Engagements

Jordan and Crystal {Bay View, MI Engagement Photographer}

Crystal is my vivacious, bubbly, gorgeous, passionate, blonde ;) best friend. I can’t say that we “hit it off” right away, but through a few mutual friends, one AP Literature class, 5:30am swimming, a bible study and a few summer hangouts at the breakwall awkward 16 year old me and the outgoing country girl from the UP became fast friends. So far our friendship has survived her moving to Indiana, my living in Mexico, our crazy full-time school + full-time work schedules and weeks without talking only to come out all the stronger.

Senior year of high school Crystal met a boy. A rather special boy at the time. They dated for a while, and Crystal headed off to school. Down at school, she met a steady, calm man named Jordan. He was just a good friend. Nothing more, nothing less. All the while Crystal was dating this other fellow (who turned out to be a lemon) she was oblivious to the fact the Jordan was falling, fell, fallen for her beautiful self. So just a few short months after Crystal broke it off with Mr. Wrong, Jordan, in no short time, made it clear to Crystal how he felt about her.

On my way down to Florida for spring break, I got a call. The call. A well planned hike filled with chocolate covered strawberries, monopoly money, and a shiny diamond led to what I had seen coming for a couple months ;)

Spring came with a flurry of wedding planning that is going to continue until their wedding next June. After a hilarious Skype session Crystal asked me to be a bridesmaid and photographer. Summer is now here, and brought a proposal of its own.

Sitting in the grass at the bay front park we were talking wedding, family and life. Then Crystal scurried off to her car mumbling about forgetting something, then came back with a little slip of paper. “I don’t know why I didn’t ask you to begin with!” She told me.

Crystal– I love you chika–yes chika with a “k” ;) I’m so happy for you and Jordan. He’s the perfect man for you, and it’s so clear the love and concern you share for each other. I can’t wait for your wedding next summer!

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We did their engagement session last minute when Jordan was up north early this summer in Bay View, Michigan. It would have been wonderful to do their pictures at the university they met at, but it’s in another state so it wasn’t an option. I thought John Hall Auditorium in Bay View and the surrounding campus would have a similar university-feel and I loved shooting there. We even went inside and took some beautiful shots against the dark wood and glass windows.

{Preview} Jordan and Crystal // Bay View, MI Engagement Photographer

After a stormy night, and a morning filled with little prayers, Jordan and Crystal met me and we headed to Bay View’s John Hall Auditorium for their engagement pictures. Here’s a sneak peek, lots more pictures+fun stories to come!

Bryan and Jenny // Grand Haven Engagement Photographer

Jenny sent me an email a couple months back asking if I’d come down to Grand Haven to shoot her and her fiance, Bryan’s engagement photos. Of course I was rather reluctant thrilled. yay road trip! to drive down to little beautiful! why have I not been there before?! Grand Haven, but we picked a date and started passing ideas back and forth via Pinterest. I’d never been to te Grand Haven pier, where we planned on meeting, and had forgot my phone charger at home. My phone was on it’s last drips of battery juice and reception was at 0 bars in the state park. I tried to send Jenny a text telling her where I was, but my phone was too dead. I walked around looking for them, drove out to the other parking lot, came back to the original spot, then walked around again. Oh no. I switched my phone off and on again to see if it would magically recharge just enough to make a quick call. It did. (Thank you God!) Jenny introduced me to Bryan and we chatted for a minute, then walked out on the pier to start shooting. They both longboard, which was so much fun to incorporate into the pictures!

After the pier we drove to downtown Grand Haven, and walked to this little train station/bleachers/garden area by the water. This shot below is one of my favorites, with the purple Catnip (so says my botanical madre) in the background.

Last stop in hope of catching the sunset we drove to Rosy Mound Natural Area. It was too cloudy for a flashy sunset, but we did happen upon a fun little scene. As we were walking down to the beachfront we passed a gal with a camera set up on a tripod. She quietly whispered to me that she was there to take some sneaky shots of her brother as her proposed to his girlfriend. (Note to future finance: do this. please?) The couple sat talking for almost the whole time we were shooting, and as we headed back to the parking lot we saw him get on one knee… awwww!

Aren’t they precious together? Bryan said that with in a short time of meeting Jenny he knew she was the one, and just about a month after they met he knew the spot where we wanted to propose to her up north in Michigan.

 

{sneak peek} Bryan and Jenny // Grand Haven Engagement Photography

This past weekend I had the pleasure of heading down to Grand Haven, MI to take engagement photos for Bryan and Jenny. It was my first time in Grand Haven and I’m in loooove with that little town. Grand Haven has that small town charm and is set on the Lake Michigan waterfront, but only a little ways drive from Grand Rapids or Muskegon. Jenny and I made a Pinterest board and shared ideas for this shoot, and she and Bryan picked out some fun locations that we shot at. I can’t resist posting these 3 shots as a little preview :) Bryan and Jenny– thank you so much for asking me to come down and take your pictures! I had such a great time!

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