sarah eastman 6/12/24 sarah eastman 6/12/24

Bryan + Alexa | Coffee Shop Engagement | Traverse City

Starting the evening at Mundos West (one of Mundos Roasting & Co. downtown locations), Miles hand-brewed a Pour Over for Bryan and Alexa to share. The two of them cozied up together at a window spot and giggled whilst they enjoyed sipping their coffees. After a quick outfit change for the both of them, they finished the last of their cups before we made our way over to the State Hospital.

Bryan and Alexa’s vision for their Traverse City engagement session came to life on this moody spring day. When Alexa shared her inspiration for some coffee shop/woodsy vibes, we knew right away the perfect locations for both.

On the outskirts of the Pines, Bryan and Alexa traipsed through the trees, envisioning and dreaming of all that was to come for their wedding day later that year.

Bryan and Alexa Traverse city Engagement

sarah eastman 6/7/24 sarah eastman 6/7/24

Alex + Katherine | Glen Haven | Engagement

Alex and Katherine, both elementary school teachers, loved taking every opportunity to escape away to Michigan during their summer breaks. Specifically camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes was a special tradition for them every summer. Alex and Katherine describe themselves as ‘nature freaks’ and wanted to incorporate the outdoors in as many of their photos as possible—both for their engagement and their wedding! While their wedding was set at a beautiful vineyard venue in Suttons Bay, taking the trip out to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area for their engagement session was a perfect way to tie in their love for the area.

Alex and Katherine, both elementary school teachers, love taking every opportunity to escape away to Michigan during their summer breaks. Specifically camping at Sleeping Bear Dunes has been a special tradition for them every summer. Alex and Katherine describe themselves as ‘nature freaks’ and wanted to incorporate the outdoors in as many of their photos as possible—both for their engagement and their wedding! While their wedding was set at a beautiful vineyard venue in Suttons Bay, taking the trip out to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area for their engagement session was a perfect way to tie in their love for the area.

We got the chance to know them over a video call prior to their session and wedding where we immediately hit it off. We knew that being a part of their days would feel natural and exciting and couldn’t wait to document the two of them being adventurous and hilarious. We decided on an early spring day for their engagement session and Glen Haven proved to be a versatile location—with a little bit of woodsy, beach, and dunes to finish off the night. We spent the whole evening grinning from ear to ear just being in Alex and Katherine’s presence.

We are so happy for these two and loved being a part of their story!

Alex and Katherine Engagement Photography

Alex and Katherine Moody Forest Engagement

Northern Michigan Woodsy Engagement Photos

Romantic Authentic Engagement Photography

sarah eastman 6/4/24 sarah eastman 6/4/24

Ben + Vina Engagement | Glen Haven Sand Dunes

The whole world was quiet and calm as it was not yet busy season for the Sleeping Bear Dunes—it felt like we had all of Glen Haven to ourselves. It was the perfect time to get to know Ben and Vina before their wedding day. By the end of the evening, we felt like we had made new friends and couldn’t wait to see them again for their wedding less than a month later.

It was an overcast and moody spring day when we met up with Ben and Vina for their engagement session in Glen Haven. Lake Michigan shone a pale greyish blue against the cloudy skies as we hiked the dunes. As we reached one of the peaks we could see the Lake below us—vast and calm. Behind us, rolling dunes and even further, a sea of evergreens and various other trees that were not yet fully leafed. It was quite the breathtaking view from every direction with Ben and Vina looking out and taking in the scene all around. The whole world was quiet and calm as it was not yet busy season for the Sleeping Bear Dunes—it felt like we had all of Glen Haven to ourselves. It was the perfect time to get to know Ben and Vina before their wedding day. By the end of the evening, we felt like we had made new friends and couldn’t wait to see them again for their wedding less than a month later.

Authentic and Romantic Engagement Photography

Ben and Vina Glen Haven Engagement Session

Sleeping Bear Dune Engagement Photography

Lake Michigan Sand Dune Engagement Photos

sarah eastman 5/27/24 sarah eastman 5/27/24

Matt + Lynden Engagement | Glen Haven

We met up with Matt and Lynden in early spring for their engagement session in Glen Haven. They brought their sweet pup along for the adventure and we spent some time wandering around the area, admiring the views, and finally ending on the beach. It was a short but very sweet engagement session as we focused mainly on candids of them interacting and playing with their dog on the beach. As the sun sank lower toward the horizon, Matt and Lynden shared with us all their exciting plans for their upcoming wedding later that year. Spending an evening getting to know a couple at their engagement session makes photographing them again on their wedding day all the more special.

Northern Michigan Engagement Photography

Glen Haven Beach Lake Michigan Engagement

sarah eastman 5/24/24 sarah eastman 5/24/24

2022 Behind the Scenes

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!

sarah eastman 5/20/24 sarah eastman 5/20/24

Matt + Rachael | Jacob’s Farm | October Wedding

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!