Michelle LaPrade Photography

06/02/2026

Is it Friday yet?😄I don't know about you folks, but its been a long week for a Tuesday over here haha! Annnnywho... I had to share this sweet mama before I left work for the day.
Recently she and her mini had a milestone birthday on the SAME day! So of course we HAD to do a special session to capture this amazing rare occasion.
Today, I just wanted to give Mama her moment all by herself on the page first. Ill share more soon when I finish up their edits.

This gorgeous woman. She has a story behind those stunning eyes.
I can see the strength in them. She is beautiful inside and out. Watching her with her daughter was heartwarming. We had so much fun that I lost track of time and ended up staying at the park for a really long time. It was well worth it! I suppose sometimes making the memories, being part of them, are more special than capturing them on camera. As I get older, I realize this more and more.
For me, the time spent with them, was a special memory I will always treasure!

06/01/2026

Sweet Kennedy and those big bright blue eyes!😍 You'd never know it was a monsoon outside the day of her session, because it was all sunshine inside during her 1 year birthday session.

05/31/2026

The Beautiful and Talented Rylee. She is usually in sports gear when I see her for pictures, but for her Sweet Sixteen she came in like the Belle of the ball looking absolutely stunning in her birthday attire.
She rocked her shoot per usual!
I've loved getting to know her and her amazing family!

05/29/2026

Hello again folks! Updating another set of faves from '25 as promised.🥰
During Griffins Grad session, Mom added his little sis Aubrey. It was an emotional moment realizing Big Brother was heading out, as lil sis was heading in.
We did a small set of them together, to capture the moment he "passes the hat" to her.
I'll post more from that later.
Imagine watching these two grow up together from my side of the lens and having to hold back tears and shaky hands to memorialize the moment. It was SO hard! I held my breath for most of it. I sure do love them!

05/27/2026

Happy Wednesday Folks!
Today I'm sharing a quick peek of a model shoot I did recently with gorgeous Adleigh. If you've been here a while, you may remember her from the last portfolio shoot we did 2 years ago.
She somehow manages to get MORE beautiful AND TALL every time I see her. To be only 17, she certainly has "professional model" down to a science! We had so much fun laughing and chatting during her session but when it was time to pose, she was ON POINT!

05/20/2026

This morning I was searching for this past session (stirring up ideas for a similar future session) and I couldn't help but want to re-share this image from May '21.
One of my favorites I'd forgotten.😍
It's amazing how a photograph can make so many memories come to bubbling to the surface.
From conversations long forgotten with people we haven't seen in years to the temperature, smells... That sunset!
Just for a moment it all comes flooding back so vividly.
Pictures truly are little time machines; aren't they?

Loving all the images we captured from this session!

05/19/2026

This little cutie was the director of her whole session. I told her to tell me the spots and the poses she wanted to do.
She said... Say Less Girl! lol! This one's a true professional every time we get together I tell you!

05/17/2026

Happy Sunday folks! Hope you're staying cool on this hot weekend. I've got lots of sessions from this weekend to edit & more to share from last year - but until I get those all set to post, I thought I'd share another special thing with you.
This was a memorial piece I made for a dear family member. I call her my bonus Mom because shes very much like a mom to me. She lost her sister & mother recently. Exactly five mnths apart to the day. Very sad.
I wanted to make something simple, but heartfelt that would memorialize and represent them as being together again in Heaven.
I used photos to create a likeness of each of them, and their favorite flowers as an accent banner. Instead of adding traditional angel wings, I made their wardrobe appear as if draping fabric came off of each shoulder to form into a wing shape. Instead of a cute clay piece I carved into the clay to give it a wood carved feel. It was an emotional piece to make. I love how it turned out and this is the type of art I love making for people. Heartfelt, emotional, meaningful. 🥰

05/14/2026

Griffin had a 4 part session throughout his senior year. This was the 2nd. I call him my super model/comedian. He keeps me laughing throughout, but he can throw smile and smolder ( If youve seen Rapunzel you understand) on command. Haha! I love every session with him.

05/13/2026

Happy Wednesday folks!
Since I've been so quiet for quite a while, I thought I'd share a little. You know I get long winded, so it may be "a lot" haha!
Feel free to read, or scroll. If you stick around to read, feel free to comment as well. I've missed you all. A lot. 🤗
It's no secret, I've had many health issues over the years and some put me down for quite some time. Especially after having had covid multiple times, I thought my liver would never recover from all the hits it seemed to take.
Last year really took a toll. Mentally and physically. I stayed pretty quiet here, but I was very verbal on my personal page. And angry. Very angry. A lot happened.
Too much to go into. Too many personal things but also a lot of health issues that were unexplained. I thought for sure my photography career was over. I did work, (as you'll see from the finally updated image posts 😜) but I struggled to.
Most of the year I was so weak most days, I could barely hold a coffee cup much less my camera.
I had a lot of test, scans, meds, rest...
Ultimately nothing life threatening was found that was of any major significance. The same health issues I've always had remained, but slowly I started feeling better as time went on. THEN.....
We had two very traumatic events happened back to back towards the middle of the year, annnnd almost all my hair fell out. 🤣
So out of pure humiliation and frustration, I became a recluse for a little bit and didn't come back out until I felt like I could face the world again. 🤷‍♀️

TADA! Here I am facing the world! 😁

During my hybernation... I reconnected with lots of old hobbies, art I used to love doing, learned some new things and started several side Ventures with that. Now I have all these fun new things to share!
I'll be casually selling my unique handmade collection online and at local craft fairs, as well as local events this year.
Since Im having so much fun with all of this, I thought it would be fun to incorporate it into my photography a bit also. I hope you all will enjoy seeing what comes and find it as fun as I have!

So... everything's not perfect, but its getting better. Everyday I'm blessed to wake up. No matter what life throws at me, you know I'm gonna catch it and turn it into something I can use. 🥰
As always thank you for being a part of my life, my memories and for letting me be a part of yours! ❤️ Shell

This is just one of many of my new hobbies. Turning my clients into custom things. My dear friend Melanie let me turn her family into a fancy framed clay wall art piece, and Im working on an Embroidered Christmas ornament, as well as a clay magnet right now. 😊 Whatcha think?