Look Out Lincoln - Sarah and Morgan

Look Out Lincoln
Music Lovers Engagement Session
Folk Band Based Out of Grand Rapids, MI

Look out Lincoln is a folk duo with main talent Morgan Haner and Sarah Barker.  I was so excited to photograph a personal branding session for these cool characters!  Anything to get them out and up! I absolutely LOVE their music. Morgan has a kind of a Bob-Dylan-chill-the-F-out vibe, and mixed with Sarah's angelic- yet guttural strength, the two together are quite magical. One side of her reminded me of Honey Honey, which I am a big fan. But the range, the sweetness, with a surprising twang at times, really harmonizes with Morgan's rugged, masculine softness exquisitely. It is really different and unique. This is a sound that must be heard.

The poetic lyrics strike a universal cord. The humanness of these thoughts and feelings, a  connection felt immediately, is welcoming, and a gift, to all ears and hearts. 

So laid back, genuine, and welcoming. The name "Look Out Lincoln" may be attributed to many different reasons and descriptions, which I find funny and mysterious, just like them. The doggie in one of these shots is named Lincoln, though.

As long as I’ve been in GR, I’ve yearned for places with live music, that aren’t meat markets or the sole purpose being to get hammered, where 30-somethings could just enjoy fantastic music (with wine, let’s not get crazy).  These guys would be the epitome of that concept.

They’re the kind of talent that you want to do whatever you can to push them forward. Again, they should be heard. Yes,  They’ve traveled and toured the nation years ago, but it’s just not good enough for me. Check them out here:

https://lookoutlincoln.bandcamp.com/album/high-time

AND!!! I am excited to say that they are also ENGAGED!!! Congratulations to a team on all sorts of levels, including Hunter, Sarah's son. Happy little beautiful family. 

Morgan and Sarah met through a mutual friend, in two different states. "Morgan was just some charming long haired guy at the head of a very crowded table but made some good jokes and I thought he seemed like a solid dude. After dinner at my place, I was showing off my guitar to him and made him play me a song."  In response, she played a tune that still isn't recorded (but she played it doing our shoot and it was beautiful. I hope to hear that again when I can concentrate without camera settings in my head). Anyway, they wrote each other and became close. He wrote love letters from the road when he was on tour engineering for The Giving Tree Band. He was in Chicago and she was here when they fell in love.

They have played in clubs, bars, and a couple festivals from here to Kansas. You may have seen them at Rocky's Bar in GR.  The tour in 2015 was kind of a make or break moment for the relationship, as a couple and as a band. In order to keep gas in the van all the way to New Mexico, they played gigs that were set up in advance. From Chicago to St. Louis to Lawerence KS to New Mexico, and back to Southern IL and Kalamazoo with their little EP. They hope to make a full length album soon and hit the road again. "The three dogs makes it a little tough but meh, there's a lot of love around here in exchange," said Sarah.

"I guess the part to take away is that music brought us together. Our mutual love of folk music and our preoccupations with song writing allowed us to really see one another, naked, all our soft parts exposed, our truths spilling from our mouths in the form of song. It gave us an opportunity to understand and trust one another right away and let the rest flow naturally. I guess that's what music is to us, it's a sacred trust among humanity, where we tell our stories and lay down our truths (especially the most painful ones) and our histories, our understanding of the world as we experience it. And if you're lucky, there someone out there that sees it that way too and feels less lonesome, or if you're really talented and lucky, someone who has never bothered to understand a different point of view can level with you in a song."

I love that. How beautiful. 

Ice Skating Engagement! Caitlin and Matt

Grand Rapids, MI
Rosa Parks Circle

Congratulations Caitlin and Matt! What a fun day for ice-skating in the city! It was actually beautiful, warm(er) for Michigan in February, and the sun was out. These two are so cool (not just because they were ice skating! Hee hee). Their warm personalities make you feel like you've been friends for years. I instantly connected with these two. Smiles, jokes, a little insecurity about skating and falling on your arse (Caitlin)... I am so excited for this couple and can't wait for the wedding! They are having their reception at McKay Tower, which is reflected in the buildings in some of these shots. Pretty cool.

(They never fell on their arses, but other people did. They're in the background in some of these... Thought it was funny since it's the Olympics and everyone cringes on the edge of their seats waiting for people to fall. You know you do.)

Caitlin and Matt met at her cousin's wedding. Matt actually crashed it- well, kind of. The best man asked him to go. But Caitlin says he crashed it. They were together for two years when Matt proposed. There was a love note on the bed, and when Caitlin turned around, he was on his knee. He always tries to surprise her, and it never works, so this time he didn't plan anything and just did it. He wanted to propose on the blue bridge and got shot down for lack of originality. Ha!

Well, just look at these two! I am genuinely so, so happy for them. My heart gets bigger knowing people like these guys...