the journal

Sylvan Lake Engagement Photos

Engagements, Uncategorized, Wedding Planning

When Haeden first reached out, he had the sweetest plan in mind: he wanted to propose to Maira, and he wanted the moment to be perfect. We carefully mapped out the details, ready to catch the magic. But love, as it tends to do, found its own way. A week before our original plan, the […]

A Dreamy Custer State Park Engagement Session | Black Hills Engagement Photographer

family

Planning a family reunion can feel a bit like herding cats—lots of moving parts, plenty of opinions, and endless logistics. But choosing the right destination can make all the difference, transforming a complicated event into a memorable, joy-filled gathering. That’s exactly why the Black Hills of South Dakota are the perfect place for your next […]

Plan your Black Hills Family Reunion

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

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