I chose a micro wedding for my own celebration in Traverse City in 2017, and that experience deeply shaped how I approach intimate weddings in Michigan. Even in such a naturally beautiful setting, I felt the quiet pressure to follow tradition or expand the day beyond what truly mattered.
What I wanted instead was simple and intentional: to be fully present, to celebrate along the water and landscapes I love, and to share the day with the people who meant the most to us. That choice continues to guide my work throughout Northern Michigan and beyond.

Today, I help couples create wedding days that feel calm, unhurried, and deeply personal—whether they’re exchanging vows along Lake Michigan, on a private estate, or at a meaningful Michigan destination. By collaborating seamlessly with planners and vendor teams, I create space for you to relax, connect, and truly experience your day, knowing it’s being documented with care and intention.

**You wont find anyone who cares more deeply than I do about providing you with an intentional experience on your intimate wedding day**

meet chel, your luxury wedding photographer

my approach

how I show up for you

Trust & kinship

I care deeply about the people I photograph, and I want your experience to feel easy and familiar. My goal is that when I arrive, there’s an immediate sense of comfort—like, okay, Chel’s here. I can relax.
I take the time to truly get to know you, so I know how to photograph you in a way that feels natural and honest. The real smiles, the quiet moments, the way you move and connect—captured in a way that makes you feel seen, confident, and fully yourself.

intentional guidance

When you work with me, you’re never navigating the process alone. I’m often one of the first vendors couples connect with, and I’m here to offer clarity and perspective as plans take shape. I collaborate seamlessly with your planner and vendor team to support the overall vision and ensure the day unfolds with ease.
From thoughtful location insight to timeline flow, I help guide decisions that impact the photography experience—without overstepping or complicating the process. My role is to be a steady, informed presence so you can feel confident and relaxed throughout.
You’re supported—without the pressure.

confidence

If you feel nervous in front of the camera, you’re not alone—and it doesn’t mean you aren’t photogenic. Feeling confident has everything to do with how you’re photographed.
This is the most common concern couples share with me, and it’s one that quickly fades once we’re working together. My approach is calm and intuitive, allowing your connection, personality, and natural expressions to come through in a way that feels effortless and true to you.

Growing up in the beautiful town of Traverse City, Michigan - my mama was always taking photos of my sisters and I. I remember seeing what felt like the largest box on the planet filled with all kinds of fujifilm quicksnap cameras. I remember the excitement she felt when she would take a batch to get developed. I was so eager to see them too, not even understanding the significance quite yet.

My family had purchased our first "real" camera back in 2009. I still recall how it felt to fiddle with the dials for the very first time, looking at something so simple, yet so special - with utter curiosity, not having the slightest clue that it was about to change my entire life.

Initially it was florals, landscapes, and varying architecture that stole my heart. Having the ability to document something in way that would keep a version of it forever was really meaningful to me, even as a kid.

One day I started taking photos of people.
And that's when I really fell in love. At first I couldn't articulate what was different about photographing people vs everything else. But then it clicked. When I got to photograph people, I had this special power where I could make someone feel just as beautiful as I saw them.

Then in 2013, I brought that same camera to Latvia with me, across the globe. And it was at that point that I discovered the pure joy of traveling.

Because it matters who you're trusting your precious memories with

My WHY

But one of the most pivotal years in my life took place in 2017, when I both lost my mama, and simultaneously met my my soulmate, all within the same year. Losing my mama was devastating. The woman who helped me discover and appreciate my why was gone, and I struggled to comprehend how I could continue being the person she raised me to be, without her, but I just met the love of my life. And now, almost eight years later - he filled in the broken pieces. I want to help fill in those missing pieces for others. I want it to feel like by the time you're wedding rolls around, I am one of those people you trust and feel safe with on your special day.

Photography is my creative outlet in making others feel seen and beautiful. That is my purpose in life. I want to wake up every day, and make others feel understood and confident with who they are and what they look like.

As someone who had an intimate wedding myself, I know the significance in having your wedding for you, and no one else. I didn't want all the bells and whistles. I jut wanted to celebrate this love I never thought was possible with this other person who made me feel whole. I wanted my loved ones to be there, but only the ones that really knew and loved us in a way that genuinely understood that love.

Choosing me means choosing someone who understands the absolute value of photographing your most vulnerable and cherished moments with the people you love the most, in this world. You're hiring someone who keeps your photos safe because these moments can't be redone. You're picking someone who really cares about you and the photos we take together.