Hey there!
I’m Mikaela, a Central California Wedding + Family Photographer and I would love the honor of documenting YOUR core memories while we make some magic!
Your love story.
Your yearly family portrait.
Your pet’s “gotcha” day.
Your college graduation.
I strive to capture you, just as you are, in that moment. Utterly in love with your partner, your toddler screaming for snacks, the family dog ecstatic to run in an open field, and every other emotion that falls in between. I live for the candids and the outtakes. Of course I mix in some more traditional poses, but life isn’t always traditional or predictable so why should your session be? I may be based in Central California, but I would love to follow you anywhere to document this amazingly, beautiful time of your life that you never want to forget.
I consider myself a bold, true to life photographer. Some even like to refer to my style as “Whiskey Neat.” But most importantly, my desire for your session is that you walk away with a core memory formed with those that you love most and that your photos stand the test of time.
Voted "Best of the Westside" 2022 Wedding/Family Photographer
Voted "Best of the Westside" 2023 Wedding/Family Photographer
“I love Mikaela! She is passion in a person! She makes you feel so comfortable and worthy. She has this really unique way of highlighting wholesome moments while also adding her own touch to the photos. 100/10 for sure!”
From the day you send that, “Hey! I’d like to book with you, I think we’re going to be bestie’s” message the creative wheels start turning. Here’s what you can expect when you choose to sign on that dotted line:
Booking & Beyond. You’ll receive a questionnaire that helps me get to know you, your partner, your wedding day vision, and your family better. We can set up a coffee date or a Zoom call if that’s more your vibe as well!
Communication. Need help planning your shot list? I’m your girl. Want someone to bounce ideas off of while developing the timeline for your big day? I gotchu. Believe me when I say I’ve done it all when it comes to planning a wedding. I have been a bride, maid of honor, bridesmaid, mother of the ring bearer/flower girl, day of coordinator, and of course, a photographer. I like to say I have seen it all when it comes to timeline planning and all the stress that can come from not knowing how much time to allocate for what. I’m more than happy to share my experience and advice to make your big day the BEST day ever!
Engagement Session. Now this ties into communication, of course, but we plan an amazing adventure or date night for you and your love and for me to be a fly on the wall. All my packages include a complementary session so why not take advantage of it!
Day of. I arrive at your venue, meet the wedding party, the fam, your other vendors, and we MAKE SOME MAGIC!
Post “Best Day of Your Life”: Provide some sneak peaks within 48 hours and then a full online gallery within 6 weeks.
“I highly recommend Mikaela to be the one to capture all the special moments in your life! She was the photographer for my sister in laws wedding and she did an amazing job. At times when it felt like chaos in the wedding, she got the job done & done right. You tell her what your vision is and she’ll make it come true. Beautiful pictures all around.”
I will LITERALLY wade through a river to get THAT shot for my couples and families.
If you follow along on my Instagram stories you can catch some behind-the-scenes footage of me literally wading through a river, laying on rocks, or even standing on truck beds for my clients. This same dedication carries through from our first meeting to capturing your amazing love story on your wedding day.
I’m married and a mom of two. I know first hand just how stressful and overwhelming planning a wedding can be. With this in mind, my packages include a complimentary engagement session so we can get comfortable with each other along with you having some BOMB.com photos for your save-the-dates. I’ve been told that I’m pretty funny and one of THE BEST hype girls you could ask for on your big day, in case you’re wondering. I literally love weddings and I strive to do anything I can to make your wedding day the best day possible.
“Mikaela is incredibly talented. She has an eye for the perfect shot and will do whatever it takes to make your photography dreams come true. She is friendly, professional and makes you feel comfortable during your shoot. I will use her for all of my photography needs and I highly recommend anyone else do the same!”
I’m not just another vendor that you never speak to again after your wedding day.
I am constantly working on ways to connect with my clients after all the wedding bliss has passed. You’re not just another client in my books, I hope to be honored with the title of being your certified hype girl for all of your important milestones! Catch me taking photos of your littles with Santa or their little league team portraits. Hit me up in the fall to take your yearly fam Christmas Card photo. Do me the honor of capturing your college grad photos. Many of my clients become friends and I’d love to join you on this crazy ride we call life!
“The core memories were definitely unlocked during our photo shoot, and that is all thanks to Mikaela. She made the shoot extremely comfortable and relaxed while catering to our needs and allowing my family and I to be ourselves. I promise you, we had endless amounts of fun with Mikaela! We were laughing during and in between every picture. There was so much love and support from her.”
