Midland, Michigan Senior Portrait Photographer | Eve Tuft Photography

Tag: Midland Michigan

Red-Head Session at Chippewa

This red-head is a complete beauty. When I say that she made my job easy, I’m not even kidding. Meet Grace. I REALLY wanted a red-head for my portfolio, and when she contacted me I was SO excited for the opportunity to take her pictures.

When I asked her where she wanted her senior pictures taken, she responded that she wanted them done at Chippewa. The Chippewa Nature Center is really one of the best locations! There are old, wooden buildings, barns, fields, trails, small bodies of water, and flowers. What’s NOT to love??

Unfortunately, it looked all week like we were going to be rained out. I couldn’t take her pictures later in the month because I was going to be on vacation to Missouri, so I was really hoping the weather would cooperate. And what do you know? It did. We even got some sunshine for all of 45 seconds (which resulted in one of my favorite pictures ever. EVER.).

Grace showed up with her two sisters and her best friend. Bringing parents is amazing, but bringing siblings and friends is just as good. They were troopers holding my reflector for me, capturing me on video doing my thing, and getting the best giggles out of Grace.

Grace, I sure hope you love your pictures as much as I do. Your session ended up being one of my favorites ever. You’re gorgeous!

August 9, 2018
Beauty from Brazil

Meet Anna. She and her family are from Brazil. I have a special place in my heart for the country of Brazil, not because I’ve ever been there, but because my husband served a mission for our church there for two years before we were married. He talks of his time there often, and his love for the country and the people is real. One day he hopes to go back. One day I hope he takes me with him. 😉

For his birthdays in the past (to bring some of Brazil up to the States) I’ve made Pao de Qeijo and have taken him out to Brazilian Steakhouses. I’ve also learned a word or two in Portuguese. 😉 I felt a little sorry that my husband wasn’t there on the photo shoot with me because I bet he would have loved speaking in Portuguese once again (although he claims he’s a bit rusty).

Anna brought along her parents and her younger brother to the shoot. Her dad and brother trotted off somewhere in Dow Gardens, while her mother was an excellent helper for my reflector. In fact, this was the first time I’ve ever used a reflector, and I have to say, I’m already in love with it. I was able to shoot in places that I normally would have avoided since I was able to bounce that beautiful evening light back in Anna’s face. Those pictures have become my favorite of the whole shoot.

I’m always grateful when the sun chooses to shine on the day of my photo sessions. Don’t get me wrong! I also love what an overcast and cloudy day can do for someone’s skin. But there’s something about that gorgeous back light that I adore. It gives the pictures a little extra something.

Anna, you were a dream to shoot and pose! These pictures of you turned out stunning.

July 26, 2018
33 Years Blessed

Yesterday we celebrated my husband’s birthday. Actually, the day before yesterday we celebrated it too! My husband is one spoiled guy. 😉 Two days ago I got a babysitter for the older three and took my husband and youngest child out to eat. We went to a restaurant we had never been to before. It was located right on the river inside of a hotel, and we seriously had the best time. I got a burger and some fries, and my husband got salmon. Little Boo ate half my fries and the bread. Not super balanced for a meal, but he was happy and quiet, so that’s what mattered. You guys, we had the best time. We don’t get out much as a couple, but when we do we cherish the time we spend together.

Yesterday for my husband’s actual birthday the kids and I blew up a million balloons and hung them up on the ceiling. Of course, since my kids are still so little, I had to blow every single one up by myself. On about the 357,899th balloon I started feeling lightheaded, and once I got up to about half a mil I almost passed out. I thought about giving up then, but you can’t celebrate a birthday without balloons.

After he got home and we had dinner, we headed out to the splash park. “What? Your husband wanted to spend his birthday at a splash park??” Yes, he did. He’s a family man through and through, and I adore him for it. Once we got home he got to open his presents, blow out his candles, and eat his favorite dessert ever. EVER. You want the recipe, don’t you? I won’t disappoint. It’s a strawberry jell-o dessert, and it is absolutely delicious.

This husband of mine is my most favorite person ever. He is gentle, kind, brilliant, thoughtful, and so good. Happy birthday, Love. Here’s to many, many more. <3

July 11, 2018
Evening on the Beach

This past week my family and I went to the beach. Now, we’ve been to many beaches before, but we’ve never been to a beach on Lake Huron before. … Ever. And we’ve lived in Midland for almost four whole years! It took us long enough, right?? Well, the kids are a bit older, and my youngest is no longer a baby (insert crying emoji). So since our lives revolve less around naps and breastfeeding, I’m feeling a little more freedom regarding outings.

We left to go to Bay City around 6:00, and we had the most enjoyable time together. We totally didn’t bring any toys or play things for the kids, but they ended up not needing them. They were content to simply be in the water. At first, my littlest not-baby was super sad. I don’t think he enjoyed feeling the sand between his toes. After all, it’s “irritating, and it gets everywhere”. I hear ya, Anakin! But after a while he warmed right up to it and rather enjoyed throwing wet sand on himself. He also loved watching all of the seagulls fly around.

My older three (who are still little, mind you) had a great time being in the water and splashing around. I was surprised they did as well as they did for how long we ended up staying. I thought for sure they’d get bored after a while. But they could have stayed for even longer than we did if we had had the time.

Once we were ready to head back, we decided to go to the splash park to get the extra sand off. I thought my kids would have a fun time there. And they did! But to the happiness of my nature-loving soul, they greatly preferred the beach over the splash park.

I love the beautiful state of Michigan. I’m so glad I live here, and that I have the opportunity of raising my kids here. Here’s hoping we’ll get back to the beach sometime soon. <3

July 3, 2018
Into the Woods

The woods and forest at the Chippewa Nature Center make my heart sing. I love being there. I love going on walks with my family there. And of course, I love taking pictures there. 🙂 We can’t forget that now, can we? One of the things love about it is that although we’ve been there so many times, we seem to always discover a new path or trail we’ve not been on before. We’ve even gotten lost there once, and my poor children had to walk much farther than we had intended to get back to the car. Hey, it’s OK! We’re helping them build character!

On this particular day it was warm and humid, but it wasn’t too hot to be uncomfortable. We were traipsing around for at least an hour, probably closer to an hour and a half. My kids LOVE going on the trails in the woods, and they love running up and down the hills and going around corners to discover what new things they can.

This little sweetie is Tumpkins. She’s such a cutie, and I love her vivacious attitude, her hugs and kisses, and her spunk. She’s also pretty crazy! There’s something about taking pictures of my children running away into the distance that tugs at my heart just a bit. It’s like their childhood is fleeting, and this moment is going to fade into the distance. I’m so glad we spend as much time together as we do. Although I’m sure I’ll have regrets later in life, one of them will not be how much time I spent with my family. They get all my free time. They’re what I’ve been given time for.

June 25, 2018