Blog - Page 23 of 24 - Rachel Kaye Photography

A Knight in the Woods {Rosy Mound Park, Grand Haven MI Lifestyle Photographer}

knightinthewoods01

There is something wonderful about re-connecting. Finally seeing someone you knew long ago when you were both MUCH younger and meeting up again. I have been following CR since we did a show together back when I was in college, and he was just a wee little high school dude. Watching him grow in his art and following him on social media. Social media is really strange… you feel this connection with someone you may have known long ago by watching them post their greatest (and sometimes their worst) but never really actually getting to see the person makes this weird sort of anti-connection. So when I saw that CR was in Grand Haven the same day I was I basically forced him to meet up.

Funny enough CR has now moved to Chicago (where I also live as well) and is training to be a knight for Medieval Times. (thus the title). I am pretty stoked for him, he also got a puppy (YAY PUPPIES) and another job (excuse me if I get this wrong CR) doing stuff for an event company I may just run into (ya know being in the wedding industry and all). Its amazing to have seen him coming from doing childrens theatre with me to training to ride horses (which he has already done for 2 summers doubling as a stunt guy in a really rad show in Ohio) and doing exactly what he went to school to do and has dreamed of.

CR and I both notoriously have ADHD and ran around the forest like a couple of goons just being weird. I was playing with a rental lens and there was something freeing about not being HIRED to take some photographs. I just got to play and have fun and kept that up with the post-processing. We put away our social media and actually socialized and that was pretty awesome. Can’t wait to run into him at the dog park in the city, or see him being all Knight like. Good Luck CR i know you got this.

knightinthewoods02 knightinthewoods03 knightinthewoods04 knightinthewoods05

Tags: chicago photographer, grand haven, mi, rosy mound, west michigan photographer

Show Hide 0 comments

Kristin + Matt {Grand Rapids Engagement Photographer}

I really like telling stories through pictures. A LOT. Sometimes I am not so good at coming up with the right words to describe how the day went, or the shoot felt but thats OK. Afterall, the point is to document the day and tell a story THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS. And like…I am OK WITH THAT. That is what I am here for!

Kristin is my best friend. Hands down one of the most genuine beautiful people I have ever known with the biggest heart and a HUGE smile to go with it. For about a year after I met her I still hadn’t met Matt. I joked all the time with her saying she ‘made him up’ or that he really was her fake boyfriend but once I FINALLY met him it was like oh yah. I get you two. Its pretty much perfect. THEN when she told me she was engaged I got even more stoked….like so stoked. THEN she asked me to be in her wedding and it was like SQUEEEEEE yesssss of course girl! NOW she is getting married AT MY HOUSE. Like hello backyard/farm wedding magic is about to happen!!! I cannot wait. And seriously guys these two are the coolest. Millie is also the cutest little dog ever. She steals the show. I was so happy to capture this day for them and a little behind the scenes look at their day to day life. I am like SUPER used to taking photos of brides getting ready but getting ready for an engagement??? That was just to special. LOVE IT. Millie was super helpful for that too.

After we took Millie on a walk at their FAVORITE park to take walks in we headed back to their house and played with bubbles…then headed to Osgood brewery (a favorite place for them) and had a few beers. I even got MY photo taken. Super thanks to Tim for being my second in command this day! He was good at Millie monitoring when I just wanted the two of them alone! Love you guys! Can’t wait to be a PART of your big day and be on the other side of the lens for a day.

i have stared at this gif for so long. Matt is like a bubble MONSTER. Poor Kristin and her ONE lonely bubble….. haha!

Tags: animated gif, engagement gif, gif, grand rapids wedding photographer, wedding gif, west michigan wedding photographer

Show Hide 1 comment

McDonald Family {Never Stop Getting Family Portraits! Grand Haven, MI Family Photographer}

So I pretty much am in LOVE with this whole session. When I was trying to go through all of the photos I sent the McDonald family I had a really really tough time picking my favorites! When Nicole’s mom contacted me to do family photos when the whole crew would be in town I was STOKED! I spent a lot of time with her daughter Nicole in High School getting into lots of trouble and I couldn’t wait to see their new amazing home and lake McDonald. ALSO i knew there would be lots of dogs and well, I love dogs. Sally above is pretty famous (her adventures are chronicled by Tricia and is called ‘Life with Sally’ ). And all the other dogs are pretty rad too. (Check out this sweet GIF of Lyle shaking it). He started off his session totally right in my mind by getting his brand new bandanna all wet with a little swim.

I spent a good chunk of time just hanging out with these 5 and getting to know their family dynamic a little more. I just loved goofing around and capturing real life as it happened and making fun ‘poses’ seem not so posey. I am a firm believer that family portraits should NEVER end even when your all grown up! I think they are even more fun honestly, no little kids crying or not looking at the camera. I just had to deal with Mike not really wanting to smile for real (and lemme tell you he was a tough nut to crack! but i finally got him to GENUINELY smile! WINNING!). They are also the coolest family I know 🙂 the all wore their raybans (well Nicky borrowed mine 😉 but they looked real good on him) and looked pretty B/A in my opinion.

I am also SUPER pumped because shortly after this Nicky and Nicole (check out how cute they are at the end of this roll of photos) announced their ENGAGEMENT! WOOHOO!!! I am excited to go celebrate their engagement with them in New York in Novemeber and take some ‘official’ engagement pictures and maybe even a bridal (YAY DRESS SHOPPING). Like I said Nicole and I are good friends from High School. She booked her date for next summer and I was so pumped. Then i looked at my calendar and realized one of my OTHER BEST FRIENDS is getting married the exact same day….. 🙁 how I wish I could clone myself and be in two places at once….. SO i am doing all I can to still be involved with their day and Kristin is so kind to share me a little. And thank goodness for wedding photography. I can’t wait to see who they choose (of course I am giving all sorts of recommendations!) and see the photos.

I just announced my fall mini sessions and if you have a family with adult kids this is the PERFECT way to get a great set of photographs to fill your walls and keep the memories coming. Also little kids really are awesome too. Just hit me up rachelkayephotography@gmail.com for more info! Can’t wait to take your photo at Bethke Farms this fall!

Nicoles brother Jake and boyfriend Nicky were my first subjects 🙂 they are so hilarious together. I am sure they are pumped to be ‘brothers’ too. It seems right. And apparently they were both itchy at the same time (see above ;))

Tags: adult family photography, animated gif, dog gif, family photography, gif, west michigan family photography

Show Hide 0 comments

Rachel + Van {Grand Haven Waterfront Steampunk Theme Wedding Photography}

I am on this mission to be a better blogger. This is how I started this whole photography thing anyway so really Rachel GET ON IT. I can make the excuse very easily that I have been busy shooting weddings for myself and others, editing the beejezus out of my carpal tunnel right hand and just plain am busy with everything but it really is just an excuse. Lets get these pretty photos and awesome stories out there!!!! So this is the latest wedding I have done for a very dear theatre family who I have met and loved getting to know doing many a Central Park Players show. Rachel and Van are adorable. He is in the military and they are currently in Arkansas? who knows at this moment…making their way to Texas to start a new life together! I love their quirkiness and the way they look at each other. Their ceremony was beautiful but I wanted to highlight their amazing outfits and the bridal portraits after the ceremony with this post. I just love Rachel’s outfit. She put it together all on her own (no it did not come all together!) and she looked so stunningly gorgeous on this most beautiful Friday evening. The lace top under her corset was a beautiful piece and I loved her added ‘brooch’ which she also found herself (and is not a brooch!).

I can’t wait to share more from this wedding and all the crazy cool stuff I have been doing lately. Until then enjoy!

Tags: grand haven wedding photography, steampunk, steampunk wedding, west michigan wedding photography

Show Hide 5 comments

Casey + Nate {Kaleva, MI Wedding Photography}

Casey and Nate are one of the best couples I have had the pleasure to photograph. Seriously. Casey is an old friend from college who’s smile is INFECTIOUS in all the good ways and Nate is her amazing husband. I was beyond excited when they asked me to be a part of documenting their special day but I think this is the first wedding where I found out I become much more than just a photographer on your special day.

Because we are friends and the maid of honor is my best friend Anissa when she asked me to I came out the day before and helped set up the venue and documented the rehearsal dinner. I loved getting to know the family and bridal party a little bit more before the wedding and also loved helping with the flowers. The wedding day was beautiful weather (the first day of summer! how could it not!) and I enjoyed sipping champagne while the ladies got ready and visiting the guys while they had a beer. The colors were bright and fun and the area is beautiful and calm. I enjoyed getting to know their small town life as we headed to the campground to set off lanterns in the dark. I met tons of wonderful people both days and cherish our new found friendships and all the awesome memories these photos bring back.

I picked my very favorite photos to share with you on the blog from both days. You can see them all on my Smug Mug.

Tags: northern michigan wedding photography, wedding photography, west michigan wedding photography

Show Hide 0 comments

Cousin Curtiss {Alaskan, Michigan-Native Musician in Ann Arbor}

I first met Curtiss while shooting his sisters wedding earlier this summer. However, this was not the first I had heard of him. His sister was a friend in college and as we have grown up I have heard things about how he is this amazing musician through the grapevine of friends. Before the wedding my friend Anissa (the maid of honor at the wedding as well) told me I should listen to some of his stuff. So I did. It was pretty great, he has a fresh sounding voice and a style I would consider a mesh of Keller Williams and Jason Mraz.

At the wedding we got to talking and he asked me if I ever photograph musicians. My short answer = YES. The longer answer is if it has a human being in it I am down. I have been enjoying pushing myself to shoot in new locations and for different reasons. This was the perfect opportunity. Curtiss is a musician/9th grade English teacher living in Juneau, Alaska. He is originally from Onekema, MI where his awesome parents live… I know this because they were just awesome at the wedding. I love them :D. Well and they totally produced a super talented, amazingly kind and hilarious kid.

Originally the plan was to meet before his Ann Arbor show at Old Town Tavern but then I found out he had a show the night before in Grand Rapids at The Hideout Brew Co. and asked if we could meet up there. The weather was not our friend so we had to push the shoot but I was so excited to spend 2 glorious evenings listening to this guy perform and hang out with him for a few hours in the, what turned out to be very hot and sunny, afternoon. These are just a few of my favorites from the concerts and photo shoot. You can check them all out at my smug mug if you would so like. He still has 3 shows on his summer tour (in Oregon and BC) but that’s it for this year because he has to get back to his students. How cool is that? I am thinking a trip to Alaska is in order!! I have never been and music / photography seems like a perfectly good excuse.

Check him out in all the ways:

Website (featuring some of these photos!) | Facebook (love his update videos as he travels across the country!) | Instagram (he’s a pretty great photo maker himself)