Fish Creek Airbnb | Family Are Like S'mores
Sturgeon Bay | A Big Family and a Lake Side Airbnb
Baileys Harbor Ridges Park | Three Generations and a Boy Who Loves Swimming
Fish Creek's Sunset Beach and Clark Park | A 50th Anniversary Photo Session
Clark Lake | A Door County Family Vacation
Our session was scheduled for Sunday evening, but a rainy afternoon pushed our shoot back to Monday. The result? We had great weather, a beautiful property, and a happy family :) My favorite moment came when we were photographing the grandkids sitting on a log; all eight adults were dancing and singing behind me to get them to smile, and now I regret not turning around for a picture of that scene!
The Rushes | A 50th Anniversary and a Big Surprise
“We have a prop we’d like to use,” one of the families told me. They slid a piece of paper out from a folder, held it up for a photo, and everyone else went wild; the family will grow by one next March, and I was able to capture the announcement!
Jacksonport's Lakeside Park | A 50th Anniversary Family Photo Session
My second 50th anniversary family photo session of the day was at Lakeside Park in Jacksonport. It was actually my first time working at Lakeside Park, and I loved having variety with the beautiful beach, grassy dunes, and a playground for the kids to enjoy. To make things even better, we had a rainbow in some of our beach photographs (look closely on the right hand side).
Fish Creek's Sunset Beach and Clark Park | A 50th Anniversary Photo Session
Mr. and Mrs. White have been married for 50 years, and they wanted a family photo session to mark the occasion. Together they have five grandchildren, and I asked the kids about their favorite thing to do with their grandparents and they said, “Make box forts!” I haven’t made a box fort in years; add that to my to-do list!
Fish Creek's Sunset Beach and Clark Park | What Year Did We Start Dating?
“On the count of 3, I want to know the year you started dating…… 1… 2… 3!”
“2015!” Karen exclaimed.
Karen’s husband, who didn’t offer an answer of his own, quickly looked at her with the most confused expression. “2015? You think we started dating 5 years ago?”
Fish Creek | An Extended Family Vacation
It’s become a tradition to get ice cream at the end of my Fish Creek family sessions not only because it’s a fantastic motivator, but also because the results are absolutely timeless. We should all remember what it’s like to have ice cream smeared across our faces and not a care in the world.
Egg Harbor | Family and a Future Home
I arrived at Egg Harbor’s dog park parking lot, met Amanda and her husband, and followed their minivan about two miles before pulling over to the side of the road. There were no houses or driveways, but this was where we were going to photographed their family session. The property was owned by Amanda’s parents, and to this point it had only been used for hunting; however, they’re going to build their home here in the next couple years.
Sturgeon Bay's Glidden Drive | Family Beach Vacation
If I could only use one word to describe the Huffer family’s beachfront photography session, I’d pick innocence. Between grandparents choosing to play on the floor, a little boy dunking his popsicle in the sand (and not caring about the grit on the next lick), and the whole family wading in the lake while in street clothes, we were able to capture fantastic candid moments outside the standard formals. Isn’t that what a Door County family vacation is all about?
Washington Island | Lavender, Tattoos, and Family
It was surreal having the whole deck to myself. Apart from the crew and a family who never left their car, I was only person on the ferry. Traditional ferry etiquette is to find a seat, gaze at the passing Plum Island, and maybe engage in brief smalltalk with a nearby retired couple. Instead, I circled the deck at least three times and explored in a way that I normally wouldn’t have for fear of social judgement.
Fish Creek Airbnb | Just Hanging Out With Family
At the end of the day, you don’t drive up from Chicago, fly in from Kansas, or travel from Europe for a photograph of your family “existing together”. Instead, it’s the moments like tossing a football with your cousins, competing to see who’s truly the best “Uncle John,” or watching your grandkids play with rubber lizards in the bed of your truck that make the journey worth it.
Ellison Bay's Bayview Resort | Three Sisters and Their Families
Every year, three sisters (who are now grandmothers themselves) spend a week at the Bayview Resort with their families. That’s incredible! I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine coordinating my schedule with 31 other people for an entire week. It’s also amazing how close a family this size is. I know that my grandparents have brothers and sisters, but I don’t think I’ve ever met them (and certainly not their children or their children’s children).
Four Generations of Women | All Over Ephraim
This four-generation family session is proof that you don’t need a holiday to celebrate the special women in your life. These ladies have navigated life’s ups, downs, bumps, and bends together, and their bonds have only strengthened through the years. Do you have special women in your life? Here’s your reminder to let them know how much they mean to you :)
John and Diane's 50th Wedding Anniversary | Conner Family Rocks 2019
I had the pleasure of photographing John and Diane’s 50th wedding anniversary, and there are three statistics I’d like to share with you!
Frank E. Murphy Park | Doris and John's Big Family, and a Change of Plans
My mouth dropped when I pulled up to Harbor View Park. It was Friday morning, and the city was setting up for their Farmers’ Market. The problem? We were scheduled for a large family photography session there in ten minutes. Oops.
Along Sturgeon Bay | Four Generations Hanging Out
What made the day even more special was that it was the first time Wally met his newest great grandson; it was love at first sight, and Wally had him on his lap with every opportunity.
Björklunden in Bailey's Harbor | A Photography Session for Many Celebrations
You might not know that Lawrence University has a small campus in Door County called Björklunden, and in addition to university affairs it’s also home to a variety of concerts, plays (including Door Shakespeare), weddings at Boynton Chapel, and hiking trails. With a Lawrence graduate in attendance, Björklunden was the perfect spot for a family photography session celebrating Pam (the matriarch of the family)’s 60th birthday, a couple of engagements, and an absence of two front teeth.