Some families drive two days to get here. Some live here and want someone to see their ordinary life the way they secretly know it deserves to be seen.
Both are exactly right.
I photograph families in the Black Hills and Badlands — in canyons and creek beds and meadows full of wildflowers — and I photograph families in their own homes, in the actual texture of their real life. The cereal bowls and the morning light through the kitchen window. The way a house sounds when kids are in it. The ordinary objects that will mean everything someday.
I'm Michaela. I'm a Rapid City photographer, a mom, and someone who believes the most important place to make photographs isn't always the most beautiful one. Sometimes it's the most true one.
Family photography that romanticizes the heck out of your beautiful life.
My goal is for you to look back at these images and feel the love in them. To see yourself the way your kids see you, present, warm, and so incredibly loved.
1. Tell me about your family
Not a checklist — a conversation. How you move together, what makes everyone laugh, what this season feels like right now. I want to know who these people are before I photograph them.
2. Real connection happens first
Before I pick up my camera, we settle into what feels natural: laughing, talking, walking, exploring. That’s where real moments live.
3. I follow your energy
If your littles want to run, let them run. If you just want a quiet moment together, we soak that up. No forced smiles. No rigid poses.
4. I capture what’s true
The tiny toes tucked in your lap. The way your partner looks at you when you’re unaware. The messy, wild, tender love that is your family.
You leave with photos that feel like home, images you’ll want to touch, print, and pass down. Photos that make you feel something.
What it's like to work together:
the process
We booked Michaela for a family photo session during our vacation to the Black Hills of SD. It was kind of a last minute thing. She answered my emails and questions very quickly. She gave me peace of mind in helping us choose an accessible photo spot for my daughter who uses a wheelchair. After booking she sent a super helpful clothing guide. We didn't want to clash with our outdoor session. During the session, she took her time, allowed us to not be in weird positions, and gave us pointers on what she was looking for with each shot! When our pics arrived we fell in love with them and used as our Christmas card this year! I would 100% recommend her for any photography session!
“I would 100% recommend her for any photography session!”
love letters
These sessions are for immediate families only. Not sure which package is right for you? Most families choose the middle one — and most of them wish they’d gone with all of it. Either way, we can talk through it after your session when you’ve seen your images and you know exactly what you can’t live without.
Includes 50+ digital images, fully edited. More images means more of the story — the chaos and the quiet, the big laughs and the small tender moments.
A Few Things to Know
These sessions are not rushed — we follow your family’s pace
You don’t need to “prepare” your kids to behave
Movement, emotion, and imperfection are welcome here
My calendar is intentionally limited to protect the experience
If you’re looking for quick, posed portraits, I may not be the right fit — and that’s okay.
If you want photographs that feel like your life, you’re in the right place.
Collections begin at $475. Most families invest around $600 for their images.
20 minutes
20+ fully edited images
$225 total
$50 retainer to hold your spot
If this approach resonates with you — if you value presence, honesty, and connection — I’d be honored to photograph your family.