Skip to content

About
Pricing

Blog
Music

Briar Barns

Briar Barns in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Styled Elopement

“What is done in love is done well.” -Vincent Van Gogh

Read More Briar Barns in Grand Rapids, Michigan | Styled Elopement

I was talking with my daughter’s friend last wee

I was talking with my daughter’s friend last weekend about his upcoming wedding. I was so thrilled for him. Until he told me he and his fiancée originally wanted to elope, but his mom wasn’t having it. So, to make her happy, they’re having a traditional wedding.

My heart broke. 💔 It’s nice that he wants to make his mom happy, but my inside voice was screaming: It's YOUR fucking wedding, not hers!

Your wedding day is about no one else. It’s about the two of you, your love, your story, your choice of commitment.

That’s how I see it, and if you’re like me, wanting something raw, honest, and yours alone, then you probably feel the same way.

#yourweddingyourway
#intimateweddings
#elopement
#nontraditionalwedding
#elopementphotographers
#northernmichigan
#northernmichiganelopement
#fernsideaframe
#indianrivermichigan
#yourweddingyourrules

Eloping is freedom. It’s sacred. It’s brave.

Eloping is freedom.
It’s sacred.
It’s brave.
It’s the most rock-n-roll thing you can do, stripping everything down to the raw, wild truth of who you are.

#northernmichiganelopement
#elopements
#elopeinmichigan
#intimateweddings
#nontraditionalwedding
#elopingisnotselfish
#northernmichiganelopementphotographer

Some people want perfect blue skies, but I’ll sa

Some people want perfect blue skies, but I’ll say it every time, overcast and rainy days are magic for photos. 💫

#engagementphotography
#rainyengagementsession
#hartwickpinesstatepark
#graylingmichiganphotographer
#elopementphotographer
#northernmichiganphotographer
#engagementphotos
#couplesphotos

"The world is full of stories, and from time to ti

"The world is full of stories, and from time to time they permit themselves to be told."
- Nancy Willard.

#northernmichiganelopements
#nomiweddings
#elopementphotographer
#loveislove
#northernmichiganphotographer
#northernmichiganweddingphotographer
#nontraditionalweddings

Tucked away just north of 13 mile, is a quiet litt

Tucked away just north of 13 mile, is a quiet little pocket of wild. Douglas Evans Nature Preserve is natural and untouched with fields of wild flowers and winding trails. An amazing area to explore!

#engagementphotography
#natureengagement
#douglasevansnaturepreserve
#shondamichelsonphotography
#couplesphotography
#engagementphotos
#northernmichiganelopementphotographer

I get asked a lot - what if it rains? My honest a

I get asked a lot - what if it rains? My honest answer is to embrace it. Some of the most magical photos happen in the unexpected.

Here in Northern Michigan, the weather has a mind of it's own, no matter rhe season. Overcast skies actually create the softest, most flattering light. Oh, and the rain? It adds mood, movement, and a whole lot of story to your photos.

#engagementphotography
#hartwickpinesstatepark
#graylingmichigan
#rainyengagementsession
#northernmichiganengagement
#michiganelopementphotographer

Copyright © 2025 · Shonda Michelson Photography · Northern Michigan Wedding, Elopement & Couples Photographer · Policies & Terms

Home
About
Pricing
Blog
Music
Contact Me