A mom holding a young boy, children gathered around, a girl with ribbons in her hair, a chicken, and a man, outside on a farm or backyard, during sunset at a documentary lifestyle photography session.

Emotive Moments

Grand Rapids Lifestyle Photographer

Life moves quickly, but the moments that matter deserve to be remembered. Whether it’s the playful laughter of your children, the quiet in-between moments, or the love that fills your home, my goal is to capture your family’s story in a way that feels natural and true to you.

As a Grand Rapids lifestyle photographer, I focus on creating authentic, heartfelt images that celebrate your unique connections - so you can hold onto these memories for years to come.

A mom gently cuddles a young boy with glasses in an outdoor setting during autumn, surrounded by trees with fall foliage at a family photography session.
Two children washing their hands under running water from a kitchen faucet at an in home baking documentary session.
A family of three walking through a flower field at sunset, with trees in the background at an outdoor family photography session.
A young girl with long blonde hair, wearing a floral dress, brown boots, and a brown headband, crouching by a pond, reaching into the water at a family documentary photography session.
A mom with long wavy hair holding a smiling baby boy at the beach during sunset, the woman is kissing the baby’s cheek at an outdoor photography session in Michigan.
A woman and a child baking together, with flour scattered on the table and inside a glass jar at a documentary photography session in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Capturing moments that can be felt for a lifetime.

Capturing moments that can be felt for a lifetime.

Logo with a plant and the text 'K. Mellema Photography' encircling it.
A woman holding a small child by a lake at sunset, with trees in the background and calm water reflecting the sky at a family photography session in Michigan.
A young girl in a white dress walking along the shoreline with gentle waves at sunset or sunrise, pink and blue sky with clouds in the background at a family photography session in Michigan.
A smiling baby with blue eyes, wearing a brown outfit, being held by a man in a white t-shirt inside a warm, brown-toned environment at a family photography session in Michigan at the beach.

Getting in front of the camera can be a little intimidating.

Let’s change that!

  • Between my client closet available to mamas and my eye for coordination, rest confidently that we will create an aesthetic that you'll be proud to look back on for many yeas to come!

  • Knowing what to do with your body when you're not used to having the focus on you can be a little daunting.

    I love to get families playing and interacting together to get the most natural poses. Don't worry about looking put together or posing- the magic will happen naturally!

  • I promise your kids are not the first to get upset during a photo shoot and they won't be the last! Working with kids (and their big emotions!) is my specialty.

    Believe it or not, some of the best photos come from the raw moments that may not feel special. Those are often the moments that beautifully showcase the love shared within your unique family.

  • More than anything, I want to capture the true personality of your family. There's room to get silly, sappy, and every emotion in between.

    There isn't a client that I haven't left friends yet- looking forward to meeting some new friendly faces and sharing a couple laughs!

A family dancing inside a decorated greenhouse with string lights, greenery, and plants, viewed through a doorway at a family photography session in Michigan.
A mom and daughter sharing an intimate moment, touching foreheads and holding each other's faces, with one mom gently cradling the girl's face in her hands at a family photography session in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
A woman in a white dress is smiling and twirling indoors in a softly lit room with beige and wooden decor, including a hanging wicker light and natural textiles at a studio maternity photography session in Michigan.
A couple embracing near a body of water during sunset. The man is kissing the woman's forehead, and she has a content smile. The woman has long, wavy blonde hair, and the man is bald with a beard. The scene is warm and romantic, with trees in the background and the sun setting over the water.

My client closet is filled with perfectly styled outfits in sizes XS–XL that are sure to give your photos the aesthetic you’re looking for without having to shell out your wallet!

Mama, leave your dress to me!

A woman photographer with long hair sitting at a light wooden desk, writing in a notebook, with a mug, potted plant, and stacked notebooks on the desk. Behind her are light curtains, ready for a 1:1 photography mentorship.

The Details Are Covered

My free session guide gives you all you need to feel prepared for your photography session.

Documentary Session

These sessions are the true heart of storytelling. They’re for creating a time capsule that showcases special bonds that you have as a family.

These sessions are your heart.


Person holding a wicker basket filled with eggs, standing over a bed of straw outdoors at a documentary family photography session.
Happy family baking bread together in a cozy kitchen at a documentary family photography session.

The Magic Starts With You

We will be authentically capturing your family sharing moments that are heartfelt and specific to you while we make sand castles at the beach, buy ice cream at a local ice cream parlor you frequent, or play at your favorite park. Or we could stay at home and bake cookies, play games, gather eggs from your chickens or have a dance party in the kitchen.

A family of three sitting in a field during sunset, smiling and enjoying autumn scenery with dried plants, holding flowers and looking at each other at a golden hour outdoor photography session in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Top Pick!

A dad helping a young girl, who is wearing a light blue dress and a floral headband, to stand on a log near a lake at sunset at a family photography session.

Magic Session

These sessions are for families who want to remember tiny hands that fit in yours, snuggly hugs, belly laughs that make you smile and every moment in between. We’ll play and create genuine memories for your family.

Remember everything about right now.

A family of five walking along the beach at sunset, holding hands, with waves and trees in the background at an outdoor family photography session at Lake Michigan.
A woman and four children hugging and smiling on a sandy beach at sunset at a family photography session at Lake Michigan.

Sparkle Session

These sessions are for families whose kids warm up quickly to new environments & people. Let’s capture your favorite people in this exact stage you’re in!

Capture the sweet moments.

Kind words. Full hearts.

There's a session for every season.

There's a session for every season.

Sparkle

✓ 30min Session

✓ 45 Images

✓ Mini Session Guide

✓ Weeknight Only

✓ Predetermined Location

✓ Back to Back Sessions

✓ Starting at $350

Top
Pick!

Magic

✓ 45min – 1 Hour Session

✓ 75 Images

✓ Client Closet Dress

✓ Complete Session Guide

✓ Magic Hour Light

✓ Weeknight Only

✓ Location Special to Your Family

✓ Starting at $550

Documentary

✓ 1 – 1.5 Hour Session

✓ 100+ Images

✓ Client Closet Dress

✓ Complete Session Guide

✓ Magic Hour Light

✓ Weekend or Weeknight

✓ Location Special to Your Family

✓ Intimate Session

✓ Starting at $700

Additional $100 fee applied for weekend sessions.

Let’s answer some questions.

  • I LOVE families! I love how each one is so different. I want to capture the uniqueness of your family story. I always have every member of the family interacting during our session. Sometimes that means parents are tickling their kids. Sometimes it means we're picking vegetables out of your backyard garden. Sometimes it means snuggling in bed and reading books. Sometimes it looks like picking flowers, running through fields or simply hugging your people. A story telling session means we don't stand stiffly and smile at the camera. We make memories & capture the little moments that are so deeply important. 

  • All of my families do their sessions at sunset for a good reason! Golden hour is my favorite light to work with because it truly adds a level of magic to your photos! Some of my suggestions if you're nervous about the time are:

    1. Put your child down for a late nap on session day. Because we do a lot of playing during our session, often young kids have so much fun they forget they're tired. Bringing pajamas to your session for the drive home is also a great idea! 

    2. Book a fall session since the sunset is much earlier.

    3. Book an in home session. We can use window light at any time of the day.

    4. Embrace the snuggles! If your babe is tired and snuggly during your session, let's capture that! 

    It might be a late night to do a golden hour session, but making memories with your family is always worth capturing!

  • After booking, you will receive a session guide with information on what to expect, styling help & tips for making your session the most successful it can be! I want you to enjoy every second of your session with your family, and preparing for your session plays a huge part in that! I always walk alongside my families to choose outfits so that your images will look cohesive & beautiful! Many of the sessions include a client closet dress for mom!  Don't stress mamas, I've got you!

  • I do, I love seeing my clients year after year! I offer a 5% discount for returning clients on Magic or Documentary Sessions! I also offer a limited amount of discounted sessions on Black Friday to be booked for the following year. 

  • Your photos will be delivered through a professional gallery that is linked to a professional printing lab. These can be ordered directly from the gallery & delivered to your home! You also receive full printing rights to your images, so you can print anywhere you like!

A family of four enjoying time together at the beach during sunset, with the children playing in the water at Lake Michigan for an outdoor family photography session.

Let’s get started.