Northern Clove Families

live your life, and i’ll show you how beautiful it is.

Fresh air, warm light, a path through the woods – my heart lives for outdoor sessions in the UP.


Outdoor sessions allow your family more freedom than a studio session.  I’ll capture what makes your children’s faces light up as they explore.  We’ll have fun – in between guided poses, your children can run and play, and I’ll capture those moments too.  Together it will all tell the beautiful story of your life, as it is in this moment.

the planning

Whether you’re looking for a beach or the woods, an urban feel or something rustic, I have some favorite locations on hand to share with you.  I also love exploring new places, so if you have somewhere special you’d like your session to be, I think that makes the final pictures even more meaningful. 

Planning your session includes the location, but also outfits. I know this can be an intimidating part of getting your pictures taken, so I’m here to help as much as you’d like.  I keep a small client closet on hand for moms and kids, and lots of ideas and shops for you to find inspiration at.  Colors, textures – all those details really make your photos outstanding, and I love helping bring it all together.

two sisters look at each other while playing in the woods of Marinette Wisconsin.
two sisters and a brother lean against a rustic fence and smile at each other, against a backdrop of fall foliage in Michigan's upper peninsula.
family of 4 look at each other during a family photo session in Marinette Wisconsin. There is lush greenery and a wooden bridge in the background.
young girl in an orange dress smiles at the camera, next to a birch tree with a backdrop of fall foliage.
extended family gathers together and smiles at the camera while standing on the shores of Lake Michigan, during extended family photo session.

the session

The energy at the end of a session always leaves me smiling – often I’m soaked from playing in the waves, or picking leaves out of my hair, or fishing acorns that little ones have gifted me out of my pockets – and I love taking a moment to breathe in the fresh air and reflect on the fun we had.  My hope is that you will have had just as much fun, and that every time you see your photos, you will remember what that felt like.

That’s the reason photos need to be seen – to bring us back to those moments of joy, to show us that life looks as beautiful as it feels.  After your session I’ll help you choose how many and which images you’d like, and will help you get them off your phone and out where you can enjoy them.

“Sam’s photos tell a story. 

The experience of being goofy and laughing together, the little details she catches in candid shots, everyone’s personality showing – each session creates a memory.”

– Emily

“Sam puts together a scene instead of just a picture.

I look at my photos and they all seem to tell a story. She has a knack for choosing great candid photos, the ones I would choose myself. The ones that show my family’s true character and personalities.”

– nicole
mom holds baby close in a field of grass lit by the setting sun.

what to expect

Generally I plan outdoor sessions for about an hour or two before sunset to get that dreamy, golden light. We plan for about an hour, but I follow the energy of your family and what it needs. And I promise, that doesn’t mean you’ll be looking at the camera and smiling for an hour straight. We’ll have lots of breaks, walk between different spots to explore, and let the kids get comfortable in their surroundings so their personalities can shine.

“Sam calms my kids and gets amazing shots, even when things seem chaotic. My kids love her – plus they know they get a prize at the end of the session!”

Alyssa
A mom holds her son while he lays his head on her shoulder, against a backdrop of apple blossoms in Michigan's upper peninsula during family portraits.

Family Pricing

Family sessions are booked in with a deposit of $350. This holds your spot on my calendar, and goes toward whichever package you choose.

Packages begin at $650, and the rest of this base package is due by the day of your session.

Once you view your photos, you can either choose the images that come with that package, or upgrade to one that includes more if you would like to.

What’s Included
  • a select number of digital files with printing rights
  • choice of professionally printed product with each package
  • client closet available for moms and children
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I’d be honored to capture your story.

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  • baby sitting up in wooden crate with a baby goat, both looking at camera.
  • toddler boy holding a yellow flower to his nose to smell. Lush green lawn fades to a blur behind him.
  • brothers sit on a birch log in whimsical northern michigan forest for family pictures.
  • extended family crowds together during extended family portraits in escanaba michigan.
  • 5 siblings hold hands and dance together against a fall backdrop.
  • two sisters and a brother lean against a rustic fence with a fall foliage backdrop
  • mom holds baby up in the air while dad looks at them both lovingly and black lab looks at camera.
  • two sisters hold hands and walk through a fall forest in Michigan's upper peninsula for family photos.
  • a family of 4 cuddles close for their family photos in Marinette Wisconsin. There is lush greenery and a wooden bridge in the background.
  • a family of 4 smiles at the camera, with a rustic wooden barn in the background.
  • young boy cuddles against his mom's shoulder while she holds him, against a backdrop of apple blossoms.
  • mom holds her baby close and kisses his cheek, in a field of grass lit golden by the sun.
  • two sisters play in a whimsical Wisconsin forest.