About

Meet the team—Betsy & Jax

Empowered women who love empowering others. All are welcome here.

Betsy
PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST. VISIONARY. CEO.

MODERN-DAY STORYTELLER. BELIEVER IN CARPE DIEM. ADVENTURE SEEKER.

Hi, I’m Betsy, an award-winning international artist, residing in Kalamazoo, West Michigan (YES, it IS indeed a real place!). My love people! My approach to portrait photography begins there. My curiosity about people, their why, and their life experiences led my heart here.

After overcoming a personal storm when I lost my life and business partner almost a decade ago, I discovered the healing power of self-expression. It took time, healing, and traveling the world alone with my camera for a year—shooting for myself and not for others—as my art began to pull me out of the darkness. Breath by breath, photography helped me find joy in small details and those little things began to add up, bringing hope and glimmers of happiness back into my life. I also found my way to boudoir during this transformation which IMMENSELY helped me rebuild my sense of self and reconnect to my confidence.

As I rebuilt myself and my new life, I paid close attention to where the light and darkness intersected—figuratively and literally in life and my art. My camera became my tool to illustrate this delicate balance that I could feel in my bones. I rediscovered myself through these experiences which taught me to savor every sweet morsel of the NOW.

I’m thankful each day for the salvation I found in my art.

One-of-a-kind collaboration.

The gifts that came from this chapter of life prepared me to provide a truly one-of-a-kind collaboration with my clients. Through my rebuilding, I learned a lot of ways to love and celebrate myself and life—which I encourage my clients to embrace through a unique journey that is like no other. Now, I guide my clients on a unique journey of self-discovery through photography, revealing their inner light and helping them shine brighter than ever before.

Things you should know about me:

  • The answer to life, the universe, and everything is 42.
  • I love dogs more than you know.
  • Wine. Coffee. Extra Dirty Martinis.
  • I live for stinky cheese.
  • I speak in cursive, which basically means I say the word FUCK a lot.
  • I am a VERY curious person. My happy place is traveling and talking to strangers.
  • I’ve spent more time in Paris than any other city in the world outside of where I live.

This runs deep. I promise you that you’ll come out on the other side seeing yourself and your life in a new light.

Jax
STUDIO MANAGER. VISION BOARD MASTER. CHEERLEADER.

COFFEE LOVER.
DOG AND HUMAN MOM.
DIY PROJECT ENTHUSIAST.

I left a career in the automotive industry to join Betsy in January 2022. I had my daughter a few months prior and realized my career just wasn’t fulfilling me. I wanted to help make a difference.

I’ve been photographed by Betsy too many times to count now. After each session, I walked away feeling like I had a new outlook on whatever I was going through at that moment.

That’s part of the beauty of what I do now. I get to help others find that new outlook! I’ve been in your shoes; I know what you’re going through. I’ve been nervous, excited, shy, and fearless all in a matter of minutes.

I like to turn my boudoir experiences into shareable moments to help you prepare for your session. Nothing is off limits; we can talk about anything and everything! All the fun wardrobe planning as well as the somewhat uncomfortable topics and emotions that come with boudoir (hey! It comes with working outside our comfort zone!). I’ll be by your side every step of the journey. You won’t be doing this alone!

SHARING WITH OTHERS

About Giving Back

I am a firm-believer in giving back to the community and charitable organizations I care about in any way possible!
  • Volunteered photography for the San Diego Humane Society for 5 years, helping hundreds of dogs get adopted into forever homes. My work was well-known for capturing the unique bond between humans and their canine friends. Many of my photographs were featured in annual reports, fundraising efforts, and billboards for raising community awareness.
  • Participated as a lead photographer in community-based charity work following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. I photographed pro-bono family portraits for those who had lost their homes and belongings.
  • Provided professional event photography for numerous HRC (Human Rights Campaign) LGBTQ Equality Fundraising events as well as numerous Planned Parenthood Fundraising events. Both are worthy charitable organizations aligned with my personal values.
  • Served as a leader in the local San Diego photography community for several years, providing leadership and support to new and experienced professionals.
  • Documented fundraising efforts and community awareness events for the San Diego Class 1 Streetcars, working towards restoration and reinstallation of these vehicles for historic preservation and tourism.
  • Gave back to the arts community of San Diego through Pro Bono work for rising modern dance companies.

I take great pride in going above and beyond for my clients over the past two decades...

Both as Betsy McCue Pictures and La Vida Creations, prior to that. I have hundreds of satisfied clients around the world! I’ve photographed clients and small businesses internationally in Germany, London, France, Australia, Czechia, Serbia, and Croatia. I love to travel for work and do boudoir photos and family photography in cities on demand. Read what my clients have to say and you’ll get a good idea of how much I love serving my clients! I have lots of reviews here on my site but here are a few other independent sites if you really want to dive in.

Client TESTIMONIALS

From the Mouths of Babes! Dive into more reviews around the web on independent sites.

Happy Clients

We deeply value the genuine relationships we build with our photography clients.

SAY YES TO YOU IN A BEAUTIFUL, CARING, AND LOVING WAY

Kalamazoo | Detroit | Ann Arbor | East Grand Rapids | Northville | Novi | Beverly Hills | Birmingham | Traverse City | Saugatuck | Saint Joseph | Holland | Michigan | Michigan City | Chicago | Dyer | Munster | St John | Crown Point | Oak Brook | Williamette | Hamburg | Winnetka | Gross Pointe Shores | Bloomfield Hills | Pickney | and West Bloomfield

My Top Secrets for Living in the Present Revealed

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EMBRACE YOUR STORY — BOUDOIR, FAMILY, AND BRANDING PHOTOGRAPHY WITH MEANING AND SOME HEART & SOUL, BABY