A New Season: Moving to Northern Michigan

Three weeks until our second baby girl arrives, and if that wasn’t enough of a whirlwind, we also packed up our lives and moved to Northern Michigan two weeks ago. It has been chaotic and beautiful and stretching in all the best ways. What started as a practical decision to be closer to family for help has quickly become the beginning of a brand new chapter for my family and my business. I’m now officially serving Northern Michigan, all of Michigan, and North Carolina for weddings—and I truly cannot wait for this next season.

The Whirlwind Move North

If you had told me a few months ago that I’d be sitting in a cozy Michigan home, surrounded by pine trees and snow flurries, writing this with a baby kicking my ribs and boxes still half-unpacked, I probably would have laughed.

But life has a way of nudging us—sometimes gently, sometimes all at once—into where we’re meant to be.

With baby girl number two on the way and my husband and I feeling the weight of doing it all on our own, we began to dream about what it might look like to have actual help nearby. Grandparents who could swing by for a quick visit. Aunts and uncles who could hold the baby while I edit a gallery. Family holidays that didn’t require boarding planes and juggling time zones.

That dream became real almost overnight. We made the decision, packed up our home, and went north to be closer to family. It was fast and messy and emotional—but also so full of peace. Every mile brought us closer to both the support we needed and a place that feels unexpectedly like home.

Falling in Love with Northern Michigan (Even in the Cold)

I’ll be honest: when we first talked about Northern Michigan, my mind immediately went to one place—cold. And yes, it has been cold here. But to my surprise, I’ve gotten used to it in a way I never expected.

There’s a quiet beauty to winter in Northern Michigan. The way the light hits the snow on a calm morning. The stillness of the trees. The way the sky turns the softest shades of blue and gray. Even in these chilly months, I can already feel how magical this place is going to be when wedding season rolls around.

As a Northern Michigan Wedding Photographer, I am already dreaming about:

– Sunlit ceremonies by the lake.

– Receptions under sailcloth tents with twinkling lights.

– Golden-hour portraits in open fields and along the shoreline.

– Intimate elopements on secluded beaches and forest trails.

Summer here feels like it’s going to shimmer—alive with color, warmth, and long, lingering evenings. I can’t wait to capture couples as they step into their own new seasons surrounded by this kind of natural beauty.

Expanding My Wedding Photography Home Base

While this move brought my family closer to our loved ones, it also opened up an exciting new chapter for my business. I am now officially serving:

– Northern Michigan (Harbor Springs and beyond)

– All of Michigan

– North Carolina

– And destinations worldwide

Northern Michigan will be one of my main hubs, which means I’ll be spending a lot of time photographing weddings along the lakeshore, in charming resort towns, and at classic Northern Michigan venues. As a Northern Michigan Wedding Photographer, my heart is so ready for sailboats in the distance, dunes at sunset, and couples dancing under starry skies.

At the same time, North Carolina continues to hold a huge piece of my heart and part of our family. I’ll continue photographing weddings there—especially in Pinehurst and surrounding areas—along with select dates in Oregon and other destinations. Travel has always been part of my story, and this season is no exception. Instead of choosing between places I love, I get to weave them together.

Whether you’re planning a wedding in Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, or somewhere far-flung and dreamy, I’m here for it. My bags—and my camera—are always ready.

What This Means for Michigan Couples

If you’re a bride or groom planning a wedding in Michigan, this move means I’m more local than ever. I can scout locations ahead of time, meet you for coffee to talk through your day, and really get to know the landscapes and light specific to your venue and season.

As a Michigan Wedding Photographer, I’m especially excited to serve couples in:

– Harbor Springs

– Petoskey

– Traverse City

– Charlevoix

– Mackinac Island

– And so many hidden-gem towns along the lakes

For my North Carolina couples, not much changes—I will still be traveling back regularly for weddings and sessions. You can expect the same artistic, romantic, and intentional approach I’ve always brought to your day, with discounted travel built seamlessly into your custom collection.

I’ve always believed that photography is about more than showing up on the wedding day. It’s about walking alongside you as you plan, offering guidance, timelines, and creative direction that help your day feel both relaxed and refined. Having a home base in Northern Michigan and roots in North Carolina allows me to create that calm, confident experience no matter which state you’re in.

Balancing Motherhood and a Growing Business

One of the biggest reasons behind this move was our growing family. With baby girl number two arriving so soon, I knew I wanted to build a life where I could be fully present as both a mother and an artist.

Photography is such an intimate part of my life. I spend my days documenting love stories, stolen glances, tears during vows, hugs from grandparents, laughter on dance floors. As I step into this new season of motherhood, those moments feel even more sacred. I don’t take a single wedding day lightly, because I know how quickly time moves and how important it is to be able to hold onto it in a tangible way.

Having family nearby means that when I’m with you on your wedding day, I can be fully with you—heart, mind, and creative energy—because I know my own little girls are wrapped in so much love and support back home. It also means I have the space to continue growing as an artist, refining my craft, and delivering the kind of elevated, fine-art experience my couples deserve.

This season might be busy and full, but it’s also deeply aligned. Motherhood continually reminds me to look for the small, honest, in-between moments—and that’s exactly what I seek to capture for you.

My Signature Style in a New Landscape

Over the years, I’ve honed a style that feels like home to me: artistic yet timeless, romantic yet real, a blend of editorial polish and heartfelt storytelling. I love clean, luminous color, soft movement, and compositions that feel both intentional and effortless.

Bringing that style into Northern Michigan and across the state as a Michigan Wedding Photographer has me so inspired. I’m already envisioning:

– Veils catching the lake breeze, photographed in soft, layered motion.

– Editorial bridal portraits on docks, cliffs, and sandy shores.

– Candid laughter during cocktail hour on warm, lingering summer evenings.

– Film-inspired images that feel like stills from a classic love story.

No matter where I am, my goal is the same: to create photographs that feel like you. Not posed versions of you, but the way you are with the person you love most when you forget about the camera and simply exist in the moment.

I also offer heirloom albums and fine-art prints, because I believe your wedding images deserve more than a digital folder. They deserve to be held, seen, and passed down. This move, this baby, this new chapter—it’s all a reminder that what we preserve today becomes part of our family’s story tomorrow.

Looking Ahead to Summer in Northern Michigan

Even as I crunch through snow to take the trash out or wrap myself in an extra sweater before sitting down to edit, my mind keeps jumping ahead to summer. The summers of Northern Michigan are magic.

Warm days on the water, sailboats drifting across the horizon, and wedding days that flow from sun-drenched ceremonies to golden-hour portraits and twinkle-lit receptions. Summer in Northern Michigan is made for love stories.

If you’re dreaming of a Northern Michigan wedding—maybe in Harbor Springs, on Mackinac Island, or at a lakeside estate—this is your sign that I would be honored to be there with you. We’ll plan your timeline around the best light, carve out quiet moments for just the two of you, and create images that let you relive not just how your day looked, but how it felt.

This season has been anything but still. We moved states. We’re days away from meeting our second baby girl. My business is expanding more than ever, now fully rooted as a Northern Michigan Wedding Photographer, Michigan Wedding Photographer, and continuous traveler between Michigan, North Carolina, Oregon, and beyond.

Yet underneath all the change, there is this steady thread: love. The love that moved us closer to family. The love that’s growing with every tiny kick. The love I see in every couple who trusts me to document their wedding day.

If you’re planning your wedding in Northern Michigan, anywhere in Michigan, North Carolina, or at a destination that feels meaningful to you, I would be so honored to tell your story. This next chapter feels big and brave and beautiful—and I can’t wait to step into it with you.