Cheers to 25 Years!
The Beginning of Year 25
Twenty-five years ago, there was a girl with a camera and a dream. Nikon film camera in hand and a lot of optimism in her heart, the wedding and portrait journey began. Hundreds of couples and 10s of thousands of images later, here we are.
May 9th, 2025 was the first wedding of my 25th wedding season/year in business. It was special for a few reasons that I want to share. But first – some context.
About 6 years ago, burnout started to hit. The constant weekends, late nights and endless editing had started to wear thin. My mind, heart and creativity needed a break. Fortunately, I had built an amazing team of photographers and videographers who continued to bring excellence and creativity to every event. This allowed me to take a much-needed step away to focus on other areas I wanted to grow.
I’ve personally photographed two weddings in the last 5 years. One was in October 2024 and the second was May 9th, 2025. I came away with a few things I wanted to share:
First, I love photographing stories, emotions and human experiences. It brings me such joy to see moments through my lens and tell the story. There’s a line from the David Allen Coe song (recorded by, not written by), “The Ride,” that goes – “Can you make people feel what you feel inside?” That resonates. There is no higher accomplishment as a photographer than this.
Second, my team and I have been blessed some of the most incredible couples over the last quarter century. I couldn’t be more grateful for the people who chose us to walk beside them in the most important moments of their lives.
Third, sometimes a mental break is critical for perspective, gratitude and regeneration. I’m grateful for the opportunity and look forward to decades more of weddings, moments and stories.
Cheers!
Andrea
The Magic of Fall!
We have arrived at the end of wedding season 2024. We couldn’t have finished our 24th wedding season on a more beautiful (and fun!) note. Our team had the honor of spending the day with Andy and Carl (and Roo) at the Starry Night Barn on the gorgeous Leelanau Peninsula.
Andy and Carl brought a vision to their day that was unique beyond words and creative beyond measure. With the help of their magnificent planners (Dragonfly Event Designs) and wedding team, their day was an eclectic demonstration of Northern Michigan agri-elegance, culinary excellence and intuitive style. We hope you enjoy their Sneak Peek!
Cheers!
The Northern Art Photography team
