Engagement – elyn marie

2017

January 18, 2018 by elynmariephoto, posted in Engagement, Family, Personal, Portrait, Travel, Wedding

This was a year for me to find my voice. If you know me, that might sound funny because I’m quite a chatty person. Nonetheless, it’s taken work and time and patience to get to know myself and learn how to say what I really mean and not say what I don’t really mean. And how to take the photos I want to take and not the ones I don’t want to take (or can’t take!). Thank you so much to my community for supporting me and listening to me and giving me space to learn and grow. And thank you thank you THANK YOU to all my amazing clients. I literally would not be able to do this without you; you are what makes my job a dream come true.

This year I loved:

geometric landscapes
warm + soft colors
a photo for the sake of the memory + a story, not just the aesthetic
out of focus black + whites
dancing brides
crying grooms
a shot that looks like a still from an old french film
shadows
romance, romance, and more romance

This year I took photos in:

Dominican Republic
Whistler, BC
Seattle, WA
St. Paul, MN
Northport, MI
Leland, MI
Grand Haven, MI
Grand Rapids, MI
Fennville, MI
Coloma, MI
Sweet home Holland, MI

Cheers to send 2017 out and cheers to welcome 2018 in!

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Sam + Meghan

October 18, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Engagement

I’m not going to gush too much here, but these two are just completely adorable! Sam is my younger cousin, and it’s so fun seeing him find the love of his life in Meghan. We had a perfectly balanced photo shoot- some in the woods and some in the city. I’m so excited to shoot their wedding next year!

Kristen + Sang

August 19, 2017August 19, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Engagement

08/05/17

Grand Traverse Lighthouse, Leland Fishtown, Sleeping Bear Dunes

This photoshoot was the making of a friendship if I’ve ever had one! We met at Lemonjello’s in Holland early in the morning before jumping in Kristen + Sang’s subaru and heading north. While stopping for lemon San Pellegrino and a snack, we caught wind of a pancake breakfast at the old airport- who could pass that up?! So after seeing some awesome old planes we headed to our first destination in the Leelanau Peninsula- the Grand Traverse Lighthouse where the pair got engaged. The sun was sweet and the water was as clear as ever! What a spot. After romping around, we lunched in Leland Fishtown and moseyed down the docks in the sparkly sunshine. Our last stop took us driving around curvy tree-canopied lanes out to Sleeping Bear Dunes. If you’re in the mood for a breathtaking view, go to Sleeping Bear Dunes. My word- there’s nothing like it! The big blue expanse goes on forever and you just want it to swallow you up. Sang and Kristen are kind and hilarious and adventurous, and it was such a wonderful day to spend with them. I can’t wait for their wedding day this coming fall!

Are you interested in an adventure photo shoot with your loved one? Contact me to learn more!!

Kierstynn + Dan

June 6, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Engagement

Boy oh boy do I just get the best ones! You know how some couples are sort of that “opposites attract” thing where one person is really loud and the other person is really quiet, or one is really athletic and the other is really smart? Well these two are not that kind of couple when it comes to being sweet and kind and just really really good people. They BOTH are ALL of those things! I am honored to have a little peek into Kiersynn + Dan’s story together and to see how they treat each other and those around them with kindness. I can’t wait for their wedding coming up in just a handful of days!!

elynmariephoto.com

Jamie + Austin

May 10, 2017May 10, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Engagement

Jaime + Austin are some of those people who are full of energy for the things they love. They go camping, travel for fun and for work, do amazing projects on their home, and are completely creative and kind together. It’s been a joy to work with them and I can’t wait for their wedding coming up later this year!

2016

February 24, 2017February 24, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Engagement, Family, Personal, Portrait, Travel, Wedding

To be honest, I’ve written about 6 different first sentences to this post. This year was… everything at the same time. You know how you come inside from the freezing cold and can feel your fingers thaw? They tingle, throb and feel hot and cold at the same time. Your knuckles ache a little, and you know they wouldn’t ache if you hadn’t scooped some snow in your bare hands to toss to the dog. But you did, and they do, and that’s that. For me, 2016 was my life freezing up and thawing out again. Many photos from my year have hours of a story behind them. The last photo I took of my Paka before he passed away, Easter Sunday the week I came home after a major surgery, my younger brother’s wedding, our nephew driving the boat, the pregnancies and newborns… the whole of life in those photos. I love to share these photos with you, but I mostly need to share them with myself. These photos show me that there was life in that year. 2016 had light and growth and giggles and kisses and water and green and birth and good.

This year I loved:

a little bit of dark mixed in with all the light
the imperfect, out of focus, blurry black + whites
wind
that moment right before a kiss happens
almost-symmetry
children telling each other secrets

This year I took photos in:

Lancaster, PA
Seattle, WA
Chicago, IL
Ely, MN
Minneapolis + St. Paul, MN
Milwaukee, WI
Whitehall, MI
Detroit, MI
St. Ignace, MI
Grand Rapids, MI

And of course many, many, manymanymany photos were taken on the ever-lovely Lake Michigan in my sweet home of Holland.

I’ll stop writing soon, but must thank Susie Herwig and Kaitlin Grace Photography for second shooting for me; they are kind and talented photographers!

My last and highest tribute is to my husband. Eric believes in me like he believes in the ground beneath his feet. Don’t ask me how, but he does. This year he fought for me. Not only did he fight for our life together and my health, but he fought for my creativity and my joy. This is for you, Eric.

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Jake + Abby

September 29, 2015 by elynmariephoto, posted in Engagement

Jake and Abby- my little brother and his sweet fiance. These two are extremely romantic and completely adorable together. Not to mention, they’ve got a lot of smarts between the two of them! After meeting at Asbury University amongst the rolling green hills, rope swings and winding creeks of Kentucky, these two dated through school years as well as seasons of long distance. And now in just a few short months, they’ll be married!

Jake and Abby are two extremely passionate people. They know how to really work at what they put their minds to and they study harder than many people I know. Not only are they passionate in occupation, though, but in relationships as well. Abby never lets a holiday go by without sending a well though-out package to the family, and Jake is always the first to offer a big bear hug when we walk in the door. Jake’s easy going nature is smartly paired with Abby’s spark and quick humor. To say it shortly, these two are the bee’s knees! Just take a look and you’ll see what I mean! I can’t wait for their wedding next year.