A Scenic Sunset Family Session at the Houghton County Marina, MI | Northern Michigan Photographer
Some family stories are written in joy.
Others are written through both joy and heartbreak.
The Bouman family’s story carries a little of both.
We met for their session at the marina in Houghton, Michigan, along the calm waters of the Portage Canal. Summer in the Upper Peninsula has a way of feeling especially golden—long evenings, gentle breezes off the water, and a pace that invites you to slow down and stay awhile.
For the Bouman family, the marina holds deep meaning.
Tied to the dock was their boat, lovingly named “One Too Few.” More than just a boat, it has been a place of refuge and togetherness for their family. During difficult seasons spent in and out of the NICU, the boat became a temporary home—a place where they could rest, breathe, and remain close to the water while navigating unimaginable moments.
Their family has experienced the heartbreak of losing two children during those NICU days.
It’s a grief that becomes part of a family’s story forever.
And yet, alongside that grief is a remarkable love for the children they hold in their arms today, and for the moments they share together.
Life on the Water
We began the session aboard their boat, where so many memories have already been made.
The kids climbed around the deck with the easy confidence that comes from spending summers on the water. There were small explorations of every corner, curious peeks over the railing, and the kind of laughter that drifts easily across the marina.
It felt like stepping into a piece of their everyday life.
For the Bouman family, summer often means time spent right here—watching boats pass along the canal, feeling the sun warm the deck, and soaking in the beauty of an Upper Peninsula summer that never lasts quite long enough.
Under the Lift Bridge
After some time on the boat, we wandered out into the open green space nearby. Just beyond us stood one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Keweenaw, the towering span of the Portage Lake Lift Bridge casting its long shadow across the marina.
Here, the session slowed into something softer.
There were twirls across the grass, spontaneous dancing, and plenty of snuggles as the family gathered together. The kids ran freely across the open space, circling back again and again to their parents’ arms.
Moments like these don’t need much direction.
They simply unfold.
The Beauty of Time Together
When the Bouman family reached out about their session, what they wanted most was simple: to capture the love that binds them together.
Not just the posed smiles, but the real pieces of their life—the laughter, the closeness, the way they show up for each other every day.
Families who have walked through deep loss often carry a unique perspective on time. The ordinary moments—the ones that might pass unnoticed in the rush of everyday life—become incredibly meaningful.
A hug that lingers a little longer.
Kids laughing together on the grass.
A quiet moment on the water at the end of the day.
Photographing their family felt less like documenting a session and more like witnessing a story of resilience, love, and gratitude for the moments they share.
And on that warm summer evening at the marina, beneath the bridge and beside the water, it was clear that their story is one held together by an extraordinary amount of love.
Searra Liggett is a family and wedding photographer based in Houghton, Michigan, serving the Keweenaw Peninsula and beyond. A mother of three and lifelong storyteller, she is drawn to the quiet beauty of real moments—windswept adventures, laughter between siblings, and the small pieces of life that often go unnoticed. Through her photography and writing, she hopes to preserve the feeling of a moment, not just how it looked.