2022 Behind the Scenes
2022 was a busy year full of beautiful weddings, engagements, seniors, and family portraits. We had the opportunity to travel to some of the most stunning locations around Northern Michigan whether we were photographing at a well-known wedding venue, or meeting a family for portraits at their private lake front property.
Whether we are testing the lighting or simply capturing a silly moment of the other person, we can always count on several behind the scenes photos per wedding or session. And while we usually take these out of the final galleries before we deliver them, we thought it would be fun to put together a blogpost containing some of our favorites from the year.
2022 was a busy year full of beautiful weddings, engagements, seniors, and family portraits. We had the opportunity to travel to some of the most stunning locations around Northern Michigan whether we were photographing at a well-known wedding venue, or meeting a family for portraits at their private lake front property. Throughout most of the season, Sarah was sporting a baby bump while pregnant with our son—our second child. He was finally born in November, after the end of our wedding season.
We hope you enjoy some of these behind the scenes moments!
Matt + Rachael | Jacob’s Farm | October Wedding
Jacob’s Farm was the perfect setting for their October wedding. Hints of Fall were beginning to show through the few trees that’s leaves were just starting to turn. Nestled in the woods under a canopy of trees, Matt and Rachael’s guests eagerly awaited the start of their wedding ceremony.
We became quick friends with Matt and Rachael after spending a day with them in Ann Arbor for their engagement photos. We adventured together through Nichols Arboretum and they gave us many restaurant and coffee shop recommendations to try while we were there. It was special to capture them in the city where they lived for their engagement session, knowing they would be traveling up for their wedding the following year in Traverse City. When they two of them first met, they realized that both of their grandparents had cottages in Northern Michigan, within 30 minutes of each other. Being such a special area to them, they just knew they wanted to get married up North.
Jacob’s Farm was the perfect setting for their October wedding. Hints of Fall were beginning to show through the few trees that’s leaves were just starting to turn. Nestled in the woods under a canopy of trees, Matt and Rachael’s guests eagerly awaited the start of their wedding ceremony. Matt’s reaction to his beautiful bride walking down the aisle had all of us in tears. After they were pronounced husband and wife, Matt and Rachael were showered in lavender buds by their friends and family.
Later in the evening, we escaped with the happy couple to admire the sunset casting a golden glow across the entire venue. Their guests welcomed them back into the reception with a sparkler re-entrance and the two of them spent the rest of the night on the dance floor with their loved ones.
It was such a joyous celebration and we feel so honored to have photographed the love between these two. Congratulations Matt and Rachael!
Photographed by Miles and Sarah
Venue | Jacob’s Farm
Wedding Coordinator | Jeremy Smith - Jacob’s Farm
Caterer | Steven Przedwojewski - Jacob’s Farm
Videographer | Chris Kaufmann
Cake Artist | Nancy Collard - Top Tier Cakery
DJ | Isaiah Nelson - 2Bays DJs
Invitations | Sincerely, Enza
Hair and Makeup Artist | MI Day Beauty
Wedding Dress | The Brides Project, Ann Arbor
Bridesmaid Dresses | Azazie
Men’s Suits | Jos. A Banks
Florist | Samantha Hendrickson - Protea Rising
Tim + Jenna | Traverse City Wedding
“Tim and I are just goofy. We love to banter and tease each other, and just have fun every day.”
From the initial email, to a video chat that showed their goofy side, to their wedding day full of laughter and fun, this statement from Jenna perfectly describes her and Tim’s relationship.
“Tim and I are just goofy. We love to banter and tease each other, and just have fun every day.”
From the initial email, to a video chat that showed their goofy side, to their wedding day full of laughter and fun, this statement from Jenna perfectly describes her and Tim’s relationship.
As we arrived to the Delamar hotel, thick clouds rolled over the bay and it began to sprinkle. But no amount of rain could hinder these two from having the time of their lives on their wedding day. We had the lovely opportunity to work with Chelsea from Grateful Gatherings who did an amazing job pivoting timings and events to work with the inclement weather. The rain let up into a very gentle sprinkle just in time for a few portraits outside the hotel overlooking the bay view. Tim and Jenna then rejoined their guests in their beautifully decorated reception hall for a myriad of surprises throughout the night. From a throwback slideshow during speeches, to a flash mob dedicated to Jenna, the evening was anything but uneventful. Happy guests even pulled us into the dance floor to join them as Bluewater Kings Band performed. After spending most of the night on the dance floor, Tim and Jenna snuck away for a few peaceful moments on the patio where they slow danced under the glow of the string lights.
Tim and Jenna, thank you for inviting us into such a fun and beautiful day to celebrate your love!
Photographed by Miles + Sarah
Venue and Caterer | Delamar Hotel
Event Design and Planning | Grateful Gatherings - Chelsea Sophiea
Videographer | Montage Media Films
Band | Bluewater Kings Band
Hair and Makeup | Epiphany Salon
Wedding Dress | The Dress Shop
Suits | Brooks Brothers
Florist | Forget Me Not
Rings | Tiffany & Co
Alec + Audrey | Bayview Weddings at Gallagher Farms
Northern Michigan always held a special place in Alec and Audrey’s hearts. Alec proposed to her while walking along the Glen Haven beach. So when the two of them finally began to plan their wedding, it was only fitting they would celebrate with friends in family at a Northern Michigan venue.
Northern Michigan always held a special place in Alec and Audrey’s hearts. Audrey’s family had spent every summer in Glen Arbor for nearly 50 years so she had grown up visiting the area and her parents eventually decided to make the town their home (which is where photographed their winter engagement session). Eventually, Alec proposed to her while walking along the Glen Haven beach. So when the two of them finally began to plan their wedding, it was only fitting they would celebrate with friends in family at a Northern Michigan venue.
Bayview Weddings at Gallagher Farms was the perfect setting for their Michigan wedding. The ceremony site overlooked the lake with a stunning view and a large tent atop a big hill with an equally beautiful view set the scene for their reception. Audrey spent the morning getting ready with her girls in a barn amongst the cherry trees while Alec got dressed just down the road at a little cottage over a pond.
Alec and Audrey chose to save their ‘first look’ moment for the altar. When Audrey made her way down the aisle escorted by her father, Alec was overcome by the beauty of his bride. After sharing their personal vows, Alec and Audrey were finally pronounced husband and wife and the party began.
A live band preformed for the energetic crowd as multicolored lights illuminated the tent walls. From a dance-off to a Hora, the reception was filled with hilariously fun moments.
Photographed by Miles + Sarah
Venue and Coordinator | Bayview Weddings at Gallagher Farms - Rose Gallagher
Caterer | Catering by Kelly’s
Band | Bluewater Kings Band
Decorations | Event Theory
Hair and Makeup | Team Hair and Beauty
Wedding Dress | Monique Lhullier
Florist | Amy Kate Design
Engagement and Wedding Rings | Ring Concierge
Grace | Senior Portraits | Port Oneida
We are so excited to share some of the photos from my sister Grace’s senior portraits. I will quite possibly never get over the ones in the wildflower field. When she’s not painting or otherwise being creative in some artistic way, you can find her (and likely me as well) at the thrift store, reading, or loving on her nieces and nephew (including our kids).
We had the opportunity to photograph not one, but TWO of our siblings’ senior portraits in 2022. You may have remembered Simon’s senior session from Port Oneida. Now we are so excited to share some of the photos from my sister Grace’s senior portraits. I will quite possibly never get over the ones in the wildflower field.
Grace is now working for our family coffee shop alongside my parents and other siblings (shoutout to Mundos Roasting & Co.). She is also an artist who loves to paint and has lately been creating short illustrations of the various birds that she observes at the bird feeder at home. When she’s not painting or otherwise being creative in some artistic way, you can find her (and likely me as well) at the thrift store, reading, or loving on her nieces and nephew (including our kids).
Alex | Traverse City Senior Portraits
Two summers ago, we met Alex at his downtown home and made the short walk to the beach for photos at one of his favorite locations— Grand Traverse Bay. It was so special to photograph Alex’s senior portraits in a place that meant so much to him all growing up.
Two summers ago, we met Alex at his downtown home and made the short walk to the beach for photos at one of his favorite locations— Grand Traverse Bay. It was so special to photograph Alex’s senior portraits in a place that meant so much to him all growing up.
We feel so honored to document people celebrating all different kinds of milestones—and graduating is no exception! We want to photograph people in a way that feels authentic to their personalities and give them photos that feel like a pause in time when they look back in years to come. We love that Alex can look back on these photos and remember his senior year and reflect on how much has changed since then and think about all that is yet to come.
