Kate Michelle Photography

our backdrop. We spent all day with Kate; she showed us parts of Yosemite we cannot describe with words; they were simply breathtaking. We informed Kate that we were camera shy and would need prompting for poses; however, Kate had such a friendly and calming presence that it allowed us to be free and have fun in front of the camera. We hope to work with her again in the future and cannot recommend her enough.

e is one of the first that I came across. Her website and portfolio seems so genuine that I immediately knew she is someone wonderful and exceptional to work with. I know many of the reviews already mentioned how wonderful it is to have a photographer familiar with the local area, so I won't go into further details there. What I will focus on is the way she works with us as a person. Kate did our engagement session and wedding, both in Yosemite. She is very thoughtful and attentive in the way she captured our special moments. There is no need to feel awkward or nervous around Kate if taking couple photos is a new thing for you. She has a calming presence that allows you to be yourself with your partner. When I came out of the car super nervous because I was about to marry my best friend, Kate reminded me to take deep breaths. And let me tell you, that is something that definitely made an impact. It brought me back to the present moment, which is the moment I think we all should be on our wedding day. Nothing else mattered. All of our friends and family who have seen Kate's work were very impressed by her photos. The friends and family who got to meet her in person told us numerous time how amazing Kate has been. She is there to capture the moments, but she did it in a way that doesn't feel intrusive at all. In fact, we felt as if she's part of the family. I truly enjoyed Kate's grounding and easy-going presence. Our wedding would not have been the same without her. Thank you, Kate!

have never noticed myself.

with us on some ideas we had like having our first dance on the beach with a Bluetooth speaker. At one point her and I looked over to a beautiful fern meadow and we saw had the same idea at the same time and just nodded at each other. My Fiance and I made our way over to the most dreamy spot. Needless to say, that shot didn’t disappoint. The last place we ended up was the river as I wanted some shots in the water, and she was more than excited to make it happen for us. I didn’t plan for that so I was soaked in a 20 pound dress after we got the shots. She offered me a spare outfit from her car. She is thoughtful and caring and puts her clients needs above her own. We have a reception back home to celebrate with our family on Saturday. I told Kate that and she got me some pictures over night in less than 12 hours so I’d have something to display at the party. Long story short, I didn’t just find a wedding photographer, I made a friend for life. If you are considering having your wedding in Yosemite, you’ll be in the best hands with Kate. Follow her work on Instagram and you will quickly see that she is not someone to overlook. My wedding day was the most magical day and she was a huge part in making it happen. I would hire her a hundred times again.... 💕 Jennifer Russell

. Her pictures were elegant, soft and light. They portrayed the happiness of her clients wedding day with such a beautiful perspective. In 2019 I became engaged so I reached out to her to inquire about wedding services. Her prices were more than fair so I made my deposit for our October 3rd 2020 wedding date. I had an almost two year engagement so I had a lot of time to plan, change my mind and plan some more. I reached out to Kate monthly and sometimes weekly with all of my questions and anxieties as I was planning a destination wedding. She always made herself available and went above and beyond what a normal photographer would. Over time, I turned to her about life questions and looked to her as an inspiration and a mentor. She has an IG account called “Sierra Grown”, and I always look forward to the wisdom in her posts. Last year she rebranded herself as “Kate Michelle Photography” and has a great bio and blog on her website. She puts so much time into her work and has a passion for what she does. Everyone should check it out. She is a native of Yosemite which gives her a huge advantage on knowing the best spots and how to make the beauty of the forest, work for her. I’ve also seen her work for out of state weddings and it is exceptional as she has great vision with a creative eye. As my engagement journey progressed the world was suddenly caught off guard by Covid. I was so overwhelmed with wedding planning and having so much money on the line with wedding vendors. Kate put all my anxieties to rest and helped me survive 6 months of the “unknown”. If you can’t already tell, I am an over thinker and very anxious. Kates communication skills are loving and uplifting and she’s always willing to help. The pandemic shook out most of our guests and we were down to 12. The original number was 44. We got to our month countdown and then the California fires started. This has been the most trying year of all time. Kate talked me through it and was confident that everything would be ok. A week before our trip, all but 2 guests canceled (including the friend who was supposed to marry us.) Kate asked her dear friend to marry us and he quickly committed. I swear Kate is magical... She even said she had a backup plan and we could travel away from the park if the fire hadn’t subsided. Our special day finally arrived and went better than I could have ever imagined. It was small and intimate and lovely. Her friend married us and was a great addition to how perfect the day truly was. I was so comfortable with Kate as we had built a good relationship in the almost 2 years we were in touch. I’m actually happier that our group size was so small. Kate took us to some really amazing spots to capture our love and she made it so easy. We even got to christen a never before photographed place and she called it “The Russell spot”. And holy moly was that the most gorgeous picture of all time. All of our friends and family said it looks like it’s out of a magazine.

vibe to my day. I had a list of photos and poses I wanted and she made sure she I got all of them. We did not do a first look, and it wasn’t even an issue. We had plenty of time for photos of just my husband and I. She had a plan for everything (photowise) which was one less thing for me to worry about day of. She captured so many sweet candids between husband and me, family and friends. Not exaggerating, we loved ALL of our photos. All of our friends and family also told us how much they loved our wedding photos and how great they all came out. Pictures are all you (and family and friends) have left after your wedding day, for the rest of your life ... that being said, go with Kate because she’s the best. 💗💗

situations depending on the time of day and part of Yosemite you're in. You can tell she has a true passion for her work that is definitely palpable! She was also very kind, personable and made you feel ultra relaxed. And her photos are amazing! She's also extremely professional and probably the most responsive, dedicated and organized vendor I've ever come across. Everything was planned, scheduled and discussed and she definitely makes sure she can accommodate all of your requests with no surprises. Definitely consider Kate your photography needs!

te is a warm and nice person—easy to work with. Our sessions felt like hanging out with our friend. She communicated clearly and listened to what we wanted. She arrived to our appointments on time and ready to go. She took the time to scout out quality settings and captured the perfect shots. We were so pleased to get our photos back quickly, and they are beautiful! Definitely work with Kate if you want an amazing experience and photos!

. She was flexible throughout the entire process, from when we first reached out, to the day after photos. There was never a lapse in communication and she was well prepared on our wedding day with plenty of snacks too :) Kate is so creative and able to work around people to get the best shots. Her experience with Yosemite made a HUGE difference in getting the most out of every area and creating a realistic schedule to get every shot we wanted. Probably the best surprise was seeing how Kate truly cares about the park -- she picked up small pieces of trash off the trails as we were going about our day. And make sure you ask about her stories growing up in the valley and her days as a packer. Thank you Kate and Lane -- we'll treasure these captured moments forever!

that most were overpriced and honestly their photography style was just not what I wanted. I found Kate myself and booked her based on her amazing reviews and experience in Yosemite. On the day of our wedding she was prompt, patient, and fun. We had an intimate ceremony and our guests were appreciative of her including everyone in the family pictures. The solo pictures of my husband and I came out so dreamy, most people who see them can’t believe that the backdrop is real. This can be attributed both to the beauty of Yosemite and Kate’s ability to capture it. We felt comfortable with her and she was nice enough to drive us around in her car to find the best spots and lighting. Lastly, her pricing was more affordable than other photographers I spoke to, we even booked an extra hour of photos! If you’re thinking about booking Kate, you won’t regret it!

nd her online. I had no idea what to expect and both of us have never done a photoshoot before but Kate made it so easy and fun and went above and beyond to give us exactly what I was looking for. If you are having an event anywhere near the area, look no further and book her right away. We both are still gushing over the photos and are so impressed with the quality. The only problem now is choosing which ones to use because they are all so good!

u Kate for capturing the fun of the moment!

l the great spots to go to in order to avoid the crowds and achieve the vision I described to her. She was also willing to go overtime at no extra cost to perfect our session. It truly felt like me and my Fiancé were hanging out with a friend that cared about our photos, and if I was getting married nearby I would hire her in a heartbeat to shoot our wedding. Aside from this awesome experience, she sent the entire gallery of 100+ photos by the next day, amazing! My vision came to life and I could tell she had a great time perfecting her craft. If you’re looking to take some photos in and around Yosemite, over the moon is the way to go 👍🏻

t stop looking through our album! You won’t be disappointed!!

after in photographs. The online gallery is amazing and easy to share with family and friends. Kate was the warmth and light that guided us during this adventure to capture not only our love as a couple but our love for Yosemite. As the great John Muir once said, “The sun shines not on us but in us.” Kate was able to show this not only in her work but in her character. We were beyond Blessed to have had Kate document our new beginning and you will be too.

r The Moon Photography knew all the right spots to take us for some gorgeous views. She was professional and easy to get along with, and our wedding photos are GORGEOUS. If you're thinking of getting married in Yosemite Kate is the photographer that you'll want to book.

ional. She captured every moment of our special day and the pictures are magical. I am "over the moon" with love and happiness every time I look at our photos. I highly recommend Kate for your destination wedding in the Sierras.

well! Kate worked tirelessly with my fiance and with the lodge to ensure that she captured the moment that Ryan asked...and I said "Yes!" The next day she took us around Yosemite and took some of the most incredible engagement pictures! She made us feel like we were spending time with a close friend instead of feeling like we were awkwardly posing for a photographer. She went above and beyond what any client could ask for. My fiance and I were so impressed with all that she did for us. We can't thank her enough for making our trip the trip of a lifetime.

he day of and her own creative photos to get the day of the wedding. She even got us pictures of the venue with a Drone! She got us our pictures in a timely manner. That all reflects her work but I don’t want to forget how wonderful she was to work with. She was so professional when it came to get people organized but very down to earth when we were one on one. If you want dreamy pictures Kate is the one to go with!

ned, organized and easy with checklists and timelines all ready for us to fill out. What stood out from the very beginning -- aside from the breathtaking shots in her portfolio, of course -- was Kate's deep love of and connection to Yosemite. That made such a difference during our wedding day, where we drove to so many great spots around the park, including this gorgeous viewpoint of Half Dome from a little hidden creek most visitors probably don't even know is there. Our portrait session out in the wilderness remains one of my favorite, most peaceful moments from our wedding day. Kate's photojournalism background really sets her apart, and she captured so many candids of our families during our wedding that we'll treasure for a lifetime. She's genuine and authentic to work with, and a deeply gifted artist. I give her my highest and most sincere recommendation!

turned out! Also, she is very professional and responsive to any questions that you have and was so nice to get a message from her asking how the preparations for the wedding was going. We loved her and her photos and would definitely recommend her!!!!