Rapid City Family & Wedding Photographer |
Michaela Made Photo Co.
Rapid City Family & Wedding Photographer |
Bearing witness
to belonging.
lived-in and joyful family photography in the Black Hills & Badlands
I am building a body of work about belonging — what it looks like when nobody is performing, what it sounds like when joy arrives uninvited, what it costs a parent to be fully present for something they can already feel changing. I am looking for children alive inside their own world. For unguarded moments. For the exact and unrepeatable shape of how one particular family belongs to each other.
I have given my artistic life to finding those moments — in living rooms and backyards, under towering ponderosas and spires of granite in Custer State Park, and in the ancient landscape of the Badlands at the end of a long and beautiful day.
I’m Michaela, a Rapid City photographer and a mom.
I photograph families the way I hope someone photographs mine: honest, relaxed, a little messy, and full of life.
Families
read more
weddings & elopements
read more
Seniors
read more
What do I do?
I photograph families, weddings, and seniors in a way that feels true to who you are: honest, connected, and unforced. With gentle direction and an eye for what’s unfolding naturally, I create space for real moments to surface, whether that’s the everyday rhythm of family life, the weight and joy of a wedding day, or the in-between season of becoming someone new.
The result is a body of images that doesn’t just show your life, but holds the feeling of being in it.
She picked the perfect spot for our family pictures with the most amazing lighting. She was always fast to respond to my messages and made the entire experience fun and easy. Most importantly she is a truly talented photographer. Our final photos were beautiful. You can tell she really put a lot of time and artistry into editing each one. Excellent experience and excellent photographer!
Audrey
"Michaela was amazing to work with from start to finish."
“Michaela is such a talented photographer, but above that, she really connected with our family and knew how to bring out our personalities in the photos."
I was a little worried about how our active almost 2 year old would handle it, but she connected with him right away and knew how to keep him smiling. The whole experience felt like a day at the park rather than a photo session and she allowed our toddler to set the tone without forcing anything. The final photos are absolutely gorgeous. It was a wonderful experience and we will definitely work with Michaela again!
Amanda
about me
Hi, I'm Michaela
I’m a photographer, a mom, and someone who believes ordinary days are worth remembering.
When a family steps into this work with me, something particular happens. You bring what I cannot invent — your truth, your tenderness, the specific chaos and love of who you are together. I bring the vision, the obsession, and a deep knowledge of this place that I get to give you through my eye. Together we make a record that says — once, exactly like this, this family was here. They were known. And someone was paying attention.
I work with local families and with families traveling to the Black Hills and Badlands from across the country. Wherever you are in this — rooted here or just passing through — there is a place for your story in this work.
excerpts from incredible stories
a morning by the creek
The Fausch fam explores the banks of a creek near Rapid City on a crisp fall morning, com
read more
Let's create something beautiful and real together.
The love, the chaos, the quiet in-between moments that make your family yours. I can’t wait to capture it all in a way that feels true, effortless, and full of heart.
book a session
