5/5!! Michael is a great photographer that captured mine and my husband’s big day with such skill. He was punctual, professional and very easy to work with, I’m in awe of the work that he did. I love the photos so much. I hope to hire him again for family photos or our anniversary, maybe. If you are looking for a great photographer— Michael is your guy!
Michael Keel Photography Weddings & Events
- 447 hires
- Based in Petaluma, CA
- 19 years in business
- 1 employee
- Responds in about 2 hours
- Background checked
About Michael Keel Photography Weddings & Events
***Important Information Before Reaching Out*** Thank you for considering my wedding or event photography services! I travel throughout California and beyond to capture weddings and events. Before contacting me, I kindly ask that you review all the information available in my Thumbtack profile, where you can find my presence all over the interwebs (more work seen outside Thumbtack). If you like what you see, then feel free to reach out with your wedding date, venue, guest count, and any other relevant details. In addition to weddings, I also photograph corporate events, parties, restaurants, wineries, and collaborate with travel tourism boards to create travel images for their marketing efforts. With over 19 years of full-time experience in the wedding industry, I’m here to answer any questions you may have. My editing style leans towards a natural look rather than heavy manipulation. I focus on capturing genuine moments rather than staged ones, and I truly love what I do. I document every aspect of your wedding day, from candid interactions to special moments, allowing you to enjoy your day without worry. If you’re camera shy, there’s no need to stress. I’m friendly and easy to work with, and I completely understand the feeling of not wanting to be in front of the camera. I’ll help you relax, share a laugh, and guide you through natural poses during portraits, focusing on the authentic moments between you and your partner. What sets my photography apart is my lifelong experience with film (now transitioned to digital). I aim to capture the perfect shot in-camera rather than relying heavily on Photoshop. Many photographers over-edit their images, which can lead to a "fake" appearance. My editing process in Lightroom serves as a digital darkroom, where I enhance the images I’ve captured naturally, making adjustments for exposure, color correction, and minor blemish removal. Photoshop is reserved for significant corrections or specific client requests, such as a magazine-style look. Please be aware that many companies or teams may reach out to you with their photographers, but often those photographers do not edit their own work. I believe it’s crucial for the person taking the photos to also handle the editing. The artistic vision behind each shot should remain consistent, and I take great care in editing each image to reflect my perspective on your special day. While I will certainly edit out blemishes or correct colors if needed, I cannot accommodate requests to alter your appearance significantly. My goal is to provide beautiful, authentic photos that truly represent you and your special day, showcasing your joy, love, and genuine moments. One key element to look for in my work is laughter. I strive to capture real moments of joy, smiles, tears, and love. If you’re looking for a photographer who values authenticity and connection, I would love to work with you!
Reviews
Michael was so easy to work with, and he captured our day beautifully! We are so happy we hired him as our photographer for our wedding day.
Michael was amazing!! He was super responsive to my messages and was punctual and professional on the day of the wedding! He was fun and he has an eye for creative and beautiful photographs. He communicated changes to when we would get our photos and when we got them they were even better than I could have imagined! Overall I highly recommend Michael for any special occasion!
I love Michael's photo style. I love that his photos captured our day with authenticity and beautifully candid moments. It took about 10 weeks to get our pics back and it was 100% worth the wait. Communicating with Micahel was easy and he quickly helped fix the few hiccups we had along the way to help create our perfect day. I would absolutely recommend working with Michael if you are looking for an experienced wedding photographer and want amazing photos!
Michael was absolutely fantastic! We decided to book him for our Russian River Wedding on 8/24 which also included our engagement photos, and we were blown away by his affordable pricing and the breathtaking quality of his work. Working with him was such a joy - he has a way of making you feel comfortable, even during the most awkward or stressful moments. A big thank you to Michael for making our special day even more amazing!
Michael took our wedding photos for our recent wedding in October. Before the wedding, he was very helpful with making suggestions for the wedding day timeline. When he arrived the day of the wedding, he got right to work and took care of what needed to be done without any guidance needing to be provided. It was complete and total chaos the entire day, but somehow, he managed to capture some amazing photos that we absolutely love while being personable and friendly with our guests. I highly recommend checking out Michael's work and hiring him for your next event! You will not be disappointed.
Micheal was a joy to work with. He made us feel instantly comfortable which allowed him to capture great photos. He has an eye for detail and we absolutely love the results. We will treasure our wedding pictures always!
Michael’s work is impeccable. He is hands down one of the BEST decisions we made for our wedding. Not only was his personality witty and hilarious, but he was fully present and truly cared about capturing the beauty of all moments. His camera has incredible lens, producing the clearest pictures. He was extremely efficient with time management, constantly keeping in mind the lighting, weather, angles, timeline, etc. His ease and comfort made him feel like an old friend. Every part of our experience with him was perfect. If you are in need of a photographer that is a MASTER of his craft and just a great human, please book with him!
Michael was very friendly, courteous, punctual, and worked so well with us during our wedding celebration. The outcome of his photos were absolutely fantastic! He was patient with us and great at giving us instructions and having fun with taking our photos. I highly recommend him for anyone looking to have photos taken!
Michael was awesome! He took both our engagement and wedding photos, and offered us the best price in the area. He arrived to our wedding early and got the most beautiful shots of everything, both candid and posed. I was so impressed by the quality of his work and his overall responsiveness. He also gave us A TON of photos in a very timely manner. I highly recommend him!
Services
Michael Keel Photography Weddings & Events★ 4.9
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