WELCOME

i'm so glad you're here. 

i want you to know that as a photographer, my speciality and my greatest joy is telling stories. stories of the ordinary, beautiful, raw moments and spaces that make up your personal history. when you invite me to photograph you and your family, you won't be dressing up, having make-up artists work on your face, or even smiling at the camera. you will simply carry on, doing and being all that you do and are. 

this post is at the top of the page because here you will find links to more information and examples of my two specialities: birth photography and family photojournalism. 

take a look...

birth photography

grand rapids, mi birth photographer and birth photography

family photojournalism sessions

grand rapids, mi family photographer and family photojournalist. visual storytelling and documentary photography.

birth photography :: will

to say that i am supportive of home birth is an understatement. enthusiastic is really a better descriptor. i love almost everything about a birth story that happens in the context of home. there's the unique, homey, warm, personal atmosphere, the qualitatively excellent care of midwives and doulas, the empowered and surprised-by-her-own strength laboring mama... and the fact that once it's through you have no where to go other than to your own familiar bed, tucked in with the ones you love. 

jessica and her husband were a little nervous at first to tell their friends and family that they were planning a home birth. they anticipated some back-lash in people's reactions (things like, "is it really safe? i would be so worried if i were you!"). even after will was born, jessica still was hesitant to directly state the fact that he was born in their home. but after a few weeks, she became very bold, as the reality of how awesome what she had just accomplished really was. she was proud of the story they'd written together, the team that they were, the baby they had birthed, and the way they had done it. it was such a joy to see her confidence alongside the absolute delight she has in her son. 

i arrived for this birth in the middle of the night. it was dark. like many birthing mothers given the choice, jessica opted to keep most of the lights off. so i bumped up my camera's ISO, opened up the aperture real wide and went about photographing her labor process without using a flash (i'm pretty committed to that). but then the dawn came, and the room brightened, and a couple hours after sunrise, will was born into the lovely morning light where we could see his perfect little face clearly. 

please enjoy this amazing birth story.

family photojournalism :: the oliphants and pecks

two sisters. both seeking first the kingdom of God. one through fostering and adopting, the other through missions in the third world. 

they invited me to spend an evening with their families, documenting them playing together for one of the last times in a long time, as Jamie and her family are about to move to another state, then overseas.

there's so much love in this family. and i had such a nice time being with them that i had trouble leaving! furthermore, they let me sit on the horse, which is pretty much the best treat ever.