Glen Haven Engagement | Ben and Joanna
We had so much fun adventuring Glen Haven and hiking some dunes for their portraits. We feel so blessed to have friends like Ben and Joanna. Though we could go on and on about their beauty and the love these two share, we will let the photos speak for themselves.
Glen Haven Engagement
This Glen Haven Engagement was one we will remember forever.
I will never not be excited about this session, this couple, and these photos.
We've known Ben and Joanna for a number of years now. Besides being fellow photographers in the area, Ben and Joanna are great friends of ours. They are some of the coolest (and some of the most good-looking) people we know. Whenever we are with Ben and Joanna we can't help but laugh and be ourselves. Whether we run into them at our mutual favorite coffee shop (shout out to Mundos Roasting & Co.), photograph their beauty, or enjoy a double date, we know we are bound to have a good time with these two.
When we were looking for a photographer, Ben and Joanna immediately came to mind. We loved having them photograph our engagement and wedding. When the time came for their engagement and wedding, we were honored to photograph them in return!
We had so much fun adventuring Glen Haven and hiking some dunes for their portraits. We feel so blessed to have friends like Ben and Joanna. Though I could go on and on about their beauty and the love these two share, I will let the photos speak for themselves.
Follow along on our Instagram adventures!
Gus and Melissa Family Portraits | Beautiful Lake Property
When Gus and Melissa reached out about family portraits, I was so excited! I had the honor of photographing Gus and Melissa’s wedding back in 2018. When they mentioned the photos, they let us know that they were staying in the same location they had their wedding. A beautiful family cottage on the lake–it was the perfect setting!
Gus and Melissa Family Portraits
When Gus and Melissa reached out about family portraits, I was so excited! I had the honor of photographing Gus and Melissa's wedding back in 2018. When they mentioned the photos, they let us know that they were staying in the same location they had their wedding. A beautiful family cottage on the lake--it was the perfect setting! How special is that they were married here a few years before and then we could meet again a few years later at the same spot? And this time, we were able to meet their precious new baby boy!
We absolutely love it when we can build a friendship with a couple. Even better when they trust us enough to capture even more big moments in their life. From one life stage to the next, it was lovely to meet up with Gus and Melissa and capture these moments.
With the whole family there, we were able to capture many different groupings. We photographed the big group--the kind of photo you print and hang on your fridge. But we also made sure to capture each family grouping and the kid cousins all hanging out. We love watching this family grow and can't wait to hopefully photograph them again soon.
Photographed by Miles + Sarah Photography
Elk Rapids Family Portraits
It was a beautiful day for these Elk Rapids Family Portraits. The sun was shining and the kids were excited and full of energy. You can see their goofy energy in the photos, partially prompted by us to 'tickle one another' or 'wrestle with dad'.
Elk Rapids Family Portraits
My Uncle and Aunt come up to Michigan from Tennessee about two times a year. Usually once around Christmas. The other time is sometime in the summer, usually around the 4th of July. When they come to visit in the summertime, we usually hang out with them at the lake house in Elk Rapids. It's the perfect, peaceful, vacation spot with a beautiful lake access and open backyard.
They were here this year for the 4th again and it reminded us of last year. It was a beautiful day for these Elk Rapids Family Portraits. The sun was shining and the kids were excited and full of energy. You can see their goofy energy in the photos, partially prompted by us to 'tickle one another' or 'wrestle with dad'. The last series of the kids is our favorite though. On the count of three, we told them to run toward the camera as fast as they could.
We love when kids can be kids during family portraits. We get to witness and capture their joy and authentic selves. But don't worry, we also make sure to get those 'frame-worthy' smiling at the camera photos too! And trust us, the kids are a lot more willing to smile when they know they can be goofy for the next photo!
Pyramid Point Portraits | Zac + Joelle
Despite the chilly temperatures and slippery slopes, Zac and Joelle were up for the hike. They stood there, hand and hand with the icy blue lake stretching on and on beyond them. It created the illusion of being on top of the world.
On a beautiful snowy, February afternoon in the winter of 2020, our dear friends ventured out to Pyramid Point with us. Despite the chilly temperatures and slippery slopes, Zac and Joelle were up for the hike. They stood there, hand and hand with the icy blue lake stretching on and on beyond them. It created the illusion of being on top of the world.
'love is a choice.
sometimes we tend to believe it's just a feeling. but it's so much more than that. it's sacrifice. it's waking up everyday, dying to yourself in order to value and pour into another human being that will at one point or another 'fall short' in your eyes. it's not always easy, but when you find someone who your soul adores, you wake up with this feeling in your heart that nothing could take away and you realize just how worth it every sacrifice is.'
- Joelle
Beautiful things happen when there is trust between a couple and us. We are firm believers in the friendship between photographer and couple. When trust and relationship is established, everyone is much more comfortable. Photos no longer feel awkward, but more like a friend adventure. We always love to get to know our couples prior to and during their sessions. We feel blessed to already have been friends with this lovely couple. Because of this, and the adventurous dynamic of the shoot, we were allowed the creative freedom to capture more playful, genuine moments. They trusted us to guide and direct when needed and at the same time, we were able to take a step back, let them be and capture their real interaction together.
P.s. How freaking rad are they in their matching Blundstone boots?!
Locations | Pyramid Point and Port Oneida
Adam and Kelly Proposal
Adam and Kelly have the sweetest love story, and we just love them together. This shoot will always and forever hold a dear place in our heart. Adam is my (Sarah’s) younger brother and Miles’ best friend.
Adam and Kelly
Adam and Kelly have the sweetest love story, and we just love them together. This shoot will always and forever hold a dear place in our heart. Adam is my (Sarah's) younger brother and Miles' best friend. We got to know Kelly while they were dating and she quickly became one of my best friends. When Adam reached out with his plans to propose, we were over the moon. The week leading up to the proposal, Miles and Adam trekked down the steep snowy slope to scout out the location. Together they found the perfect spot for Adam and Kelly as well as hidden locations for us to shoot the proposal in stealth.
Brown Bridge
The day came and we arrived to the location early. The snow had slightly melted and then refroze so the path down was more like an ice skating rink. I'm embarrassed to say that I (Sarah) had a wipe out on the way down and nailed my head on a tree root when I fell. However, nothing was going to stop me from capturing and celebrating this moment with my brother and his soon-to-be fiancée. Miles helped me back up, brushed the snow off and we continued to our respective hiding spots. We sat and waited, fingers going slightly numb in the cold and butts most definitely soaked through from sitting in the snow. Still, all of that was hardly noticeable to us in the wake our anticipation. After a little while, we heard a loud 'careful Kelly, it's slippery!' from Adam. That was our cue!
The Proposal
At the bottom of the hill, Adam took her by the hand and they looked out at the view while he chatted with her briefly. By the time he got down on his knee with the ring, I was already a mess of silent tears. We remained hidden the entire time so they could have their moment alone. Kelly had no idea that we were there, and even when Adam pointed out the spots we were hidden, they could only just see the edge of my boot from behind a tree. It wasn't until they continued on their hike and were well out of sight that we emerged and went on our way. We were able to celebrate them later which was so fun. It was so special to capture this proposal for some of our favorite people. We also both had the honor of standing in their wedding last October. We love Adam and Kelly!
Location | Brown Bridge
Sydney Senior Portrait Session
The Traverse City State Hospital hosts such a variety of scenes that no matter how many times we photograph there, it feels like we discover something new. From the old dilapidated brick asylum with ivy crawling up in every corner, to beautiful blooming bushes and huge drooping pine trees. It’s a delightful location for exploring and we are overjoyed when our work brings us here so often.
Sydney’s Senior Portrait Session was every bit as lovely as we had hoped. Who doesn’t love wandering into wildflower fields mid-summer?
‘Let us live like flowers.
Wild and beautiful and drenched in sun.’
- Ellen Everett
The Traverse City State Hospital hosts such a variety of scenes that no matter how many times we photograph there, it feels like we discover something new. From the old dilapidated brick asylum with ivy crawling up in every corner, to beautiful blooming bushes and huge drooping pine trees. It’s a delightful location for exploring and we are overjoyed when our work brings us here so often. Passions collide as we seek out hidden nooks and places to photograph we haven’t been before. We spend a lot of time here even outside of actual photo shoots. Whether it is a date day: picking up a fresh baked good from Pleasanton Bakery before setting out on a hike. Or location scouting: wandering through the many paths and trails scattered around the property seeking out the best lighting and backdrops.
We can’t deny it is one of our favorite spots in Traverse City. You can imagine our excitement when this was to be the location for Sydney’s Senior Portrait Session. Sydney is absolutely stunning inside and out. Thank you for being creative with us for your photos!
