the journal
Senior guys don’t usually wake up thinking, “I can’t wait for my photo session.” I get it. Cooper’s senior photos took place over two weekends — one in the dramatic landscape of Badlands National Park and one along Spring Creek Trail near Rapid City in the Black Hills. Two totally different backdrops. Two different energies. […]
Some wedding days feel like a celebration that’s been waiting to happen for a long time.Colten and Alyssa’s wedding at Diamond Spur Events Center felt exactly like that—full of warmth, deep joy, and the kind of love that shows up in laughter just as much as it does in quiet glances. Set just outside Rapid […]
There’s something so special about weddings that take place at home. Eli and Elizabeth’s wedding day began in the bride’s own backyard, surrounded by their closest friends and family. The intimate ceremony was filled with laughter, happy tears, and the kind of joy that only comes when you’re gathered in a place that already feels […]
It’s been a minute since I’ve shared here, but this session deserves its spotlight. As summer fades and fall picks up steam, I’m easing back into the rhythm of photographing families against the wild, golden backdrop of the Black Hills. When Emma reached out about a session at their family cabin near Keystone—complete with her […]
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.
