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Michigan Agricultural Photography at Three Lakes Gardens: Finding Beauty "In the Weeds"

  • Writer: sarahrypma
    sarahrypma
  • 5 days ago
  • 2 min read

Michigan agricultural photography gives me a front-row seat to stories that reach beyond the crops themselves. During a recent sunrise session at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan, I spent the morning with husband-and-wife farmers Mayumi and Tyler, photographing their work for Taste the Local Difference.

Husband-and-wife market farmers Mayumi and Tyler harvest cucumbers together at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan during a Michigan agricultural photography session.

It didn't take long to see that Three Lakes Gardens is built on more than healthy soil. Mayumi and Tyler move through the fields as true partners, each anticipating the other's next step.


Market farmers Mayumi and Tyler walk through vegetable fields at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan during an early morning harvest.
Mayumi and Tyler harvest fresh cucumbers at sunrise at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan, filling a basket with vegetables.

Whether harvesting cucumbers, checking on tomatoes, or preparing vegetables for market, there was a quiet rhythm to the way they worked together that only comes from sharing countless early mornings and long growing seasons.


Mayumi and Tyler harvest summer squash together at sunrise at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Freshly harvested summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, and round squash in a woven basket held by market farmers during a Michigan agricultural photography session at Three Lakes Gardens near Williamston, Michigan.

As we walked the fields that morning, one theme kept surfacing. Mayumi and Tyler apologized more than once for the weeds, much like my family clients apologize for the mess before an in-home lifestyle session. Every farmer knows the feeling. Weeds compete with crops for sunlight, water, and nutrients, demanding constant attention during an already busy season.


Morning light shines over the vegetable fields at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan as Mayumi and Tyler harvest crops in the garden.

I couldn't help but smile because my response to Mayumi and Tyler was exactly the same response I give to my family clients, "Don't worry, we'll photograph around them."


Freshly harvested cherry tomatoes gathered in a farmer's sweatshirt at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Mayumi and Tyler laugh while harvesting cherry tomatoes at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan during an early morning harvest.
Mayumi carries an empty harvest basket through the fields at sunrise at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Mayumi laughs as she feeds Tyler a freshly picked cherry tomato while holding a basket of tomatoes at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.

Before long, Mayumi and Tyler disappeared into those very weeds, harvesting row after row. A few minutes later, they returned carrying baskets full of gorgeous produce.


A harvest basket overflowing with heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, basil, and lettuce at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Morning dew glistens on the deep purple leaves of bok choy at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Mayumi and Tyler harvest colorful okra together at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan alongside a close-up of freshly picked red and green okra in a woven basket.
Freshly harvested beets with soil-covered roots held by a farmer at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Freshly harvested red potatoes fill baskets and harvest bins at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Mayumi harvests cucumbers from the vine and smiles while holding a basket of freshly picked cucumbers at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Freshly harvested kohlrabi held in a farmer's hands at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan.
Mayumi and Tyler harvest purple bok choy together at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan during an early morning harvest.
Mayumi and Tyler walk toward the greenhouses at sunrise at Three Lakes Gardens near Lansing, Michigan after a morning harvest.

As I packed up my camera, I found myself thinking about that familiar phrase: in the weeds. We usually use it to describe the seasons when life feels overwhelming. But that morning reminded me that the weeds aren't the whole story. Sometimes they're simply part of the landscape where meaningful work is happening. And if we're willing to keep showing up, one row at a time, there's often a harvest waiting on the other side.


Every farm, business, and organization has a story worth telling. If you're looking for Michigan agricultural photography that captures the people, purpose, and passion behind your work, I'd love to help tell your story.



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