Chelsea Olsen Modeling

I had a great time getting to work with model Chelsea Olsen again in Cadillac! Thanks to Chelsea and Dylan for baring with the cold. These images where shot outside near the bathrooms at Kenwood Park in Cadillac, Michigan.

Doug and Courtney Wedding

I had a great time getting to photograph Doug and Courtney’s wedding at Saint Agnes Parish in Marion, Michigan! I was pleasantly surprised to run into so many guests I knew at the wedding. The reception took place at one of my favorite wedding venues the Riverwalk in Gladwin, Michigan.

2024 Michigan Hawking Club Field Meet

Huge thanks to Lisa Clements for inviting me the 2024 Michigan Hawking Club Field Meet. I’ve thought falconry was cool since I was a kid and I spend years trying to get in touch with local falconers to photograph them and their birds. I got to photograph the field meet for the first time in 2023 and was very happy to return this year. These photos are of Selena Creed and her Redtail Hawk Lofin.

2023 Year in Review

Portrait of Crystal Ellison used in her book Ellivate

Every year I like to do a “year in review” blog post. As 2024 got closer I struggled to write 2023’s year in review. In 2022 my business’s income got back to what it was in 2019 pre-covid, and I had a personal record number of weddings shot. As 2022 was starting to wind down I was starting to get weddings booked earlier than usual for 2023 and even some for 2024. Usually each year most of my wedding bookings come in right after Christmas and Valentine’s Day. When Christmas 2022 and Valentine’s Day 2023 came around, I had very few people book weddings, unlike past years. I had several shoots get postponed or canceled in the beginning of the year making finances very tight. My taxes also went up substantially. I had to get on a payment plan to pay off 2022’s taxes, which I’m still paying towards monthly. Due to these financial hardships, I realized that 2023 would be the last year of me trying to make the starving artist lifestyle work. In September 2023 I took Meat Cutter Training Classes at Michigan State University and received my meat cutting certificate from MSU. I’m now searching for full time employment as a meat cutter locally in mid-Michigan. I still plan on running my photography business in 2024, but it will no longer be my main source of income. 

Walter the Harris Halk photographed at the 2023 Michigan Hawking Club Winter Field Meet

Providers Healthcare Headshot featured on billboard in Gladwin, Michigan

Despite 2023 being difficult financially due to less wedding bookings and cancellations, there were still lots of high points. Early in the year I got to work with Michigan falconers, thanks to Lisa Clements, inviting me to a falconry meetup in January. This is something I’ve been trying to do for years and was incredibly thankful to be able to partake in. I also got to teach photography classes through 4H and the MSU extension program in the spring. It was incredibly rewarding seeing the kids I was teaching take photos that they were happy with. I also got to photograph the Mt Pleasant Craft Beer Festival for the Mt Pleasant Jaycees. I ran into tons of people I know from a wide variety of different places making the Mt Pleasant Craft Beer Festival one of my favorite things to photograph each year. 

Outside of photography I volunteer with several organizations. This year was my third year of serving as a deacon and trustee at Christ Covenant Church OPC in Midland, Michigan. This was also my last year of teaching the middle school aged Christian Education class at Christ Covenant Church, due to them aging out and joining the high school aged class. This was my fifth year serving as a photographer for Royal Family Kids Camp. I was able to do photography for one of their summer camps as well as their monthly club meetings. 2023 was also my fifth year being a Jaycee. This year I served as Vice-President of the Clare Jaycees and I photographed several state level conferences. I plan on continuing to serve at Christ Covenant Church, Royal Family Kids Camp, and the Clare Jaycees in 2024. 

On a personal level I got a gym membership back in December 2022 and have been working out consistently since then. This has greatly benefitted my mental health and has helped me manage my depression. I’m still bad with dieting so I was disappointed to have not lost more weight by the end of the year, but hopefully that will be something I can change in 2024. I learned the hard way you can’t out exercise a bad diet. I also got to read a ton this year. I’m a big fan of Audible and am usually listening to an audiobook while driving, retouching, or working out. I’ve been trying to give myself a self taught classical education, by reading the great books, and made significant progress this year. 

2023 Mt Pleasant Craft Beer Festival

2023 Mt Pleasant Craft Beer Festival

2023 Mt Pleasant Craft Beer Festival

Haddad Family Portrait

I had a great time getting to photograph the Haddad family, who are fellow members of Christ Covenant Church, the day after Christmas!

Ernest and Shirley Wedding

My second shooter Nikki and I had a great time getting to photograph Ernest and Shirley’s wedding at the beautiful Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish in Bay City and The H Hotel in Midland. During the reception DJ Tuts Tunes did an amazing job assisting Nikki and I during the photo roulette which was super fun!

Jordan and Nasim Engagement Session

It was great getting to photograph Jordan and Nasim’s engagement session on some of their family’s property near Farwell, Michigan. Looking forward to photographing there wedding next year!

Chelsea Olsen Modeling Shoot in Cadillac

I had a great time getting to work with model Chelsea Olsen again! For this shoot we did several studio shots under a pavilion in a park in Cadillac.

Adam and Devorah Wedding

My second shooter Nikki and I had a great time getting to photograph Adam and Devorah’s wedding at the Riverwalk Place in Gladwin, Michigan. The bridal party was really fun to hang out with during this 12 hour wedding.

Darlene Headshot

It was great getting to work with Darlene for a quick headshot session the other week.

JCI Michigan Fall Conference in Gaylord, Michigan

It was great getting to photograph another JCI Michigan conference this time in Gaylord, Michigan!

Ryan and Jesica Wedding in Blanchard

I had a great time getting to photograph Ryan and Jesica’s wedding in Blanchard, Michigan. A very fun laid back wedding!

Eric and Samantha Wedding in Clare, Michigan

I had a great time getting to photograph Eric and Samantha’s wedding with fellow Jaycee, Michael Langworthy. The wedding took place at the historic Doherty House in downtown Clare, Michigan and was officiated by Bubba from Cops and Doughnuts. It also had a Beauty and the Beast theme. An incredibly fun couple to work with!

Superwoman and Pumpkin Spice Shoot with Melissa and Joshua

I first got to work with Melissa and Joshua back in September 2021. This will be my third shoot with them this time in Grand Rapids. For this shoot Melissa wanted to be dressed in her Superwoman cosplay and wanted some photos with her cat named Pumpkin Spice. I had a great time getting to work with Melissa and Joshua again! I decided to make the most out of the trip to Grand Rapids and got to meet up with a friend before the shoot and got to visit the Reformation Heritage Book Store as well. A very good trip.

Jonathan and Sarah Wedding

My second shooter Nikki and I had a great time photographing Jonathan and Sarah’s wedding at Unforgettable Events in Coleman, Michigan. Great couple to work with! We even ended up running into people we’d met at previous weddings at Jonathan and Sarah’s wedding. I’d been looking forward to getting to photograph a wedding at Unforgettable Events and would highly recommend the venue to anyone looking for an affordable wedding venue in central Michigan.

John Senior Portrait

I had a great time getting to photograph John’s senior portraits at Nelson, Island, and Mill Pond parks in Mt Pleasant. John plans on going to CMU and pursuing a business degree after high school. It was fun talking to John about his love of piano, gaming, and cooking.

Duane and Barb Wedding

It was great getting to photograph Duane and Barb’s wedding at my former church, the Church of Daniel’s Band Wesley Brand in Beaverton, Michigan. Duane and Barb are Shriner’s Clowns and have a great sense of humor making them a joy to work with.

Kevin and Tanya Wedding

My second shooter Nikki and I had a great time getting to photograph Kevin and Tanya’s wedding at Serendipity Farms in Blanchard, Michigan. I first met Kevin and Tanya through a mutual friend and model I’ve worked with multiple times Robin. Their wedding was very laid back and fun. Kevin had been in 23 of his buddies’ weddings and bought all of them special hats which met their personalities.

Philip and Lorena Wedding

My second shooter Nikki and I had a great time getting to work with Philip and Lorena for their wedding in Vestaburg and Edmore, Michigan. A very sweet couple with lots of laughs and joking.

Kenaniah and Hannah Wedding

My second shooter Nikki and I had a great time getting to photography Kenaniah and Hannah’s wedding day at the Cleft of the Rock Church in Sanford. Nearly everyone at the wedding knew both the bride and groom since they were both little through their church.