Blog - Page 24 of 24 - Rachel Kaye Photography

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!

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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

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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)

Tags: ann arbor photography, chicago lifestyle photography, cousin curtiss, lifestyle photography, michigan lifestyle photography, musican photography

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Norma + Andy {Santa Maria, California Wedding}

THROW BACK time!!!! Holy cow I cannot believe it has been over 2 months since my sister married her now husband Andy!!! They decided to get hitched in Santa Maria, California as that is where Andy’s grandfather lives and cannot travel. The wedding was at the family ranch in the gorgeous hills of Santa Maria (used to be a vineyard and cattle ranch). The wedding was super small (family only) and I stood up along with my sister. I learned a lot about photographing a wedding this weekend…like A LOT A LOT. And since then my style and camera bag have grown. I was not shooting with a full frame camera at this time and now am and what a difference it makes. Also GOOD LUCK photographing a wedding when you are also in it…you will forget some things (like taking the bouquet from the bride and various other photographs…). The wedding was super simple and small. There was really no decoration (except the amazing flowers Andy’s mom planted around the house and the bouquet/boutineer my dad designed and created) but it wasn’t really needed. All the details were there in the people and the experience. The wedding was on a Friday afternoon. I helped my sister get ready in her hotel with some delicious subway and then we headed to the ranch for the ceremony. It was followed up by a cake/champagne reception then we went into town for dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. The next day we had the reception at the ranch that included more family and a Santa Maria barbecue. We giggled a lot, had a ton of wine and great company. I am working right now on editing my sisters Michigan barn reception and can’t wait to share that with you guys. And a super thanks to my dad for being my ‘second shooter’. He has always been amazing with a camera and coming across his books from photography in college really inspired me to be where I am today.