Melissa + Evan's Engagement Photos at Milham Park in Southwest Michigan

Evan contacted me back in July to photograph his surprise proposal to Melissa and what an incredible experience that was! So when they asked me to be their wedding photographer, I jumped at the opportunity. I’m so lucky and excited to get to see this entire experience through with them, from proposal, to engagement session, to wedding! These two are getting married in March of 2020 at The Kalamazoo Country Club. Check out a few highlights from their engagement session at Milham Park this fall.

Julie + Cole's Kalamazoo Michigan Engagement Photos

I met up with Julie & Cole on the last weekend in October for their Fall engagement session on Kalamazoo Mall Dr. We spent some time in the beautiful brick road ally next to Gazelle Sports and the ally behind Something’s Brewing coffee shop. We then explored a bit around the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and ended up under an amazing canopy of string lights behind Monaco Bay! These two will be getting married next September at the Trinity Lutheran Church downtown Kalamazoo, then heading over to Cityscape for their reception. Here’s a few highlights from their engagement photos.

Tricia + Josh Southwest Michigan Engagement Photos

On a cold fall day, Tricia, Josh, and I met up at the beautiful Asylum Lake Preserve for their engagement photos. We found some great fall colors out in the grass prairie and on the trails! These two are getting married next May at Kanley Chapel at Western Michigan University with their reception at The Gilmore Theatre. I’m so glad they asked me to be their wedding photographer! Here’s a few highlights from their session…

Anthony + Evelyn's Kalamazoo Nature Center Engagement Photos

Anthony and Evelyn are getting married on October 4, 2019 at Sundance Studios in Southwest Michigan near Benton Harbor. We instantly hit it off after realizing we were all obsessed with Subaru Crosstreks, just skim through the images to see Anthony’s sweet set up! I got to spend the day with these two at the Kalamazoo Nature Center for an early morning engagement session and then another evening sunset session. We got two totally different looks due to the weather and location. The morning session in the tall grass prairie started out overcast and rainy (being from Washington, the rain didn’t scare them a bit). The evening session in the arboretum turned out sunny and clear giving us plenty of opportunity to play around with the sun. Skim through the images to see if you can figure out in which photo Anthony put his cold hand on Evelyn’s back!

Rachel + Adam's Grand Haven Engagement Photos

Rachel and Adam are getting married next September in Muskegon, Michigan. I get really excited about photographing west coast Michigan weddings. Anywhere from Southwest Michigan to Northern Michigan is just loaded with beautiful scenery and awesome people like these two! They decided to have their engagement photos taken at the Kitchel/Lindquist/Hartger Dunes Preserve and The Northshore Marina in Grand Haven, Michigan. The Marina is at the mouth of the Grand River as it pours into Lake Michigan. We had beautiful fall weather with some really chilly winds! The sunset on the pier was a huge highlight! Speaking of highlights, here’s a few of my favorites from the shoot.

James + Justine's Southwest Michigan Wedding

James and Justine came home to Michigan to be married with their friends and family present in early October. I’m sure it was hard to give up the scenery of Washington but they found a beautiful venue in Southwest Michigan at the Lawton Community Center. There were plenty of photo ops throughout the grounds, including a pretty sweet wine cellar/museum in the basement, and they gave me plenty of time to come up with some good material! Congrats to you both and I hope our paths cross again someday!

  • Photographer - Christopher Deau Photography

  • Venue - Lawton Community Center

  • Hair - Ola Schwili

  • Makeup - Faith from “Lash out makeup artistry”

  • DJ - Chris Campbell

  • Florist - Gina’a Originals

  • Dress - America’s Bride, Kenneth Winston, Ella Rosa Collection

  • Seamstress - Maria’s

Karen + James Southwest Michigan Wedding Photos

Karen & James were married yesterday in Southwest Michigan at the Blodgett Wedding Barn in Schoolcraft! This was my first time at this venue and I’m obsessed! It’s a beautifully renovated barn with two spacious areas for the bride and groom to get ready, amazing farm tables for the reception, and plenty of dance floor area. The ceremony site just outside the barn has a beautiful backdrop of field and trees, the property also has rows of trees and plenty of great scenes for portraits. We got to do a cool “hidden first look” with both bride and groom in the photo without them seeing each other. I’m so happy for these two, congrats Karen and James!

  • Venue: Blodgett Wedding Barn

  • Hair: Blostica WendyandMike

  • DJ: Disko Dave

  • Video: Ryan Heemer

  • Florist: Paper Blossoms by Michal

Courtney's Senior Photo Highlights

Courtney drove all the way from South Haven to Kalamazoo so we could meet up near the Kalamazoo Mall Drive for senior photos. I’m glad she did because I’m really happy with how they turned out! If anyone in the Gull Lake, Portage, or Kalamazoo area still needs senior photos, I’d love to do them.

Hello, Dolly!

This past week I had the opportunity to photograph for the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre. What an awesome experience! I was to document one of the final rehearsals before the opening of the musical Hello, Dolly! With Dolly Gallagher played by Lori Moore and Horace Vandergelder played by Hal Hobson-Morse. This year marks the Kalamazoo Civic 90th season and Hello, Dolly! hasn’t been performed on the Civic Mainstage since 1973. I highly recommend going to see this high-energy musical which will be performed between September 21st and October 7th. I really enjoy event photography and I hope to get more work like this in the near future!

Tom + Kelly's Wedding

Tom and Kelly were married last weekend in Holland, MI.  Kelly and her bridesmaids got ready in a beautiful home on Lake Michigan.  For their first look, Tom arrived at the house and stood on a deck facing the lake, waiting for Kelly.  We then headed out for the barn ceremony in Holland.  Kelly came down the aisle riding sidesaddle on Charley the horse.  After the ceremony, we all headed up to the loft of the barn for the reception where everyone took part in dancing and celebrating their love!