My Journey with U R There Photography

I’m Sheryl L. Sutter, and my heart beats in perfect harmony with Michigan’s Thumb—a place where time stands still, where fields unfold like a tender embrace, barns stand as silent keepers of history, and every sunset spills hope across the sky. This region has been my home, my sanctuary, for as long as memory holds. In 1994, my husband, Dan and I settled in Lapeer, finding a modest house that became our haven, a place where love took root and dreams began to bloom. Here, in the quiet grace of the Thumb, I discovered my deepest passion: capturing its essence through my camera and sharing its warmth with others.

In 2016, a spark ignited my world. I was traveling through the Thumb for work, my camera always close, when something stirred within me. I wasn’t just taking photos—I had an opportunity to gather moments, to  weave stories of a place that had shaped my soul. The barns, their boards worn by time, the silos standing proud, the fields reaching for the horizon—they weren’t mere scenery. They were fragments of my heart, pieces I longed for others to feel as deeply as I did. I threw myself into photographing this land, collecting thousands of images over six years. Each one felt like a treasure, carefully kept to cradle the magic of this land.

I wanted my photos to do more than rest in frames or albums. I wanted them to live in people’s everyday moments, to carry the Thumb’s comfort into their lives. That’s when U R There Photography was born. 

Life hasn’t always been kind. In 2003, Dan and I faced heavy days, struggling to keep our home when the world felt like it might slip away. We would, together, traverse the loss of a son-in-law, a grandson, and in later years the loss of both of our mothers and a brother.  Those trials taught me resilience, showing, that even in the darkest moments, there’s a light worth seeking. They deepened my resolve to create something that could spark joy for me and for others. U R There Photography is my heart’s offering, a delicate balance of creativity and care, even when the days stretch long. I’m a quiet spirit, more at home behind my camera than in the spotlight, but sharing with others fills me with joy. My Facebook page (U R There Photography LLC) has grown to nearly a thousand kindred souls, each one a reminder of the love we share for this place. I’ve also shared my images on Pixels and Fine Art America, where prints of barns, silos, and nature’s quiet beauty touch lives far beyond Michigan.

From my small office in lovely Lapeer, I keep chasing the light, always hoping to capture new images and dreaming of ways to share this beautiful area's warmth. My work is more than photographs—it’s a love letter to this region, an invitation for others to see its beauty through my eyes. I’m not done yet. With every image I capture, I’m weaving a legacy, one I hope will wrap others in inspiration and peace, just like the barns that stand steady across this amazing area's horizon.