the journal

Sunset at Badlands National Park

Couples, Engagements

Lauren and Ben packed up their car in Indiana and pointed it west, chasing open skies and new memories. Somewhere along the way of planning, they decided that documenting this chapter—their engagement—while on the road felt just right. Because their love? It’s equal parts cozy and brave. The kind that belongs in campfire stories and […]

Dreamy Badlands National Park Engagement Photos

A couple celebrates their engagement with a joyful embrace atop a scenic rock outcrop, overlooking the stunning blue waters of Sylvan Lake.

Couples, Engagements

A couple celebrates their engagement with a joyful embrace atop a scenic rock outcrop, overlooking the stunning blue waters of Sylvan Lake.

Connelly & Vanessa: Surprise engagement at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, SD

Couples Photos at The Loft in Rapid City

Couples, Engagements

Winter is a weird one for me. My creativity is itching to come out, but my energy? Yeah, that’s another story. The season slows me down after months of nonstop shooting, but when a couple comes in ready to play, to move, to just be—that’s when the magic happens. The Loft is the perfect space […]

Ivy + Jake: Couples photos at The Loft in Rapid City

I'm Michaela mader Tully

The Michaela you'll find making beautiful images of your family. 

I’m a storytelling photographer based in the Black Hills of South Dakota, specializing in family connections, intimate weddings, and elopements.

My style? Think warm evening light, authentic moments, and a dash of Mary Oliver poetry—because life’s best stories are a little wild, a little soft, and always real.

When I’m not behind the camera, I’m probably chasing my kids, hiking trails that smell of Ponderosa pine, or sipping coffee that’s gone lukewarm because, well, #momlife.

Let's create something beautiful and real together.

The kind of photos that feel like home, like belly laughs and evening light, like the fleeting moments you never want to forget. Ready to tell your story? Let’s do this.

let's create