the journal

Eloping in Badlands National Park

Elopements, Wedding Planning

Tips for planning an elopement or small wedding in the Black Hills or Badlands of South Dakota

Eloping in the Black Hills or Badlands: Your Wildly Romantic Wedding Adventure

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