The 9 Best Portrait Photographers in Grand Rapids

Looking for the very best Grand Rapids portrait photographers? Peerspace has your back! As the largest online marketplace for hourly venue rentals, spaces perfect for taking your portrait and more are our business.

Portraiture is also one of our favorite genres to review because it explores so many angles in the photography space. From weddings to lifestyle, from fashion to boudoir, there are an infinite number of ways to explore the human form. And believe it or not, some of the top talent in the nation is right here in Michigan. Take a look at the work of the top 9 Grand Rapids portrait photographers and see if you don’t agree with us!

1. Chad Ronald

It was the discovery that photography runs in his family that inspired Chad Ronald to take up the camera and pursue the creative. Learning that he had relatives that were working photographers, crafting memories that could amaze him generations into the future was simply that powerful.

Chad’s portraiture now does the same for clients in Grand Rapids, mixing both honest representations with his own fine art vision of the collaboration. We especially enjoy his eye for rich contrast and saturation, highlighting colors in a way that adds to the emotions and stories being told by his subjects!

2. The Brouwers Photo

Laura and Robert Brouwers are the husband and wife Grand Rapids portrait photographers behind this brand. Laura is the lead photographer and the one who got the ball rolling when she started pursuing photography in 2013. It allowed her to see life from a new angle. The memories she captured in the process helped her realize that she had a gift she could share with other people.

Laura’s eye for memories often gives her work a nostalgic, romantic quality that’s especially well suited to wedding and couples portraiture. And the way she gets up close and intimate when framing helps us feel as if we’ve been sucked right into the scene with her subjects!

3. Holladay Photography

Are you looking for polished and beautiful corporate, senior, or wedding portraiture? If so then we recommend exploring the photography of Erik Holladay. Even before founding Holladay Photography in 2009, he had been honing his talents over his 25-year career as a photojournalist.

This documentary-oriented approach still comes across in much of his portraiture, especially his wedding images. Erik manages to find and share beauty while his subjects are fully engaged in the moment. It is these in-between instants that can tell some of the most powerful and emotional stories; sometimes even more effectively than the posed photos!

4. Samantha Roth

Samantha Roth is a homemaker and Grand Rapids portrait photographer who moved to the area in 2020. Her lifestyle images focus on showcasing the beauty of families, children, and maternity. She typically works outdoors, where abundant natural light and detail-rich backgrounds softly suggest nostalgic family outings for heirloom portrait sessions.

We also love how Samatha’s artistic talents are meant to soothe some of the pain in the world. She sees a space full of hurtful messages and far too few reminders of the beauty and love that are also present. And so Samantha’s art is a gentle reminder to see things with a more holistic gaze.

5. Sydney Nicole

The pandemic was what inspired Sydney Nicole to re-ignite her former photography passion and explore the visual arts again. And we are pleased she made that choice because her work is heartfelt and cheerful, sharing unique couples and family bonds with viewers around the world!

Sydney’s work is not merely about finding beauty, however. She also knows the importance of noticing and conveying what’s true about her subjects when photographing them. As she shares with us: “Everyone deserves images that tell their story authentically and with intention”. This dedication is part of why we feel so much emotion when viewing Sydney’s images!

6. Rob Sackyta

As a commercial and Grand Rapids portrait photographer, people and products are the main focus of Rob Sackyta. Born in nearby Detroit, he has held a lifelong fascination with cameras that still remains powerful to this day. Cameras have the ability to transmit a vision of the world as the artist sees it to others.

And we see a vision of rich color and contrast, of impactful details, and a love of the close-up in Rob’s photography. His portraiture is often classically inspired, using poses that are natural to the subjects while conveying powerful themes and moods to the viewer!

7. Abrahm Shearer

Abrahm Shearer is a portrait photographer operating out of both Grand Rapids and NYC. And he is an artist whose portfolio is endlessly diverse, exploring nearly all of the subgenres within the portrait experience. Everything from urban fashion to engagement portraits is here to be appreciated.

We especially love his detail-rich environmental portraiture that uses shallow depth of field and natural light in the outdoors. Abrahm’s ability to convey grace, uniqueness, and wonder is nearly unlimited and is enjoyable to simply browse!

8. Joanna Grace

It was the discovery of the visual arts in high school that led Joanna Grace to pursue her career as a wedding and portrait photographer. Unlike many young people, she knew immediately that this was something she wanted to learn and master.

Joanna now works to capture couples in all their authenticity and uniqueness. The natural way they engage with each other, express themselves, laugh, and love. She has a major talent for helping folks feel relaxed enough to do so as well. We see it in how people laugh, kiss, and hold each other; there is no artifice here, which is an amazing accomplishment!

9. Bridgette K. Photo

Finding out how people in all their splendor present themselves through the lens of a camera is what inspires Bridgette K. to continue creating! And in the process, she gets to freeze moments in time that would otherwise be fleeting for her subjects to savor for decades to come. Her focus is on families, weddings, couples, and individuals looking for a relaxed, natural photography experience.

And if you appreciate warm golden hour tones, moody shadow, and storytelling surroundings then you’re going to love Bridgette’s work.

Find unique photoshoot locations in Grand Rapids on Peerspace