Hi, I’m Chel, a Michigan-based micro wedding, elopement, and intimate wedding photographer specializing in emotion-driven, story-focused imagery for couples who value meaning over tradition.
I photograph micro weddings (typically under 125 guests), adventure elopements, proposals, and engagement sessions across Michigan, with a deep love for Northern Michigan (my hometown is Traverse City) Frankenmuth, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. I also travel for destination celebrations, including Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains.
If you’re planning something small, intentional, and deeply personal, you’re exactly who I photograph.
Why I Specialize in Micro Weddings & Elopements
Micro weddings allow space – space to breathe, connect, and actually experience your day. I work with couples who want their wedding to feel like them, not a massive performance.
Many of my couples are planning:
- Sleeping Bear Dunes or Upper Peninsula elopements
- Micro weddings all over Michigan, from cities like Traverse to Detroit and everywhere in-between.
- Destination micro weddings in places like Tennessee, Arizona, Texas, and the UK.
- Intimate celebrations with close family and friends
If you’re just starting the planning process, these posts may help:
- Eloping at Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Wedding Permit for Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Best Time to Get Married at Sleeping Bear Dunes
- How to Plan a Small Wedding at Sleeping Bear Dunes
- How to Plan a Micro Wedding in Traverse City
- A Detroit Micro Wedding: Rouba & Tarius
- A Frankenmuth Michigan Wedding: The Thompson’s
- How to Plan a Michigan Wedding
- Sevierville Micro Wedding: Sean & Emma
- What is a Micro Wedding
I don’t just show up with a camera… I help couples navigate locations, permits, timing, and logistics so their day feels relaxed instead of rushed.
My Photography Style (and What That Really Means)
My work is best described as editorial-meets-documentary. That means:
- Natural movement & intentional prompts over stiff blah posing
- Real emotion over forced perfect shots (trust me, the real moments are way way better)
- Clean, intentional edits that feel timeless (I spend a lot of my time in the editing process)
I believe great wedding photography is about trust, consistency, and experience, not just pretty images.
If you’re trying to figure out what separates photographers (and why pricing can vary so widely), these posts break it down honestly:
- What Makes a Photographer “Luxury”
- How to Tell If a Wedding Photographer Is Legitimate
- What Questions to Ask Your Wedding Photographer
- The Best Michigan Wedding Photographers
These guides exist to help couples make confident decisions, whether they hire me or not.
Engagement Sessions & Storytelling Beyond the Wedding Day
I love working with couples before the wedding day, especially during engagement sessions. This is often where people realize they don’t have to feel awkward in photos.
Some favorite locations I photograph often:
- Sleeping Bear Dunes engagement sessions
- Top Engagement Session Locations at Sleeping Bear Dunes
- Beaches, trails, and scenic overlooks across Northern Michigan
Engagement sessions aren’t about perfect poses; they’re about connection, comfort, and learning how to move naturally together.
Life Behind the Camera
When I’m not photographing weddings, I’m:
- Editing late at night with coffee in hand, because I am a night owl
- Raising my kids (2 &5 year wild boys) and chasing everyday moments
- Teaching photography basics and breaking down complex ideas, because I love helping beginners who were in my spot when I first started
- Writing guides to help couples feel less overwhelmed in their wedding planning process
This blog is a mix of:
- Micro wedding & elopement planning tips
- Real wedding stories and galleries
- Photography education for beginners
- Behind-the-scenes life as a wedding photographer
- Personal reflections, travels, and everyday moments
It’s meant to be helpful, honest, and human… just like the way I work with my couples.
If You’re Here Planning Your Wedding
Whether you’re:
- Planning a Michigan micro wedding
- Searching for a Sleeping Bear Dunes wedding photographer
- Considering a destination elopement
- Or just learning what to look for in a wedding photographer
I’m really glad you’re here.
Take your time exploring the blog, and if something resonates, I’d love to connect.
-Chel
Cheleana Marie Photography | Michigan Micro Wedding & Elopement Photographer, specializing in Sleeping Bear Dunes, Detroit, Frankenmuth, and Ann Arbor
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