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!
