Portrait – 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!

Caspian

August 23, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Family

The DeWaards became 5 this spring and let me tell you- it’s just what the world needed! Jason + Holli and their sweet three munchkins are a family who makes you feel like you belong. Their home is so welcoming, rarely without warm baked goods nearby. Eric and I have spent many evenings pouring out our hearts at their kitchen table over our favorite lentil curry and belly laughing about our favorite Office scenes together. Also, I’m going to have to spend every Monday morning with those sweet kiddos for the rest of my life because I know everything’s going to be ok so long as they’re in the world.

I’m so happy to have this family belong to my little corner of the world. And we love you lots, Cass kid!!

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!!

David + Lauren

July 19, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Wedding

Ada, MI || 5/20/17

It rained that day, but there is always in the sky a tiny scrap of blue at the service of happiness, which lovers see, even when the rest of creation is under an umbrella.

Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

I’ve always had a special place in my heart for rainy day weddings ever since mine and Eric’s in 2013. There’s something uniquely romantic about the dramatic wind and it all seems rebelliously lovely to go on and get married in spite of the deluge (not to mention the amazing lighting!). Dave + Lauren’s was a wonderfully rainy day; like the sky, it was just so full of love and joy and dancing that it overflowed. The two smiled and stole bashful kisses all day, and the backyard barn of Lauren’s childhood home was the perfect setting for it all. Congratulations to Dr. + Dr. Schrock!

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Cam + Abby

June 20, 2017June 20, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Wedding

06/05/16

St. Paul, MN

When I first met Abby in college, one of the first things she said about herself had to do with her family. She talked about her parents, to whom she was and is very close, and said that they were still very very much in love. Not only did she say that she admires this, but I can see it in her eyes when she looks at Cam. I know what Abby said of her parents will be said of her and Cam many years from now. Cam + Abby are high school sweethearts, and are the kind of couple that makes you believe in all the romantic stories. They have this certain way of being together- always a bit flirty, always a bit dreamy, and completely real and unafraid to be themselves. I am honored to call them friends and will never forget their amazing day filled with light and love and all their people.

elynmariephoto.com

Jake + Abby

June 20, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Wedding

05/29/17

Jake + Abby just celebrated their one year anniversary! Though I’m just ridiculously behind on my blogging these days, there’s something I love about looking back at weddings after some time has gone by. Since Jake is my brother, I get the unique experience of witnessing his and Abby’s marriage quite often since shooting their wedding. And while their day was easily one of my favorites I’ve ever worked, I can say that their marriage is even more beautiful to see. They are kind, driven, silly, adventurous, brave, and loyal; I so admire them for these things among many many more!

Lancaster, PA

Jake + Abby-11 Jake + Abby-31 Jake + Abby-36 Jake + Abby-44 Jake + Abby-51 Jake + Abby-74 Jake + Abby-108 Jake + Abby-125 Jake + Abby-130 Jake + Abby-132 Jake + Abby-143 Jake + Abby-161 Jake + Abby-166 Jake + Abby-180 Jake + Abby-223 Jake + Abby-260 Jake + Abby-273 Jake + Abby-287 Jake + Abby-289 Jake + Abby-356 Jake + Abby-369 Jake + Abby-389 Jake + Abby-437 Jake + Abby-444 Jake + Abby-447 Jake + Abby-520 Jake + Abby-539 Jake + Abby-558 Jake + Abby-561 Jake + Abby-593 Jake + Abby-604 Jake + Abby-620 Jake + Abby-640 Jake + Abby-647 Jake + Abby-668 Jake + Abby-678 Jake + Abby-701 Jake + Abby-758 Jake + Abby-766 Jake + Abby-777 Jake + Abby-783 Jake + Abby-804 Jake + Abby-812 Jake + Abby-832 Jake + Abby-923 Jake + Abby-964 Jake + Abby-1001 Jake + Abby-1006 Jake + Abby-1018 Jake + Abby-1034 Jake + Abby-1049

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!

Dominican Republic

April 5, 2017 by elynmariephoto, posted in Travel

MARCH 2017

Since I was in High School, I’ve been involved in an organization called Young Life. If you’ve never heard of it, look it up! It’s an awesome faith based organization that has staff and local groups (called clubs) in over 100 countries world wide and is all about doing life together with students of all ages and walks of life. This spring I had the opportunity to help lead a trip to the Young Life camp in the Dominican Republic, Pico Escondido. For some stories and posts from our trip, take a look at our team blog here.

The month of March, especially in Michigan, is almost always dreary and gray and wet and cold. It’s usually my slowest month for photography, and it’s always one of my most discouraging months of the year. Not only was this trip to the DR a life-giving experience for me as a Young Life-er and a lover of travel and culture, but it was a refreshing time as a photographer.

Part of my role as a team leader was to photograph the trip and our experiences in the DR. It was so amazing to use my passions and gifts in such an adventurous time! I first used a DSLR camera on a trip to India in high school, and it was love at first click. Photographing the colors, the faces, the ever-churning sea of people and cows and rickshaws and palms… all these things stole my heart in India. I got to be that photographer again in the DR a couple weeks ago. Victor Hugo wrote, “to travel is to be born and to die at every instant.” No, taking photos doesn’t mean that I get to forever hold onto the new experiences I’m born into through travel. The scenes of school kids we drove by in the bus, the homes I peeked into as we walked down the slender sidewalks, the smell of the humid jungle we hiked through to find the waterfall, the feeling of my small soft plastic cup in my fingers full of steaming dark Dominican coffee… Those moments must die as soon as they’re born because there is life and a whole world in them that I can’t take away with me. But photographs remind me of the new life I had in those moments, and the ways that I am forever changed by them.