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Professional Headshots and Event Photography in Kalamazoo: Celebrating Community with Stara Collaborative

Updated: Aug 3

This summer I had the privilege of photographing professional headshots and event photography in Kalamazoo for Stara Collaborative’s Mix & Mingle event—a creative approach to employee appreciation and storytelling.


Instead of a typical corporate photo day, Stara invited employees to bring their families, creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere where work and home came together beautifully.


Smiling woman lifting a baby outdoors, both looking at each other joyfully, backlit by the warm evening sun through green trees

Why Stara Collaborative Stands Out

For those unfamiliar, Stara Collaborative is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector itself. They provide backbone support for organizations, helping leaders focus on their mission while Stara handles the behind-the-scenes strategy, staffing, and operational infrastructure. That commitment to people was on full display at this event.


Combining Professional Headshots with Family Candid Photography

The Mix & Mingle gave employees the opportunity to:


Update their professional headshots for internal and public-facing materials


Professional headshot of a woman with shoulder-length hair, wearing glasses and a black blazer over a striped top, smiling while standing against a white brick wall.

Capture candid family moments—to celebrate and capture the bonds they share with their loved ones.


Child resting on a woman’s shoulder, peeking over with a soft smile while embraced in golden evening sunlight under green trees
Three women and two children smiling and embracing each other in front of a white brick wall, capturing a joyful family moment.
Smiling couple holding a baby outdoors, with the woman’s hair blowing in the wind and green trees in the background

Why This Approach Works for Businesses

Integrating professional headshots and event photography at one event creates lasting impact:


Employee Appreciation: Family portraits send a clear message—your people matter, not just their work.


Three people standing together and smiling, with one person in a colorful rainbow dress laughing between two men wearing white shirts
Group of five people, including a woman holding a baby, standing together outdoors and smiling under a tree
Smiling baby reaching toward the camera while being held in the arms of two adults
Two people standing close together outdoors, laughing and smiling at each other with green trees in the background

Marketing Assets: High-quality headshots and group photos strengthen organizational branding.



Community Connection: It’s an opportunity to visually tell a story of inclusion, belonging, and humanity—values that resonate deeply with clients and supporters.


Two people hugging tightly outdoors, one smiling with sunglasses and a baseball cap, showing a joyful expression

Capturing the Spirit of Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo is known for its creativity and commitment to community. This event captured that spirit perfectly—employees with their loved ones, all connected by Stara’s mission to help nonprofits thrive. It was an honor to create a photo collection that Stara can use for both internal appreciation and external storytelling.


Two people hugging while one holds a child, with other family members standing and unloading a car in the background


Ready to Book Professional Headshots or Event Photography in Kalamazoo?


If your organization is looking for professional headshots and event photography in Kalamazoo, I’d love to help you tell your story. Contact me here to create something uniquely yours.

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