Wednesday, January 14, 2026 | By: Alyssa Staats Photography
The Koenig family was visiting the Airbnb in Michigan City, Indiana that they rent annually for their family vacation and wanted updated family photos. She said the last time they did photos is when their 3 year old was a newborn. I hear this all the time from clients, and it makes me so happy to be able to create some new beautiful memories for them to hang on their walls!
We met at their vacation rental and made our way down the beach. We started up in the beach grass for some photos displaying the gorgeous sagey greens of the grasses, the trees, and the row of houses along the beach. I love a good path through the grass for my clients, and always try to start my sessions up there before heading down to the water where kiddos might decide to get wet ;)
I love the above photo because you can see their Airbnb in the background. I don't always try to highlight a home that is not your own, but since this is an annual rental and holds so many memories, I think having a few photos with the house in the back and the path they spend so much time going up and down is sweet for memory's sake!
Once we were done there, we headed down the beach, letting the kids race, of course!
Solo personality portraits were a must for these cuties!
It was windy and the previous day the water was suuuuuper wavy, but the lake calmed down for us!
The family walk & swing will always be a favorite photography prompt for me! Kids love, it and you get so many sweet and happy faces!
Tosses and twirls were had, and as you can see, everyone loved it!
"Hold hands and run and don't drag your brother in the sand!"
hahaha
Mama gave them permission to have FUN and I love that!
I loved getting to cool off and splash in the water, and so did the kiddos!
A little request from mom - a few photos with her littlest babe
Parents tend to stop taking photos together as a couple after they have kids, so I always love to get couples in front of the camera and make them be all romantic and stuff ;) I usually get bashful "oh no we don't need to do that" and then they comply and the nervous giggles and sweet smiles and glances turn out SO DARN CUTE!
And we ended the session the best way you can - skipping rocks in the water, splashing, and finding heart shaped rocks <3
Visiting Michigan City, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Long Beach, etc for a long weekend getaway or a full blown vacation?
Let me photograph your family enjoying your favorite vacay spot!
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