Madeline + Daniel’s Sunrise Lake Michigan Engagement Session


There are some mornings that make a 5:30 a.m. alarm completely worth it.

Madeline + Daniel wanted their engagement photos along Lake Michigan at the Saugatuck Sand Dunes State Park before summer disappeared into fall and winter, so we decided to do something a little different: sunrise instead of sunset.


We hiked about a mile to the beach in the dark, stepped onto freezing sand, could literally see our breath and found completely calm Lake Michigan, hundreds of seagulls, the setting moon, and one of the most stunning sunrises.


And not another person in sight.

A Sunrise Lake Michigan Engagement Session


I usually photograph Lake Michigan engagement sessions around sunset, but this morning may have officially converted me.


The beach was completely empty. The water was glassy and calm, the moon was still visible as the sky began changing, and Madeline + Daniel basically had the entire shoreline to themselves.


Instead of working around summer beach crowds, it was just the three of us wandering the shoreline, laughing, freezing a little, and watching the sun come up over Michigan.

A joyful couple on a beach at sunset, man in red shirt lifting woman in white dress near calm ocean waters.

Why Choose Sunrise for Your Beach Engagement Photos?

Getting out of bed before sunrise isn't for everyone—but if you're willing to do it, there's something pretty incredible about having a Lake Michigan beach almost entirely to yourself.


For Madeline + Daniel, it meant we could slow down, move around, and let the session unfold naturally without people constantly walking through the background.


The soft morning light, calm water, empty shoreline and setting moon gave us something completely different from a traditional sunset beach engagement session.


And yes, I would absolutely wake up at 5:30 a.m. and do it again.

Engagement Photos Before Their Felt Estate Wedding


This was also just the beginning for these two.


Madeline + Daniel will be getting married at The Felt Estate, one of my favorite West Michigan wedding venues, and I already cannot wait to photograph them there next.


Their engagement session gave us a chance to create something completely different from their wedding-day setting: bare feet, sand, Lake Michigan and a quiet morning together before the historic architecture and gardens of Felt Estate take over for the next chapter.


→ Planning a Felt Estate wedding? Read my complete Felt Estate Wedding Guide here.

Couple sharing a romantic dip kiss on a sandy beach at sunset, man in red shirt and jeans lifting woman in white dress.

Lake Michigan Engagement Photos | Grand Rapids Wedding Photographer


One of my favorite things about being a Grand Rapids wedding photographer is how close we are to so many completely different landscapes. We can photograph downtown one day and be barefoot along Lake Michigan the next.


If you're planning an engagement session in Grand Rapids, Holland, Saugatuck or along the West Michigan lakeshore, your session doesn't have to look like everyone else's.


Sometimes the best thing you can do is set the alarm ridiculously early, hike to the beach in the dark, and see what happens.



Madeline + Daniel, I'd say this one was worth it. 🤍

Happy couple sitting on beach sand dunes, woman in white dress smiling, man in red shirt embracing her tenderly.
Serene beach sunset with gradient sky from blue to orange, calm ocean waters, and a bright moon visible on the horizon.
Couple embracing on beach at sunset with moon visible in pastel sky over calm ocean waters.
Couple posing together on a sandy beach at sunset with calm waves and a tree-covered hill in the background.
Couple walking barefoot on sandy beach at sunset, woman in white dress touching mans face, romantic seaside stroll.
Couple smiling on a sandy beach at sunset, man in red shirt, woman in white dress leaning on his shoulder.
Couple sharing a romantic embrace on a sandy beach at sunset, man lifting woman in white skirt near calm ocean waters.
Couple sitting on driftwood in sandy dunes, woman in white dress leaning on man in red shirt, romantic outdoor portrait.
A couple embraces on a sandy beach, the woman in a white dress laughing joyfully as the man in a red shirt hugs her from behind.
Couple embracing on sandy beach, man in red shirt and jeans, woman in cream dress, with green dunes behind.
A smiling couple embraces outdoors, the man in a red shirt nuzzling the woman in a white dress.
A joyful couple embraces warmly, the woman laughing as the man in a red shirt nuzzles her hair tenderly.
Couple embracing on sandy beach with green dunes, woman in white dress and man in red shirt sharing a romantic moment.
A smiling couple poses outdoors, man in red shirt and woman in white dress, embracing against a lush green background.
A couple embraces in golden sunset light, woman in cream dress with curly hair, man in red shirt kissing her cheek outdoors.
Black and white photo of a smiling couple holding hands while walking outdoors near trees.
A couple embraces outdoors in golden sunset light, woman in cream dress smiling joyfully as man holds her from behind.
Young woman in a white midi dress twirling on green grass at golden hour with sunlight glowing behind trees.
A joyful couple runs hand-in-hand through a lush green park, the woman in a yellow dress, the man in a red shirt.