fast because he is already turning one! This was the perfect time to celebrate with a cake just for him. A cake smash photo session is always a fun thing to watch when a one year old can get their hands on the cake and although Sully took a minute to warm up, he ended up getting the idea! Here are a few of my favorites from Sully’s one year cake smash photo session!
To view the full gallery, click here!
The Visser Family | Portland, MI Family Photos
I was really looking forward to meeting the Visser family for their photo session. Cindy had won a gift certificate that I donated at a local event and I could tell she was so excited to take advantage of this photo session for her entire family. I am so happy that I was able to give this to them, they truly are a wonderful family and deserve these beautiful memories. Here are a few of my favorites from my time with them.
To view their full gallery, click here!
Perkins | Portland, MI Family Photography
I was so excited to be meeting up with the Perkins girls on a warm (windy) spring day for photos. Usually I am photographing the entire family, but this time the guys sat out and it was time for these lovely ladies to shine in front of my camera! Here are a few favorites from their session
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
Winslow | Portland, MI Family Photographer
I got to meet up with the two cutest sisters for their photo session the other day. These photos were all taken at their grandmothers home in a small room in their basement, it’s amazing the space you can find for photos at your own home! The size of the room didn’t matter though, because these two definitely found a way to keep several adults occupied during their photo session! They were so busy moving around that each opportunity for a photo was fleeting, I had so much fun watching them play around and getting these photos for their family. Here are a few of my favorites!
To view their full gallery, click here!
The Smith Family | Lansing, MI Family Photography
I was so thrilled when this family reached out to me and told me their story. This home has been in the family for 50 years and it is now for sale. Before the sale of the home, they wanted to make sure to get generational photos, what a GREAT idea! I loved every second I had with this family, they were up for anything. Most of all, I enjoyed hearing them reminisce about the many stories they had in this home. It all sounded perfect. Here are a few of my favorite photos from my time with them.
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
The Watson Family | Portland, MI Family Photography
I was so thrilled when the Watson Family contacted me to do their family photos because it was definitely time for me to come out of hibernation! Michigan had just gotten more than a foot of snow the last few weeks, so when the Watson’s scheduled their session, they thought we would be hopping through snow drifts for their family photos. Michigan weather had a different idea in mind and on the day of their session it was almost 5o degrees! Luckily we still got photos with some of the beautiful snow before it melted. Here are a few of my favorites from their session!
Thank you to the Watson Family for joining me for family photos, I had so much fun!
To view their full gallery, click here
Reece Turns One! | Westphalia, Michigan Photography
I cannot believe Reece is already turning one! I first met him for his 6 month photos this past summer and he is already preparing for his 1st birthday, time flies! His family invited me to their home for his one year photos which was absolutely perfect. I enjoyed watching Reece interact in the surroundings he is most comfortable in and show me all his cool toys! This was the absolute perfect way to capture Reece’s personality and interests at this stage in his life. Here are a few favorites from his session!
Thank you so much to Reece’s family for inviting me to your home!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
Reynolds | Portland, Michigan Winter Family Photos
I was so excited to come out of my winter hibernation on New Years Eve for this wonderful family! They wanted a quick session which was perfect to grab several photos of their family, they were such troopers in the cold and icy weather too. I am so thankful they came to get these photos, it was the perfect way to spend my winter break! Here are a few of my favorites from their session!
Thank you to the Reynolds Family for letting me capture you!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
Perkins | Portland, Michigan Family Photos
I was so thrilled when the Perkins family contacted me to do their photos this December, but even more thrilled when they told me that they were going to be going for the classy look at wanted the night lights! I literally could not wait! This time of year, you really have to plan your evening around when the lights look the best and I am so happy to say that we nailed it. Even more though, this bunch looked phenomenal! Here are a few of my favorites from their session!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
The Hilliard Family | Portland, MI Family Photos
It has been a minute since this family has had their family photos updated and I am so glad I could help them out this year! They came out for a quick mini session in the chilly December weather but it was so worth it! Here are a few of my favorites from their session.
Thank you to the Hilliard family for letting me capture them!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
Jenna and Mitchell | Portland, MI Siblings Photos
I have met up with these two kiddos for several years for their annual photos and there is never a dull moment. Mitchell loves to share about the latest things going on in his life with me and Jenna loves having her photo taken so much that I think she could probably hang out with me for days, I just love their energy! Here are a few of my favorites from this years session!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!