Family is Everything

50 years. That's how long Doug and Judy have been in a committed marriage. A lot can happen in 50 years - new life, big changes, and memories to transcend generations. From their commitment has blossomed a beautiful family that continues to grow and flourish right before their very eyes. On June 30th, friends and family from all over the country gathered at Doug & Judy's "Rediscovery" home on Lake Leelanau to celebrate their union.

Family really is everything. Think about it. Your family is that gang of people who will always have your back. They teach us wisdom far beyond what we learn in school. Parents teach us right from wrong and how to forgive and love unconditionally. They teach us that it isn't healthy to hold grudges and that you shouldn't judge others. We learn how to tie our shoes and how to mend our hearts from our families. What we learn in the home can be more powerful than any other type of learning. People will come in and out of your life like a revolving door, but your family will stay by your side and support your endeavors.

The photos below are just a snippet of all the amazing portraits & candid photos we were able to capture during our time with the VanDyke family. It was an honor to photograph such a monumental occasion, and we couldn't have ordered up better weather - the Northern Michigan summer certainly didn't disappoint! It was in the 90's for most of the day, but we were able to take refuge under the shade of Doug & Judy's well landscaped property. As the day progressed and we moved beyond official "portraits", we got out onto the lake with this water-centric family to do some wake surfing & swimming.

We look forward to delivering the entire gallery of photos for this amazing family on July 30th - be sure to keep an eye out for that blog post!