New Buffalo, Michigan Family Photos | When Beach Vibes Meet Real Life
Seasons and “Tricky-ish” Sessions
There are seasons in life, right? And some of those seasons just don’t lend themselves to picture-perfect photo sessions. (Looking at you, colicky babies, preteen awkwardness, and three-nagers.)
This family session in New Buffalo, Michigan had it all — tricky-ish light, tricky-ish kids, and a whole lot of love. The little ones were a bit jet-lagged and thoroughly beach-exhausted (same, honestly), but this crew rolled with it like pros.
Location - New Buffalo, Michigan
New Buffalo is one of those magical Lake Michigan towns that feels like a postcard come to life — dunes, soft light, and beach breezes that either make your hair look amazing… or like you just lost a wrestling match with the wind.
We shot near the beach, where the light was shifting faster than a toddler’s mood. I also seem to remember a buried dead fish that stunk SO bad. Lake life isn’t glamorous all the time! It took some creative angles and flexibility — cue Ross Geller yelling “PIVOT!” — but we found the glow we needed.
Details I’m Loving: The GQ Beach Playtime
At one point, the littles decided to take matters into their own hands. Suddenly, we were in what can only be described as an impromptu GQ-inspired playtime session — sandy jeans, serious expressions, and poses that screamed “Southwestern Michigan tourism board, call us.”
Were they cooperating? Questionable.
Did they look like tiny catalog models? Absolutely.
Did we fake it ‘til we made it? You bet
Client Love
Mom and Dad, along with Grandma and Grandpa, handled it all with grace and humor. They weren’t looking for perfection — they wanted connection. And that’s exactly what they got: laughter, love, and a collection of images that feel real.
As Grandma said after seeing the gallery:
“We love the photos you took of our family.”
Embracing the Imperfect
If there’s one thing I’ve learned photographing families, it’s this: flexibility wins every time. When the kids are wiggly, the light is weird, or the wind has other plans — you pivot, laugh, and keep going.
Because one day, these “tricky-ish” moments will be the ones everyone remembers most.