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.
Capturing moments that can be felt for a lifetime.
Capturing moments that can be felt for a lifetime.
Getting in front of the camera can be a little intimidating.
Let’s change that!
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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!
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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!
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!
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.
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.
Top Pick!
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.
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.
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"I cannot recommend Kelsy highly enough. From the initial consultation to the final product, the entire experience is always seamless and enjoyable. She has a wonderful way of putting my family at ease in front of the camera, resulting in natural and beautiful photos that truly capture our personalities. She is patient, creative, and professional throughout the entire process, and the end results always exceed all of my expectations. Not only does she deliver stunning images, but she makes the whole experience fun and memorable for my family."
Caitlin Gietzen
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”Kelsy makes my whole family feel comfortable (even my picture hating husband) which makes sessions feel fun and stress free. My favorite part about Kelsy’s work is the way she captures the little moments. The pictures I have from Kelsy are some of my most prized possessions, they mean so much to me.”
Cait Bowen
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"We have been blessed to have Kelsy capture are family many times over the past few years. Her stunning work speaks for itself. But beyond being insanely talented, she has the most calming presence. She goes above and beyond to make everyone feel comfortable. She understands the complexities of having small kids and makes you feel as if you’ve been friends forever. She is a gem of a photographer and a wonderful person."
Sami Duval
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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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I do, I love seeing my clients year after year! I offer a 10% 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.
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If you've looked through the closet & can't find anything that feels like you, or doesn't fit you right, that's ok! I work hard to keep a variety of styles in the closet, but every body type is beautifully different. We'll search together to find something that you love! KMellema Photography will cover the cost of some of the dress, & then it goes into the client closet once the session is done so another mama can use it!
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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!
