Turning your stories
into lasting art.

About Rapid City Photographer Michaela Mader Tully

Because i want you to see how beautiful and important your story is.

To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.

Life moves fast, and you’re feeling the pull to freeze this season before it slips away. But deep down, you’re craving more than just snapshots—you want the real stuff. The belly laughs, the messy kisses, the quiet moments that make up your story.

Take a deep breath—you’re in the right place.

I get it because I’ve been there. That feeling of wanting to freeze time, to soak it all in before it changes again. That’s why I’m here—to meet you where you are and capture the magic of your right-now moments, exactly as they are.


My Lens is a Mirror to Life’s Quiet wonder



I’m Michaela Mader Tully—storyteller, memory-keeper, and the heart behind Michaela Made Photo Co. I photograph families and weddings in the wild, beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, capturing the in-between moments, belly laughs, and all the real, messy, love-filled magic of your people.

Here's why you can trust your memories with me:

I’ve got over 15 years of experience

in photographing people and events.

Clients count on me as their go-to photographer

because I bring a laid-back, calming presence, a sharp eye for detail, and a fun, easygoing energy to every session. I know how to guide without over-directing, help you feel at ease, and capture the real, unscripted moments that make your story yours.








I started doing this work because

because while trite, the days are long, but the years are indeed short.

about me

Photographing people is inherently intimate and vulnerable.

Photographing people is deeply personal. It’s vulnerable, a little raw, and—if we do it right—completely you. I know the weight of wanting photos that feel real, that capture your people in the way you see them. The way your little one curls into you when they’re sleepy. The way your partner reaches for your hand without thinking. The way time moves too fast, but some moments just beg to be held onto.

I don’t believe in stiff poses or forced smiles. My job is to create space for you to show up as you are—messy, joyful, quiet, loud—whatever your love looks like. Because the best photos aren’t perfect, they’re honest. And those are the ones you’ll want to hold onto forever.

Okay, so in an act of being honest with each other, here's the real me.

I'm a wife to dan, and mama to Hank and Willa.

My favorite family ritual is our sunday mornings.

My first years were in the wedding business.

Having kids has taught me more about photos that matter than any of the photography classes I took in college.

When I was little, my mom and grandma owned a bridal boutique. I grew up greeting customers, playing dress up, and had role models in women's entrepreneurship. I have learned so much about serving others from my mom and grandma throughout the years.

My husband will make a coffee run to Black HIlls Blends and come home with a fun special latte, we'll cuddle on the couch, kids will play, we'll make breakfast, and catch up on the previous night's SNL, because we can rarely stay up that late these days.

Okay, Now that you know me a little more

I'd love for you to check out my services.

Check out my services