about
anna beth smith
Rooted in connection, celebration, and the stories we'll tell for years
For more than a decade, I've photographed weddings and families across Northern Michigan, from the shores of Traverse City and Glen Arbor to Petoskey, Harbor Springs, and destinations beyond. And if there's one thing I've come to appreciate over the years, it's this: The older I get, the more I realize how rich I am. Not because of what I own, but because of the people in my life, the places that feel like home, and the experiences we've shared along the way.
I grew up in a family that valued experiences over things. Some of my favorite childhood memories are surprisingly simple: annual trips to the Cherry Festival parade, swimming in the lake, backyard parties with friends, family vacations to the Outer Banks, and summer nights spent outside until long after the fireflies came out.
Looking back, I realize those moments were shaping me long before I understood it. Today, my faith, my family, and my relationships continue to shape what matters most to me. Becoming a wife and mother only reinforced something I was already beginning to learn: the moments that seem ordinary today often become the ones we treasure most tomorrow.
The traditions. The inside jokes. The people who've known you through every season of life. The places you return to again and again. Those are the things that make a life feel rich. And they're the things I'm most drawn to documenting.
Hi, I’m Anna Beth,
but you can call me Anna.
My ideal day starts with coffee and nowhere to be. I’m probably wandering through a small Northern Michigan town with my family, stopping into a few local shops, walking along the water, and stretching the day a little longer than planned. Then it's lunch from a favorite sandwich shop (Cheese Shanty, anyone?), sitting somewhere overlooking Lake Michigan, or ending the evening around a campfire with friends.
I love rainy afternoons on the front porch. Summer nights under bistro lights. The smell of sunscreen and bug spray. The sound of frogs chirping after dark. 90s rom-coms. Boat rides. Windows down and the radio up.
I've skydived, spent two summers in Europe, and once showed up soaking wet to a dinner reservation after a kayaking date with my husband went completely off the rails. And, yes, I still go to the Cherry Festival parade every summer, except now I get to experience it through my children's eyes.
If you really want to know me...
cameras used on wedding day
15
weddings taken each year
4+
years in business
12
weddings captured
250+
weddings by the numbers:
The photographs I treasure most aren't necessarily the technically perfect ones. They're the ones that connect me to people I love.
One of my favorite photographs from my own wedding isn't a portrait of my husband and me. It's a photograph of my grandmother laughing and waving her hand at the camera with her whole body. My wedding ended up being her last big trip before she passed away, and today that image means more to me than I ever could have imagined.
PHOTOGRAPHS GROW MORE VALUABLE WITH TIME
I believe great photography begins with trust. Working alongside your planner and creative partners, my role is to create an experience that feels calm, comfortable, and seamless from beginning to end so you can stay focused on the people you've gathered while I preserve the relationships, moments, and atmosphere that make the day uniquely yours. I'll step in when guidance is helpful and step back when a moment deserves to unfold on its own.
your experience matters
The most meaningful photographs aren't created through perfect posing. They're created when you're fully engaged with the people around you. The laugh that catches you off guard. The hug that lasts a little longer. The friends who somehow end up back together on the dance floor. Those are the moments that become part of your story.
CONNECTION COMES FIRST
How i
Approach your day
Photography is about more than preserving how something looked.
It's about preserving what mattered.
Not because it's perfect, but because it reminds me exactly who she was. Her personality. Her joy. The way she made people feel.
That's the thing about photographs. Their value grows over time. What feels ordinary today can become priceless years later. Your wedding photographs aren't just for you now. They're for future anniversaries, future conversations, future generations, and all the moments when you'll want to remember exactly how it felt to be there.
my kind of people
who i work with
They're intentional about the experience they're creating for everyone involved, and they trust the team they've chosen to help bring it all together. While they appreciate beautiful details and thoughtful design, they understand that the most memorable celebrations are never defined by those things alone.
They're the kind of people who are fully present. The kind who laugh easily, welcome others in, and genuinely enjoy being together.
Many are drawn to Northern Michigan for the same reasons I am: a sense of place, meaningful traditions, and the opportunity to gather the people they love most in one beautiful setting.
My couples care deeply about the people around them. They value connection, meaningful experiences, and creating memories with the people they love.
At the heart of it all, they believe that the best memories are made together.
"Where to even begin! Thank you SO much for everything! Not only have you taken the most amazing photos, you have been such a great support system on this journey! We cannot tell you how much we appreciate you and everything you have done! Thank you!!!"
- Carly
"Omg I am so OBSESSED over how the photos are turning out!!! They truly look like something out of a magazine and capture the feelings of the day so perfectly!"
- Hailie
"I didn't come into this with any set expectations, but I can honestly say that what you delivered was far beyond anything I could have imagined. Your eye, your talent- it's absolutely incredible.
These photos are a gift that our families with cherish for a lifetime, and I can't thank you enough for being part of that. I deeply appreciate everything you did for us."
- Lauren
"ANNA! The pictures we received today in the mail made my entire week. Truly. What a gift!!!!
THANK YOU for your time and your thought and your gift! You are my very very favorite thing from your wedding - pictures we will have our entire lives!"
-Lydia
"Anna, we wanted to take a moment to thank you so much for capturing the most beautiful photos on our special day! We were absolutely blown away! Every shot reflects not only your technical skill, but also your ability to see and capture the emotion and essence of the moment.
Your talent is truly exceptional, and we couldn't be more grateful for the stunning photographs you've given us. Thank you so much again for EVERYTHING! We are so grateful we chose you to document our big day - we will treasure these memories forever."
- Courtney
"Yet again, these are stunning. We couldn't be happier. Thank you so much for capturing this special time in our lives. We appreciate you!"
- Andrea
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